Standing tall as we finish on a high
WHAT a brilliant start by Wales at Stade de France and what an encouraging performance with which to end what had been an otherwise pretty miserable Six Nations campaign.
But let’s be fair, there have been many Welsh sides that have failed to score one try in Paris, let alone score four. So, credit to Ken Owens’ side for sticking at it right to the death and finally providing some cheer for Warren Gatland and his coaching team.
This was a real step forward. It may be the flimsiest of foundation stones, but at least there is something on which to build as we now move towards the World Cup in the autumn. If they can replicate the intent, intensity and precision of those opening eight minutes, and many thereafter, then maybe there is a chance of getting out of the pool and causing a few problems in the knock-out stages.
The highlight of that great opening was, of course, the try from George North. The forwards did their work, Rhys Webb showed his class by picking out George and he raced to the posts for the try that took him out on his own (ahead of me!) on 23 as Wales’ leading try-scorer in the Six Nations.
As well as that try I thought he had one of his best games for a while for Wales and there is still, I believe, a lot more to come from him. The next landmark for him is to get past Brian O’Driscoll’s tournament high of 26 tries. I think he can do that.
Given everyone at Stade de France, probably most of the Welsh fans included, thought the French merely had to turn up to do to Wales what they’d done to England at Twickenham the previous week, you have to put this down as not only a brave performance, but a highly-competent one as well. The experienced players stood tall at the start, fully justifying their selection, and then the replacements came off the bench to more than prove their worth. It was great to see the bench really making an impact.
And I guess that is what this tournament has all been about for Warren following his return to Wales. He knew all the old faces, but he had to get to know the names and shortcomings of so many other players ahead of the autumn.
I think it’s 35 players he’s used throughout the championship, and made 27 changes to his teams over the course of the five games. Any thoughts of a Triple Crown, Grand Slam or title had gone after those opening two defeats, so he opted
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to assess what he’s got. The other part of the plan was to put some much-needeed experience into his younger players.
So for those Doubting Thomases who think this Championship has been a waste of time, think again. We’re all talking about the potential of Rio Dyer, the promise of Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins, the size of Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza, as well as the desire of Bradley Roberts.
Throw into the mix three key players to come back from injury in Will Rowlands, Gareth Anscombe and Dewi Lake, and perhaps even Josh Navidi, and things look a lot more encouraging.
The great thing about Gats is that he is a master at building confidence in players. You could see the impact of the win in Rome and another week of work under his guidance from the performance in Paris.
Add in the three-match World Cup warm-up programme, as well as the time the team will spend together in France preparing and playing, and it’s obvious to me that this team is going to make strides moving forward.
Does he know his best team yet? I don’t think he does. And nor does anyone else! But he’s building a group of players who now clearly understand what is expected of them, the standards he needs to get them to and what is required of them.
I left the stadium with a small spring in my step. Over the course of the last two weekends we’ve seen the Gatland Effect beginning to take hold once again. I’m not going to get carried away, and neither should any Welsh fans, but there are definite signs of green shoots.
The last time Gats took Wales to a World Cup they went as Grand Slam champions and the number one ranked team in the world. That was only four years ago. If the hopes and expectations were high for Japan, then they won’t be the same this time around. But there will be a level of expectation. The great thing now is at least this group of players can start contemplating meeting that expectation.
As for who will make it to France, some of the young guns will have to bide their time and it might be a final hurrah for some of the greatest players who have ever worn the red jersey of Wales.
But when you look at the level of performance put in by that very special man Taulupe Faletau, left, who won his 100th cap, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones and ‘Captain Ken’ in Paris, then you’d have to say they’ll all still have something to offer come the autumn.
Let’s not start booking a World Cup celebration party just yet but let’s raise a small toast to Gatland and his coaching crew for getting this group of players into a place where they might actually be able to go and do themselves proud when they return to France later in the year.