Stop, Start, Stop for Pooler

These are frustrating times for everyone involved with Pontypool. No sooner had the appetite been whetted but we have an enforced pause. We all understand the reasons why but it does make you envious when you see the other clubs in the Championship playing while Pooler have to sit it out for the second week in a row. The next match is scheduled for the 8^th Jan at Cardiff Met University and there can’t be much confidence that this will take place with the current state of affairs with the COVID 19 virus. Bah!

We can only seek the refuge of the couch and watch the rather sparse choice of matches on the TV. I did watch the Dragons v Lyon on Friday night and a rather disappointing crowd saw the Dragons go down to a 28-41 defeat. There was no doubting the Dragons’ spirit as they mounted a comeback but they were outclassed really. It was a similar story for Cardiff Rugby who lost to the Harlequins in Twickenham. An understrength Welsh side more than held their own in an entertaining first half but the experience on the Harlequins’ bench and the power of their pack took the game away from Cardiff in the second half with a final score of 43-17.  Heavy fog rather spoiled the Glasgow v Exeter match but it ended with a well deserved victory for the Scots against their much vaunted opposition. There is no doubt the Scotland team will be highly competitive in the Six Nations if and when it takes place. It looks like the Scarlets and Ospreys will have to forfeit their matches and take a 28-0 loss so Welsh participation in the final stages of the European competitions is already under serious threat.

So there we have it! It is all very disappointing but there is not a lot we can do about it. Let us hope for a better 2022.

Merry Xmas everyone and keep safe.

Pooler Bounce Back – and how!

I didn’t manage to see the match between Pontypool and Tata Steel as I was out on pre-Christmas manoeuvres. It was great to hear that Pooler had bounced back from the disappointment of the previous Saturday in some style. It certainly confirmed that Pooler were unfazed by what was hopefully a blip and got back down to business.

Tata Steel (who pay my pension by the way, so I do feel some sympathy!) unfortunately found themselves on the receiving end of the backlash from the defeat at Neath. My colleagues on the Bank at the Park tell me that, with Jarvis at fly half pulling the strings, it was a real demolition job with Pooler running in twelve tries in romping home to an 82-3 victory.

Well done to everyone, I only wish I could have been there. Next Saturday will bring a stiffer test, I am sure, when Pooler visit Ystalyfera. We can expect a close encounter with a cup tie atmosphere as Pooler continue to regain cohesion after the long break.

Come on Pooler! 

Determined Neath Douse Pooler Spark

There is a long history of meaty encounters between Neath and Pontypool who are two of the fallen giants of Welsh Rugby. Both teams are, of course, desperately keen to re-establish themselves in the Premiership as soon as possible. Whilst this season is a write-off in terms of promotion from the Championship, there were still bragging rights at stake in Neath.

The Gnoll was bathed in sunshine but there was a fierce and cold wind blowing down the pitch which was sure to have a profound effect on the game. Pooler were playing against the wind in the first half and, as is now the accepted advice, would be looking to keep the scores close and try to capitalise on the elements in the second half. Things started badly for Pontypool with the concession of an early penalty that was converted by Williams to give the home side the lead (3-0).  Shortly afterwards Pooler lost wing Jay Jones to injury and brought on Marcus Jones as a substitute.

Pontypool gradually grew into the game and achieved good field position on a number of occasions. It soon became abundantly clear that a highly motivated Neath defence was not about to concede an inch. The home team did get on the wrong side of the referee but, despite yellow cards for Powell and Grigg, Pooler could not breach their defences despite several short-range driving lineouts and scrums. Pooler appeared disjointed and toothless in attack and in the end had to settle for a solitary penalty goal from Meek (3-3).

With the benefit of the wind, a hefty kick from the Neath half backs could clear the ball fifty metres or more down field. A great kick chase meant that Pooler’s attempts to run the ball back were quickly stifled. Such pressure led to Neath taking the lead late in the half with another Williams penalty (6-3).

