Howley says he wouldn't do anything different on the Oz tour. Bar the last seconds of the second Test

Rob Howley felt Wales would have won the series if Wales had of made better choices in the dying minutes of the second test down under.

Simon Thomas writes in the WM

Rob Howley had been looking to take a southern hemisphere scalp
Rob Howley insists he wouldn’t have done anything differently on Wales’ tour of Australia if he had his time again.

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Despite having gone down to a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the Wallabies, Howley stands by his selection policy during the Test series.

He says it never crossed his mind to drop skipper Sam Warburton and maintains Rhys Priestland is still his number one outside-half.

The only thing he would change about the trip is the final couple of minutes in Melbourne, as he feels Wales would have gone on to win the series if they had held on for victory in that heartbreaking second Test.



While he acknowledges there are lessons to be learned from the tour, he is comfortable with the decisions he made at the helm, having taken over as interim head coach from the injured Warren Gatland.

“I wouldn’t have done anything differently,” he said.

“I wouldn’t change anything – apart from the last 90 seconds of that second Test.”

It was Howley’s same-again selection policy which provoked the most debate during the series, particularly the way he stuck by Priestland at No. 10 ahead of James Hook.

There were also calls in some quarters for captain Warburton to be replaced on the openside flank by Justin Tipuric.

But, having had three weeks to reflect on the trip, Howley remains convinced that he, and his fellow coaches, made the right choices.

He fully accepts and welcomes the fact that Welsh supporters will always have strong opinions on selection.

But he says it’s the job of a coach to make a cool-headed decision based on all the available information.

“When you have victory in your grasp and all of a sudden you lose, emotions run high and people react pretty harshly on the performances of players, coaches and the team,” said the former scrum-half.

“The great thing about Wales that I love, through my playing career as well as my coaching, is everyone has an opinion that is so different from one to the other.

“The reason they have an opinion is they care about the game. I talk to my mates and they argue about the best XV.

“It’s good to have that debate and I try to understand how the public see it.

“But, as a coach, you need to have all the information so you are able to make a fair judgement on selection.

“The process is always a long one because we go through every position.

“We have to look beyond what I call the Scrum V moments.

“From a supporters’ perspective, you see someone making a brilliant break and even though he hasn’t touched the ball for 50-odd minutes, all of a sudden he’s had an outstanding game because everyone remembers that break he’s made.

“Conversely a bad pass, a bad kick or a bad tackle is remembered.

“People watching the game in a pub, or in a relaxed mode at home, remember those highlights and then put a picture in their head.

“We look at everything. That’s hopefully why we are here.

“For example, people criticised Rhys Priestland for not holding on to Sam Warburton’s pass when we had a five-on-two in the first Test.

“But what no-one knew at the time was Rhys had taken a stamp on his elbow and couldn’t straighten his arm. So he couldn’t reach up to catch the ball and why he dropped it.

“They are things that happen in Test match football and these are the kinds of fine details we need to consider as coaches.”

Howley continued: “When you watch a game live, you only remember 38 per cent of it. “That’s what clinical evidence shows.

“We did a really good exercise as coaches out in South Africa in 2008.

“After the first Test, when we got blown away in Bloemfontein, we sat down and marked the players out of 10 for their performances. Then we went and looked at the game, once, twice, we came back and our marks changed so much.

“It was amazing. It was an exercise which we remind ourselves of now.

“As coaches, we have to consider every second of every minute.

“We don’t take selection lightly and I think we are fair.

“I stand by my selection absolutely and I like to think all the other coaches would as well.”

It was Scarlets play-maker Priestland who was the subject of the greatest public clamour for change, but Howley stood firmly by him Down Under and continues to do so now.

“Rhys has played a huge part in what Wales have achieved over the last 12 months,” he said.

“Everyone knows about his performances at the World Cup and he was exceptional in the second half of the Grand Slam game against France in terms of playing territory.

“Rhys knows in certain components of his game he wasn’t at his best in Australia and that overall his play wasn’t to the standard he achieved in the World Cup.

