Perhaps the golden rule is not to read too much into whats happening on the regional scene when assessing the prospects of the Wales national team.
After all, Welsh rugby has been here before.
In 2019, not one region made the Heineken Champions Cup knockout stage or the PRO14 play- offs, but Wales won a Six Nations Grand Slam under Warren Gatland.
Last year was a predictably barren season in Europe, with the Welsh professional teams failing to reach the knockout games, while they werent involved in the Guinness PRO14 final, either, or the Rainbow Cup showpiece game.
But Wales won the Six Nations under Wayne Pivac.
Its going to be a bigger achievement if Pivacs team can repeat the trick in the months ahead, though, and successfully defend their title.
Saturdays evidence in Scotland didnt bode well for the side in red exactly four weeks out from the start of the Six Nations.
Cardiff were spanked 34-10 by Edinburgh, while the Ospreys crashed 38-19 against Glasgow Warriors, their defence undermined by glaring individual errors and their attack as non-existent as Novak Djokovics membership of the Boosters for All Society.
Lets get certain things out of the way.
The Welsh regions all have holes in their squads because of the financial situation in Wales relative to their rivals.
It is debatable, too, how much the four teams are helped by loading their line-ups with Wales internationals.
Those involved play fewer games for their regional sides and it can be challenging to re-integrate Test players, a point made by Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack last term when he claimed some of the regions internationals were making Wales team calls rather than Scarlets calls after returning from the Six Nations and playing a Heineken Champions Cup match against Sale.
Evidently, the west Walians are learning their lesson with the signing of All Black Vaea Fifita from Wasps. He will add to a stable of quality imports in Llanelli who could be there for much of each season, with the list including Sione Kalamafoni, Sam Lousi, Tomas Lezana and, depending on whether Scotland pick him or not, Blade Thomson.
Having that lot around week-in, week-out offers a level of stability which should benefit the Scarlets no end.
Consider the value for money Kalamafoni has already given them already, with the Tongan displaying the kind of consistency and impact Filo Tiatia once contributed to the Ospreys and Xavier Rush supplied to Cardiff.
There will be those wholl doubt whether such players help the Wales team, but Tiatia had a hugely positive effect on local talent coming through, with those involved having a close-quarters opportunity to see what excellence looked like day-in, day-out.
Also, rugby in this corner of the world shouldnt just be about Team Wales. It's my belief the balance has been lost over the past decade and I feel thats been to the detriment of the sport this side of the River Severn.
That said, of course, quality imports cost, and money continues to be a problem throughout Welsh professional rugby.
How to solve that problem remains an issue few will agree on.
But the regions having to carry the burden of the 20million loan the Welsh Rugby Union took on to keep the game here afloat will not help Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.
Radically, after the losing efforts in Scotland over the weekend, former Wales international Lee Jarvis proposed rejigging the regional system so that just two Welsh sides compete in Europe.
Without sounding disrespectful to anyone but there are quite a few regional players that are (Welsh) Premiership players at best and thats not their fault its the system's fault IMO, wrote Jarvis on Twitter.
Strength in depth in Wales at the moment is NOT good.
Games today a hard watch. For us to compete at the TOP of European rugby again and reach semi finals + finals then they have to look at two regions.
East + West Best of the best in 2 Regions."
The suspicion is the view will find sympathy with plenty, but there will be many who will be opposed, doubtless arguing in favour of their teams right to vie for a place at the top table.
There is an argument that shedding one team would go some way to improving finances of the other three, though income from TV might be affected with fewer teams and matches and young players might head over the border in search of rugby, tightening the Welsh talent pool further.
Whatever, Pivac will have watched the matches on Saturday with concern.
Cardiff have had a nightmare time with their United Rugby Championship misadventure in South Africa leaving some players quarantined for 20 days. However you look at it, thats not perfect for professional athletes.
A number of their players looked off the pace physically in the first half, in particular, excellent though Edinburgh were with their accuracy, power and ability to play the game at pace.
Matters did improve after Tomos Williams came on for the second period, with the Wales international coming up with a performance that would have heartened Dai Young and Pivac. James Botham also showed up well before being the victim of what Young described as a head-on-head knock.
But Cardiff were poor, missing a gruesome 41 tackles as the Scots poured forward.
