RONAN O’GARA LAUNCHED a scathing criticism of Warren Gatland’s ‘stale’ tactical approach after Wales’ Six Nations hopes were dealt a massive blow with home defeat to England.
Despite leading 16 -8 at half-time and being hot favourites pre-match, an inexperienced English side Gatland’s men scoreless in the second half at the Millennium Stadium to force a 16 – 21 victory.
Speaking post-match as part of RTÉ’s analysis team for the Six Nations, O’Gara said:
“What’s blatantly obvious after tonight is that the Wales gameplan, I think, is stale. Teams have worked them out. They know how to shut them down.”
O’Gara’s criticism is all the more stinging given that he has coached four current Welsh internationals during his two seasons at Racing Metro.
Warren Gatland, I think, brainwashes them into thinking that they’ll run over teams, they’re physically more dominant and fitter than teams.
“But as Mike Phillips keeps reminding me, if they’re playing South Africa or New Zealand; you can’t really say that to players. At this stage, I think they need to tweak something. It’s not good enough anymore.
“England were the team that played all the rugby tonight and it was great to see, in a game dominated by defences, Jonathan Joseph’s bit of skill is great to see in the game.”
With the pundit’s point borne out by stats that show Wales shading possession (51%) but on the wrong end of territory percentages (46%), Shane Horgan added:
“What Wales were doing was playing too much rugby in their own half, as Ronan said, trying to steamroll out of it.
“Listen, play some territory, get down there and do that game in the 22. That’s where you get penalties. not in your own half, all you’re doing is putting yourself under pressure.”
