Wales missing 8 players as Scotland preparation begins

Interim Wales head coach Matt Sherratt issued something of a rallying cry after his side’s defeat to Ireland on Saturday, but his hopes of building on that encouraging performance may be hamstrung by the realities of the fallow week.

Sherratt has two clear weeks to prepare Wales for their next Guinness Six Nations match, against Scotland at Murrayfield on March 8, and to continue to instil his game plan.

However, there is only so much he will be able to do on the training pitch in the first of those as the squad reassembles at the Vale hotel on Monday.

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That is because the bulk of the team that impressed at the Principality Stadium will be elsewhere, having returned to their English clubs as per player release regulations.

Seven of the players who started the third-round match in Cardiff – almost half of the team – ply their trade in the Gallagher Premiership, while an eighth, Harlequins fly-half Jarrod Evans, came off the bench.

Props Nicky Smith and WillGriff John, lock Dafydd Jenkins, flanker Tommy Reffell, and Gloucester backs Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn will all be training on the other side of the bridge this week.

Sherratt acknowledged the impact their absence from training could have as he spoke to the media in the wake of Saturday’s loss.

“I’d love to be able to have all the players in on the fallow week. I think we could get some really good work done,” he said.

“That is a disadvantage. It’s new to me, obviously, because the English-based boys go back but we can do little bits and pieces with the boys that are left.”

Although they ultimately fell to a 15th straight Test defeat, Wales were unrecognisable from the team that meekly surrendered against France and Italy in the opening two rounds.

The improvement in Cardiff was particularly impressive as it came only five days, and four training sessions, after Sherratt started his short-term role.

Sherratt admitted a ‘bounce’ was to be expected under a new coach but captain Jac Morgan praised the early impact the Cardiff boss had made.

“We’re just looking forward to building on what we’ve learned this week,” Morgan said.

“We’ll review the game and learn from it. Then we’ll get back on the training field and keep on improving, implementing that style of attack.

“It was good to have a clear plan in attack. It felt a bit different and the boys were excited.”