Wales’ interim head coach Matt Sherratt will lead the national team on a two-Test tour of Japan this July, aiming to end a 17-match losing streak.
This tour marks Wales’ first visit to Japan since 2013, providing an opportunity to rebuild.
This tour marks Wales’ first visit to Japan since 2013, providing an opportunity to rebuild.
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00:00Now, Matt Sherratt is to return as the interim head coach of the Wales National Men's Rugby
00:09team for their tour in Japan. There had been a lot of speculation as to who would become
00:13the next permanent head coach of the Wales team, but we are yet to find a successor to
00:17Warren Garland. And so Matt Sherratt once again standing in following his standing period
00:23during the Six Nations. So it's an interesting one because of course Wales on this horrid
00:29losing streak of games and they'll look at this Japan tour as an opportunity probably
00:34to get some wins on the board and just end the torrid streak of defeats. And yet it's also
00:39a bit of a banana skin as well because Japan these days is a rugby mad country and they'll
00:45have a lot of tough tests with the Welsh team depending on what teams they put out as well
00:50to play in the games that they have on tour. So from Matt Sherratt's point of view, he has
00:55to navigate this as best he possibly can. This is not to say he wants the job on a permanent
00:59basis, but just for the pride of the Welsh national team, they need to get through this
01:03as best as they can without suffering too many defeats and adding to their long list of recent
01:10losses in international rugby. So let's go now to our Wales sports correspondent, Charles
01:16Higg-Jones. Charles, firstly, what can Matt Sherratt do just to have damage limitation on this
01:23two and make sure that it is a success and that Wales aren't embarrassed once again as they were
01:28in the Six Nations. But also, what will he be thinking in terms of the head coach role? Does he
01:33still not want it perhaps even? And if he doesn't, who should Wales be looking for? Because of course
01:39it's been a little while now since the Six Nations and Warren Garton left. So Wales do need to get a bit
01:43of a hurry up in terms of starting the foundations for a new era.
01:49Yeah, Matt Sherratt's obviously a great background and coaching journey. You have to look at him
01:55at Cardiff. Obviously, previously stepped in as Wales interim coach during the Six Nations as well,
02:01following Warren Garton's departure. You know, you have to look at a few factors as to why he is
02:05the chosen one at the moment. So many players have come out and said, you know, they've enjoyed his
02:10he's working under him. They've enjoyed his spell in terms of the national team. And he himself said,
02:16you know, there's a lot to do in terms of the nation for Wales. But, you know, a bit of confidence,
02:21a bit of positivity, it really shifted emotion. Obviously, you know, he came in and the confidence
02:28was going in the right direction. They obviously suffered then a record loss to England in the Six
02:33Nations and in a home defeat by their biggest landscape ever, which is which is unbelievable,
02:40really, considering the way Sherratt had shifted them. But, you know, that's that's England on
02:43their rise. Wales are just lacking behind in terms of of where they need to be, where they want to be
02:49in their world rugby ranking quest as well. And, you know, it's a really tough situation for Wales at
02:55the moment. You know, obviously appointed for the Japan Tour, he will resume his role as interim
03:01head coach, which means, you know, one of two things. Firstly, for me, it shows that he's the
03:08guy at the moment, he's the go to guy, he's the safe pair of hands that they're relying on. But
03:12secondly, there's underlying problems there. Wales have, you know, really, really struggled to get
03:17someone to take this job on and 17 losses in a row, he needs to try and put an end to that.
03:22Is it going to come soon? You don't know. And Japan actually now proves a massive test,
03:26obviously, just one below them in the world rankings in 13th, Wales 12th, one of the lowest
03:32they've ever been as a rugby nation as well. So, yeah, massive challenge for Sherratt. I think he is
03:38the right man to do it. Obviously, he's got a great coaching team around him, Gethys Jenkins,
03:43Adam Jones, Tyrese Thomas and Danny Wilson, obviously the Harley Quinn's head coach as well.
03:49We know the situation with Welsh rugby at the moment with the PRA agreement. It's all over
03:53the shop, really, in terms of Welsh rugby. But this tour could actually prove us a bit
03:58of a, you know, a bit of a boundary, a bit of a clean slate and they are hoping for it.
04:04Obviously, Dewey Lake named captain, only two players on the British and Irish Lions tour
04:09for Wales. So, they're going to have to go for it. They're going to have to try and end
04:13this streak. And then, you know, it could influence his position at Cardiff, you know,
04:19potentially affecting future coaching appointments, obviously. But I do think Sherratt is the man
04:25to lead Wales and end this torrid run that they've been on and turn things around and hopefully
04:31have more of a positive end, you know, mid to end of the year and then they can kick on
04:36in the future after getting some appointments that are very much needed in terms of the WIU
04:43at the moment.