Which all leads to an obvious conclusion.
Looking in from the outside and reading Gatland's observations over the years he believed that the standard of coaching in the Welsh regions, the fitness levels in the Welsh regions, the basic skills in the Welsh regions and therefore the standard of rugby played in the Welsh regions were not adequate preparation for international rugby. Accordingly he worked on all these things when he got the international squad together. That did not leave time for more than a basic game plan. And the most basic game plan involves sound defence and letting the opposition have the ball with which to make mistakes. And it worked against northern hemisphere teams. It didn't work so well against southern hemisphere teams with Wales. But it did with the Lions.
Pivac has come along and tried to be more ambitious at a time, judging by the results, when the Welsh regions have gone backwards from even the low point at which they stood. He does not have the relevant experience to know what works at international level. And he is failing. Wales didn't really give Ireland a game yesterday.
Would Gatland return to Wales after the next Lions tour? That depends on whether he has given up his life's ambition to coach the ABs. But is there anyone at the WRU with the wit to ask him?
I said elsewhere, and support your comments, that Gatland focussed on the national side and ignored (or more likely wasn't allowed to influence) the regions.
This stems back to the set up of the regions in the 90s. The WRU wouldn't stand up to the clubs.
The big clubs didn't like the idea of the regions and wanted to maintain their identities. Cardiff were supposed to join up with Pontypridd but wouldn't. Similarly Llanelli wouldn't join forces with Swansea.
They wanted to retain their names, hence Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets. Even Newport, Swansea and Neath wanted their names in the regional titles. The Newport Gwent Dragons alienated the steel sides like Ebbw Vale and Tredegar so there was never unity.
The only region that ebraced the concept was the Celtic Warriors established from Pontypridd and Bridgend. Unfortunately they couldnt compete with the old boys network and were forced out, despite their successes.
This club over region mentality has pervaded the Union.
In my view, the WRU missed a trick in the early days and its too late to go back.
To cover the population and player catchment, they should have established 4 regions from the outset. West Wales (swansea, llanelli, neath, maesteg catchments), east wales (cardiff, newport, bridgend, ebbw vale, tredegar), midwales, taking in brecon and establish a region in north wales.
They had the money and the wherewithal and they cow towed to the club ties.
All history now, but they missed a great opportunity.
The clubs will never come together now so the WRU will never establish a framework comparable to NZ, Ireland and Argentina.
The old boys network has a lot to answer for. I hope they're proud of their achievements.
Gatland achieved success despite the regions, not because of them.
Hey ho.
