Quick Tap: Wales are Top of the Pile

The world ranking system barely makes sense, no one really likes it, and ultimately it doesn't matter. And yet, right now, the Welsh public don't care. They don't care that it came by avoiding New Zealand for nearly two years, they don't care it came by squeaking home against England (although beating the old rival to go top does bring an extra level of satisfaction), and they really don't care that the Kiwi media are insulting them and calling their place at the top "laughable".

The fact of the matter is, this is yet another moment to add to the long list of accolades achieved by Gatland in his decade long tenure as Welsh coach. Drop all the question's over "Do Wales deserve to be number 1", and the critique of the system, and appreciate the work Gatland has put into to Welsh rugby.

North scored the try which put Wales top of the world, meanwhile, Ken Owens turns into the Messiah.

When he took the job, Wales had just crashed out of a World Cup in the pool stages, prior to the tournament they'd been handed a 62-5 drubbing at the hands of the English, and the state of the regional game was still in turmoil from its formation four years prior. To top it off, Wales were ranked 10th in the world, their lowest ever. In a little over ten years, Gatland, and his fellow coaches have grabbed the (still dysfunctional) regional system by the scruff of the neck and somehow formed a national side capable of beating four of the top six teams in the world in 12 months- some of them twice. That is simply extraordinary from such a small nation.

Gatland is one of the greatest coaches of the
professional era, winning at every level.

I firmly believe no other coach could take the Welsh regional game, and produce the best team in the world. The regional game in Wales is constantly derided for poor performances, always being thoroughly beaten by their English, French, and Irish counterparts. So it is simply outstanding that Gatland managed to find the diamonds amongst all the rubble, get them together, and forge them into something to rival the Koh-i-nor. He deserves all the respect he gets, and much more.

To the naysayers out there deriding Wales' ascension to the top of the pile, I kindly say be quiet. Any team who goes unbeaten in 12 months, and in fact in 15 months only loses a single game deserves some respect. Yes they haven't played the All Blacks during this run, but neither did England during their heroic run of 18 straight wins. The only reason England didn't go top, is New Zealand maintained their own winning form during the same period. Wales have been fortunate to time their run to the top just at the time the Kiwi's had a (considerable, if temporary) dip in form. Sometimes what you need is a bit of luck, and Wales will be hoping that luck continues through all the way to the end World Cup.