Wales lack creativity – Williams

Gatland was appointed Wales coach in December 2007

Grand Slam winner Rhys Williams has said that Wales are too predictable and lack creativity under Warren Gatland.

Wales finished fourth in the Six Nations for the third consecutive year following a 28-9 defeat against France.

Williams, who won 44 caps for his country, believes Wales have not evolved since their Grand Slam win in 2008.

“We look so predictable that the game plan doesn’t suit us,” Williams told BBC Wales’ Scrum V Radio programme.

“It was there from 2008 and worked then.

“We became a very physical side and we ground sides down but now we can’t play that way any more.

“Sides know exactly where we’re going. They know who’s carrying the ball.

“We need to change something and we need to get more creative. You look at our team and we have creative players everywhere.

“We’re not converting the chances we are creating, and there aren’t that many.

“I wouldn’t be happy with the style of rugby that they’re playing at the minute.”

Williams, a member of the Grand Slam team in 2005, also believes that Wales did not utilise the talents of centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies during the Six Nations.

Roberts in particular has come in for criticism for his subdued performances during the Championship.

“We haven’t seen the best of Jamie Roberts or Jon Davies,” said the former Blues player.

“They are strong runners, they are big guys and I think they are just told to run hard, run straight and get over the gain line.

“They’ve got more than that to offer.

“Put him Roberts on the outside of somebody and give him the chance of running at somebody’s shoulder instead of at somebody’s breastbone.

“Then you can see the wingers hitting nice angles, like Chris Ashton does for England, and he’s scoring the tries.”