Facing NZ: Wales
Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards can't wait for boss Warren Gatland to return to the fold as the team prepare to face world champions New Zealand.
Wales haven't beaten the All Blacks since 1953 and few give much for their chances at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after home defeats by Argentina and Samoa made it five consectutive losses against all opponents for the Six Nations Grand Slam champions of 2012.
Gatland missed the Argentina and Samoa games as he began his preparations for coaching the British & Irish Lions on 2013's tour of Australia.
However, the Lions have given him special dispensation to take charge of injury-hit Wales for their final two matches of the November series, against the in-form All Blacks and Australia, as caretaker coach Rob Howley steps aside.
New Zealand arrive in Cardiff unbeaten in 19 Tests over the last 15 months but Edwards believes Gatland's return to a coaching team also featuring forwards chief Robin McBryde and kicking specialist Neil Jenkins is just what Wales need.
"We haven't had a meeting as yet where Warren has had a chance to speak to the players but the five of us have been a good coaching team over the past five years," said Edwards.
"If the gaffer (head coach) is missing then it's going to hit you hard and we are much better when there are five of us all together," added the former Great Britain rugby league international who first worked under Gatland at Wasps, helping the London club win English Premiership titles and European Cup titles.
"I expect Warren to be his normal self," said Edwards. He gives us some words of wisdom there is no doubt about that, and as the build-up goes on to Saturday he will get more and more involved."
Wales have been widely criticised for a run of defeats that could lead to them missing on a top eight seeding for next month's 2015 World Cup draw and so scupper hopes of repeating last year's fourth place in New Zealand.
Former Wales captain Gareth Thomas, following last week's 26-19 defeat by Samoa, accused the current side of a "pure lack of effort". Edwards, unsurprisingly, disagreed.
"If he can show me specifics of the game then I would look at it and decide, but I wouldn't agree with that," he said.
"Personally I felt it was two teams that were pretty equally matched, as they were at the World Cup when we got the better of a one-score game, just like South Africa when they (Samoa) played them at the World Cup.
"On Friday Samoa were a little bit better than at the World Cup because they had the tighthead prop who plays for the champions of France (Toulouse forward Census Johnston) and they had the tighthead prop who plays for the champions of England (Harlequins' James Johnston).
"That's why they have improved while we have slightly come back a bit because of injuries.
"That's why they won a one-score game this time."
Comments
ABlack says...
Gatland wont make an iota of difference to Wales on Saturday. The fact is the wlesh players are sluggish, slow and slothy in their approach. The way the Argie winger Imhoff stood up Halfpenny for his try was ridiculously easy, Half penny had no reaction and got burnt for speed. Ditto the 2 carthorses Wales has on the wings and Roberts at centre as slow as a wet Welsh winter and therein lies the problem( and thats just the outside backs...)
Posted 02:54 21st November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I think what Edwards says is fair enough to: in other words Wales are a so so team that can expect to be 50/50 reaults wise vs Samoa. Samoa like Wales can run a Top 3 team SAf close but lose like Samoa did. Samoa can beat Oz in Oz unlike Wales. Fair assessment . Wales are so so. Supeised to hear it from the coach though.
Posted 13:40 20th November 2012
Bandage says...
What Edwards says here is fair enough. Wales were at full strength and on form when they played Samoa at the World Cup, and still only won the game by 7 points, as did South Africa. His point being that Samoa are a very good team these days and you have to play well to beat them. Wales have fallen off their form (clearly not helped by a injuries to key players) and that's enough to see a 7 point victory turned into a 7 point defeat.
Edwards is saying that people are treating a defeat to Samoa like the end of the world, when in fact it isn't, which is showing them the respect they deserve. At the moment, the All Blacks are out on their own, and after that, there are 11 teams in the world who can all pose a significant threat to each other on their day. We've simply never had this level of competition in international rugby before.
PS: That's not to say that I disagree with PREEST that the Welsh performance was terrible, and Samoa really should have won by more.
Posted 09:48 20th November 2012
porridge_time says...
Well said PREEST.
Posted 09:48 20th November 2012
PREEST says...
No, Samoa were much much better than Wales, and they should stop making excuses about injuries and the like. Wales NEVER looked like scoring other than an intercept try against the run of play. Samoa shouldn't have relinquished the lead had they kicked their goals. Comfortable win and well deserved by Samoa, don't take credit away from them. Wales lost because they were second best, no if's or buts about it.
Posted 06:56 20th November 2012