One tough loss and one hard fought win in the first two matches of the Autumn Series so far, the third game against Georgia is the chance for Wales to get their attacking game going.
Wayne Pivac's side have struggled to play with fluidity or create pressure and chances through phase play. This will be the objective against Georgia. Obviously, that can only happen if the pack can establish a platform in the scrum and lineout.
That’s easier said than done against Georgia, who will sell themselves completely to gaining superiority there. So, there will be little respite from the challenge for Wales’ forwards this weekend, which is why Pivac has made few changes up front.
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I think the pack will do well enough to provide decent possession that will allow the opportunity to develop their pattern. But it will be a bruising three weeks for those players asked to front up in four Test matches on the bounce.
The plan would be to get the front row off fairly quickly once the result has been secured because they face another challenge against Australia in seven days.
The biggest thing I want to see in this match is that Wales can generate pace in their game and are comfortable in executing their skills in that context.
The matches where Wales have been competitive in the last 12 months have been in those tight arm-wrestles, rather than in free-flowing encounters. The games against Argentina, the first two Tests in South Africa and our solitary victory in the Six Nations against Scotland, were very similar. Tight tactical battles, but low in attacking quality.
Wales have shown that they are tough to beat in those type of matches, but they need to be able to score tries when a game opens up.
Louis Rees-Zamitt had a fine game at full-back against Argentina. He is an exceptional talent who I feel is not in the game enough when he plays on the wing. This is something he can improve upon but playing at 15 automatically solves that problem.
His counter-attacking threat could be transformational for Wales. If there are any weaknesses in a kick chase, he has the ability to expose and punish them. These can be momentum changers and break open defences.
What he has to learn is to recognise when it’s on and when it’s not. This will only come with experience and I dare say there may be a few misjudgements along the way.
His positional skills and aerial ability will be tested more thoroughly by fly-halves like Jonathan Sexton, Marcus Smith and Finn Russell, but there is no reason to think he cannot adapt to the position.
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He could become an Israel Folau type player. A constant threat who is always in the game.
I was glad to see Jac Morgan play well and keep the shirt this weekend. He has been the form flanker in Wales, not just this season but for a year or more. I’m not sure if Pivac was taking the credit for his performance against Argentina after leaving him out of his summer tour and getting him to bulk up.
After seeing the ‘beast’ he had become, he put him straight into the side and it looks like a master move. However Morgan was the fourth person to play on the blindside in two matches, and only got in because of injury. Its would be a stretch to claim the credit for that.
Morgan took his chance superbly as he has been doing for months. He will be tested again against Georgia, but I am confident he will play well again.
So, the plan for this Saturday is fairly straightforward. Don’t concede early penalties in the first 20 minutes that allow Georgia to have territory and lineouts. Gain parity up front and play high-tempo multi-phase rugby that will enable our superior skills and speed to create tries.
I think Wales will be able to mange that, although how fluid they will be remains to be seen.
However, a week on against Australia, Wales will want to revert to an arm-wrestle; they will not want a fast tempo open game against the Wallabies because they are likely to lose that comfortably. So it’s back to kicking and defence next week.
And that’s my underlying concern. Wales will try to become a completely different type of team depending on who the opposition is. I want to see Wales identifying what their strengths are and establishing them in every game they play, no matter who the opposition is. All teams adjust their gameplan against different sides, but really good ones have an identity on the pitch.
They are anchored to a system or a philosophy that works for them and then make subtle variations depending on the opposition.
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When Pivac started with Wales, their aim was to spread the field with forwards in wide channels, get the ball into the middle of the field and then let the fly-half pick which side to attack.
Wales are now playing off nine, not ten, they attack fringes rather than get the ball wide and are kicking far more to apply pressure.
The game against Georgia is an opportunity for Wales to find out what they are good at, get into a rhythm in attack and find that brand of rugby that will suit their talents and create chances.
Wales should win comfortably on Saturday, but the biggest positive would be to find that spark with the ball in hand.
Gwyn Jones is a part of S4C’s team for highlights of Wales v Georgia, which will be shown at 8.30pm on Saturday night. Highlights of all Wales matches in the Autumn Nations Series will be shown on S4C.
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