Encouraging Signs for Wales

We Welsh fans are not normally optimistic by nature and my feeling before the game against Australia was that we were most unlikely to win. Watching the game, you felt that everyone of a Welsh persuasion probably agreed with that sentiment and so of course did the Australians. Yes, without doubt, Wales played their hardest and did their utmost to win but Australia seemed to be able to glean points just when it mattered most.

This is the old story when the two sides meet with Australia finding a way to win and Wales finding a way to lose. This time it was not the heart-breaking last minute victory grab by the Wallabies that we have experienced so many times before. Here they managed to keep Wales at arm’s length, albeit quite a short arm, for most of the game. The final score of 21-29 reflects the Australians’ ability to take their chances.

There were positives for Wales with signs that the much touted all action running game was achievable with the group of players in the squad. The handling and offloading skills of the forwards seem to have improved significantly with Rob Evans and Alun Wyn Jones showing up well in this respect. The backs managed to finish a couple of decent moves with tries for Evans and Amos but did find the Aussie defence a tough nut to crack. Steff Evans had a tough introduction to test rugby but will be a better player for it I am sure. Let us hope that the injury to Jon Davies is not too serious as we can surely build a decent set of backs around him and Liam Williams with a bit of imagination.

Overall I enjoyed the match with plenty of attacking intent from both sides but I just wish we could sneak a win some time. What I didn’t enjoy was queuing for forty minutes or so in the pouring rain to get into the ground. I know we have to have stringent security but surely it could be better organised that that. We joined the queue an hour before kick off as we enjoy listening to the choir under the stand and the Q&A session with a Welsh squad member. Sadly we missed both this time. Let’s hope the WRU have a rethink before the All Blacks match.

Next up for Wales is a match against Georgia who will present a physical challenge but really this is a game that Wales should expect to win reasonably comfortably.

Saw a few brief highlights form England’s victory over Argentina and with wins for Scotland against Samoa and a thumping victory for Ireland against the Springboks it would seem that the Six Nations will be pretty tasty next year. By all accounts, France gave the All Blacks a few scares although not enough to beat them.

On the domestic front losses for Narberth and Trebanos in the Championship strengthened Pontypool’s position at the top of the league. Pooler entertain Trebanos in early December after the Autumn break. Only a month to go!

Come on Wales in the mean time!