Time for Tandy to add to back-room staff again

SUCH is Welsh rugby's chaotic state, the end of the autumn and that 73-0 defeat to the Springbok somehow feels both five minutes and a lifetime ago.

- BEN JAMES Rugby writer [e-mail]

39 days have passed since that chastening day against South Africa, with another 31 to go until the start of Wales’ Six Nations campaign.

It's a fairly quick turnaround between the two campaigns.

That could play a part in one facet of Steve Tandy’s preparations for his first Six Nations in charge of Wales.

Because, while Tandy, Matt Sherratt and Danny Wilson are all permanent members of Wales’ coaching staff, that’s as far as the full-time staff goes.

In the autumn, Dragons coaches Rhys Patchell and Dan Lydiate, as well as Ospreys’ Duncan Jones, joined Wales on secondment.

Patchell looked after kicking, Lydiate helped out Tandy with defence, while Jones was the scrum coach.

Right now, with no names really floating around, it's hard to see Wales not going back to those three for another short-term secondment.

The squad is due to be announced in two weeks, with coaching team likely to be confirmed around the same time.