 Ryan Jones holds the Six Nations trophy aloft after victory |
All Blacks legend Justin Marshall says Wales' Grand Slam team can fulfil their potential and become a "great" side. "They showed they are capable of that - and I don't use the word lightly," he told BBC Wales' Scrum V rugby show. "But, Wales apart, it was a below-par Six Nations and the true test will come against the southern hemisphere teams." Record-breaking wing Shane Williams said: "This team is capable of winning more Grand Slams. If we work on our weaknesses we can be a great side."  | 606: DEBATE |
Outstanding flanker Martyn Williams, man-of-the-match in Saturday's 29-12 win over France, agreed, but echoed Welsh Rugby Union deputy chairman Gerald Davies in saying that Wales must not repeat the mistakes they made after the 2005 Grand Slam. "This is a special team and a lot of the boys have got a big future ahead of them," he told BBC Sport Wales. "I don't want to put a dampener on things, we didn't handle it well in 2005 and to be a great side we have to learn the lessons from that." Wales face two Tests against the world champion Springboks in South Africa next - in Durban on 7 June and in Pretoria a week later - followed by autumn games in Cardiff against the Boks, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. | I agree with people who say that it's been a weak Six Nations Wales coach Warren Gatland |
"We have to keep our feet on the ground and test ourselves against the southern hemisphere teams," said Wales coach Warren Gatland on Scrum V. "We have to play the best in the world to learn the intensity. "I agree with people who say that it's been a weak Six Nations with teams in transition and turmoil, that often happens after a World Cup. "Wales have achieved a lot of milestones - including our biggest Six Nations win in the victory over Italy and a record win against France - and there's a lot to build on. "The great thing is that the Welsh Rugby Union are going out and trying to arrange fixtures against these teams, that will build the platform for us ahead of the 2011 World Cup. "If you look at England's World Cup success in 2003, it was based on regular tours of the southern hemisphere with a mind-set to actively go out and challenge those teams. | The signs are good, and I'm so pleased for everyone involved in Welsh rugby, it's uplifting |
"I'll be speaking to the senior players like Martyn Williams and Ian Gough to assess things, I will sit down with Martyn and say 'do you want to go or do you want a break'. "We also need to plan for the future, but we'll take as strong a side as possible to South Africa." Marshall, New Zealand's most-capped scrum-half now plying his trade at the Ospreys, consistently berated Wales for under-achieving between the 2005 Slam and the World Cup. "From a neutral's point of view, I've been saying for a while about the amount of talent in that squad," he said on Scrum V. "This is the same group of players that we were all frustrated with after the World Cup, but Warren Gatland has come in and brought something to produce the remarkable turnaround. "They can't get ahead of themselves, there are tough challenges awaiting from the southern hemisphere, and the true test will come in the summer and the autumn internationals. "The Springboks are the next level, but - like Ireland and England - they're in a bit of a transitional phase. "Their new coach will be under pressure, and I think they'll be using players who are now plying their trade in Europe. "Wales have got the momentum and they're in a great frame of mind to go to South Africa and do well. "The signs are good, and I'm so pleased for everyone involved in Welsh rugby, it's uplifting."
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