Questionnaire sends message as Wales seek answers

Matt Sherratt says he will return to become Cardiff head coach next season

Summer tour first Test: Japan v Wales

Venue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 06:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app.

Matt Sherratt says he did some soul-searching before agreeing to become Wales interim head coach for the trip to Japan.

Sherratt leads his side in a two-match series which starts in Kitakyushu on Saturday and concludes in Kobe a week later.

Former head coach Warren Gatland departed in February, with Sherratt taking over for the final three games of the Six Nations.

Despite the change of coaching staff, Wales suffered a second successive clean sweep of defeats in the tournament to stretch their record run of successive international losses to 17.

With new Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) director of rugby Dave Reddin still searching for Gatland's permanent successor, Cardiff coach Sherratt accepted the caretaker role once more for the Tests in Japan.

"When I got asked to do it again, it was the decision for me," said Sherratt.

"Obviously doing Cardiff, having some family time is important in this job. I knew I'd miss that.

"Career-wise as well, it's a tough challenge. We know Wales are in a little bit of a rebuild."

Three is the magic number

Sherratt says there were three reasons to accept the Wales job again.

"When I considered it, the three things that hit home were giving my family a good experience, [the fact that] I enjoyed working with other people and [that I] regretted not getting a win," said Sherratt.

"My family wanted me to do it. They loved the Six Nations, which is why we all do our jobs, really, for other people.

"I enjoyed working with different players, getting to know Scarlets and Dragons players, boys in the Premiership as well.

"Probably my biggest regret was not getting a win for Wales. I've seen it from the outside before, and during the autumn, but the support during a Six Nations from the general public, just walking through Cardiff, the passion of the nation was pretty humbling. I regretted not being able to win for the country."

Even so, Sherratt wanted to see why Wales' players wanted to tour Japan.

"I wondered what their motivation was and why they were coming here," said Sherratt.

"I asked Toby [Faletau] if he wanted to go, he said yes straight away.

"Josh Adams was determined to go and so was Dewi Lake - boys who could have had a bit of a break. "

A questionnaire for Wales' players

Sherratt sent out a questionnaire to the 33-man squad he picked to assess their mood going into the Japan trip.

"It wasn't anything wordy, just three questions," said Sherratt.

"What motivates you to play, what do you want to get out of the trip and what are you going to bring?

"Literally every one was 'I play for my family, I want to enjoy the trip and I want to win for Wales'. So we've built everything around that."

Sherratt says the results of the questionnaire conveyed a powerful message.

"It just hit home we're all doing it for the same reason," he added.

"Rather than think about the baggage around playing for Wales and the win/loss ratio at the moment, let's just strip it back and go there for the right reasons in terms of why we all want to be there.

"That's how we've themed the tour, we've just stuck to those three things. Make sure we enjoy it, remember why we're doing it and it's important we start laying some foundations."

Sherratt wants victory in Japan so Wales' new permanent head coach is not burdened by the record losing run.

As it stands, Wales havenot won an international since October 2023.

"I'd love the next guy to come in and no-one's talking about the 17," said Sherratt.

"I'd love to do that for whoever comes in."