It was a good 2008 for some teams who underachieved in the World Cup the previous year, proof of how quickly fortunes in sport can change. A Lions squad picked a year ago would have differed to one considered just three months later.
New Zealand endured their worst World Cup campaign, failing to make the last four for the first time, but they went on to have one of their best ever years, winning the Tri-Nations and enjoying a grand slam tour of the home unions, and finished it on top of the world rankings. Wales also had a disappointing World Cup but bounced back to win the grand slam. We go into the Six Nations next month in the unusual position of being favourites. That creates a different pressure, one you have to deal with.
When I started at Wasps, we were not fancied for anything, but once you win a few trophies, expectation mounts and you cross a line as players and coaches. You have to be able to manage success, a totally different mindset from going into tournaments and games as underdogs.
The next stage in Wales's development is to cope with expectation, both external and internal. We have a tough start to the defence of our title in Scotland and players are going to have to step up. They always say that it is harder to retain a title than to win it in the first place, but if I am sure of one thing it is that there will be no problem in terms of attitude.
Wales were the only one of the Six Nations sides to taste success against major southern hemisphere opposition last year. Our victory against Australia in Cardiff was offset by 19 defeats. There were a few hard-luck stories along the way – Wales and Scotland both pushed South Africa close – but the overall record was nowhere near good enough.
When it comes to World Cups, especially the knock-out stage, the gap between the hemispheres narrows considerably. But 19 defeats in 20 Tests is something the Lions have to grapple with before we go to South Africa in the summer. Last year was not the best for the Springboks after their achievement in winning the World Cup, but it was hardly the worst either: they won in New Zealand for the first time in 12 years, put 50 points on Australia and were unbeaten on their end-of-season tour. Wales played them three times last year, pushing them all the way twice and being well beaten once. Perhaps South Africa took a while to adapt to the experimental law variations, but they remain formidable opponents who battle on to the very end.
And that brings me on to Wasps. Last year we won the Guinness Premiership again, a fitting way to send Lawrence Dallaglio into retirement, but started the new campaign slowly. We go into the new year adrift in the table, which was the case 12 months ago, and if we are to continue our record of having won at least one trophy in each of the last six seasons, we have to step up.
The next four weeks will define our season. We have tough league matches against Harlequins and Bath and two key games in the Heineken Cup, against Leinster at Twickenham and Castres away. We are a club known for making late runs, but we are in a position now where the next four games are pivotal.
Questions are invariably asked when a champion team has an unsuccessful run, but what everyone always has to be fully aware of is the intensely competitive nature of the Guinness Premiership. In the first half of 2008, we came out on the right side in close matches; in the second half, we were just short. You are talking about very small margins, but they make a huge difference. Look at last weekend: two draws and one three-point win.
It is an unforgiving environment while Leinster are the best side we have played this season. They walloped us in Dublin and it will be some game at Twickenham. Happy New Year.
shaun.edwards@theguardian.com
