The RugbyPass Six Nations 2018 Preview Series - Wales
Coming into the 2018 Six Nations, there is a positivity around Wales’ chances that has been absent for the last two or three tournaments.
Head coach Warren Gatland is one of the most polarising figures in rugby and there has been no lack of criticism of him and his coaching staff from the Welsh public over the last few years, with the trophies having dried up and the Grand Slams of 2008 and 2012 seeming a long time ago.
It was hardly an all-conquering autumn for Wales, either, having just snuck past Georgia and South Africa and suffered defeat at the hands of Australia and New Zealand, but there was an ambition to their play that at least gave fans hope of seeing a more clinical and multi-dimensional Wales side over the next few seasons.
This ambition, coupled with the excellent play of the Scarlets, the newly-crowned team of the people, has created a belief that Wales can go further this year and make more of an impact in the Six Nations. With bonus points again a factor in this year’s competition, Gatland’s men will be keen to top their tally of eight from last season, a figure which was just half that of the tries scored by England, the 2017 champions.
Strengths
Back-row balance and contact area work – The enviable resources that Wales have in their back-row has been one of the consistent strengths of the side during Gatland’s tenure and those options are still formidable, despite injury ruling out Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau. Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric will be at the front of the queue to start, whilst Scarlets flanker James Davies is in line to win his first international cap. Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi and Aaron Shingler are also impactful options.
Midfield versatility – Another area of the team hit by a significant injury, with Jonathan Davies unavailable, but there is plenty of scope for Wales to keep opposition sides guessing with their midfield strategy. Hadleigh Parkes has been in scintillating form with the Scarlets and has been dovetailing nicely with Scott Williams, Owen Williams is the secondary playmaker option that Wales have not had for quite some time and Owen Watkin is a hard-runner who can keep his side on the front-foot.
Weaknesses
No recognised Test fly-half – With Dan Biggar sidelined for the opening three rounds and Rhys Priestland suffering from a hamstring injury, Wales will have to go into their matches with Scotland, England and Ireland with a relatively inexperienced fly-half. Rhys Patchell and Gareth Anscombe would look to be the front-runners right now, but Owen Williams could also be moved inside from the centre berth he occupied in the autumn. They are all capable of doing an excellent job, but those three fixtures are quite the deep end to be thrown in, especially with the contests against England and Ireland coming at Twickenham and the Aviva Stadium respectively and regular starting scrum-half Rhys Webb also sidelined.
Back-three thin and out of rugby shape – The news that Liam Williams suffered a relapse in his recovery from an abdominal injury was a real blow for Wales. He is in a race against time to be fit for the tournament opener against Scotland, but there is a worst-case scenario that he will have to have surgery and could miss the entire tournament. George North and Hallam Amos are both only just returning from injury and a way off the sharpness you would want from your starting wings. There will be plenty of attention on Steff Evans and Josh Adams over the next week, with both in the frame to start against Scotland. Again, like the fly-half situation, they both have the capability to be fine Test players, but they are inexperienced at this level.
Key Players
Ross Moriarty – With Warburton out for the tournament and Faletau unlikely to be seen until the later rounds, the onus falls on Moriarty to lead the way in the back-row. He is a man that leads from the front, regardless, but his impact at the breakdown and as a ball-carrier will be more vital than ever this year.
Rob Evans – Evans has quietly matured into one of the more impressive loosehead props in world rugby and his impact as both a scrummager and ball-player will be needed over the next two months. Wales are making strides in the way they play but they aren’t the All Blacks just yet, so if they can get this kind of dual impact from their loosehead, they will be better off for it.
Rhys Patchell – There is no guarantee Gatland sees Patchell as part of his preferred XV but when you look at what he has been doing for the Scarlets, his positional versatility and the injuries to Biggar and Priestland, it feels as though this is his time. Can he play with the same composure for Wales that he does with the Scarlets? If the answer is yes, Wales will be a dangerous team this year.
New Talent – Josh Adams
This could easily have been James Davies, who finally gets a much-deserved opportunity to crack the vaunted Wales back-row, but Adams has come from nowhere this season.
Well, not nowhere, as he is a former Wales U20 star and did an admirable job for Worcester Warriors last season, but his game has risen to a new level this season. He currently leads the Premiership try charts with nine scores to his name and in addition to that finishing ability, he is also good value to make big breaks each and every game, giving his side momentum and keeping them moving forward.
The leap to Test match rugby is a big one and there is no guarantee he will make it seamlessly, but there is no reason to doubt he won’t, either. He will be worth keeping an eye on during the championship.
Prediction
It’s almost a shame that Wales’ evolution in the way they play is occurring at the same time that they get their toughest Six Nations fixture schedule. Wales may have three games at home this season, but their two away fixtures – England and Ireland – are arguably the two toughest fixtures in the tournament.
As encouraging as Wales’ potential is, it is difficult to see them emerging from London or Dublin with a win. Three wins from their three home games is certainly possible, although Scotland are looking threatening, too, and that game is by no means a given.
It is a boring prediction but a 3rd or 4th place finish, away from the challenge for the title, seems most likely for Wales at this point. If they can see off Scotland, Italy and France in Cardiff and at least be competitive with England and Ireland, that will probably equate to a decent tournament for Gatland’s men.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
81 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to comments