Barry John

W ALES kept their best until last, almost right up to the final five minutes with that beautifully -worked try for Justin Tipuric.

No-one deserved that more. He typified everything that was good about parts of the Welsh performance and was man of the match by a country mile.

If only Wales had more players capable of playing to Tipuric’s level. Unfortunately, the last few weeks have been something of a trying period; trying for the Welsh camp, but more, I would say, for the Welsh fans.

You can only beat what is put in front of you and Wales duly did that against Argentina, Japan and quite easily the worst South African team I can remember.

They say that statistics don’t fib and the fact that this autumn has resulted in three wins out of four has to be ranked a magnificent achievement on paper, particularly given the way the team have fought back from being blown away by Australia.

Yet, even though the figures definitely stack up for Wales, I still don’t sense a feeling of joy around the country. Why? Because the performances have not been as instinctive and exciting as we would like.

The Springbok game summed things up for me. There were moments that were very good, mainly revolving around Tipuric, but for the most part I felt Wales’ players were not consistently singing from the same song sheet.

And that’s a concern looking ahead to the Six Nations, because England and Ireland have made significant strides in terms of how they play the game, whereas I feel we haven’t. Despite three wins out of four.

There has been a clamour for a clearout of the old guard and a new, younger brigade brought in. But I find it difficult to agree with that. Firstly because most of the players are in their mid-20s, secondly because there is some real talent in this Welsh team. The question is how do we get the best out of them, leading to a re-energised side producing vibrant, dynamic and exciting performances in victory?

The answer is across the Severn Bridge, where Eddie Jones took over the same England players who so underwhelmed at the World Cup and has very quickly turned them into a genuine force who are right up there on the top table of the world game.

How has he done that? By changing the players’ mind-set and thinking, encouraging them to express themselves, have belief in their ability to play genuinely attractive rugby. Individually and collectively.

They put 37 points on a more experienced Springbok side a couple of weeks ago and coped with having a player sent off to comfortably dispose of Argentina too.

Ireland have also evolved their game and their thinking, playing the more modern style needed in 2016 and in doing so beating New Zealand and Australia this autumn.

That is what you call real progress. Those Irish players are the same ones our own Welsh stars go head to head with most weeks in the Pro12, so I find it frustrating and questionable as to why their players can transfer their talents into a cohesive,dynamic international unit, whereas we cannot.

The Six Nations is traditionally a productive tournament for Wales, but England and Ireland are ahead of us at the moment because of the more progressive style of rugby they are producing.

We meet each of them at the Principality Stadium, so home advantage comes into play.

As such, I’m confident Wales will be ready and contribute as always, but a lot of work is needed in how we use the ball.

Despite a glut of possession against the Springboks, it was too often pedestrian, slow and predictable. Maybe a new backs coach needs to come on board to help out. Stephen Jones, possibly?

Whoever, there is a need for an injection of new ideas and zest on the training field to see if we can then bring that with us into match day.

We did win, of course, and individuals do deserve a special mention.

Dan Biggar had one of his better games, controlling the game at times and producing some most un-No10 type things, such as ripping the ball off a big forward and holding up another opponent in a maul to produce a Welsh scrum.

Tipuric was superb, so good that he has written his name onto the team-sheet for the Lions a year down the line.

Alun Wyn Jones’ influence on the three wins cannot be over-stated enough. If he wants to go with the Lions, he too is a shoo-in. I only raise the question because at this stage of his career, he might need a break with one eye on a distant World Cup and to ensure he can carry on performing to a high level for the Ospreys and Wales.

So to sum up, three wins out of four takes the pressure off Rob Howley and gives him enough leeway heading into the Six Nations.

Well done for that achievement - but a lot of work is still required to get genuine smiles back on the faces of Wales fans again.