Six Nations 2017 Preview: Discount the Mongrel Welsh at Your Peril
Could we be in for a more subtle, free-flowing, expansive Wales this year? Here’s hoping, writes James Harrington.
What to look out for
Something a little different, if you don’t mind, Wales? In recent years the Welsh game has been – individual moments of brilliance apart – stultifyingly dull, direct and predictable. Interim coach Rob Howley has selected a side including seven uncapped players that, on paper at least, looks as if they will play something a little more subtle, free-flowing, and expansive. Here’s hoping.
Strengths
The mongrel attitude of the never-say-die Welsh. They have been underdogs before, and despite fairly dire performances in the November internationals (where they still managed to win three of their four games!) it would be a mistake to write them off completely. They have come into this tournament pretty much under the radar, while everyone has focused on England and Ireland. That could work to their advantage – but only if they have come up with a gameplan beyond the much-maligned ‘Warrenball’.
Weaknesses
Form. Those November internationals will have done little to ease the worries of Wales fans. Could this be the beginning of the end of the Warren Gatland-Rob Howley era?
The Man in Charge
With Warren Gatland back on Lions’ duty, the Welsh have put Rob Howley in charge. The last time that happened – again when Gatland was in charge of the big summer tour – Wales won the 2013 tournament despite losing their opening match. This time, he’s developing a team very much in transition… and time is not on his side.
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Player to Watch
Wasps’ mighty Thomas Young. The son of the club’s director of rugby and former British Lion Dai has made the most of the chances that have come his way, while injuries have sidelined both James Haskell and Sam Jones. He has been key to the club’s fast, fluid style; a link-man between forwards and backs. Despite his relatively small stature, Young has proven he is more than robust enough to tangle with the biggest and best of them.
Best Chance of an Upset
Closing the roof at the Principality Stadium. After all, the fixture list is not in their favour. After an opening weekend away-day in Rome, they have two rather more difficult games in Edinburgh and Paris, and their two home matches are against England and Ireland – both sides with noticeably shorter odds on tournament success. But, if the roof is closed and the crowd ramps up the noise, who knows what could happen? A win against either of the tournament favourites would make Wales contenders for the crown.
Prediction
Fourth. Joe Schmidt last week labelled Wales a ‘sleeping giant’ ahead of the tournament – which is often regarded as a hint of better things to come. It’s probably true, but the downside is it also means that they’re not quite good enough yet, despite all the pre-tournament optimism among fans. Three away fixtures, including a final day trip to new-look France, is likely to dull the dragon’s roar this year.
Squad
Forwards: Scott Andrews, Scott Baldwin, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Olly Cracknell, Kristian Dacey, Rob Evans, Taulupe Faletau, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Rhodri Jones, James King, Samson Lee, Ross Moriarty, Ken Owens, Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton, Thomas Young
Backs: Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert, Aled Davies, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Davies, Sam Davies, Steffan Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Ashton Hewitt, George North, Jamie Roberts, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams, Owen Williams, Scott Williams
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments