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The Six Nations, Wales' Roof and Rob Howley's Cunning Plan

Wales had the beating of England all over the park in 2013

Wales’ request to the Six Nations’ organisers to declare the Principality Stadium a ‘closed-roof ground’ is the opening salvo in the pre-tournament psychological war, writes James Harrington.

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Ah, the build up to the Six Nations. That period of anticipation before the rugby begins when all the talk and mind games that have to stop when the tournament actually kicks off get their 15 minutes of fame – or infamy, depending on what actually happens when the referees’ whistles finally blow.

England’s Eddie Jones is a grandmaster of pre-match psychological warfare. Both Scotland’s Vern Cotter and Ireland’s Joe Schmidt know their way around a well-judged barb. Italy’s relatively new man in charge Conor O’Shea just smiles, safe in the knowledge that his job – despite that win over South Africa in November – is tough enough without joining in the coaches’ annual pre-tournament verbal pissing-up-a-wall contest. France’s notoriously media-wary Guy Novès, meanwhile, pulls off that very French trick of letting his reticence do most of the talking.

Twelve days before the Six Nations kicks off, and with the freshly minted squads just meeting up for their pre-tournament training camps, it’s still a little too early for the coaches to get their teeth into each other – expect that sort of thing to start in earnest next week.

But that has not stopped Wales from trying to steal an early march on their opponents. Acting head coach Rob Howley has asked his bosses at the WRU to ask Six Nations’ organisers to declare the Principality Stadium a closed-roof ground. That would mean every fixture there would be played under cover, regardless of the weather conditions in Cardiff.

It’s an audacious idea that sidesteps the usual tedious procedure of getting agreement from the opposing team that Warren Gatland, currently on British and Irish Lions’ duty, has gone through for many a match. Howley claims his request – due to be considered this week – is purely in the interests of ensuring ‘the best conditions for the best rugby’.

“I think the roof should be closed so that games can be played to the benefit of both the teams,” he said, adding that the tournament’s new bonus point system adds weight to his argument for closing the roof against the fickle Welsh weather in February.

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So far, so – just about – justifiable. But, then, Howley let slip a hint to another reason for wanting the lid on the pressure cooker that is the Principality Stadium.

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“We generally shut the roof in the autumn, but I made a mistake against Australia last year and kept it open because it was a fine day. I underestimated the occasion and it was not the best decision for the team. I think the roof has to be closed going forward.”

Australia won that open-to-the-elements match in November 32-8.

Notice that Howley said nothing about about giving his players every home advantage, of giving the deafening roar of Welsh fans near-physical form as it crashes and echoes around the enclosed caldera under the roof. See how he made no mention of the prospect of cowing the opposition by audience participation.

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Wales’s two home matches this year are against England and Ireland – two sides with shorter odds than Howley’s men of winning the tournament. Of course, Howley will be looking for every advantage he can get. Under the current system, Jones and Schmidt would have to agree to individual requests from the WRU to close the roof 48 hours before the games kick off.

If either side wants the roof to stay open, it stays open.

Martin Johnson insisted rugby ‘is an outdoor game’ when he took England to Cardiff in 2011. The game was, eventually, played under a closed roof due to concerns over the weather. The visitors won.

In 2013, England headed to Cardiff with a Grand Slam in their sights. It was Stuart Lancaster’s first Six Nations as head coach – and he agreed to a request to close the roof. Wales, with Howley deputising for Gatland, won the match – and took the Six Nations’ title from under English noses – 30-3 in an atmosphere so febrile it should have had a public health warning.

Wales had kicked off their tournament that year against Ireland. The roof was open – and Ireland held off a Welsh fightback to win 30-22.

Roof off - most of the fireworks after kick off came from England in 2015
Roof off – most of the fireworks after kick off came from England in 2015

Two years later, a wiser Lancaster refused Gatland’s request. With the lid open, and the pressure from the stands released, England won 21-16. Against Ireland in the same tournament, Gatland made an unusual decision – for him – to keep the roof open. It proved the right call, as the hosts won a nerve-shredding encounter 23-16.

In 2017, the decision could be taken out of Jones and Schmidt’s hands courtesy of an adroit piece of pre-tournament manoeuvring from a man his detractors know as ‘Howler’.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
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