Warren Gatland’s biggest challenge when he took over as Wales coach was to bring authority, direction and stability to a rugby nation which has drifted since the 2005 Grand Slam campaign.
Gatland arrived at the Millennium Stadium in November as Wales’ fifth head coach in six years and he inherited a side that failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the professional era.
But the New Zealander has attacked the challenge with relish and just four months after that embarrassing World Cup exit there is a new confidence growing in the Welsh game.
The New Zealander’s first act was to demand new standards of fitness from the squad, his second was to appoint Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley to form a “coaching dream team”.
He then persuaded Martyn Williams to come out of international retirement and named Ryan Jones as captain, a choice which could prove inspirational.
Gatland’s decision to name 13 Ospreys in the starting line-up may have been extraordinary but, given the lack of preparation time, it is also eminently sensible.
His explanation for the move was clear and a long way from the garbled mixed-messages proffered by the previous regime.
There is now a new leadership group in place within the squad and, while Gatland recognises the Welsh ability to play with wonderful flair, he will not indulge their fantasies until the fundamentals have been sorted.
Training last week was more physical than many of the Wales players can remember and they revelled in Edwards’ participation in the full contact sessions.
In between punishing gym sessions, Gatland and Edwards have been working the players hard on the lineout, the scrum and the defence, three areas which let Wales down badly at the World Cup.
Wales travel to Twickenham on Saturday chasing their first win at English rugby’s HQ in two decades and to beat the World Cup finalists just two weeks into the new regime is a tall order.
Publicly Gatland has promoted the idea that old Wales are huge underdogs – but privately his mantra has been one of self-belief and no fear.
It is a new mindset, a new start. And if Gatland can repeat the success he enjoyed at Wasps and Waikato, the Welsh fans will soon be hailing him as their latest Great Redeemer.
