Welsh team v Argentina.

One thing is for sure, very few people gave Wales hope of beating a side that had beaten NZ a short time ago, AND triumphed at Twickenham, a week before.

Overall, it was a far better, more physical, more committed performance from Wales.

After the NZ, I mentioned in a post, that Wales get better as the Autumn series progresses, and this proved the point. We were awful that game, in terms of not making the All blacks really WORK for their points. Same for the Scots, who looked rusty against Fiji, but could have beaten NZ.

After the level of rugby our teams having been playing for the regions, All Blacks, first up...a disaster!

Would we have beaten them, playing them last, possibly not, but it would be far more competitive.

The issue in rugby, and it hasn't changed over decades, is that you have to win the collisions, or be competitive. When Llanelli played all blacks in 72, same for the lions in 71, and 74 in SA, they would NOT, be physically intimidated or dominated.

Being together longer, in camp at least gives you a chance to increase the intensity, & edge which you need playing top international sides.

The major problem Wales have, however, is the lack of depth in the front 5, and this is worrying, with the world cup on the horizon.

It worth repeating, what I mentioned, in the other post, that when Gatland was there., and just over a year ago, we had Jake Ball and Hill in the second row, both different type of players, but both effective.

Now both are playing abroad sadly. To add to this AWJ was then playing at the top of his game, but now, after injury, looks a shadow of the player he was!

In the front row, we had a fully fit samson Lee (now destroyed by injury), Wyn Jones (now injury prone). Rob Evans (now a shadow of the player, again due to injury).

Very few of the current crop fill you with confidence, although Thomas, did better against ARG.

Two players with suspect scrummaging, but with the physicality are Carre, and Brown, both good ball carriers, we badly need. Carre not included in squad, and Brown, injured.

Both need to be involved in some way in future.

The other issue of course, on which gats built his success, was the aggressive defence, for which he had the best defence coach in the world Shaun Edwards. 

Much better defence v ARG, but in Gethin Jenkins, we have a young coach, learning at the top level (and everyone has to at some stage). He will be a really great coach in future, I am sure.

There are also selection and tactics, which Pivac , rightly or wrongly has been criticised for.

Gatland also got criticised, don't forget, for a limited gameplan.

Pivac has tried to expand the gameplan, and some have described as "scattergun "approach.

Personally, I think he has tried to do the right thing, maybe it's been executed badly.

We are never going to dominate teams up front, so we have to try something different.

This again had led to some bizarre selections, with Pivac trying different combinations.

Let's be honest about it he has very few quality options open to him, so has pursued as many avenues as possible.

Looking ahead there are different permutations in some positions, but in general we can see the bulk of his A side nailed down.

The questions?

Who plays FB, in the continues absence of Liam Williams (who's fitness is totally unreliable)

Who will play OH Biggar/ Anscombe?

Who plays 6 and 7.

I think Wales will beat Georgia and possibly Australia. Not sure about 6N

All the above, is a sideshow, however.

The real Mcoy is what the WRU will do to eradicate the decline of the game in Wales.

At the moment the structure of the WRU is not fit for purpose with small clubs, dictating.

The net result is that we cannot move forward as we should.

There should be a total Independant review of the game in Wales. Root and branch

This has been done with the women's game, and we have seen a few green shoots of success. The success here is to initially develop the game and greater participation in schools, then at U16/U18 & U20. 

The regional academies the league structure. leading up to the premiership and regions should be looked at.

what is happening ATM, clearly is not good enough, which is why we have a relatively small number of qualities international players to pick from.

Whether we have change or whether we stumble on as, we are, remains to be seen.

Finally, just a word about being a coach.

I spent 15 years as a player (played in a few finals), and near the end of my career, ended my time Unsurprisingly in the 2nds, playing with some of my older pupils (from 6th form) How embarrassing, which is when I packed it in .LOL

Nothing however prepares you for being a coach. 

My dad was an excellent at this, a real student of the game, with the South African Dannie Craven his real inspiration.

In contrast I found it quite difficult, despite my time as a player and my dad's template.  

As it happened, we had a family and the extra demands of teaching meant I shelved my coaching until much later when i coached the junior section, which I can honestly say was pure joy, and so rewarding, even though we didn't always win!

Pivac and Peel have had their critics on here, but are doing their best in circumstances which are far from ideal

It's a lonely old job, and undoubtedly both have made mistakes, at some stage!

Who would be a coach  ? 

When it's done well is done well, it's amazing. Just look at the job Smith has done for NZ women and the impact he's made!

When we cut out the lazy penalties, we took control for 50 minutes.  If we can give away 6 or less a game going forwards we will always have a chance. 

It's a bit worrying that Pivac has had 3.5 years to get an A team and a B team in place with a unified game plan and playing style, yet we seem to have none of that.  Still, it's not going to change so I'll just be crossing my fingers until the world cup.  With Italy looking better with every game, scotland consistently inconsistent, ireland and france demolishing everyone and england full of big game players the 6N should be pretty tasty next year is all I can say.

If we're not looking further that the WC and going to try and bludgeon our way through a la Gats then we could do a lot worse than having Webb, Priestland, JBW and North as our 9, 10, 12, 13 combo.

I feel sorry for Tompkins as he, for me, is currently one of the first names on the teamsheet & he keeps getting taken off early when playing well. The best move would have been to take Cuthbert off & move North to wing.