Wales must learn to nail crucial moments
Another one bites the dust! Two weeks in a row Wales have had victory in their sights, yet failed to find a way to deliver the goods. They’ll be kicking themselves! The much-vaunted French trymachine was restricted to a single touchdown and the possession and territory in the second half belonged to Wales. Raphael Ibanez hit the nail on the head when he said after the game that it was the French defence that won them the game.
They’d run riot at Murrayfield two weeks earlier, scoring six tries, but in Cardiff it was the other side of their game that we were able to marvel at. They missed only nine tackles, secured six turn-overs and stopped Wales from scoring a try. The shutout won them the game.
It was classic Shaun Edwards tactics. He has turned the French into a mean-machine without the ball and helped them to get to within one win of a first Grand Slam since 2010. For the players it will be their first, for Shaun it could be his fourth!
There is nothing worse than getting a slap on the back for being gallant losers. No professional player wants that. However, I hope Dan Biggar’s side will take the plaudits they were offered, learn from the agonisingly close defeat to England and France and end on a real high against Italy.
It was great to see Josh Navidi back in action alongside Taulupe Faletau in the Welsh back row and they might have Alun Wyn Jones in the row in front of them against Italy on Saturday. All we’ll need then is for George North, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny to return in one piece and the squad will be complete again.
Won’t it be fantastic if ‘Big Al’ comes back to win his 150th Welsh cap at the weekend. And what a reunion it would be for him and Sergio Parisse if the rumours turn out to be true about the inspirational Italian No.8 making his farewell appearance on the international stage after winning 142 caps for his country. They are both living proof that age is just a number and class counts for everything. For the record, Alun Wyn in 36 and Sergio 38!
The Italian game becomes vitally important to Wales in this championship because it gives the team a chance to prove there has been real growth in the squad from the autumn and through the Six Nations. Any hopes of a successful defence of the title we won last year went up in smoke in Dublin against Ireland. The inability to take chances against England and France means a scrap for a mid-table finish at best will be the target on Saturday.
There will be an expectation of an easy ride against Italy, but that will be far from the reality. They may have lost 30+ games in a row in the tournament but they ae a proud nation and haven’t dropped their heads once in this championship. Given the success Benetton Rugby and Zebre have enjoyed against Welsh regions in the URC they are bound to travel with some belief that they can end their horrible run in Cardiff.
We can ill-afford to take anything for granted because that losing run is going to come to an end at some stage. If Biggar’s boys can stay on the upward curve, become a bit more clinical and precise in their finishing and get off to a confident start then we could see what they are really capable of.
And wouldn’t it be appropriate for the team to come together for their captain on the day he wins his 100th cap for Wales. What a player, what a competitor, what an inspiration Dan Biggar has been for club and country. He has taken to the captaincy really well and set the kind of example that others have done their best to emulate.
Pivac’s decision to give the captain’s armband to his No.10 has been an inspired choice. It has enhanced his performances, rather than detracted from them. The greater the pressure, the greater the challenge, the more Dan rises to it.
He has a different style of leadership to Alun Wyn. What has impressed me most has been the way he has bitten his tongue when addressing the officials. Everyone thought he might become even more explosive in his comments to referees given his new status, but instead he has been cooler and calmer in his interactions.
He had every right to believe Wales were the better team on Friday night, but spot on in his assessment that his side needs to learn to nail the crucial moments in matches. Just think what might have been at both Twickenham and the Principality Stadium. The results have been cruel, the margin between success and failure very small. Now there is a chance to set the record straight against Italy.
Had Jonathan Davies held onto the inside pass from the brilliant Faletau, then the French might not have been heading to Paris seeking Grand Slam glory. That was one of those golden chances that went begging. When those opportunities are turned into points then this will be a very difficult Welsh side to beat.
Will Rowlands, Gareth Thomas, Seb Davies, Dewi Lake, Taine Basham and Jac Morgan have all made huge strides up front this season. There are others who have also put up their hands behind the scrum. Now the task is to combine the two to become more effective.
Saturday will be a chance to do that, while the three Test tour of South Africa this summer will be a step up into a different world.
“Learn from these agonisingly close defeats and finish on a real high”