Wales Get That Victory at Last with a Stirring Performance

Well, what a day of rugby! I didn’t manage to get to Pontypool’s rearranged fixture against Swansea as I was in Cardiff to watch Wales play Italy and the logistics didn’t work to enable me to see both. From all accounts, Pooler put up a good show and were leading until just before the end. They lost the lead to a late Swansea penalty to lose 20-18.  I understand they had a last gasp chance to save the match but sadly it wasn’t to be.

The Triple Crown decider between Ireland and Scotland in Dublin resulted in a win for Ireland in a rip-roaring match. I did not see all of it but saw the closing stages on the screens in the Principality Stadium. Scotland gave it their all but came up just short with Ireland winning 43-21 which it seems was a little flattering for the hosts.

Back in Cardiff the Principality Stadium filled up nicely with a crowd of just short of 70,000 in good voice. The home fans hoping fervently that they could see a Welsh victory in the Six Nations after a long run of defeats. The fans of the now formidable Italian team hoping for their best ever season in the Championship after their victories over Scotland and England.

Wales played with a remarkable intensity that seemed to stun the Italians. The Welsh tackled fiercely and carried the ball with tremendous power with Wainwright again to the fore. Against all expectations Wales blew the Italians away in the first half and scored three converted tries all from powerful forward surges. Wainwright scored twice and captain Lake added the third to leave Wales 21-0 up at half time. Wales had built a decent lead against Scotland only to lose so there was still work for them to do if they were going to get that all important victory.

Wales kept it going in the early stages of the second half and added a converted try by Edwards and a snap drop goal also from Edwards. The lead was now 31-0 surely Wales could not blow this!

Italy made substitutions as did Wales and the Italians started to gain a degree of ascendancy and the Welsh defence had to work overtime to keep them out. Nevertheless, the Italians hit back with tries from DiBartolemeo and Allan one of which was converted to make it 31-12 with about ten minutes remaining. They went close on another couple of occasions only for the tries to be ruled out by the TMO. Italy were chasing bonus points rather than the win which was probably beyond them by that stage. It was left to Garbisi to bring the game to a finish with an unconverted try in the last minute to make the final score Wales 31 : Italy 17.

Wales continue on their improving trajectory and achieving a win will do wonders for their confidence. Yes, they tired towards the end and yes, more work needs to be done on sharpening their attacks but the defence is outstanding and the heart and attitude of the team has improved immeasurably. Long may it continue! Let us now hope all the other issues clouding Welsh rugby can somehow be resolved no matter how unlikely it seems at the moment.

The finale of the Six Nations was in Paris where England were the visitors. This was another humdinger of a match with a resurgent England pushing the champions elect all the way. England scored seven tries to Frances’s six but lost out 48-46 to a last gasp penalty from a seemingly nerveless Ramos. I wonder what Sean Edwards is thinking after France have shipped the best part of a hundred points in their last two matches.

The final table shows that France are indeed champions but only due to more bonus points. The big surprise is to see England in fifth place after being considered by many (in England) as potential champions.

Wales of course receive the wooden spoon again but can draw some solace from the way they have improved after the early drubbings from England and France. They really should have beaten Scotland and ran Ireland close.

 

 

So now it is back to domestic rugby and for Pontypool that means a home match against Cardiff next week. Hopefully Pooler’s victory in Cardiff in the Cup will give them the confidence to get the league win and give them the impetus to move away from the foot of the league table.

Come on Pooler!

A Bridge Too Fast as Pooler Blitzed in the Second Half

Pontypool visited Bridgend Ravens hoping to translate their much improved form in the SRC Cup into points in the league. This was a real basement battle with the two sides occupying the bottom rungs of the ladder.

Conditions were good for rugby with a dry dull day and little breeze and the pitch looking in excellent condition. Pooler kicked off and were quickly into their stride and went close before they spread the ball wide after winning a lineout just inside the Bridgend half. Crisp passing saw Marcus Jones put clear and he touched down for a try in the left corner (0-5). The conversion failed but Pooler were off to a good start with ten minutes played – something quite unusual when they take on Bridgend.

