Wales Rugby Needs Mindset to Complement Talent

It is unfair to criticize the Red Dragons after the vastly-improved performance resulting in a Feb. 5 win against England. But attention must be drawn to the mental state of this team right now.

The question is, does Wales think they are as good as they really are?

In the last four matches, the Welsh have indeed acted like the world power they are.  But it almost appears as if some essence of self-belief is still missing. It is almost as if the Six Nations champions think that they are not as talented as people say they are, as if the hype is not deserved.

In the penultimate match of 2008, Wales hosted the world’s best team, New Zealand.  After performing their haka, the All Blacks were stared down by an almost insolent home team.

Who was Wales to stare down the black-clad rulers of world rugby? To commit such an act was almost to speak of equality, but surely Wales was not in the same class in a team in the midst of their own Grand Slam, an All Black team that had just won its ninth Tri Nations since 1996.

But Wales stepped up, and in the first 40 minutes traded blow for blow with the All Blacks, holding their illustrious opponents for an entire half.

One can only speculate what was said at halftime on both sides of the field.

For Wales, it must not have been inspirational, because they came back out lacking the impetuous belief that they could match up with the best. They wilted, and like a great team does, the All Blacks finished strong and won the match.

In their next match, a vastly improving Australia Wallabies team came to the holy ground of Cardiff, having seen off the challenge of France and England. But this was for nought, as the Welsh, full of vigor and passion, put the sword to Australia in a match they never looked like losing.

In 2009, the Six Nations began with not one person arguing Wales' credentials as the Red Dragons record their first back-to-back Grand Slam since 1909.  Some mentioned the French as possible roadblocks, but Wales cemented its claim to greatness by recording its third Grand Slam in five years.

Scotland came and was conquered, but Wales committed the one grave flaw that separates the good from the great: They did not slaughter the Scots.

Instead, they switched off, and an undermanned Scotland was allowed back into the game. Many have excused this, saying that the game was won, that they were conserving their energy, and so forth.

But a 20-point lead can be undone quickly in the modern game, and there are teams with far more intimidating attacking arsenals than Scotland that could overrun the Welsh if Wales doesn't play a consistent game.

Against England, irrespective of its improved performance, a comparable trait was shown. In the first quarter of the match, Wales was up 9-0 and deserving of a more comfortable lead. However, England fought tooth and nail to get back into the match.

At times, it looked as if Wales were unsure as to why England was playing at such a high level. As the English improved, the Welsh did not adapt accordingly. Joe Worsley began to exert tremendous pressure on the Red Dragons' tackle area and Wales did not flood more players into the tackle as they should have.

Instead, it seemed as if they were still waiting for the ball to drift into open spaces to play running rugby.

The team they may be trying to emulate—the All Blacks—have learned the hard way that teams will not always let you play expansive rugby, and that you must have a plan B.

Teams such as the fired-up hybrid of the English, or the almost legendary rush defense of South Africa, will shut down quick ball and dazzling play. If Wales turns up to play France or Ireland in the state of mind that they were against England, a Grand Slam will not occur.

Warren Gatland has spoken recently of his team's increased fitness due to advanced techniques. He also covertly stated that he had deciphered England’s match calls prior to the match.

Wales will need to ensure that it gas the multiple dimensions a team needs to remain at the summit. However, sometimes such facets are simply magical acts performed by players, and when Wales welcome back the wizardry of Shane Williams and Gavin Henson, they will be a much better side.

Until then, they need to play with confidence and compete for the entire duration of a game. Regaining some of that champion swagger will go a long way to ensuring that Wales is consistently considered among the best—not just by the fans, but by the players themselves.