JUST SHAMBOLIC
SUPER SAM SPARES OUR BLUSHES AGAINST THE BRAVE BLOSSOMS... BUT CRITICS QUEUE UP TO SLAM WALES AS PRICEY LABELS HOWLEY’S MEN...
WALES have been swamped by criticism after squeezing to a 3330 win against Japan, with prop legend Graham Price leading the chorus of disapproval by labelling Rob Howley’s team a shambles.
A late drop-goal by replacement fly-half Sam Davies earned the win against a weakened Brave Blossoms outfit who looked set to snatch a draw in the closing stages.
Once again Wales lacked pace and invention in attack, with Japan looking far more dangeroius going forward.
Howley, who admitted, Japan were the better team, immediately came under heavy fire on social media and Price didn’t mince his words in a column in these pages today.
“Wales’ coaches and players should be ashamed because this was another, yes another, abysmal and unacceptable performance,” said Price.
“I have been saying for some time more focus should be put on the coaches, in particular Rob Howley and Robin McBryde, because the way the team was prepared was way off the mark.
“What have Wales been doing in the 12 months or so since the World Cup? They should have rebuilt the team or evolved it and the coaches have done neither.
“It’s a shambles and I get the impression the players don’t know what they are supposed to be doing. More than a year has been wasted.
“We have seen how England, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Ireland and, dare I say it, little old Japan rebuilding and developing their games but Wales are stuck in the same old ways.
“Howley and his team got away with it this time but for how much longer can this shambles continue?”
After the final whistle, Howley said he was relieved rather than frustrated.
He added: “I think today’s performance was disappointing and it’s a relief to win.
“Japan were the better team and they deserved to win.
“We’ve won two from three and I suppose next week’s performance will determine whether it’s a good autumn series or whether we’ve come up short.”
Autumn special: Sport Pullout