Time for real honesty within Welsh set-up
RETURNING Wales coach Warren Gatland really knows now the size of the job on his hands with Wales after tasting his first Six Nations defeat to Scotland. His jinx over them evaporated in some style in the Scottish capital and there is real work to do for the rest of this tournament before we even contemplate the World Cup.
Wales have know lost back-toback games in the Six Nations for the first time in the tournament since 2007, before Gats became coach.
For Wales and for Gats, losing to a side that you have beaten ten times in this tournament will really hurt this morning. These are a proud group of players and coaches and they will not be enjoying this experience.
To suffer two 30-point defeats to Ireland and then Scotland really shows where Wales are at the moment. To concede five tries must be a real pause for thought for Gats and it requires some real honesty within the Wales set-up about what they are trying to do.
Once again, there were elements of our game which looked promising but, as with last week’s defeat to Ireland, Wales were not accurate enough nor efficient with the ball, and so could not finish the opportunities they created.
But first we have to pay tribute to Scotland and winning their first back-to-back games in the tournament since 1997. Scotland are a good side and we have to understand that. You don’t beat England at Twickenham unless you are a good side and they are starting to deliver on the promise that we have all talked about for years.
Wales looked like they had weathered the storm in the first half but poor execution cost them dearly. Wales started well enough with real purpose, and were unlucky to go in 13-7 down at half-time, but the second half was all about too many Welsh errors and Scotland took full advantage.
The build up to this game was all about Gatland’s bold selection and the decision to go with Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and with Jac Morgan at No.8 and that decision to to change things up and not select Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, and leave Taulupe Faletau on the bench will be scrutinised because they didn’t win.
But Wales need to find new blood and those three young players now know what it takes to play for Wales. They will be better for the experience and none of them looked out of place at Test level.
Gats’ return to Test match rugby has been a real baptism of fire and he will be aware of that but if anyone knows how to build a team and blood players it is the Wales coach.
Ireland’s demolition of France in the best game of the tournament so far did reveal how good the Irish side are. To record a bonus-point win against this French side really does say everything you need to know.
Ireland put the reigning Grand Slam champions to one side with real efficiency to prove why they are the number one ranked side in the world at the moment. Wales were put to the sword by Ireland and have been well beaten by Scotland. But Wales have played two of the form and settled sides in the tournament and they have a new coaching team that needs time to bed in and meet the demands of Test match rugby.
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell proved what a talent he is and dominated this victory but he did a lot of the straightforward and often unglamorous parts of being fly-half against Wales.
There was a fantastic behind the back pass we could all revel in but it was his management of his team, possession and territory that was the difference between the two teams.
Russell was allowed to dictate terms, very much like Johnny Sexton did for Ireland in the opening defeat for Wales, and we really failed to get after him or disrupt his rhythm.
Scotland are now on a Grand Slam hunt, while Wales are still looking for a first win and the pressure is now on. For Gats, this will be a totally new experience for him with Wales, and England at the Principality Stadium is now a mustwin game.
There is a break in the tournament now for a week and that will be the time to reassess, lick the wounds and look at ways Wales can get a win against England in Cardiff.
For Wales, it is about starting again and rebuilding for the rest of the tournament with the World Cup in France very much at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The last time Wales lost back-to-back games in the Six Nations was the same year when we were knocked out of the World Cup in the Pool stages and failed to reach the quarter-finals of rugby’s biggest showpiece event.
I know because I was part of the team that lost to Fiji and nobody – players, coaches or supporters – wants to go through that experience again.
“It’s about starting again, rebuilding for the rest of the tournament”