There have been some brilliant moments for Wales during the last 10 years but along with the good comes the bad, with many heads in hand moments too.
Gatland’s Glory Years
Two Six Nations Grand Slams, One Six Nations Championship title along with World Cup Semi Finals in both 2011 and 2019. Gatland had restored greatness back into the National side and the birth of “Warrenball”.
Putting titles aside, there have been so many monumental moments for Gatland’s Wales. Games that will go down in history for all the right reasons. And where to start?
The game that kickstarted the next 10 years, Wales v Scotland 2010. Four minutes of full time remaining, trailing by 10 points everyone thought it was all over.
But this set of players just did not know when they were beaten, totalling 17 points in four minutes to take victory in one of Wales’ most epic comebacks of all time.
And it became a continuing theme for the remainder of his reign.
2011 World Cup Controversy
This World Cup Campaign will haunt Welsh Rugby fans for many years to come. The one that got away. That red card.
2011 was the birth of players who would go on and achieve so much during Gatland’s reign. From Leigh Halfpenny to Dan Lydiate, but most controversially Sam Warburton.
The scene was set, after just four years in charge for Wales, it looked as if Gatland and Wales could win this World Cup. But with 19 minutes gone on the clock, Captain Warburton saw red for a tip tackle on Vincent Clerc.
The feeling everyone felt after this campaign was that Gatland’s Wales would this strong Wales side have beaten New Zealand in that final. The ‘what if’ moment that people will never stop thinking about.
There is no doubt that this was the biggest disappointment of Gatland’s run in charge.
10 year wait to beat Australia
One thing Wales struggled with during this decade was beating Southern Hemisphere teams. The story always went so close but yet so far. This Wales team was capable of so much.
When it came to Autumn International tests, this Wales side was always late to the party.
2012 was such a great year for the side, winning a Grand Slam in the March after the misery and pain of the 2011 World Cup came loss upon loss. Beginning the winning drought against Australia.
After 10 years of heartbreak, finally in 2018 Wales ended the drought, but for sure this game was definitely not a classic. A winning margin of three points and a tryless 80 minutes.
This game was so much more than any other victory, this winning kick started the triumphant end to Gatland’s reign.
