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'It's just a mess' – time to cut the Welsh regions
By Jon Newcombe
Former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett has delivered a withering verdict on the grim situation in Wales, believing that there aren’t enough quality players to justify having four professional regional sides.
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Just as Mallett and Jean de Villiers were about to sit down to record the latest episode of Boks Office with presenter, Hanyani “Shimmy” Shimange, news broke that Warren Gatland had left his position as head coach of the national team with immediate effect.
Gatland and the WRU reached a mutual agreement that it was time for him to step away from the role, the 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome signalling the death knell for his second period in charge of the team that, previously, he had led to Grand Slam success and two Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
The Italy result extended Wales’ record losing run to 14 Test matches and saw them slump to an all-time low in the world rankings of 12th. Cardiff rugby head coach Matt Sherratt has stepped in as interim Wales boss for the remaining three rounds of the Six Nations.
Reacting to the Gatland announcement, Mallett said: “It was just a matter of time, it was whether it was before or at the end of this competition. 14 in a row – breaking all records for consecutive losses for Wales, and they were really poor against Italy. It’s just a terrible moment for a coach when things are going as badly as that. He’s got a good coaching record and it is a pity to finish on this note.”
For Mallett, who knows all about international rugby from his time in charge of the Springboks (1997-2000) and Italy (2007-11), the shallow depth of the player pool in Wales is the root cause of the national team’s problems. He feels that the WRU should take the lead of Scotland and concentrate their playing resources by reducing the number of professional teams, which are currently Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons RFC.
“They have four professional teams and they don’t have enough quality players for four teams. If you think about the growth of Scottish rugby – and Ireland started with three but included a fourth once they were up and running and stronger – having Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh and keeping those two tight, 10 internationals in both teams, you’re drawing from the majority of two teams.
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“It’s when Australia were strong, remember when Australia won a World Cup, the first one, there was Queensland and New South Wales, they had hardly opened up Canberra. Whoever won the thing had eight, nine guys in the team and the other team had six. And the understanding between the players was so important. Wales haven’t got that, Wales take some guys from here, and they take some guys playing in England and it just seems a mess.
“I just think Wales are going through a dearth of quality players.
“Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones, you knew they were going to get into a Lions side, (George) North as well. But there’s nothing there at the moment.”
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