Matt Sherratt's Emotional Farewell: Wales vs England Six Nations Showdown

Interim Wales head coach Matt Sherratt is set for an emotional farewell as Wales take on England in the Six Nations finale at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Born in Gloucester, Sherratt has a unique connection to both nations, having grown up in a household divided by rugby allegiances. His father supported England, while his mother, from Tredegar, was a fervent Wales fan.

Sherratt, who has coached with Worcester, Bristol, Ospreys, and Cardiff, has been instrumental in lifting the spirits of the beleaguered Wales team. Despite a challenging run of 16 consecutive defeats, Sherratt has introduced positivity and fun into the training sessions, aiming to end his temporary tenure on a high note.

"I've worked in Wales for so long, and when you watch Wales when you're not coaching then you get attached to the players, so there's no question marks on allegiances," Sherratt said. He emphasized his familiarity with the Welsh squad, having coached three-quarters of the players before.

Sherratt's family has also played a significant role in his journey. His son, who is more interested in meeting players like Fin Smith and Marcus Smith for his Instagram account, has been a source of motivation. Sherratt admitted to having emotional moments when discussing his family's support.

As Wales aim to avoid a 17th successive Test defeat, Sherratt has focused on easing the burden on young captains like Jac Morgan, Dafydd Jenkins, and Dewi Lake. "My role coming in was to take some of the burden off them. So they could go out on the weekend and enjoy playing without too much of the history and media stuff," he explained.

Despite the challenges, Sherratt remains proud of his time with Wales. "I've loved it, I'm not going to hide away from it, it's something I'm proud of and enjoyed and so have the family," he said. As he prepares to return to his role as Cardiff head coach, Sherratt hopes to sign off with a win, not for himself, but for the players and staff who have endured a tough period.

"It would be huge," Sherratt said of a potential victory. "That's a massive motivation. I would love to sign off [with a win], not for me but for the players and staff who have been here for a long time."