Warren Gatland heads up a number of potential candidates the Welsh Rugby Union are ready to consider as they prepare to decide upon Wayne Pivac’s future.
Wales Online understands Gatland is the leading contender if Pivac does leave, although it is thought any offer would involve a role only through to the World Cup in France next year.
Other names in the frame as potential targets include former Ospreys coach Steve Tandy, who was part of Gatland’s Lions coaching team last year on the back of his work with Super Rugby outfit the Waratahs and Scotland on the defensive front.
READ MORE: The key questions WRU must ask as they address Pivac future
It is possible Gatland and Tandy could even double up as a coaching ticket on an interim basis to take Wales to France 2023.
Kiwi Scott Robertson, La Rochelle's Irish coach Ronan O’Gara and former Llanelli head coach Brad Mooar are others thought to be in contention. Steve Borthwick is another name said be mentioned behind the scenes, while Bristol boss Pat Lam might also be a target.
However, Gatland is the man believed to most interest WRU powerbrokers union for an interim head coach role should the call be made to end Pivac’s tenure after three years.
Even before Saturday’s dispiriting 39-34 defeat by Australia, there were suggestions that Pivac’s fate had already been sealed following the loss to Georgia. There was speculation Gatland had been approached about the possibility of a dramatic return to Welsh rugby, with the Kiwi having held the Wales head coach role for 12 years up to 2019.
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Gatland denied any contact had been made and nothing has been confirmed on that front by the WRU.
Nor has anything yet been officially flagged up on whether Pivac is staying or exiting.
But the New Zealander’s cause would not have been helped by Wales’ implosion against the Wallabies which saw them concede 26 unanswered points in the final 22 minutes as the team slipped to their ninth defeat in 12 matches this year.
Gatland was at the Principality Stadium to watch the loss to the Wallabies in his role as pundit for Amazon Prime.
He told the broadcaster no approach had been made by the WRU, but smiled when quizzed on how many people had asked him if he was intending to come back.
"Lots!" said Gatland, with a grin. "I get stopped on the way here, people wanting photographs and stuff, it's great to be back. As I said, this is not about me, there is a lot of speculation and stuff. I want to see Wales put out a really good performance and hopefully they can bounce back from last week."
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Gatland's former Wales captain Sam Warburton, who was on commentary duty for the match, said he would be surprised if the current coaching ticket continued beyond this series.
"It's damned if you do and damned if you don't with Wayne at the moment," he said. "I'm not privy to the information that the powers-that-be at the Welsh Rugby Union know, but I'd be surprised if the same regime continued after these autumn internationals."
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