WALES HIT DEPTHS... AND NOW THE WRU MUST ACT
WALES ended their Under-20s Six Nations campaign on a high as they staged a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Italy 27-15 and avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon.
Richard Whiffin’s side were bullied at the scrum in a bruising first-half at Cardiff Arms Park, but turned the game completely on its head after the break, scoring four tries to secure a bonus point win in front of a home crowd.
Italy held a commanding 15-0 lead at half-time, with Marcos Gallorini powering over before the visitors were awarded a penalty try shortly before the break. With indiscipline getting the better of Wales, who were unable to handle the power of the Italian scrum, Josh Morse was sent to the bin as the hosts ended the half with 14 men.
Who knows what was said in the Welsh dressing room at half-time, but it certainly worked, as Wales came out after the break a different team. Playing at a much more lively tempo, Harry Thomas pulled one back for Whiffin’s men before captain Harry Beddall and debutants Kodi Stone and Matty Young scored to complete the thrilling comeback.
Whiffin had torn up his team after the thumping defeat to France last week, making seven changes to his side. Wales were without skipper Harri Ackerman, who suffered a double fracture to his leg against France, with Beddall leading the side for their final match of the tournament.
It looked like it would be a long night for the hosts as Italy showcased their physicality from the off, trying to puncture the resilient Welsh defence and making their presence known at the scrum. They held firm for nearly 20 minutes, but eventually the Welsh line was broken with Gallorini bashing his way over to score.
Wales were frustrated, with handling errors and the repeated concession of penalties meaning they failed to put their stamp on the game. As the contest neared the halfway point, it looked as though it would get worse, as Morse was shown a yellow card while the Italians were awarded a penalty try after a period of sustained pressure.
Those inside Arms Park would have hoped to have seen a response after the break, but even the most optimistic of fans would have struggled to predict what would happen over the next 40 minutes. Right from the off in the second half, they looked a completely different team and pushed Italy back as they looked to finally get on the scoresheet.
They did so shortly after the restart, with Harry Thomas bundling over to pull one back for his side. That score gave them confidence and the balance of power soon shifted, with an almighty shove from the Welsh forwards sending Beddall over to score underneath a pile of bodies.
With the stage set for an enthralling final 20 minutes, Kodi Stone put his side ahead for the first time as he marked his first appearance in a Wales jersey with a try. The winger found himself in acres of space on the right flank, as he ran in to score and put Wales’ noses in front.
Not to be outdone on his debut, Matty Young then put the icing on the cake moments later as he wrapped up the bonus point, with Harri Ford’s late penalty making sure of the famous comeback.
It was a brilliant way for Whiffin’s side to finish what has been a difficult campaign at times.
WHEN Wales were winning Six Nations Grand Slams under Warren Gatland, there were some who warned the Welsh Rugby Union a return to the dark old days was just around the corner if they did not make significant changes beneath the surface.
Ironically the WRU’s current executive director of rugby Nigel Walker was one of those voices. But did the WRU listen? Of course they didn’t and those critics who were rubbished over the past decade have been proven right.
Former CEO Roger Lewis, along with his finance director, later to be CEO, Steve Phillips took a top heavy approach with the rest of the game starved of resources, and this is their legacy.
Four regional sides who have not had the resources to consistently compete, and over the last couple of years the rot has spread upwards.
This is the nadir of Welsh rugby. Wales are back to where they were over two decades ago, losing every game on their way to a first Wooden Spoon since 2003.
At least 21 years ago they lost to Italy in Rome, this time they were outplayed in their own backyard with tries from Monty Ioane, and Lorenzo Pani along with 14 points from the boots of Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo securing a second successive victory for the Azzurri in Cardiff.
All Wales could muster were two tries courtesy of Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady with Sam Costelow and Ioan Lloyd kicking the conversions
WALES’ TACTICS
IN their defence Wales have lost a significant amount of experienced high end international class players over the past 18 months, while the regional game is in dire straits.
Given the current state of Welsh rugby it would be difficult for any coach to achieve success with Wales. Even so, Warren Gatland has to take a chunk of the responsibility.
