Tomorrow sees Wales first warm-up game vs Ireland at a full Millennium Stadium. Both coaches have named pretty “experimental” squads, with Wales’ Warren Gatland describing his selection as a healthy mix of experience and an opportunity for some young players as well.
Wales Warm up Against Ireland
It’s the word “opportunity” that’s most relevant here. It’s not just the younger players on both sides who will be treating this game so. There are numerous players involved tomorrow who will be wondering whether their names will be included when squads are culled in the coming weeks. Tomorrow is that one final chance to catch the eye of these two Kiwi coaches.
It was reported that there were some little niggles and fisticuffs during Wales’ training this week – a sure sign that individuals are feeling the pressure. This isn’t unusual, and doesn’t necessarily display a lack of unity or team spirit.
Back in October last year, Warren Gatland made it clear that since the previous June, when Wales went down 2-0 on tour in South Africa, there was only one aim in mind. “Our success will be judged on making the World Cup Quarter-Finals.” Recently he has talked of sending teams into games “really underdone”. (1st Test in S. Africa 2014)
He also spoke of using the Autumn Internationals last November and this year’s Six Nations as “World Cup Training Camps”. Of concentrating on certain things such as “scrummaging, driving line-outs and pick and goes, which will be put in the bank for 12 months time.”
He summed up everything done since June last year right up to this point and beyond as “a sequence”. In other words unless he has changed his mind along the way, everyone knew what was coming in this first warm-up game some time ago.
The team announced has received a mixed reception, with more questions asked than answered. How can any sort of cohesion be achieved with such a scratch side? Shouldn’t the coaches know what our youngsters have to offer already, without using this game to find out? What if Wales get hammered, surely it will ruin morale?
That’s the way in Wales I think – optimism is often in short supply. There is an undercurrent of worry running through the fan-base here. Warren Gatland has set himself up for the toughest period of his career so far, with the way he has “planned” for this competition.
Excusing defeats like that First Test in S Africa – he’s had way too many against the three Southern Hemisphere sides – in the context of “preparation” could be construed as not taking responsibility .
I would go so far as to say success would not be reaching the quarter final for many fans. Considering how much he has tried to convince everyone of the experience gained by many members of the squad since RWC’11, and how thorough his preparations have been for this competition, anything other than a semi-final spot at least would be seen as something of a failure!
In that context, what can we expect over the coming weeks, starting with tomorrow’s game? Well, as Dominic Day put it this week, the players involved have nothing to lose (other than a place in the final 31 that is). It’s quite refreshing to see new faces such as Ross Moriarty, Day, Tyler Morgan and Eli Walker in a Wales shirt.
What exactly Gatland is looking for only he will know, but with old hands Philips and Hook at half-back, the fulcrum of the team has an experienced look about it, and they will be expected to nurse the team through a tough encounter.
The beastings at the conditioning camps in Austria and Doha are a thing of the past. In terms of experience – Wales have a combined 326 caps to Ireland’s 418 – we are a way behind Ireland. However, Ireland have made their intentions clear by saying this week there will be nothing “friendly” about this game. It’s evident that the forty six players involved in the two squads will need to show a full commitment, with their eyes not on September, but on the 80 minutes that stands immediately in front of them.
It’s an ideal opportunity for all these players. It’s time for the odd “bolter” to say I’m ready. It’s not a time for panic either. This is the next step in “the sequence” for Gatland and his coaching team. We won’t win or lose the World Cup here, the acid Test begins on the 20th September. That’s when we will begin to see whether all these plans have been at all worthwhile.
Players to Watch
James Hook. The Gloucester fly-half has talent in abundance, but he’s not figured too much in Wales’ plans recently. The main sticking point seems to be Hook’s penchant for “crabbing across the pitch, cutting down on the space for his outside backs. This week it was declared that he had “fixed” this problem. Although Gareth Anscombe would probably have started this game had he not had a niggle in his thigh, Hook’s selection presents him with another opportunity to prove his worth. Maybe it’s his final chance in a Wales shirt, but with Anscombe breathing down his neck for that “utility” spot in the final squad, it’s vital he delivers tomorrow.
Ross Moriarty. The Gloucester back row man has strong family connections. Father Paul played in the first ever World Cup back in ’87. However, it was only recently that he nailed his colours to the mast and made a firm decision to wear the red of Wales. His first International appearances were in the white shirts of England U20’s, but he stated this week that his goal was always to play for Wales at Senior level. A strong ball carrier, with a bit of a nasty side, there will be some responsibility on his shoulders to help get Wales over the gain line. He may not make the World Cup, but it’s a fantastic opportunity for him to make an immediate impression.
Wales
15 Hallam Amos (Newport GD), 14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), 13 Tyler Morgan (Newport GD), 12 Scott Williams (Scarlets), 11 Eli Walker (Ospreys), 10 James Hook (Gloucester), 9 Mike Phillips (Stade), 1 Nicky Smith (Ospreys), 2 Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), 3 Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), 4 Jake Ball (Scarlets) 5 Dominic Day (Bath), 6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), 7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 8 Dan Baker (Ospreys).
Replacements: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews (both Cardiff Blues), James King Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport GD), Lloyd Williams, Gareth Anscombe (both Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Bristol).
Ireland
F Jones (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster), K Earls (Munster), D Cave (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster), P Jackson (Ulster), E Reddan, J McGrath, R Strauss, M Ross (all Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Murphy, T O’Donnell, J Heaslip (capt, all Leinster).
Replacements: R Best (Ulster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), M Bent (Leinster), D Tuohy, C Henry (both Ulster), K Marmion (Connacht), I Madigan (Leinster), S Zebo (Munster).
Millenium Stadium K.O. 2.30
