2007 Rugby World Cup exit – Bad
2007 Rugby world cup in France, Stade de la Beaujoire the Location, one of the most embarrassing days in Welsh rugby history, as wales were beaten by Fiji 38-34.
This was the tier 2 nation’s first win in nine games against Wales and saw them reach the quarter finals for the first time since 1987.
Wales were knocked out of the tournament in the pool stages, missing out on progression to the quarter finals by also losing to Australia. This would be Wales’ head coach Gareth Jenkins last game in charge and 41 days later Warren Gatland was appointed as the new head coach.
Glory years under Gatland – Good
The “Gatland era” and will sit alongside the Welsh international game’s golden eras of the 1970s and the early 20th century.
Six Nations Grand Slams in 2012 and 2019, a memorable championship victory in 2013, two World Cup semi-finals and a level of consistency not seen since the days of Gareth Edwards and company in the golden era of the 1970s.
It started with Sam Warburton and Shane Williams and ended with Alun Wyn Jones and Josh Adams, with Gatland bowing out as coach with a photo call in front of the gates which now bear his name at the Principality Stadium.
So, what are the highlights? Most would agree that the victory over England in the 2013 Six Nations championship decider topped the bill.
England came to Cardiff chasing a Grand Slam. Wales needed to win by seven clear points to clinch the title. In the event England were steamrolled 30-3 at a euphoric Millennium stadium.
Then there was the 28-25 win at Twickenham in the 2015 World Cup when Wales’ wounded and battered side struck a blow that eventually led to England’s elimination in the pool stages.
And who can forget the 2010 clash with Scotland in Cardiff? Trailing by 10 points with four minutes remaining, Gatland’s men rattled off 17 points in five minutes to win 31-24.
It proved at the start of the decade what opponents would say about Gatland’s team throughout the 10 years . . . they just did not know when they were beaten.
Sam Warburton Red card – Bad
The red card which ended Wales captain Warburton’s involvement after just 19 minutes of the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final following a tip tackle on Vincent Clerc is comfortably the most disappointing, gut-wrenching moment for the national team during the decade.
The 9-8 defeat against a France team many are convinced a full-strength Wales would have beaten comfortably was Gatland’s biggest disappointment in his 12 years in charge.
Would youthful Wales have beaten an injury-ravaged New Zealand burdened by expectation and years of under-achievement in the final? We’ll never know.
Some success for regions – Good
It might seem odd at a time when the region is struggling with injuries and poor form, but Ospreys started the decade as the power in Welsh domestic rugby.
They won the domestic title – then known as the Celtic League – in 2010 and repeated the feat in 2012 when it had morphed into the Pro12.
On both occasions they beat Leinster in Dublin in the final – the second victory clinched in the dying minutes thanks to a try by Shane Williams, in his final game for the region, converted from the touchline by Dan Biggar.
Scarlets also beat Irish opposition in Dublin when they won the title in 2017, this time against Munster. With now current wales coach Wayne Pivac’s team needed no last-minute heroics as they ran Munster ragged in a 46-22 win at the Aviva Stadium.
Scarlets also reached the semi-final of the European Champions Cup in 2017-18 but were heavily beaten by eventual winners Leinster.
Cardiff Blues were Wales’ flag-bearers in the second-tier European challenge Cup – winning the title in 2010 and 2018 with wins over Toulon (28-21) and Gloucester (31-10).
But mainly disappointment for the regions – Bad
Regions and the Welsh Rugby Union have negotiated hard about how to compete with better-funded club games in Ireland, England and France and introduced restrictions on selecting players for Wales if they play club rugby in other countries.
Proposed mergers of Scarlets and Ospreys have been and gone, as has a move to create a region in north Wales – for now.
with pay bands; it’s seen the creation of a professional board – with representatives of the union and regions – to run the regional game.
But a continued failure of Welsh domestic teams to compete at Europe’s top table – in stark contrast to the national team – suggests the arguments are probably not over.
The Development of women’s rugby – Good
Embed from Getty ImagesWomen’s rugby has seen huge strides in coaching, facilities and participation at all levels.
Memorable moments include the 2015 Six Nations opener when Wales stunned England with a 13-0 win at St Helen’s. It was only the second time Wales beat England in their history.
Another was the seventh-place play-off at the 2017 World Cup which saw Wales beat Ireland 27-17 to earn a place at the 2021 tournament in New Zealand.
And while players in Wales are a long way from joining their English counterparts in becoming professional, the promotion and media coverage of the women’s game has never been better.
There have been strides off the field as well with Amanda Blanc appointed chair of the Welsh Rugby Union’s Professional Rugby Board in December 2019.
In October former Wales international Liza Burgess became the first woman to be elected to the WRU Board, whilst Aileen Richards has been a non-executive director since 2015.
For more best and worst, check out best and words draft picks for the Buccaneers
