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Warren Gatland meets England squad

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An awkward squad meeting! Lions coach Gatland sees England players just a day after saying he is reluctant to pick them

By
Joe Ridge

PUBLISHED:

12:38 GMT, 13 February 2013

|

UPDATED:

15:53 GMT, 13 February 2013

Warren Gatland has met with the England squad just a day after his comments regarding selection for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia caused a storm.

The Lions and Wales head coach was with Stuart Lancaster's side at St George's Park for a pre-scheduled meeting on Wednesday just three months ahead of the trip to Australia.

Gatland, who has handed over the reins of the Wales side to his assistant Rob Howley for the ongoing RBS Six Nations Championship while he focuses on his Lions role, told the London Evening Standard on Tuesday that he was reluctant to pick too many Englishmen in his squad.

Causing a storm: Gatland said he is reluctant to pick too many Englishmen

Causing a storm: Gatland said he is reluctant to pick too many Englishmen

The New Zealander was at the National Football Centre in Burton to go through video footage of England's 12-6 win over Ireland on Sunday – a result which has left Lancaster's side top of the Six Nations table after two games.

‘England did well in the autumn,’ the Kiwi told the Standard. ‘And if they do well in the Six Nations, there will be a reasonable contingent of English players.

‘But that brings a certain element of – how do I say it – other pressures. We all know what happened with England at the World Cup and the circus that was created.

On a roll: England have won both of their Six Nations games so far

On a roll: England have won both of their Six Nations games so far

‘It becomes a much greater media focus for the English papers; potentially a negative focus for the Australian papers. And English players are targeted by other countries. They are not always the most popular with other countries because of the history. People like having a pop at them.

‘It’s just being aware of potential issues that may arise. I’ve got to be aware of the possibilities that, if there are a number of English players on the tour, the same sort of things could be instigated, through stings through the media or set-ups trying to create controversy.’

Gatland later insisted that his words were taken out of context.

Backtracking: The Kiwi later insisted his words had been taken out of context

Backtracking: The Kiwi later insisted his words had been taken out of context

‘I would happily pick 15 English players in the first Test at Brisbane if I though they were the best 15 players for the job,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘Hand on heart I would never be able to look myself in the mirror if we didn’t pick a player who deserved to go on Tour because he was English. I just couldn’t do that to any individual. Morally it is just wrong.’

Joe Launchbury in provisional Lions squad for Australia tour

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From Sainsbury's to Sydney: Former shelf-stacker Launchbury in provisional Lions squad for Australia tour

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UPDATED:

23:10 GMT, 13 December 2012

Joe Launchbury is on course to complete a remarkable transition from part-time player and super-market shelf-stacker to the pinnacle of British and Irish rugby after being included in a provisional Lions squad.

The 21-year-old Wasps lock, who was playing for Worthing and working at Sainsbury’s just two years ago, is among a host of England players whose demolition of the All Blacks has forced them into prime contention for next summer’s tour of Australia.

On the eve of Wednesday’s unveiling of the coaching staff for the 2013 crusade, Warren Gatland met his assistants, Andy Farrell, Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree, to draw up a first-draft squad for the tour, overlooking players who are injured.

Rising star: 21-year-old Launchbury was in fine form during England's win over New Zealand at Twickenham

Rising star: 21-year-old Launchbury was in fine form during England's win over New Zealand at Twickenham

Rowntree revealed that the group spent at least an hour discussing back-row permutations alone. But a theme which emerged was that the English contingent, which had previously been predicted to be very small, had been enhanced considerably by the upset win against New Zealand at Twickenham 13 days ago. ‘You have glaring performances in teams who have gone well at the end of the autumn series,’ said Rowntree. ‘That All Blacks game threw up a few names – some guys with only a couple of caps.'

One such rookie is Launchbury, who has four caps, two of them as a starter. Another Test novice now potentially in contention based on his autumn exploits is Leicester hooker Tom Youngs, while other more established English candidates such as Tom Wood, Manu Tuilagi, Alex Goode, Geoff Parling and Owen Farrell enhanced their Lions cases.

Late last month, Gatland had appeared to dismiss England captain Chris Robshaw as a bona fide international openside flanker, saying he intended to take specialist No 7s to Australia.

Yet, in light of the shock success against the world champions, the Kiwi had a more positive message for the Harlequins skipper. ‘What England did against the All Blacks was bring an intensity, an aggression, almost a violent attitude to the breakdown we hadn’t seen from them in earlier games,’ he said. ‘Chris Robshaw was definitely a part of that.’

With Farrell and Rowntree having been drafted for Lions coaching duties, Stuart Lancaster will have to find temporary replacements for England’s summer tour of Argentina.

Candidate: Hooker Tom Youngs has also forced himself into contention for a place in the Lions squad

Candidate: Hooker Tom Youngs has also forced himself into contention for a place in the Lions squad

The simple solution would be to name in-house deputies such as Simon Hardy and Jon Callard. However, strong candidates exist within the Aviva Premiership, among them the young Saracens pair, Paul Gustard and Alex Sanderson.

Despite Saracens’ experience with Farrell, when an agreement to release him to England temporarily led to his permanent move to the RFU, the club are open to another Union approach.

‘England could do a lot worse than look at Paul and Alex,’ said the club’s chief executive Edward Griffiths. ‘They are extremely talented young coaches.

Off to Oz: England coach Stuart Lancaster will have to replace Graham Rowntree (above)

Off to Oz: England coach Stuart Lancaster will have to replace Graham Rowntree (above) and Andy Farrell for the summer tour of Argentina as the pair are on Lions duty

‘If the opportunity arises, we wouldn’t stand in their way. We didn’t stand in the way of Andy Farrell, either. We don’t regard the RFU as competition, but an issue might arise if other clubs object to the idea of a coach or coaches from the Premiership being seconded to the England team.

