Howley gets an extended contract of four more years with Wales.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2011/11/17/rob-howley-signs-new-wales-deal-as-engalnd-man-graham-rowntree-is-linked-with-welsh-role-91466-29790723/

Getting Rowntree would be quite a coup.

His head is the closest thing resembling a trophy we've had in Wakes for years

Good decision. I like Rob Howley, I think he is a smart guy who knows his back play.

Trying to get the players to do what he wants hasn't been easy and in the last few games of the world cup with Wellies and James Hook taking the flyhalf shirt the players reverted to type.

Howley was encouraging a much deeper backline and far more pace pre RWC and for the pre RWC warm up games and up until Priestlamds departure all worked very well.

Glad to see him reinstilled. I am not sure that this will be a popular opinion though.

Good decision. I like Rob Howley, I think he is a smart guy who knows his back play.

Trying to get the players to do what he wants hasn't been easy and in the last few games of the world cup with Wellies and James Hook taking the flyhalf shirt the players reverted to type.

Howley was encouraging a much deeper backline and far more pace pre RWC and for the pre RWC warm up games and up until Priestlamds departure all worked very well.

Glad to see him reinstilled. I am not sure that this will be a popular opinion though.

We're both happy with it Maes, that's all that matters

I know he has had a lot of derision across this board and others, but I think he had such a positive impact during the RWC when he had time to work with the team that he should now gain more support.

Hmmm weren't a lot of Welsh fans calling for Howley's head prior to the RWC?

A lot of Welsh fans are reactionary idiots ... same as any other fans

Reactionary, not all idiots though.

When Wales were seen as impotent during the six nations many fans were right to castigate and call for Howleys accountability.

I think in hindsight it was the lack of speed and control of play in the halfbacks plus players naturally lining up much flatter through phase play that was causing issues.

Howley rectified a great deal of that. One of the main culprits for being too flat was Roberts. His positioning in attack coming into the line was awful. Howley encouraged him to lie draper and this brought him into the game much more, once he got the hang of it.

Far more to do with the different backline styles of the blues and Scarlets rather than a coaching problem with Wales.

Blues have dan parks who sits deep or mid and never runs on to the ball, needing a much flatter backline than Scarlets where for most of the season Priestlamds was at ten and taking first receiver at pace, needing a steep backline at full tilt to get momentum.

There did used to be an awful amount of crabbing

Wales look alot more patient in attack now... apart from Shane Williams who always tries to make something from nothing

Has Howley ever looked more like Stan Laurel than in that picture? Classic!

munkian wrote:A lot of Welsh fans are reactionary idiots

Munkian, you talk a lot of sense sometimes.

SafeAsMilk wrote:

munkian wrote:A lot of Welsh fans are reactionary idiots

Munkian, you talk a lot of sense sometimes.

I also said

same as any other fans

And you are the case in point

The joys of selective quotation

I don't think he's the greatest backs coach, but the coaching team seperating was unlikely. I think the backs firing is mostly down to vast improvements up front i:e, the breakdown area. An impotent backline was also partially down to Biggar/Jones, Bishop and Shanklin. What a horrific combo.

Could well be part of it... but i think the way tha the backs naturally try to play differs massively.

Blues, Ospreys and Dragons play with a stationary flyhalf and a flat line as is often found in SH rugby. Scarlets play with depth as the Welsh are taught as kids.

He has no independent thought of his own - hence the perfect person to fill the 'yes-man' role in the Gatland/Edwards management structure.

A good re-appointment.