Former Wales Captain Gwyn Jones says Gatland must never be allowed near the Lions again and Wales have gone nowhere under Pivac
“The two most stubborn and uncompromising coaches in world rugby tried to beat each other by being the most negative. Rugby reached new lows, on and off the field.
“On the field, South Africa held a mirror up to Warrenball as the two sides conspired to play the least inspiring game of rugby in history. With the help of endless TMO intervention, they succeeded,” Jones wrote.
He said there was “no shame in losing” to the Springboks, but “by being so conservative and risk-averse, they [the Lions] were prevented from giving it their best shot. That must be a huge regret”.
“It should also dissuade the Lions committee of appointing Warren Gatland ever again.”
Jones has also criticized Gatland’s Kiwi colleague Pivac, who took over Wales from Gatland after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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He recognized that injuries had a role, but he insisted that it was not the only factor. “disappointing to see Wales regress” in the four-match November test window.
“Wales seemed to be playing a different game compared to the exhilaration and intensity of Ireland, France or New Zealand. After scraping past a 14-man Fiji, Wales ended the series with a psychologically important win against a very ordinary and error-strewn Australia,’’ Jones wrote.
He said Wales had the same worries as 12 month ago – “the fragility of the scrum and lineout and how brittle the defence can be at times”.
“But most of all, I am anxious to see the Wayne Pivac-Stephen Jones attacking game plan come into fruition. In the four games this autumn, Wales didn’t create and they didn’t threaten. They have had two years to bed in, we should be seeing progress by now.”