The Priestland Interview....!

Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland says he reached such a low point that he was reluctant to take to the rugby field.
The 26-year-old is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
But Priestland told BBC Radio Wales' The Back Page that before that he was suffering a crisis of confidence during Wales' winless autumn Test campaign.
"I wasn't really enjoying rugby, especially at the start of the autumn internationals I didn't really want to be on the field," Priestland said.

"After the Samoa game was probably my lowest point. I remember speaking to [Wales interim head coach] Rob Howley and... I said, 'I'm not happy, I'm not looking forward to going on the field'.
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"I'm going on the field and I just don't want to make mistakes and I've never played like that.

"I found it quite tough and off the field things weren't going that well for me.

"I remember him [Howley] asking me, 'Do you want to play against the All Blacks?' and I couldn't answer him straight away, and I couldn't believe that I had to think about things like that."
The fly-half bore the brunt of the criticism for Wales' lack of creativity during the autumn series, and has admitted to seeking the help of a sports psychologist after losing confidence.

"After the Samoa game I saw Andy McCann, who's the sports psychologist with the squad, and from the first time I met him it was such a weight off my shoulders, just nice to speak to somebody," he added.

"I'm not the sort of person who can easily ask for help, so just being able to speak to somebody and put things in perspective helped me a lot.

"I thought I turned things around quite well from the first two games to the second two games and I was really happy with the way things were going. Then obviously my injury happened but it's just one of those things."
Priestland's injury while facing Exeter came shortly after Wales' autumn series whitewash against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

But while the injury has wrecked the fly-half's season and probably ended his hopes of being selected for the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia next June, Priestland believes it could benefit him in the long term.

"I think my body was crying out for a break; my shoulder was sore, my back was sore, my knees were sore," he added.

"Obviously I didn't want to rupture my Achilles but I've had this break now and it's given me the chance to sort the rest of my body out, it could be a blessing in disguise.

"Because I haven't got much rugby commitments now I can concentrate on the aspects I need to sort out. I'm enjoying it to be honest.

"I'm probably about halfway now, so hopefully back the start of April but who knows?

"Rupturing your Achilles isn't what it used to be, you used to be out for six to nine months but now it's four or five months.

"Every day I come in it's improving and I can see the step by steps I need to take to get it better and I'm quite enjoying it, to be honest."

Dan Biggar has taken the Wales number 10 shirt in Priestland's absence and after an opening home loss to Ireland in the Six Nations, Wales ended an eight-match losing streak by beating France in Paris.

Yet Howler still picked him, says it all about his ability as a coach sorry maes.

Don't apologies.

I considered that too, I gues if the management advise and make available a sports councillor then they also consult his advice. I presume his advice was to play Priestland to help him get over it? Not to rest him.

To be honest I think the robotic bash fest game plan that Wales so strictly follow is stifling all our players. Priestland was stuggling in this environment and yet the coaches didn't seem to get it. When players say they don't want to take the filed against the all blacks that really should start ringing alarm bells. Jamie Roberts will be retiring early if he is subjected to much more of being a human battering ram. Wales really need to change the way the way they play.

Impossible Standards wrote:To be honest I think the robotic bash fest game plan that Wales so strictly follow is stifling all our players. Priestland was stuggling in this environment and yet the coaches didn't seem to get it. When players say they don't want to take the filed against the all blacks that really should start ringing alarm bells. Jamie Roberts will be retiring early if he is subjected to much more of being a human battering ram. Wales really need to change the way the way they play.

True.

Though Priestland was doing well within that at the RWC. Full of confidence and plenty of international praise for it too.

Howler has to take a large part of the blame for RP's selection, if not only because he was playing very poorly.

When an international crowd applauds the 10 for making a kick a 12 yr old would 99% of the time (to touch) you know your 10 is struggling and needs out of the limelight for a bit.

What was it that RP was doing at club level to have earnt his starts in the AI's over Biggar anyway, he had just came home from a 3-0 loss tour in Aus, of which he took a lot of blame as an individual, and Biggar had been consistently better for a season.

RP was only selected ahead of Biggar initially as a better running and distributional 10, and when his kicking game fell apart a good year ago people focused more on that.

It all compounded and Howler has to notice things like this, it's his job.

But then at the same time RP is a fully grown man, if he claims this injury was good for him he should've had the balls to say, you know what my shoulders sore, my knees are sore and my back is sore I need a rest!!!