Historically, there has been a concern among clubs that if someone is coaching England, they might gain an insight into players from other clubs which would give them an unfair advantage.

‘That issue arose when Andy was seconded for the Six Nations last season. As a club we wouldn’t have a problem with coaches from any other clubs being involved with England, but Premiership Rugby would have to make a decision about it and we would abide by that.’

Jonny Wilkinson handed Lions boost

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Wilkinson handed Lions boost but veteran faces stiff challenge to force his way Down Under

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UPDATED:

12:02 GMT, 13 December 2012

Jonny Wilkinson has been given fresh hope about his chances of capping a glittering Test career with a third and final Lions tour next summer, but he will have to force his way past two younger English No 10s to earn a squad place.

The World Cup-winning fly half retired from international rugby with England at the end of last year, but at the age of 33 he has been in vintage form for his French club, Toulon, this season.

Having revealed that he is driven by a desire to return to Australia with the Lions, the initial response was far from promising.

Roaring back: Jonny Wilkinson could be in contention to feature for the Lions

Roaring back: Jonny Wilkinson could be in contention to feature for the Lions

When head coach Warren Gatland was asked last month if he had spoken to Wilkinson, his reply was a curt, decisive 'no'.

However, when the Kiwi revealed his coaching line-up in Edinburgh, one of his assistants provided the iconic English stand off with some welcome encouragement to believe that the door is open to him.

Rob Howley formed a Test half-back partnership with Wilkinson on the last Lions tour of Australia in 2001 and he said: 'He (Wilkinson) is playing in a good team at Toulon, who are going pretty well in the Heineken Cup, and Warren has said that all players who are in contention will be looked at.

'I'm sure Toulon will be in the quarter-finals and they are the games you need to be playing – quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Heineken Cup, if you're not playing international rugby.

'We have to see the players under pressure in those sort of situations.'

The serious Achilles injury which ended Wales No 10 Rhys Priestland's season has created an extra Lions fly half vacancy, as the Scarlets playmaker surely would have featured in the squad.

On form: Wilkinson is playing some of his best rugby with Toulon

On form: Wilkinson is playing some of his best rugby with Toulon

In theory, Wilkinson should come into the equation given his prodigious experience with England, and with the Lions in 2001 and 2005, along with his enduring goal-kicking class and defensive clout.

Furthermore, he is revered and feared in equal measure in Australia, to this day.

Yet, he has two compatriots ahead of him at present in the tussle to claim squad places along with the prime Irish candidate, Jonny Sexton.

Howley said: 'I enjoyed Sexton's performances during the autumn series, and the likes of Owen (Farrell) and Toby (Flood). They are all different styles of 10 and there will be a lot of analysis on those players in the next three or four months.

'It's competition, and that's what brings the best out of them. None of them have been on a Lions tour, so it will be interesting to watch them under the microscope during a Six Nations, in a Lions year. Particularly as a No 10, a key ingredient in performances is how they react under pressure.'

Meanwhile, Gatland says the management decision to leave Shaun Edwards from his coaching team emulated Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's management.

England's Andy Farrell will be the Lions' defence coach in Australia in 2013 rather than the Wales assistant.

'It was an agonising decision – very tough,' Gatland told BBC Radio Wales.

'But you look at someone like Alex Ferguson. He has always been prepared to keep things fresh and make changes.'

Shaun Edwards left out of Lions coaching staff

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Edwards agony as Lions call up England coach Farrell for tour of Australia

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UPDATED:

22:30 GMT, 12 December 2012

Once Warren Gatland had confirmed his
Lions coaching line-up on Wednesday, he spoke of his ‘agonising’
decision which left long-term sidekick Shaun Edwards stunned and
shattered.

Of all the
potential candidates, he had to choose between two close friends, two
men from the same town in northern England, two ex-rugby league players
who had competed side by side for club and country so many times.

It all came down to Andy Farrell
versus Shaun Edwards and Gatland chose Farrell over the man who helped
him guide Wasps and Wales to titles and glory.

Lionhearts: (From left to right) Andy Farrell, Warren Gatland, Andy Irvine, Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

Lionhearts: (From left to right) Andy Farrell, Warren Gatland, Andy Irvine, Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

Lionhearts: (L-R) assistant coach Andy Farrell, head coach Warren Gatland, tour manager Andy Irvine, assistant coaches Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

When the management team for the tour
of Australia was unveiled, there was no dissent about the re-appointment
of Graham Rowntree and Rob Howley. As the men in charge of the forwards
and the attacking game, they will pick up where they left off in South
Africa in 2009. The talk was all about Gatland’s deliberation between
the former Wigan stalwarts from the 13-man code.

‘It
was pretty agonising really,’ said Gatland. ‘There was a lot of
speculation — people talking about Shaun. For me, that was the most
difficult decision to have to make. He is a world-class coach who has
been very, very successful. But I felt that, from a selfish point of
view, I wanted someone fresh who I haven’t worked with, who would
challenge me.

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)

‘I told Shaun a few days ago —that’s
when I spoke to him about my final decision. He appreciated the call but
at the same time he was very, very disappointed. It wasn’t the easiest
decision in the world to make. But I have to make those hard calls.’

Howley knows Edwards well through
their work together on behalf of Wales. When asked if the former Wasps
coach would be disappointed by this news, his reaction was revealing.
He thought long and hard, looked intently at the questioner and
replied: ‘Very.’ No more words were needed. The force of that one hung
in the air.

