There's no magic wand for Wales

BBC News

3 days ago

Steve Tandy has stressed there is "no magic wand" after being unveiled as Wales head coach.The 45-year-old left his role as Scotland's defence coach to take the Wales hotseat.Wales have been without a permanent boss since Warren Gatland left during the Six Nations, which was followed by Cardiff's Matt Sherratt taking over for the rest of that campaign and then staying as caretaker boss for the two-Test tour of Japan.Victory in the second clash with the Brave Blossoms brought an end to Wales' 18-Test losing streak that went back to the 2023 World Cup.
Tandy will be in charge for autumn internationals against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa but has urged patience."We understand where we are at, it was brilliant to get that result but now it's about incrementally building," said the former flanker."There's not going to be a magic wand or a quick fix and then it all changes, but I do believe in the pathway."I believe in the younger boys who we can get to adapt and accelerate their learning by coaching, being around them and being really immersed in their lives and how they go about playing the game."Wales are currently ranked 12th in the world rankings but the new boss believes he has a group with potential to close the gap to the best."I believe in the talent that we have in Wales to get us to where we want to go," said Tandy."You want to have ambition but ultimately there is a process to get to that and with a young group we have to nurture them, connect them, coach them and be around them more than any time before."We have to build performances incrementally and be better from campaign to campaign with the young, exciting group that we've got."
Uncertain times in club rugby
Tandy's first game in charge will be the autumn opener against Argentina in Cardiff on Sunday, 9 November.By then the Welsh Rugby Union hope to have outlined their plans for the professional game with the possibility of cutting from the current four regions, Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets down to three or maybe two teams."We've got to build something that suits us, not follow anyone else," said Tandy, who was part of a Scottish system that features the duo of Glasgow and Edinburgh."There are challenges in any programme but we have to build something that suits us and I am coming in with my eyes wide open."Ultimately, we want Wales to be back to where we belong and where we want to be. There is a lot of work that goes in behind that."Everyone at the [Welsh Rugby] Union and at the clubs wants Wales to be really competitive. How that looks, I am not quite sure yet, but I know where the intention is to be."I know it's hard because emotion plays a massive part in the game, and is one of our strengths."But there has to be a focus of where we want go to, how we can align ourselves better and create something that everyone can really buy into for us to be competitive, not just in the national game but right across Wales."
Tandy's coaching 'blank canvas'
Tandy will take over at the start of September and will shape his backroom team along with WRU performance director Dave Reddin.Sherratt held the reins in Japan where he was joined by Cardiff's Gethin Jenkins (defence), Harlequins' Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas (assistant forwards coach), with Leigh Halfpenny helping with the kicking.Tandy is already working towards building his staff for the November Tests."Dave and I have started discussions," he said. "The boys in Japan did a great job to get that result, that's a credit to them because it was a short turnaround after a long season."There's a blank canvas and we have started having conversations about making sure we get the right people in the right roles, not just for the autumn but the longer term for the growth of us as a nation."