Gatland reiterated that the development of the Wales side is a long-term project.

"Our whole planning was to pick a group of youngsters after the experience we lost from the World Cup to develop through to the World Cup in 2027 in Australia," he added.

"If you're another team at the moment, and having seen how much we can improve as a group, you won't want us in your World Cup pool."

While there is a tour match to follow against Queensland Reds in Brisbane next Friday, Wales do not play another international until Fiji arrive at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in November.

By then the national side will have gone 13 months without a Test victory, since victory over Georgia in a World Cup group game in October 2023.

The Fiji fixture launches an autumn schedule also featuring Australia and world champions South Africa, before Wales embark on a testing Six Nations campaign which begins against France in Paris, one of three away games in the tournament.

Asked whether he believes he can turn the team around next season, Gatland replied: "I'm confident this is going to be a good team.

"I can see signs we're in games, we're pressurising teams and quality opposition players. I hope you can see that as well.

"We're just hurting ourselves at the moment by some of our turnovers and mistakes [which] are allowing easy ins to the opposition team.

"You fix those things up, keep working hard to be accurate and they become wins."