Whilst disappointed with Pooler’s inability to capitalise on good field position and possession, most away fans would have settled for the 6-3 half time deficit when the first half began. Surely with the wind behind them Pontypool should be able to overturn such a slim lead.

Neath started the second half the stronger and increased their lead to 9-3 with another penalty in the first few minutes. From then on, the game was played almost exclusively in the Neath half. Pontypool, however, had come up against doughty opponents and their defence was more than equal to anything that a mis-firing Pooler attack could muster. Pooler lacked an attacking spark and the longer the game went on the more frustrated they became. Neath seemed to have the happy knack of forcing a turnover at crucial times to keep their opponents at bay.

Both sides conceded plenty of penalties and, with the benefit of hindsight, you cannot help but think that Pontypool would have been better served by taking the points rather than kicking for the corner. The game was littered with injuries and substitutions which seemed to strengthen Neath’s resolve and make Pontypool even more lacking in cohesion.

Pooler continued to batter away at the Neath line right to the end and got agonisingly close to scoring but it was not going to be their day as the magnificent Neath defence was not about to give them an early Christmas present. Final score: Neath 9 : Pontypool 3.

This marks the end of Pontypool’s remarkable long unbeaten league record and gives a timely reminder as to how tough and competitive the Championship is going to be. Pontypool came up against worthy opponents and in the end were found wanting. They do have a long injury list and have only played two competitive matches in the best part of two years but Neath seemed to have a greater desire to win on the day.

A bonus point loss is not the end of the world for Pontypool but they will need to bounce back next Saturday when they entertain Tata Steel.

Come on Pooler! 

Wales Escape to Victory

Winning with a last minute score is normally Australia’s modus operandi for defeating Wales but this time the boot was on the other foot. A hushed Principality Stadium held its breath while a cool Rhys Priestland converted a last gasp penalty to give Wales a 29-28 victory. Cue ecstatic cheering and the accompanying feelgood factor as the exuberant fans headed for the watering holes of Cardiff.

In truth, this match seemed to be a closely balanced contest between excellent Australian back play and poor Australian discipline backed up by pinpoint Welsh goal kicking. A red card for Wallaby No. 8 Valetini after fifteen minutes for a high tackle on Beard closely followed by a yellow card for Beale opened the door for Wales. They duly obliged with a smarty worked front peel from a lineout resulted in a try for Elias. This cancelled out an earlier seemingly effortless early visitors’ try by Kellaway after only three minutes and gave Wales a narrow 13-10 lead. Disappointingly Wales could not push the numerical advantage home and an exchange of penalties saw Wales leading 16-13 at half time.

Even with fourteen men the Wallabies had the upper hand in the second half. Their backs looked dangerous whenever they got the ball. It was therefore a surprise when, against the run of play, Tompkins scored a rather bizarre try. Everyone in the stadium apart from the referee thought that he had knocked the ball on when he went for an interception. The players stopped and no one was more surprised than Tomkins when the referee waved play on and he was able to stroll in for a try. The TMO replay showed that the ball had gone marginally backwards and the try was confirmed. “Play the whistle”, I can hear Max Horton shouting in West Mon School all those years ago. This unexpected turn of events gave Wales a ten point lead. Would it be enough?

A rather clumsy attempt at a clear-out at a ruck by Thomas saw him receive a yellow card and, with fourteen men a side, it was a question of whether Wales could hang on to their lead. This became doubtful after White finished over some outstanding Australian back play to score under the posts. The lead was only three points and the Aussies were rampant.

Biggar eased matters momentarily with yet another penalty but the game was really on a knife-edge when more great Australian attacking play saw an acrobatic finish in the left corner by Daugunu. Fortunately for Wales, the conversion attempt hit the post and Wales still led by a single point at 26-25 with ten minutes to go.

The Aussies were on top even though Wales were back to fifteen men and we feared the worst. It looked all up for Wales when Beale converted a penalty to give the visitors a 26-28 lead with a couple of minutes remaining.

