6N Countdown: TOL's Team-By-Team Guide Part 2 – Wales … according to 'the super-fan'
Yesterday at 07:05 AM
IN a quest to really get under the skin of the six competing teams, to understand their strengths and weakness, what drives them and what particular challenges they will face in this championship, Iain Morrison has spoken to six individuals with a unique insight to the country they have, through one route or another, come to call home.
Sue Dovey was always going to be a Welsh rugby fan – it's in the DNA of her family; after all her parents met at a match and her two daughters are following her lead. The family always went to the Six Nations, in the days when you could just turn up in Cardiff, on match day, and buy tickets at face value. Admittedly this meant that they rarely sat together. "We didn't mind, just as long as we could say: 'I was there!'."
Wales
1. Where do you stand on Warren Gatland (his throat perhaps)?
I really hope he's got a plan but I am baffled! This is neither a young team of hopefuls, veteran Liam Williams replacing Cam Winnett, nor a team of experience. The only specialist No 10, Dan Edwards, gets his first cap here with no additional support from a more experienced stand-off such as Gareth Anscombe. The other named No 10 Ben Thomas plays most of his rugby in the centre.
Nor does it seem to be solely based on current form, no place for Max Llewellyn or Morgan Morris. The upcapped Edwards at 10 is playing well for the Ospreys but the Six Nations is a whole different level. If Edwards is to become first choice, let's hope he is given sufficient playing time to establish himself.
NOTE: The Wales team to Face France in round one was selected at lunchtime on Wednesday, see HERE.
2. After a tough 2024, why might Wales look forward with (cautious) optimism to the coming Championship?
Could it get any worse? Talk is that we should be competitive again in a year or two!
3. Is Wales’ current predicament down to poor planning in that a raft of experience retired at the same time without obvious replacements coming through?
I don't know if a raft of experienced players retiring can be described as "poor planning" but this is indeed part of the problem. Additionally, since the national academy was closed in 2015, there has been a lack of effective mechanisms to develop young talent, (acknowledged by the WRU). Reduced budgets and, maybe, too many regions adds pressure. Scotland's focus on just two pro-teams is giving good results, especially for Glasgow. There are also issues at the governance level with the WRU having lost the confidence of many. The publication of a critical review of governance on the afternoon of Christmas Eve did not help. Under par performances of the regions adds to a general feeling of misery.
Arguably the biggest loss to Welsh rugby in recent years was Shaun Edwards.
4. Give us your best case scenario for Wales, this Six Nations?
Not getting the wooden spoon!
5. Tomos Williams could tour with the Lions … who else?
Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Taulupe Faletau.
6. Momentum is all in this tournament but Wales kick off with two games away from home, a tough fixture in Paris on Friday night followed by Rome the following weekend?
Oh bugger!
7. Anything else you wanna say?
While Gatland is not really the problem, see number 3 above, psychology alone suggests he should be replaced.
8. Rank the nations from 1-6 the way you expect the table will be by the close of play?
Ireland
France
Scotland
England
Wales
Italy
Wales faces a daunting trip to Stade de France to take on France in their opening match of this Six Nations campaign on Friday night, kick-off time 8.15pm, live on ITV.
- You can book your Six Nations hospitality and VIP tickets with Seat Unique HERE, an Official Hospitality Partner of The Murrayfield Experience
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