What is the problem with Wales?

First topic, so please go easy!

My knowledge of rugby union is limited to say the least, that said, I have watched rugby for the last 45 years. I am now seeing a sort of pattern emerge.

When Wales get a new coach or set of players there seems to be a slight revival in their fortunes. Once they have won a few matches, it seems as if the players think they have a meal ticket for the rest of their international playing days. All they have to do is turn up and their place is guaranteed.

With the world cup, our hands were forced and players who were not in contention had to be played. To be fair I think those players stepped up too and beyond the mark. Yet once again, they have seemed to have gone backwards the hunger that was evident in the world cup just does not seem to be there.

We hear so much about the strength in depth that we have acquired over the last couple of years, well, if that is true why is that depth not being used? It might just stop the complacency within the team? I try not to be a 'blame culture' person, but it is difficult not to be sometimes.

Your thoughts please.

IAOB

We get to a semi final of a world cup, win a grandslam and are narrowly beaten in 3 games by Australia.

Taking this season as a whole, how have we gone backwards from the season before?

Shifty wrote:We get to a semi final of a world cup, win a grandslam and are narrowly beaten in 3 games by Australia.

Taking this season as a whole, how have we gone backwards from the season before?

Who mentioned the previous season?

During the AI's our pool of estabished players was depleted and young blood had to be brought in. The young bloods on the whole did themselves proud during the AI's and through the world cup. But, since then they have not gained the results that their previous performances indicated was posssible.

There must be a reason. What is that reason?

IAOB

Gavin

Ifandorbut wrote:

Shifty wrote:We get to a semi final of a world cup, win a grandslam and are narrowly beaten in 3 games by Australia.

Taking this season as a whole, how have we gone backwards from the season before?

There must be a reason. What is that reason?

IAOB

Maybe just because we were playing a better team away from home on tour?

Not much in it though.

It is all fine lines. Wales could easily have taken the series 3-0 & Australia.
Likewise the 6Ns Wales could have easily lost to Ireland & England.

Generally though Wales are on an upward curve like Scotland & England.

Definitely a season of improvement generally. It is just very frustrating when Wales haven't had a win in the SH for a while & a few players looked tired & out of sorts & young players not making correct pressure decisions at the right time.

Injuries have not helped. Roberts for example has not played his best this year in the 6N and couldn't make the Australian tour. Hopefully he comes back stronger.

You lack a consistent playmaker at flyhalf. It's all very well to say Hook can cover 15, 12 and 10 but he hasn't convinced in any of those positions for a while. Stephen Jones seems out of the picture and Priestland seems inconsistent. What Wales lack is control in this area. They look strong in the pack and experienced players like Ryan Jones have genuinely returned to form to play alongside the young players who may be struggling to impose themselves on the game as much as they did when they first arrived. That said, the set piece looks strong. The big obstacle to consistency and closing out games is having a flyhalf who can control possession and be tactically aware to make the right decisions.