What Matt Sherratt would have done differently during his Wales stint

Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt has described the record loss to England he suffered while he was stand-in Wales coach during the Guinness Six Nations as a “perfect storm” when reflecting on what he would have done differently.

Sherratt’s brief spell in charge of Wales during this year’s Championship was one of highs and lows.

After being parachuted in ahead of round three following the departure of Warren Gatland, his tenure started with a promising display against Grand Slam-chasing Ireland. That preceded a mixed performance against Scotland in Edinburgh which ended on a flourish. The tournament ended with a 14-68 shellacking at the hands of England in Cardiff, which broke countless unwanted records.

Joining The Rugby Pod recently, Sherratt, whose Cardiff side sit in fifth place in the United Rugby Championship, looked back on the time he spent with Wales, and pinpointed a mistake that he made by not giving his players more rest before the England match, which he described as a “game too far”.

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“It was really good against Ireland, second half against Scotland and then, if I’m honest, a little bit of a perfect storm in the last week of the Six Nations,” he said.

“It was an England that had changed the way they played and were riding on a little bit of a crest of a wave and then a group that had been through a lot emotionally. If I had that week again, I would probably have come in a little bit later in the week and let them get over the Ireland response and the second half to Scotland.

“In reflection on that one, it was probably one where, emotionally, it was a game too far.”

With Gatland’s permanent successor still to be announced, Sherratt was quizzed about the full-time role, to which he was fairly emphatic in his response.

“I don’t want it,” he said. “For the reason that it’s only my second season as a head coach, and, to be honest, I never really wanted to be a head coach. I did it at Cardiff because it was a good fit at the time. The club needed someone short-term and I get on well with the staff and players there. So I thought I’d have a go.

“But I still enjoy being on the grass and being part of the group and coaching. That’s where I get my energy.

“What I’ve found from being a head coach is that it ends up dragging you away a bit. I quite like going to the pub on a Sunday, and it’s recked that really.”

Speculation is rife currently that Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy will land the head coach role with Wales, leaving a short term vacancy to cover Wales’ tour of Japan at the end of the season.

Sherratt’s name is one that has been linked with the job again, but he was unable to shed any new light on the situation.

“Genuinely, I’ve not spoken to anyone about it,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say that if I hadn’t had. I would probably straight bat it. Because of all the stuff that is going on at Cardiff- we’ve had two games in six days, obviously the club going into administration, the WRU have been busy with the Dave Reddin appointment – I’ve genuinely not spoken about it at all.

“I’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks and see which direction they want to go.”