Which players amongst those who made themselves unavailable for him would come back into consideration for selection under a new coaching set up?

Who would you keep from the youngsters that have been blooded in this marathon of defeat?

Amongst the keeps, I’d go for

Backs

Tomi Rogers, Blair Murray, Dan Edwards and there are others not yet played who deserve their chance subject to who might return to international duty

Forwards

Quite a few have given decent account of themselves although we need a few of the older heads to help nurture and develop the less experienced.

3 or 4? At least 5, any new coach won’t make a bit of difference. Read what Ken Owen’s said if you have a chance he’s nailed it. 

In terms of not having the players I just don’t believe it. To me there is a lot of talent and good players in Welsh rugby. Some might not be considered to have the x-factor of our last golden generation but with the right selection and better coaching they can be more than competitive. There must be a more successful team in the below list of players.

1. Nicky Smith

2. Dewi Lake

3. Henry Thomas

4. Dafydd Jenkins

5. Teddy Williams

6. Aaron Wainwright

7. Jac Morgan

8. Taulupe Faletau 

9. Rueben Morgan-Williams

10. Dan Edwards

11. Mason Grady

12. Johnny Williams

13. Max Llewelyn

14. Blair Murray

15. Tom Rogers

16. Brodie Coughlan

17. Gareth Thomas

18. Kieron Assiratti

19. Christ Tshiunza

20. Josh Macleod

21. Kieran Hardy

22. Sam Costellow

23. Eddie James

Then there also the below players who either already could be in that 23, have experience in that 23, or are starting to breakout who have the potential to be developed and fed into the squad. (I’m sure there are other non-Scarlets players in the other clubs who should be mentioned here that I’m not aware of). 

Kemsley Matthias 

Sam 0’Conner

Elliott Dee

Evan Lloyd

Ryan Elias

Harri O’Conner

Archie Griffen

Will Davies-King

James Fender

Ben Carter

Harri Deaves

Alex Mann

Shane Lewis-Hughes

Ryan Woodman

Morgan Morse

Rhodri Williams

Aled Davies

Archie Hughes

Morgan Lloyd

Ioan Lloyd

Will Reed

Steffan Emmanuel

Joe Roberts

Macs Page

Jacob Beetham

Josh Hathaway

Ellis Mee

Tom Bowen

That’s not including any of the U18s who are looking like they have bright futures or U20s players who haven’t had club experience yet but also being talked about with promise. It also doesn’t include some of the older players who still might something to offer in terms of experience like Josh Adams and Liam Williams.

Id consider all of the following as well as some of the others in the current squad...

But Id ike to see them play in their actual positions not chucking 

in a 12 at 10 after only 2 games at fly half.....Just bizarre

Jarod evans

rhys patchell

johnny wiiiiams

morgan morse

morgan morris

eddie james 

kieran wiliams

macs page

joe roberts 

sheedy

dewi lake

rob elias

plumtree

kieran hardy

rio dyer

josh macleod

sam parry

ryan conbeer

basham

etc

Ill think of more later ...Im watching the match lol

a plethora of centres a dearth or wingers and full backs....a shortage at 8 .....and not much depth at lock...front row ...a few experienced choices avaiable but none really stand out atm

Perhaps he'll resign at the end of the season? Changing mid-season is not really an option, IMO. No idea who will come in, who is available, who is interested - but they'll have a job on their hands. A lot of the old guard retired around the time of the RWC and the younger players, no matter how promising some of them are, lack experience. 

So, no miraculous change of fortune seems in sight... but to improve, the new coaching team MUST pick players in their usual positions, and MUST pick players who are playing regularly and 100% fit - as one of you said already. 

Wednesday's WRU board meeting is a scheduled gathering but Gatland's immediate future will inevitably be discussed.

WalesOnline have been told by numerous high-ranking Welsh rugby sources there is a break clause in Gatland's contract which can be activated this summer. On the flipside, if the WRU were to sack Gatland before the summer it could cost them in the region of £2m. CEO Abi Tierney has previously stated any break clause was not a consideration in Gatland's future.

The key question is whether removing Gatland as head coach midway through the Six Nations and installing a caretaker would lead to a bounce in performance. If the WRU believe it would, one potential solution could be to put Gatland on gardening leave and promote one of his assistants or bring in one of the regional coaches on secondment until the end of the Championship.

Prior to the Six Nations the WRU backed Gatland to turn things around, but a record 14 Test match defeats in a row cannot be ignored by those in power. Just as importantly, the lack of any signs of improvement in performance over the past year is troubling.

I’d put Gatland on gardening leave and bring in a regional coach or two. We’ve nothing to lose, let’s start the journey out of this mess now.

