Welsh Rugby Union boss Steve Phillips has admitted it is "fair" to suggest there was lack of viable home candidates for the job of coaching the national side after Warren Gatland was reappointed to the role.
Following a brutal start to the Autumn campaign that yielded a heavy defeat to the All Blacks, the pressure was eased on Wayne Pivac via a narrow win over Argentina. But then a first ever home defeat to Georgia, followed by the embarrassment of throwing away a 34-13 lead to lose to Australia, saw the former Scarlets man released a year early from his contract.
The WRU then moved swiftly to secure the return to Gatland, who led Wales from 2007-2019. The deal will see him take charge for the 2023 Six Nations and World Cup, but with the option of continuing through to 2027.
Whilst on paper it appeared a no-brainer given the success of his first stint, the second coming is also being seen as an expensive gamble from the WRU. At a time when Welsh rugby is in a financial squeeze, Gatland's deal, combined with Pivac's pay-off, will cost in excess of £1 million.
And in an interview with the BBC, under-fire chief executive Phillips was asked if the decision was an indictment on the quality of Welsh coaches available: "That's probably fair - but you have to remember the situation we found ourselves in," he replied.
"It's not long since the review. Then you look at the candidates available and we don't have long before the Six Nations. So for the best of the national team we had to go to someone familiar, who knew the Welsh way, knew the players so we very quickly narrowed it down to Warren."
Dai Young, the current head coach at Cardiff Rugby, publicly ruled out any notion of him being in the running, whilst reports of an interest in former Ospreys chief Steve Tandy never materialised. And Phillips insisted the WRU's judgement would be based on quality, not nationality.
"Our ambition post-Warren in terms of having a Welsh coach is a conversation for a later date," he added. "But I would always go with the best person for the job. If that person happens to be Welsh then that's a bonus."
Phillips and co have sought to ease pressure this week by announcing that Welsh rugby's freeze on player contract negotiations is set to end in January. The Professional Rugby Board (PRB) has told the Welsh rugby players' body that the nation's four regions expect 'enhanced' WRU funding.
