Death of the Dragon

Wales players look dejected after loss to Scotland at Murrayfield.

What happened to Wales? From 2008-2013 Wales have arguably ruled the roost in the Northern Hemisphere, under Warren Gatland and co. Winning three 6 Nations titles, two via Grand Slams and their players dominating the Lions tours across that period. Players became household names not only west of the Severn, but across Europe. Jamie Roberts, George North, Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny to name a few. However, since the last World Cup barring a few memorable performances, there has been a steady noticeable decline across the last 12-15 months, what has been the cause, and what can be done?



Wales built their success on a ferocious gain line and breakdown battle, with aggressive forward carries dragging the defence in, before unleashing the like of Jamie Roberts and George North into one on one collisions they could dominate. It was a pretty simple and effective game plan, it put Wales on the front foot consistently. However since 2013 (their last 6 Nations win) the game of rugby has evolved, defences aren't so easily dragged in, and the speed of the game has increased. The nature of play is much more fluid, and attacking patterns are much harder to adhere to. As such the Welsh players after having been coached so precisely for nigh on a decade are struggling to adapt.

Jamie Roberts was the poster boy for
so called "Warrenball"

This highlights an issue with the coaches more than anything. The players can maybe be blamed for lacking basic handling ability - which is something that seems to have abandoned Wales - and to execute a two on one or simple offload. However, in terms of the play style, and change in attacking ethos, and game plan you can't look much further than the men in the track suits. For Wales this coaching staff has been in place since Gatland took the job. Shaun Edwards in defence had a wobble last year, but Wales do look somewhat back to their unbreaking best. The main issue seems to be with interim head coach Rob Howley. You could argue he has done a good job in the past when Wales were winning, although my opinion is that by and large the attacking structures created were invented and implemented by Warren Gatland.

The evidence behind this is that Wales don't look any different with Gatland gone, you would have thought that with Howley continually talking about his desire to get the full job that he'd try and showcase what kind of rugby he would play. Considering the slow trudge through the mud that has been the Welsh "attacking evolution" you question whether Howley is capable of creating an attacking structure, let alone implementing it. Howley looks out of his depth as head coach. On the summer tour to New Zealand - while Gatland was still head coach - Wales looked like they had the beginnings of a new attacking structure, similar to the All Blacks own style with the back line deeper behind a pod of forwards providing options. Compare that to the Autumn and the 6 Nations, the players seemed torn between game styles, do they pass it wide or do they run it straight? It is costing Wales more than tries, as players don't seem to know where they're going next and it is leading to a worrying flow of turnovers as players lose the ball in contact, or simply they do not have the support at the ensuing breakdown.

Is Rob Howley really good enough to lead Wales?

It's not the only time this change in performance has happened under Howley. Four years ago, Wales had a 0 from 4 Autumn series, followed by an embarrassing first half against Ireland in the 6 Nations. The team then went four games unbeaten to win the title, but really the only game they performed in was the final game against England. They scraped past France, only scored twice against Italy, Scotland was won by the boot of Halfpenny alone. And pattern has repeated itself four years later: poor performances in the Autumn only saved by Sam Davies and a poor South Africa side, followed up by Sam Davies pulling them out of the fire against Italy. Once again the Welsh team put in a performance worthy of a 6 Nations champion against England, but followed it up with an apathetic effort against Scotland. You do begin to question whether the players want to put themselves on the line for Howley, when they only play well against England. Are they bored of the same old messages from the same old voices? Does there need to be a replacement of coaching staff over the summer?

These aren't the only issues that Howley has caused Wales in recent weeks. The selection of Alex Cuthbert against England was met with condemnation by the Welsh public, a player who hasn't put together a test level performance for Wales in 3 years walking back into the side over the likes of Steff Evans who was the form winger in the PRO12. Alex Cuthbert is a fine player, but he has no confidence in his ability in the red of Wales, he was coming back from an injury lay off so hadn't put in many performances for the Cardiff Blues at this point. When on form Cuthbert is one of the best try scorers in Europe, but in his current state he is unsure of his ability and it costs him in games. Compare that to Steff Evans who is playing with a smile on his face, scoring regularly and pulling off moments of magic which inspire a team. It's that little bit of magic that Wales seem to be missing at the minute, the player who can get the crowd excited and his team on the front foot from nothing.

Steff Evans has been superb for
Scarlets this season.

Howley cited Steff Evans lack of experience as to Cuthbert's inclusion, but young players can't get experience unless selected, and if you're not going to pick them when they're in such a rich vein of form then when are you? You wonder whether Howley really has the ability to look at what is currently happening on the pitch, and around the leagues, rather than basing his opinion on the performances showcased when Wales were the dominant force. When he ignores the improved game impact Leigh Halfpenny had at wing - vs Japan - you do wonder whether he is capable of actually processing what is transpiring.

This lack of understanding of players performance also pertains to his use of substitutions. The fateful removal of Ross Moriarty against England being a prime example of his lack of empathy. The back-rower was wreaking havoc on the English attack and was producing the kind of moments previously discussed, elevating the performance of those around him. However with more than a quarter of the match to go he was removed from the field. Yes for a quality player like Faletau, but you could see the English team breathe a sigh of relief, and the momentum swing was monumental. In that game too he removed Rhys Webb, who was providing Wales with tempo in attack, early and it killed off Wales' threat going forward. For both players he cited that the GPS numbers were saying the players had given everything. Yet the eyes of everyone in the stadium could see that these players could have gone the whole match, adrenaline does wonderous things for stamina. Once again Howley is unable to understand the role players are having on the game, and the game is having on the players, and makes ill-judged decisions. You don't see Eddie Jones removing players unless he has a reason to, if the player is still putting out the sort of performance/effort expected of them why take them off?

Many believe this fateful substitution was what eventually cost Wales the game against England. 

I'd like to finish off this article by stating I don't believe Rob Howley is exclusively responsible for all of Wales' issues in the last few months. The Welsh players seem to not enjoy playing at the moment, and they are making basic mistakes. However for the first time in a while there can be no excuses about the quality of the Welsh regions. With both the Ospreys and the Scarlets in the top four, and Cardiff Blues competiting hard for a Champions Cup spot, the regions have never been in a healthier state. Despite this it is odd that the form players for these teams, either failed to make the team or even the 6 Nations squad all together. The likes of James Davies, Steff Evans, Ashley Beck and Kristian Dacey are performing week in week out and producing the kind of play style that the Wales coaches claim to be attempting, and yet none of them can get into the team. Howley and co, need to start backing up their words with actions. There was a time that Wales picked players who were performing week in week out - we all remember the 13 Ospreys in a starting side - you question when that sort of selection was replaced by picking on cap number.