Farrell, 37, is an international
coaching novice with only nine England Tests under his belt, but Gatland
said: ‘Having spoken to coaches and players who’ve worked with Andy,
he comes highly recommended.’

Pointing the way: Gatland has opted to take Farrell to Australia with him

Pointing the way: Gatland has opted to take Farrell to Australia with him

FIXTURES

Click here for all the fixtures for the 2013 tour of Australia

The New Zealander did not reach a
final verdict until after the autumn Tests — which meant Farrell’s input
into England’s win over the All Blacks was a factor.

Gatland
revealed: ‘I am excited by that. He brings something different in terms
of his background, as the youngest captain of Great Britain’s rugby
league team. People who have been involved with him talk about his
ability to motivate players and make them want to play for him.’

For Farrell, inclusion in the Lions
hierarchy maintains a year of scarcely credible personal advance. Back
in January he was busy learning his trade at Saracens, then Stuart
Lancaster asked if he could help out with England’s interim coaching
set-up. He did such a good job that the RFU pursued him and after a
brief hiatus, the union got their man.

Scrum's the word: Rowntree will be responsible for coaching the pack

Scrum's the word: Rowntree will be responsible for coaching the pack

Now he has been given the chance to take the ultimate step.

‘It’s
been a hell of a year, it’s been unbelievable,’ he said. ‘I feel very
fortunate to have an opportunity like this so early in my coaching
career. It’s something I’m very proud of.

‘I
class myself to be a similar type of character and competitor to Shaun
and we’ve both won things. We’re good friends and we’ll speak.’

The coaching team

ANDY FARRELL

Born: May 30, 1975 in Wigan, England.

Tests (as player): 8 (all in 2007).

Position: Centre.

Club(s): Saracens, Wigan RL.

Coaching career: Saracens (from 2009), England (2012-).

Lions background: none.

Other: Made Great Britain rugby league debut at age of 18 and was youngest-ever captain at age of 21. Won five championships and four Challenge Cups in successful Wigan side. Former world Player of the Year in league.

Crossed codes in 2005 but missed a whole season through injury. Part of England (union) squad which reached Rugby World Cup Final 2007.

ROB HOWLEY

Born: October 13, 1970 in Bridgend, Wales.

Tests (as player): 61 (from 1996-2002).

Position: Scrum half.

Club(s): Wasps, Cardiff, Bridgend.

Coaching career: Cardiff Blues, Wales (from 2008).

Lions background: Toured South Africa in 1997, but injury ended his tour early. Toured Australia in 2001, playing in two Tests. Served as attack coach under Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009.

Other: Captained Wales 22 times in 1998 and 1999. Welsh Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997. Famously won 2004 Heineken Cup for Wasps with last-gasp try against Toulouse at Twickenham.

GRAHAM ROWNTREE

Born: April 18, 1971 in Stockton-on-Tees, England.

Tests (as player): 57 (from 1995-2006).

Position: Prop.

Club(s): Leicester.

Coaching career: Leicester, RFU national academy, England (from 2008).

Lions background: Toured South Africa in 1997, but unable to break into Test squad. Toured New Zealand in 2005 and played in two Tests. Served as scrum coach under Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009.

Other: Part of the 2003 Grand Slam-winning England squad but overlooked for World Cup. Played 398 matches for Leicester from 1990-2007, winning two Heineken Cups and four Premiership titles.

British and Irish Lions tour 2013: Warren Gatland unveils coaching team

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Gatland announces Lions coaching trio of Farrell, Howley and Rowntree for Australia tour

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UPDATED:

12:23 GMT, 12 December 2012

When Warren Gatland announced this morning the coaches who will work with him on the Lions tour next summer, the biggest talking point was the omission of Shaun Edwards.

For the Kiwi head coach, who fills the same role with Wales, the decision to overlook his long-standing coaching side-kick will have been particularly difficult to make. Telling Edwards will have been an even tougher exercise.

This is the man who has enjoyed so many
successes with him on behalf of Wasps and Wales – the former rugby
league icon whose blitz defence was such an integral part of two Grand
Slams, four successive Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup triumph.
This is the man who also worked alongside Gatland under the command of
Sir Ian McGeechan on the 2009 Lions tour and who came home enthused by
the whole experience, but so stung by the series defeat that making
amends in 2013 became a stated personal ambition.

Scroll down to watch former Lions reliving their favourite tour memories…

Lionhearts: (L-R) assistant coach Andy Farrell, head coach Warren Gatland, tour manager Andy Irvine, assistant coaches Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

Lionhearts: (L-R) assistant coach Andy Farrell, head coach Warren Gatland, tour manager Andy Irvine, assistant coaches Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

Lionhearts: (L-R) assistant coach Andy Farrell, head coach Warren Gatland, tour manager Andy Irvine, assistant coaches Rob Howley and Graham Rowntree

Now, for Edwards, the hope of being
part of a successful Lions campaign has been deferred, maybe forever,
certainly for four years. While Gatland is understood to be open to the
notion of adding further man-power to his management team before
departure for Hong Kong in late May, his preference is for a tight-knit
coaching group to oversee preparations to face Australia.

It would appear that the omission of
Edwards reflects a late change of heart on the part of the head coach.
Until recently, it is understood that his name was in the frame, while
Rob Howley was destined to miss out on the trip, with the sizeable
compensation of continuing to deputise for Gatland in charge of Wales,
with a view to one day succeeding him. It was thought that Howley and
Robin McBryde would lead Wales on their summer tour of Japan, while
Gatland and Edwards were away with the Lions.

