Gatland's Long term contract; good for Welsh rugby?

Gatland signs a contract with the WRU until the RWC in Japan in 2019. Is this a clever piece of business by the WRU? Gatland’s record as Welsh coach is on the face of it a good one. He has a win record of 52%, yet only once during his tenure as his side managed to beat one of the “Big 3” Southern Hemisphere sides during a period when Wales has largely dominated international rugby on the European stage. Additionally, Wales’ magnificent run to the semi-finals at the RWC’11could bear some scrutiny, after all who did Wales actually defeat; Samoa, Fiji, Namibia, and Ireland; they lost to SA, France and of course, Australia.

The WRU have had no qualms despite the bushfires raging through Welsh rugby to give Gatland a 6 year contract. They see his continuity as coach as essential to maintain Welsh success, and they are probably right. In world terms he is a proven coach, a shrewd selector and for the majority of time a winner. He has used his position to reinvent Wales as an international force providing the players with the most up to date training facilities and medical back up in the world and the WRU’s magnificent complex at the Vale exemplifies their backing for Gatland’s vision. Now they have shown their support even more clearly and will want their investment to  pay off. The Welsh rugby public will continue to back, “Gats” and the team, yet they are right to ask, “When are Wales going to truly deliver on the world stage?” and this contract gives Gatland the chance to answer that question.

Gatland has the type of contract that will be the envy of his rivals; he has the security of being able to ride out some poor results provided the fans can see the side improving and developing. The time has come for Wales to stop threatening to break through, but in 2015 they will have to beat perceived better sides to even qualify for the quarter finals. Continuity brings with it the ability to take bold decisions, to make the type of radical changes that bring about permanent change, and could mean that Gatland’s team can truly enter the pantheon of great welsh rugby teams. His reputation, his legacy cannot be just about 6 Nations championships and Grand Slams. Gatland has to make Wales one of the best sides, if not the best in the world. It is time for Gatland to rebuild, redesign and refashion the team and his staff.

Shaun Edwards’ reaction to Gatland’s decision not to take him with the Lions was superb, and if anything has secured his position as Gatland’s “Go to man”. Howley has proved himself, yet how does he feel about Gatland’s new contract? Maybe he expected to get the job after RWC’15? He would be very courageous to leave now with so much attacking Welsh talent available, to mould and create a definite style to the team’s attack. Probably the most vulnerable is Robin McBryde. The Welsh lineout has not improved, a weakness that opponent’s target with monotonous regularity; up front the massive Welsh pack is regularly bested by NZ and SA and has yet to fashion a threatening driving maul. Maybe Gatland should take over the responsibility for the forwards and get hold of the soon to retire Steve Borthwick, after all he was instrumental in Japan’s defeat of McBryde’s Wales in the summer. Borthwick is an acknowledged “line-out doctor” maybe he could change Wales’ line-out?

Many of the players available to Gatland will be young enough to go through the RWC’s of 2015 and ’19, he an excellent pool of talent to select from. The ingenious part will be is when to select them, to decide that the time is right to move a seasoned player on. For example, when Gatland drops Phillips at 9, then without doubt the Wales’ attack strategy will be able to change; Biggar or Priestland at 10? Does he move North to 13 and play Davies at inside centre? In the front row who will replace Jenkins and Adam Jones? Surely a place has to be found for Tirpuric and what might that mean for Lydiate and Warburton? It is for making such tough decisions and getting them right, most of the time that is why the WRU have backed Warren Gatland.

This could be the best bit of business done by the astute Roger Lewis but, there is still considerable risk for the WRU. The Welsh rugby public will not be forgiving if Wales does not progress over the coming years and the stumbling performance during the recent autumn does not augur well for the first season of Gatland’s new extended contract, maybe the amount of time the man from the Waikato has, is erroneous?