SIX NATIONS: SHANE WILLIAMS’ VIEW AND THE FANS’ QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR MAN DELME PARFITT
Wales appear to be at yet another crossroads following last weekend’s defeat in Scotland. Rugby correspondent DELME PARFITT answered some of the many questions being asked by the fans in a live WalesOnline debate. Here’s the best of it...
Q: Considering Wales’ shocking inconsistency in the recent Six Nations, is a call for the resignation of Rob Howley not out of the question? Will, Cardiff I don’t think the ‘call’ is unexpected, and potentially not unreasonable. But the likelihood of it happening is next to zero. Howley will back himself and there would be nowhere for him to go if he quit, especially as he is going on the Lions tour this summer. Q: Surely it’s time to test our youngsters at international level, rather than pick our tried and tested? Glyn Welsh, Dinas Powys With the Six Nations title gone there have been a lot of calls to just blood youngsters en masse. I would resist doing that because this is tournament rugby and it still matters that Wales win their final two games, all the more so given their world ranking and potential World Cup grouping depends on it.
That said, if it were up to me I would start Keelan Giles (not even in the squad) on the wing and Sam Davies at No.10 against Ireland. Q: Steff Evans is in the squad why not select him? Ryan Jones, Llanelli Why not indeed! For me, George North has had his chance and should be dropped for the Ireland game. Given that Evans, unlike someone like Keelan Giles, is in the squad, then put him in. If he’s not deemed ready for a match of this magnitude then why pick him in the squad in the first place? I’m beginning to wonder .... Q: If Wales do lose to Ireland and slip to ninth in the world rankings, is there a possibility that the WRU might have some sort of get-out clause in Howley and Co´s contracts? Might we see a change in the Welsh coaching set-up and do you think it would be warranted? Lyndon, Swansea Yes, I think change would be warranted because it would underline the regression of the Wales set-up since the 2015 World Cup. All the more so if we lose to the French as well. Is there a get-out clause? Not that I’m aware of. Contracts have, rightly or wrongly, been extended to the 2019 World Cup. The way I see it at the moment is that either people walk of their own volition or they’re sacked. Both scenarios about as likely as Nigel Farage putting one of those blue with gold stars European stickers on the back of his car. Q: No game plan? No growth? No confidence? No positives? Do you think Rob Howley should be sacked? Keith, Neath Not yet, Keith. Let’s see if he can engineer a response in the matches against Ireland and France first. But he is on thin ice. I am told camp isn’t a happy place at present. Q: Why don’t we try something different as the same selections haven’t worked? A more pacey midfield with a skilled 10 would be ideal. For example... Sam Davies 10, Scott/Owen Williams 12 and something completely different Liam Williams 13! Matt Hill, Cardiff I would go for Sam Davies at No.10 and I’d love to see Owen Williams given a go at 12. Scott Williams has been our most creative centre, but I don’t think he’s been at his best. Owen Williams has been talked about long enough and unless we see him on the park we’ll never know. As for Liam at 13, I wouldn’t go there. Q: Due to George North playing not so well last week, who will you be considering on the wing? Any new players? Poppy, Swansea I’d like to see Keelan Giles there. But as he is not in the squad then Steff Evans deserves a chance. Q: We lost against England, but made them look highly beatable. We lost too against Scotland and they looked exceptional. Does that demonstrate an inconsistency on Wales’ part? (in which case how do we play for the full 80)? Or are we just incapable of winning any more? Nick J, Reading I wouldn’t say we’re incapable of winning anymore, Nick, but inconsistency has been a problem stretching back years. Wales are too prone to these inexplicable bad days at the office, when too many players, the senior ones included, simply don’t perform. The biggest problem for Wales at the moment is turning pressure, territory, possession into points. Whether it’s skill levels, game intelligence, confidence or whatever, we are so wasteful and blunt in attack (as shown v Scotland). Decisionmaking is also a problem. You could argue a new coaching team and fresh voices might inject a harder mental edge. Q: If Gatland were still in charge of the Wales squad instead of Lions duty. Do you think that he would of blooded any new players in the autumn and Six Nations unlike Howley? Or would we have seen similar teams picked? Karl Rees, Newport I am convinced selections would have been virtually the same. However, Gatland may have been a bit bolder in terms of substitutions. Giles should have got on in the autumn, for example. Q: Can Rob Howley honestly say if any of the new seven faces really impressed in camp that he would give them game time, or are they just there to get experience in camp environment? Does he have no intention of blooding them? Form means nothing if you are new to camp. Julian Hayward, Llangollen I’m sure he would insist everyone has a chance, but we can’t see what goes on in training. The way things have gone it does appear that people like Owen Williams, Thomas Young, Steff Evans, Olly Cracknell, etc, are there just to carry the tackle bags. Q: Why have we been so incredibly slow to change our game to more attacking one. We have had a blunt attack for about four years now. Craig, Cardigan For the most part, yes, we’ve been blunt, while showing glimpses (in New Zealand last summer) that we can play with a cutting edge when we get our act together. I guess the attacking game with all the quick-thinking and skill it demands just doesn’t come naturally to enough of the Wales players.They haven’t been used to playing that way at either Regional or Test level and have probably been ‘over-coached’ which I think has affected the collective speed of thought vital to executing a good attacking game. Q: You can pick any coach to replace Howley in the world, northern or southern hemisphere. The only rule is they can’t already be coaching a national side. Who do you pick? And why? Steve, Bridgend Great question! Loads to think about Steve, but how about Chris Boyd, the coach of Wellington Hurricanes? They won Super Rugby last year and Boyd is known as one of the most progressive thinkers in the world game, which if Wales want to add a new dimension to their attack, is what they need. Boyd is also in charge of the Baby Blacks, so has some Test experience, albeit at the age-grade level. However, I don’t for a minute see this as a realistic appointment. If we’re talking realistic I believe Dai Young deserves a shot at the job next.