I understand players who refuse injuries during the heat of the battle, or for a one off game but any player that doesn't look after their body correctly is deluded and selfish!!!

Howley wasn't coach after the Samoa match.

Why are you blaming Howley again?

So the damage wasn't done in the summer and Argy/Samoa games?

RP didn't come off the pitch after Samoa and say to himself, I didn't enjoy that I don't want to play again!!

Plus RP also states Howler asked him if he wanted to play against NZ, IMHO if a 26 yr old doesn't answer straight away then alarm bells should be ringing!! And that is after RP has gone to Howler himself and said I'm not happy and I don't want to play.

Howler is clearly directly involved in this incident and RP has named him as top contact, how can you defend him?

At best RP doesn't respect or fear Howler enough to keep his name out of the news, I'm not blaming Howler RP is!

Read the interview

""After the Samoa game was probably my lowest point. I remember speaking to [Wales interim head coach] Rob Howley and... I said, 'I'm not happy, I'm not looking forward to going on the field'."

""I remember him [Howley] asking me, 'Do you want to play against the All Blacks?' and I couldn't answer him straight away, and I couldn't believe that I had to think about things like that.""

I think you need to re read it, if Howley does nothing after that discussion he has to take blame for not adressing the issue!! When a player says he doesn't enjoy going onto the field he doesn't go on the field until he feels better!!

Pre NZ he was asked if he wanted to play NZ and he doesn't answer, that is once again a sign he shouldn't be played, Howler is his POC, and should adress the problem again!!!

Howley asked the kid if he wanted to play or not.

Whether he played or not was in Priestlands hands.

Oh of course, RP couldve said nah I don't fancy this one and set himself on for Aus ye???

Get real.

Anyway you look at this situation Howler has to take a large amount of blame, although like I said RP has to be blamed too for not looking after himself correctly!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Oh of course, RP couldve said nah I don't fancy this one and set himself on for Aus ye???

Get real.

Anyway you look at this situation Howler has to take a large amount of blame, although like I said RP has to be blamed too for not looking after himself correctly!!

To me it looks the opposite, looks like the management team, in particular attack/interim head coach Howley wanted what's best for both Rhys and Wales.

Priestland at his best, like at the RWC, is a great player. I am sure the coaches just want him to play at that level all the time.

By encouraging him to talk to a sports psychologist, surely they are looking after his best interests.

His performances were certainly much better after he did.

MM

But int players will always be int players, they will always want to play the next game, they will always claim theyre on the up, and they'll do whatever they can to do so.

It's not their job to assess their own performances and say wether they want to or should play.

There should be no reasoning with players, the best play the rest watch.

Even if you look at it from the opposite from my view Howley has been a proven weak decision maker, too touchy feely with the players and hasn't instilled a head coach role in which he distinguishes himself as the players boss!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:MM

But int players will always be int players, they will always want to play the next game, they will always claim theyre on the up, and they'll do whatever they can to do so.

It's not their job to assess their own performances and say wether they want to or should play.

There should be no reasoning with players, the best play the rest watch.

Even if you look at it from the opposite from my view Howley has been a proven weak decision maker, too touchy feely with the players and hasn't instilled a head coach role in which he distinguishes himself as the players boss!!

Two points

1. Priestland said he didnt know whether he wanted to play or not.

2. Not easy to go from coach to Head Coach with regards to how the players view you. From what all the players say, Howley seems to be a well respected member of the staff.

Priestland's decline can be traced back to that drop-kick that he shanked sideways against South Africa in the RWC. He'd been excellent up to that point, particularly in the warm up games.

Was he a good regional player in the form of his life? Or a genuine international 10 let down by being weak with the boot? With hindsight, maybe Wales should have changed their style to accommodate him, like Australia did with Larkham.

Howley letting him play after Priestland had cried out for help was idiotic.

Casartelli wrote:Priestland's decline can be traced back to that drop-kick that he shanked sideways against South Africa in the RWC. He'd been excellent up to that point, particularly in the warm up games.

Was he a good regional player in the form of his life? Or a genuine international 10 let down by being weak with the boot? With hindsight, maybe Wales should have changed their style to accommodate him, like Australia did with Larkham.

Howley letting him play after Priestland had cried out for help was idiotic.

He played better after they gave him help.

Maybe he should of spoken to the coaches earlier.

Not answering a question like do you want to play for your country immediately must be responded with a non selection. By not answering immediately hes displaying a complete loss of confidence and is passing any responsibility for his performance to Howley.

