Welsh Rugby 2015 - 2019

First topic message reminder :

Completely frustrated by our inability to gain a SH scalp in this tournament. We will always be on the periphery of WC's unless we nail these down. I am already sick to death of the pride the nation seems to take in being plucky losers. Don't get me wrong, we are now competitive against everyside in the world, even in the big games. This is a massive improvement from 8 years ago, but we have been competitive for 2 years now so we must be aiming to improve and start beating these sides with more regularity than we currently do. Which, with a 2 in 29 record shouldnt be hard to do.

Anyway I think the following needs to happen between now and the next world cup for us to kick on.

Gameplan

We are tough to beat, physically fit and can match teams in every area physically. We have a good kicking game and our defence is excellent. We need to improve our attack and our effectiveness at the breakdown.

Coaches

I foresee a return to mediocrity if Gatland were to leave. Likewise Shaun Edwards. WRU need to move heaven and earth to keep them both post world cup. I would also keep Jenks on as kicking coach.

However it is time for Howley and Mcbride to go. My preferences for their replacements would be Darren Edwards (and before my Welsh brethren laugh me off this forum by remembering his time at the Dragons, I suggest they go and watch how Bath have attached over the last 2 seasons) and I would also love to see Danny Wilson dualling up as our Forwards coach in addition to Blues. If we can get neither I dont think there are other coaches in Wales who are up to it.

Players

Time for Gethin and James to move on. I also think we should seriously spend the next two years planning for time after key players are past their best. I think the likes or Roberts, Charteris, and Wyn Jones will be 32-33 by the next world cup and we have to be realistic as to whether they are going to be past their prime and able to play this expanded game that we will need to compete.

I am not advocating dropping any of them straight away, just highlighting those beneath that have the potential and bringing them into the set up early to get experience. I would also advocate focussing any NDC funding to the younger generation; a list of players I am thinking of include:-

Nicky Smith
Rob Evans
Elliot Dee
Scott Otten
Thomas Francis
Leon Brown
Rory Thornton
Joe Davies
Ollie Griffiths
Harri Keddle
Tomos Williams
Sam Davies
Owen Williams
Jack Dixon
Tyler Morgan
Matthew Morgan
Jordan Williams
and more

Shouldn't this thread be renamed "Welsh Rugby - The Way Forward"?
Looks a little like an obituary to me. You guys deserve better than that!
Let the Scots/English/Irish do all those doomsday sounding thread titles.

(No offence Gav... but what do you think... something more positive perhaps?)

I think we're looking good

RubyGuby wrote:I think we're looking good

So do I.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:I think we're looking good

So do I.

Well I've read various sites and on all of them, the Welsh rugby public don't rate Howley or McBryde whatsoever. If the fans can see it, why the feck can't Gatland and the WRU see it?!

Also, they all seem to agree on how vital Edwards is. Hope he stays on too.

The Loaded Dog wrote:Shouldn't this thread be renamed "Welsh Rugby - The Way Forward"?
Looks a little like an obituary to me. You guys deserve better than that!
Let the Scots/English/Irish do all those doomsday sounding thread titles.  

(No offence Gav... but what do you think... something more positive perhaps?)

Good thread title.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I guess Howley and McBryde are both staying due to the great performance in the World Cup of our amazing attacking play and superior scrum efforts whilst given our poor defensive record Edwards is going.

Oh hang about a minute think might have that wrong way round - Crazy decisions in my mind, I still feel Howley is being lined up as Gatlands replacement.

Awesome 13 man Ozzie defence though. Awesome.

mikey_dragon wrote:Well I've read various sites and on all of them, the Welsh rugby public don't rate Howley or McBryde whatsoever. If the fans can see it, why the feck can't Gatland and the WRU see it?!

Also, they all seem to agree on how vital Edwards is. Hope he stays on too.

Maybe Gatland, Howley and McBryde are great mates?

They sure are.

That's what I don't like about Howley being there (other than our blunt attack): he played under Gatland at Wasps, and sort of just came along for the ride when Gatland took over the national side, and he hasn't proved himself as an attack coach anywhere else. Maybe I'm naive, but I'd prefer us to appoint the best attack coach we can possibly find, with the best CV, rather than the jobs for the boys approach.

Beyond Howley, I just don't like our obsession with contact. We almost always die with the ball. Of course you need to be physical against the best teams, but it's like passing out of contact is alien to us.

The other thing I'm tired of seeing is when a player makes a half-break, we get quick ball, and it goes to a pod of forwards who run into the nearest defender, even though their defence is in retreat and we've got an overlap in the backs. It's dumb play. We don't seem to react to what's in front of us. It's that stupid idea that you have to 'earn the right' to go wide. Damn that idea to hell. Attack where there's space, whether it's first phase or fifteenth.

You talk a lot of sense, Lucky.

Wales need to have the right combination of players who can express their own style on the field and not be so restricted - if that is the case. The visionary players are always a play or two ahead of the rest. I'm sure there will always be Welsh players with that ability. The coaching staff should encourage them do their thing because it is often less risky to try out some well practiced moves than keep on repeating the pod scenario... which allows the defence to get reorganised and sometimes gets turned over anyway. Better to chance your arm and go down fighting.  

I find the same also applies to Oz a lot of the time too. Just lately however, they seem to have realised the benefits of using the ball a bit better, seeing or creating space and then making the right decision in getting the ball out there quickly and perhaps springing a surprise on the defensive line. e.g. the Foley-Beale 1-2 against England and that long ball to AAC v. Argentina. Both were simple plays and luckily (for us) they were carried out as it would have been during a training session.

The ball to ACC might have been so simple but the execution wasn't and Giteau showed great skill there. Compare that with 3 similar botched attempts by Wales in key games and you get a picture of skill level and natural ability. Giteau is more of an all round footballer than our robotic backs. Its strange really as traditionally we have had footballing backs but have come a cropper as their defence was generally poor. We missed Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams as they can offer the skill level that Giteau has and they have great defensive qualities.

I thought the execution was perfect. Hit ACC in the centre of his chest. Thank goodness it didn't bounce back out it was so perfect.

Yeah, North simply had to score that try. (I had given up!) Unbelievable he didn't just get more stability in his approach then mow down whoever was in his way... being such a large lump of a lad.

As they said about an NRL player (Tony Williams) when he seemed to be choosing the soft option: "Go and have a look at yourself in the mirror, mate.... what's your phucking problem!!!"

The Loaded Dog wrote:I thought the execution was perfect. Hit ACC in the centre of his chest. Thank goodness it didn't bounce back out it was so perfect.

Exactly he has great game awareness and peripheral vision and the hands to execute the pass. He seems to have so much time just like Regan King, a true sign of class and composure when it matters - we lacked that

I reckon Cheika would fix Wales' 'problems' (i.e. more mind than skill) in 12 months... or maybe even less. If he were coaching you and we had someone else... well... you might have thrashed us that day. Not kidding.

Yeah I know where you're going and don't disagree, its as if our backs play whilst being "shackled" and instinct is having less of a place - Thankfully the likes of Liam Williams and Scott Williams may change this although I'd like to see what Edwards could do as Head Coach - The Australian players seem to enjoy playing and that's the difference as the tension is not -ve

http://www.wru.wales/eng/news/35169.php#.VjONYZYgGnM - at first I thought he was referring to the regional coaches. But I think they're referring to the Wales coaching team?

Also, Gatland has apparently now asked Edwards to stay on and sign a new deal. What took him so long.