The narrative surrounding Wales has been of going through short-term pain for long-term gain, and there have been patches of positive play throughout the Championship.
In the main the Welsh public and media have been understanding but a home defeat to Italy which sealed a first Wooden Spoon in 21 years is unacceptable.
Wales looked rudderless at times, and while Gatland can’t be held accountable for every unforced error, it was difficult to see what Wales’ game plan was.
Italy were full of invention behind the scrum, their defence was extremely disciplined and they attacked Wales where they were weakest.
The New Zealander is the most successful national coach Wales have ever had but turning around this side is easily the toughest job of his career. While he hasn’t got the quality of player or the experience he once had, Wales should have been better.
Wales need to regroup and have a long hard think about how they proceed because what they are doing isn’t working.
WALES CAN’T COPE WITH PRESSURE AND WHERE ARE THE LEADERS?
PRIOR to kick-off many expected Wales to come out all guns blazing given what was on the line, but they looked rudderless and devoid of confidence.
Whereas the Italians were full of energy Wales looked lacklustre while they were often slow to the contact area which allowed the Azzurri to pinch ball at the breakdown.
Wales made far too many simple mistakes whether it was Nick Tompkins spilling the ball forward in a
promising position under no pressure or Sam Costelow and Cam Winnett’s mix up when the collided into each other because neither called for the ball in their own 22.
Wales looked extremely anxious. It looked as if there was a lack of leadership out there, and the Italians fed off that.
If this game was played a year ago you’d have the likes of Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuri, and Rhys Webb, among others, who would have dragged Wales back into the game through sheer bloody mindedness.
But there didn’t seem to be much leadership out there on the field, especially early on when Wales should have played for territory rather than force things.
At the start of the Championship Wales were being praised for their discipline but they gave away a number of cheap penalties in Cardiff.
Just after half-time Wales had the momentum and were camped deep inside the Italian 22 when Adam Beard got pinged for a needless neck roll, while Josh Adams got penalised for sealing off on another occasion.
YOUNG GUNS OFFER SOME HOPE BUT WALES LACK POWER UP-FRONT
THROUGHOUT the course of the Six Nations there have been some positive displays from the likes of Winnett,
Alex Mann, and Rio Dyer, while Mason Grady made a big impact from the replacements bench.
But these players are still learning their trade at this level and areas of their game got exposed a little bit over the last couple of Test matches.
They will be better for this experience, and that will benefit Wales in the long-run, but what Gatland’s side really lack is explosive ball carriers.
This is an issue throughout Welsh rugby, at age grade and regional level.
Wales’ forwards try hard but they do not have the size or the explosive power to make serious inroads against the stronger packs and as a result the ball is very slow to attack from. They aren’t going to magic up some massive forwards over night so the onus is on Gatland and his assistants to find a different way of thinking which doesn’t rely so much on power.
THE WRU NEED TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES
WALES are now suffering at national level due to a large percentage of their players taking to the field and losing far more games than they win at regional level.
Losing is a habit and at the moment Wales can’t break out of it.
To put things into perspective, Winnett and Mackenzie Martin were six years of age the last time Cardiff finished in the top four of the league. They have never experienced a winning environment.
I can already hear some readers shouting why not let them go and play in England or France? That’s not the answer.
The WRU need to have a long and hard think about how they fix the professional game. The Professional Rugby Board either need to force through another cull to concentrate Wales’ talent into three teams in order to raise the standard, or it needs to find the money where it can properly service four regions.
New WRU CEO Abi Tierney will be publishing the governing body’s strategy for the whole game in June and there needs to be some drastic changes. Tierney, Walker and the chair Richard Collier-Keywood need to take a leaf out of former CEO David Moffett’s book.
The time for being nice is over. They need to do some unpleasant things for the greater good of the game and they must make some very tough decisions.
You cannot fix the men’s national side without fixing the regional game and the pathway. Also, it must be noted the men’s national side effectively pays for every other area of the game.
It’s downplaying it to say Welsh rugby is at crisis point and the WRU need to act now.