Disappointment and Anticipation

Unfortunately I was unable to make the trip to Narberth to watch Pontypool. I was on tenterhooks as the tweets came streaming through. It was enough to turn a man to drink when the injury time penalty by Narberth put paid to our hopes by the narrowest of margins (8-7). In fact it did turn me to drink but I still felt disappointed even after a generous quota of Doombar.

The Six Nations is just around the corner now and I will be travelling to both Edinburgh and Paris to support Wales. First off, however, is the little matter of playing England next weekend. The Friday evening kick-off is all very well for those tucked up in their lounges or in the local pub but for those who go to the game the travel arrangements really take the edge off the occasion. Never mind at least we will be able to pick up Saturday’s papers on the way home.

What are our chances of beating England? I guess it must be fifty fifty. I don’t buy all this stuff about England’s injury toll making Wales favourites. You have to remember England have fifty times more players to choose from than Wales and their seventh team would not be much weaker than whatever they consider to be their first team. The Welsh advantage is that we have a settled side with a well established game plan that has been shown to work when the players are on the top of their game. The down side is that everyone knows what we are going to try and do and can plan accordingly. I still have nightmares about our game in Dublin last year when we were humiliated.

The Welsh squad seems to have few injury problems at the moment but that will surely change as the tournament progresses. Things might get a little problematical if Samson Lee is injured and you can’t help feeling that it we good to have the solid and reassuring figure of Adam Jones still around.

The overall outcome of the Six Nations is really difficult to predict this year and home advantage in the key games coupled with injury toll often decides it. All the teams apart from Italy and possibly Scotland can make a plausible case for being champions although Scotland certainly look more than capable of upsetting anyone on their day. This sounds like fence-sitting and indeed it is. I will not be venturing any of my hard earned cash on the outcome. I note that the bookies have Ireland as narrow favourites with England just behind.

But if Wales can only sneak home against England….