Perhaps Wayne Pivac cracked a mirror, opened an umbrella indoors or walked under one ladder too many.
Whatever it was, he seems to be beset by bad luck heading into the Six Nations.
He’s estimated that he’s without 680 caps worth of experience because of injuries.
When selection preferences are also factored into the equation, and Lions Tests are included as well, the number actually soars to 928 caps - 896 for Wales, a further 32 for the best of British and Irish rugby.
That's an awful lot of experience - and talent - Wales are without.
READ MORE: McGeechan predicts Wales' Six Nations fate
Here’s the formidable Wales XV that won’t be seen in the tournament opener against Ireland.
15. Leigh Halfpenny (100 caps)
Injury has stalled his career within sight of 100 caps for Wales, he stands on 96, and it’s touch and go whether he’ll see any involvement at all this season. Has already made the magic international century mark if you include his four Tests for the Lions.
But don’t assume that’s it for him as a Test player.
With his determination and famed professionalism, allied to a skill set that every coach in the game would value, Welsh rugby's little big man still has a chance of adding to his haul of Wales appearances.
14. Owen Lane (5 caps)
He appeared to be on course for a place in Wales’ squad with a two-try performance for Cardiff against Harlequins last time out, but the selectors went for Alex Cuthbert’s experience instead.
Potentially, they could feel the Cardiff player’s defence needs some attention.
But when he has the ball, the self-styled Lane train can be ferociously difficult to stop.
13. George North (105 caps)
He has more than a century of caps, 102 for Wales and three for the Lions, and when he’s at it he can pose problems for any defence in world rugby.
There’s no precise date on his comeback from a knee ligament injury, but the possibility has been floated that he might play a part later in the Six Nations.
We’ll see.
It’s been a major bump and North needs time to not just return but also move back up the gears.
12. Scott Williams (58 caps)
The teak-hard west Walian has been in form since his return from injury, anchoring the Scarlets’ backline and displaying the range of skills for which he is renowned, with accurate passing, strong running and resolute defence. Four months into the season, he is still the only regional player to have bagged two man-of-the-match awards in the 2021-22 campaign.
But he was subbed early in the second half against Bordeaux last weekend.
After all the bumps he has had over the past two years, would international rugby with all its intense demands be too much to ask of him at this stage?
But Williams has performed as consistently as any other Welsh centre this term.
11. Hallam Amos (25 caps)
Sadly for Welsh rugby, the talented Cardiff player is retiring from the game at the end of the season to pursue his medical career.
He will be missed.
Amos has skill and counterattacking verve; if he were in it for the long-haul he would surely have been in Pivac’s squad for this championship.
10. Sam Davies (8 caps)
He hasn’t played for Wales since 2017 but can still kick intelligently out of hand and has a splash of creativity in his play.
The former world junior player of the year can also run a game.
He is someone who could always do a job.
9. Rhys Webb (38 caps)
You would have thought that Wales would have wanted all the experience out there at a time when they are shy of so many stalwart players.
But Webb still hasn’t made it into the squad, despite consistently good form at regional level.
Some would question his non-selection.
Some would think they’d be right to.
1. Nicky Smith (41 caps)
How is he not included in Pivac’s squad for the championship?
Maybe it’s the most contentious call of the lot.
He scrummages well and is lethal over the ball.
What else is there to say except that his omission is a strange one.
2. Ken Owens (87 caps)
When The Sheriff is not around there is always a void.
Sadly, Owens is expected to be off limits for the entirety of the Six Nations with a back injury.
It’s isn’t just his toughness and up and at ’em style that Wales will be without. It’s also his leadership.
Has won 82 caps for Wales and five for the Lions.
3. Samson Lee (45 caps)
Injuries have bedevilled him, but when he played for Wales against Georgia in the autumn of 2020 he showed he could still deliver as he came up with a scrummaging masterclass that saw the highly rated Mikheil Nariashvili cough up three penalties.
Lee’s been left out of Pivac’s squad for the Six Nations, presumably on durability grounds.
But on song he is still a good player.
4. Jake Ball (50 caps)
"I still have not come out and said I have retired from international rugby," said Ball last May, shortly before heading overseas to play his rugby.
But the 60-cap rule prevents the ex-Scarlet from doing so at this time.
With his great physicality and torpedo-like clearouts, he’s been missed.
Of course he has.
5. Alun Wyn Jones (161 caps)
The captain has had two shoulder injuries since last summer, the latest of which will keep him out for the whole Six Nations.
Wondering whether Wales will miss him is akin to mulling over whether the Huns would have missed Attila.
His leadership and drive are priceless, along with his influence on other players.
"He's just a world-class player. He has the ability to bring players to another level," said Rob Howley in 2016.
He still has that ability.
A record-breaker with 149 caps for Wales and 12 for the Lions.
6. Josh Navidi (28 caps)
The selfless Cardiff player damaged a shoulder in October.
Dai Young revealed recently he’s on track with his recovery.
But that’s only partial good news for Pivac because Navidi isn’t set to return until March or April.
There’s a chance he might be available for the final round or two of the Six Nations, but it’s probably best not to bet the farm on it.
7. Justin Tipuric (86 caps)
No crystal ball was needed to work out Tipuric’s prospects of playing in this Six Nations were not exactly great.
Rewind to last week’s Ospreys press conference when the region’s head coach Toby Booth said: “He’s not returned to training yet and doesn’t look like he’s going to in the near future.”
Five days later came confirmation the flanker would miss the entire Six Nations with the shoulder injury he picked up on Lions duty last June.
As losses go, it's a savage one.
8. Taulupe Faletau (91 caps)
Much more of this and Faletau will appear on a list of missing persons.
There have been whispers about the Bath man making a comeback since October.
But there have been no sightings of him on a rugby pitch since last summer.
He is said to have an ankle injury.
It’s kept him out of Pivac’s squad and it isn’t obvious when he’ll play next for Wales.
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