Wales coach Kevin Bowring fired a defiant message to his critics on the eve of this afternoon's crucial clash against Scotland at Wembley Stadium. Bowring, in charge of the national squad since November 1995, is under massive pressure following Wales' tame Twickenham surrender when England racked up a Five Nations record 60 points.
But the former Bristol schoolteacher is determined to see out his contract, which expires after next year's World Cup.
"If we did lose to Scotland, then I would obviously take a hard look at the situation, but I have got no intention of walking away," Bowring said.
"I've got a contract with the Welsh Rugby Union that runs to the 1999 World Cup, and I intend seeing it through."
Bowring revealed how support from family and close friends had helped him overcome the torment of Twickenham, which produced Wales' heaviest Five Nations defeat when they genuinely thought England could be beaten.
"I think about Twickenham, and where it all went wrong, every waking moment of every day," he confessed.
"The past fortnight has been difficult. I used to teach history, so I know the importance of the historical side to England-Wales matches.
"It's big country against small country - we get enormous pride from beating them, but suffer great hurt when we lose.
"The team and I let the nation down at Twickenham - we know that. I was humiliated by the scoreline, and felt angry with the performance, and the subsequent reaction has not been something unexpected."
Several former Welsh internationals urged Bowring to quit, given a 28-month reign that has produced more losses than wins, and only two Five Nations victories from nine starts, against France in 1996 and Scotland last season.
But he countered: "That sort of thing goes with the job. Thankfully, the support from my family and close friends has been magnificent, which is something you need when the flak is flying. I am working hard, and I am determined to get it right."
Twickenham has claimed its inevitable casualties - Arwel Thomas, Barry Williams, Gareth Llewellyn, Scott Quinnell and Martyn Williams all dropped as Bowring carried out the drastic surgery his lifeless team required.
Into the Five Nations arena come hard-nosed forwards such as Swansea hooker Garin Jenkins, together with his All Whites colleagues Andy Moore and Rob Appleyard, plus the livewire Ebbw Vale captain Kingsley Jones.
But whether they can successfully steer Wales safely through the most hazardous 80-minute mission of Bowring's coaching career is by no means certain, and he must expect to pay the price of failure should Scotland prolong his misery.
Wales might be playing Scotland, but the team and Bowring are playing - and praying - for their futures.