Its a bad sign to have that scenario in a country's top echelon and possibly echoes a wider issue.

If asked in NZ, do you want to be an All Black next week, well..its completely rhetorical, almost ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong there is blame both sides but as head coach Howler has to take control of any half decision like that, infact I'd go as far to say that RP shouldve been dropped and looked after well before the AI's!!!

He wasn't playing well come the end of the 6N (granted mid tournament is one thing) and took a lot of flak over the summer losses, the AI's shouldve been Biggar or Hooks chance for the shirt, if for nothing else competition for the jersey. RP was playing poorly before the NZ game, and if he had been dealt with properly instead of favoured despite performances he wouldn't have become the sniffling mess he did!

Taylorman wrote:Not answering a question like do you want to play for your country immediately must be responded with a non selection. By not answering immediately hes displaying a complete loss of confidence and is passing any responsibility for his performance to Howley.

Its a bad sign to have that scenario in a country's top echelon and possibly echoes a wider issue.

If asked in NZ, do you want to be an All Black next week, well..its completely rhetorical, almost ridiculous.

To be fair mate, I think the wider issue here is the helping of players to deal with the obvious pressures of being the brunt of a nations disappointment, that sometimes pathetically transpires into some kind of hate campaign.

No matter who you blame in sport, Priestland, Howley, (Graham Henry for example, losing to the French in RWC 2007), whoever, those guys never want to fail, all they want to do is win.

It was quite awakening to see Jamie Roberts completely break down in an interview on S4C last week after Wales beat France, purely stating that outside of the camp you can't understand how hard everyone has worked, trained, thought, analysed the game for nine consecutive losses, to finally get that win means so much.

In most cases those losses were one penalty in the dying seconds separating that hard fought series win and a whitewash.

Pressure in professional sport is massive, players deal with it in different ways. Some well, some badly, just like in life, we all have friends who deal with issues well and badly.

Priestland has had a hard time, poor form, bad luck but is trying to deal with it. Hopefully he will come back a much better player for it.

Whether Howley did or did not do the right thing, he is a young coach at the beginning of his career, he will learn from it and be a better coach. Look at Graham Henry last RWC 2011. He learnt and didn't make a mistake the second time.

thebluesmancometh wrote:I think you need to re read it, if Howley does nothing after that discussion he has to take blame for not adressing the issue!! When a player says he doesn't enjoy going onto the field he doesn't go on the field until he feels better!!

Pre NZ he was asked if he wanted to play NZ and he doesn't answer, that is once again a sign he shouldn't be played, Howler is his POC, and should adress the problem again!!!

Bit harsh on Howley I think. We've no idea what other conversations took place, what the sports psychologist said after speaking to him, how he responded in training over the next few days etc. Priestland's performances noticeably improved after the Samoa game anyway didn't they?

The management should take ALL the blame for the Autumn losses if this was going on behind the scenes.

Maybe puts into perspective Warburtons form if he is being managed on a similar level,
such young people let alone ones in the spot light need correct help and advice from the people who should know better.

Shame on you Howley for letting him play on.

Really don't get why you are blaming Howley...?

What on earth has it got to do with him...?

maestegmafia wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Not answering a question like do you want to play for your country immediately must be responded with a non selection. By not answering immediately hes displaying a complete loss of confidence and is passing any responsibility for his performance to Howley.

Its a bad sign to have that scenario in a country's top echelon and possibly echoes a wider issue.

If asked in NZ, do you want to be an All Black next week, well..its completely rhetorical, almost ridiculous.

To be fair mate, I think the wider issue here is the helping of players to deal with the obvious pressures of being the brunt of a nations disappointment, that sometimes pathetically transpires into some kind of hate campaign.

No matter who you blame in sport, Priestland, Howley, (Graham Henry for example, losing to the French in RWC 2007), whoever, those guys never want to fail, all they want to do is win.

It was quite awakening to see Jamie Roberts completely break down in an interview on S4C last week after Wales beat France, purely stating that outside of the camp you can't understand how hard everyone has worked, trained, thought, analysed the game for nine consecutive losses, to finally get that win means so much.

In most cases those losses were one penalty in the dying seconds separating that hard fought series win and a whitewash.

Pressure in professional sport is massive, players deal with it in different ways. Some well, some badly, just like in life, we all have friends who deal with issues well and badly.

Priestland has had a hard time, poor form, bad luck but is trying to deal with it. Hopefully he will come back a much better player for it.

