Halfpenny hails ‘fantastic’ Edwards but is ready to get one over Wales’ former defence coach
Full-back believes team can exploit holes against France in next week’s clash, writes James Corrigan
‘Weird and tough.” Leigh Halfpenny is a man of few words when it comes to the media, but his brevity in this instance seems perfectly to encapsulate how Wales will feel having Shaun Edwards in opposition on Saturday.
Edwards just might win the title of “favourite Englishman” if the question was ever put to Welsh rugby fans, and it says much about his dozen years in the national set-up that his loss as defence coach has probably been more lamented than that of Warren Gatland as head coach.
There was widespread dissatisfaction, if not downright anger, across the country when Edwards understandably put the future of his family first and turned down the two-year contract he was offered to stay on under Wayne Pivac, and instead take the four years guaranteed elsewhere.
“This will be a mistake the WRU will forever regret,” Lee Jarvis, the former international fly-half, said. The only consolation was that Edwards had not been lured by the Rugby Football Union across the bridge to England.
France was his destination, to join Fabien Galthie’s revolution, and with wins in their first two Six Nations games to top the table, nobody at Wales’s base camp in the Vale of Glamorgan appears too surprised at this instant success.
“France are a hugely exciting team across the park and Shaun being there gives them structure in defence,” Halfpenny said. “We know how teams found it difficult to break us down, so we know it will be tough. But it is exciting to be going up against his defensive style, and identifying opportunities against that system is what we are working on.”
Yes, Wales know Edwards’s strengths in defence, but vice versa applies, and it will be intriguing to see who emerges most unscathed in this collision of the familiarities.
“We know what to expect, but that doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to break it down,” was how scrum-half Gareth Davies summed it up.
Edwards has promised not to celebrate should France win their first encounter at the Principality Stadium in 10 years, and what would be only a second victory over Wales anywhere in ten matches.
Of course, Edwards was in position as the Dragons’ rearguard admiral in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup four months ago when Wales rather fortuitously went through by a point – a bitter defeat the French will be pumped up to avenge.
Not that they are likely to require any motivation after a fortnight on the paddock with Edwards. It is a tough love routine, but it is love all the same, and Halfpenny makes no secret of his admiration for the man. “What Shaun did for Welsh rugby was fantastic,” he said.
Edwards did plenty for the security guard’s son from Gorseinon, in particular. Gatland would regularly refer to Halfpenny as “positionally, the best No15 in the world” and as the 31-year-old arrived on the scene just as the New Zealander and his Wigan
wingman took over in 2008, it is not difficult to trace the influence.
“Shaun brought my defensive game on immensely,” Halfpenny said. “He worked with me a lot and taught me a huge amount. I have a lot to thank him for. Yeah, it will be weird facing him, but that is rugby and time moves on. We have a new group and we have identified things to look at and improve.”
In Pivac’s burgeoning expansionist era, Halfpenny has reminded observers of his overlooked offensive qualities. In the opening day’s 42-0 rout of Italy he was everywhere and, in the 24-14 comedown in Ireland last weekend, he was one of the few backs to emerge with any credit, never ceasing to probe the green wall.
It is quite the turnaround from last year, when Halfpenny did not play so much as a minute in the Grand Slam as Liam Williams starred at full-back, and he feared that concussion could prematurely end his career. Halfpenny battled on, finding inspiration from the birth of Lily, his and partner Jess Tumelty’s first child.
“I am hugely grateful to be back,” he said. “Having a daughter is very special and I am loving being a dad; it puts everything into perspective. Last season was a shame, but I am over that
‘France are a very exciting team and Shaun gives their defence structure’
now. I am enjoying my rugby and it’s great being out there again.”
Halfpenny’s renewed enthusiasm is not about to be dulled by the setback in Dublin. Seven years ago, he was named player of the Six Nations after Wales recovered from an early defeat by Ireland to retain the title they won in 2012 via a Grand Slam. Could history repeat itself?
“Absolutely, it is not all over,” Halfpenny said. “Yeah, we have to win our next three games to have a chance, but we did it in 2013. We have lost one game and we are hurting from that. We have to put in a performance against France.”