Title winner with a fine track record - but patience will be required as Tandy faces monster task

THE wait is finally over. Steve Tandy has been revealed as Warren Gatland's long-term successor as head coach of the Wales national side.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

This is the first time a Welshman has been permanent head coach of Wales since Gareth Jenkins in 2007 but what can we expect of the 45-year-old after the news broke yesterday morning?

During his playing days Tandy was a no-nonsense openside flanker who held his own during the Ospreys' 'Galacticos' era where he shared the field with the likes of Filo Tiatia, Jerry Collins, Ryan Jones, Marty Holah and Jonathan Thomas.

Those close to Tandy describe the man from Tonmawr as a coach with outstanding attention to detail, who doesn't suffer fools and demands high standards.

As Tandy's playing career began to draw to an end, the Ospreys hierarchy earmarked the back-rower for a coaching career which began at Tonmawr and then Bridgend in the Welsh Premiership.

After completing his coaching badges, Tandy was thrown in at the deep end when he was appointed head coach of the Ospreys midway through the 2011-12 season, with Sean Holley and director of rugby Scott Johnson heading for the exit.

But Tandy did not allow this to faze him as he led the Ospreys to the Magners League title in his first season with a stunning victory over then European champions Leinster in Dublin, in what remains one of the finest victories by a Welsh side since the inception of regional rugby in 2003.

Tandy's reign as Ospreys boss coincided with an era of financial difficulties in Welsh rugby as playing budgets began to shrink.

But nevertheless the Swansea-based side remained competitive until Tandy left his role towards the end of the 2017-18 season after a difficult run of results.

Tandy left a positive impression on those who he coached at the Ospreys.

"Steve is a really good coach," former Wales hooker and Bridgend head coach Scott Baldwin said earlier this year.

"I've seen quite a few bits that he was poor with the Ospreys.