“But he has only been playing at 10 for Wales for 10 months

“You talk to Neil Jenkins about the criticism he had over a decade of playing there.

“Number 10 has always been a big focus in Wales and that will never change.

“Our overriding opinion throughout the Test series was that Rhys was our number one fly-half. And I still believe that to be the case.

“There are always going to be challenges for Rhys moving forward in his game.

“It will be interesting to watch the couple of months in September, October going into the autumn series.

“But, to my mind, he is still our number one fly-half.

“Is it right to be dropped if you play poorly in one game?”

As for Warburton, it’s clear that axing him from the team was never on the agenda Down Under.

“Everyone spoke about Justin Tipuric and how well he played in the Brumbies game, which he did. But no-one back home saw it,” said Howley.

“Justin will play many years for Wales. He is a fantastic player.

“But I never saw that question mark about Sam, regarding whether he should be dropped. I just didn’t see it.

“It didn’t enter my mind. Not at all. I didn’t think about making a change.

“Sam is an excellent captain and we won the Grand Slam with him at the helm.

“All of a sudden, after a couple of performances, people are calling for him to be dropped. I never saw that.

“Sam holds himself as an ultimate professional on and off the field.

“He hadn’t played for about three months going into the first Test.

“Hats off to him for getting through that game having not played for that period of time.”

As for the series as a whole, Howley is left reflecting on what might have been, with Wales having been in a position to win all three Tests.

“The first thing to say is it was an absorbing thrilling, series,” he said.

“It was edge-of-the-seat stuff.

“There were a lot of things we did well and we can take heart from getting close to Australia.

“But, as I said straight after the last Test, we aren’t hiding away from the 3-0 whitewash.

“I think Welsh rugby has hopefully come a long way, so we don’t want taps on the back when we’ve lost.

“We want the win. There were fine margins between the two sides, but huge consequences in terms of the result on the scoreboard.

“Ultimately, areas and components of our game that were strong in the Six Nations let us down.

“Maybe that’s through being away from home or one or two boys just losing their nerve or maybe being really enthusiastic in terms of trying to sort out problems on your own as opposed to as a side.

“At times, it was through our own lack of discipline and our own errors.

“I still believe we need to be more street-wise and more understanding of the referee.

“Above all, it’s about mastering that moment and holding your nerve when you go into the lead in the last 10 minutes of the game.

“You look back on those opportunities and it could have been so different.”

That was never more evident than during the pivotal second Test in Melbourne, where Wales were ahead and in possession with less than two minutes to go, only to lose to a last-second penalty after kicking away possession through Priestland and conceding two penalties.

“There were varying degrees of opinion within the camp about what we should and shouldn’t have done,” said Howley.

“Everyone had an opinion and the more senior you were the more of an opinion you had. The majority of players agreed with what Rhys had done in terms of kicking the ball. It was just what happened after that.

“The ball was 70-odd metres from our try line and all we needed to do was defend, which we had done so gallantly throughout the 80 minutes.

“But we made individual decisions through a lack of discipline which resulted in us giving penalties away.

“Looking back, the emotions are mainly disappointment and frustration at what might have been.

“I’ve never been in a situation where you’re winning when the hooter goes and you end up losing.

“I certainly didn’t think we deserved to lose that game. That was the galling aspect of it.

“It was pretty devastating, but I was proud of the players in the way they reacted and lifted themselves back up off the floor for the final Test, where we probably produced our best performance of the series.”

Looking ahead, Howley concluded: “This team is getting ready for the next World Cup in 2015 and with that in mind we have to learn from the experience in Australia.

“We’ve nailed the close games in the northern hemisphere, now we’ve got to do that against the southern hemisphere sides.

“And I’d like to think that will happen in the autumn series.”



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/07/20/rob-howley-on-australia-tour-i-wouldn-t-have-done-anything-differently-91466-31438808/#ixzz21IIlL1fo

If he cannot see that he would not do anything differently lets hope he is not in charge for the AI series, he made fundamental mistakes in squad, team and replacements throughout the whole summer.

He does have a point though.

Should the players have made better decisions whilst leading the last two tests in the dying seconds a series win would have been celebrated.