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)

Left out: Edwards (above) had been hoping to embark on another Lions tour with Gatland (below left)
How they compare…

Andy Farrell for England in 2012:
P9 W6 L3 Pts Against 140
Tries against 11

Shaun Edwards for Wales in 2012: P12 W5 L7 Pts Against 229
Tries against 15

But two issues emerged to alter the
plans. First, Howley struggled to ignite the Dragons when he was at the
helm for two recent autumn Tests, against Argentina and Samoa, which
both ended in grim defeat – leaving doubts about his ability to one day
assume the figurehead role. Secondly, Andy Farrell returned to the
England coaching fold and soon started building on his sterling work at
the start of the year. While the victory over New Zealand at Twickenham
on December 1 surely came too late to influence Gatland’s thinking, it
illustrated his contribution as a defensive co-ordinator and supreme
motivator.

The up-shot has been bad news for
Edwards and the appointment of a well-balanced Lions coaching team.
Farrell will fill the role that his one-time Wigan and Great Britain
rugby league team-mate would have coveted – as defence guru, while also
having responsibility for other fundamental areas such as the kicking
game and kick-chase routine which became a staple in his time at
Saracens.

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Pointing the way: Gatland has opted to take Farrell to Australia with him

Pointing the way: Gatland has opted to take Farrell to Australia with him

FIXTURES

Click here for all the fixtures for the 2013 tour of Australia

For Howley, any future concerns about
his suitability for the Wales head coach job can be set aside in the
summer as he seizes the opportunity to once again mould the Lions into a
dangerous attacking force. It will be a reprisal of his role in 2009,
when a 2-1 series defeat against the Springboks was not down to any
absence of craft or guile or adventurous intent. McGeechan’s side played
an audacious game – perfectly illustrated by stunning tries for Rob
Kearney in the second Test and Shane Williams in the third.

Graham Rowntree will take charge of
the forwards, as an expansion of his brief from 2009, when he was scrum
coach – in keeping with his enhanced England duties since the last World
Cup. He emerged with credit from that debacle of a campaign in New
Zealand. In addition to being technically astute, the former Leicester
and Lions prop is also a popular, engaging figure, respected by players.
Like Farrell, he is a man with strong motivational qualities.

Scrum's the word: Rowntree will be responsible for coaching the pack

Scrum's the word: Rowntree will be responsible for coaching the pack

This trio will form the core, if not
the entirety, of Gatland’s management group. In time, the Kiwi may bring
other specialists on board, but this half-Welsh, half-English line-up
brings a blend of Lions experience, big-game Test pedigree and
complementary qualities. While Farrell has not been involved with the
iconic touring team before, his background with Great Britain in league
provides a useful reference point. Howley’s morale may have been knocked
of late, but with the Kiwi in charge, he can focus on his area of
expertise Down Under.

These are surely the right men. There
are few other attack coaches of note who would have come on to
Gatland’s radar. Joe Schmidt, the Kiwi in charge of European champions
Leinster, was name-checked as a candidate, but there would have been an
appetite among the Lions hierarchy to avoid having two overseas coaches
in prominent positions, even if both are based in these islands.

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Neither Scotland – who are currently
searching for a new head coach to replace Andy Robinson – nor Ireland
offer strong candidates who have been overlooked. For England, being
without two of their four front-line coaches for the summer tour of
Argentina is far from ideal, but Stuart Lancaster sees the prestige
involved in contributing to the Lions, so he will accept this as a badge
of honour.

Finally, there may be a knock-on
consequence of these appointments when it comes to the identity of the
captain. A Scot, Andy Irvine, is tour manager and Wales and England
dominate the coaching team, so what price an Irishman to lead on the
field

Last time out: Paul O'Connell led the Lions in South Africa in 2009

Last time out: Paul O'Connell led the Lions in South Africa in 2009

The coaching team

ANDY FARRELL

Born: May 30, 1975 in Wigan, England.

Tests (as player): 8 (all in 2007).

Position: Centre.

Club(s): Saracens, Wigan RL.

Coaching career: Saracens (from 2009), England (2012-).

Lions background: none.

Other: Made Great Britain rugby league debut at age of 18 and was youngest-ever captain at age of 21. Won five championships and four Challenge Cups in successful Wigan side. Former world Player of the Year in league.

Crossed codes in 2005 but missed a whole season through injury. Part of England (union) squad which reached Rugby World Cup Final 2007.

ROB HOWLEY

Born: October 13, 1970 in Bridgend, Wales.

Tests (as player): 61 (from 1996-2002).

Position: Scrum half.

Club(s): Wasps, Cardiff, Bridgend.

Coaching career: Cardiff Blues, Wales (from 2008).

Lions background: Toured South Africa in 1997, but injury ended his tour early. Toured Australia in 2001, playing in two Tests. Served as attack coach under Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009.

Other: Captained Wales 22 times in 1998 and 1999. Welsh Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997. Famously won 2004 Heineken Cup for Wasps with last-gasp try against Toulouse at Twickenham.

GRAHAM ROWNTREE

Born: April 18, 1971 in Stockton-on-Tees, England.

Tests (as player): 57 (from 1995-2006).

Position: Prop.

Club(s): Leicester.

Coaching career: Leicester, RFU national academy, England (from 2008).

Lions background: Toured South Africa in 1997, but unable to break into Test squad. Toured New Zealand in 2005 and played in two Tests. Served as scrum coach under Sir Ian McGeechan in South Africa in 2009.

Other: Part of the 2003 Grand Slam-winning England squad but overlooked for World Cup. Played 398 matches for Leicester from 1990-2007, winning two Heineken Cups and four Premiership titles.

Official ticket, travel and accommodation packages are available from Lions Rugby Travel starting from 2,199– contact www.lionstour.com or call 0844 788 4070.