Whether Howley did or did not do the right thing, he is a young coach at the beginning of his career, he will learn from it and be a better coach. Look at Graham Henry last RWC 2011. He learnt and didn't make a mistake the second time.

So its the fans fault perhaps? Unrealistic expectations stemming from as far back as the 70's heydays perhaps...Its not just Priestland- hes the only one admitting it.

Theres no comparison with 2007 or our recent loss to England...Our losses are usually because the other side manages to exceed their abilities in a way they havnt before, or at least recently. France in 07 lost many matches before and after the AB win. So did England recently. So did Oz when they ended both our runs. One offs. Whereas the ABs went back to winning as they did before the loss.As hard as it is to analyse why a side is losing, its a lot harder finding ways to consistently repel more than 80% of all challengers- no other side in international competition sport that I know of does that- so it cant be easy.

In some losses some teams are just not good enough. But when there is a confidence problem its suggests something systemic, You just dont select players that arent 100% confident in their abilities. Its one thing actually being good, its another being confident of it.

maestegmafia wrote:Really don't get why you are blaming Howley...?

What on earth has it got to do with him...?

You protect the weak, he should have used foresight and protected Priestland, he should have made the decision to rest him after he told him how he felt,return him to regional rugby and let him settle.
Wales had other options at 10.
He didn't have to do it in a bad way just told him straight he needs time away from the international setup, the way Preistland approached him was almost like a cry for help trying to put the responsibility in Howleys hands on dropping him.

viewtothegym wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Really don't get why you are blaming Howley...?

What on earth has it got to do with him...?

You protect the weak, he should have used foresight and protected Priestland, he should have made the decision to rest him after he told him how he felt,return him to regional rugby and let him settle.
Wales had other options at 10.
He didn't have to do it in a bad way just told him straight he needs time away from the international setup, the way Preistland approached him was almost like a cry for help trying to put the responsibility in Howleys hands on dropping him.

gaww.. hankies at dawn...

Taylorman wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Really don't get why you are blaming Howley...?

What on earth has it got to do with him...?

You protect the weak, he should have used foresight and protected Priestland, he should have made the decision to rest him after he told him how he felt,return him to regional rugby and let him settle.
Wales had other options at 10.
He didn't have to do it in a bad way just told him straight he needs time away from the international setup, the way Preistland approached him was almost like a cry for help trying to put the responsibility in Howleys hands on dropping him.

gaww.. hankies at dawn...

We don't want to know what time of the day you masturbate

Good one view. Was actually agreeing with your comments and was referring to the meeting of Howley and RP.

Obviously subtlety is not one of your strengths- thanks for your input though. And hows your supervisor today?

The problem is very real with teams and the media today everyone is in your face.People have had a pop at me because tho an Anglo-Scot I am a ferverent All Blacks fan.Because they are so successful I have been accused of being a glory hunter.
BUT when I started supporting them it was only a few years since the debacle of 1949.In 1953-4 both Wales and France were stronger than them ,they played no risk attritional Rugby so successfully .They only lost a single series
1950-69 and few tests.
Then came the 1970`s the NH had caught up Coaching wise and the greats had not been replaced.
In 1991 and 1998 the lesson was driven home again don`t let your team get old together.Teams that reach a pinnacle have farther to fall England post 2003.Wales after 3 Grand slams in 10years are finding difficulty in replacing players now.
But as in the Marler thread earlier you have to beleave you can win every match otherwise it`s pointless.
The AllBlackes expect and are expected to win every match by the record on average they lose about 2or3 in 14 or 15 per season.
Even they post RWCs usually struggle to some extent if you look at there squad.RM,DC,Nonu,Coryjane,Conrad Smith are all 30 or older players coming thru are not YET up to speed.Thorn Kaino and SBW are big boots to fill only SBW is really covered currently.
Only a fool doubts that Wales wil be a force again soon and may still yet win this 6Ns.

viewtothegym wrote:
Wales had other options at 10.

Actually i think I remember that we were a little limited on resources, with Biggar out injured from the Samoa match, if they had let Priestland go home it would have been only Hook.

Priestland had therapy between the Samoa match where he replaced Biggar in the first half and the NZ game.

He played much better vs NZ and was on good form vs Oz.

So it really appears that Howley did a good job...!

Priestland actually managed to get worse against NZ. Most reviewers rating him at 4/10 and Walesonline describing his performance as 'another day to forget, missed touch kicks and dire tackling'. He was hauled off after 68mins.