Pooler continued to dominate the game but were guilty of missing out on a number of good scoring opportunities. The Pooler scrum was well on top and they spent a lot of time in the home twenty-two. At the end of the quarter, Pooler settled for three points from the boot of Meek (0-8).

Shortly after this Bridgend made their first meaningful incursion into the Pooler half but their enterprising attack from inside their own half fizzled out. It was a warning of what the home side could do given space. Pooler responded immediately when Morgan Allen charged down an attempted box kick from a Bridgend lineout and won the race to get to the ball to score Pooler’s second try which again went unconverted (0-13).

Pooler nearly scored ten minutes later after tremendous pressure on the Bridgend line but were denied by the touchline. From the ensuing lineout just a few yards from their line, Bridgend stormed up the field. Some incisive running and a well-placed cross kick saw Jones score in the left corner. The try was converted by Burnell and completely against the run of play the home side had reduced Pooler’s lead to 7-13.

With time running out in the first half, Pooler stormed back into the Bridgend twenty-two. Gatt the home wing was shown a yellow card and Pooler kicked to the corner. A powerful surge by the forwards after a lineout saw Scarfe touch down for their third try. This time Meek converted which gave Pooler a useful 7-20 lead at half time.

This had been a half that Pooler had dominated and they really should have built a bigger lead. Bridgend had only shown a couple of glimpses of what they could do with more possession.

Bridgend would start the second half with fourteen men and they also brought on three replacements. It was if Bridgend were a team of Popeye’s who had been given tins of spinach at half time. They looked a team transformed and emerged full of energy and intent. Within a couple of minutes of the restart, a quick tap penalty saw them racing clear with Jevons scoring with Pooler looking half awake. The conversion from Burnell put the home side within a score at 14-20.

Pooler hit back straight from the kick off which Bridgend failed to secure. Marcus Jones went over for his second try and secured the bonus point for Pooler. The conversion from Meek restored Pooler’s lead (14-27).

Nothing could have prepared the players and spectators from both sides for what happened next. Bridgend took complete charge of the game and left Pooler floundering and looking completely off the pace. Bridgend played with a verve that had looked most unlikely in the first forty minutes. Suddenly everything went right for the home side and everything that could go wrong for the visitors went wrong. The Pooler scrum was still dominant but the referee even penalised that.

Bridgend scored their third try after seven minutes of the half through the just returned Gatt which Burnell converted (21-27). A few minutes later Bridgend took the lead after Meek’s kick ahead was charged down and Florence scored after good passing by the Bridgend backs. Burnell again converted and Bridgend had taken the lead (28-27). Pooler looked shell-shocked and the match had been turned on its head in less than fifteen minutes.

There was absolutely no doubt that the momentum was with the home side and they piled on the pressure. Pooler seemed to have no answer to the pace and passion of the home side. Bridgend were happy to run the ball from everywhere as they saw Pooler wilt.

Bridgend piled on the points with three tries in quick succession through Gatt, Williams and Ryan Wilkins only one of which was converted by Burnell. This put the home side well clear and from 7-20 at half time it was now 45-27.

Pooler rallied for ten minutes or so and even put together a series of attacks but nothing really went right as the home side coasted to victory.

It was left to Bridgend to put the finishing touches to the rout when Lloyd Wilkins scored in the dying minutes. The try was not converted but Bridgend had brought up the half century in the final ignominy for Pontypool.

Final score Bridgend Ravens 50 : Pontypool 27.

