Mike Ruddock reacted by promising an alternative strategy for this afternoon. Plan A is to seek space in which to run through, a policy of pace with the ball in hand. This will be augmented with a Plan B, maybe even a Plan C. So we are promised.
Or, to put it a different way, Ruddock is urging Wales to trust their tighter game, to sometimes kick for territory and pressure opposition at the set-piece. He has cited the manner of the victory against Australia in the autumn as proof of his side’s versatility. Wales nailed the match with a penalty try. Ergo, the Grand Slam champions of 2005 should be prepared to exercise a similar strategy against Scotland.
Ruddock’s critics are the flipside of those who want total width on the game. If the Grand Slam was perceived as one for the romantics, last weekend’s defeat was revenge for the pragmatists. That word, “pragmatic”. Look it up: “Dealing with facts or actual occurrences; practical.” Rugby has hijacked the word and tried to impose a more negative meaning. When you hear a hoary forward-turned-coach mention the word, he does not mean whatever is the most practical way of winning a game, he means avoiding risks and keeping ball with the pack.
In England’s case against Wales, that would have been a pragmatic approach. The home side had more power up front but less fluency in open play. If all England had attempted was a series of scrums and lineouts, nobody could have questioned the pragmatism. It will be anything but pragmatic of Wales to restrict their game in Cardiff. Wales must be more accurate in their attacking play but if Scotland emulate their performance of last Sunday, a slower and steadier approach to tactics might well play into the away side’s hands.
The touchline is not where Wales will win this match. Last weekend the England pack drove Wales over from seven metres at pace. Scotland bulldozed France in a similar fashion from all of 20 metres. The Scottish technique against France was as good as the Welsh defence against England was poor.
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Wales may shade the scrum battle, but it is what they do with possession that counts. Tuck it up the jumpers and drive, and Scotland are 40% of the way to a Grand Slam.
Wales must be pragmatic to win this game. In their case, that means seeking space and bringing the best out of lightweight talents such as Shane Williams and, up front, Michael Owen. This is not an espousal of high-risk rugby. Wales have players with exceptional skills in the loose. They must be given a chance to display their fluency.
Wales remain a Plan A team and until they find a few tons of meat in the second row and someone to carry them across the gain-line in the manner of the injured Ryan Jones, they should not apologise to those who confuse pragmatism with conservatism. It is not a new plan but more variation that is needed. Wales must kick more, but not in the static style that hands ball to Scotland and Scott Murray. Chips, grubbers and high balls are parts of the armoury that must be unveiled.
By running everything, Wales helped England to plan their defence. Wales must also find a more direct game to hold Scotland’s midfield. If a team has only one mode of offence, defences have it easy. Double the variation and the defensive doubts also multiply.
It would be easy for Wales to change their game to answer their critics — easy but wrong.