Matt Sherratt's reasons for taking Wales job and three questions he asked players

Wales Online

7 hours ago

Matt Sherratt's reasons for taking Wales job and three questions he asked players
Cardiff Rugby boss Matt Sherratt is in charge on an interim basis this summer in Japan
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt says surveying the players, listening to his family and harbouring one major regret from the Six Nations were all behind taking on the job once again for the summer tour of Japan.
The Cardiff boss was parachuted in as interim for the final three matches of the Six Nations, following Warren Gatland's mid-tournament departure following a difficult second spell in charge. While Sherratt wasn't able to end the lengthy losing run, he did instil some much-needed positivity as life after Gatland began for the second time around.
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With no replacement for the Kiwi in place, Sherratt has once again assumed the interim role - filling his coaching ticket with a trusted team of lieutenants.
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However, it wasn't a given that Sherratt would have accepted the role - something he explained to the travelling press in Japan as he outlined his reasons for doing the job again.
Earlier this week, it was revealed by assistant coach T. Rhys Thomas that Sherratt has given a questionnaire to his squad, with Joe Roberts confirming on WalesOnline's Welsh Rugby Podcast that the vast majority of the squad - 30 out of 33 - said the target was nothing less than two victories in Japan.
After naming his team, Sherratt revealed the feedback he'd received from his player survey, saying: "I spoke to the players before we came away. I wondered what their motivation was and why they were coming here.
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"The short answer was they want to win for Wales. For the future, it's probably the end of something, this tour. Let's hope it's the start of something and they can start on a level playing field." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
However, when he was asked after his live press conference whether the feedback he got from his playing squad had achieved the desired effect, he admitted it was more to do with confirming he wanted to lead Wales in Japan this summer.
"Do you know why I did it? I'll be brutally honest," said Sherratt as he launched into the lengthy answer.
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"When I got asked to do it again, it was the decision for me. Obviously doing Cardiff, having some family time is important in this job.
"I knew I'd miss that. Career-wise as well, it's a tough challenge. We know Wales are in a little bit of a rebuild.
"But when I really considered it, my family really wanted me to do it. They loved the Six Nations, which is why we all do our jobs really - for other people.
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"I really enjoyed working with different players, getting to know Scarlets and Dragons players, boys in the Prem as well. And probably my biggest regret was not getting a win for Wales.
"I've obviously seen it from the outside before, and during the autumn, but the support during a Six Nations from the general public, just walking through Cardiff, the passion of the nation was pretty humbling. I really regretted not being able to win for the country.
"So probably the three things that hit home for me were giving my family a really good experience, I really enjoyed working with other people and regretting not getting a win. I kind of thought I wonder why the players wanted to go.
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"I asked Toby if he wanted to go. He said yes straight away. Josh Adams was determined to go. Dewi Lake, boys who could have had a bit of a break.
"So I just sent the players - it wasn't anything wordy, just three questions. What motivates you to play, what do you want to get out of the trip and what are you going to bring?
"Literally everyone was I play for my family, I want to enjoy the trip and I want to win for Wales. So we've built everything around that.
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"It just hit home that we're all doing it for the same reason. Rather than think about the baggage around playing for Wales and the win/loss ratio at the moment, let's just strip it back and go there for the right reasons in terms of why we all want to be there.
"That's how we've themed the tour really, we've just stuck to those three things. Make sure we enjoy it, remember why we're doing it and I think it's really important we start laying some foundations.
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"What I mean by that is I'd love the next guy to come in and no one's talking about the 17. I'd love to do that for whoever comes in. If I'm honest, when I think about the Six Nations, I came in and changed the shape, some of the intricate parts of the game.
"But I just felt it was a time to go back, I wouldn't say hard to beat, but making sure that our defence is important. Our contact area, our kicking game.
"So making sure that whoever comes in next - and it's not all about who comes in next, it's about the now as well - can build of that, if they're looking at a team where the set-piece, defence, contact area and kicking game is good. We've really decided to go back to laying the foundation."