People often talk about a game of two halves with tongues in cheeks but if there ever was one this was it. All Pooler in the first half and all Bridgend in the second and how! For Pooler, there will need to be some soul-searching and tough conversations as to how a game that was seemingly under control became a rout. You can only congratulate Bridgend on the quality of their play in that scintillating second half that left Pooler gasping. An away fixture against Swansea is just around the corner and Pooler will have little time to lick their wounds.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the Six Nations Championship. As expected, Wales lost in Dublin but can take heart from another step forward as the team continues to improve. The superb defensive effort was particularly stirring and Wales were unlucky not to come away with at least a losing bonus point (27-17). The Welsh attack needs to be sharpened up if they are to start winning but hats off to Carre for his try – a prop showing the backs what to do. Then there were home wins for Scotland who beat tournament favourites France and Italy who piled more pressure on the English management team by beating England for the first time. Amazing to see how the mighty England who considered themselves World Cup winners elect have fallen apart. Yes, the chariot seems to have lost a wheel or two.

Wales play Italy at home next week while England travel to France. It is still mathematically possible for England to get the wooden spoon but highly unlikely when points difference is considered. Wales will have it all to do to beat a confident Italian side that have few weaknesses.

Pooler play Swansea away next Saturday. It is one that I will miss as I will be in Cardiff for the Wales match.

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!

Heartbreak for Pooler After Stunning Comeback

Pontypool travelled to Llandovery to take on the Drovers in a SRC Cup semi-final. After all the rain that we have had, it was a joy to be greeted by bright sunshine and the artificial pitch glistening. This has not been a happy hunting ground for Pooler over recent times as Llandovery have established themselves as one of the top club sides in Wales. The relative league positions and home advantage would make Llandovery clear favourites but Pooler after their resurgence in form should fancy their chances of creating an upset. An early blow for Pooler saw the late withdrawal of dynamic scrum half Morgan Lloyd.

There was a breeze blowing down the ground towards the clubhouse and Pooler were given first use of it in the first half. Pooler started strongly enough and retained possession for the first few minutes as the teams sized each other up. The home side countered with some attacks of their own and their backs looked lively but the Pooler defence looked strong. The deadlock was broken after sixteen minutes when Meek kicked a penalty after Llandovery infringed at a scrum to put Pooler in front (0-3).

Early in the second quarter Pooler were penalised and Llandovery played the advantage. The backs attacked at pace and proved too hot to handle and a well-timed pass put Doel over in the corner for a try. The try was converted off the post by Hughes and Llandovery were leading 7-3.

While Pooler’s scrum was on top their lineout was struggling badly as the Llandovery jumpers appeared to have all of Pooler’s options covered. It seemed that every time that Pooler established a decent position in the Llandovery half they lost their own lineout to the frustration of players and fans alike.

Just after half an hour played, Pooler conceded a penalty that the home side kicked to the corner. The pressure was relieved by an excellent lineout steal from Ryan Jones which enabled Pooler to clear their lines. A minute or so later a 50/20 put Pooler in an attacking position. While they lost the lineout, Llandovery were penalised and Pooler kicked into the left corner.   Pooler finally won a lineout and attacked through their forwards. After a series of drives Allen forced his way over in the last minute of the half. Meek converted and gave Pooler a 7-10 lead at half time. In the build up to the try the Llandovery loosehead prop Hughes had transgressed and was subsequently shown a yellow card.

Pooler held a narrow lead but would be playing against the breeze in the second half. The Drovers had shown had shown just how dangerous they could be in turning defence into attack and quite clearly had the potential to score tries from anywhere on the field. For Pooler, there was a need to change their fortunes in the lineout which had proved such an Achilles heel in the first half.

The opening minutes of the second half were disastrous for Pooler. They made a mess of the first lineout and Llandovery hooker Lewis showed a terrific turn of speed as he raced down the field from halfway.  He found Hughes in support and the outside half dotted down under the posts unopposed. The conversion followed and the home side were back in the lead (14-10). A couple of minutes later, Pooler were penalised and Hughes kicked the penalty via a post (17-10).

Pooler’s lead had evaporated and momentum was very much with the home side even though they were down to fourteen men. Pooler found it difficult to get out of their own half as Llandovery monopolised possession. The third quarter saw Hughes kick another two penalties as Llandovery built on their lead. They led 23-10 as the quarter came to an end with Pooler on the ropes.

