Wales have asked Six Nations organisers to classify the Principality Stadium as a closed-roof ground, meaning all matches in the tournament would be played under cover regardless of the weather.
The roof may be closed currently only if both teams agree, which has led to mind games in the week of a match. With bonus points being trialled in the Six Nations this year, the Wales interim head coach, Rob Howley, believes it is the ideal opportunity to take advantage of the stadium’s roof.
“The roof being closed gives us the best conditions for the best rugby,” Howley said. “I asked the question about making the Principality Stadium a closed ground for the Six Nations after the autumn when the decision about bonus points was announced and the higher echelons will be making a decision in the next week.
“I think the roof should be closed so that games can be played to the benefit of both the teams involved. Tries in the Six Nations are generally scored in March because the weather dictates play in early February and I hope the introduction of bonus points provides a nudge to having the roof shut and giving us the best conditions. I think bonus points will go a long way to deciding who wins the title.
“We generally shut the roof in the autumn, but I made a mistake against Australia last year [when Wales were beaten 32-8 in November] and kept it open because it was a fine day. I underestimated the occasion and it was not the best decision for the team. I think the roof has to be closed going forward.”
Wales last won the Six Nations in 2013, when Howley was also in temporary charge, and they are not fancied by the bookmakers to succeed England as champions with Ireland having considerably shorter odds. “It is good that no one is talking about us,” he said. “I spoke about our home form in the autumn and it is good we have England and Ireland in Cardiff. We back ourselves at the Principality Stadium and we have a very good record in the Six Nations.
“The selection challenge for us is that we have a six-day turnaround for England [on 11 February] after playing Italy in Rome. The Italians have a new coaching team and will be hugely competitive, but we have a lot of experience which we will be counting on. We have brought young talent into the squad and that, together with a new captain, will create the edge we want.”
Howley took the captaincy off Sam Warburton, who had led the side since 2011, last week and gave it to the second-row Alun Wyn Jones. He said it should not be taken that Warburton’s international career is on its way to being talked about in the past tense.
“We have not written off Sam. When I spoke to him, his mindset was good and I have no doubt we will see his experience and talent in the Six Nations,” Howley said. “He is hugely motivated: I am not sure whether not being captain is a pressure release, but when I asked if he wanted to be part of the leadership group, he said ‘absolutely’. He has a lot to offer and that is the key.
“It is best for him that he is able to put himself, rather than Wales, first. His strength is his physicality over the ball and he can play six and seven. He is trying to evolve his game and there is no one working harder than Sam.”
