Struggling Wales aim to avoid unwanted history
What now constitutes rock bottom for Welsh rugby?It is a question that has been continually posed over the past year following defeat after defeat.The losing sequence now stands at 16 international matches following the 35-29 defeat against Scotland in Murrayfield. It was a familiar tale of plenty of effort and endeavour from an inexperienced side but ultimately yet more failure.What total of defeats is regarded as unacceptable? When will words like spirited be replaced by successful?The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) committee were looking on from their Murrayfield VIP seats witnessing a now familiar tale that has been of their own making.The governing body are looking for a director of rugby and head coach to try and lift this proud rugby nation out of the mire. Welsh rugby fans are just looking for some hope.
The sad indictment is that defeats now are met with a shrug of the shoulders followed by comments like Wales were never expected to succeed.It has to be reiterated this proud rugby nation has not won an international match since October 2023.Wales are rewriting the record books along the way. Italy are the only other tier one nation that have lost as many consecutive Tests in the professional era.Go back further and Wales might break new ground for the top tier sides over the coming weeks and months.France lost 18 in a row in a nine-year stint from 1911 to 1920, while Scotland suffered 17 successive defeats between 1951-55. Unfortunately, Wales have them in their sights.Wales have also never gained an outright Wooden Spoon in two successive seasons in the Five or Six Nations or lost all their games in successive campaigns.So defeat against England in the tournament finale in Cardiff next Saturday would create a bit more unwanted history.
Forgotten how to win
A few hours before kick-off at Murrayfield a host of former internationals could be spotted entering the stadium.Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Shane Williams, Jamie Roberts, James Hook and Ian Gough strode in for their various media or corporate work. Players who knew what it was like to win at Murrayfield. Who knew how to win international matches and experienced Grand Slams, World Cup semi-finals and successful British and Irish Lions tours.Rock band James once wrote a lyric "if I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor". That can apply to long-suffering Welsh fans.The current squad does not have that expertise or experience of Test success.It was hoped events in Edinburgh might change that. This struggling Welsh side were intent on backing up a heartening display against Ireland in Matt Sherratt's first game in interim charge following Warren Gatland's departure.The almost universal positive reaction to the Ireland performance was probably over-the-top. Welsh fans chose to ignore this because there has been so little hope to cling onto in the past 18 months. Some will again chose to focus on Wales' second-half revival in the Scottish capital.Ultimately, it was normal service resumed as Wales suffered a 10th straight Six Nations defeat with Scotland celebrating a hat-trick of successive wins in this fixture for the first time since 1991.
Harsh realities of international rugby
It was a disastrous first half where the calamitous mistakes from Blair Murray and Ben Thomas that led to Scotland's fourth try typified the chaos.Players like Ellis Mee and WillGriff John, who had produced encouraging Six Nations debuts against Ireland, were ruthlessly exposed to the realities of international rugby.Coach Mike Forshaw's Wales' defence, especially out wide, unravelled with 33 missed tackles during the game. Wales lost the aerial and kicking battles with Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn running riot and Finn Russell pulling the strings.Scotland led 35-8 after an hour and a record defeat beckoned, before a revival in the final quarter was orchestrated by replacement fly-half Jarrod Evans who had come on for an ineffective Gareth Anscombe.Wales managed to score three tries to pick up two losing bonus points and make the scoreline far more respectable.Scotland had relaxed as Wales capitalised. Even Sherratt admitted Wales' comeback occurred after the game was settled and Scotland had slipped by 5%.Co-captain Finn Russell was off the field in the final quarter after suffering from cramp and other key performers had been brought off the field.While the visitors could have set up a frantic finale if a late Taulupe Faletau try had not been disallowed because of Murray hurdling a tackle in the build-up, the hosts were the dominant side.
Any cause for optimism?
Through the doom and gloom, the beacon of light has been captain Jac Morgan.This weekend was no exception as a British and Irish Lions call-up for the summer tour of Australia looms.The Wales flanker was once more a tower of strength in adversity, excelling at the breakdown and completing 25 tackles to maintain outstanding form. Morgan was assisted by industrious Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins, who topped the tackle charts with 28, and also returning Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake - all three having captained Wales during the past year.Morgan and Lake are both 25, while Jenkins is 22, so this trio can be the spine Wales build a side around. Because of different injuries, it was the first time they had appeared together in the same side during Wales' 17-month losing sequence.At the other end of the scale, 34-year-old number eight Taulupe Faletau hinted he was getting back to his best after long-term injuries with 163 metres made from 15 carries and 19 tackles. His class is permanent and Wales should utilise it while they can despite his advancing years.And fly-half Evans demonstrated his attacking abilities by masterminding the second-half rally to enhance his chances of a starting spot against England.
Expectation against England
The romanticism of Wales ending a losing streak against England at home next weekend will always be strong.Especially with an Englishman at the helm in Gloucester-born Sherratt, who will be preparing for his final match in charge of his temporary stint before returning to Cardiff.England might still be in Six Nations title contention when they arrive in Wales, so there will be no lack of motivation.The Principality Stadium cauldron will always be red-hot for this fixture but it is worth remembering Wales have forgotten how to win in front of their own fans.The most recent home win was a World Cup warm-up victory against England in August 2023, while the latest Six Nations triumph in Cardiff was a narrow victory over Scotland more than three years ago.A victory against England next weekend to banish these stark statistics will provide some hope.But yet another loss to take the sequence to 17 successive Test defeats will feel like rock bottom once more.
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There's also the prospect of further damage at an early stage in his career if he fouls up again. However, it is Liechtenstein. It's a game Scotland should dominate. It's a chance for the bloke to get back on the bike, be part of a winning team and do a bit of damage limitation. Bournemouth's Callan McKenna, at 18, is too young to play and Doohan is surely so far down the pecking order that he is unlikely to have any realistic hope of an international future. If Clarke and his coaching staff really do believe Slicker can develop into someone of worth for the longer-term future — and see the right signs in him over the next 24 hours — maybe thinking the unthinkable and throwing him in again could be the biggest show of support of all.
