Come on fans, show Edwards we need him

Mar 29 2008 by Simon Thomas, Western Mail

Today, the Western Mail launches an SOS – Save Our Shaun – campaign to keep Wales’ Grand Slam-winning coaching team intact. Envious English fans want Shaun Edwards to join their coaching set-up as Brian Ashton nears the exit door, so it’s time to make sure the Wales defence coach knows how much he’s appreciated on this side of the Severn Bridge

SO how much did you really enjoy that Grand Slam? Do you crave more success? More thrills, tries and heady days (and nights) in Cardiff and beyond? Well, what about doing something about it by joining the SOS – Save our Shaun – campaign right here in the Western Mail.

Let’s pull together and try to make sure that civil war in England doesn’t end up with Welsh rugby among the casualties.

As speculation persists that England – with Martin Johnson set to be appointed team manager – may wish to get Edwards’ expertise on board in a Twickenham coup, we want you to tell him how much the rugby league legend is loved here.

While we accept, Shaun, that England will always be an attractive prospect for a famous son of Wigan, now is not the right time for you to end your stay in Wales.

You and Warren Gatland have started an exciting ride which, hopefully, will take us all the way to success at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The players need and respond to your no-nonsense methods, the media admire your straight-talking and the fans love your style.

Everyone gives thanks that you are a winner and that you share a similar background and a passion for rugby that makes you an honorary Welshman. Would it really be as good in England?

We only need to study a couple of simple facts to realise why it’s so vitally important that Welsh rugby retains the services of Shaun Edwards.

In the 16 matches before Edwards and Gatland took up the coaching reins, Wales had conceded no fewer than 54 tries.

That’s an average of three and a half a game, which is a recipe for the kind of disaster we saw at the 2007 World Cup in France.

Yet, with Edwards putting the case for the defence, Wales leaked just two tries in five matches on the way to the Grand Slam, setting a Six Nations record in the process.

It’s been one of the most remarkable transformations seen in the game for years. Along with head coach Gatland, Edwards played a big part in establishing the intense training regime, a strict work ethic and tactical direction that has reaped such rich rewards.

So to lose him now would be a devastating blow. Encouragingly, Edwards has said he is keen to stay on with Wales, combining his part-time role here with his full-time job as head coach of Wasps.

But, with Brian Ashton’s England job very much in the balance, it is vitally important that the WRU signs Edwards on a long-term deal as soon as possible.

So chief executive Roger Lewis is to be applauded when he says he wants to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible – and he is confident of achieving that goal.

“Shaun has been very honest from the start his ambition would be one day to coach England and we respect that,” said Lewis.

“We would never get in the way of the relationships we develop with people if that is their burning ambition. But it makes perfect sense for Shaun, at this particular time, to continue working with us.

“I think we are pretty close. It’s not over until the fat lady sings, but I am confident because of the relationship that has been developed between Wales and Shaun.

“We met before the French game and talked about the future and it was Shaun who said ‘I want to stay with Wales beyond the agreement we had in place.’

“It’s a complicated arrangement legally because we have an arrangement with Shaun and then Wasps with Wales, so it has taken some time to work out the detail. It’s with the lawyers at the moment...and we want to get this resolved as quickly as possible. It is all on track.”

Meanwhile, former British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings believes Edwards should join Gatland and Ian McGeechan to lead the 2009 tour to South Africa.

McGeechan, who succeeded Gatland at Wasps in 2005, has been involved with six Lions tours – two as a player and four as a coach – including the last successful series in South Africa in 1997.

Hastings said, “You’ve got to think it sounds quite nice and sexy. It would be a very good team – I think that could work very well and I’d be surprised if any of them aren’t interested in doing it.

“Ian McGeechan is a Lions legend and all three of them have the ability to bring the best out of people and that’s a wonderful talent to have, especially when coaching the Lions when you have to harness a team in such a short period of time.”

Wales legend Gareth Edwards – a three-time Lions tourist – admitted the three-man coaching team was an enticing prospect for the Lions, though he speculated that Gatland “might very well prefer to be the number one.”

But he sounded a cautionary note, citing the example of former Wales coach Graham Henry, who led the Lions in Australia in 2001.

“Gatland might not be available,” he warned. “The Welsh Rugby Union had their fingers burnt when Graham Henry went with the British Lions – it didn’t properly work as it’s a huge commitment.

“And (former Ireland coach) Eddie O’Sullivan was odds-on favourite last year – a lot can change in 12 months.

“Wales would have a big say in the team on this year’s performance. But maybe last year, you’d only have picked half a dozen. In my experience, the Lions tour was influenced by the champion nation of that time.”