At last,there’s loads of talent for Gatland to work with
If I was to give Wales a mark for their Six Nations campaign, it would be a B. With England and Ireland heavy favourites for the tournament before we’d even got started, I don’t think I’m the only one who would have taken a second-placed finish for Warren Gatland’s side.
I’m a glass-half-full sort of person, so I’m pretty positive when I look back on the last month or so. Wales are going the right way and will be all the better for this tournament.
When our fans look back on the France game, I’m sure there will be a degree of negativity, purely because it was a tough watch. Let’s be honest, it was pretty dire at times.
What’s important, though, is that it doesn’t detract from the bigger picture. There’s a danger that could happen and, for me, it’s vital it doesn’t. More on that later.
The reason we all love rugby is that it’s a game for all shapes, all sizes, and no match is ever the same. In Cardiff on Saturday night both Wales and France made plenty of mistakes, there were penalties everywhere, and it all turned into a bit of a mess. Sometimes, that can happen.
It was all the more frustrating because I actually thought Wales started pretty well. Yes, France gifted them some early points, but Liam Williams took his try well after a mistake from Francois Trinh-Duc who produced one of the worst performances I’ve seen in a while.
With Liam scoring early and Leigh Halfpenny kicking three penalties, I thought Wales would really push on and take control of the game. How wrong I was.
We didn’t score a point after that as the game went down the pan and, for me, there were a couple of reasons why it happened.
The first is that Wales have still not rectified their breakdown problems and that is a big concern. England and Ireland blew us away in that area and if you think I’m repeating myself here, that’s because I am!
Whoever Wales have picked in the back-row, it hasn’t quite helped Warren to get the continuity and delivery of ball he’d like. Without speed at ruck time, Wales can’t play the type of game we’d all like to see from them. That’s why it’s such a fundamental issue.
Wales aren’t the only team to struggle in this area. England have big concerns there too, Scotland can improve, and I think the only team who can be truly happy are Ireland.
When Warren and his coaching team review this tournament, top of their priority list must be how Wales look after the ball. Other teams in the Northern Hemisphere are way better at it than we are. So, how to fix that area of the game?
Firstly, it’s something for the whole team to consider because it’s not an individual thing. When you look at Wales’ players one by one, they’re all doing good things on the whole.
It’s just that as a collective, there are little issues which are stopping them from getting to the next level.
Wales are 75 per cent of the way there, but they’re just slightly off at the breakdown and that means we’ll never quite get the speed of ball we want.
That’s the reason why Wales played well in patches but not in others in the Six Nations.
The game with France was a good example. The away side had similar problems which resulted in a disappointing game for the neutral.
While I don’t think Warren would argue with the points I’ve raised so far, I also want to stress that I think on the whole Wales are in a pretty good position.
To finish second is a good achievement and England’s struggles in the last few games show there isn’t much between the best sides in the Northern Hemisphere, even with Ireland clearly out in front.
Hadleigh Parkes didn’t have his best game against France, but he’s been one of Wales’ impressive performers in the Six Nations. I thought AlunWyn Jones was excellent in the final game, while Ken Owens, Halfpenny and Rob Evans can all be pleased with their tournament’s work.
So, what about the future? It’s been a strange Six Nations and for Wales the focus now switches to the summer tour where Warren will look at some of his younger players yet again.
We already know guys like Alun-Wyn, Sam Warburton and Halfpenny won’t travel to face South Africa and Argentina, and I think that’s the right call.
Over the last 12 months Wales have built more strength in depth and exposed younger players to the highest level with plenty of success. There’s no denying that.
The trip to Washington to meet the Springboks and the two Tests with the Pumas are a further chance to do that and it will be following that tour that the World Cup countdown really begins.
By September, Wales need to have the answers to the big questions. Who plays at fly-half ? Is it Dan Biggar, Gareth Anscombe or Rhys Patchell?
There are also dilemmas to consider in the back-row and at outside centre. What is pleasing, though, is that there are at least options for Warren to consider.
If that wasn’t the case, I’d be worried.
When you look at each position, you can now name two or three players who are competing for the starting jersey.
That hasn’t always been the case over the last few years and I’m sure Wales will only get better in the next 18 months.
It’s slightly too early to say whether we will be real World Cup contenders.
What is for sure, though, is that Warren always gets the best from his team at crucial moments and the Six Nations has shown there is plenty of talent for him to work with.
All Wales fans want to see the team lifting silverware and that hasn’t happened, but hopefully this time next year it will be Sam Warburton or Alun-Wyn lifting the famous trophy instead of Rory Best.
The way Wales are going, that and beating the best teams on the planet at the World Cup is a more than realistic target.