The Ospreys weren't much better over in Glasgow.
There were shocking individual errors in defence that led to tries and undermined the team performance, but the Ospreys were also blunt in attack and missed the leadership from scrum-half of Rhys Webb.
They look in desperate need of their injured players returning, though the likes of Jac Morgan and Will Griffiths fronted up, along with Morgan Morgan, their best player on the night, Luke Morgan and replacement Dewi Lake a force of nature in the loose, but his lineout throwing continues to be a concern.
Pivac needs to see evidence of more players showing form.
The Scarlets have played just one game since October 22 while the Dragons are stuck in a losing spiral.
Pivac, meantime, has to fashion a Six Nations challenge out of all this and multiple injuries.
Wales have shown many times over the past 14 years they can cope with adversity.
Track back to how they beat Scotland at Murrayfield in 2019, just days after the chaos of the Scarlets-Ospreys proposed merger plans became public. Warren Gatlands players not only handled the fall-out but went on to win a Grand Slam.
But to say that the omens are not great this time is to submit an early entry for the 2022 understatement of the year.
Pivac will know he has a huge challenge on his hands.
Success over the coming few months would be an achievement as good as any from Wales in recent times.
Want the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to you? Look no further.
Originally posted here:
The 72-29 pounding Scottish rugby just handed Wales ahead of 6 Nations - Wales Online
- Madame Web Broke The Golden Rule Of Superhero Movie Villains Marvel Spent 20 Years Protecting - Screen Rant - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- Kate Middleton 'breaks Queen's golden rule' after conversation with young fan - Daily Record - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- This Is My New Golden Rule for Renting Vacation Homes (I Was Doing It All Wrong) - Yahoo Life - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Misguided culture warriors should heed the golden rule [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Michael L. Fischler: Anger and The Golden Rule - The Union Leader - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Dog trainer reveals her golden rule for recall training (we can't believe how simple it is!) - Yahoo Life - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Fr. Aristides Palaynes and the Golden Rule Community - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- How Lulu still looks fabulous at 75, from her skincare 'golden rule' to refusing to take lifts - as star revea - Daily Mail - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Ken Henry: We are breaking the 'golden rule' of economic policy - ABC News - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule and the Free Market - Foundation for Economic Education - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett share their golden rule for successful parenting - The Times of India - March 6th, 2024 [March 6th, 2024]
- Live music at The Golden Rule Coffee House on Friday, March 8 - Redwood Falls Gazette - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have always followed one relationship rule - Marie Claire UK - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule - A Way of Life - County 10 News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Dear Annie: Nurses Golden Rule might be the answer to relationship problems - MLive.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Aitana's golden rule and the pending account she has with her most loyal audience - WECB - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Guest columnist David Hernndez: Climate, refugees, and the golden rule - GazetteNET - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- A golden rule that should have been followed in North - The Sun Chronicle - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- The Golden Rule Refined | | news-journal.com - Longview News-Journal - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Film About The Golden Rule Released in Bali - EIN News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Heres a Golden Rule Jeff Bezos Seems to Have Forgotten: Never Let Your Ego Get in the Way of Doing Business - The Good Men Project - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Universalists to consider the mandate of the Golden Rule - Ashland Daily Press - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- 6-Year-Old Boy Dies a Month After Adult Neighbor Allegedly Beats ... - PEOPLE - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COLUMN: Celebrate Thanksgiving year-round with 'Thanks-living ... - Andalusia Star-News - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Silence is craven, not golden - The Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Sellars CEO Named to Wisconsin 'Titan 100' - Industrial Distribution - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- The most valuable decluttering lessons I have learned | - Homes & Gardens - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- COMMENTARY| Bethel: Too much hate | Opinion ... - Bennington Banner - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Cooking with Love Nello's Continues Impress Diners - St. Albert Gazette - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- What Happened to James Garner? Inside the 'Maverick' Star's ... - Yahoo Entertainment - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Successful trial of coating that converts UV into PAR boosts sales - hortidaily.com - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Debt rules will affect the most vulnerable, EU trade union chief warns - EURACTIV - November 20th, 2023 [November 20th, 2023]