#ABG - Anyone But Gatland

Same. It would give our regional coaches a taste of top level rugby. 

Walesonline

Their cash cow, the 6 nations isnt even close to a sell out...

Most clubs have loads left for Wales V Ireland ....Foel rfc for example have 70 x £130 tickets left and a few more lower categories. Thats about £10k worth of tickets..Loads of desperate clubs trying to sell theirs off on facebook etc .Even if half get sold last minute... multipy these losses by 300+ clubs and you could be looking at over 10,000 empty seats and over a million pounds down the drain

Is that because of the scintillating rugby the regions are playing 

At least we should then see players selected in their true positions & obvious nonsense like Llewelyn instead of Tompkins taken care of. We have to start somewhere. The WRU are saddled with Gatland's contract it seems until the summer tour. I have no idea what the situation is with the other coaches but I would get rid of the lot. Jenkins is our kicking coach - well he clearly worked very hard in Nice. Replace him with Halfpenny & keep Bomb. 

Easterby’s efficiency and experience would be hugely valuable.

As for both, it might need more than GPR’s magic wand, more used to garden produce and related matters, to rustle up funds from somewhere within the WRU to afford that.

Here’s hoping for summer change. 

Smith in my view is a great attack coach...

Easterby, plus or minus is the same idea, it s easy to be a national coach when in the other regions coaching staff there are the big names...

I think wales need in this moment a rugby developer, like a Rennie, or a Pat Lam, or a Jamie Joseph..and above all needs more collaboration in all the game levels

These are more likely, knowing the WRU , than most of the names above 

Let's be honest when the camera crew zooms in on the current coaching bench it's like seeing an old Mafia bank robbers crew out for a few bevvies.....and yet there is so much faith and belief they and Gatland are the real deal. They are not, results graphically prove it .

I'm a firm believer in not going back with ex's...there's a reason they are ex's and as Rambo says " it ain't all flowers and roses"

Timing is everything in life, be a it a job appointment a career move , promotion, moving home , anything, we sometimes have no choices, but when we do have a choice, you own it.

Gatland should have walked when he offered his resignation.  He knew in his gut it was all over, his Harry Potter magic wand had withered into a degrading fermenting leak.

The person who said " no we loves you " in a jack accent should be hung drawn and quartered in the best British justice system for being such a clown and absolutely no judgement and understanding of our National game.

The players are visibly hurt by their inept performances and for me it's all about a guy who shouldn't have returned.  You always move forward in life, never go back because you cannot go back, unless your Superman and can distort time.

I don't care who they bring in, but these players, whoever they are need resuscitation and the kiss of life, to rebuild them and rejuvenate them, the only thing Gatland can snog is wine.

Anybody brave enough and committed enough to do the role, regardless of results will have my full backing. 

Roll the dice.

He's currently been given every opportunity to develop himself with one of the best teams in recent years in Ireland and it looks likely that he's a ready made successor for Farrell, and obviously his Irish heritage would mean a lot to him too. 

Someone like Smith a lot more achievable from what I can tell, I'd love to be wrong and see him in the role of course! 

The money would be a step up thats an attraction in itself as is being No 1 with the chance to build your own coaching group. As far as Farrell's successor is concerned - the dream ticket for most Irish rugby supporters would be Paul O'Connell as assistant to Ronan O'Gara in my opinion. 

It is from me but don’t discount the WRU doing something similar 

If they get this next step wrong we are doomed. 

My guess is that the 6N will be over before they decide what to do😀😀😀😀

Would it be such a tough sell? If he takes over an ageing Ireland squad from Farrell, that have been one of the most successful Irish teams in memory, then it can only tarnish his reputation. The alternative is taking over a Welsh side with no expectations of success.

The hardest part of the sell to Easterby, Franco Smith or whoever is in line to take over will be the worry of dealing with the mess that is Welsh Rugby

Tierney knows little about the game or business, she's a career bureaucrat. Collier-Keywood is a barrister. They are now having to make one of the most important decisions for the future of the national team since the 1960s. What will inform their decision? As you have said, get it wrong and...gulp! 

No doubt Howler will take us through to the end of the 6N but after that they all have to go and a completely new team created. I'd also like to see the departure of Tierney and RCK and the WRU run by people who have some clue about professional sport. Then, there may be some hope.

You keep saying this one liner. All we as Welsh rugby supporters want is that we start to see progress. Can you honestly say we have seen progress since last season's 6 nations???? That progress is not beating Ireland etc but seeing a 23 take the field which has more or less unanimous support from the Welsh public as the best available that week. 

