Danny Wilson used to be Matt Sherratt’s boss but now he thinks his former apprentice is making a good fist of the number one coaching job in Welsh rugby.
Wilson, currently head coach of Harlequins, has joined Wales’ coaching staff on a short-term secondment as forwards coach for the two-Test summer tour of Japan, where he will serve under interim head coach Sherratt.
It’s a reversal of the chain of command when Wilson was director of coaching at Cardiff and hired Sherratt as his right-hand man at the Arms Park.
Though he’ll return to his Premiership duties immediately afterward, Wilson is clear in his support for Sherratt and optimistic about what lies ahead for Welsh rugby under his guidance.
“I first worked with Matt at Bristol and then having seen how good he was, I was desperate to bring him to Cardiff,” said Wilson.
“Then we had a good time together and we went our separate ways into different projects after a pleasing end by winning a bit of silverware together with Cardiff.”
Now, the coaching boot is on the other foot and Wilson is working under Sherratt, who has stepped up as Wales’ stand-in following Warren Gatland’s departure.
"I'm very respectful of who is in the head coaching role,” Wilson said.
“Matt was supportive of me in our period together at Cardiff, and likewise with me now. He's picked up some great experience here and put in some great foundations in a short space of time during the Six Nations.”
Sherratt’s backroom team for the Japan tour features a fresh mix of coaches, with Gethin Jenkins (defence), Adam Jones (scrum), Rhys Thomas (assistant forwards) and Leigh Halfpenny (skills) all involved.
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Several familiar faces from the previous regime — including Rob Howley, Mike Forshaw and Neil Jenkins — have stepped aside for the summer.
Wilson emphasised that his stint with Wales is temporary.
“It falls right in my break in terms of finishing with Harlequins and reviews,” he said.
“It would be a pre-season break for me and us as a group. When I finish this project I get off a flight and back into work at Harlequins.”
Despite the short-term nature of his involvement, Wilson is energised by the potential within the national set-up — and by the opportunity to contribute to it again after seven years away.
“There's always talent in Wales,” he said.
“Some have ended up over the bridge playing in England. It will take a bit of time to get where it needs to get and everyone is aware of that. There's no magical dust to be sprinkled on something; it takes hard work and some changes to be made.”
Wilson sees Sherratt as central to that long-term rebuild - even though his colleague will return to his regional role after the tour - and points to their shared history of bringing through young players who later made a major impact.
"At Cardiff when we won some silverware, the Tomos Williams' and Jarrod Evans' who played in that final were young kids who we brought through the year before,” Wilson recalled.
“They took a bit of pain but that pain came to fruition in the future. I think it's the same here at the moment.”
With 100-cap veterans having stepped away and Wales on a record 17-match losing streak, Wilson is realistic about the challenges ahead — but insists there is a path forward.
"The group here are extremely passionate about turning around this run of games and results,” he said.
“It is tough for some of those boys who have been involved in this long run of games and we collectively need to break that cycle.
“One win can change and breed confidence, sometimes that's the bounce of a ball. Once you get on the right side of that, in this group there's quality rugby players who will flourish.”
And for all the short-term pressure, Wilson sees something bigger developing behind the scenes — something that Sherratt is beginning to help shape.
“Looking at it from afar, somebody who grabs hold of it now has got an exciting project ahead of them,” he said.
“What you want in an ideal system is a conveyor belt where the next group are ready — and I think that’s the project at the moment: to get more of that group ready to not just play international Test match rugby but to win. That’s the key – it’s to win.”
Wales face Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and again in Kobe on July 12.