- Guest Opinion | Bill Paparian: Pasadena City Hall Believes in the ... - Pasadena Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Golden ratio in venation patterns of dragonfly wings | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Golden Rule Of Data Gathering And New Expectations Of Value ... - The Drum - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Glass gets away with breaking the golden rule - The Irish News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Red Horse Recruiter Ranks First in Class - 125fw.ang.af.mil - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These 19 Birmingham BBQ joints are the ultimate Memorial Day ... - Bham Now - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mountain West Technologies wins Casper Area Chamber of ... - Cap City News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Unseen Engine of South Florida's Booming Vacation Rental Market: Estaga - Yahoo Finance - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Simon Cowell to break important BGT rule this weekend, ITV confirms - South Wales Argus - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Starting out on the St. Croix: What High School Skiing Taught Jessie ... - fasterskier.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- These are the weirdest and least understood pickleball rules and ... - msnNOW - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Media Source Not Showing in OBS? Here's How to Fix It - MUO - MakeUseOf - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Youngkin avoids talk of diversity, politics at VMI graduation - Cardinal News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Mother's Day roots: the opposition to war | READER COMMENTARY - Baltimore Sun - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rep. Gallagher says US needs to take off 'golden blindfolds' and 'open our eyes' to China risk - Fox News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Open Heaven 18 May 2023: The Gift of Love - ELANHUB MEDIA - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 10 Best Quotes About Family In The Fast & Furious Franchise - CBR - Comic Book Resources - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Life in the Fast Lane - New DOE Rule Changes Push LNG Projects ... - RBN Energy - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Dont Say That Word- Days After Golden Advice From Wrexhams Ryan Reynolds, NFL Icon JJ Watt Reminds Wife of Unspoken Rule After Burnley Investment -... - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 14 Handy Tricks To Get Better Sleep While Backpacking - The Trek - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Investors overlooking the golden rule as they flock to DIY apps - Stuff - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 7 money 'rules' you can actually break, according to financial experts - MarketWatch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Dorsman: MP Motorsport betting on caution ahead of inevitable ... - Formula 2 - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Boomer explains why millennials are having a hard time at work: 'It's ... - Upworthy - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- AFA.net - Basic Fairness in Women's Sports - American Family Association - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- How To Prep Air Fryer Vegetables So They Don't Escape The Basket - Tasting Table - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Pansexual Flag: Here's what the Pride Flag's colors mean and more - USA TODAY - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- What is the "Rules-Based-Order"? - CounterPunch.org - CounterPunch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Hudson WWII vet turns 100, decides to quit the bocce ball team - Suncoast News - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Kansas City reportedly let Meta developer break diversity rules, then ... - KCUR - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- From the Right: Drawing the line between trans rights and parental ... - The Malibu Times - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- I was 40,000 in debt but got myself out of it here is the rule I swear by and how it changed my life... - The Sun - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- OBITUARY - Mary Anderson - Berthoud Weekly SurveyorBerthoud ... - BerthoudSurveyor.com - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 8 ways to improve your written communications - Smartbrief - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Draymond Green: Draymond wont be moved by the Draymond rule - Eurohoops - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Dont Make These 4 Nursing Home Abuse Claim Mistakes in Las ... - Legal Reader - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- What Food to Pack for Family Hikes - Outside - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Lawyer Discernment Is Critical In The World Of AI - JD Supra - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 12 blockbuster movies for summer 2023 ranked: we can't wait! - What To Watch - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Meghan broke 'golden rule' months before royal exit and has done so ever since - Express - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- We Are All Connected: Loving One Another in Different Religions - Graphic - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Grammar Girl AP style tips on the Oxford comma, headlines and more - PR Daily - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- How to prevent HVAC havoc this summer - KCAU 9 - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Take the right care of your yard | News | hometownnewsbrevard.com - Hometown News - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Britain's Got Talent: Simon Cowell speaks out after new judge Bruno Tonioli breaks rule on first appearance - LADbible - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- After experimenting with directives, ISSF reinstates the Tokyo Olympics old-golden rule book for Paris 2024 - Free Press Journal - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Want to stay married? Gogglebox's Steph and Dom reveal golden ... - Daily Mail - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Overcoming Spiritual Violence and Embracing Peace with Rev. Dr ... - Bear World Magazine - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]