Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales Coach after nearly 3 years back in the role. To say his time in charge was a success second time round would be an understatement. Wales are struggling at the moment be it at underage level as well as club level where the tension between the regions and the club sides within Wales continues to undermine any small progress being made.
The WRU for example is struggling to get its house in order to help put the game back on an even keel. It will be a long road back for Welsh rugby but let’s hope there is the will within the game past and present to get around the table to discuss the issues and see can long term solutions be found.
The WRU took the chance to let Gatland go in the middle of the current campaign with Matt Sherrett being brought in on an interim basis to look at the squad for the final 3 rounds of this year’s Championship.
In the short term there may be more pain for Welsh supporters but maybe as has been suggested bringing in one or two players from outside the current squad may assist the side if only on a short term basis.
I am sure Matt Sherrett and his coaches will do what they can over the next number of days to help the group get sorted and ready for a big game against Ireland on home soil on February 22nd. You can be certain there will be a response from Wales after two defeats over the first two rounds. The big question will be how strong that response will really be.
There is too much pride within the group to let the current poor form continue after 14 straight losses. There will be an appetite within players as well as supporters to see can they pull off a big win against high flying Ireland and no better place than at home in the Principality Stadium on Saturday week.
Warren Gatland leaves the role after guiding Wales to a number of Grand Slams as well as the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
He had an uninspiring period in charge of the Chiefs in New Zealand and it will be interesting after a break away from the game and a period of refection where he may pop up again as one thinks this is not the end of his coaching career.
Wales will now assemble a group of possible candidates to take on the Welsh head coach role and this will take time as they will need someone that knows the club game inside out and can work within a very rigid system with the coaches at regions level, national level with underage coaches within the Welsh national system and the WRU board.
I am sure, coaches from overseas will be considered like previously when both Graham Henry and Steve Hansen had periods in charge of Wales. This does seem to be a job for a coach who is already based in Wales and with real knowledge of the set up. This is a long term project as it won’t be fixed in one year.
The WRU is under pressure to sort out the issues and also the long term outlook for Welsh rugby. There are good people and some good minds inside and outside Welsh rugby.
Might be an idea to bring in some of the so called “golden generation” to help assist with ideas and also the way the game could be developed over the next 5 years.
In the short term, all eyes will be on the game vs Ireland on Saturday week. You can sure there will be a reaction to recent days….