Wales will be ‘hard on ourselves’ after 10th straight Test loss: Anscombe

Gareth Anscombe says Wales will be “hard on ourselves” as they regroup following a record-equalling 10th successive Test match defeat, against Fiji.

The 24-19 loss in Cardiff on Saturday meant Wales have matched their run of losses in 2002 and 2003, although that sequence included two reversals against each of New Zealand, England and Ireland.

Less-fancied Italy and Fiji have triumphed at the Principality Stadium during the current losing streak and there appears no immediate end in sight, with matches against Australia and world champions South Africa to come this month.

It is in stark contrast with Warren Gatland’s first stint as head coach, from 2007 to 2019, which yielded four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, and two appearances in World Cup semi-finals.

Wales have been hit by a string of high-profile retirements over the past 18 months and have struggled with injuries, but fly-half Anscombe said only a win against Fiji would have been an acceptable result.

“We will be hard on ourselves, but I do think we will be better for the run-out and know that we have got to improve and get better pretty quickly,” he said.

“This has got to hurt, and it should hurt. We are playing at home and we should back ourselves to win.”

Wales have slipped to 11th in the world rankings, two places below Fiji.

Australia will arrive in Cardiff for Sunday’s match on the back of a spectacular 42-37 success against England, and they have won nine times in their past 11 visits to the Welsh capital.

“We have to find a way to get over the line, and it has got to come,” said Anscombe. “I thought we were pretty positive in camp over the last couple of weeks.

“I still think our best performance is good enough to beat Australia. I think we fully believe that.

“I think if we can grow another 10-20 percent in some little areas then we have got a real chance.”