If England’s fall from grace since the heights they reached in 2019 is perplexing, Wales seem to have plunged at least as far in the same period. Their grand slam that year and agonising 19-16 defeat to the Springboks in a World Cup semi-final, courtesy of a Handré Pollard penalty five minutes from time, might as well have happened to a different team in a different universe.
Since then, they have (like England) won a Six Nations title, two years ago, but they have finished fifth in the other three championships, including the last two. This year has been particularly galling. The sacking of Wayne Pivac at the end of 2022 paved the way for Warren Gatland’s return, as if Wales believed success was sure to follow their greatest maestro.