Howley would have been praised not chastised for something that was out of his hands.

Wales played well, nearly well enough to win.

I did wonder if Howley was coaching the the way Howley wanted to coach.
Or if he was carrying on the WAY Gatland of coaching.
/

Howleys says the only thing he would change would be the last couple of minutes in the 2nd test.

Surely the inability to close out this test was down to poor decision making and execution by the players. Those last minutes surely aren't down to the coaches.

The kicking by both Priestland & Phillips was rubbish generally in this test match. If Howley had said, ' I didn't think we kicked very well generally and needed more specific training in this area '.

I could understand that but to say I would only change the last 2 minutes is like saying I can control the players bad execution & decision making when under pressure.
Surely those dying fateful minutes were purely down to the players themselves.

Hats off to Howley for his enlightening comments. Just what Wales don't need... half baked excuses and hollow promises for the future.

Yet another example for which proves I hope he isn't in charge for the AIs or more importantly the 6 Nations.

I definitely read the other side of this story.

You guys put far too much emphasis on the coach. The coach can not do anything when the players are on the field. They make the decisions that win or lose games in the final minutes not him.

As Howley says if the players had made better decisions in the closing stages we could have won two close tests.

What you guys are effectively saying is that Howley is a handbrake on the welsh team and we would have smashed the. Aussies if we had had a better coach?

I read the article and could not believe he would not make changes, this shows he is lacking ideas, I would expect any coach to say he would make changes in tactics or players or substitutions even if Wales won 3-0. We were back to our old ways poor line outs, rubbish recycling and a clueless flyhalf for all 3 tests. He selected players coming back from long term injury with no game time and did not pick form players like Ian Evans etc. The guy is in the wrong job and our progress will be backwards with him in charge, he has offered nothing new or different than with Gatland in charge.

After reading that, I'm more convinced Howley is a buffoon. This bit particularly annoys me

"For example, people criticised Rhys Priestland for not holding on to Sam Warburton’s pass when we had a five-on-two in the first Test.

But what no-one knew at the time was Rhys had taken a stamp on his elbow and couldn’t straighten his arm. So he couldn’t reach up to catch the ball and why he dropped it."

You can't justify his mistake by saying he was injured, as then people will (perhaps rightly) ask why was he still on? It was a dreadful pass by Warburton is really the main point though.

The selection guff he talks about is irritating too. Scrum V moments? Lord help us. What the Flip does this mean too?

"But, as a coach, you need to have all the information so you are able to make a fair judgement on selection."

What more information can you have. Warburton was struggling, Tipuric was in good form.

maestegmafia wrote:I definitely read the other side of this story.

You guys put far too much emphasis on the coach. The coach can not do anything when the players are on the field. They make the decisions that win or lose games in the final minutes not him.

As Howley says if the players had made better decisions in the closing stages we could have won two close tests.

What you guys are effectively saying is that Howley is a handbrake on the welsh team and we would have smashed the. Aussies if we had had a better coach?

Maes,

I agree with a lot of that but it was the coach (Howley) who picked those players, wrongly IMO with regards to Warburton and Priestland and his use of the bench. I also think Faletau would have (wrongly) started over Jones if he had not been injured and there has still been no light shed on the non use of Evans.

Why drag him all way there and not use him.

Another coulda, woulda, shoulda thread.

I agree with maes that it isn't all Howley's fault at all, though he's no genius.

Howley has come in for too much flak imo. He took a near first-choice squad to Australia barring a couple of absences. His only legitimate mistake was excluding Biggar (allegedly before the Baabaa's test had even kicked off) and despite that being unprofessional, you can't over-react to a coach not taking one player.

I've said it since the start, the reason we lost was because we weren't good enough this time. We gave it a good crack, especially in the 2nd and 3rd tests but we still deservedly came up short. It's bitterly disappointing but it's no reason to give Howley the "useless coach" stamp.

