Based on their performances in this year’s Six Nations, don’t panic if you find yourself questioning whether it was all just a vivid dream that Wales won the Grand Slam little under 24 months ago – you would be in good company.
Just as they did last year, Wales have flattered to deceive this time around, and head coach Warren Gatland was far from content with his side’s abject performance against Ireland last Saturday. In fact, he was suitably riled.
Ahead of this weekend’s final match against Italy, Gatland has issued an ominous warning that his players will experience unparallel levels of pain during their training sessions.
"They will go through some pain at training that they probably haven't experienced before," a stony-faced Gatland declared to the press.
It’s no less than the Wales players would expect after their display at Croke Park. Ireland crossed the line three times in total, while Wales were stifled by the Irish every time they caught the faintest glimpse of the try line.
Gatland has also rued the fact that there is a distinct lack of leadership in his squad. When their backs have been firmly pinned up against the proverbial wall, his players have folded like a house of cards.
Three defeats in one Six Nations campaign is an unacceptable record in the eyes of the Wales supporters – particularly with the players at their disposal - and Gatland has echoed these sentiments.
This Saturday’s final Six Nations match may well be against lowly Italy, but the Wales head coach will expect nothing less than a resounding victory at the Millennium Stadium.
"We need to make a couple of changes and make sure we finish this campaign on a real high," Gatland added.
"The coaching staff are hurting, the players are hurting and we've got to get a response and a performance on Saturday that reflects how important this is to us."
During yesterday’s press conference, Gatland had the look of a man not only thoroughly irritated by recent events but also determined to right the wrongs of Saturday, rather than someone under any real pressure. But it’s the former New Zealand hooker’s responsibility to get the players playing for the jersey – or else he may start to feel the mounting pressure.
That passion and hunger to win, which was so rife in 2008, has only fleetingly appeared on rare occasions over the past few weeks. There was that glorious comeback in Cardiff against Scotland which sent the Welsh crowd into raptures; while they also came within touching distance of another dramatic comeback against France at the same venue.
But their performances – and results – away from the Millennium Stadium have been far less spirited.
And this has led to one or two doubts over whether Gatland and his coaching staff are the right men to lead the squad into next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
This will be the ninth time since the inaugural year of the Six Nations in 2000 that Wales have finished in the bottom half of the table. It could even get worse, still. If Scotland defy the odds and beat Ireland, and Wales lose to the Italians in Cardiff – they will finish this year’s championships bottom of the table with the Wooden Spoon.
If that should happen, it may well provide the severe wake-up call that Welsh rugby is crying out for to escape this current nightmare.
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