By Nick Powell
Whilst rugby has taken a back seat this June and July with the presence of England, Ireland and Wales at Euro 2016, some glorious rugby has been played over the 9 matches that these three sides have against the historic tri-nations. It's taken me all of a month to get these articles out but here are my conclusions...
487 points were scored over the 9 games, at an average of 54 points a match. All three of these sides, criticised for dull tactics came out and produced thrilling attacking displays. While the devastating World Cup and its mockery of the Northern Hemisphere has been far from erased, there is no doubt these northern hemisphere are closing the gap, albeit at different speeds.
New Zealand 3-0 Wales
I'm not going to start talking about myself as a genius because I predicted a whitewash for the All Blacks, nor am I about to produce a scathing attack on the men in red. In game one, it went roughly how it was always likely to go on the scoreboard, but the play on the pitch seemed to show something quite different, Gatland's side looked to be playing with a bit of flair.
That was certainly true of their performance at Eden Park, Wales led after an hour, but the world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to overpower them. It was promising to see them play some attacking, enterprising rugby, given the deserved criticism they received for their style of play during their Six Nations Campaign and their trip to Twickenham in May, but ultimately they fell short. For me, it was a lack of fitness. New Zealand do often increase their level in the last 20, but Wales could have shipped four or five tries and the All Blacks were carving them open with ease.
This theme featured again in the second test, a fantastic defensive and clinical attacking helped Wales level at the break, but in a 15 minute second half blitz they were suddenly out of contention and playing for pride, they did earn some at the end, but New Zealand had taken their foot of the gas and had made a fair few changes. The last game saw a thumping defeat, New Zealand simply coasted past Wales in their 46-6 win and could have scored 60 or 70.
New Zealand are obviously a terrific side, they always have been and probably always will. But Wales should have done better if they see themselves as a really top team. Whilst there's no doubt they did well in the first test they did get beaten by 18 points, and didn't really compete in any of the other games (including their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chiefs, 40-7). It's not easy to do that in New Zealand but in the last four years both Ireland and England (twice) have got within five points of them on their own turf.
This was a huge opportunity as well for Wales. New Zealand had lost a lot of players to retirement and were vulnerable, as proven at moments in the opening two tests. Wales failed to capitalise on leads and didn't defend well enough to have a chance of winning the games and I think this is part of a deeper problem in Welsh rugby at the moment. They simply aren't good enough, they have an ageing team, with a coach that has no fresh ideas and they need a change, and soon.
Don't get me wrong, Gatland has done wonders for Wales, his first 5 years were a stunning success, he turned his side from a terrible team that crashed out of the World Cup to Fiji into the best side in Europe by some distance, but they haven't progressed since then and it's time for a new man, with fresh ideas. Fresh selections are also needed, this has been a golden era of Welsh talent but by the time we reach 2019 they will all be too old. Whilst I don't believe he did anything like as good a job as people think in 2013 for the Lions, I wouldn't rule him out for the job next year but if Wales want to return to the top of the European tree then he has to go because I can't see it getting better.
Whilst rugby has taken a back seat this June and July with the presence of England, Ireland and Wales at Euro 2016, some glorious rugby has been played over the 9 matches that these three sides have against the historic tri-nations. It's taken me all of a month to get these articles out but here are my conclusions...
487 points were scored over the 9 games, at an average of 54 points a match. All three of these sides, criticised for dull tactics came out and produced thrilling attacking displays. While the devastating World Cup and its mockery of the Northern Hemisphere has been far from erased, there is no doubt these northern hemisphere are closing the gap, albeit at different speeds.
New Zealand 3-0 Wales
I'm not going to start talking about myself as a genius because I predicted a whitewash for the All Blacks, nor am I about to produce a scathing attack on the men in red. In game one, it went roughly how it was always likely to go on the scoreboard, but the play on the pitch seemed to show something quite different, Gatland's side looked to be playing with a bit of flair.
Wales' losing run extended to 29 tests against the All Blacks
That was certainly true of their performance at Eden Park, Wales led after an hour, but the world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to overpower them. It was promising to see them play some attacking, enterprising rugby, given the deserved criticism they received for their style of play during their Six Nations Campaign and their trip to Twickenham in May, but ultimately they fell short. For me, it was a lack of fitness. New Zealand do often increase their level in the last 20, but Wales could have shipped four or five tries and the All Blacks were carving them open with ease.
This theme featured again in the second test, a fantastic defensive and clinical attacking helped Wales level at the break, but in a 15 minute second half blitz they were suddenly out of contention and playing for pride, they did earn some at the end, but New Zealand had taken their foot of the gas and had made a fair few changes. The last game saw a thumping defeat, New Zealand simply coasted past Wales in their 46-6 win and could have scored 60 or 70.
New Zealand are obviously a terrific side, they always have been and probably always will. But Wales should have done better if they see themselves as a really top team. Whilst there's no doubt they did well in the first test they did get beaten by 18 points, and didn't really compete in any of the other games (including their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chiefs, 40-7). It's not easy to do that in New Zealand but in the last four years both Ireland and England (twice) have got within five points of them on their own turf.
This was a huge opportunity as well for Wales. New Zealand had lost a lot of players to retirement and were vulnerable, as proven at moments in the opening two tests. Wales failed to capitalise on leads and didn't defend well enough to have a chance of winning the games and I think this is part of a deeper problem in Welsh rugby at the moment. They simply aren't good enough, they have an ageing team, with a coach that has no fresh ideas and they need a change, and soon.
Don't get me wrong, Gatland has done wonders for Wales, his first 5 years were a stunning success, he turned his side from a terrible team that crashed out of the World Cup to Fiji into the best side in Europe by some distance, but they haven't progressed since then and it's time for a new man, with fresh ideas. Fresh selections are also needed, this has been a golden era of Welsh talent but by the time we reach 2019 they will all be too old. Whilst I don't believe he did anything like as good a job as people think in 2013 for the Lions, I wouldn't rule him out for the job next year but if Wales want to return to the top of the European tree then he has to go because I can't see it getting better.
For me, it's time for Gatland to step aside
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