GATLAND FACING PLENTY OF SELECTION DILEMMAS
SELECTION isn’t a precise science and there is no universally agreed template for a coach to stick to after a damaging defeat.
Does he give vanquished players chances to redeem themselves or should he afford others opportunities?
Warren Gatland has already said there will be changes to his Wales side for the game with Italy. But who does he bring in after the loss to Ireland and how many alterations should he make?
MARK ORDERS assesses the key questions facing the Kiwi before the game with the Italians in Cardiff a week on Saturday.
HOW CAN WALES WIN MORE POSSESSION?
There are complications in any walk of life and rugby is no different.
But some issues in the oval-ball game are so straightforward they can be grasped even by those who don’t know a scrum from a line-out and who think a dummy scissors is something that is brought out solely on April Fool’s Day.
One of those is that you need to have ball to win a rugby match.
And that was the main problem for Wales against Ireland in Dublin.
They were forced to subsist on just 31% of the possession and 25% of the territory. The wonder was they didn’t lose by 30 clear points rather than just 10.
It made you wonder how much Gatland would have given to have had a peak-era Gethin Jenkins in his ranks.
For Saturday was the day when the great man was well and truly missed.
No prop in world rugby quite offered as much at the breakdown as Jenkins with his ability to fearlessly power into rucks and use his great strength and technique to strip ball from opposition hands.
For years he virtually acted as a third flanker with his expertise in that area.
Quite simply, Wales didn’t have that against Ireland.
Rob Evans has many fine attributes but his skills are different from those offered by Jenkins at his very best.
Whatever, Wales somehow must find someone, anyone — it doesn’t have to be at loose-head, though Wyn Jones has snaffled a fair bit of possession for the Scarlets — to start turning over ball because they can’t allow opponents to monopolise possession as Ireland did at the Aviva Stadium.
Which leads us nicely into the next question...
IS IT TIME FOR TIPS OR SOME JAMES DAVIES MAGIC?
The meagre diet of turnover ball that Wales were limited to in Dublin means the names of Justin Tipuric and James Davies would have been discussed by bar-room selectors across the land on Saturday evening.
Josh Navidi had done well at the breakdown in previous games and boasted more steals (5) than anyone else in the tournament.
He did what he could to try to win possession for his side at the Aviva Stadium and had a fine game in other areas but Ireland were so good in contact, with their ball presentation superb, the Cardiff Blue was fighting a losing battle.
What was so alarming was that Wales failed to even slow Irish possession, allowing the hosts impetus in attack. The Lions had the same problem against New Zealand in the first Test last summer. Sam Warburton solved it for them the following weekend, but he is off limits for Wales right now.
Navidi offers so much with his allround game that Gatland will think twice before leaving him out.
But it did seem ironic that Wales were suffering at the breakdown and they had a world-class exponent such as Davies not even involved and the outstanding Tipuric on the bench.
Maybe if the flankers had more support there wouldn’t be such an issue.
Aled Davies is adept at turning ball over for the Scarlets but Gareth Davies poses more of an attacking threat: again, the old issue of compromises and weighing up the importance of what players offer.
Whatever, Gatland needs to do something.
WHERE DOES GEORGE NORTH START?
How hungry did George North look after he came off the bench against Ireland?
This was North with his business head on.
He was purposeful and eager to take on defenders, appearing totally up for the fight. At one point he looked set on a Roy of the Rovers moment as he powered past one defender after another, appearing to believe he could beat the entire Irish team. Of course, he can be inconsistent. But maybe his spell out of the side has helped focus his mind.
He has ‘starter’ written all over him for the clash with Italy in Cardiff a week on Saturday. Who gives way? Wales have Liam Williams, Steff Evans — arguably their best player in the Irish capital — and Leigh Halfpenny as back-three options, plus the classy Hallam Amos, but North in full flight is a devastating player.
Does Gatland look to accommodate him at outside centre, as some have suggested? Well, his defence at 13 might be an issue.
There is a school of thought that it can be the hardest position to defend.
But somehow Wales need to fit the big man into their starting XV.
WHAT HAPPENS OVER DAN BIGGAR?
Let’s start with a statement of the obvious: Dan Biggar had a rickety platform to work off in Dublin, with his pack hopelessly ineffectual. There is a case for believing whoever had been playing at No. 10 for Wales would have found the going tough. But Biggar didn’t help himself. He left himself open to criticism with his decision to protest after catching a high ball. He lost focus and possession squirted Ireland’s way. Fate being what it is, seconds later the green shirts were celebrating a try.
That was a ghastly moment for the Northampton-bound player.
He had previously struggled to trigger Wales’s backs — albeit with no serious possession — and until he does that his army of critics are not going to go away.
His many fine qualities, including world-class aerial skills, huge commitment and a strong kicking game, will still count for a lot with Warren Gatland, and the Kiwi tends not to be swayed easily by public opinion.
But the question over whether Biggar is the right fit for the game Wales want to play will continue to be asked.
It is up to the man himself to answer it definitively.
Assuming he keeps his place.
SHOULD A FRESH FRONT ROW BE TRIED?
Front row can be the toughest place to play with the physical toll often gruelling, what with the requirement for props these days to not only push in the scrums but to also get around the field, put in multiple tackles and hoist in the air 19st locks at line-outs. Hookers have a similarly demanding gig.
So maybe Gatland will believe the time is right to give one, two or all three of Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Samson Lee a breather from frontline duty.
The trio found it hard to exert a serious influence on matters in Dublin. Scrum superiority eluded Wales and none of their front-rowers was conspicuous around the park, defensive duties aside.
Could Wyn Jones, Elliot Dee and Tomas Francis offer something different?
Maybe they should be given opportunities.
DAVIES AND FALETAU, ANYONE?
Taulupe Faletau is one of the world’s greatest No. 8s, so if he is fit he has to come into the mix.
He does the lot — carry, defend, provide a breakdown presence, mop up at scrums, compete at line-outs, think on his feet and so much more besides. Why wouldn’t he start? Ross Moriarty is a better blindside than No. 8 and should be left to contest that spot with Aaron Shingler.
At lock, it would be tough on Cory Hill to be demoted, but Bradley Davies is more physical and Wales lacked ballast in the front five against Ireland, with Hill one of a number of forwards who seemed to spend the afternoon mainly tackling.
Is there a need to bring Davies in for the inevitable early arm wrestle that is a feature of Test rugby and use the skilful Hill off the bench? So many questions. But Wales need to find answers after a dreadfully mediocre display.