Injuries mask Gatland’s woes

Gatland

OPINION – While the whole of Wales holds it’s breath to hear about the extent of the injuries to fullback Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb, the world has already started to question Wales’ credentials for the Rugby World Cup should the diminutive fullback and scrum half be ruled out. But as the wait lingers on, it may not be Halfpenny and/or Webb’s fate that determines Wales’ Rugby World Cup fate with the Dragons hardly in any position to stake a claim for a quarter final appearance.

Other than the occasional glimpse of brilliance on Saturday, Wales were largely poor and injuries to their 9 and their 15 wouldn’t change the fact that Coach Warren Gatland looks a little lost in how to approach a game against a higher ranked team than them. The problem with Wales under Gatland is that their game style isn’t suitable to play against a team that plays high pace and high intensity rugby. They don’t lack the personnel to effect a game plan but they lack the guidance in the coaching team to do so.

If you look at their appearance against Italy on Saturday, Wales scored six penalties through Halfpenny with one try to George North. In comparison, Italy scored two tries, two penalties and one drop goal. At home, with a near-full strength side, Wales were expected to romp home and they should have. At the very least they should have shown that they had the meddle to mix it with England and Australia in a few weeks time because if they look anything at the World Cup like they did in Saturday’s performance, then they’re going to look mighty vulnerable to Fiji and they’ll be able to smell blood.

If I were Gatland, I would throw the injuries out the window and get my head in the play book. He’s got the arsenal in the midfield and on both wings but he either doesn’t know how to use it or doesn’t invest heavily in game plans centred on getting the ball wide – yes George North scored on Saturday but it doesn’t mask the fact that Wales don’t have an effective game plan to consistently challenge top teams – or at least teams with organised defence patterns.

After witnessing three very up and down matches, you have to ask yourself whether they have three really good performances in them or at the very least, two. To even have a chance to make the World Cup quarters, Wales will have to register two very good performances. And after their 2015 so far, you would have to say that it does not look at all likely. In fact, if you were to ask many in rugby circles, they would say that Fiji have a better chance of finishing higher in their pool than Wales.

Halfpenny

To put so much focus on the injuries to Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny, regardless of the extent of them, is not only disrespectful to the rest of the team but a get out of free card for Coach Warren Gatland who, at the end of the day, can say that he lost his two main guns so “of course Wales will be worse off”.

As a pundit, a rugby fan and a fan of what Wales have always brought to the table in international rugby, I don’t buy it. Wales was sold short by Gatland in the first World Cup warm-up to which he sent a very inexperienced team out to get a hiding by an unspectacular Ireland. Then, he sends out what was closer to his strongest team and they get the job done but through three penalties and a converted try from Tipuric in the back row. He simply has a team that he doesn’t know how to use.

Heading into the Rugby World Cup, his team’s performances have prompted the clock to start ticking. But if Wales fall at the pool stages, judging by the type of play that they have and will, likely exhibit, I’m not sure how much time he’ll have left.

 


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