To their credit, Wales had other ideas and a break by Gareth Davies saw them just short of the Wallabies try line with time running out. They battered away at the line but the Aussie defence held firm. We were all praying for that all important penalty signal from the referee and at last it came. Up stepped Priestland and the rest, as they say, is history.

This was a very stop-start match with loads of injuries and TMO interventions as well as a high error count. It was not really a great game in that respect. You could only admire the precision of the Australian back play which was exhilarating at times. Sitting behind the posts, the contrast between the play of the two sets of backs was glaring and one can only hope that we can learn from it. Wales continue to be unable to exploit good possession even when the opposition is shorthanded.

A win is a win I suppose, so well done Wales, but this one will go down as one of the more fortunate victories. Has the Autumn Series been a success? Well, winning two out of four is about par for the course I guess but when you look at how Ireland and France dismantled the All Blacks it promises to be a tough Six Nations. There are positives of course: the return of Ellis Jenkins and the wholehearted efforts of young players like Basham and Carter. On the negative side, long term injuries to several key players – Alun Wyn Jones and Josh Navidi to name but two. The big questions remain.  Will Ken Owens, George North and Taulupe Faletau return? Can we develop more reliable set pieces? What impact will Covid 19 have going forward?

Anyway, I don’t need to worry about all that. The most important matter in hand is Pontypool’s visit to Neath next weekend.

Come on Pooler!

Fiji Floored by Rees-Zammit Special

Wales eventually came from behind to beat Fiji 38-23 after an exciting tussle in Cardiff. Wales benefited from a red card awarded to Fiji winger Sau and a couple of Fijian yellow cards which, in the end, tilted a close game in the home side’s favour.

The game was decided by a Rees-Zammit kick and chase try in which he demonstrated his remarkable speed to outpace the Fijian defence. Wales can also be thankful for the solidity that Liam Williams brought at fullback as at times the Fijians threatened to run riot.

Wales were not really convincing and struggled at the breakdown against their muscular opponents. They also seem to find it difficult to pass the ball across the threequarters with any degree of penetration. They will need to do better next Saturday if they are to overcome Australia.

Come on Wales!

The Green, Green Grass of Home

 It’s been a long time coming but we are finally back in Pontypool Park watching rugby. I am informed that it is ninety three weeks since the last Pontypool match and a lot has changed in the meantime. We mourn our losses, celebrate the ground improvements and welcome the new members of the playing staff. This is a truly great club to support.

I took a while to drink in the scene: the Ray Prosser Stand, the trees showing their autumn tints, the jazzy new scoreboard, the beautiful playing surface and the excited buzz of a large expectant crowd. Yes, it was great to be back. Even the weather was behaving itself with a perfect day for rugby.

Pooler’s opponents were Maesteg Quins who had every intention of spoiling the party as they too must have drawn inspiration from the surroundings. Pooler played up the slope in the first half and were soon in trouble with the referee when a reckless tackle by Price ended in a yellow card after only a few minutes. The resultant penalty kick drew first blood for the visitors at 0-3.

Quins were proving a handful for an understandably disjointed home outfit but, out of the blue, Meek intercepted and ran fifty metres to score under the posts. With the conversion, Pooler were up and running and led 7-3. The rest of the first quarter was pretty scrappy with the visitors providing lively opposition for the rusty home team. They pressurised the scrum and the Pontypool lineout was shaky to say the least.

Early in the second quarter, the Pontypool cause was helped when Quins’ flanker Williams was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on that had stifled a promising attack.  A few minutes later, Pooler showed a glimpse of what they can do with some fine interplay resulting in a try for Ieuan Jones who had been having a great game. Meek converted and Pooler held a rather flattering 14-3 lead. The rest of the quarter was frustrating as the home side struggled to find their rhythm and the Quins continued to make things difficult. Half time score Pontypool 14 - Maesteg Quins 3.

The second half would surely see Pooler, with the advantage of the slope, assert their authority. The third quarter was scoreless, however, although there were positive signs as Pooler clearly gained the ascendancy in terms of territory and possession. The Quins scrum started to creak and the Pooler lineout started to function. It was also clear that the powerful Pontypool bench was going to play an important role in securing a first win of the new campaign.

