Tandy's Wales In-tray As He Takes On Top Job

So Wales yet person their man.

Steve Tandy has been installed arsenic nan caller imperishable men's caput coach much than 5 months aft nan departure of Warren Gatland.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) had to get Tandy released from his statement pinch Scotland, wherever he was defence coach.

Tandy has been fixed a three-year woody and nan media will perceive from nan man himself successful early August earlier he officially starts activity connected 1 September.

He is taking connected a immense task arsenic he originates a occupation WRU main executive Abi Tierney says he felt he was "destined" for.

As Tandy returns to a Welsh rugby strategy successful crisis, BBC Sport examines what will beryllium successful his in-tray.

One of nan the first things Tandy must do is combine his backroom staff.

WRU head of rugby and elite capacity Dave Reddin says that will not beryllium solely Tandy's responsibility, and will alternatively beryllium much a collaborative effort betwixt nan 2 of them.

Cardiff leader Matt Sheratt was nan interim caput coach betwixt Gatland and Tandy.

Danny Wilson, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny were Sherratt's lieutenants successful Japan aft Gatland's aged backroom unit of Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Rob Howley, Alex King and Neil Jenkins were stood down.

Sherratt has been identified arsenic a imaginable onslaught master wrong Tandy's set-up while nan WRU was impressed pinch nan different coaches, though nan mostly of them are contracted to clubs.

Wilson and Jones are caput coach and scrum coach astatine Harlequins respectively, Gethin Jenkins is successful nan Cardiff set-up, while Thomas is progressive astatine Gloucester.

Reddin acknowledged location mightiness request to beryllium immoderate interim appointments for nan autumn bid arsenic nan WRU negotiates to get nan group it wants.

He stressed long-term, though, being progressive pinch nan men's set-up was not a part-time position.

"Working pinch nan Wales nationalist squad is simply a full-time job," said Reddin.

"No-one is coming present for a remainder from nine rugby. This is full-on. That's nan only measurement we're going to thrust occurrence moving forward."

Wales person turned to Tandy to apprehension a descent that has seen them decorativeness bottommost of nan past 2 Six Nations Championships and plummet down nan world rankings to 12th.

Tandy will look a baptism of occurrence successful his opening campaign, pinch his first lucifer against Argentina connected 9 November and further games against Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa.

They will beryllium nan last matches earlier nan tie for nan 2027 World Cup is made successful December.

Tandy and Wales will cognize they will astatine slightest request to enactment successful that apical 12 of nan rankings to guarantee a much favourable draw.

"I don't want to get hung up astir results successful nan autumn, but it's going to beryllium a superb benchmark for america arsenic Steve starts his reign," said Reddin.

"That will springiness america a clear denotation of wherever we are arsenic we commencement to scheme for nan 2027 World Cup and beyond."

Tandy will not beryllium weighed down, astatine least, by Wales' grounds 18-match losing Test run, which was halted by triumph complete Japan successful Kobe this month.

One of nan reasons Tandy has been chosen - alternatively than a proven nationalist caput coach pinch erstwhile acquisition - is his knowing of nan Welsh game.

Tandy spent six years pinch Ospreys earlier leaving Welsh rugby successful 2018 to return roles pinch nan Waratahs, Scotland and nan British and Irish Lions.

He knows nan master set-up and is expected to person a much unified attack than Gatland.

"Collaboration is simply a value Steve has," said Reddin.

"That's thing we want to embody crossed nan full strategy because it should beryllium a basal competitory advantage for Wales."

Tandy will recognise nan home business has deteriorated quickly since he left.

The WRU is considering halving nan number of teams successful Wales successful nan men's master crippled aft admitting nan existent backing exemplary is unsustainable.

The governing assemblage announced successful May it would move distant from nan model of 4 evenly-funded clubs aft Ospreys and Scarlets did not motion up to its caller Professional Rugby Agreement.

Now nan national has announced it will participate into general consultation pinch Wales' 4 location clubs and different cardinal stakeholders that will lead to a home restructure by nan 2027-28 season, pinch a determination connected nan scheme expected by this October.

That could mean less teams and occupation losses, meaning Tandy will person to woody pinch nan uncertainty his players look erstwhile he brings them together.

Scotland caput coach Gregor Townsend was disappointed to suffer Tandy, whose assignment has divided sentiment connected societal media.

Views scope from group being underwhelmed to others saying he is nan correct man astatine nan correct time.

Tandy, 45, knows Welsh rugby ever provokes statement and nan erstwhile no-nonsense flanker will request a heavy tegument to woody pinch nan role.

Some person gone arsenic acold arsenic to propose this is an intolerable job. Reddin disagrees.

"From my perspective, I don't deliberation it's intolerable astatine all," said Reddin.

"Are Wales going to beryllium consistently classed arsenic nan number 1 squad successful nan world for nan adjacent 10 years? No, I don't deliberation so.

"But tin we beryllium a genuine, top-five federation who are perpetually competing for Six Nations titles, tin of mixing it pinch nan champion successful nan world? 100%. Otherwise, I wouldn't beryllium here."

Tandy will person to triumph complete nan doubters and nan only measurement to do that, successful nan long-term, will beryllium by delivering results.

Given nan dire business Tandy is inheriting, that will beryllium nan eventual test, with erstwhile Wales skipper Jonathan Davies saying he needs time.

Reddin says he hopes to supply Tandy pinch nan devices to succeed.

"I don't deliberation anybody gets inspired by a squad that says, 'well, we're going to stone up and do our best'," said Reddin.

"Especially a passionate rugby federation for illustration Wales, we've sewage to beryllium much eager than that. Passion connected its ain is not enough, it's useless.

"You've sewage to get each nan different bits correct arsenic well. If you've sewage those bits right, nan passion tin transportation you location special."

Welsh rugby will dream Tandy will beryllium nan man to present connected specified bold sentiments.