It would also help if we saw a gameplan tailored to the strengths of the squad & which paid attention to the conditions. That will not present much of an issue playing at Cardiff under the roof. If we lack forward ball carriers then lets use guys like Grady, Llewelyn & Eddie to get us over the gainline & then get some width to our attack. Having a 9/10 capable of exploiting the aerial prowess of Rogers, Mee & Grady. 

Gatland & co have taken us to very bottom of frontline rugby countries and the way back is going to be long and hard. It starts with considered team & gameplan selection. 

He set Ben up for failure which is unacceptable. Describing him as the best back in Wales coming off two weeks of being battered by Glasgow's midfield & our very own JBR & Eddie was done purely to make his already made selection of him at 10 appear sensible even when his club coach was adamant that he should only be considered as a 12.

The result is we have a decent 12 whose confidence is shot & probably needs to be taken out of the firing line. Ben, of course, is not the only one.

I disagree, coaching and mentoring by an individual who wants a challenge and can instill confidence can create results.

To suggest no one could turn it around is not in my positive thought list SA14.

If I was a coach ( I'm not ) it would be a superb challenge....unless you just want the inflated pay and just turn up.

I refuse to believe there is no one on a planet with 7 billion population,  who could do it. The hurt in the players is one hell of a motivational tool.

Me a one liner? You love that one liner yourself with selective reading. I’ve said in other posts what you’ve stated. It’s borderline bullying and childishness. Rethink what you write please. I can’t be anymore polite about it. I often praise your posts when I could easily hold a grudge. 

Yes I agree with all that as I’ve said in other posts but in my opinion it’ll be a long time until we start being a competitive team in rugby. My point is the armchair fans think it’ll be overnight. I’d like to think people are more realistic on here. There’s some good rugby brains who could do the job better than Gatland. 

Seriously handsome you would  ...or could be a huge influence,  aka Edwards type figure in the background for Wales.

If only they asked.

Shall I call you postcode instead? Get over yourself please. Bullying my arse. You have constantly praised the overall job Gatland has done & constantly suggest that the squad are poo - your word. You also constantly suggest that nobody could get them playing better. My post above was meant to disagree with your line of thinking. If you cannot accept honest debate & being challenged on a rugby forum then I suggest you don't sign in. By the way my term for you as one liner was meant in jest nothing more nothing less.

Woodward DoR, Lanny Head Coach and Johnno as forwards coach

It came across as snide. I’ll know different in future. Truce called GPR. 

So if Easterby gets it then Ireland will have an interim coach for the interim coach for their summer tour. 

You’d imagine the camp is in much need of some smiles, laughter and positivity amidst an infusion of logic.

Triple crown is back on. Where’s Baldrick with a cunning plan when you need him. 

Wales 250/1 for triple crown hot be worth a pound 

The other option is just to pay off Abi T and have an experienced rugby leader in charge whereby the DOR role could be binned. Bit of a tough call on Abi in some ways as they obviously appointed her for general management skills ( albeit the tax office!) on the basis that Nigel was there to guide her on rugby for the first couple of years anyway. Either way this is costing a lot of money!

Check with ladram first.

One problem with that statement. It says ‘continues to compete’. I didn’t see any evidence that we were competitive in the first two games. 

My only thought on Tierney is that she turned down Gatland’s resignation offer last March.

Put her on gardening leave if it's cheaper

We are in a dark place, and it is going to be a long road until we even see a light at the end of the tunnel.

We are clearly on a downward spiral, and the knock on effects could be huge. If people don't turn up at the MS, income will drop, sponsors may not be a easy too persuade, which ultimately could put the recently announced new WRU strategy at risk as they won't be able to afford to finance the Regions as they are agreeing to do.

There is some hope however, in that there appears to be some talent coming through in the age grades. 

I agree totally with your point RR. I've never been in favour of 'positive discrimination'. Best person for the job what ever their gender or ethnicity.

Definitely SA14. I enjoy our sparring just like I enjoy the exchanges with Why. I certainly would never attempt to bully or belittle anyone; if it came across like that my apologies. 

I’m not one for lots of words on the forum. I think it’s force of habit from the old days. It was more of a chat room/rugby discussion theme back then. Nothing too complicated. (Post match drunken banter on a Friday and smellymike spring to mind) There’s a lot, I’d say mostly knowledgeable rugby folk on here now who write long, insightful paragraphs with their viewpoints. Hence my little posts sticking out like a sore thumb. 

Friday night on here was mayhem, Smelly and a few others would be apologising Saturday mornings for the utter carnage.

Still makes me laugh even now.

Moderators nightmare.

I would be making a few tweaks to his adopted squad. In - Fender, Jarrod Evans, Ioan Lloyd, Josh Mcleod & Max Llewelyn; out Rowlands, Botham & Tompkins. In addition I would tell Ben Thomas that he will be viewed as a 12 in competition with Eddie provided his head is in a good place after the traumas of the past few weeks. 

