Warren Gatland has warned that people should write off Wales at their peril in this season’s Guinness Six Nations, even though the team is on a record losing streak.
The form guide suggests another difficult campaign for Wales after reclaiming the wooden spoon last season for the first time since 2003, with Gatland’s side on a run of 12 successive Test defeats and without a win since its victory against Georgia, opponents of the World Cup in groups, 15 months ago.
Head coach Gatland was able to strengthen his squad with returning players like Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau – who have 255 caps between them – despite losing Autumn Nations Series captain Dewi Lake , on injury.
Mason Grady, Sam Costelow, Ryan Elias, Archie Griffin and Adam Beard are also absent ahead of a ferociously difficult opening match against France in Paris on January 31, with 17 players of Gatland’s 34-man squad having played fewer than 10 tests.
“The challenge for us was that after the World Cup we lost 18 players and a lot of experience,” Gatland said at the Six Nations media launch in Rome. “You pick some young guys, and it takes a little bit of time. Some young guys, seeing them develop is going to be really positive.
“We are in a good position because there are no expectations. People are writing us off. And I said the same thing before the World Cup (Wales were quarter-finalists). A lot of people were saying that we won’t even get out of our group.
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“The message that you wrote us off at your peril, and things haven’t changed. It’s such a tough tournament to win. It’s so tough. When you look back and you’ve won a Six Nations Tournament or a Grand Slam, there will be a few decisions that will go in your favor, the bounce of the ball or you will have been lucky in the tournament.
Wales have odds of 80/1 with some bookmakers for the title and it will be a considerable achievement if they threaten to finish in the top three, a far cry from the days when Gatland was enjoying Grand Slam success at his time at the helm of Wales.
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Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby is looking forward to the Six Nations match between England and Ireland in Dublin.
“This is the strongest Six Nations I have ever seen in terms of the quality of players and teams,” Gatland added. “I remember when everyone was talking about France and England at the start of a Five or Six Nations tournament and who was going to win.
“The others were kind of trying to fight for the scraps. People are writing us off, and I said it before the World Cup too, you write us off at your peril. We just need to create a little bit of trust and confidence within our group, and almost like a siege mentality in terms of going to Paris.”
Townsend: Scotland can compete despite major injuries
Gregor Townsend insists Scotland have the depth to overcome the devastating loss of Sione Tuipulotu to injury for the entire Guinness Six Nations.
Sione Tuipulotu to miss Guinness Six Nations with injury
Tuipulotu, Scotland’s captain and star centre, is due to undergo surgery to repair a pectoral muscle which was damaged during training with the Glasgow Warriors last week and is not expected to return until later in the season.
Stafford McDowall is the main contender to be paired alongside Huw Jones, but Rory Hutchinson and Tom Jordan are also options.
“It’s a real blow to Sione so close to the tournament and it’s a big blow to the tournament and our fans that they won’t be able to see him play,” Townsend said. “But as a team you have to accept that injuries happen and that’s why you create depth over a longer period of time.
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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is optimistic ahead of the Six Nations and says his team will be “very competitive”.
“We’ve got some really good 12s on our team who now have an opportunity that they probably didn’t think was coming. We’re supporting them to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Tuipulotu’s absence sees Rory Darge and Finn Russell take over as co-captains – roles they played during last year’s Six Nations until the 27-year-old Australian was named captain for fall.
First-choice second-row Scott Cummings could also be out for the entire competition with a broken arm, while hooker Dylan Richardson has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
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