17 hours Ago By [email protected] (Steffan Thomas)
When the Welsh Rugby Union revealed the results of its review into the performance of the men's national tea, the future of head coach Warren Gatland was at the forefront of the news agenda. Gatland has been granted a stay of execution, at least until the end of the Six Nations , but it remains to be seen whether the WRU will afford the same mercy to his backroom team. The review said 'adaptations to the current set-up assisting Gatland will also be considered immediately with the ambition of improving mindset, mentality and culture within the squad by introducing additional personnel.
' It was also clear these proposed changes will be in place for the start of the 2025 Six Nations. Given Wales' Six Nations opener against France in Paris is just 35 days away, and the squad announcement will take place in a matter of weeks, it doesn't give the WRU much time to manoeuvre. Now, just because the WRU are planning on adding 'additional personnel' to Gatland's backroom team doesn't necessarily mean people will be losing their jobs, although CEO Abi Tierney admitted it was a possibility in a recent press conference.
Looking at Gatland's current backroom team they are all coaches who the New Zealander trusts, while Rob Howley holds a crucial role within the pathway where he is beginning to have a positive impact. Also, if Gatland was able to bring in a fresh backroom team it is questionable how much of an influence they would have on turning around results during the Six Nations because they wouldn't have been involved long enough. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free On top of that there is the significant barrier of who is available at short notice, along with paying compensation to their current employers and to whoever is replaced.
One consistent theme during Wales' winless 2024 has been a lack of size and power in the pack. It is debatable whether a new coach could get more out of the forwards by coaching them to operate in a different way, but one man who could interest Wales is Graham Rowntree. The former England prop left his position as head coach of Munster in October, despite leading the Irish province the United Rugby Championship title in 2023.
Rowntree is widely considered to be one of the finest forwards coaches around and crucially worked under Gatland on a number of British & Irish Lions tours. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson is someone who has been mooted for this role and it is not hard to understand why given his vast knowledge of the Welsh game having previously held coaching positions at Wales U20s, Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff . But Harlequins would surely be loathe to release Wilson midway through the season.
One for the future perhaps. If there is one coach who should be a primary target of the WRU for the present and the future it is Adam Jones. The legendary former Wales tighthead has forged a reputation as one of the best scrum coaches in the Gallagher Premiership.
Like Wilson Jones is contracted to Harlequins but it would be criminal if the 43-year-old wasn't on the WRU's radar. The likes of Archie Griffin and Keiron Assiratti, among others, would benefit greatly from working with a coach of Jones' calibre. Former Ospreys coach Steve Tandy who is now in charge of Scotland's defence is another Welshman who should be a long-term target, but is highly unlikely for the Six Nations after Gregor Townsend made a point of emphasising he is in contract.
Rowntree isn't the only free agent on the market, with former Ospreys head coach Toby Booth having recently left the Ospreys. Booth did a respectable job in very difficult circumstances and understands the Welsh game, while former Cardiff coach Dai Young still has something left to offer given his experience. Another name who could be in the frame, certainly in the long-run, is Bath assistant coach Lee Blackett.
The 40-year-old is one of the most innovative attack coaches in the game and did a sterling job during a short stint at the Scarlets during the 2022/23 campaign where they reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. But the reality is Gatland is likely to have slim pickings if he is to add to his coaching team during the Six Nations simply because of the timing, although he did succeed in getting Mike Forshaw on board from Sale Sharks at exactly the same point of the season in 2023. There could also be an option of getting someone on board from one of the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons RFC, Ospreys and Scarlets - on secondment.
Scarlets' academy pathway manager Gareth Williams was previously a part of Wayne Pivac's backroom team with Wales focussing on the contact area and is highly regarded by Gatland. But given the lack of experience, strength in depth and power in the current talent pool, new assistant coaches would be unlikely to make a material difference during the next couple of months. It feels as if the big decision will be made at the conclusion of the Six Nations when the WRU undertake yet another review into Wales' performances.
At that time they will have a good few months to come up with a solution for the Japan tour and certainly ahead of next year's Autumn Nations Series. "Further than that, like any head coach in any sport, he knows the security of his position is directly related to the performances of the team and that this is a situation that will continue to intensify," said Tierney when announcing Gatland would stay for at least the Six Nations. "There is a tough challenge ahead but Warren is more than up for that challenge.
We also believe he is equal to it." Going by Tierney's comments it certainly feels as if Gatland and his entire coaching staff's positions are on the line if they can't get Wales back onto the winning trail during the Six Nations..
