Williams column: Expect a reaction from Wales after Rob Howley’s departure

THIS Welsh squad keep being put through the mill off the field. It really is far from ideal as they prepare for the biggest tournament of their lives.

During the Six Nations the team’s preparations for the crucial trip to Scotland were thrown into chaos by that talk of a proposed merger between the Ospreys and the Scarlets so at one stage the players were going into a huge game not knowing where their domestic future lay.

Now another storm has blown up  with coach Rob Howley sent home from Japan for alleged breaches of our game’s betting laws. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. I was completely shocked.

At this stage it is difficult to be able to say a great deal on the situation surrounding Rob because as things stand he is under investigation. When things like this happen there tends to be no smoke without fire, but until we know exactly what has gone on Wales have to put it to the back of their mind.

What I will say on Rob is that I hope he is OK. Whatever has happened in this situation, he is one of the proudest Welshmen on this planet. He’s had criticism in his role as attack coach, but he has been a devoted rugby servant to his country as a player and in management for more than 20 years.

You cannot argue with that.

I am very friendly with Rob. I haven’t spoken to him as I didn’t feel I should bother him when he is with his family, but I want it to be known that he has my full support.

I know that he will feel absolutely awful about what has happened on the eve of the biggest tournament in the world. Given the two years Wales have had going into the World Cup and all the preparation they have done, it is a headache head coach Warren Gatland could have definitely done without.

Rob will know that more than anyone which is why I hope his family and friends have gathered around him back in Wales. I know the Welsh Rugby Union are supporting him too. That’s very important.

I arrived in Japan for the World Cup last week and the news on Rob came out almost straight away. The fact WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips and Warren did a joint press conference to respond to Rob’s departure didn’t paint things in a good light for me.

If this was not a serious situation I don’t think Martyn would have appeared.

Welsh rugby always seems to find a way to shoot itself in the foot, but like the merger that never happened, I expect the team to bounce back in their first World Cup game with Georgia.

If you remember that Scotland match from the Six Nations, Wales had a superb first half and scored some nice tries from Josh Adams and Jonathan Davies. In the second half Scotland went hell for leather at them only to run into one of the great Welsh rearguard performances. Wales tackled their hearts out and refused to give in after a troublesome week. They showed grit and determination forged after a week of scandal.

It will be absolutely no surprise to me if the same happens against Georgia and then again in the meeting with Australia. I know the players are desperate to get out and play. There will be no excuses.

If Wales inch past Georgia it would be easy for the squad to come out and say they were distracted by the news on Rob. That won’t happen. The likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Jonathan drive far too high a standard to start passing blame.

Georgia – of course – will be a different challenge to the Scotland match despite the similar pre-game distractions. I expect Wales to win comfortably. A backlash is on the way.

Warren has named a strong side and I like the look of it. We all know the Georgian strength is their set-piece. They will scrummage for their lives, never back down in the tight, and will look to implement a mauling strategy to gain their yards up front and win penalties.

When Georgia arrived in Cardiff in 2017 against a second string Welsh side they did exactly that and came close to a famous win. I can’t see a repeat of that and the word I’ve had is since Rob’s departure Wales’ training has gone through the roof. There is an edge about this team now.

I like the look of the side for Georgia. Wyn Jones is a very strong scrum operator as we know and that’s why he’s got the nod at loosehead. He’ll have a big challenge on his hands against the Georgian pack, but I’ve no doubt he will do OK. Aaron Wainwright is another one.

He’s come from nowhere. I thought he was excellent in the warm-up games despite Wales’ poor results and he could be very well suited for the Georgia match. Wainwright tackles himself stupid in every single match he plays. He puts his body on the line time and time again.

A disregard for your own welfare is the attitude you need against the big Eastern Europeans and he has that in abundance. Don’t confuse Wainwright for a one trick pony though. I think he has the all round game to be a real superstar and Robin McBryde said this week he can be better than Sam Warburton. Time will tell and they key thing is to not put pressure on Aaron. What I will say though is that Wales have a history of young players making big impacts at World Cups. When we reached the semi-finals in 2011 I don’t think anyone outside our camp expected guys like Sam, Jonathan, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Lydiate to have the impact they did. All four had sensational tournaments!

Aaron could have a similar impact. He has a remarkable engine and that will serve him well in Japan and the conditions Wales will experience.

I think Wales will be able to run riot in the final quarter when the humidity and temperature hits Georgia. The game in Toyota is a night match so the conditions won’t be sweltering.

Still, there is no doubt in my mind Georgia will tire and that is when Wales must cut loose. The back line looks very, very dangerous and if they get plenty of ball I can see lots of tries scored.

For the backs it’s not been ideal to lose Rob, but with Stephen Jones coming in not much will have changed. I played with Stephen for so long with both Wales and the Lions and know him inside out.

He won’t – and can’t – change too much from what Rob has done with the attack. I know guys like Dan Biggar and Jonathan have stepped up in that area and they are top blokes and top leaders.

I’m still really excited about what this Wales team can achieve despite losing Rob. If there is one thing this team does it is to thrive in adversity.

Watch out Georgia, an angry Wales team is coming for you!

Shane Williams