There may well have been uncontacted Amazonian tribespeople who have had a view on Wales’ performances in this Six Nations.
Or maybe not.
Certainly, west of Offa’s Dyke there has been huge discussion about what has gone wrong for Wales so far in this Six Nations.
The obvious answer for many is the miserable set of circumstances faced by the players, amid uncertainty over contracts and potentially huge reductions in wages.
All that simply isn’t conducive to success, it is plausibly argued.
Others blame the coaches, while some feel there are too many 30-somethings in the squad and young guns who are not quite ready.
Almost everyone blames the Welsh Rugby Union.
We asked former Wales centre Mark Ring to have a look at the theories and tell us why he thinks things are not working out.
Theory: Off-field issues make it impossible for players to perform at their best
Mark Ring:
“I definitely have sympathy with the players.
“I understand how big the issues are and how long all this has dragged on for, and I understand why people are making a stand. I also get that we are in a professional era.
“None of it helps the players in terms of their performances and the people responsible have a lot to answer for.
“That said, it’s probably too simple to say that’s the only reason why the displays so far have been poor.
“I just think others have just forged ahead while we’ve been standing still.
“I’ve seen a development of the game in other countries that’s basically left us behind. Where? In places like Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Fiji and Japan. They are all making huge strides in terms of moving forward and producing multi-skilled players who are athletes and can play the modern game.
"My concern is we haven’t been producing such players.
“You look at the second-row situation in Wales. Alun Wyn Jones has had an unbelievable career, but he probably peaked around four years ago, yet he’s still holding down a place. Where have been the young players to push him out?
“There may be some emerging now, but do you compare any of those guys with Cameron Woki of France, for example? I'd like to see a lot more of them before I go down that road. France won back-to-back Junior World Cups, South Africa were finalists three years running. Their players are real athletes.
“I think we’ve been caught napping in terms of how we see the game and how it’s moved forward in a short space of time.
“You look at someone like Leone Nakarawa, who Wales have come up against at two or three World Cups on the bounce. He would have been the guy we should have looked at and thought: ‘That’s where the game is going.’
“He was a ball carrier who was athletic and supported play; he had handling skills but could still do the basics. The New Zealanders Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are the same in some respects.
“We have second rows chucking up Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau in the lineouts. What’s all that about? You chuck them up in the lineout and they are last out of the lineout. I’m just not getting it all. I’m not getting any forward-thinking knowledge.
“The front-five have been absolutely shocking in comparison [with others], Ken Owens aside.
“He’s a wonderful player but he’s in his mid-30s and has had injury problems. Where are the props? You could say the same about the second rows, though a couple at last seem to be pushing through.
“I just think other countries have moved to a different stratosphere in terms of their mobility and their physicality five metres from the line. Teams are just poleaxing pretty much every Welsh player who picks and carries. Other teams’ forwards run around the field and support, they make hard yards and they hit rucks. They’re athletic and they win their own lineout ball.
“I think we in Wales have completely taken our eye off the ball.”
Theory: Wales’ older players are past it
MR: “You can’t say that about them all.
“Ken Owens isn’t, nor is Taulupe Faletau and nor is Justin Tipuric.
“I think you have to look at things on a case by case basis.
“I watched Tipuric playing for the Ospreys the other week and he was different gravy.
“He gives his all and could shine in other positions. He has a lot of pride in what he does and he plays for the team rather than lets others do the work. His all-round skill level is exceptional. You see him break through, score tries, send out passes in wide channels, put cross kicks in. But he can only do those things when his front five are performing. If his front five are being dominated physically, it’s harder for him, but he never looks after number one. It’s always about the team for him.
“It’s the same with the other two.
“For me, those three are still the best players in their positions."
Theory: Selection is questionable
MR: "I’ve coached and know how difficult selection can be. Everyone has an opinion and ultimately the coach stands or falls by the team he picks.
“For me, it's a bit deeper than just picking the team, though.
"Wales have failed to develop the right kind of players for a number of years.
“I don’t blame Wayne Pivac for that.
“Arguably, the problem was there before him, when Gatland was there during his first stint.
“Of course, it all starts in kids’ rugby and how youngsters are coached.
“I remember as a youngster being advised by a guy who would not have been described as a coach back then. I was seven years of age and he would tell me to stop and he'd ask me where I was looking. I’d point at the ball. He'd tell me I had to keep my head up and count.
“They use the word ‘scan’ nowadays. I don’t think there’s a worse word in rugby.
“I was taught to count numbers. If it’s four attackers against four defenders on the pitch, try to bring two others into play to make the odds better.
"Going back to national coaching, I look at how Vern Cotter changed the whole outlook of Scottish rugby and Gregor Townsend has taken it on. If we’d had someone like Vern Cotter in the fold at the right time, we’d be in a healthy position now, I believe.
“I look at how others develop players. Look at Leinster with their hooker Dan Sheehan. He’ll throw the ball into the lineout then he’ll send out a service like a world-class scrum-half. So the No. 9 will drift over and perhaps become like a 10, then they take the entire opposition pack out of the game and score tries from first phase with timing and running lines, passing the ball in a technically correct way.
“It’s just one example of how well Irish players are coached and developed.
"I'm not seeing it in Wales.
“Myself, I think Wales have had five world-class players over the past half-decade or so: Liam Williams, Gareth Davies, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
“People may be surprised I’ve put Gareth Davies in there, but he’s skilful, quick and he doesn’t let opponents bully him. I still think he’s the best No. 9 in Wales.
“I’d have Tipuric in my team every time because no-one else has his skill set.
“And I’d always want athleticism and energy from my second rows.
“What would my Wales team be now? Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North or Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams, Callum Sheedy, Gareth Davies; Rhys Carre, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
“I know Davies and Sheedy won’t play in this Six Nations, but I like them both as players.”
Theory: Coaching is at fault
MR: “Who would have taken the Wales head coach job after Pivac? Gatland’s come back on big money but he hasn’t won many games since he left Wales in 2019. They’ve paid him a big salary to come back to a mess. There again, he's been there for only two games.
“But certain things do puzzle me.
“Why did they get rid of Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins?
“Has the attack improved since? Has the defence improved?
"I'm not seeing it.
“But, look, you can only work with the tools you are handed.
“Coaching isn’t an easy job.”
Verdict
MR: “I just think we’ve been left behind.
“You can blame the WRU, you can blame the coaching and the selection and you can point to the off-field mess and say the players are not playing well.
"But maybe it's not just one thing.
"There are so many different things that have come together that it is going to take a huge effort to put us on the right track.
"A lot of people are going to have to do a lot of work."
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