Whoop de doo, shock horror, Howley's Wales comes close but can't quite down the Aussies in their own back yard. Like everybody is expected to do that

Besides the contentious title of the article I respect Howley for quite a bit of what he's saying, such as "“When you watch a game live, you only remember 38 per cent of it" & "From a supporters’ perspective, you see someone making a brilliant break and even though he hasn’t touched the ball for 50-odd minutes, all of a sudden he’s had an outstanding game because everyone remembers that break he’s made.
“Conversely a bad pass, a bad kick or a bad tackle is remembered."
None of us have analysed everyone of those games, and it's easy to say that Hibbert had an awful game because of the 2 pens right at the end, but in that game we haven't studied how many rucks he hit, tackles he made, turnovers made or times he was on the shoulder of the player making a break.
I also found it an interesting comment by Howley about Priestland getting stamped on the elbow before that 5-2 overlap, I still think it was ridiculously hard for a player to catch as they would have expected it to be passed to their midrift, but I reckon it unlikely that any player would have been able to catch that ball over head height without being able to properly extend one arm.
I do disagree with Howley about Warbs, when he says
"He hadn’t played for about three months going into the first Test.
“Hats off to him for getting through that game having not played for that period of time.”
As such Warbs should have been on the bench and come on in the 2nd half for Tupric. I also feel Hook should have started a half at some point to at least see the difference between Rhys and Hook, and give Hook a chance.

But saying that, in spite of everyone saying Howley is awful, made shocking selection decisions and played the worst 10 Wales has ever seen for 3 whole games, hookers who couldn't throw, a captain who wasn't up to scratch and Wales' weakest lock pairing. We still came within 3 points/2 kicks of winning a series against Oz in their own backyard!

Plus to GlamAl, Ianto wasn't played as he was still suffering from jetlag, having arrived late, and wasn't ready to play.

“For example, people criticised Rhys Priestland for not holding on to Sam Warburton’s pass when we had a five-on-two in the first Test.

But what no-one knew at the time was Rhys had taken a stamp on his elbow and couldn’t straighten his arm. So he couldn’t reach up to catch the ball and why he dropped it."

Perhaps Priestland should have mentioned something to his team mates???

"Don't throw me any passes for 5 mins boys. Can't straighten my arm."

Something along those lines? Not much of a communicator, obviously.

Maes, the issues that I mentioned have all been addressed by others on here, Biggars non selection, players selected when not having played, the lack of substitutions, the Ian Evans debacle (he was still slightly jet lagged for the 2nd test but he was fine by the time of the 3rd, that is from the horses mouth). If Howley knew at the time that RP elbow was injured and didn't withdraw him, that is another stick to hit him with. If he didn't know until after the match then RP should have been dropped as was Hibbard for his 2 stupid errors which as an Osprey supporter I feel was totally justified.
As many have said on this and many other topics as an attack coach,he is not very inventive and as the top man he is very sadly lacking

maestegmafia wrote:You guys put far too much emphasis on the coach. The coach can not do anything when the players are on the field. They make the decisions that win or lose games in the final minutes not him.

The funny thing is a load of people who are berating Howley are those who accuse me of being too harsh on the coach when I have complained about Gats when Wales were very poor pre-RWC. It seems that blind-eyes can be turned if you like the coach in question.

Also with regards to Howley, I do think if he is going to coach us in the 6Ns then he really should coach us for the AIs. That said I also believe that he was not alone on the Aus tour, and the Gats had more input than people think, and that the same will be happening during the AIs and the 6Ns.

It's all such crap about replacing Howley. If Gats comes back fair enough, it's basically his job. Howley is part of the team maybe could do with a little more game time. But the players are comfortable with him. I put it down to fatigue after a never ending season. If it don't kill you it'll make you stronger!

Fatigue is a good point Donethman, as the players have been playing/training none stop since July last year, or to look at it another way bar a month or so rest they've been playing straight through since August 2010!!! And in the midst of this has been 3 high intensity session in Poland, a WC and a tour of Oz.

It should make the players stronger, as long as it doesn't break them...

