Tandy needs 'patience' in Wales task, says Davies

Steve Tandy's coaching experience includes spells with the British and Irish Lions, Scotland, Waratahs and Ospreys

Steve Tandy's appointment as Wales head coach has been welcomed by Jonathan Davies, but the dual-code great says people must "show patience" as he looks to revive the national team's fortunes.

Former Neath and Ospreys flanker Tandy will leave his role as Scotland defence coach and officially take up his Wales duties on 1 September.

The 45-year-old has been appointed on a three-year deal until at least the 2027 World Cup in Australia by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Tandy's first game in charge will be against Argentina in Cardiff on Sunday, 9 November, before further autumn Tests against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

"I'm glad that they've just announced someone because it needed someone straight away - they haven't got a lot of time before the autumn," Davies said.

"I'm glad Tandy's been given the job. He's got a great CV, he's been everywhere and the main thing for me is that he's going to be living in Wales.

"Because it's very different if you're living outside Wales, you don't really get to feel the importance of it. When you walk down to the post office or the corner shop in the morning, people are telling you how good or bad you are and you are ingrained in it, you're in it."

The WRU has been looking for a new men's head coach since February, when Warren Gatland stepped down in the middle of a winless Six Nations campaign.

"It's taken a bit of time but I think [WRU director of rugby] Dave Reddin got in and had to make his peace as well and decide that he [Tandy] was the right man," said Davies, 62, who represented Wales in both union and league, as well as the Great Britain league side.

"It's not going to be easy for anyone. You've got to remember now where we are, where the regions are, where we are in the world rankings. Hopefully he's going to be there for a long spell and have a bit of consistency."

Tandy takes over a Wales side that has been in the temporary stewardship of Cardiff's Matt Sherratt, who led them to a victory against Japan in Kobe earlier this month that finally halted a record run of 18 straight Test defeats.

While Tandy will start with a fresh slate - and without the pressure to end a losing streak that lasted 21 months and saw Wales fall at one point to an all-time low of 14th in the world rankings - he takes over with the domestic game in turmoil.

The WRU is considering cutting up to two of its four professional regional teams.

The current professional rugby agreement (PRA) that underpins the Welsh professional game runs out in June 2027 and it was due to be superseded by a new five-year deal.

The deal has been agreed by WRU-owned Cardiff and privately-owned Dragons, but has still not been signed by either Ospreys or Scarlets, who say "key issues" have not been resolved.

Tandy will also have to navigate these choppy waters as he seeks to select a winning squad, and there would be some irony if Ospreys - the team he played for with distinction and then led to the 2012 Celtic League title as head coach - cease to exist due to WRU cuts.

"I'm not sure whether Gatland was really worried about the regions or the under-20s or the age groups [and] because of that I think the union have neglected it," Davies added.

"Tandy has been there with the Ospreys, he knows the systems. He knows what underpins the regions and he's got to look at that, because at the moment everyone says we've got great people coming through [but] we finished eighth in the Under-20s World Championship.

"Yes, you'll have the odd good player but that isn't enough. You need a real competitive structure below the regions so that those players are ready to step up to the regions and then maybe step up to the internationals."

Davies said "getting everyone working together" will be a challenge as he attempts to complete the "big task" which is winning Test matches.

"The regions, the development areas and looking at where we need to strengthen the development... Is it schools, is it academies?" he added.

"Do we need to change the academies? Have we got the right people in place?

"Ultimately we all work together to hopefully get a better Wales. We don't even know if it's going to be four or two regions yet, so I hope he's involved in those decisions as well."

'A great coach'

After ending his coaching time at Ospreys in 2018, Tandy took up a role with Australian side Waratahs, before linking up with Scotland in 2019 - with the Scottish set-up reluctantly waving goodbye when Wales came calling.

He also held a defence coach role with Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad in South Africa in 2021.

"Wherever he's been he's done really, really well and everyone has said what a nice guy he is, how well he's worked, what a great coach," Davies added.

"He's gone abroad, he's gone to other countries and his development has been great. He's also played in Wales, he's coached the Ospreys to success so he knows it in and out.

"I think everyone has to be patient here because a coach is only as good as his players and at the moment the Union have neglected the development, hence this is where we are and we've said this for a long, long time.

"We'll have to be patient with him and hopefully the people in the Union who understand rugby listen to him and hopefully Dave Reddin.

"It's going to be maybe two or three World Cups where we might be competitive again, so we have to be really patient and get behind Tandy and the boys."