The benches were emptied and this seemed to put a real spring in Pooler’s step. They were only two converted tries behind and the game was far from over. Pooler never lack conviction in these kind of situations.

The first real Pooler assault of the second half saw the forwards carrying hard and they hammered away on the Drovers’ line. They managed to get over the line but the ball was adjudged to be held up. Pooler continued to attack and finally cracked the home defence when Rosser appeared in midfield to power over for a try. Ford, who was now playing outside half, converted. It was now 23-17 and it was very much ‘game on’ with seven minutes remaining and the Pooler lineout functioning at last.

It was now all Pooler as Llandovery desperately clung on to their lead. With less than three minutes on the clock, Pooler spread the ball wide and Anderson had a clear run to the line and gleefully put the ball down for Pooler’s third try. Ford landed the tricky conversion and against all the odds Pooler had taken the lead with a couple of minutes remaining (23-24).

Pooler caught the kick off and set up a series of rucks to wind the clock down. All seemed to be under control but the referee was not happy and penalised Pooler with seconds remaining.  It left Llandovery with a kickable penalty to snatch the spoils. Up stepped Hughes in perfect silence and the ball sailed between the posts. It was a cruel end to a pulsating Pooler comeback. Final score Llandovery 26 : Pontypool 24.

This was real body blow for Pooler who had played so brilliantly to get themselves into a winning position with only seconds remaining against very good opposition. Despite this loss, it is clear that the Pooler revival is still very much on track. Congratulations to everyone involved for a stirring performance.

Next up for Pontypool is the match at Bridgend Ravens next Saturday. The shame of it is that it could have been the cup final next Saturday.

In the meantime, Wales travel to Dublin to play Ireland on Friday evening. After Ireland’s demolition of England this about as tough as it gets. I wish Wales luck.

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!

Much Better by Wales but Still No Cigar

The wait for a Welsh victory in the Six Nations goes on. This time they came agonising close and were in the lead until there were less than five minutes remaining in the match against Scotland.

A really forthright performance from the Welsh pack coupled with a real determination by the whole team to tackle everything in a blue shirt that moved saw them build a fifteen point lead early in the second half. The Principality Stadium had really come alive and Scotland were on the ropes.

They say that losing becomes a habit and, despite the big lead, you still felt a certain nervousness about the Welsh ability to deliver that much needed victory. A Scottish try from Russell closed the gap to 20-12 and the natural pessimism of the Welsh began to creep in.

Another penalty from Wales steadied the nerves at 23-12. But then came the moment that transformed the match. A lack of Welsh concentration with the team seemingly oblivious of the fact that Russell had restarted the game. It led to a try from Graham straight from the kick-off.  The conversion sailed over and now it was 23-19 and the Welsh heads momentarily dropped when they realised the schoolboy error that had been committed. The balloon of their fragile confidence had been well and truly pricked. Momentum was now very much with Scotland.

Hard as Wales tried to keep Scotland out, the penalty count increased against them and Scotland were able to drive over for the crucial score from a lineout.  The scoreboard now showed 23-26 and you never really felt that Wales could comeback in the little time remaining. It was like a punch in the guts to lose this match at the last gasp. A match that hardly anyone expected Wales to win remember.

So, what went wrong after so many things had gone right? Wales were well in control in the first half but gradually lost control in the second half as Scotland stepped up their effort. The glaring error from the kick off apart, Scotland seemed to get stronger when they deployed their bench while Wales seemed to get weaker if anything. Rugby has become a twenty-three man game and developing strength in depth is crucial if Wales are to continue to improve going forward

The Welsh forwards had really stepped up with Wainwright to the fore but ably backed up by the rest of the pack. The intensity of their performance was outstanding. The Welsh lineout was rock solid which makes a pleasant change. Costelow at outside half had his best game for Wales and it was a real shame when he was lost to an injury at a crucial time in the match. Yes, this was more like the old Wales. Despite some deft passing at times by the backs, they still somehow lack a cutting edge. Of course, they were up against a posse of British Lions who were always going to make things difficult.

