With the Six Nations starting this weekend, I am previewing all of the teams and discussing their chances in the tournament. This preview discusses defending champions, Wales.
Wales
2013 Six Nations finish: first
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
Captain: Sam Warburton
Wales on the international scene is in rude health.
Since Warren Gatland took over in 2008 the Welsh have stamped their authority in the Six Nations winning three of the last six editions – two of them Grand Slams in 2008 and 2012.
It is a golden era within the Welsh national team. But in the regions civil war rages – the Welsh rugby union and its four regions are at loggerheads.
The Welsh regions refuse to sign a participation agreement with the Welsh rugby union that would tie them down to the Welsh rugby union.
Negotiations are ongoing but rumours grow of Welsh regions glancing to the premiership in England and joining them – at the heart of this civil is funding where the regions find it difficult to hold onto their players.
Already this season Jonathan Davies and Leigh Halfpenny have signed contracts taking them to the Top 14 to Clermont and Toulon respectively.
It is this exodus of Wales’ top players (with the inability of the Dragons, Scarlets, Blues and Ospreys to match the offers French and English clubs give to their players) a main factor in their refusal to sign the participation agreement especially as the future of the Heineken Cup is uncertain with the English try to engineer a breakaway to form their own competition.
Moreover, the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union differ greatly about how to run the game in Wales.
Captain Sam Warburton has decided to stay in Wales – he has signed a deal not with the Cardiff Blues but with the WRU in a deal worth £200,000.
The deal has been controversial for the WRU will loan the Welsh captain to the Blues: something unprecedented in Welsh rugby.
Sadly, Warburton has copped much flak on social media, but the Welsh captain’s agent Derwyn Jones said it was the only available avenue for his client to stay in Wales for many French clubs were interested – Warburton had turned down a strong bid by Top 14 side Stade Francais and Toulon – both worth a rumoured £700,000 a year, though the length of the deal offers remain undisclosed.
However, the arrival of the Six Nations brings a timely respite to the battle raging at the regional game.
Wales’ 32-man squad is experienced and well stocked with the veterans of the Gatland era.
Their forwards are strong with Gethin Jenkins (who misses the first game against Italy), Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Warburton, Alan Wyn Jones, Toby Faletau and Richard Hibbard bringing great physicality to the forwards – their hard tackling notorious especially against Australia in November.
Their back line is world class. The sniping runs and ruggedness of Mike Phillips, the tactical kicking nous of fly half Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland, the world class full back Leigh Halfpenny, battering ram centre Jamie Roberts coupled with the wizard wingers of Alex Cuthbert and George North comprise a backline that is the best in the northern hemisphere.
The loss of Jonathan Davies for half the Six Nations is a blow but Gatland will be pleased he could play a part in the tournament where late last year it seemed he had been ruled out.
Wales’ Six Nations campaign start off with a home game against Italy. Many predict a win but Gatland will make sure his team are not complacent laying down a marker to their rivals that they are the team to beat in the competition.
The following week Wales go to Dublin against Ireland. This fixture adds much spice with what happened in the Lions. Warren Gatland dropping Brian O’Driscoll out of the squad for the third Lions Test against Australia in favour for Jonathan Davies incited furore among the Irish the level of abuse directed at Gatland was as hot as Alice Springs in December.
Though the Lions destroyed the Wallabies Gatland’s decision to omit the Leinster centre has not been forgotten by Irish fans.
But the match against Ireland is the start of three vital fixtures for Warren Gatland’s men.
The following game after Ireland is a Friday night match against France in Cardiff. Though the French lack consistency the Welsh will know too well France excel in Friday night games.
On both occasions France defeated Wales in Cardiff and Paris. Gatland will hope it will be third time lucky for his team.
Wales’ penultimate game in the Six Nations is against England and will likely decide who wins the Six Nations.
It is certainly a match that holds great memories in recent years – Scott Williams late try sealing victory at Twickenham two years ago coupled with Wales’ 30-3 rout last year to win the Six Nations and deny England a Grand Slam.
No doubt Wales would love to repeat their heroics at Cardiff last year but the fact the fixture is in Twickenham.
Should they defeat England on their own patch would be very special and likely set them up for a potential Grand Slam coronation in their final game of the 2014 Six Nations at home to Scotland.
Should they win the Six Nations it will be a historic achievement becoming the first side to win it three times in a row.
It is something Gatland and his players will be striving to achieve and if able to fulfil their lofty ambitions will merely cement their status as the best team in the northern hemisphere.
Player To Watch – Richard Hibbard
To be fair I could have picked one of at least 13 players from the Welsh squad to watch out for – there are at least five world-class players in Gatland’s preferred starting XV. But Richard Hibbard is a man who in the last year has cemented the hooker position for his club the Ospreys and country.
For Wales he has put himself in harm’s way for the shirt making thunderous tackles and powering with great determination over the gainline – as shown in his try against Scotland last year in Murrayfield. To call him underrated would be an insult for his performances have been appreciated by many Wales fans and fully deserved his call up to the Lions.
Predicted Finish: first
And so ends the previews of those teams competing in the Six Nations. By March 15th we will see if my predictions hold true or are as false as a wooden leg.
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