Rhys Priestland out for season with achilles injury

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Heartbreak for Priestland as Wales playmaker is ruled out of Six Nations and Lions tour with snapped achilles

|

UPDATED:

15:55 GMT, 11 December 2012

Wales and Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has suffered a devastating injury blow that will rule him out for the rest of this season.

Priestland, 25, will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship after snapping his achilles tendon during the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup clash against Exeter three days ago.

Priestland, who has 22 caps, also looks set to miss out on the British and Lions’ tour of Australia next summer in the latest injury setback for Wales as they prepare to launch their Six Nations title defence.

Crocked: Priestland is treated before being stretchered off at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday

Crocked: Priestland is treated before being stretchered off at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday

Crocked: Priestland is treated before being stretchered off at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday

Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby revealed the extent of Priestland’s injury at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Wales’ recent autumn Test campaign was riddled by injuries as they lost four successive games against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

And Rob Howley, in interim coaching charge for the Six Nations campaign while Wales head coach Warren Gatland concentrates full-time on heading up Lions tour preparations, has been dealt another major setback with news of Priestland’s injury.

Prop Aaron Jarvis is already out of the Six Nations campaign, while lock Alun-Wyn Jones and flanker Dan Lydiate are set to play only limited parts, at best, while they continue their respective recoveries from shoulder and ankle trouble.

Out of form: Priestland had been struggling as Wales lost seven in a row this year

Out of form: Priestland had been struggling as Wales lost seven in a row this year

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny and centre Jamie Roberts, meanwhile, are battling for full fitness ahead of the tournament, which Wales start against Ireland in Cardiff on February 2, while wing George North (hip injury) has not played since the Samoa game almost four weeks ago.

Priestland was a driving force behind Wales’ outstanding push to reach the World Cup semi-finals in New Zealand last year, form which he carried over into last season’s Six Nations when Wales were crowned Grand Slam champions.

Although the latter half of 2012 has seen him struggle to reproduce that form, he remained a key member of the Wales team, starting three of the autumn games and going on as a substitute against Samoa.

With Priestland sidelined, Howley would appear to face a choice between Perpignan’s James Hook and Ospreys No 10 Dan Biggar for the Six Nations campaign.

Happy memories: Priestland helped Wales to Grand Slam success earlier this year

Happy memories: Priestland helped Wales to Grand Slam success earlier this year

And there was every chance that Priestland would have made the Lions tour, a dream that now appears to have been cruelly shattered.

Priestland’s injury is to his left Achilles, with the Scarlets confirming that he underwent surgery on Tuesday morning.

Easterby said: 'It’s a big blow for Rhys and for our region to lose a player of his quality and influence in our team.

'He was coming through well in the last couple of (Wales) games of the autumn, put in a strong performance against Australia and was making a real impact on our game against Exeter, so it is very difficult for him to take.

The contenders: Either James Hook (left) or Dan Biggar (right) are likely to replace Priestland

The contenders: Either James Hook (left) or Dan Biggar (right) are likely to replace Priestland

The contenders: Either James Hook (left) or Dan Biggar (right) are likely to replace Priestland

'But he will get plenty of support from here throughout the injury period.'

Scarlets medical chief Andy Walker added: 'The surgery was undertaken this morning at the Vale Hospital and has gone very well.

'It’s a difficult injury, but we have been fortunate to have had the injury assessed and repaired surgically so promptly, and by a very experienced ankle and foot specialist.

'Rhys’ surgery was performed by a new keyhole surgery technique which is non-invasive and will aid his recovery and allow him to get into rehab with our medical team at a quicker stage.

'The anticipated time off the field is around six months, but it all depends on the individual and how his rehab goes in the interim.'

Jonathan Davies slams Wales fans over Twitter abuse

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Torment by Twitter: Davies accuses fans of being quick to forget Wales' good times

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UPDATED:

23:13 GMT, 21 November 2012

Jonathan Davies has broken ranks and expressed his anger with a fickle Welsh public who are so quick to slag off the national team and bully his team-mates.

Wales face world champions New Zealand on Saturday off the back of five straight Test defeats, and instead of feeling the nation is behind the team the players have been booed at the final whistle in the first two Tests of this autumn and personally targeted on twitter.

Sam Waburton’s sister quit the social media site on the weekend as she was so upset with the anger directed at players she knows personally and Davies has clearly had enough of the abuse aimed at certain members of his side.

Talking tactics: Jonathan Davies chats with coach Robert Howley during a training session at the Vale Resort

Talking tactics: Jonathan Davies chats with coach Robert Howley during a training session at the Vale Resort

‘The national team is the pride of the nation, but you should not immediately slag it off,’ he said.

‘We have done some pretty good things in the last 12 months and some people have forgotten it quite quickly.

‘I don’t look at the criticism on
Twitter, I don’t care what those people say, they are welcome to their
opinion, but it is like bullying sometimes, I have heard it is pretty
bad.

‘All I can say to the fans is get
behind the team, support the team. We are doing everything we can to
make Wales a proud nation like it has been over last 12 months.’

Focus: Rhys Priestland has come in for criticism

Focus: Rhys Priestland has come in for criticism

When this fixture sold out before
Christmas last year, supporters were jubilant off the back of Wales’
heroics at the World Cup in New Zealand and genuinely believed they had a
shot at beating the All Blacks for the first time since 1953.

Wales went on to win the Six Nations
Grand Slam but since Warren Gatland hung up his whistle to begin
preparations for the Lions tour the form of the side has been in
free-fall.

Davies has recovered from a groin
injury to return to the midfield alongside his Grand Slam winning centre
partner Jamie Roberts. The pair will have their work cut out against
likely opponents Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.

But the one player who has been
singled out for most criticism on twitter is fly-half Rhys Priestland,
playmaker at the Scarlets and Davies’ regional team-mate and friend.

