00:00Now, Matt Sherratt is to return as the interim head coach of the Wales national men's rugby team for their tour in Japan.
00:11There had been a lot of speculation as to who would become the next permanent head coach of the Wales team,
00:16but we are yet to find a successor to Warren Garland.
00:18And so Matt Sherratt, once again, standing in following his standing period during the Six Nations.
00:24So it's an interesting one because, of course, Wales on this horrid losing streak of games
00:31and they'll look at this Japan tour as an opportunity probably to get some wins on the board and just end the torrid streak of defeats.
00:39And yet it's also a bit of a banana skin as well because Japan these days is a rugby mad country
00:45and they'll have a lot of tough tests with the Welsh team, depending on what teams they put out as well to play in the games that they have on tour.
00:52So from Matt Sherratt's point of view, he has to navigate this as best he possibly can.
00:58This is not to say he wants the job on a permanent basis, but just for the pride of the Welsh national team,
01:02they need to get through this as best as they can without suffering too many defeats
01:07and adding to their long list of recent losses in international rugby.
01:13So let's go now to our Wales sports correspondent, Charles Higg-Jones.
01:16Charles, firstly, what can Matt Sherratt do just to have damage limitation on this tour and make sure that it is a success
01:25and that Wales aren't embarrassed once again as they were in the Six Nations?
01:29But also, what will he be thinking in terms of the head coach role?
01:33Does he still not want it, want it perhaps even?
01:36And if he doesn't, who should Wales be looking for?
01:39Because, of course, it's been a little while now since the Six Nations and Warrangat and left.
01:42So Wales do need to get a bit of a hurry up in terms of starting the foundations for a new era.
01:49Yeah, obviously, the Welsh rugby union faces a pivotal opportunity during their two-test tour of Japan in July.
01:57Now, obviously, in usual circumstances, these two tests, these sort of tours would be crucial to sort of look at new talents,
02:06look at young players, bring them through, give them some real good experience travelling with the nation's side.
02:12However, due to the incredibly challenging period they're in with the 17 consecutive test defeats,
02:19a drop to 12th in the world rugby rankings, it's very, very different.
02:23Now, obviously, it coincides with the British-Irish Lions tour, with only two Welsh players have been selected for that.
02:29So that's obviously the lowest selection of Welsh players for that tour, post-war era.
02:38So, you know, almost 80 years or so, unbelievable in terms of that.
02:44You know, it just becomes a massive, massive tour, something that the Welsh rugby probably didn't really want it to be.
02:50But it's another chance to sort of go there and breathe a bit of life into the future of Welsh rugby now.
02:57You know, it's no secret they had long-term plans, long-term ambitions to get the nation back to the very, very top.
03:04You know, applying that is becoming what is the real challenge.
03:07Firstly, you know, you've got to look at the managerial situation, you know, departure of Warren Gatland,
03:14terrible Six Nations campaign, terrible form leading up to it, obviously the terrible record with the test losses as well.
03:21So he went, Matt Sherrick came in, and obviously a massive task for any manager interim charge to finish off the Six Nations campaign.
03:29And yes, while the main challenges were off the pitch in terms of instilling a bit of belief into the group,
03:35a bit of, you know, understanding and sort of getting them all together, getting them on the same page again,
03:40and a bit of togetherness, Matt Sherrick did that well.
03:43But there's no denying also that they suffered their biggest ever loss in the Six Nations to their rivals England.
03:49So that was obviously a real negative side of it as well.
03:54So Matt Sherrick is likely to be taking interim charge again.
03:59He, you know, turned down the sort of going permanent with the head coach role.
04:04I think that is understandable for Sherrick.
04:06He's doing a great job at Cardiff rugby, and the foundation he has there is very, very strong.
04:11You know, any sort of stride to get them anywhere near back to their very best
04:17or back to sort of a confident Welsh rugby nation would be a positive that they can take.
04:23But they cannot afford to leave Japan having, you know, really continued this downward trajectory.
04:31So, yeah, it is going to be tough.
04:33It's going to be a bit of a slog at times.
04:36But I think with the right sort of approach towards it, it could go positively.
04:41So, yeah.
04:42So, yeah.
04:42So, yeah.
04:42You
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