No English allegiances for Wales coach Sherratt

BBC News

14-03-2025

Men's Six Nations: Wales v EnglandVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Sport website and app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live.
Interim Wales head coach Matt Sherratt will find himself in an unusual situation this weekend.In his final game in temporary charge, the English-born coach will be plotting the downfall of England when the two sides meet in the Six Nations finale in Cardiff.Born in Gloucester within a drop-kick of the famous Kingsholm ground, Sherratt grew up in a household that was fiercely divided on rugby days between an English father and his Tredegar-born mother."I used to have to sit between my mum and dad to split them up and then I'd switch sides depending on who won," Sherratt joked.
"I probably went through the generations. In the 1970's I was probably wearing red a little bit more and then come the 1990's and early 2000's my dad's voice probably took over the house a little bit more."He's going to the game at the weekend and I've managed to change him I think [from England to Wales]. I don't know how long for, but definitely for this weekend."
Foot in both camps?
So will it be weird viewed as an Englishman coaching Wales this weekend?"I've worked in Wales for so long, and when you watch Wales when you're not coaching then you get attached to the players, so there's no question marks on allegiances," said Sherratt."I've got so much familiarity with a lot of the Welsh players - probably three-quarters of the squad I've coached before and have personal relationships with so I'm more interested in that than what country I was born in."Cardiff head coach Sherratt came in for a three-game period after head coach Warren Gatland had stepped down following the away loss in Rome, a 14th successive loss.He said before the Ireland game he was meant to be watching the game next door in the Arms Park clubhouse for his brother-in-law's 50th birthday. Family interest in tickets for this weekend's game has peaked even more.Sherratt was emotional this week when asked about his final game in charge as he highlighted the role his family have played."The Cardiff boys will tell you, I have a wobble probably two or three times a season, as soon as it becomes about family it's pretty easy to go," said Sherratt."But I have loved it, I'm not going to hide away from it, it's something I'm proud of and enjoyed and so have the family."My son's main motivation is getting on the pitch afterwards. I had to knock on the door of the Scottish changing room so he could have photos with Finn Russell. "He enjoys that and he's pestering me about trying to meet Fin Smith and Marcus Smith this weekend. I think he's more interested in his Instagram account."
Lifting spirits after tough times
Sherratt has added positivity to the beleaguered Wales team with plenty of fun on show in the final training session before the England game.There have still been two more defeats against Ireland and Scotland which has taken the losing sequence to 16. On Six Nations 'Super Saturday' Wales have traditionally been in the hunt for Six Nations titles or Grand Slams. Now they are hoping to avoid a second successive Wooden Spoon.The statistics are stark. Wales' most recent Test match victory came against World Cup pool opponents Georgia in October 2023.Having been beaten in all four games of this campaign, Wales are bidding to avoid a 17th successive Test defeat, which would be the most for a tier one nation in the professional era.They hope to miss out on an 11th Six Nations consecutive loss with the previous win against Italy in March 2023.Wales are bidding to avoid a clean sweep of defeats in successive tournaments for the first time in their history.The myth Cardiff provides home comforts has also been dispelled. Wales have lost their previous eight home games after defeating England in August 2023.They have also been defeated in the past eight Six Nations matches at the Principality Stadium since beating Scotland in February 2022.
Easing the burden
Before he agreed to taking on the role, former teacher Sherratt admitted he thought about the toll the losing sequence would be taking on young captains like Jac Morgan, Dafydd Jenkins and Dewi Lake."I remember watching the games more as a supporter and seeing Jac, Dewi and Daf in interviews afterwards," said Sherratt."As a coach and maybe an ex-teacher, I hoped it wasn't something they were taking home with them. "They should be at the stage of their career where they're just loving playing for Wales. "Those three lead by example and I know how much it means for them to play for Wales."My role coming in was to take some of the burden off them. So they could go out on the weekend and enjoy playing without too much of the history and media stuff."
No permanent ambition
Whatever happens in Cardiff this weekend, Sherratt says he will not throw his hat into the ring permanently. He always stated this three-match spell was temporary even if Wales beat England."I'm going to go back to Cardiff as head coach on Monday," said Sherratt."I've not changed on that. It's a big job and for three games it's been a massively enjoyable campaign. "My instinct is it needs someone fresh to come in and probably not where I am as a coach."I've been a head coach for 18 months, I wasn't forced into it, but the circumstances... it fitted really well at Cardiff. "I've always been self-aware in terms of where I am in my development and feel I need a bit more time in the saddle as a head coach at club level."England have the chance to lift the Six Nations trophy in Cardiff on Saturday night with Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins saying that scenario "cannot happen"."I've not thought of that, I would just like the team to do well for the team," said Sherratt."Everything I've tried to bring in has been about what's best for the team and for Wales. "I'd love the players to get some reward for a lot of the work they've put in over the last few weeks."
Finishing with a win
And finishing off with that elusive win? "It would be huge," said Sherratt."That's a massive motivation. I would love to sign off [with a win], not for me but for the players and staff who have been here for a long time. "It's important it's not something we talk about a huge amount about in camp or you can get a bit desperate. "Maybe the emotion takes over some technical or tactical aspects. There'll be emotion on Saturday and stacks of heart. It's getting that balance between heart and brain. "If that win comes, it would give everyone a massive lift, especially against England at home."But especially for certain sections of the Sherratt family.