Gatland’s previous stars worried
Some of Warren Gatland’s essential previous Wales stars have actually questioned Wales’ strategies and identity.
After Wales’ dropped to a 3rd successive defeat because Gatland’s return versus England, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin and his previous skipper Sam Warburton were charged with attempting to pull apart simply what is failing.
And it was clear they are having a hard time to recognize what Wales are doing today.
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“Can anybody see what we’re attempting to do in attack?” asked previous centre Shanklin on Scrum V.
“Tactically we got it incorrect. We were far too direct. We’re attempting to make clear the gain line brief and after that bring around our forwards however we have not got huge ball providers any longer.
“The method we’re playing would just fit South Africa – a group with huge ball providers. We can’t control crashes so we require to take a look at various methods to attack.
“Our strength is our wingers and Mason Grady – when they got the ball there were indications of pledge, however we’re truly having a hard time in attack.”
Roberts, likewise on Scrum V, said: “We fronted up however our abilities weren’t as good as England and we didn’t perform too.
“Wales lack cohesion and deception in attack but the common theme in their first three games is the lack of accuracy inside the opposition 22.
“You have to work hard to create opportunities in Test rugby so you have to take them. It’s tiring when you go through 10, 15, 20 phases to work your way up field and get nothing for it.”
On Rugby Special, Warburton was asked who Gatland’s Wales are and what they are trying to do? He said: “It’s a good question. Because selection has changed so much it is actually hard to tell that.”
Warburton now thinks the rest of the tournament is about “discovery”, with Shanklin urging Gatland to pick a team of youngsters to go to Italy, suggesting it doesn’t matter if Wales end up with the Wooden Spoon.
Wilkinson: Wales ‘short of confidence’
Rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson has warned Wales lack confidence and look ‘disconnected’ as they prepare for their Italian test in two weeks’ time.
England’s World Cup winning talisman delivered his verdict on Warren Gatland’s side as part of his role as an ITV pundit for the Six Nations.
Wilkinson said of the loss to England: “I felt just Wales looked a little bit short of confidence to push that extra yard and a little bit disconnected at times which meant they weren’t able to create the momentum they needed.
“As such, even though the scores remained quite close, England were always able to come back and just find that edge away from home. Down in Wales is never easy, but they never quite entered that danger zone of feeling it could go the other way.
” That’s good game management for England because that’s not always been the case of recent years. There have been some games that have slipped away, but this one they found a way.”
Of the clash in Rome, he said: “I have enjoyed watching Italy, especially playing at home. They are coming up with stuff that I’d have the notebook out for, thinking I wouldn’t mind stealing that. They are pushing their game.
“For Wales, this is a crucial time to find those little bits of confidence within the team, team spirit coming together, a bit of belief, a bit of trust in each other, a bit of stability where there perhaps hasn’t been with the things moving around in coaching, or with some of the other situations.”
Shane: Things might get worse before they get better
Shane Williams says Wales’ clash with Italy in Rome “has all the makings of a do-or-die effort” for both teams and admits Wales’ current struggles come as “no surprise” to him.
Wales are now nought from three in this year’s Six Nations after defeat to England in Cardiff and legend Williams believes they need to head to the Eternal City with no psychological baggage, and urged the whole nation to get behind the team.
He stressed, however, that things could get worse before they get better.
“It has all the makings of a do-or-die effort for both teams as they chase their first win of the campaign,” he wrote in his Rugby Paper column. “I just hope that the Welsh players go to Rome and play without fear or pressure.
“It is a game they could easily lose given their current form, yet it is likewise the sort of game that could prove to be a catalyst for the rest of the year. One win will do miracles for confidence, and we all went to see the likes of Dafydd Jenkins, Chris Tshiunza, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady get some confidence after tasting victory.
“We still have Gareth Anscombe, Dewi Lake and Will Rowlands to return from injury. Josh Navidi and Dan Lydiate are also improving, and the squad will be learning and improving with every day they spend working under Warren. It will be the same with the new coaching team.