He doesn't have free reign to name new players/remove players unless they are injured. This is still a world rugby governed competition & as far as I know, the only way you can call up a player is in place of an injured one. You may remember Plumtree was called up to replace Watkin. 

He's got barely anytime before the Ireland game. And Cardiff have Connaught this weekend.

For this game I'd personally bring together Gloucester's Tomas Williams & Gareth Anscombe. A ready made half back combination.

Is that right? Thats a bummer. So basically we are stuck with only two 10's - one very green, the other a 12. Didn't Jamie George get added to the England squad with nobody injured? As far as I can see the squad sizes are not governed by a specific number. 

The first positive is that he doesn’t rate Ben Thomas as a 10. The second positive is that he has coached the Gloucester halfbacks and Llewelyn during their time at the Blues, so I would at least expect that 9,10, 12 club axis to start against Ireland.

Thirdly is that he is first and foremost a attacks coach, who inherited the head coach role at Cardiff when Young left, Cardiff had the most losing bonus points / try bonus points in the URC last season and are arguably the best performing Welsh region again this season.

I would expect us to take the game to Ireland, to try and mix the attack up a bit and keep Ireland guessing (from a defensive perspective), I would also expect us to score a least 1 try from open play (something we haven’t done in the championship so far).

It’s interesting that he has ruled himself out of applying for the role on a permanent basis.  He knows what a mess the game is in and that it now requires a long term strategy and big investment to get wales back to where they were.

I'd heard similar about calling up players, Sheratt has been handed the poison chalice - Gatland's squad and 5 days to prepare for Ireland. 

I agree with you GPR I wouldn't be surprised if Lloyd is called up for 10. Sheratt is obviously an admirer as he got him to sign for the Blues next season.

Yes RBP. BBC Sport carry an article about Furbank & Feyi-Wabaso progressing well & possibly taking some part in remaining games. No suggestion they could not unless injuries. Think Dewi Lake in similar position. Perhaps Fscarlet was confusing rules for the World Cup.

 Where IRB rules come in is in setting release periods for players in national training squads and to limit the squad sizes  in the lead up to games. So for the 6 Nations the right to release for training and preparation only applies to 30 players and each country must reduce its squad size to 26 players 3 days before a game to facilitate player release - which explains why English based players need to go back to their clubs if not in the 26.That doesn’t prevent a union coming to a different arrangement with teams under its jurisdiction- so for example  Wales could have a squad of 50 as long as they agreed the inclusion of Welsh based players with the regions and didn’t seek the release under IRB rules of more than 30 players from other unions and released any non Welsh based players not in the 26 3 days before a game.

Going to stop now as my head is starting to hurt!

Picking the 9 with the slowest service and the worst kicking game is not going to help anyone playing ten.

He has to pick Edwards, we must stick with him he is our ten for the World Cup build backs around him. My worry is that he will play Thomas at 12 when it would make sense to keep Eddie and bring in Llewellyn at 13.

Adams, Blair and Rogers at 15 back three. 

Up front he has to go with back row of Faletau,Morgan and Wainwright and tell them to get in the faces of the Irish back row. Second row is a worry we don’t have an enforcer type in Wales at the moment need someone huge nasty and horrible. 

Front row of Smith, Elias if fit and Thomas to again get in peoples faces and stand up to the Irish.

I’m not hopeful though think we will have Tomos Edwards Thomas and Tompkins in back line. 

I bet Howley has already got good odds on that, as well as a bet at 250/1 for a Wales triple crown.

Anything is acceptable at the moment. We can’t get any lower. Gareth Ancombe with loads of experience coming into the squad against one of the best teams in the world v a rookie or centre playing outside half. It’s not as if it’s a new environment with players he’s never met before. The English clubs haven’t got a game until the end of March. I can’t think of any Welsh based player that would enhance the squad. 

15. Williams

14. Murray

13. Tompkins

12. James

11. Adams

10. Edwards

9. Williams

1. G Thomas

2. Dee

3. H Thomas

4. Jenkins

5. T Williams

6. Wainwright

7. Morgan (C)

8. Faletau

I’d replace 15 & 11 with Tomi Rogers and Elliott Mee and t 9 I’d prefer Rhodri. Also, I do wonder about sticking with Rowlands after the coach change and positive Sherratt mood. Rowlands has had to put up with a tough season at Racing where smiles must’ve been few and far between. Perhaps some fun and laughter with Jockey will be just what he needs to recapture his normal level.

Do you think he will call up Nicholas

Sensible from Sherratt.