Q: If Roger Federer and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can defy Father Time, can Gavin Henson do likewise and get a a recall on the summer tour? Barry, Florida Ha, ha! You know I can understand people recoiling at the idea of Henson going on that tour at the age of 35. It goes against everything you could possibly preach about preparing for the World Cup. It’s sad, but I think it’s too late for Henson now, and on the above grounds I wouldn’t select him. The other side of this is that I saw him play for Bristol against Bath last weekend and he was sublime, the timing of his passing, his tackling and his confidence to go for drop goals .... at times he looked like he had everything Wales currently need. Q: It was reported last week Leigh Halfpenny has scored one try in three-and-a -half years (appreciate he was injured last season). Is his kicking that much better than Biggar or Sam Davies to justify his inclusion now? Especially if you look at the threat the likes of Hogg and Kearney pose for their sides. Nathan, Newport I think you make a fair point, and Halfpenny is not a Stuart Hogg in terms of explosiveness or, to a lesser extent, a Rob Kearney. I also do not think he is back to the player he was before his knee injury. But I also believe people dismiss too easily the qualities he offers other than goalkicking. His positional play is faultless, he is brave as a lion in the tackle and rock solid under the high ball (yes, I know he dropped one v Scotland). I have always backed him as a full-back, but on current evidence perhaps he should swap with Liam Williams for Ireland. Would I drop him? No chance. Q: What kind of scorelines against France and Ireland would make Howley’s position secure? Grayson Rees, France Look, I don’t see a sacking or a resignation whatever happens. But if you’re talking about secure from a general standpoint then he’s desperate for a win in at least one of them. I think there’s a better chance against France away because I just think Ireland have the wood on us in Cardiff. Two defeats would just make for a febrile atmosphere around the team and ensure Howley is under immense scrutiny on the Lions tour as attack coach. Q: Should Wales concentrate on getting a win at all costs in one of the two remaining Six Nations fixtures to guarantee a world ranking in the top eight for the World Cup draw? Or select players more comfortable with the new style that Wales are currently struggling to adopt which may mean an initial step backwards? Andy, Pembrokeshire Great question, Andy. I can see the virtue in looking further forward, but Wales cannot put performances before results in these two games. Finishing as high as possible in the Six Nations matters, and more so securing that world ranking for the 2019 World Cup. We got through a so-called pool of death in 2015, I can’t see lightning striking twice in Japan. Q: Does Howley deserve credit for sticking with Sam Warburton? Every man and his dog wanted him dropped at the start of the Six Nations and now he’s been voted Wales’ best player! Geraint, Neath Given Taulupe Faletau was injured for the first game, it was easy for Howley to include Warburton alongside Tipuric and Moriarty in the back row to face Italy. Since he did, Warburton has been one of Wales’ best performers and has merited his place in the starting line-up. The clamour for Faletau will grow stronger with every passing game and if the Bath man starts against Ireland then I don’t see Warburton as being the man stepping down. Q: Why is Gatland doing the Lions again as he’s paid by the WRU and should be coaching Wales? Jason, Carmarthen Jason, he was always going to be allowed to do it again. I understand there was no specific release clause in his contract, but the WRU have been trumpeting how all the spin-off benefits will help Wales.
That is a moot point as there are undoubted drawbacks as well.
Remember though, Wales weren’t doing that well under Gatland in the first part of 2016 anyway.