Exactly half of the 36-strong squad have 10 caps or less and Cardiff’s Ellis Bevan and Jacob Beetham, along with Gloucester’s Josh Hathaway and Ospreys Keelan Giles will be hoping to earn their first caps this month or next.
“We’re pretty happy with the group of players we’ve got. We’ve tried to keep some continuity with the direction we are going. The big focus is about building some depth in the squad and also creating as much competition in positions as we can,” he explained.
“I was trying to get as many games as we possibly could this summer. At one stage we were looking at playing Samoa, and I would have jumped at that, because this group of young players need as many games as they can possibly get to gain that experience.
“It is a lot of work for the coaching staff and we realised the challenge we’ve got, but it is our job to work them hard and make them better. They have to learn about the pressures of playing international rugby, how hard it is and what it takes to succeed.
“We are conscious there are a few holes in terms of depth in certain positions and we’ve got to increase the depth and competition for places.”
First up will be the world champion Springboks, followed by a two-Test tour to Australia. After facing Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies twice the season will end with an uncapped game against Queensland Reds.
Wales beat the Aussies 40-6 in their last outing at the 2023 World Cup in Lyon and will head down under hoping to break the stranglehold of the Wallabies on games between the two teams in Australia. Having won the first game in 1969, 19-16 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, they have lost the last 11.
Before then, though, there is the game against the world champion Springboks to prepare for at Twickenham on 22 June. That is a game in which Gatland will be without seven players from English clubs who won’t be available for selection.
“I’m really excited by the challenge of meeting the world champions Springboks and by what we can do in terms of creating some confidence and self-belief in this group of players,” added Gatland.
“South Africa will be missing a few players as well, but whatever team they put out we know they won’t be small – they’ll be big and physical. Those are the challenges that you want.
“We want to get back to the levels of respect we had earned playing against South Africa over a number of years in terms of the performances and results we had against them. You quickly lose that respect and the challenge for us is how do we get back to that level?
“A big part of that is mental. Not a huge number of players come into camp with a huge amount of confidence in terms of results they have had over the season and especially in big games.
“We have to try to build confidence and self-belief in the group and that’s a big challenge for us. International rugby is about performance and getting results.
“We need to get some wins on the board to create the feel-good factor you are looking for. Then players turn up with their chests puffed out and a spring in their step.
“We are where we are at the moment, but I do see light at the end of the tunnel.”
