We have been told to trust the coaches. We have been told that Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin can work together in the same backline. We have been told our fears are ungrounded. Does anyone else feel we are being told to accept a coaching blindspot?
Howley has been in the papers moaning our lack of clinical execution for the scoring of tries, and to be fair that is in part true. Inexperience and over eagerness by Warburton cost us a few chances, Hook died with a few when he might have used the opportunities better – but the very fact that it was a openside flanker and an inexperienced fullback who had to make space for himself most of the time that created these chances shows us, yet again, the problem with the Welsh rugby tactics.
We’re not creative enough, not by a long shot.
Welsh Back Line
In Wales we have been blessed with some unbelievably talented backs, but that we are not scoring tries shows a problem. The backline hasn’t clicked… and the reason for this is the midfield. Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin are top class players all, but they don’t amount to much creatively.
Now since Wellies (Stephen Jones’ nickname) has no one even close to him available he has to play – which means we need some creativity from our centers.
Now we have seen Shanklin is world class coming onto great passes from Gavin Henson, can split a defence in two. And we have seen with the Lions that Roberts is close to unstoppable, against probably the best defence in the world, when he has a creative 13. But neither of them compliment each others game – both run great angles and hit hard, but there is no one to make the space for them.
Gatland has told us he thinks they do work, that there is nothing to worry about. I politely disagree. Without Henson we lack a spark, some creativity that can open up defences.
James Hook
James Hook is fast becoming the subject of choice for me here on the Welsh Rugby Blog. At first I argued I think he should stay at 10, but now I see the error of my ways. I still think he could develop into a top class 10 but he could also do so in the center, and probably to a higher level.
He has the step, the eye for a gap, the vision, the passing game, the kicking game and the defensive game to play center. He can even take contact very well these days. Yes his defensive positioning needs some work, as you would expect from a 10 who has been moved across, but that can be worked on. What he brings is something we don’t have without Henson, spark.
Whether he is playing 12 or 13 Hook has an ability to beat a man, put defences on the back foot, make them scramble. That is something the Welsh backline has been severely lacking recently. And something our coaches seem incapable of learning despite how obvious it has become.
My ideal would be trying Hook 12, Roberts 13, as both would suit that game in my opinion. But the risk is of course that Hook is new to 12 (well, newish) and Roberts has played next to no game time at 13. Hook finished last season playing 13 and with Roberts partnership with BoD being so successful with the Lions that could also work.
Either way both players could mix and match with ease, and Hook also gives another first receiver option when needed.
I am, for now, leaving Shanklin out of these options as it seems he is likely out of the remaining tests with a broken nose. If this happens it either leaves us trying Hook in midfield or bringing Jon Davies into the starting line up. Whilst Jon Davies is a very talented player I feel he is the same mould as Shanks and Roberts and so adds no much needed spark there. For this reason I expect to see him starting and Hook at fullback again, a chance to try something new missed.
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You’ve got it spot on there. Last year Cardiff got away with Shanks and Roberts they had Nicky Robinson as the creative spark. This year at both Cardiff and Wales they haven’t produced the goods. With Shanklin out this weekend it perhaps gives Gats a chance to play Hook in the centre with Roberts but I think he’s more likely to bring in Jonathan Davies who I thought looked the best of the three centres who played on Friday
If youre going to fecking pair Roberts and Shanks then no Wales aren’t going to score many tries. I mean talk about super glue at 10, 12 and 13.
Although the lack of creativity in the Welsh midfield is obvious, I’m not so sure that addressing it necessitates an inside centre in the second five-eighth mould. For all that Roberts – Shanklin are too similar, unlocking the potential of either player might only need a subtler set of skills at 12. Jon Davies, for all his bulk, has soft hands, quick feet and good vision, and is more than willing to take and give. He’s unlikely to start throwing Henson-esque long passes, but the ability to draw his marker, disturb the approaching defensive line and put the player outside him in space seems something at which neither Roberts or Shanklin is particular adept. Fundamentally, neither of them seems keen on passing. It was notable against New Zealand that whichever one of them stood at 12 (and they seemed to swap with some regularity), the intent was the same – to carry the ball up and into contact, without thought of utilising (in the same phase at least) the space that the drawing defenders might earn. Davies can clearly give us that, but perhaps something else also.
I agree that Hook’s functioned well a 12 this season (and an outright second five-eight is clearly the preferred option for Australia and, until this week at least, England), but playing him there denies the crash-ball option of which Gatland is clearly fond. A big man with soft hands seems to have worked well enough for South Africa (Jean de Villiers), and even Nonu has improved his distribution, so there seems mileage in the traditional 12 yet. And yes, I know New Zealand have the creative impetus of Dan Carter at 10, but South Africa have done well enough with Butch James/Morne Steyn/Ruan Pienaar at 10 – players closer in quality to our own Stephen Jones. What’s more, although decent players both, I’m not sure that Adie Jacobs or Jacque Fourie (more excellent than decent in Fourie’s case!) can provide the same sort of creativity as O’Driscoll did during the summer from 13.
As a follower of the Blues, I’d further contend that for all his qualities, Shanklin isn’t the player he once was. His history of knee injuries seems to have cost him half a yard, and denied him the sort of pace necessary in a 13 to exploit the outside gap. Much the same thing seems to have happened to O’Driscoll, but perhaps not to the same extent, and largely compensated by the wonders of his all round game. Frankly, when Laulala eventually shows up, Shanklin might find his Blues appearances substantially reduced.
I confess, even if there’s a little more creativity in evidence against Argentina, Jones – Davies – Roberts is never likely to be the most dynamic attacking trio. But I’ll reserve further judgement until we’ve seen if some apparently small changes can reap greater rewards.
A very good response there Alan. I would question a couple of examples though.
Firstly whilst Nonu had improved his passing game it seems to have gone backwards again which has hampered NZ. When coupled with the distribution game of Carter, and his decision making, it seems to me that he is no longer a shining example of that style of 12.
By contrast the SA game works exactly because of what you mention, powerful runners. But their breakdown work and harrying is superior to ours, and they have a veyr formidable scrum and the best lineout in the world. With us not competing at all in the scrum, having an average at best lineout and struggling at the breakdown our pack arent given us the front foot ball that would be needed to make use of the power runners in the same way as SA.
I maybe being a tad harsh on Jon Davies, he has slowly been improving his all around skills, but i am not sure he is yet at the standard needed to create tries at international level with regards finding gaps for others or beating players 1vs1 in the same way Hook can.
Does James Hook at 12 limit our crash ball ability? yes, a bit, but not a huge amount. Firtsly he can take contact well these days, not with the power of a crashball specialist but better than most 2nd 5/8ths I can think of aside from Henson.
More importantly, as you pointed out, Shanks and Roberts swapped roles a lot, having Roberts switching in for the crashball works fine, and with Powells tendancy to be in the backline there is always the option of him.
We will wait and see how this plays out, but I am still convinced that Gatland is putting blind faith in players rather than looking at whats in front of him