Blip: Sam Warburton
Wales captain Sam Warburton has told his players that despite a dismal November, the squad must remain positive ahead of the Six Nations.
A late Kurtley Beale try denied Wales victory over Australia in Cardiff on Saturday, the final of four defeats with losses also coming against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand.
Yet after the high of winning the Grand Slam earlier in 2012, Warburton knows that Wales can bounce back in next year's Six Nations.
"When we won the Grand Slam my parents said, 'you're not going to have 10/12 years of your career when you're always going upwards and achieving," Warburton told WalesOnline.
"There will always be blips and we don't need to panic, we just have to keep working hard and remain positive.
"I don't think (the whitewash) will dent the players' confidence, we know how good we can be and I think we showed that in the second half against New Zealand. We just have to keep going, to remain positive and ambitious."
Warren Gatland echoed Warburton's thoughts, stating that the month had been disappointing regardless of the result against the Wallabies and that Wales must be more clinical.
"Even if we had won we would have been disappointed after dropping a couple of games," said Gatland.
"But in the second half against New Zealand and against Australia we played some good rugby and showed we are a good side - we just need to be smarter at the death."
Comments
jontheref says...
jamesliveinhope
We Welsh, have a great habit of putting our head under the duvet, and hoping it will all work out right.
You are correct, we have gone away from the traditional Welsh back, and are going for size.
I thought Wales went better with Scott Willaims and Jon Davies as a centre pairing
tahn any other combination.
This was outside priestland, so with Hook or Biggar we could have seen some way to bring the big men on the wing into it.
I'm not going to worry about Gatland with the Lions, the WRU agreed to it, and have to live with it now.
What worries me is the blinkers Howlers has on.
Priestland showed about 10 minutes in the NZ game, where he was passing instinctively, not delaying by a second, and closing the space down. Not all his fault, as the forwards took on quick ball, and gave out slow ball, but Priestland was the failure to get the backs moving.
Not having Hook even on the bench for the Samoa game, meant he never got the chance to put himself in contention the NZ game.
It seems as if it was a ploy not to use him.
1st game, not starting, late joining the training.
2nd game, not used, so cannot be picked for 3rd game.
3rd game, see above.
4th game, back to france.
I may be being paranoid, but there are a lot of us who think this way!
Yes, we have players to come back, but what will the spirit be like?
Let's not forget, Howley has been with this team for 7 losses, 5 in charge, players need the coach to energise and instruct, not pick out of form palyers!
Posted 09:36 05th December 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
Much as I would have joined in with the wales bashing, I'm getting a little long in the tooth for it now, But @froggy73 is right, a better autumn than the Welsh have just had cost Andy Robinson his job (twice if you count the Autumn of 2007 with England).
Gatland took over in 2008 and won a Grand Slam with players like Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Martyn Williams Stephen Jones et al, even Tom Shanklin was still. I just can't see anywhere where those players at their best) have been adequately replaced in the 4 years since.
I don't normally say this about wingers but the loss of Shane Williams is the biggest, the whole game plan seems to be built around Jamie Roberts breaking the field sufficiently for a fleet footed winger to get behind the defence. Williams won at least 4 matches virtually single-handedly before he retired but now hes just been replaced with lumps who have pace and strength but ask Matt Banahan how far that's got his England career.
Big issue for Gatland now, he's won grand slams but (I think) has still failed to beat 3N opposition during his tenure. If Wales fail to have a good 6N the WRU may be worrying howlong a new coach would need.
Posted 16:49 04th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
PS you didn't show it against ABs because being good starts with playing well for 80 minutes.
Posted 12:18 04th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I think it is precisely the time to panic. You are 9th and just starting to play badly. Gatland doesn't give much of a stuff, Edwards is a part timer, and you have no one as back up to replace him. Clubs are poor... And this is just coming off a high!
Posted 12:15 04th December 2012
jontheref says...
Yeah, NHSaints.
Shows the fault lines in the rankings, where Wales won the 6N, yet dropped because of results between some of the lower placed teams.
Coaches need to pick on form, and not keep giving their pets another run out.
Posted 09:52 04th December 2012
PontySurrey says...
Spartacus - we'll see. Doubt if many countries could have coped with such a lengthy injury list as Wales suffered this autumn. Even a virus struck All Blacks struggled against England.
Posted 07:35 04th December 2012
SwiftyHUZZAH says...
Every great rugby side needs a thinker. You look at the champion teams from history and you'll see they'll have that one guy who knows when to kick, who to pass it to, when to drive ... I just don't see that person in the Welsh squad now. Maybe they'll unearth him prior to WC 2015. But right now, he's not wearing the jersey.
Posted 18:45 03rd December 2012
NHsaints says...
Biggar needs to start as 10, Hibbard as 2. @froggy73 they were ranked 6th after England (4th) and France (5th).
Posted 16:51 03rd December 2012
Sincero says...
Booing Sharpy as he lined up his retirement kick ??? You stay classy, Wales. haaaa haaaa
Posted 14:57 03rd December 2012
melkdave says...
Warburton is right ,there is no reason for panic atm,but i have to agree with @Jontheref,M.Rees has to go ,D.Bigger and Morgon need to start and be brought into the squad.Work has to be done at the breakdown,and the point of attack though the centres needs to change ,and offer deception/ offloads ect.
Posted 12:11 03rd December 2012
LondonWasp says...
i am pretty sure they will bounce back in tme for the 6nations. england vs wales in wales- from an english point of view, slaying a dragon in its own lair is always difficult.
pretty unpredictacle 6nations coming up though!!!!
Posted 11:37 03rd December 2012
froggy73 says...
If I was watching my team slipping from 4th (after the 6N I think?) to 9th in the world, I would expect them to panic. And I think they should actually.
Posted 11:08 03rd December 2012
Spartacus says...
Wales - Do PANIC!
The bubble has burst!
Posted 09:18 03rd December 2012
jontheref says...
Wales need to sort out the lineout.
matthew Rees not managing that well.
Hibbard and Owens ahead of him.
Wales need to turn plressure into points.
Wales need a no. 10.
Priestland has not performed at the required level in his last 11 games.
Ireland 2012 was the last time we saw him play well.
There have been glimpses in the last two games that he may get back to form, but too slow, too hesitant.
At this rate he will come good by the next RWC in 2015.
But by then wales will have set a new recored of 45 games without a win........
Posted 09:04 03rd December 2012