He did have a decent game against Aus, getting a few 7/10 ratings. The shine was slightly taken off the performance by him chipping the ball back to the Aussies with 60secs left on the clock - allowing them to run it back and win the game. In fairness, kicking isn't his thing.

Like man-management isn't Howley's.

Taylorman wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Really don't get why you are blaming Howley...?

What on earth has it got to do with him...?

You protect the weak, he should have used foresight and protected Priestland, he should have made the decision to rest him after he told him how he felt,return him to regional rugby and let him settle.
Wales had other options at 10.
He didn't have to do it in a bad way just told him straight he needs time away from the international setup, the way Preistland approached him was almost like a cry for help trying to put the responsibility in Howleys hands on dropping him.

gaww.. hankies at dawn...

This! You don't "protect the weak." Leave that to social services. You instil a culture of strength, success and passion.

When did we become so pathetic and namby-pamby? Can anyone imagine a cry for help from JPR or Scott Gibbs? Woeful, embarrassing stuff from both RP and Howley. What they should have done is dropped RP like a hot brick. First of all, on continuing poor form and basic errors. But second for NOT BEING SURE HE WANTS TO PLAY RUGBY FOR WALES!

Get rid of. Immediately. Bye bye.

Here's what it used to mean to play for Wales. Derek Quinnell barging through a thicket of police just to get on the field for a few seconds of injury time....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l0TeTPiH0s

It's not as if this coaching team hasn't been totally ruthless with players whose faces don't fit either.

was my point exactly samurai

If Wales had these professional "advisors" (and nothing wrong in asking for help) in the past then maybe you wouldnt have lost too early amazing talents such as

Barry John
Gavin Henson

I even remember Colin Stephens playing up in Edinburgh and people raving about him as a 10 but he played with a frown on his brow and as if he was "scared" "worried" to go out and perform to his best........ you lost a great potential there because the pressure got to him

RP was actually braver than many players by actually admitting he needed help.

This is an enlightened age we live in, players use their brains alot more

Derek Quinnells son Scott stated his early and late career was blighted because he couldnt read and was soo ashamed, I'll tell you what his father would think of professional advisors in the modern game

And it won't be what you assume

International rugby ain't a therapy session. Mental strength, ability to handle stress are part of the skill-set. Can be taught to some extent probably, but also deeply ingrained in the person.

Don't know much about Colin Stephens, but England's Charlie Hodgson is an example of a very gifted player who repeatedly choked under pressure. It's not that unusual.

Priestland was not mentally strong enough for the challenge and clearly lacked the motivation. Howely should have dropped him instantly.

Fine for RP to go to a shrink, if he believes that's what's needed to raise his game. Though I wish he would keep quiet about it, rather than bleat in the media is such embarrassing terms - "it was nice to have someone to talk to" etc.
He can look foward to some sledging from those touchie-feelie Aussies next time he plays them, if there is a next time.

Not sure what your point is about SQ's dyslexia. He was an awesome player for Wales and never gave less than 100%. Athletes, like the rest of us, have all kinds of crosses to bear in their personal lives.

Barry John retired in his prime, probably a year or so earlier than necessary, but it wasn't that unusual in those days. He'd accomplished everything possible and wanted out. Why not allow him agency for his decision? Cliff Morgan also retired at 27.

Henson got his head turned by the UK celebrity culture - just like Cipriani, Flintoff, etc. What he needs is not a shrink, but a good financial advisor - who would explain to him that first you complete your sporting career THEN live the life of Riley. Get the sequence wrong and you will run out of money pretty damn fast.

All the above three were about as far from being chokers as you can get. On the field of play they soaked up pressure as if it wasn't there. Different story from "I don't really want to be here" Priestland and "Poor dab, have another few caps" Howler.

Players and people have to deal with psychological issues in different ways. It is very important, as a psychological problem grows if you don't deal with it.

I am proud of RP for talking about his situation and what he has done to help it. Sports psychologists are widely used the world over in other sports and it is a very good thing to see a high profile rugby player demonstrate his need of one and how it is helping him.

One thing these interviews do tend to throw up, is our realisation that these players are only human after all.

We tend to want to rip them apart when they don't perform, but then we are human as well and pin our hopes and dreams on these guys to deliver the goods.

Having said all that, Priestland has lost form and confidence without a doubt and hopefully he will regain both.

Hopefully it will encourage players to use psychologists to help achieve their goals, over come there fears, deal with their issues.

It can only help.