Feature Wales have all the traits to be greats
ALEX BYWATER sits down with WRU chairman Alan Phillips in what promises to be a huge year for Wales
“When they get to the top - and they will - they’ll know they’ve deserved it”
ALAN Phillips is the man inside the Wales camp better placed than any to plan and plot their route to World Cup glory in Japan. The team manager played in the first tournament in 1987 and will head over to the Far East for his fifth global showpiece in his current role.
Phillips has everything in place to allow Warren Gatland to crown his glittering Wales reign with the ultimate prize in the sport.
England found out things don’t always go to script when they exited their home tournament at the pool stages four years ago, but Phillips is staunch in his belief Wales can lift the William Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama on November 2.
“I wouldn’t put anyone off thinking we could face New Zealand in the World Cup final,” he told The Rugby
Paper. “All the planning for the World Cup is in place. Our preparation will be spot on and we will be super fit. There is no doubt about that.
“Our record at the last three World Cups has been very good, the current squad is the best I’ve seen, and there is still a lot of growing for these young boys to do.
“The competition we have at the moment is huge, but this side has all the traits great teams have; hard work, loyalty, respect, and they like being together. There is a buzz about the place. They’re all good young men. You feel young just being around them.
“When they get to the top – and they will get there – they will be able to sit back and know they deserved it.”
An analysis of Wales’ global standing at the turn of the year shows they must be considered genuine World Cup challengers. They are ranked third in the world behind New Zealand and Ireland on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run which included a first autumnal clean sweep in November.
And Phillips, who has worked alongside both Sir Graham Henry and Steve Hansen with Wales, believes Wayne Pivac will have a hard act to follow when he steps out of Gatland’s shadow.
“I hope people won’t say ‘We never had it so good’ when Warren leaves,” he added. “I hope the success carries on. I’m not sure if Warren will be the best Wales coach of all time. That includes the future and you don’t know what will happen then, but up until the time he leaves, he will definitely be the best. Just look at his record – it’s phenomenal.
“It’s quite extraordinary how long Warren has stayed in Wales. The commitment he’s given has been amazing and I certainly think it has been returned.
“Welsh people over the last 100 years have been working in coal mines and steel works and there is certainly a hard-working attitude in our DNA. Warren has fetched that out. Steve started the work hard mantra to be fair. His view was you could have all the talent in the world, but if you didn’t work hard, it wouldn’t shine.
“Steve and Warren are different personalities, but very, very similar deep down in terms of their views on players, personnel and back-room staff.”