Gatland defends his absence

"But the New Zealander, who coached Wales to the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and 2012, said part of him relinquishing his role temporarily was to look to the future.

"One of the things I've spoken to [WRU group chief executive] Roger Lewis about: I'm not going to be here forever.

"And part of my role [is with regards] the development of Welsh rugby and coaches. We are in a building phase now until 2015."


If that is the case then he needs to get a new coaching team and start again. The prospect of Howley as permanent full time Head Coach is just a car crash.

I don't really understand how Howley wormed his way into the set up in the first place. There are much better established coaches who with the promise of the big chair would jump at the opportunity Howley has been given and spectacularly squandered. I may be on my own here but Howley does not have the leadership experience / charisma or tactical imagination to do the job. now or in the future. Send him off to work in a club set up to earn his stripes, though I doubt he would be successful there either.

dragon - you are not on your own - Dai Young and Nigel Davies are decent coaches and I wouldn't be adverse to Dai in charge. However for me we need another Gatland type after he's gone and perhaps someone like Dai alongside them. Howley's never been in charge of a fecking Region or club for that matter. We need experience and stature and a Mallett/Dai Young partnership would suit me along with some significant Australian backs coaches.

I can see the logic behind it as he said, he's not going to be here forever.

Well if that was the case then like has been said and proved, Howley is nowhere near being ready for the main job BUT and here is where my main fear comes back again.

If we have to good performances in the next two weeks then its further proof that Howley not upto it but there will be no action taken which means we are stuck with him for the 6 nations and likely to be in a wooden spoon dog fight