The Pre-Six Nations Status Report: Wales

Battered and bruised, Wales just keep on getting up again. Having punched above their weight in recent times, Wales are not afraid to compete at the highest level, and throwing in the towel is never an option for Gatland, Edwards and Howley.

And however dangerous a wounded lion can be, a wounded dragon evokes a far greater fear in its opposition, leaving a trail of burning embers in its wake.

How bad is the World Cup Hangover?

The verdict had been declared, the stage was set: no Leigh Halfpenny, no Rhys Webb and no quarter final for Wales… England were hosting the biggest show in World Rugby in their own back yard – but Wales gate-crashed the party.

Decimated by injuries, Wales looked a shadow of a team going into the World Cup. Down to third/fourth choice in key positions, the Welsh players were dropping like flies. Ankles, knees, shoulders, no limb was sacred, no player too great to join the ranks of the walking wounded watching from the sidelines.

First up: Uruguay. Wales won well; well enough, 54 points on the board was deemed a little too few by many. This was, of course, the aptly named Pool of Death. Every team would finish the group stages with a rotten hangover – but only two teams would have to re-balance their electrolytes in time for the knockout stages.

And it all came down to this: Wales’ second pool stage match. England v Wales. The daffodil wearers and the red flag bearers descended on Twickers and knocked hard on the door. A relentless Wales, a ruthless Wales – a Dan Biggar Wales. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite later getting knocked out in the quarter finals, Wales can take great positives from their World Cup campaign. They succeeded in doing what many thought they weren’t capable of, even at full strength.

Their victory against England goes down as one of the greatest in recent memory, and it showed that even when on the ropes, Wales have that ability to keep on keeping on. A stubborn passion and a resilient determination, Wales are never to be written off – even when your grandad starts dusting off his boots just in case he’s needed to slot into the centre.

Whilst the Welsh hangover is all but cured, there are the remnants of a headache brought on by some poor scrummaging, and the knowledge that they just couldn’t deliver the goods against a 13-man Australian defence when it really mattered. And whilst this is only a headache, it is one which lingers at the back of the mind and won’t go away.

What is the cure?

With some more game-time under his belt, many will hope that Samson Lee will re-find some pre-injury form and solve Wales’ scrummaging worries. Ken Owens and Scott Baldwin have also been superb for their respective regions, and with the experienced looseheads in Gatland’s squad, Welsh fans will be keeping their fingers and toes crossed every time the referee mutters those harrowing two words: “scrum down.”

But it’s not just the return of Samson Lee that has Welsh fans licking their lips. Wales lacked finishers in the World Cup, and with Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies back in the centre and George North re-finding some of his form of old, Wales have their try-scorers again. If the pack are going forward in this 6 Nations, the Welsh backline could cut through their opposition’s defence like a hot knife through butter.

Two players to watch

Ross Moriarty

Moriarty only runs in one direction: forward. The Gloucester flanker also plays at Number 8 and is a huge ball-carrier. Dependable Faletau will no-doubt be Gatland’s first choice at the back of the scrum, but if Moriarty has the chance to get on the pitch in the last quarter he has the potential to gain Wales some serious hard yards when it really counts.

Cory Allen

Allen showed great promise in the World Cup. Major injury woes in the centre saw him grab his opportunities by the scruff of the neck, scoring a hat-trick of tries against Uruguay before he himself left the campaign with an injury of his own.

Since his return to regional rugby at the end of the December, Allen has scored an impressive four tries in as many matches. Whilst Davies and Roberts are back to bolster the team, Allen may well get an opportunity to lace up his boots during the competition. If he does, expect some magic.

Prediction

Wales have a fantastic record in the 6 Nations. In the last eleven tournaments they have finished top of the table four times, three of those occasions being Grand Slams. With players returning from injury – and France – the sky is the limit for this confident Welsh squad. Scotland are a galvanised outfit after almost making it to last year’s World Cup final, and Mercurial France are always to be feared. Eddie Jones’s England are an unknown quantity this time around and will be tough competition, and Ireland are coming into this campaign as 6 Nations champions hoping to live up to their title.

But beware the wounded Dragon. Predicted finish: 1st.

By Daniel Jenkins (@DanWJenkins)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images