Warren Gatland will ‘let dust settle’ before deciding on his future

Warren Gatland will “let the dust settle” on Wales’s awful autumn before he considers his future as their head coach. His team suffered their 12th straight defeat, when they were beaten 45-12 by South Africa. Gatland said he wanted to talk to his family and his bosses at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) before he makes a decision. For its part, the WRU has committed to bringing in two independent experts to help with an end‑of‑season review, which will decide whether Gatland stays in post if he doesn’t quit first.Sign up to The BreakdownThe latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewedafter newsletter promotionGatland did not deny rumours that he could move into a different role at the WRU, which would involve him stepping away from the day-to-day running of the team but give him more influence over the overall strategy for the sport in Wales

Wales 12-45 South Africa: Autumn Nations Series – as it happened

“Another week, another record defeat.”These are the sobering opening words from Andy Bull’s report that has just landed.And with those words, I’ll sign off.Thank you to everyone who wrote in. I hope you enjoyed that

South Africa condemn Wales to 12th straight defeat to leave Gatland on brink

Another week, another record defeat. This time Wales went down by 33 points to South Africa, which is the worst beating they have ever had from the Springboks in a home game. It’s their 12th straight defeat, at the fag end of a year in which they have lost every single match they have played. The Welsh Rugby Union says it will hold the usual end-of-series review, although, given just how bad the results have been, this time it is going to bring in a couple of independent experts to help with it. You have to wonder exactly what anyone hopes to learn that isn’t already apparent

Formidable Scotland stand in way of Wallabies’ rare shot at grand slam glory | Angus Fontaine

For the Wallabies, the Test against Scotland at Murrayfield is the biggest of 2024. Joe Schmidt’s men are resurgent after upsetting England and walloping Wales. They are playing high-speed, ultra-tough, adrenaline-charged rugby with style and a smile. Beat the boys in blue in Edinburgh and they get a golden shot at history, with only Ireland standing between them and Australia’s first grand slam in 40 years.This will be the 35th Test in a fiercely contested 97-year history between the nations

Phillip Hughes: depth of loss even 10 years on speaks to the cricketer he was | Jonathan Horn

That day, that week, that helpless, hopeless fortnight comes at you 10 years later in a blur of images – the bowler cradling Phillip Hughes’s head, the teammate removing his pads, the orderly assembly of cricket bats on front porches, the detached explanation of the neurosurgeon, the mourners fanning themselves in the high school gymnasium.It was a basal subarachnoid haemorrhage – a sick fluke. We’re largely inured to such tragedies now but occasionally they get in your marrow. A child is struck by a car crashing into a playground. A family is blown to bits by a missile

Barry Hawkins sends Ronnie O’Sullivan out of UK Championship in first round

Ronnie O’Sullivan crashed out on the opening day of the UK Championship with a 6-4 defeat by Barry Hawkins in York. Hawkins reeled off four frames in a row to haul back a 4-2 deficit and clinch only his third win over O’Sullivan, the defending champion, in 21 career attempts.It was a remarkable revival by the 45-year-old Hawkins, who compiled four consecutive half-centuries that left the eight-time champion stuck in his seat for three straight frames.“I just think Barry played a good match and deserved his win, so you have to give all credit to him,” said a clearly disappointed O’Sullivan. “He looked strong and took his chances