Well played Wales. You certainly gave the supporters something to cheer. It is just a pity that we didn’t secure a win in the final reckoning. Next up Ireland in Dublin – it doesn’t get any easier.

Talking of Ireland, they really got stuck into England at Twickers and came away with a stunning victory (21-42). The English apple chariot has been well and truly upset. It leaves Ireland and Scotland to battle it out for the Triple Crown in the finale of the Six Nations Championship. Who would have thought it?

Next Saturday Pontypool will now travel to Llandovery to take on the Drovers in the semi-final of the SRC Cup. Pooler will need to produce something special to secure a win in what is not the happiest of hunting grounds. Another artificial pitch - let us hope that the experience in Cardiff last week will stand them in good stead.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Pooler Power to Comeback Win in the Capital

Pontypool travelled to Cardiff knowing that they needed at least a one bonus point win to progress to the semi-final stage of the SRC Cup. A goodly posse of Pooler fans had made the trip and considerably outnumbered those who favoured Cardiff. Though it was cold, it made a real change to be watching a match played under almost perfect conditions for rugby. After the sodden pitches and the teeming rain of the last few months, the artificial pitch was really going to make a difference.

Cardiff kicked off and immediately went on the attack. They put plenty of verve into their opening salvoes spreading the ball from wing to wing. The benefits of being accustomed to playing on artificial surface were plain to see. This was all too much for the Pooler defence to cope with and Cardiff No. 8 Fry acrobatically dived over the line for the opening try after only a couple of minutes played. Wilde converted and it was 7-0 before Pooler had blinked.

Pooler did make a sortie into the Cardiff half but this was swiftly rebuffed and Cardiff were back on the attack. This time it was a forward drive that paid dividends for Cardiff with substitute hooker Nicholls-Ngasseu touching down for their second try which was again converted by Wilde (14-0). Pooler needed to reply and quickly - 14-0 down after only 12 minutes played was not in the script.

There were signs that the Pooler forwards were beginning to get to grips with things with their scrum looking powerful and the lineout functioning well. At the start of the second quarter, Matthews burst forward from a ruck near halfway. He found scrum half Lloyd in support who broke clear to score. Meek converted and Pooler had halved the deficit (14-7).

Five minutes or so later, Pooler wing Marcus Jones fielded a Pooler box kick which gave Pooler field position and possession. A burst from Morgan Allen broke the gain-line and Lloyd again popped up in the right place to score his second try of the evening. Meek’s conversion brough the scores level and the momentum was definitely with Pooler (14-14).

It didn’t take long for Pooler to snatch the lead. Lloyd completed his hat trick of tries when he spotted a gap around the edge of a ruck. Meek converted and Pooler had turned an unpromising start completely around to lead 14-21. Pooler continued to press but could not add to their tally before half time.

Pontypool had managed to achieve a measure of control of the match through their forwards but the Cardiff backs had shown enough to show how dangerous they could be from anywhere on the field. The job for Pooler was far from being done.

Pooler remained on the offensive for most of the third quarter but found it difficult to score that all important fourth try. A combination of solid Cardiff defence and Pooler errors at crucial points made it all so frustrating. With 55 minutes played, Pooler settled for a Meek penalty which took them two scores clear at 14-24.

At last, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, there was relief for Pooler after a series of penalties awarded against Cardiff in their twenty-two, Pooler opted for a scrum in front of the posts. Allen picked up from the base of the scrum and powered over for a try. Meek converted and Pooler had the try bonus point they craved and were also in a position to secure the extra bonus point courtesy of their seventeen point lead (14-31).

