AFTER a whirlwind two weeks since their loss to Italy, Wales head into this Saturday\u2019s game against Ireland hoping for a fresh start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wales\u2019 loss in Rome was the final nail in the coffin for former head coach Warren Gatland, who left by \u201cmutual agreement\u201d shortly after. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gatland oversaw the worst run of form in Wales\u2019s 144-year history, losing 14 consecutive matches and leaving Wales staring down the shaft of a second consecutive wooden spoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot has changed since then, with Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt stepping in for the time being, while Wales search for a long-term successor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the new head coach, it\u2019s all about making the best of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy mindset coming in was just to make sure that, firstly, I enjoyed it and, secondly, that I was going to try and do things my way in terms of how I believe the game should be played,” said Sherratt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to just say ‘go out and have a crack’ as that gets messy. We\u2019ve worked really hard in the week on how we find and keep shape. It\u2019s just making sure the players are very, very clear on how we play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis week has been about how we try and get the mindset right and a good positive attitude and then just put a framework in place where the players feel comfortable enough to put all their energy into something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For back row Aaron Wainwright, the Ireland clash is all about getting the fans back onside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t a lot of positivity around Welsh rugby at the moment and there\u2019s obviously no hiding away from the fact this is a pretty low point,” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are on a run of defeats and everyone goes out each weekend to try to put that right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t go out there to lose, and the important thing for us this weekend is that we\u2019re going to be playing in a packed-out Principality Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re all aiming towards and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve been speaking about in training. What a good opportunity this could be to have everyone getting behind us \u2013 it will be amazing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sherratt has already put his stamp on this struggling Wales team, calling up Harlequins fly-half Jarrod Evans, along with Gloucester duo Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, who will look to bolster the Welsh attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sherratt has also made sweeping changes to the side that faced Italy, with nine changes being made to the starting line-up from two weeks ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One change to watch will be Ellis Mee at 11. The Scarlets winger will be making his debut for Wales, joined by Blair Murray and Tom Rogers in the back three. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the reasons you coach, actually, is to name a team and see a young kid who\u2019s dreamt of playing for his country get that opportunity,” said Sherratt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure his family will be massively proud of him, so to see his face on selection was part of the reason you coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had a really good week. I hope he just goes out and enjoys playing for his country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Wales are likely facing another heavy loss in the Six Nations against a relentlessly brilliant Ireland team, Sherratt believes his side has the will to challenge them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not been any lack of effort with this squad. They\u2019re massively proud to play for their country,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe just needed them to channel it in the right direction, so hopefully we\u2019ll see some signs of that on Saturday against one of the best teams in the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ireland come into this tie in tremendous form, winning five games on the spin and coming off an emphatic away win against Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a hard-fought victory against England under their belt and ties against Wales and Italy still to play, they are in good shape to win their third Six Nations title in a row. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIreland are incredibly detailed in whatever they do in line-out, attack shape, breakdown stuff \u2013 all the little things that they can do and get away with, they will,\u201d said Wainwright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While few will be backing Wales on Saturday, hopes will be high that Sherratt and his team will be able to inject some hope back into Welsh rugby and give fans reason to be optimistic. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All eyes will be on Matt Sherratt as he makes his debut as Wales’s head coach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1209,"featured_media":92592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,4],"tags":[1291,154,328,339],"coauthors":[8799],"class_list":["post-93775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugby","category-sport","tag-cardiff-2","tag-rugby-2","tag-six-nations","tag-wales"],"yoast_head":"\n