Warren Gatland has warned that people should write Wales off at their peril in this season’s Guinness Six Nations, even though the team is on a record losing streak.
The evidence of form points to another tough campaign for Wales after collecting the wooden spoon last season for the first time since 2003, with Gatland’s side on a run of 12 successive Test defeats and without a win since beating World Cup rivals Georgia 15 months ago.
Head coach Gatland was able to bolster his squad with returning players such as Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Tulope Faletau – who have 255 caps between them – although he lost Autumn Nations Series captain Dewi Leake to injury.
Mason Grady, Sam Costello, Ryan Elias, Archie Griffin and Adam Bird were also sidelined ahead of a tough opener against France in Paris on January 31, with 17 players in Gatland’s 34-man squad playing fewer than 10 Test matches.
“For us, the challenge was that after the World Cup we lost 18 players and a lot of experience,” Gatland said during the Six Nations media launch in Rome. “You pick young guys, it takes time. Some of the young guys, seeing them develop will be a real positive.
“We are in a good position because there are no expectations. People ignore us. I said the same thing before the World Cup (Wales reached the quarter-finals). A lot of people were saying we wouldn’t even be able to win.” outside our group.
“The message is that time has written us off at your peril, and things haven’t changed there. This is a very difficult tournament to win. It’s very difficult. When you look back and find that you’ve won a Six Nations or a Grand Slam, there will be some decisions made in your favour, Either the ball bounces or you have some luck in the tournament.”
Wales have an 80/1 chance of claiming the title and it would be a huge achievement if they threaten to finish in the top three, a far cry from the Grand Slam success Gatland has achieved during his tenure as Wales coach.
“It’s the strongest Six Nations I’ve ever seen in terms of the quality of the players and the quality of the teams,” Gatland added. “I can remember going back a long time when everyone was just talking about France and England at the start of the Five Nations or Six Nations and who would win it.
“Others were kind of trying to fight for scraps. People are writing us off, and I said that before the World Cup as well, you’re writing us off at your peril. We just have to create some confidence and self-belief. Within our group, it’s kind of like a siege mentality in terms of going to Paris.”
Townsend: Scotland can compete despite key injuries
Gregor Townsend insists Scotland have the depth to overcome Sione Tuipulotu’s devastating loss to injury in the entire Guinness Six Nations.
Tuipulotu, Scotland’s captain and star midfielder, must undergo surgery to repair a pectoral muscle damaged while training with Glasgow Warriors last week, and is not expected to return until later in the season.
Stafford McDowall is the main contender to be paired alongside Hugh Jones, but Rory Hutchinson and Tom Jordan are also options.
“It’s a real blow for Sione as he approaches the tournament, and it’s also a blow for the tournament and for our fans because they haven’t been able to see him play,” Townsend said. “But as a team you have to accept that injuries happen and that’s why you create depth over a longer period.
“We have some really good players on our team who now have an opportunity they never thought would come. We’re backing them to go and seize this opportunity.”
Tuipulotu’s absence sees Rory Darge and Finn Russell take over as co-captains – roles they played in last year’s Six Nations until the Australian-born 27-year-old was named captain for the autumn.
It is also possible that second-row winger Scott Cummings will miss the entire tournament with a broken arm, while hooker Dylan Richardson has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
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