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Wales’ Display Against England Falls Short of Expectations
Following a 48-7 defeat to England in the Six Nations, Wales assistant coach Matt Sherratt revealed that the team underwent a candid post-match analysis.
Matt Sherratt, formerly the head coach at Cardiff, currently serves as an assistant coach for Wales.
Following Wales' defeat to England in the Six Nations opener, assistant coach Matt Sherratt acknowledged that the team's performance was subpar.
Steve Tandy's team is set to face France in Cardiff on Sunday, amidst a streak of 12 consecutive losses in the tournament and 22 defeats in 24 Test matches since the 2023 World Cup.
The match against England at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham saw Wales concede seven tries and receive four yellow cards, in addition to 16 penalties, highlighting the team's disciplinary issues.
After the game, Wales captain Dewi Lake expressed that the team had failed to meet expectations, while wing Josh Adams was visibly distraught.
When questioned about the acceptability of the team's performance, Sherratt responded with a straightforward "no".
He further emphasized that the team's goal is to make the nation proud, and the recent performance was disappointing for both the players and staff.
Sherratt noted that while effort was not lacking, it is insufficient at the highest level of sports, where more is required.
Wales has appointed James as the new scrum coach, replacing Jones in the position.
The team has identified areas that require improvement, with multiple issues to address.
A guide to the upcoming Six Nations match between Wales and France is available.
Sherratt described the post-match review on Tuesday as "brutally honest", which scrutinized the 48-7 loss to England.
He clarified that the review was honest, rather than brutal, and that the two-day break allowed the team to process their emotions.
By the time the team reconvened on Tuesday, players had already engaged in discussions and were aware of the issues that needed to be addressed.
Sherratt emphasized that the coaching staff does not solely dictate the team's direction, as senior players who were also affected by the loss are involved in the process.
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England secured a convincing win over Wales, who had a poor performance.
Sherratt stated that the players struggled to execute the strategies they had practiced during training on the field.
He expressed disappointment that, despite two weeks of preparation, the team was unable to translate their training into a decent performance.
This failure to deliver was, according to Sherratt, the most disappointing aspect of the match, regardless of the final score.
Despite the team's poor run of results, Sherratt remains committed to their original plan, with four Six Nations matches remaining.
He believes that constantly changing course can erode confidence in their approach, and instead, they will strive to refine their existing strategy.
Sherratt acknowledged that the team has been inconsistent in their performances, sometimes showcasing their intended style of play, as seen in matches against Argentina and New Zealand, but failing to do so in other games.
The focus now is on consistently executing their intended strategy on the field.
While the team is open to adjusting their plan to achieve a better result, they will not completely overhaul their approach.
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Questions have been raised about the identity of the Welsh team.
Under Tandy's leadership, Wales has conceded 248 points and 34 tries in five games, with no dedicated defence coach.
Tandy has taken on the dual role of head coach and defence coach, a position he previously held with Scotland and the British and Irish Lions.
Former players, including Alex Cuthbert and John Barclay, have expressed doubts about Tandy's ability to handle both responsibilities.
However, Sherratt has confirmed that the current arrangement will continue.
He defended Tandy's capabilities as a defence coach, citing his experience with the British Lions, and attributed the team's issues to multiple factors.
This weekend, Sherratt, as the attack coach, will face off against France's defence coach, Shaun Edwards, a former Wales favourite.
Sherratt has a history of working with Edwards, having collaborated with him at Wales, Cardiff, and the Ospreys, and regards him as a world-class coach.
He emphasized that the upcoming match will be a test of the Welsh players against the French defence, rather than a personal showdown between him and Edwards.
News
UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances
The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.
In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.
The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.
Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.
The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.
The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.
Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.
With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.
In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.
Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.
Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.
The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.
Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.
Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.
Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.
After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.
Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.
In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.
For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.
In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.
News
Guardiola Advocates for Cultural Embrace to Foster a Better Society
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that accepting diverse cultures will lead to a more harmonious society, in reaction to comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.
As a player, Pep Guardiola earned 47 international caps for Spain, showcasing his skills on the global stage.
Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that embracing diverse cultures is essential for creating a more harmonious society.
Guardiola was questioned about his thoughts on comments made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who stated that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking a debate.
Following criticism, Ratcliffe apologised for any offence caused, while still advocating for open discussion on the issue.
Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford, Guardiola shared his perspective, saying that people seek better lives and opportunities, which can be found in their birthplace or elsewhere.
According to Guardiola, one's birthplace is not a determining factor in their potential or aspirations.
Many individuals are forced to leave their homelands due to problems in their native countries, rather than a desire to abandon their roots.
Guardiola emphasized that by genuinely embracing other cultures, society as a whole can improve, a notion he has no doubts about.
An examination of the facts behind Jim Ratcliffe's statements on immigration and benefits is also underway.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire, has made headlines, but who is he and how did he accumulate his wealth?
Born in Santpedor, Catalonia, Spain, Guardiola has had a diverse career, playing in Spain, Italy, Qatar, and Mexico, before transitioning to management.
As a manager, the 55-year-old has had stints in Spain, Germany, and England, taking the helm at Manchester City in 2016.
Guardiola views the issue of immigration as a global problem, stating that it is a concern that affects many countries.
He believes that immigrants are often unfairly blamed for problems in their adopted countries, highlighting the fact that one's birthplace is often a matter of circumstance.
Guardiola reiterated that people from all backgrounds strive for a better life, seeking opportunities that may be available in their birth country or elsewhere.
He stressed that factors such as skin colour or birthplace should not be barriers to achieving one's goals.
For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Manchester City, please refer to our dedicated section.
Do you have any questions about Manchester City that you would like answered?
News
GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.
For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.
Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.
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