Pooler were their own worst enemies as they began to leak penalties and lost Kelleher-Griffiths to a yellow card. Cardiff rather took the initiative and it took some stern defence from Pooler to keep them out. Just before the clock hit 40 minutes played Pooler conceded a penalty that Cardiff kicked to touch. The lineout that followed was a scrappy affair and the Cardiff hooker Nicholls-Ngasseu was the first to react and he broke through the remaining defences to score in the left corner. The conversion failed but Pooler had lost the extra bonus point at 19-31. This was the last action of the game.

Final score Cardiff 19: Pontypool 31.

A fine win for Pontypool in the capital after recovering from an early fourteen point deficit. We wondered whether Pooler had done enough to qualify for the semi-final or whether RGC still had a chance to pip Pooler with a six point win over Carmarthen Quins. We were assured that Pooler would go through whatever the outcome of that match with Pooler’s potential opponents in the semi-final Llandovery or Ebbw Vale.

The victory was achieved by the dominance of the Pooler pack ably assisted by the opportunism of scrum half Lloyd. The backs found it hard to break through the Cardiff defence and had to do a lot of defending themselves against the lively home backs. The next match for Pooler will be away against Bridgend Ravens on March 7^th. Both sides are currently in the basement of the league so a close game can be expected. Hopefully Pooler’s improved run of form in the cup will continue in the league.

Tomorrow sees Wales play Scotland in Cardiff in the Six Nations Championship. Scotland looked strong in their victory over England last week while Wales were overrun by France. Scotland have a host of British Lions in their backline who are bound to make things difficult for Wales. I would still like to see Wales have a specialist open side flanker playing. On paper it looks like a Scotland victory but rugby is not played on paper.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales! 

French Polish Too Slick for Wales

The rampant French team duly inflicted a heavy defeat on the beleaguered Welsh outfit. The final score was 12-54 and you were left feeling could have been a lot worse.

Strangely, this was an improved Welsh performance compared with that against England the previous week and there were a few encouraging signs. On the positive side, both lineout and scrum had been strengthened appreciably. The front five looked a much more solid outfit even though they struggled to contain their French counterparts in the loose at times.

Wales did have plenty of possession but this is where things looked decidedly off the pace. The backs were predictable and failed to make any real impression on the well-organised French defence when they tried to run the ball. The forwards who carried the ball with the possible exception of Wainwright struggled to get over the gain line. Most of the time, however, the plan seemed to be to kick the ball up in the air and hope that the French would make a mistake. This is a dangerous tactic to employ against a team who have such brilliant attacking runners in the backfield. When the French decide to move the ball they are absolutely scintillating and they had the ability to very quickly cut the Welsh defence to ribbons. Not for them is running the ball into contact but more the use of sidesteps and subtle switches of play to bamboozle the opposition. Wales were left clutching at shadows too often as the French showed us their exhilarating brand of rugby. You desperately wanted Wales to somehow manage to slow the ball down if there was a breakdown to allow the defence to reform. Perhaps the presence of a genuine openside flanker in the starting line-up might have helped.

So, yet another heavy defeat for Wales and a short turn round before they take on Scotland who will be brimming with confidence after beating England. Italy also continue to impress and were a little unfortunate to lose in Dublin where they looked the better team for much of the match. The prospect of another wooden spoon for Wales looms large.

Will there be changes to the Welsh team? We really do need an open side flanker to start – in my eyes Tommy Refell would be the obvious choice but there seems to be no room for this talented player in the squad. We really do miss Jac Morgan. That aside, I would not expect major changes as we need to give the current players a chance to bond and hopefully improve.

The demise of Wales has shown itself in the large number of empty seats in the stadium on Sunday. I sat in area normally populated by debenture holders and I was absolutely surrounded by French fans. When the debenture holders are not taking up their tickets it clearly reflects the disillusionment of so many fans. The French seemed dumbfounded by the speed at which Welsh rugby has gone from hero to zero and it is chastening to hear them feel sorry for us. They are very envious of our stadium though.

