Once again, the Wales head coach’s work away from the pitch has been highlighted this week
It shouldn’t be a novelty for a head coach to be closely in touch with a player he wants to call up.
Kane James, speaking to BBC Scrum V, sounded almost surprised with how engaged Steve Tandy had been as Wales coach over the course of this season.
“I doubt there are many head coaches across the world who would come down and meet players so often,” said the Exeter back-row, having been called up by Tandy for this summer’s tour earlier this month.
Perhaps that is just because a certain level of contact had been normalised.
When Gethin Jenkins noted last year that Warren Gatland’s successor had to “be in the country putting the hours in and going around the regions and actually putting together a plan”, he was only saying what many others were thinking.
It is hardly speaking out of school to say that things have improved massively since Tandy started in his role.
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Clearly, as evidenced by James’ interview, Tandy has fostered a much better alignment than the previous regime.
Talent outside of Wales, such as James, hasn’t been lost as it might have been.
Quite simply, Wales can’t afford to lose too much in the way of dual-qualified players.
So Tandy’s proactive approach is already bearing fruit.
Meeting James, sending him clips of his game to highlight work-ons and parts where he’d impressed. All that goes a long, long way in the mind of a young player – as well as those around him, who can be just as important when it comes to making these decisions.
Wales’ alignment camps throughout the year have the same effect.
That personal touch could also help when it comes to trying to convince players to stay in Wales.
Previously, WalesOnline were told of clubs asking Gatland to do his bit in order to keep some internationals playing in Wales amid interest from over the border.
However, while the clubs did all they could in terms of offering competitive terms, Gatland wasn’t so helpful in terms of making a phone call or sending a text to do a bit of convincing.
Even in a year when Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have decided to leave Welsh rugby’s ongoing uncertainty, it’s hard to imagine Tandy didn’t do his bit to make them stay.
The key for Tandy will be maintaining this sense of alignment throughout his reign.
That’s not always as easy as it sounds. Right now, it’s still a novelty. But soon, it’ll be the norm.
It’s funny that the BBC are currently showing a drama based on Gareth Southgate’s eight years in charge of England’s national football team.
On paper, the former centre-back was a resounding success when it comes to England’s ill-fated football side.
Certainly, the first few years of his time in charge were viewed as a success – with Southgate focusing on changing the environment around the side in order to improve performances.
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Success – built upon an improved culture – began a prison of sorts for Southgate. Suddenly, having reached a World Cup semi-final and European Championship final, winning became an expectation, rather than an aspiration.
Essentially, the culture he’d tried to move away from reared its ugly head again. And when it did, it was all too ready to forget all the good work he’d done.
Even after a reaching a second European Championship final, Southgate was still largely disliked by fans.
All that to say is Tandy’s efforts now will continue to receive credit so soon after an era where, frankly, that effort was lacking.
But, once there’s an expectation, the work only intensifies.
Time in anything tends to condense things down to the main points. From being the new free-thinking spirit to becoming institutionalised.
That’s what happened with Southgate. In essence, it is what happened with Gatland over his two stints.
Improving alignment isn’t a surprise for Tandy, given where it was before he came in. Keeping it going and improving it further, that’s the true test now.
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