Priestland’s form has admittedly
wavered since last year’s World Cup and subsequent Grand Slam, but the
coaches have retained their faith that he is the No 10 to take the team
to the 2015 tournament. With Leigh Halfpenny taking on kicking duties,
Priestland is free to simply focus on orchestrating play and getting the
most out of Wales giant back line – at least that is the theory.

‘When Rhys plays well, Wales play
well,’ Davies said. ‘He has come in for some stick and I don’t know if
it is right or wrong but the public need to get behind him.

‘Twelve months ago people were saying
Wales could not play without him, and it is those same people slagging
him off and it is unfair, you get behind your team and support your
team. I have faith in Rhys and so does everyone else in the team.

Sister act: A member of Sam Warburton's family has quit Twitter over abuse directed at Wales players

Sister act: A member of Sam Warburton's family has quit Twitter over abuse directed at Wales players

‘Rhys is a true professional, nothing
fazes him. He won’t care about people slagging him off, but I think it
is important for the nation to get behind the team and not shoot us down
because of two bad performances after we delivered a Grand Slam not so
long ago.’

Wales will certainly need a sell-out
stadium behind them when they face the All Blacks on Saturday. Davies
believes it genuinely makes a difference.

‘When the crowd get up for it in the
Millennium Stadium it’s great, the boys love it and we need to make sure
we give them something to cheer about on Saturday.

‘We want their support and the team are looking forward to the whole occasion.

‘It has been a bad couple of weeks for Welsh rugby we know that, but we are putting it right and there is no need to panic.

‘We need to realise we have not
suddenly turned into bad players, we have just not been making the right
decisions. We are all very capable internationals and we need to make
sure we get our big runners into the game early on and impose
ourselves.’

Five things Wales must work on to improve

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Humbled Wales need to correct these five fatal flaws and save the autumn series

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UPDATED:

22:52 GMT, 11 November 2012

Eleven years to the day since Rob Howley lost to Argentina at the Millennium Stadium as a player, his side were humbled by the same margin in a pitiful 12-26 defeat.

Wales have failed to win the opening Test of their autumn campaign for 12 years, and the much-vaunted Grand Slam glory has been followed by four consecutive Test match losses (excluding one forgettable run-out against the Barbarians). So, what is going wrong

Floored: Centre Jamie Roberts is treated for concussion

Floored: Centre Jamie Roberts is treated for concussion

GET A GRIP

Argentina put Wales in a headlock and never let go. The hosts are serial slow starters and need to impose their game plan from kick-off, not let their opponents dictate play.

Fumble: Leigh Halfpenny spills a high ball under pressure from Juan Manuel Leguizamon

Fumble: Leigh Halfpenny spills a high ball under pressure from Juan Manuel Leguizamon

Full back Leigh Halfpenny fumbled an awkward ball in the first minute and it set the tone. As Argentina coach Santiago Phelan put it: ‘We took the initiative in the first 20 minutes. The intensity of the game was very high but in the Rugby Championship we learned how to play at this kind of intensity and velocity.’

That the wooden spoon collectors of the Rugby Championship should beat the Grand Slam champions of Europe tells us the north-south divide remains. Asked how the competitions compare, Pumas captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe put it simply: ‘The difference We’re playing against the first, second and third best teams in the world.’

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Prop Gethin Jenkins was brutally honest. ‘It’s back to the drawing board,’ he said.

‘We’ve got to really look at ourselves. We played into their hands by trying to play too much rugby in our own territory.’

Wales are guilty of trying too hard and thinking about the next phase without properly executing the current one.

Honest assessment: Wales' prop Gethin Jenkins did not hold back with his views after the game

Honest assessment: Wales' prop Gethin Jenkins did not hold back with his views after the game

‘Thinking Clearly Under Pressure’ was a mantra of Sir Clive Woodward’s England side and Wales need a dose of it. Losing centre Jamie Roberts so early with concussion — after a nasty clash of heads with centre Gonzalo Tiesi — left them without their go-to guy.

LIONS WATCH

Leigh Halfpenny’s kicking is as flawless as ever — and he can jump a foot higher than rivals who are a foot taller in any aerial battle — but Wales were so flat no-one enhanced his reputation. Jamie Roberts’ importance was proved in his absence. Sam Warburton must show he can pull his team together when under the cosh.

The centre provides momentum to the side, particularly off the first phase, and without him stand-in coach Howley admitted Wales were one-paced.

There was no dynamism and no precision in their play. On more than one occasion, the flying giants on the flanks had to slow down so as not to get in front of team-mates during their lethargic attacks. Wales love the word momentum, but you must pick up speed first.

FRESHNESS OVER FITNESS

For all the flogging punishment suffered at their training camp in Poland, Wales lost the second half 20-3. They looked sluggish and half a step behind, lacking their trademark zip.

Thirty training sessions in seven days is impressive, but if that doesn’t translate into physical superiority on the pitch then it is just unnecessary torture. Jenkins admitted: ‘I don’t know whether they tired us out in the final 35 minutes, but they upped the tempo and we couldn’t deal with it.’

Putting in the preparation: Jonathan Davies comes out of the cryotherapy chamber in Poland where Wales went of a training camp

Putting in the preparation: Jonathan Davies comes out of the cryotherapy chamber in Poland where Wales went of a training camp

After the final whistle, Wales headed for their cryotherapy sauna in a converted police van in the car park. Argentina had a cold shower and a crate of Bulmers delivered to their changing room.

POWER OF THREES

Wales have lost three key positions in their 3, 6 and 12. Tighthead prop Adam Jones and blindside flanker Dan Lydiate are out for the autumn, and the concussion suffered by centre Roberts will be assessed on Monday. If it is deemed severe then the new IRB regulations could see him sit out the rest of the autumn.

