Tone-deaf Wales chief only added to misery
WALES’S latest Six Nations defeat was a game that very nearly didn’t happen, but before, during and after the loss to England there was more misery and anger for the country’s national game to endure.
In a handful of ways, Warren Gatland’s side improved significantly on their first two matches of 2023 although the bar had been set low. The nuts and bolts of their game were better and there was progress defensively. Yet they still leaked three tries and their attack was woeful.
Before kick- off, interim Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Nigel Walker caused consternation when appearing on the BBC. ‘ The regions have signed up to giving contracts by the endnd of next week,’ said Walker, before launching which into he a must statement ateust surely regret. ‘If thatat doesn’t happen I will be holding their feet to the fire. Make no mistake about that.’
After a week in which Wales playerss had threatened too strike for the Englandnd game before comingng to an 11th-hour agreementement over contractual issues,sues, Welsh rugby has plenty still to deal with.
Walker’s comments effectively only served as yet another stick with which to beat the WRU and they have plenty of detractors already. Why did he feel the need to show a red rag to the bull when the bull is already full of anger? Only he will know.
It is understood Walker has not apologised to the four Welsh regions for his comments, but the contracts being proposed to the players at Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets have not been well received because of the tight finance budgets on the table.
The regions hope they can be renegotiated. But that is a matter for the future and the reality now is that Wales have lost all three of their Six Nations games so far.
Their latest reversal came to an England side who, for all of Wales’s efforts, still scored three tries and would have won by more had Owen Farrell not missed 10 points from the tee.
‘The last thing you want to do is get the wooden spoon,’ said Wales head coach Gatland ( below). ‘That’s got to be our focus.’
Their attacking troubles were summed up by the number of turnovers they conceded when hammering away in the English 22 and the fact their only try came from an intercept.
Louis Rees-Zammit, who picked off Max Malins’ pass to race away and score it, said: ‘I think with a new coachcoaching set- up it’s always ggoing to be tough. ‘We’veWe’v lost again which isn’t good enough but hophopefully we can put in a good performance anperformance against Italy.’ A trip to Rome is next for Wales a wweek on Saturday. LikeL Wales, the AzzurriAz also have thrthree loses on the boarboard, but in contrast to Gatland’sGa side they are shoshowing significant signs of quicquick progress. Their attack, for example, is demonstrating plenty of promise. Italy will be favourites.
Writing in his programme notes for the England game, WRU president Gerald Davies summed up the mood of the nation.
‘This is a solemn time for us in Welsh rugby which, I must confess, is putting it mildly. In the forefront have been major complaints, recriminations and occasional diversions, hostile censures and home truths,’ Davies wrote.
‘It has been a harrowing time, unrelenting in its comment and judgment. We are sorry it has come to this.’
Wales must now somehow try to circle the wagons. Defeat in Rome would be unthinkable and yet another reminder of the job on Gatland’s hands. Wales lost at home against Italy last year.