With all three New Zealand tests lost and the midweek test vs. the Waikato Chiefs being a demolition at kindest, do Wales need coaching changes?
It is fair to say that the a lot of Welsh fans right now want coaching changes of some sort, whether it be head coach, attack coach or some other change along the line. But what can Wales expect and what should the nation see in the coming weeks and months? Lets take a look at who could be an option for the Welsh side and who the public seem to want.
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There have been many names shouted around on social media with names such as Rob Baxter of Exeter and Dai Young of Wasps being amongst the leading contenders. Many would like a Welsh coach to take the job and with the positions of attack coach, defence coach and forwards coach also being under scrutiny, Jason Strange (currently with the Welsh U20s) and ex Wales fly half Stephen Jones would be leading Welsh names in these roles.
Dave Rennie has been hailed as a potential contender, although the question is whether he would want a downgrade from his current job as head coach of the Chiefs, who set about demolishing the Welsh team during their summer tour of New Zealand.
LIKELIHOOD OF COACHING CHANGES
A replacement for Rob Howley is quite unlikely as his contract, originally up in the summer after the tour of New Zealand, was renewed after the second test. Will he see this full tenure through?
That could be decided upon by the results of future games, however many Welsh fans are placing their money on Howley’s contract not to be fully fulfilled. Finance would go against it being cancelled with lack of funds at current times. This follows on from Wales’ dire attacking options under him, where in the world cup we couldn’t score against an Australian team down to 13 men along with many other games where we have appeared lacklustre in front of goal.
Robin McBryde is in charge of the Welsh forwards, and its fair to say they no longer carry the same ”oomph” as they did in our grand slam years of 2005, 2008 and 2012. Wales also managed 4th in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand during this illustrious period. In the period since 2012 however our forwards haven’t done so well and in recent times against England and in the current NZ tour have struggled. His value therefore has to decline with it, and with so many countries in the modern game creating and utilising a strong pack we need to compete with them once again. Dai Young is another shouted about for this role if he doesn’t claim the head coach and would make a sturdy addition to team Wales. With McBryde’s three year deal signed along with Howley’s after test two, we do however have another unlikely change in the forwards department.
FLACK TAKEN BY CURRENT STAFF
Welsh defence coach Sean Edwards has taken a lot of flack recently and rightly so. Wales have conceded 27 tries in their last five games (England, NZ, Chiefs, NZ and NZ). It could be argued that he can only do so much and the players have to take up the responsibility and slack on the field, however 27 tries is down to tactics as well as player mistakes. His role has to be up for sale if this defensive slide continues. Wales do not score enough against these top sides to allow them to score five and six try’s against us as we have been doing. In the second NZ test the centre partnership (Roberts and Davies) missed ten tackles between them and this is a factor, but coaching changes in our defence ranks is needed. Jason Strange was shouted for this role by some, but after the 71 point drubbing of the U20s and other late try defeats at their world cup it must be said ”Chippy” is probably out of the running for this role now.
For know it must be said Edwards is probably going to keep his job, for lack of defence replacement perhaps, however if Danny Wilson can solidify the Cardiff Blues over the next three years of his contract then he will be in for a good shout of that role if he doesn’t get one of the other three up for grabs. Pat Lam has been suggested by many after his recent success with Connacht, who held a good defence throughout the season. However he is new into a pricey contract with the Galway men and so will be unlikely to join Wales on cost alone really.
LIKELIHOOD OF COACHING CHANGES
The likelihood of these changes happening is slim as Mcbryde, Gatland, Howley and Edwards since they still have time on their contracts. Names such as Baxter, Wilson and Strange are unlikely to get this due to their own commitments to their clubs or nation.
Rennie and Young would be the best and most likely candidates for the head coach role and even Rennie has been said to be looking for a northern hemisphere task to undertake. Thus making himself very high up on the candidates list.
Wales would however be unlikely to afford to buy Gatland out and bring Young/Lam in at Warren’s expense, and so those are also unlikely candidates for the near future it seems.
COST OF COACHING CHANGES
Gatlands contract is apparently around £500,000 per annum which with four years left to pay off would be around the £2m mark. The WRU couldn’t really afford this with the introduction of the A side once again on the 21st of July. This final use of funds would pretty much also stop them signing Lam or Young as previously said.
The WRU would also have to look at updating the national stadium (Principality Stadium) in 10-15 yrs time and so setting back millions for this ever year would cut funds if it’s needed, which it probably will be needed.
As it stands, Warren Gatland doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and with Howley and McBryde both definitely staying, this isn’t the start of a period of coaching changes for Wales.
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