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Matt Sherratt: 'Whoever gets the Wales job is going to be very lucky'
By Simon Thomas
Matt Sherratt believes he has returned to Cardiff a better coach after his “whirlwind” spell in charge of Wales.
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After being at the helm on an interim basis for the final three games of the Six Nations, he is now back at the Arms Park for a BKT URC showdown with fellow play-off contenders the Emirates Lions.
Reflecting on his stint at the helm of the Welsh team, he said: “It was a bit of a whirlwind four weeks.
“Going in, getting the coaching staff together, getting the players aligned and getting a new attacking system in place was pretty difficult.
“But rather than looking at that as something that was tough to do, how good an experience is it for me to do that?
“Putting yourself into uncomfortable situations in any job is the only way you get better.
“You are learning how to try to get a management group and a team together quickly.
“There are probably some learnings, little things I will reflect on as I go along to get better, but it was definitely a good experience.”
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Despite Wales having now lost 17 Tests on the trot, Sherratt still believes the head coaching role is one to be relished.
“It’s a brilliant job. Everything around it is fantastic, the set-up, the game days, the matches themselves, the occasion is so good.
“Whoever gets the job is going to be very lucky. They are going to inherit a team that is going to be on the way up. It might take a little bit of time, but international rugby is the pinnacle.
“It didn’t end as we would have hoped, but it was a really enjoyable four weeks.
“In the future, 100 per cent I would go back into international rugby. As a coach or a player, it’s the top of the sport.”
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Now his focus switches to sixth-placed Cardiff’s quest for the play-offs.
“Being back here on the pitch with the lads has been brilliant,” said Sherratt.
“It’s an important game, which will go some way to deciding which path we go down for the rest of the season.
“The team have prepared well and I know everyone is looking forward to getting back to the Arms Park in front of a loud and passionate home crowd.
“It’s a tight league table. You can go from third to 12th in a couple of weeks, so it is important to pick up points at home.”
Cardiff welcome back Wales squad members Teddy Williams, Keiron Assiratti, James Botham and Ellis Bevan, who will all be looking to make an impact off the bench, while starting second row Seb Davies makes his 150th appearance for the club.
The eighth-placed Lions are also boosted by the return of three key players, with full-back Quan Horn, flanker Ruan Venter and centre Henco van Wyk all recovered from injury.