Wales take on Scotland next Saturday in Cardiff but before that Pontypool visit Cardiff on Thursday evening for a cup match. After the disappointment of the game lost to the weather against Carmarthen Quins which was designated as a 0-0 draw, Pooler have to win in Cardiff to have a chance of progressing to the semi-final.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

More Rain and More Pain

Pontypool’s planned cup match against Carmarthen Quins was rained off. I really can’t remember a season when there has been so much rain. Even a lot of the games that have gone ahead have done so in heavy rain. Still the postponement meant a full afternoon of Six Nations’ rugby.

The first game saw Scotland playing Italy in Rome. It was raining there too! Even heavier rain than in Pontypool and at times you wondered whether the game would be abandoned. Italy looked a strong and thoroughly competent side and took the spoils. I have to say they deserved to win with Scotland a bit of a damp squib. It was not really until the end when Scotland had the ghost of a chance of snatching a victory that they put any meaningful phase rugby together. Even then they found that the Italian defence was not about to let victory slip away. So, on the scoreboard a narrow 18-15 Italian victory but really that flatters Scotland.

Then came the match Welsh fans have been dreading the Wales team taking on England at Twickenham. Given the current status of the two teams, nobody gave Wales a chance with a cricket score a distinct possibility.

The start of the match did nothing to allay that possibility as Wales conceded penalty after penalty and made far too many errors. England had registered nineteen points in the first twenty minutes or so and Wales had been reduced to thirteen men by yellow cards. Arundell had scored a couple of tries and Earl a try with simple run-ins - it was embarrassing to watch. Wales were outmuscled and the rather pedantic referee seemed to be forever raising his arm in the air to signify yet another penalty against Wales. The sofa had been pulled away from the wall and I was crouched behind it.

One more English try was to follow before half time. This one when Wales were actually on the attack and a pass from Thomas went yards behind the intended recipient. Another simple try for Arundel was the result. The score at half time was 29-0 and as someone one said Wales were lucky to have the nil.

The second half had to be better for Wales didn’t it? Well, I suppose it was but nevertheless Wales found themselves down to thirteen men again due to poor discipline. England squandered a number of good chances to pile on the agony and kicked a lot of ball away. England did, however, manage to score a further three tries while, wonder of wonders, Wales scored a try of their own when Adams fielded a crosskick. England’s final try came right at the death and we all heaved a sigh of relief as the game ended with a missed conversion. Wales had managed to keep the England tally to less than fifty points at 48-7.

Wales were thrashed as I am sure the media will have it and that is, putting it bluntly, the truth. Were there any redeeming features for Wales? Well, they did keep trying to the very end and discipline apart did not make it easy for England. A strong performance from Wainwright who was one of the few Welsh players to carry the ball over the gain line. The occasional flash of inspiration from Rees-Zammit but really little else to cheer.

On the negative side, there were far too many silly errors and far too many penalties conceded. You cannot hope to trouble a powerful side like England with thirteen players on the field. Will changes be made? Probably not that many as the options are extremely limited – it’s going to be a long tournament and another wooden spoon for Wales is a strong possibility.

The next opponents for Wales will be France next Sunday in Cardiff. France looked very good as they disposed of a rather tame Irish side and will be licking their lips as they look forward to feasting on Welsh profligacy.

So, not a good weekend for the Celtic nations although all were playing away from home. The set up of the Six Nations with three matches in three weeks really favours the teams with the strongest squads which are England and France. The Wales squad is paper thin at the best of times and a few injuries will exact a heavy toll. It really does make me feel depressed!

A shout out for an encouraging performance for the Wales Under 20 team who were pipped by their English counterparts right at the death after building a 0-16 lead. They showed tremendous spirit against the big English forwards.

I believe Pooler’s next match is Cardiff away in the SRC cup on the 19^th February. A fair while to wait for the chance to forget about the travails of Welsh rugby. It’s Cardiff for me next Sunday for the French game – let’s hope for a miracle.

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!