Warren Gatland’s, Wales team can take some positives from this tough assignment, despite 2 Test defeats at the hands of the All Blacks. However, the stark reality is, Wales are still a long way short of troubling the Major Rugby playing Nations often enough to have a realistic chance of lifting the World Cup.[free]
Bradley Davies is one player to have come on in leaps and bounds, as his performances in Europe, for the Cardiff Blues and his subsequent performances for Wales against the Southern Hemisphere Teams have been outstanding. He brings a huge work ethic and an enthusiasm to perform at maximum capacity at all times. Ironically, his mentors at Cardiff Blues are 2 Kiwis, who have, I assume, had a big influence on his development. Alun Wyn Jones continues to perform well and when Gethin Jenkins returns to the front row, the entire front five has a solid look about it, which should guarantee a fair chunk of possession
However, Wales does appear to lack strength in depth. If Adam Jones takes a knock they look short on the Tight Head side of the scrum and likewise, if any of the 2nd rows drop out! I feel this tour would have further benefitted the likes of Luke Charteris, who sadly missed out. Dan Biggar will forever tell the world how good he is, which can be an important characteristic in a player who plays in the key decision-making position but he needs to take a long hard look in the mirror, because from what I have seen of him, he strikes me as a manufactured fly-half! I watched the Wales team train, earlier in the season, as they prepared for a match against Western Samoa in the Autumn. Biggar was due to start, thus gaining vital experience in the process and my immediate observation was, he is undoubtedly a slick mover, with good pass accuracy and a good ball striker. During unopposed team practice, Wales moved the ball from right to left, retaining possession, before switching the ball back to Biggar, who, with pin-point accuracy drove an end over end punt into the hands of the cruising Leigh Halfpenny. Early on in the game against Western Samoa, Wales worked this training ground practice to perfection as Halfpenny opened the scoring. However, that same play was on, time and again, as the Samoans consistently ball-watched, over-committed to cover across field and left glaring cross-kicking opportunities, which, either, no-one saw or feared trying again! More worryingly, his tackling, in the 2nd test match against New Zealand was woeful, as on several occasions The All Blacks made gain-line breaks through his channel!
The other young mid-field back, who was given an opportunity, was Llanelli Scarlet’s Jonathan Davies. His confidence may have taken a knock, back in the Autumn, when his attempted left footed kick, whilst playing left to right, ricocheted off a Samoan player’s leg, before being recovered for a Samoan score. I would have thought, he would have worked on his weaker right foot, during his time as a full-time professional, at some point during the last 6 months, so not allowing for a repeat of that moment in a future international. He was, in fact almost caught out attempting precisely the same skill during the 2nd test against New Zealand, recently, which somehow did not lead to another score for the opposition.
Young Tom Prydie, on the left wing has to be put clean away to score as he has no evasiveness whatsoever and though he has plenty of time on his hands, I am not getting too excited about him becoming the next Shane Williams.
The Centres, Jamie Roberts and Andrew Bishop continue to disappoint me, as there appears to be so little football or creativity in them. Most of the Centre Three-quarters at the top end of the game have an intricate attacking kicking game in their armoury. These two players don’t! Who is responsible for developing these skills? I see Neil Jenkins is heavily involved and I can’t believe he is only responsible for the Goal-kicking element! As a player he was undoubtedly a points machine but he used to throw the ball higher than Ray Clemence to kick from hand! Aside from goal-kicking, I would never have rated him that skilful!
At one point, again during the 2nd test against New Zealand, Jonathan Davies did the right thing in continuing his cross field run to create the overlap, yet, inexplicably, Jamie Roberts decided to move inside, allowing the All Blacks cover to snuff out the play and the pundits to lay the blame at the door of young Davies! As I recall, Roberts used his size and strength to make a gain-line break, carried on by Brian O’ Driscoll which led to a score for the British Lions during the Test series in South Africa. This led to the pundits singing his praises and ultimately crowning him player of the series but if you look a little closer, he did it the hard way as he ignored 2 unmarked players on his outside! The truth is he didn’t see them, which displays his limited vision, which makes me doubt whether he is really good enough to be considered up to International standard as a creative mid-field back.
Shane Williams and James Hook, in the Back line and Martin Williams in the back row are the quality players who Wales need to be fresh, injury free and back to their best as Wales have proved on this tour, they have a strong platform from which to play.
I like the captain Ryan Jones but Wales will always crave a big ball carrying No 8 with pace and leg drive. They do have one, currently at Newport Gwent Dragons, recently voted best newcomer in the Principality Welsh Premiership, called Toby Faletau. Trust me when I say this boy, just turned 19, will become a senior International but whether the current Management see fit to fast track him in time for the World Cup, remains to be seen, as he is short on experience and guile in the No 8 position and in direct opposition to the captain. Hopefully, Newport Gwent Dragons will start him regularly this season and if so, I believe he will make the necessary progress to quickly bridge the gap to International Rugby. To put it into perspective I would rate him better than Andy Powell right now!
But there is one area the whole team is falling way short, as is every other team in the Northern Hemisphere………..
The rest of this analysis will be found in the subscribers article above[/free]