Telling it like it is: Shaun Edwards gave an honest assessment

Telling it like it is: Shaun Edwards gave an honest assessment

Those three positions are vital for an attacking platform — Jones at the scrum, Lydiate at the breakdown and Roberts providing the go-forward off the first phase.

Defensive coach Shaun Edwards pulled no punches afterwards: ‘It was obvious there is a disparity between our first-choice 15 and the players who have got those positions now.’ It gets worse with lock Alun Wyn Jones out for the series with a nasty shoulder injury.

LOOMING LION

Howley is an impressive figure in training — for both his intelligence as a coach and his rapport with the players — but Warren Gatland still looms in the shadows. The Lions head coach was in Dublin on Saturday watching Ireland, but is he the missing link on matchday

Intelligent: Rob Howley is an impressive man

Intelligent: Rob Howley is an impressive man

Wales needed the proverbial rocket at half-time, instead they showed no real change after the break. Gatland returns for the final two games against New Zealand and Australia and his effect on the side will be intriguing. Next up for Wales is their bogey team Samoa at their bogey time — the dreaded Friday night slot — after only a six-day turnaround.

Lose that and Wales are staring down the barrel of a winless autumn. They haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953 and are on a seven-match losing run against Australia. As hooker Richard Hibbard put it: ‘It just gets more and more physical with the hard-hitters to come.’

Rob Howley "disappointed" after Wales defeat to Argentina

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Howley smoke! Wales head coach left 'disappointed, frustrated and annoyed'

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UPDATED:

18:33 GMT, 10 November 2012

Wales interim head coach Rob Howley admitted his side had been made to look lethargic by a battle-hardened Argentina after the Pumas claimed a stunning 26-12 win at the Millennium Stadium.

The Six Nations champions had led 9-6 at the break thanks to three Leigh Halfpenny penalties, with Felipe Contepomi slotting a penalty and Nicolas Sanchez landing a drop goal for the Pumas.

Turning the screw: Juan Imhoff scores a try for Argentina

Turning the screw: Juan Imhoff scores a try for Argentina

Match facts

WALES:

Penalties: Halfpenny (7, 14, 27, 48)

ARGENTINA:

Tries: Imhoff (54), Camacho (59)

Conversions: Sanchez (54, 59)

Penalties: Contepomi (4)

Drop goals: Sanchez (9. 52)

Halfpenny extended Wales' lead with a
fourth penalty early in the second half, but a penalty and drop goal
from Sanchez, plus converted tries for wings Juan Imhoff and Gonzalo
Camacho saw the visitors secure their second win over Wales in Cardiff,
11 years to the day after their first.

The defeat puts a major dent in
Wales' hopes of securing a top-four place in the world rankings ahead of
next month's 2015 World Cup draw, but they can have no qualms after
being exposed by Argentina.

And there looks set to be further bad
news for Howley with Jamie Roberts and Alun Wyn Jones picking up
injuries that put their involvement in the rest of the autumn series in
doubt.

Feeding frenzy: Argentina's Martin Landajo releases the ball

Feeding frenzy: Argentina's Martin Landajo releases the ball

The Pumas, for their part, look to
have quickly learnt the lessons of facing the All Blacks, Australia and
South Africa during their maiden Rugby Championship campaign, and a
frustrated Howley acknowledged the visitors appear to have moved their
game to a new level.

He said: 'I am disappointed, frustrated and annoyed because we know we are a better side than that.

'We talked about it being an arm wrestle for 50 minutes and we were 12-6 ahead but we looked one-paced.

Getting his kicks: Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) scores a penalty

Getting his kicks: Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) scores a penalty

'When you play Argentina, tempo, pace
and intensity are important but there is no doubt their experience and
exposure to the Rugby Championship has taken that Argentina side to
another level.

'They played the All Blacks, South
Africa and Australia over a six-week period and they have certainly
learned from that and we were exposed to it today and we very much came
second.'

Wales' chances were not helped when a
clearly concussed Roberts was helped off after a clash of heads with
Gonzalo Tiesi, while lock Jones was withdrawn with a shoulder problem
just before the break.

Going south: George North is tackled by Argentina's Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (left)

Going south: George North is tackled by Argentina's Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (left)

Howley said: 'Jamie has a bump on the
head, it's a mild concussion to say the least. Alun Wyn has done his AC
(joint) so we will have to wait on the medical opinion for that but it
does not look good at this time and it will test our strength in depth
and these next three games are very important.'

Assistant coach Shaun Edwards pulled
no punches in his assessment of the performance, and felt Wales had
badly missed the injured trio of centre Jonathan Davies, prop Adam Jones
and flanker Dan Lydiate, as well as Roberts after he went off.

Double trouble: Manuel Carizza (third right) looks to offload under pressure from Tavis Knoyle (right) and Toby Faletau (right)

Double trouble: Manuel Carizza (third right) looks to offload under pressure from Tavis Knoyle (right) and Toby Faletau (right)

He said: 'I definitely thought the
impact from the Argentina bench was better than ours. We went into the
game with certain personnel missing and it showed quite dramatically in
the last half hour.

'Both starting centres from the Grand
Slam were missing, we had our number six and number three missing and
it showed, and we have to get the other players up to pace as quickly as
possible.

'But it was obvious there is a
disparity at the moment between our first-choice XV and the players who
have got those positions now.'

