Six Nations: Ex-teacher Matt Sherratt asked to improve Wales’ grades

It is hoped the new man can at least offer a feel-good factor sorely lacking in the past 18 months.

“The word opportunity is one we used when speaking to the players,” said Sherratt.

“It’s easy to get sucked into negativity. There’s a group of players with lots of heart and pride about playing for Wales.

“I want them to bring their personality and be brave if they see space, even if there’s an error.

“Anxiety in any sport is the biggest killer of performance, so it’s trying to remove that, free the players up so they are not weighed down by expectation.

“I want to make sure they feel comfortable in their own skin and we enjoy being here.”

Sherratt believes he has been able to offer some external perspective.

“Sometimes when you’re on the outside looking in, you see more clearly,” he said.

“What I could see was there was lots of effort being put in by players, almost desperation at times to do well for their country.

“Sometimes when you’re desperate for a win and have emotion, effort can be misplaced.”

He is a pragmatist, with previous attack coach Rob Howley leaving alongside Gatland.

Sherratt has changed more than half the team, brought back Gloucester duo Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, both discarded by Gatland, and is playing Ben Thomas in his usual centre position.

Sherratt says he has had to “give himself a talking to about not drowning the players in information”, focusing on promoting a couple of clear messages. But there will be a structure.

“We have got a clear game plan to make sure players are going in the same direction,” he said.

“It would be easy to come in, talk about exciting the crowd, but we can’t be reckless.

“I’ve been coaching long enough to know if your foundations aren’t in place, the rest of your game isn’t going to show.

“It has to be within a system, not 15 blokes trying to do their own thing. That’s been this week’s challenge.”