But I do expect a huge drop off in performance following next year's Lions tour - I imagine the players will be knackered, battered bruised and more than likely injured and we'll see the same thing that happened last time with Ryan Jones, Roberts, AWJ & Byrne form all dropping off

Dontheman wrote:It's all such crap about replacing Howley. If Gats comes back fair enough, it's basically his job. Howley is part of the team maybe could do with a little more game time. But the players are comfortable with him. I put it down to fatigue after a never ending season. If it don't kill you it'll make you stronger!

Sorry I don't go with this post at all, "But the players are comfortable with him (Howley)" how do you know, there was relief when Gatland turned up for the second test, this was reported in the press at the time. The fatigue is a weak excuse as only A Jones had played in recent times for the first game, yes I would agree to lack of game time or coming back from injury hence team selection was an issue (Howley's responsibility) also why the form second row was not picked. I have watched all the tests at least 3 times and still thought Preistland was rubbish compared to Barnes whatever Howley dreams up to defend his team selection (Gatland's team selection as Howley is his lapdog).

The form lock wasnt pickd becoz he was jet laggd and wasnt match fit

Smirnoffpriest wrote:The form lock wasnt pickd becoz he was jet laggd and wasnt match fit

Then why bother taking him, they knew he was going to be jet lagged they agreed to him getting there late

I'm not sure but I imagine he took longer than anticipated to get over the jet lag (I'm no expert but think it effects different people different ways).

But like you say it was a risk taking him and interrupting his honeymoon. But then I imagine he'd have rathered been in Oz with the chance of playing, than not getting on the plane at all.

Not sure Mrs Evans wud think that way lol

bedfordwelsh wrote:Not sure Mrs Evans wud think that way lol

Yup I dread to think of the atmosphere at the Evans' house when Ianto got back from the tour...

Smirnoffpriest wrote:The form lock wasnt pickd becoz he was jet laggd and wasnt match fit

I'm sorry to say this, but this is not true in the players opinion.

Well thats what has been quoted in the media

Howley did not say anything in the interview regarding Evans not being picked, if he was not fit I suspect Howley would have said so as most on here and in the press have asked why he was not picked? Lets face it the Blues supporters were glad to get shot of Howley and don't want him back.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Well thats what has been quoted in the media

What media is that?

When the team got back from Oz I saw a report on Wales with Howley quoted as saying Ianto had jetlag - I can't remember the exact quote but I'm pretty sure it was on the BBC website and may have been in the Fail as well

glamorganalun wrote:

Dontheman wrote:It's all such crap about replacing Howley. If Gats comes back fair enough, it's basically his job. Howley is part of the team maybe could do with a little more game time. But the players are comfortable with him. I put it down to fatigue after a never ending season. If it don't kill you it'll make you stronger!

Sorry I don't go with this post at all, "But the players are comfortable with him (Howley)" how do you know, there was relief when Gatland turned up for the second test, this was reported in the press at the time. The fatigue is a weak excuse as only A Jones had played in recent times for the first game, yes I would agree to lack of game time or coming back from injury hence team selection was an issue (Howley's responsibility) also why the form second row was not picked. I have watched all the tests at least 3 times and still thought Preistland was rubbish compared to Barnes whatever Howley dreams up to defend his team selection (Gatland's team selection as Howley is his lapdog).

To be fair I was screaming "where's Owens? " when Rees was having a shocker in the 2nd Test and the mystery of Evans absence is one we'll take to the grave. But Howley wasn't to know that Rees would gift Aus so much territory and possession any more than AWJ would do the same in the 3rd. They were terrible mistakes but Hibbards lapses in the context of the game were suicidal and unforgivable and he paid the price. As for RP. Who else? Not Hook/Biggar imo. Maybe Howley sees it through his SH eyes and thinks RP just needs time. Like Owens at 2. I'd hoped that we'd kick on after the World Cup and the 6Ns and we have stretched the Aussies but no cigar yet. I love the seamlessness of the Howley promotion. He's Welsh! Don't want Nick Mallett or some other SH. We are rising and that's good enough for me. Bring it on!

I'd rather Nigel Davies or Lyn Jones, someone who has done the hard yards in regional/club rugby. Howley didn't have to do anything, he has basically been given a free ride to the top without proving himself worthy (probably because of his name).

