Wales v Canada: Wales, according to a World Cup giveaway here, "is a once great rugby nation which is one step away from the knackery". That was an uncharacteristically charitable assessment given Wales' dismal record over the past 15 years, and the fact they cannot take victory for granted against Canada, ranked 16th in the world, at the Telstra Dome tomorrow says everything about their decline.
Wales are well used to the knackery and allusions have been made to Steptoe and Son after it was revealed the economic strait-jacket imposed on the Welsh Rugby Union had seen the squad billeted in self-catering apartments in Canberra with each player having a daily subsistence allowance of £16 to buy his food.
Coach Steve Hansen has had only six victories in his 21 matches in charge - only one of which, against Scotland six weeks ago, came against a major team. Hansen took over from fellow New Zealander Graham Henry in February last year following a series of morale-sapping defeats and was prepared to accept short-term pain as he planned for long-term gain by stripping the squad of players who had become inured to defeat, replacing them with youth. Only two of tomorrow's side, Colin Charvis and Gareth Thomas, started the opening match of the last World Cup.
"I did not have the World Cup on my mind when I took over," said Hansen yesterday, "so much as creating a foundation which would allow a good rugby side to emerge. I am going back to New Zealand next year because I have to put my family before rugby, but I would like to be able to stay on because this group of players has the potential to compete with the best in the world."
Wales have not been part of the elite since the 1970s and the years of cumulative failure, together with their financial problems, forced them to dismantle their elite club system this season and replace it with regional sides.
"Things are still not picture-perfect," said Hansen. "Even if we take a couple of strides forward, we do not necessarily make progress because the best sides in the world are not standing still, but you can only concentrate on your own game. I think we are in better shape than when I took over and the World Cup will show whether that is the case."
Hansen has chosen an attacking line-up against Canada who, for all their industry up front, lack pace behind. Ceri Sweeney has been preferred to Stephen Jones at outhalf and Iestyn Harris, who has been linked with a return to rugby league in the new year after receiving an offer from Bradford Bulls, is at inside-centre. Harris said yesterday he intended to see out the 18 months on his contract with the Cardiff Blues, but with the WRU paying half his £200,000 salary and looking at ways of saving money, the Bulls are unlikely to hear 'no' as the real answer.
Before Wales left for Australia, Harris refused to say what he would be doing when the tournament ended. He said. "The reason I joined Cardiff two years ago was to play in the World Cup and I am about to realise that ambition."
At times the 27-year-old has cut a lonely figure since his conversion from league. As he has gained in confidence, and Wales have benefited by the relative consistency of Hansen's selection, so Harris has become a more pivotal player. He has been moved from outhalf to inside-centre to better utilise his playmaking skills. "I now regard myself as a union player," said Harris. "In the early days, I thought and reacted like a league player and the only way you were going to learn was through experience. I went through some tough times, but I never regretted my decision to change codes."
Wales may have a poor record under Hansen but they are a better side than their results suggest. They should not just defeat Canada but pick up a bonus point.
The former Wales captain Jonathan Davies is one of Hansen's many critics, believing the side has become formulaic and unable to react in broken play, but that is less a reflection of the national coach than the game in the principality, where for too long players have not been encouraged to think for themselves. Hansen may not be part of the future but he will leave his imprint on it.
WALES: K Morgan; M Jones, S Parker, I Harris, G Thomas; C Sweeney, G Cooper; Duncan Jones, R McBride, G Jenkins, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, Daffyd Jones, M Williams, C Charvis (captain) Replacements: H Bennett, A Jones, R Sidoli, J Thomas, D Peel, M Taylor, R Williams.
CANADA: J Pritchard; D Lougheed, J Cannon, M Di Girolamo, W Stanley; B Ross, M Williams; R Snow, M Lawson, J Thiel, C Yukes, M James, A Charron (captain), A van Staveren, J Jackson. Replacements: A Abrams, K Tkachuk, G Cooke, J Cudmore, R Banks, E Fairhurst, R Smith.
