Diolch Warren

There was to be no fairy tale ending to Warren Gatland’s reign as Wales coach. New Zealand duly gave Wales a lesson in support play and explosive running to secure third spot in the RWC by a margin of 40-17. It could have been a lot worse but an unfamiliar Welsh line-up hung in there to the bitter end and even managed to score a couple of tries themselves. The contrast between this match and the dour semi final against South Africa could not have been greater as both sides threw the ball about with gay abandon. As you might expect, the All Blacks were much better at it than Wales and hence the final result. For Wales, Josh Adams was the stand out player and has certainly enhanced his growing reputation over the course of the RWC. Everyone else tried their hardest but man for man they are just not as explosive and skillful as the New Zealanders. We did not really have the personnel to do an England on them and stifle their every move. It made for an entertaining spectacle anyway.

Before the RWC would we have been satisfied with a semi-final? Realistically I think so and other fancied sides fell by the wayside. It has been a hard slog for Wales with every game bringing its own challenges and this is underlined by the injury list. They can return to Wales with their heads held high. The Six Nations is just around the corner let us hope that the injuries are not to serious.

The Six Nations will bring with it a new coaching team for Wales. They will do well to match Warren Gatland’s success rate – I wish them good luck as he will be a tough act to follow with the limited player base that we have in Wales.

I would like to thank Warren Gatland and the squad for many memorable moments and much enjoyment as a Welsh fan. We may not have played the prettiest rugby at times but we found a way to win – at least against Northern Hemisphere opposition!  Good luck for the future Warren.

Tomorrow, I think I heard on the radio or did I read it in the newspaper, there is the small matter of the RWC final with a super confident England side playing the Springboks. It seems that the result is a formality or so the individual playing ratings in the papers would have it. Let us hope for a good game and may the better team win.

Once tomorrow is done, we can return to club rugby with Pontypool back in action next weekend. It will be Cardiff Met University in the Cup at Pontypool Park. Should be a good game.

Hard luck Wales!

Come on Pooler!