In the British and Irish Lions’ team hotel in Melbourne last July, just days before Jac Morgan would make his Test debut for the tourists, Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney was explaining why Steve Tandy had been chosen as the man to replace Warren Gatland.
Pointing to the interview process, Tierney was quick to highlight the strengths that had landed the former Ospreys back-row the job. Being “an inspirational leader” was one key factor, as was being “a collaborator”.
However, it was hard to escape – given the noises in the months before – the fact that “he builds alignment in teams” was the crucial one.
Tierney, driven by data, had long pointed to numbers about the lack of existing combinations in the Wales set-up throughout the 18-Test losing run. Growing those bonds not only quickly, but efficiently, was a major focus, as a result.
The governing body were aware of the relationship – or the lack of one – between the professional clubs and the national team’s coaching set-up.
Tandy’s job was to bridge that, while forging greater alignment.
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“I think it needs to certainly be greater than we’ve had previously, particularly greater between the national team and the clubs,” said Tierney last July. “Steve’s got ideas about how he would make that work and how he would bring the academies into that as well as the clubs.”
As sport becomes inundated with business lexicon and buzzwords, it’s easy to be cynical about the constant mentioning of alignment.
Certainly, there are no prizes for talking the talk. But, as Wales’ players start to filter into camp for Tandy’s third campaign, there’s the sense that he has already delivered in a practical sense one year into the job.
Anecdotally, those around the regions would tell you – even though Wales spent the last year with only three permanent members of staff in their coaching ticket – that the national team were much more visible than before when it came to attending training sessions.
Of course, some might argue that improving that facet was the easy bit. Last year, Gethin Jenkins was particularly vocal about the need for a Welsh coach to show their face at the clubs.
Wrangling player release for alignment camps before and after the Six Nations is a little trickier – but that’s what Tandy has managed to do this year.
The first took place in early January, with the second happening in late April.
Neither are considered formal call-ups, with a number of Welsh-based players invited to Wales’ Vale Resort HQ to attend.
On both occasions, around 50 players were present – with the camps led by Tandy, Matt Sherratt and Danny Wilson.
Larger than any normal Wales squad, the net is naturally cast a little wider.
“That’s the beauty of being in Wales,” said Tandy after naming his summer squad last month. “People can get here quite quickly.
“We’re not just handing it out. But that’s the point of it.
“The more you start to get to know someone, then if they maybe take two things away or feel they can ask a question or look for support. Then we can help, whether that’s them or help the regions, being more collaborative in the whole environment.”
Bringing in uncapped players or players not called up in recent squads allows Tandy to keep them up to date on Wales’ plans, paving the way for a smoother transition should they get a call-up.
Both of the alignment camps to date have been purely classroom-based, with the sessions fairly flexible in nature. For example, all 50-odd players won’t necessarily take part in every session across the two days.
There’s no actual rugby training, with it instead being about reviewing recent camps and getting familiar with the game model – all in order to accelerate growth when the actual official camps begin.
“It’s just connecting,” added Tandy. “Some of it, you can review how you hit the ground running.
“You can talk a bit more about the games and the connection bits. There’s a classroom, it’s all desk-based.
“Whether it’s learning about our conditioning linked to the Six Nations, it could be updating nutritional things.
“It could be robustness – how you keep yourself out of injuries in between campaigns. It’s about connection and how we feel we can add value and growth to the individuals.”
They have also had guest speakers in, while there are presentations.
Prior to the Six Nations, former Wales captain Sam Warburton came in for the alignment camp in January to speak about leadership on and off the pitch, including dealing with officials. There was also a presentation from the WRU’s match referees’ department.
Beyond the two alignment camps, there have been smaller-scale examples of Tandy bringing things together.
Throughout the season, smaller groups of players have come in to work with the national team coaches – the most regular being hookers doing throwing work with Wilson.
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The most recent evening saw around six Welsh-based hookers meet up with Wilson for the practical session on a Monday evening late in the season, with the likes of Liam Belcher, Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee all present.
There had been talk of the WRU considering bringing in a specific coach to work with hookers on their throwing, but that has gone quiet recently.
However, with Dan Lydiate having joined Tandy’s coaching staff on a full-time basis, and three other coaching jobs set to be filled in the coming weeks, there’s likely to be scope for more specific working groups.
Lydiate will look after defensive contact skills – working on the technical elements of tackles and post-contact. The WRU says his role will see him “operate across the men’s game outside international campaign windows to continue developing players”.
It will be a similar story for the new scrum, kicking and attacking skills coaches.
Tandy alluded to the fact when naming his squad that playing outside of Wales does put you at a disadvantage in terms of player release for alignment camps.
However, that hasn’t stopped the Wales coach from getting the message to those plying their trade over the border in other ways.
Recently, two of Wales’ newest call-ups both sang Tandy’s praises about how active he had been over the course of the last year.
Exeter’s Kane James, who had played for England U20s, recently said he had been impressed by Tandy coming to meet him on numerous occasions throughout the season in order to convince him to pull on the red jersey.
Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley told WalesOnline this week that the former Scotland assistant had been sending the 23-year-old clips of his defence – highlighting what he was doing well and suggesting work-ons.
It all suggests that, even with the rather fractured nature of players arriving into camp at different stages in the coming weeks, Wales won’t be setting off from a standing start thanks to Tandy’s efforts over the last 12 months.
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