WARREN Gatland fully expects to be sacked if performances don’t come up to scratch, but he has still put his job as Wales coach on the line by insisting on a demanding series ahead of next year’s World Cup.

First come world champions South Africa, even if below strength, at the Millennium Stadium on June 5, followed by two Tests in New Zealand, then both of them plus fellow southern hemisphere giants Australia in the autumn.

Gatland has no fear about putting his head on the block as he tries to bring Wales up to scratch for the World Cup despite a faltering Six Nations when they ended fourth for the second year running.

“We’re up against it, we’ve got an incredible series of games coming up, but it’s the only way we’re going to improve. I could have asked for some easier games, but that’s not the way we are. If we lose games and you guys want me to go that’s fine,” he said.

“In international rugby expectations are high and if you don’t perform there is the possibility of losing your job, but it’s not a massive concern for me.

“I’ve got a good track record as a coach, so if Roger Lewis (WRU chief executive) wanted to get rid of me I wouldn’t worry about my future.

“I’d have offers on the table so I can put my hand on my heart and say I’ve made the best decisions without any pressure from the press, the public or the committee. I’ve always been straight up and honest, I tell the players how it is and I don’t hide away, I don’t have to remember what I said, because I haven’t lied.

“When I am candid and honest people take it in a certain manner, but it’s the way I’ve always tried to be, I don’t try to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.

“I have no problems with people in Wales voicing an opinion because they’re very knowledgeable and I’m comfortable with that, but I do think they’ve got to keep things in perspective as the vocal minority don’t always speak for the majority.

“When I was in Cardiff Bay recently a guy stopped me and said, ‘Are you happy with the way Wales are playing, because I’m not.’ I try to keep things in perspective because do people like that or on websites really speak for the majority?

“A lot of guys I speak to are passionate about the Welsh team and want them to do well, but if people think it’s time for me to go that’s fine.”

Gatland stresses Wales can beat the All Blacks, even in New Zealand.

“It’s the next level we’ve got to get to, France beat them there and Italy put in a good performance, it’s important to have the confidence to put them under pressure or it’s pointless going.

“The biggest areas we need to improve are accuracy under pressure like when the line-out has not functioned, and we’ve got to be more clinical, which can only be gained on the field at a level which is two or three times quicker and more intense than the regions.

“We want to check availability and whether one or two players need resting, but ideally we want to take the strongest possible squad.”

Gatland intends watching the regions before naming the squad. “We want to see what happens in the Magners League,” he said. “We know how important it is to them to get into Europe – and the Dragons are putting a spanner in the works for a couple of teams.”