Book description
Wales were written off as no-hopers at the start of the 2008 Six
Nations. They had failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals the
previous October and had reacted by appointing their 13th coach in 19
years, New Zealander Warren Gatland.
On the opening weekend, success appeared unlikely when they trailed
World Cup finalists England at Twickenham by ten points at half-time.
Their second-half comeback, to earn their first victory at the ground
for 20 years, set them on their way, and there was no looking back. In
a blistering campaign, they set a new Six Nations record by conceding
just two tries in their five matches.
The Resurrection Men looks back over the glorious 2008
tournament but also examines the reasons why the foundations laid by
Gatland look more secure than those established by Mike Ruddock before
his controversial departure from the role less than a year after the
side's last Grand Slam triumph in 2005.
Wales imploded after Ruddock left, winning only one match in each of
the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. His successor Gareth Jenkins asked to be
judged on the team's performance in the World Cup. And he was, sacked
hours after the defeat to Fiji which meant that, for the third time in
five tournaments, Wales failed to make the knock-out stage.
Little more than a week later, Welsh Rugby Union officials boarded a
plane to New Zealand to meet Gatland and other candidates for head
coach. Just two minutes into the meeting, they were ready to offer him
the job. He promised them that if Wales won at Twickenham on the
opening weekend, the slam would be on. They did and it was.
Paul Rees writes on rugby for
The Guardian
. He has reported on Wales since 1986 and is the co-author of
Allan
Bateman: There and Back Again
,
Life At Number 10: Neil Jenkins - An Autobiography
and
Grand Slam! Year of the Dragon
.
