Wayne's got a way to put Wales out in front

IN the northern hemisphere we have always been one or two steps behind teams in the south. That’s just a fact and it applies to both club and Test rugby. Teams like New Zealand and South Africa constantly bring something new to the table despite the immense success they’ve had over long periods of time.

- SHANE WILLIAMS

These sides are always looking for ways to improve and at any marginal areas where they can get better. They are prepared to do things differently if needs be. We saw that at the last World Cup when South Africa won the tournament with a tactic of using six forwards – their ‘bomb squad’ – on the bench.

Teams like England, Wales and Ireland have always been half a season behind. It’s almost always been the case that we’ve looked to southern hemisphere rugby, realised how they are playing the game, and tried to adapt. By then, it’s too late. You have been left chasing your tail.

For European rugby to be successful – and by this I mean at international level and not club – the sides need to get out in front, not forever be responding to what others are doing.

That’s why I was really heartened by a comment from Wayne Pivac, inset above right, this week after he confirmed his Wales squad for the summer matches with Canada and Argentina.

It was a comment some might not have really picked up on, but I thought it was hugely significant. Wayne was discussing the back row options available to him when he said: “The way the game is going now at the breakdown and the way it’s being refereed, there are not a lot of turnovers.

“I think now we’ve got to have ball-players, guys who can carry and guys that can get us over the gain-line.” To me, that gives a real indication that Wayne and Wales mean business. Wayne is not resting on his laurels even though Wales won the Six Nations and Triple Crown and he is absolutely right to do so. Rugby never stands still. Wales can’t afford to either.