They've also been stagnant for at least the past 5 years.
One can argue they've been stagnant and gone backwards the past 7-8 years. In the 2011-12 season he got to a semi-final lost by 1 point and lost the 3rd place playoff by 3 and won the second of his three Grand Slams.Yeah I mean there's no doubt that he's had some big achievements with them, but he's been in post for 12 years and not all of that has been used efficiently, in my opinion.
Wales do incredible well for their size as a country, England have 1 million registered rugby players, Wales only have a population of 3 million for comparison. I think Gats to keep them up there as a competitive force, winning grand slams has been an amazing achievement.
I think you look at both Lions tour's and see whether he's up to the challenge and the answer is no. With the additional resources or Ireland and England he onlt scrap up a draw on an AB's side on wane and was heavily reliant on Welsh players when reality now is geuinely ask who would make a combined side if you were the selector.Gatland is a hard one to judge, massively successful against the likes of O'Sullivan, Kidney, Johnson, Lancaster etc... But once Schmidt, and then Jones came it took him six years to win the 6n while those two won half of theirs. That, coupled with the appalling record against the SH, holds him back a little in my books but then again I don't think he had the player base Schmidt or Jones had for most of the last 6 years and Wales were probably only as uncompetitive as Ireland were this year or England were last year once or twice in that period.
Definitely a positive for Wales, a bit more innovation was probably needed, he stuck with his mate Howley until the bitter end and I think that'll be seen as the step which stopped Wales getting to the level Ireland were and England are in being competitive against the best the SH has to offer. Whether that's a realistic goal for Wales is probably the big question, I think the comparison with Ireland is a good one, resources are fairly similar, but it must be borne in mind that we're the biggest bottlers in international rugby.
I am going to miss Ben Smith, he made scoring tries looked easy.
How do you even begin to select him over Lawes, Itoje, Kruis & Launchbury? And that's just the England locks that are way ahead of him!Alyn Wyn Jones has made it his goal to make it into another lions tour just to please all his English and Irish fans
Gatland's in charge so he's a shoe in tbh, he's been Gatland's main man for a decade or more.Alyn Wyn Jones has made it his goal to make it into another lions tour just to please all his English and Irish fans
Gatland's in charge so he's a shoe in tbh, he's been Gatland's main man for a decade or more.
I don't think Gatland is dumb enough to start him but I think it's inevitable he'll tour.
Again, a hard yardstick, it's a totally unique challenge that I think every coach has failed in in the pro era... Primarily because it doesn't belong in the pro era but let's not get into that!I think you look at both Lions tour's and see whether he's up to the challenge and the answer is no. With the additional resources or Ireland and England he onlt scrap up a draw on an AB's side on wane and was heavily reliant on Welsh players when reality now is geuinely ask who would make a combined side if you were the selector.
It's more the subtleties of the game what alyn Wyn does great. Hes also leads by example , tackles his heard out , he's a great captain. Age isn't on his side now and I do think his best years are behind him now somo wouldn't expect him at 36 to make another lions campaign . The interesting thing is whether he will figure in future Welsh plans , as he may not be suited to the way Pivac want to play , just have to see how cutthroat Pivac is.How do you even begin to select him over Lawes, Itoje, Kruis & Launchbury? And that's just the England locks that are way ahead of him!
It's almost impossible to comapre Lions coaches as it doesn't happen often enough.Gats has done more with the Lions than just about everyone since the 70s. It's a harder job than people give it credit for, and having more players at your disposal doesn't always help make a team.