Chip 'n' chase: Martin Landajo (left) kicks past Tavis Knoyle (right)

Chip 'n' chase: Martin Landajo (left) kicks past Tavis Knoyle (right)

Wales 12 Argentina 26: Halfpenny can"t keep pace as Pumas run riot

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Wales 12 Argentina 26: Halfpenny can't keep pace as Pumas run riot

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UPDATED:

17:00 GMT, 10 November 2012

Wales' hopes of securing a top-four seeding in the 2015 World Cup nosedived after Argentina stunned them at the Millennium Stadium.

Eleven years to the day following Argentina's only previous victory over Wales in Cardiff, second-half tries from wings Juan Imhoff and Gonzalo Camacho left the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions reeling.

Turning the screw: Juan Imhoff scores a try for Argentina

Turning the screw: Juan Imhoff scores a try for Argentina

Match facts

WALES:

Penalties: Halfpenny (7, 14, 27, 48)

ARGENTINA:

Tries: Imhoff (54), Camacho (59)

Conversions: Sanchez (54, 59)

Penalties: Contepomi (4)

Drop goals: Sanchez (9. 52)

And to make matters worse, Wales also
suffered a double injury blow when centre Jamie Roberts and lock
Alun-Wyn Jones departed inside the opening 40 minutes.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked all
Wales' points, but they were outplayed by a Pumas team battle-hardened
from recent home and away appointments with New Zealand, Australia and
South Africa in the southern hemisphere's inaugural Rugby Championship.

Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez weighed in
with two drop-goals, two conversions and a penalty, while veteran centre
Felipe Contepomi kicked a penalty before he was forced off injured
after just 10 minutes. Wales' interim head coach Rob Howley – in charge
while Warren Gatland begins preparations for heading up next summer's
British and Irish Lions tour to Australia – will have been dismayed by
some of his side's lethargy.

It was Wales' fourth defeat on the
bounce, their first at home since last December and a loss that leaves
them with little chance of securing a top four ranking on which top
seeds will based prior to the World Cup draw early next month.

Feeding frenzy: Argentina's Martin Landajo releases the ball

Feeding frenzy: Argentina's Martin Landajo releases the ball

They have Samoa, New Zealand and
Australia still to come over the next three weeks, with Wales having not
beaten the All Blacks since 1953 and suffered seven successive defeats
at the Wallabies' hands.

And Wales' day was summed up three
minutes from time when substitute back-row forward Rob McCusker burst
through – but he blissfully ignored three unmarked team-mates outside
him.

Getting his kicks: Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) scores a penalty

Getting his kicks: Wales' Leigh Halfpenny (left) scores a penalty

It was the final misguided act by
Wales, with their players booed off by many in a 51,000-strong crowd.
Wales launched their autumn campaign without injured quartet Jonathan
Davies, Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate and Ryan Jones, but Roberts returned
after knee surgery in a team that also included debutant prop Aaron
Jarvis.

Contepomi and Halfpenny exchanged
penalties during a low-key opening under the stadium's closed roof, but
there was an impressive tempo to Argentina's game that suggested they
meant business. Sanchez put them 6-3 ahead with a drop-goal after 10
minutes, and there was no immediate sign of Wales getting their
much-vaunted wide attacking game into gear.

The Pumas, though, suffered an injury
blow when Contepomi was carried off after being left dazed following a
midfield collision of bodies.

Going south: George North is tackled by Argentina's Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (left)

Going south: George North is tackled by Argentina's Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (left)

He was replaced by Joaquin Tuculet as
Halfpenny landed an equalising penalty. And the game's
fiercely-punishing trend did not end there as Roberts was helped away
midway through the half.

It looked as though he had been
knocked out following a collision with Pumas centre Gonzalo Tiesi, and
it meant an early entry for Perpignan's James Hook, who won his 66th
cap.

Halfpenny then completed his penalty
hat-trick, putting Wales in front for the first time, but it was
largely unconvincing rugby from the home side.

Playing their first Test match since
June, Wales looked rusty, although Hook's arrival injected a midfield
snap as the home side looked to free wings Alex Cuthbert and George
North.

Double trouble: Manuel Carizza (third right) looks to offload under pressure from Tavis Knoyle (right) and Toby Faletau (right)

Double trouble: Manuel Carizza (third right) looks to offload under pressure from Tavis Knoyle (right) and Toby Faletau (right)

But Wales suffered another injury
blow on the stroke of half-time when lock Jones was forced off clutching
his ribs, and Wales shaded a disappointing 40 minutes 9-6 in front.

With Contepomi off, Sanchez assumed
goalkicking duties, but his opening strike bounced back off the post as
Argentina dominated territory early in the second period.

Sanchez then had another opportunity
just two minutes later, albeit from longer range, and this time he
slipped on making contact with the ball and it fell well short of the
target.

Chip 'n' chase: Martin Landajo (left) kicks past Tavis Knoyle (right)

Chip 'n' chase: Martin Landajo (left) kicks past Tavis Knoyle (right)

Argentina, though, had served notice
to Wales they did not intend slipping off the pace, and the home side
needed some inspiration, rather than perspiration.

Halfpenny's fourth successful penalty
inched Wales further in front, but Sanchez dropped his second goal to
make it a three-point game again midway through the third quarter.

Wales could establish nothing in the
way of sustained momentum, and the Pumas showed them exactly what do
with quality possession when Imhoff sprinted over for a well-worked try
that Sanchez converted.

And it got worse for Wales just six
minutes later, with Imhoff's fellow wing Camacho the beneficiary this
time, finishing superbly in the corner despite Halfpenny's tackle.

Sanchez again converted, leaving Wales in grave danger of defeat unless they could stir during the closing quarter.

But when Sanchez slotted a penalty
nine minutes from time there was no way back for Wales, who delivered
comfortably their worst performance since folding to defeat against
France in Paris 20 months ago.