+1

gowales wrote:I'd rather Nigel Davies or Lyn Jones, someone who has done the hard yards in regional/club rugby. Howley didn't have to do anything, he has basically been given a free ride to the top without proving himself worthy (probably because of his name).

Nigel Davies? It was not that long ago people were laughing at the Scarlets for taking him on, and pointing out that he was part of the worst coaching team ever!!! Personally I think he would do a decent job with Wales, but I said that back when people were mocking him.

Not necessarily Nigel Davies, just using him as an example! In a few years though with some more experience and more emphasis on forward play (very important) he could be a candidate.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:When the team got back from Oz I saw a report on Wales with Howley quoted as saying Ianto had jetlag - I can't remember the exact quote but I'm pretty sure it was on the BBC website and may have been in the Fail as well

SP, I was in the new shopping complex in Cardiff about 3 weeks ago and was highlighted who was standing outside of one of the shops not far from John Lewis it was Ianto, this friend said he spoke to him for about 5 minutes and one of the topics discussed was why he wasn't selected for any of the internationals and he said the jet lag was still affecting him for the 2nd test but he was fine for the 3rd.
LYN JONES and NIGEL DAVIES, I don't think you are Welsh supporters if you think either should be anywhere near the Welsh setup, Lyn is ok fetching youngsters through to regional level, he proved without a doubt at my Region he hasn't got the nous to even compete at a European level, how many more chances do you think Nigel should have IMO he has had enough, I know I've criticised Howley but I would rather have him under Gatland especially for the AI than those 2 mentioned.

Lyn Jones has led the Ospreys to the Mag leagus a couple of times, runner ups and winners of the Welsh/English cup, LW gaining promotion the first year under Lyn, what are you on about, Howley er nothing as a coach.

glamorganalun wrote:Lyn Jones has led the Ospreys to the Mag leagus a couple of times, runner ups and winners of the Welsh/English cup, LW gaining promotion the first year under Lyn, what are you on about, Howley er nothing as a coach.

Lynns Ospreys were found wanting at the mid level of HC matches particularly Saracens and the thrashing by Munster in HC Quarter finals that is why he was sacked by the Os, 2 weeks before the Saracens debacle they beat them in the Anglo Welsh competition, but guess who learnt more from that game, with the squad he had under him he should have won a hell of a lot more, he is nowhere near international class standard as a coach, if he was so good why hasn't any decent club or Region gone after him

What do u mean nigel davies has had enough chances?

Pathetic, conservative, CYA self-justification from Howley. Lost five on the bounce to Oz - close in some games, but deservedly, not once we were more than two points ahead in ANY of the games.

The guy is obviously determined to learn nothing.

Selection problems have beenwell addressed above, but what about gameplan of the kick-it-down-the-throats-of-Oz back 3?

samuraidragon wrote:Pathetic, conservative, CYA self-justification from Howley. Lost five on the bounce to Oz - close in some games, but deservedly, not once we were more than two points ahead in ANY of the games.

The guy is obviously determined to learn nothing.

Selection problems have beenwell addressed above, but what about gameplan of the kick-it-down-the-throats-of-Oz back 3?

Had you considered the opposite train of thought that Wales and howley might be brunging the best out of our backline and we are lucky to have him?

I don't see these players playing better than they did against Oz for their clubs during the late season.

That would be quite a negative assumption - implying that the Oz backline is streets ahead of ours, no matter what we do. Even if so, I would question whether it made sense to keep gifting them possession through weak boxkicks and garryowens.

maestegmafia wrote:

samuraidragon wrote:Pathetic, conservative, CYA self-justification from Howley. Lost five on the bounce to Oz - close in some games, but deservedly, not once we were more than two points ahead in ANY of the games.

The guy is obviously determined to learn nothing.

Selection problems have beenwell addressed above, but what about gameplan of the kick-it-down-the-throats-of-Oz back 3?

Had you considered the opposite train of thought that Wales and howley might be brunging the best out of our backline and we are lucky to have him?

