Ben James

This one?

So this is Matt Sherratt's Wales... Another Test defeat, but finally there was something to enjoy from Wales

Gareth Thomas targets an outside shoulder and makes a decent dent. But it's the numbers Wales have out wide that keeps the Irish defence passive.

Anyway, if you've enjoyed, you can read a full analysis on the difference Sherratt has made here: walesrugby.substack.com/p/so-this-is...

One final thing. For a while, it feels like we've constantly been told what Wales can't do in terms of attack. It's been a bit like getting gaslighted about improving performances.

But this carry from Henry Thomas shows that it's not always about size.

All of these little details - late ball movement, getting Thomas in motion, back-three tracking across - combined for Tom Rogers try.

I've watched this so many times and it's yet to get old.

Few phases later, he holds his feet and gives a lovely late pass to Mee to go through a gap.

It's also lovely late footwork from Mee to switch from Prendergast's outside shoulder to his inside.

Wales got the best out of Ben Thomas at 12 after Gatland's insistence he was a Test fly-half.

Third-receiver in motion here. Ireland defence have to be passive as he's a genuine running/passing option.

Another thing Wales did so well is, once they made a dent on one edge, they moved the ball confidently to the other to stretch Ireland.

Having made the half-break on the right wing, watch Mee work back across to be involved on the other side.

Such a busy, assured debut.

Llewellyn, with Wales putting the ball in his hands, was very good on Saturday.

Strong carry here, but love the next bit.

Thomas to Anscombe out the back to target the edge. Rogers holds his width so Lowe blocks passing lane. Mee works across to take delayed pass into gap.

It's amazing what picking players in their preferred positions can do.

But one of the keys for Sherratt is 'stealing numbers' - working harder than the opposition to create mismatches.

This chance comes from Llewellyn getting off the deck quickly, bypassing one Irish defender.

Starting with the attacking shape that Sherratt wanted in the middle of the pitch. It's not drastically different to what Wales were trying to do in Paris (and Rome to a lesser extent), but there's just much more confidence in the framework.

Every carrying option is genuine.

After weighing Warren down for so long with our negativity, it's been nice to be positive about Wales for a change.

So much better in attack (in the sense they actually had an attack).

In just four training sessions, Sherratt managed to get a hell of a lot of detail across and changed mindsets.

🧵

Rarely post on here because, honestly I forget it exists, but here's a few thoughts on Warren Gatland and the 'negative Welsh press'.

(Also, I always suspected it was Thatcher that killed Welsh rugby...)
open.substack.com/pub/walesrug...

We get a lot of reviews about being miserable, but it’s hard when you’re recording podcasts hours after never-ending Wales defeats!

Honestly feel like I've lost my mind after this weekend. Welsh rugby just intent on defending the indefensible.

Welsh rugby's fundamental problem means they can't stop catastrophe they foresaw Welsh rugby has seemingly reached its nadir, three years on from warnings the game was heading towards 'terminal decline'

Three years ago, Nigel Walker warned that Welsh rugby was heading towards "terminal decline".

On Sunday, he was stood at the back of the press room, watching on as it became a reality, having ultimately done little to halt Wales' painful descent to irrelevance.
www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/...

The day Welsh rugby collapsed amid mass exodus and hopeless exasperation Ben James was inside the Principality Stadium to witness a dark day for Wales

Yesterday was a grim day
www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/...

I used to write happy pieces

Ninth Test match of the year for myself.

They’ve lost all eight so far. But lost the one I missed too.

So *I think* you can’t pin all the blame on me.

The Times calling for Daily Mail columnist Sir Clive to work alongside Telegraph columnist Gatland with Wales.

Might as well move from Westgate Street to Fleet Street.

Yesterday seemed like a watershed day around here & the 🏉 starter pack has grown in the last day to reflect that
If you were an early adopter, worth checking in to see who's been added
Some very welcome familiar faces...
And @thepaulwilliams.bsky.social but you can't win em all 😏
go.bsky.app/SaLiruy

This seems as good a place as any to talk about Wales losing Test matches for the rest of time…