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• Gatland future up in the air after Wales suffer 12th consecutive loss

  Wales head coach Warren Gatland did not have answers about his future following their 45-12 defeat to South Africa, their 12th consecutive loss.

  The Springboks dominated from the off and were cruising 26-0 just before half-time, after Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Elrigh Louw crossed.

  Rio Dyer's try before the break ensured Wales did not draw a blank in the first half, but South Africa did not let up as Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenenkamp and Jordan Hendrikse all followed suit.

  James Botham's late effort ensured Wales did not suffer their worst-ever home defeat, but they have now gone an entire calendar year without a win for the first time since 1937.

  Gatland has come under increasing pressure as the losses pile up, and though his future remains up in the air, he was proud of how his inexperienced side held up against the world champions.

  "It's about seeing what the Welsh Rugby Union has to say," he told TNT Sports when asked about his future.

  "You don't make a decision straight after a game, it's always tough coming to a press conference straight after a game before you've had time to catch your breath and look at some of the stats and numbers.

  "Let's just see what happens over the next few days."

  On their recent run of form, he added: "We punched massively above our weight for a number of years, and we've been saying that when the dam bursts it's going to take a little bit of time to put things right.

  "The dam has burst, but it's about making sure that, collectively, with the regions we work together.

  "I think we need to be in better shape in a conditioning point of view. We will work on that with some of the players over the next couple of months, so when they turn up for the Six Nations, they're ready to go from day one."

  South Africa have won each of their last three Tests, building on their wins over Scotland and England earlier in the series.

  Captain Siya Kolisi was pleased with their ruthlessness in the game but also sympathised with Gatland's situation.

  "It's been a really good tour," he told TNT Sports. "It hasn't been perfect, the first two games we weren't happy - happy we won, but there was so much we could have done better.

  "The results are important, but it's how you do things, the standards we set for ourselves. We know we can do a little bit better as a group.

  "We were where Wales are a couple of years ago.

  "The only thing I can say is you just can't stop believing. If you look at their starting backline, one of our guys had more caps than all of them. You have to be realistic about these things."

  Elsewhere, Ireland produced their most convincing win of their series, scoring eight tries as they cruised past Fiji 52-17 in Dublin earlier on Saturday. 

• Gatland 'still the best coach in the world', says Wales assistant Howley

  Wales assistant Rob Howley described Warren Gatland as the "world's best coach" and insists the under-fire boss is going nowhere.

  Wales have lost each of their last 11 Test matches, their longest ever run in men’s rugby, overtaking a 10-game stretch between November 2002 and August 2003.

  Their most recent defeat came by 32 points (20-52 v Australia), their heaviest loss since a 36-point thrashing at home to South Africa in August last year (16-52).

  And it is not going to get any easier with world champions South Africa the visitors to the Principality Stadium on Saturday for Wales' Autumn Nations Series finale.

  South Africa have emerged victorious in six of their last seven Tests against Wales (L1) and have also won each of their last three games against Wales by margins of 16+ points.

  Another triumph would see Wales going the calendar year without winning a Test, which has not happened since 1937, though Howley has no doubt that Wales are in safe hands.

  "We've got the best coach in the world who has had a legacy of more than 13 years," said Howley.

  "He's won Grand Slams and there is no better coach to have in your camp than Warren. He gives players the confidence and self-belief they need to go out and play."

  During Gatland's first stint in charge from 2008 to 2019, Wales were World Cup semi-finalists, Six Nations champions and Grand Slam winners.

  This time around, amid far more challenging circumstances and attempting to mould a new squad, Wales have won just six out of his 23 Tests at the helm.

  Wales have also won just one of their last 11 Test matches at the Principality Stadium, last winning in Cardiff against Argentina in November 2023. 

  Howley was asked if he would take an interim head coach job if Gatland departed, but responded defiantly by saying, "Warren Gatland won't leave".

  Howley insists Gatland's experiences can help turn Wales around, saying: "Warren is a hugely respected coach and has coached over a number of years.

  "His legacy with different teams is a winning legacy. At the moment, we are in this spell where we are losing.

  "We at some point know we will win, and I hope it will be the next game on Saturday. I think at the moment we've got the best coach who has got years of experience.

  "We've been in changing rooms where we've won and lost, Lions changing rooms going into the series at 1-1 with everything on the line.

  "He understands rugby, and I believe Wales have got the best coach in the world to get us out of this."

• Wales must 'show courage and front up' against South Africa, says Gatland

  Warren Gatland has urged Wales to "show real courage and front up" in their final Autumn Nations clash against South Africa.

  Gatland's side bring the curtain down on a disappointing year when they welcome the reigning world champions to the Principality Stadium on Saturday. 

  Wales have lost an unprecedented 11 straight Tests, and could go an entire calendar year without tasting success for the first time since 1937.

  Gatland has made four changes from last weekend's 52-20 defeat to Australia, with Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Christ Tshiunza and Taine Plumtree all coming into the starting XV.

  Gareth Anscombe, Aaron Wainwright and Cameron Winnett drop out of the squad, while Adam Beard misses out through injury.

  And Gatland wants his players to demonstrate fighting spirit against the Springboks.

  "Last week's result hurts, and we are just as disappointed by it as the fans," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

  "Our focus now is on training and preparing well for our final game of this Autumn Nations Series.

  "There were good elements that we can definitely build on going into Saturday, but we have to improve our accuracy.

  "We know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week, we need to show real courage and front up against the world champions."