A 36-3 defeat by France at the start of the 1990s prompted a BBC commentator to ask in exasperation: “Where on earth do Wales go from here?”
To pick up the wooden spoon, the answer might have been.
There followed a tour to Australia that summer which saw Wales ship 63 points against the Wallabies and lose 71-8 to New South Wales. Players clashed with each other at the post-match dinner on Test match day, and skipper Paul Thorburn subsequently resigned, having bluntly told his team: “This is the time to look ourselves in the face and say we are just not up to it.”
By those standards, Wales’ current situation could be worse. But not much worse.
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Wales are in a sorry state less than seven months out from a World Cup and with England to face in the Six Nations next up. They have won just three of their last 14 matches, 12 of those on Wayne Pivac’s watch, and have just had their worst defeat against Scotland in the 140-year history of fixtures between the teams.
Really, a complete rebuild is needed and major investment in age-grade rugby is required to help ensure the sport’s long-term good this side of the River Severn. Never mind the senior side, Wales haven’t finished in the top half of the U20 Six Nations for six years and are currently on a five-game losing run in the tournament. Last year, they shipped 143 points against Ireland, England and France at that level and scored just 34.
Warren Gatland’s immediate problem is to shore up the dam because the scale of the two defeats so far in this Six Nations is worrying. Hopes of silverware have gone but the challenge for the head coach is to expose young players to Test match rugby while picking a team that can be competitive.
Beyond that he could do worse than sort out the problem of balance in his squad.
The issue is that Wales have a squad with many thirty-something veterans and some quality young Test rookies, but their starting line-up against Scotland contained just four who were in their peak years of 24 to 29.
Does Welsh rugby more quality players of that age who Gatland could turn to?
Here are 12 who might merit consideration at some point.
Nicky Smith (age 28)
Wales have no shortage of decent loosehead props, but Smith has performed as well as any of them at regional level over the past couple of years. He is a destructive scrummager and a hard worker with a penchant for turnovers. Thirty-five minutes of Test rugby this season says more about the selectors than it does about him.
Max Llewellyn (24)
The Cardiff centre is sidelined by injury but could be an option for Gatland moving forward. Standing an imposing 6ft 5in and weighing in at 16st 7lb, he hits the gainline like a rocket and also has an offloading game.
Jarrod Evans (26)
Welsh rugby doesn’t have a Finn Russell right now, but on a good day Evans can trade tricks with the best of them. He can open a defence with sleight of hand or a shimmy and he possesses what every 10 should possess but so often doesn’t, namely an imagination. If there are questions over his kicking out of hand — Warren Gatland has raised them — he is far from the worst in that area and Wales could pick complementary players alongside him.
Morgan Morris (24)
The Ospreys No. 8 is a tireless worker around the field and a player who is good at converting chances in the opposition red zone, using his strength and low centre of gravity to get under defences. Mike Ruddock had been with the Ospreys for barely a few weeks when he likened Morris to a young Sean O’Brien. “He has a lot of power in his hip area which allows him to bump off defenders,” Ruddock noted. By now, you’d have thought Wales would have noted as much as well.
Ross Moriarty (28)
Wales lost the collisions against Ireland, leading some to suggest they had missed a beat by not including Ross Moriarty in their original squad. With the Dragon, a team gets aggression, power and a combative nature. There are prettier players on the scene, but not many who are as physically robust.
Johnny Williams (26)
He may not be a classical playmaking inside centre with a kicking game and the ability to open defences with deft passing, but there’s more than one way to get that particular job done. Williams is quick and strong, hits hard in the tackle and tests his opponents’ appetite for defence. He has been injured but is one who has the raw materials to handle Test rugby.
Owen Watkin (26)
Wales have missed 13 tackles in midfield in two games. Would Watkin have improved the situation in defence? It seems reasonable to answer that in the affirmative. He probably still needs to move his attacking game into a higher gear, but he is a player who has what it takes to be an asset. Currently making his way back from injury at the Ospreys.
Ryan Elias (28)
He’s much maligned and, like so many other hookers in Wales, he can be inconsistent when it comes to throwing. But few give as much on the pitch as Elias, a player who wouldn’t know a lost cause if it hit him between the eyes. Sidelined right now, but the Scarlet can force his way back into the reckoning.
Seb Davies (26)
An Irish TV commentator once referred to this guy as Wales’ answer to James Ryan, yet Davies has never properly established himself at Test level. He still has time but needs a consistent run of form. With his soft hands, lineout skills and ability around the field, he shouldn’t be forgotten about.
Keelan Giles (25)
He’s made more clean breaks (16) and beaten more defenders (26) than any other Welsh player in the United Rugby Championship this season. Give him a sniff of a chance and the outcome usually sees the opposition lining up beneath their posts. While Wales may feel he isn’t big enough for the Test scene, Giles is fast, looks for ball and scores tries.
Callum Sheedy (27)
Forgotten man? Well, he hasn’t featured for Wales since last year’s Six Nations. But, again, given the lack of creativity in Wales’ backline it might be useful to have him around, with Sheedy able to unlock a defence through nice passing, deft kicking or rapid speed off the mark.
Angus O’Brien (28)
A long-shot to finish, but a player worth watching. Years ago, Mark Ring went on record as saying he rated him and Ring knows a creative player when he sees on.
A full-back who has played at 10 in the past, O’Brien has craft, pace and can kick a ball long distances. Wales should keep tabs on him.
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