“If you listen to the fans, you’ll end up sitting with them.”
So famously reckoned an American football team boss as his side were coming in for flak amid a series of poor results.
How difficult must it be for a coach in the digital age, where the whole world and his granny want to offer advice?
Is it possible to remain above a public clamour for this player to be dropped or that player to be included?
In the past, Warren Gatland has operated that way. Don't bank on him changing. He is someone who has a good record in selection and trusts his own judgement, whether others agree or not.
But it's an understatement to say Wales' results have been poor in this Six Nations. So where do they go for their potential wooden spoon clash with Italy in Rome on Saturday week?
Will there be more experimentation for the match against the Azzurri? How secure are those who featured in the 20-10 home defeat against England?
We take a look at the selection prospects of every Welsh player involved in the round-three clash in Cardiff.
Leigh Halfpenny
Wales’ attacking game didn’t ignite and a team that has been firing blanks can't afford to leave out a player of Liam Williams' buccaneering quality without considerable thought, but Halfpenny displayed immense bravery in taking numerous high balls with white-shirted players seemingly keen to rattle every bone in his body.
Commenting on Freddie Steward, Gatland said: “I think he was good in the air. I thought, apart from a couple, Leigh Halfpenny did a good job too.”
It would be a surprise, then, if Halfpenny lost his place.
Josh Adams
There was a lot more wrong with Wales’ performance against England than Adams’ effort. Even so, the wing hasn’t been at his best in this Six Nations. Liam Williams and Rio Dyer are waiting in reserve, maybe Alex Cuthbert and George North as well, depending on how Gatland views North.
Adams may be vulnerable.
Mason Grady
Did more right than wrong on his debut, providing cause for quiet encouragement. The odds are he’ll stay in the mix all the way through to the World Cup and beyond. In the short term, it’s not inconceivable that North will figure at 13 in Italy or perhaps Nick Tompkins, who impressed off the bench.
Joe Hawkins
Gatland went out of his way to talk up Hawkins at his post-match press conference, with the youngster having shown further evidence of development at this level. He’s likely to hold his spot unless the coach feels the need to give him a weekend off and try either Tompkins at 12 or the unused Keiran Williams.
But too much tinkering in selection can cause problems. Gatland will not need telling as much. You can read about the making of Joe Hawkins here and the video that so impressed his mates.
Louis Rees-Zammit
Not perfect on his Test return, but good enough. If Wales could send more ball his way, they’d score more tries.
Why would he not play in Rome?
Owen Williams
Had been good for the Ospreys at regional level, but he found it hard to put a true stamp on the game against England in his first Test start at fly-half. One game reveals only so much, of course, but the odds are on a change at No. 10.
Tomos Williams
Wales’ kicking game has been widely panned and against England it was their No. 9 who did most of the kicking. We will assume he was playing to orders, so he has a chance of surviving in selection, but the widespread perception was that it wasn’t Williams’ finest hour.
Rhys Webb would have felt confident about his chances had he been standing at Rorke’s Drift on his own with 4,000 of the other side bearing down on him. Maybe such self-belief wouldn’t hurt Wales right now.
Gareth Thomas
Hard to know what’s going on in selection here. But Thomas did OK against England. He isn’t going to be confused with Ellis Genge with ball in hand any time soon — not many props are — but, still he was solid enough in the scrums and sighted more than once taking play forward.
You’d imagine he’d hold the shirt.
Ken Owens
The game against Italy is one where Wales have sometimes opted to mix it up in selection. But they came badly unstuck on that beat last year and the Azzurri are an improving force. The captain will likely go again, then.
Tomas Francis
He does the basics of scrum and defence proficiently without having too many cards to play in other areas. Unless Gatland wants more from his props around the field, Francis will keep his place.
Adam Beard
He actually made more ground with ball in hand than any starting lock on Saturday and also banged in 14 tackles and achieved a turnover, but there’s a perception he’s not a force as a carrier. Still, the likelihood is he’ll retain the No. 4 position, although young Dafydd Jenkins is pushing hard.
Alun Wyn Jones
Rumours of his demise are exaggerated. A lineout steal, some thumping hits on the gainline and a couple of turnovers suggest the old warrior still has plenty of fight in him. Wales are evidently managing their former captain these days, so selection can be a lottery for him, but if they field their strongest side he’ll be in it.
Christ Tshiunza
Again, the six and seven positions remain a shade unsettled. Tshiunza is undoubtedly a player for the future, but whether he figures against Italy will depend on how the coaches viewed the breakdown battle against England. Potentially, Jac Morgan could come back into the mix somewhere.
Justin Tipuric
Led the Welsh defensive effort, achieved an important turnover and made 30-metres plus with ball in hand, but the memories are of England repulsing two home attacks with last-ditch possession steals.
Gatland is searching for a back-row balance and Tipuric and the other opensides in the mix need complimentary players around them.
The selectors will need to weigh up how much there is to gain from further tinkering at seven, but it can’t be ruled out.
Tommy Reffell is standing by.
Taulupe Faletau
He’s Wales’ best player, so he’s in if it’s a full-strength selection.
REPLACEMENTS
Bradley Roberts
A dart went astray, a turn of events every Welsh hooker has encountered in this campaign. There won’t be a lot in it for the bench spot between him and Scott Baldwin.
Rhys Carre
He adds a lot of power with ball in hand and the role of impact sub seems made for him, even if he misses the odd tackle.
Dillon Lewis
He’s another one who seems designed for the job of figuring off the bench and trying to exert telling influence as others tire. Tom Francis is a stronger scrummager, so Lewis may be confined to the replacements again.
Dafydd Jenkins
Like his mate Tshiunza, he’s a player for the future — indeed, at 20 years of age he’s doing incredibly well to be playing Test rugby in the second row. It’s not wildly out of the question that he’ll start in Italy, but Wales are looking to avoid a wooden spoon and experience could be deemed important.
Tommy Reffell
The openside made an impact against England with some determined carrying and defending. He has yet to achieve a turnover in this tournament but invariably slows ball down. The selection at seven will be interesting, with Jac Morgan and incumbent Justin Tipuric quality players.
Kieran Hardy
He sought to up the tempo after the earlier kicking fest and so will rate a mention in the deliberations at scrum-half.
Dan Biggar
Rhys Patchell could be an option but Biggar’s experience will likely win the day.
Nick Tompkins
Made a difference after coming on against England. Room will probably be found as a starter for him.
It should be.
READ MORE: Wales legend calls for Gatland to make two key changes for Six Nations clash with Italy
Warren Gatland Q&A: We are getting better but we just hurt ourselves
The reasons Wales lost to England amid kicking mess and lack of power
