Wales Catch Scarlet Fever

Wow - now that’s a couple of great Saturdays for rugby! Last week saw Pooler account for Carmarthen Quins and this week I was treated to an exceptional performance from Wales at the Principality Stadium where they swept Scotland aside in the opening game of the Six Nations Championship.

It was certainly not plain sailing for Wales in the opening ten minutes or so when Scotland started up like a highly tuned sports car looking every inch like the team that drubbed Australia and ran the All Blacks close in the autumn. The Gareth Davies interception try thankfully took the wind out of their sails. I still worried for Wales as they seemed to enter too readily into the frenetic running rugby festival. I can’t help being a pessimist but the willingness to run the ball from everywhere seemed suicidal at times – I guess it is all those years watching Ray Prosser’s Pontypool that have left their imprint on my brain.

I needn’t have worried Wales quickly doubled their lead when Halfpenny scored and from then on looked clear winners. The Welsh defence was brilliant and the Scottish team found it difficult to make much ground with ball in hand. They were either forced to kick the ball away or made handling errors and Wales gleefully took advantage in true Scarlets’ style.

The second half performance from Wales was much more measured with a good mix of tactics which gradually built up an unassailable lead and left the much heralded Scots floundering. I was delighted for Halfpenny who amassed twenty four points with his two well taken tries and flawless goal kicking which answered his many critics in the best way possible. The final score at 34-7 was far more convincing than anyone expected and sent the Scots “hamewart tae think again”. I am sure Sean Edwards will have something to say about the seven points conceded next week though.

Everyone in the Welsh team played their part in the victory and Wales should be in good heart for the prospect of meeting the formidable challenge of England at Twickenham. I suspect that injuries permitting Gatland will pick the same squad – why wouldn’t you?

We got home in time to watch the France v Ireland game which was a much dourer affair with defences well on top. The only real excitement came right at the end when France seemed to have snatched an improbable victory through a brilliant try from Teddy Thomas. The missed conversion proved very costly, however, as Ireland wrested victory from France with Sexton’s brilliant last gasp dropped goal.

Today will see England take on Italy in Rome. It looks a foregone conclusion that England will win but we can live in hope of an upset. My fingers will be crossed that is for sure.

On the domestic front, Pontypool’s reward for beating Carmarthen Quins last week is a National Cup quarter final tie at Merthyr in early March. That is just about as difficult a draw as they could have had and will certainly give the squad to measure themselves against really strong opposition on a plastic pitch. It should be a great occasion.

Next week it is Twickenham for Wales. I shall be watching from the comfort of the couch I think and hopefully not having to hide behind same. On a fine day high octane rugby like Wales played on Saturday could well trouble England. Let’s hope so anyway.

Come on Wales!