I don't see these players playing better than they did against Oz for their clubs during the late season.

[i]

It may have something to do with many of them were coming back from injury or still injured hence should not have been selected, who's fault is that, clue "Howley" What team were the form team in Wales? Only Adan Jones was in the starting 15 from the Ospreys for the first test, I could not believe the form and match fit players were playing the BaaBaas ensuring they were jet lagged for the first team, again Howley/Gatland screwed up..

You can only guess that things look differently in the stats than on TV.

There is no reason why a coach wouldn't pick the best team. With the amount of info recorded on players these days plus the age old method of watching players train and play the game.

As Howley and other posters have acknowledged in response, one good or bad moment doesn't make a performance, much more does.

Maes, you seem to be close to saying that coaches can do no wrong, in which case one coach is as good as another. But look at the round ball game, which is decades ahead of rugby in professionalism, statistical analysis,etc. Coaches are fired all the time for poor results. Why pay all that money for a Mourinho (or a Rogers) if is just a question picking the best players?

It's also worth bearing in mind the behaviour of people in organizations and bureaucracies is usually geared towards protecting and maximizing their own interests, not producing the best results.

Therefore it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone in Howley's position to state post-match "that was the best chance we had in forty years to win
a series in Australia but we blew it partly because of my own poor decisions. We should have had Biggar out there, Evans shoulod have featured in the final test, we should have used Tipuric, Webb and Hook more, most of all the kicking to the Oz back 3 tactic was disastrous and we looked much better when we played it through the hands. I take full responsibility and apologize..."

What he is almost certain to say is "My decisions were correct, it was just a question of bad luck, next time it will be better, I wouldn't change a thing blah, blah..."

I think what he said was we took our best squad in forty years, challenged well and if it wasn't for two last minute mistake we would have won the tour.

maestegmafia wrote:I think what he said was we took our best squad in forty years, challenged well and if it wasn't for two last minute mistake we would have won the tour.

Yet again, no credit given to Australia, who played badly (with many injuries) and still whitewashed their opposition. You don't ever beat Wales they just make more mistakes.

sugarNspikes wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:I think what he said was we took our best squad in forty years, challenged well and if it wasn't for two last minute mistake we would have won the tour.

Yet again, no credit given to Australia, who played badly (with many injuries) and still whitewashed their opposition. You don't ever beat Wales they just make more mistakes.

That's rich coming from an England fan who's team were smashed around the pitch by what was basically an Emerging Springbok team. They weren't even playing at 50 per cent either which is even worse news for England. The final test was hilarious. The Boks played so badly that they only managed a draw....which in turn lead to the England team, fans and pundits celebrating it as a win. Comical. Even did a lap of honour at the end!

Concentrate on your own team, you've lost twice on the bounce to the Grand Slammers.

samuraidragon wrote:Maes, you seem to be close to saying that coaches can do no wrong, in which case one coach is as good as another. But look at the round ball game, which is decades ahead of rugby in professionalism, statistical analysis,etc. Coaches are fired all the time for poor results. Why pay all that money for a Mourinho (or a Rogers) if is just a question picking the best players?

It's also worth bearing in mind the behaviour of people in organizations and bureaucracies is usually geared towards protecting and maximizing their own interests, not producing the best results.

Therefore it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone in Howley's position to state post-match "that was the best chance we had in forty years to win
a series in Australia but we blew it partly because of my own poor decisions. We should have had Biggar out there, Evans shoulod have featured in the final test, we should have used Tipuric, Webb and Hook more, most of all the kicking to the Oz back 3 tactic was disastrous and we looked much better when we played it through the hands. I take full responsibility and apologize..."

What he is almost certain to say is "My decisions were correct, it was just a question of bad luck, next time it will be better, I wouldn't change a thing blah, blah..."

Samurai

I dont agree with the support of Biggar as a bett alternative. He had a great end of season for the Ospreys and I was proud to see him turn what was formerly awful form into such positive rugby, but he has not done enough to warrant a starting slot for Wales.

Though I do think/hope he will be pushing Priestland and Hook very hard this coming season, hopefully Tovey will too.