Wales too slow to change strategy
WHILE I was delighted that Wales beat South Africa for the third consecutive time this weekend, I am under no illusions that come the Six Nations in just two months, we may struggle against the other home nations, all of whom have swept way ahead of us.
Many respected pundits such as Andy Howell have already suggested Wales are two years behind England and Ireland in reacting too slowly post World Cup, to changing our strategy to accommodate two playmakers in midfield, while also looking to offload more frequently when the opportunity beckons. It is a game plan that the adventurous Welsh region Scarlets used so successfully last season to shock and awe everyone in the final stages of the Guinness Pro 12, and not just win the Champions play off in Dublin by a small margin, but by a country mile against the mighty Munster, after having the previous week in the same city beaten Leinster in the semis.
It is fantastic therefore to see Warren Gatland, who, thanks to the folly of the WRU, spent an unhappy spell away from his day job, coaching the Lions to a valiant drawn series in New Zealand, at last recognising reality and adopting the exciting new strategy. Of course it will take time to perfect, as we saw against New Zealand in Cardiff last week, when Wales were very much second best again, compared to Scotland who could and should have beaten them the week before.
England meanwhile soundly beat Australia, while we (albeit with the help of a hapless TMO who missed Kurtely Beale’s blatant knock before his try at a crucial point in the game when momentum was with us) lost for the 13th consecutive time against the green and gold.
I am eternally grateful for what Warren and his coaches have achieved for us during his tenure winning three glorious Six Nations trophies including two priceless Grand Slams, but I genuinely fear for the upcoming campaign starting with Scotland at Cardiff on February 3 2018, simply because we have lost so much ground on the progression of others, and also lack real strength in depth. However like Warren I have always been a glass half full man and hope he and his coaches can defy the odds, and prove all his critics including me wrong again.
R Terry James Brentwood, Essex