“There are plenty of things to work on, new reference points without the group and new goals to achieve. Things might get worse before they get better, however the whole squad will need the backing of the nation if they are to dig themselves out of the current hole sooner rather than later.”
He added: “This Welsh team needs to go to Italy not worrying about averting a ‘Wooden Spoon’. It needs to concentrate on building the bond, the cohesion and the never-say-die attitude that they will need in France at the World Cup later in the year.
“Things don’t look great at the moment, I’ll grant you that, however I believe they will get better. Ken (Owens) asked for all the stakeholders in Welsh rugby to pull together in the same direction so that “we can improve”. There has never been a more important moment to ‘back the boys’.”
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Players leaving Wales is paranoia – Tompkins
Saracens centre Nick Tompkins says a rumoured player exit from Wales is “paranoia”.
The Wales midfielder has urged everyone to pull together for the good of Welsh rugby after months of uncertainty came to a head last week, with a strike averted at the 11th hour and an agreement between the warring factions reached.
Deals should be offered to out-of-contract players this week, with the 60-cap ruled also relaxed to 25. Tompkins doesn’t think this will spark a player drain, though
“The argument I’ve heard that everyone is going to leave Wales I think just isn’t true, it’s paranoia maybe,” said Tomkins.
“Frankly, look at Premiership Rugby, two clubs have folded, there are a lot of players out there and there is not much cap room for anyone. We’ve got to start looking at this as not trapping players, and more about let’s make these regions the best place to be, and let’s make Wales the best place to be.
“I think that is what’s being done. It’s a very important point. I always approached it as I was in it with all the boys. It was more for the regions. I wanted to see the boys get something fair for what they do, the way they put their bodies on the line.
“That’s how I saw it and didn’t look at it from a personal point of view at all. I hope things get done now. We all want to see the game grow in Wales and we all want it to be better.
“The most important thing over the next couple of weeks is how they figure out at the top how this is going to go. That’s a massive thing.”
Steward compared to cricketing genius Harry Brook
Max Malins says he can see a strong comparison between England full-back Freddie Steward and cricketer Harry Brook in terms of the startling impact they have made on international sport.
Steward is just 20 caps into his Test career, while Brook has amassed 809 runs for England in only nine innings – including four centuries – at an average of almost 90.
Former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies described 22-year-old Steward as the world’s best full-back under the high ball following a command performance during England’s 20-10 Six Nations victory in Cardiff.
Asked if he could see similarity between Steward and Brook, England wing Malins said: “I would say so. He is well beyond his years in that sense.
“From 21 for 3 on day one (against New Zealand) to see Brook score those runs, I love the way they are playing, the no-fear factor of ‘go and play cricket’, and that has helped Brook to play his own game.
“He (Steward) was unbelievable. It is always nice knowing you have that net behind you, that he is going to clean up anything.
“He is one of the best, isn’t he? You don’t see many people compete with him there and win the ball. He doesn’t always just catch it on his chest either, it’s above his head as well. It’s pretty impressive stuff.
“You take a ball like that, you know someone is coming to smash you. That is part of the skill, too.”
Ireland begin quiet Grand Slam talk
Mack Hansen admits Grand Slam talk is being mentioned, albeit very quietly, after his two tries helped Ireland stutter past Italy to remain in pole position for Six Nations success.
Andy Farrell’s men have a fortnight to prepare for a trip to Scotland on March 12 before a championship finale at home to England six days later.
While Connacht wing Hansen admits there is some in-camp title discussion, he says players are not getting ahead of themselves.
“We do talk about it,” the 24-year-old said of a potential Grand Slam. “It’s hard to think about it too much because we do need to take it week by week.
“We can’t be thinking about England, we can’t be thinking that we’ve already beaten Scotland, a really good Scotland team.
“We are going to need to go over Scotland and then go from there.
“Of course there’s a chance to win a Grand Slam from there. It probably will be in the back of a few people’s minds here and there but it’s still a thing you simply have actually to take week by week.”
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