Some massive decisions are about to be made in Welsh rugby as the WRU hierarchy come to terms with a woeful 2022 which has seen Wales' men lose nine out of 12 Tests, the regions bomb and major questions raised over the structure of the game here.
Should they get rid of Wayne Pivac as coach? If so, who replaces him?
Which player impressed most during the autumn?
And as we get ready for the 2023 World Cup, how can Wales realistically be expected to fare in the global showpiece, and indeed the Six Nations which precedes it?
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There is an awful lot for the WRU's big three of Ieuan Evans (chairman), Steve Phillips (chief executive) and Nigel Walker (performance director) to weigh up, plus for who actually leads Wales into battle in the new year.
But what do the people who matter the most, the Welsh rugby public, think about the major decisions looming?
Welsh fans are as knowledgeable as any in world rugby. In the space of just five days, close on 13,000 of you took part in our Welsh Rugby fans survey of 2022. We asked for your views on some of the searching issues surrounding the men's Wales team and how they should be addressed moving forward.
We also sought your take on whether the four Welsh regions or the community game is most important to Welsh rugby's future, another hot debate amid talk of a governance restructure.
Here are the results of what the people really think. It makes for fascinating reading...
Should the WRU keep Pivac as coach?
This, of course, is the hot topic of the moment for the majority of Welsh fans. Pivac is under enormous pressure following a woeful autumn campaign which saw Wales hammered by New Zealand and throw away leads to capitulate in the closing quarter to both Georgia and Australia.
Following on from a Six Nations which saw Wales lose at home to Italy for the first time, it has placed extra heat on the WRU and Pivac as a review is conducted into what went wrong.
Those taking part in our survey appeared to deliver an unequivocal verdict with more than 90 per cent feeling the WRU need to start looking for a new coach. Pivac does retain some support, while a few are undecided, but it seems the fans have made up their minds.
Result: He should go 90.4%, he should stay 6.8%, don't know 2.8%.
Who should replace him?
This is the other hot topic, intrinsically linked to the above. The WRU are reportedly talking about a number of potential candidates, who range from former boss Warren Gatland, through to Steve Tandy, the ex-Ospreys chief, and Bristol coach Pat Lam.
Gatland is the preferred choice of those taking part in the survey, given what he previously achieved with Wales, but even he doesn't command anywhere near 50 per cent of the vote. So there is clearly split opinion here, with a lot of fans also believing Gatland's time has come and gone.
Crusaders chief Scott Robertson has his backers. It seems Wales and England could be in a tug-of-war for those two, with Eddie Jones' future as Red Rose boss also under intense scrutiny.
Result: Warren Gatland 41.7%, Scott Robertson 31%, Pat Lam 10.1%, Ronan O'Gara 7.2%, David Young 4.6%, Rob Baxter 2.6%, Stephen Jones 1.2%, Wayne Smith 0.9%.
Who was Wales' best player this autumn?
Despite the woeful autumn, a handful of Welsh stars did enhance their reputations during November.
Leading the way was a mix of the young and the old. Jac Morgan burst back onto the scene after earning a Pivac recall and shone with try-scoring, power-packed displays. At the other end of the age spectrum, fellow back-rower Taulupe Faletau was also at his best. Those two were your standout performers by a country mile, with hooker Ken Owens the best of the rest.
Result (main contenders): Jac Morgan 47.1%; Taulupe Faletau 37.8%, Ken Owens 6.8%, Louis Rees-Zammit 3.7%, Justin Tipuric 3.6%, Nick Tompkins 1.2%
Where will Wales finish in the 2023 Six Nations?
This could hinge entirely upon who is coach, but not many of you see Wales as title contenders.
Indeed, more than 70 per cent reckon Wales will be in the bottom three. They have home games with Ireland and England and are away to Scotland, Italy and France.
Far more appear to think Wales are more likely to end up with the wooden spoon rather than a top two spot.
However, the Six Nations is about momentum. Beat the Irish in the Principality Stadium opener and who knows what could happen from thereon in, particularly if a new coach is at the helm to lift the players.
Result: Title winners 2.4%, runners-up 7.3%, third place 18.3%, fourth place 34.2%, second from bottom 23.2%, wooden spoon 14.6%.
How will Wales fare at the 2023 World Cup?
The good news is there are some hugely optimistic souls out there who reckon Wales will conquer the world when the final is played in Paris next autumn.
The bad news is there aren't many of you. A quarter-final spot, or even out in the group stage, appears to be the outcome most expect. Wales tangle with autumn foes Australia and Georgia again in their group, while also meeting Fiji and Portugal.
Result: Winners 3.2%, semi-finalists 9.9%, quarter-finals 49%, out in group stage 37.9%.
Who should be Wales captain in World Cup year?
Another major issue, and one a new coach would need to resolve should the WRU opt to get rid of Pivac.
Justin Tipuric led Wales during the autumn, but Wales managed just one win in four matches. Dan Biggar is the man who the majority want, with Alun Wyn Jones also backed to return to the role he once held down with such distinction.
Result: Dan Biggar 49.8%, Alun Wyn Jones 18.9%, Justin Tipuric 11.8%, Ken Owens 10.7%, Will Rowlands 6%, Adam Beard 2.8%.
Who should be first choice No. 10?
Speaking of which, there's nothing quite like a good old Wales fly-half debate. Dan Biggar wins the vote here too, with more than 60 per cent of you saying he has to wear the jersey for the Six Nations and World Cup.
Biggar reckons his game has improved significantly since leaving the Ospreys for Northampton and has called on the WRU to get rid of their controversial 60-cap ruling.
Gareth Anscombe has his backers, so too young Sam Costelow of the Scarlets.
Result: Dan Biggar 60.5, Gareth Anscombe 23.4%, Sam Costelow 8.2%, Callum Sheedy 5.9%, Rhys Priestland 2%.
Who should be first choice openside?
This is a real hot topic with Wales spoilt for choice in the back-row.
Tommy Reffell shone in the summer against South Africa, Jac Morgan previously did well in the jersey, so too Taine Basham, but the old warhorse Justin Tipuric still gets the nod.
Result: Justin Tipuric 43.8%, Jac Morgan 38.4%, Tommy Reffell 13.4%, Taine Basham 4.4%.
Where should Louis Rees-Zammit play?
If there is one player to offer Wales real hope, and get fans on the edge of their seat, then it's the try-scoring ace from Gloucester. He has made his name as a wing, but Pivac changed his role to full-back during the autumn with mixed results.
Wing, it seems, is where you want to see him picked from here on in. Simple decision as far as the public are concerned.
Result: Wing 70.7%, full-back 29.3%.
Which is more important for Welsh rugby's future?
This is another hot topic.
There is an ongoing debate about WRU funding, how much money should go to the four Welsh regions and how much should be put into the grassroots game.
Cardiff, Ospreys, Scarlets and the Dragons provide the players to the men's national team, but those players need to start their rugby journey somewhere when younger - and that, obviously, is at their community clubs.
The many voting in our survey can't really differentiate between the regions and the club community game when it comes to which is more important to Welsh rugby's future. They deem them to be as important as each other.
If anything, that probably muddies the water further for the WRU as they plan the way forward amid talk of a much-needed governance restructure.
Result: The four regions 18.1%, grassroots game 15.6%, equally important 66.3%.
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