On the hour, Meek slid a precise kick through the onrushing Quins defence for left wing Nove to gather and score in the corner. An excellent conversion put Pooler 21-3 to the good and the bonus point was in sight. We did not have to wait long. The Pontypool pack surged over the Quins try line only to be prevented from scoring illegally. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and Pooler had the bonus point and an unassailable lead at 28-3.

It was all Pooler from then on against a tiring Quins team. New scrum half Hale, on as a replacement, showed his strength to score a great solo try from thirty metres or so. Another new signing, Sweet, rounded things off with a try on his debut. Both tries were converted by Meek to make the final score 42-3.

After an understandably disjointed start following the long layoff, Pontypool gradually found their feet and, in the end, proved too powerful for a spirited Maesteg Quins team. The new squad members showed their mettle and there will be healthy competition for places in the team as the season progresses. I say season but sadly it is only half a season with the prize of promotion not available at the end of it. Barely has the league programme got under way when we find that there is a gap next weekend. The following weekend Pontypool will visit a formidable foe of old in Neath. This will be a major challenge that is for sure and Pooler have plenty to work on to prepare for it.

This afternoon Wales play Fiji and they really do need a win. This will not be easy against the powerful South Sea Islanders who do have some of the most talented rugby players on the planet in their ranks. They need to find the same fighting spirit that Ireland showed in the fine victory over New Zealand.

It’s great to be back watching the Pooler. We are finally going again.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Boks’ Bench Press Just Too Strong for Wales

What a difference a week makes. After a torrid time against the All Blacks in nigh on perfect weather conditions, Wales were facing the world champions South Africa in a persistent heavy drizzle and a swirling wind at the Principality Stadium. I think everyone would have preferred the stadium roof to be closed but Covid restrictions would not permit that. The crowd was getting wet outside as well as inside which is almost unheard of.

The weather conditions favoured the now familiar “boks” kicking game and the visitors applied it liberally. Wales struggled manfully to contain this and in the main were reasonably successful. Wales, however, had come with much more passion than the previous week and were not about to be intimidated by their powerful adversaries. Indeed, Wales led for most of the game as the teams exchanged penalty after penalty with the home lead reaching six points now and then.

Wales had their own kicking game which got them into good positions a number of times. There were a couple of tough chances for Rees Zammit in the first half to score in the corner in the first half but neither came to fruition. The Welsh midfield was rocked back by the on-rushing Boks’ defence whenever they tried to move the ball. Without heavyweight ball carriers Wales could not really dent the away teams defence close to the breakdown either. It was difficult to see how Wales were going to conjure up a try as the game wore on. They could, however, accumulate points through Biggar penalties that were earned mainly at the breakdown.

The Springboks worked themselves positions close to the Welsh line on a number of occasions and their driving lineout looked for all the world certain to pay dividends but splendid Welsh defence marshalled by the excellent Ellis Jenkins kept them out. The question was how long could they keep doing it.

One of the main culprits for Wales conceding field position was a rather shaky scrum which conceded too many penalties. In the first half there were not many scrums but the number increased in the second half and this ramped up the pressure on Wales. This was particularly so as the South African bench was deployed. Unlike last week the Welsh lineout held up well although this was achieved by throwing to the front rather than risking the longer throws favoured for attacking rugby.

Wales had a glimmer of a chance with a quarter of an hour to go when Liam Williams was put in a bit of space with the try line in his sights. Sadly, some complete buffoon had chosen to run on to the pitch and was crash tackled by a steward at the critical moment and no doubt was enough of a distraction to give the South African defence time to get across. Could Wales have scored? We will never know but that is twice in two weeks when spectators have managed to get on to the pitch which is really not good enough.  

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Wales held a slender 18-15 lead but the highly physical nature of the encounter was taking its toll on the Welsh defence and the Springboks invigorated by their experienced substitutes could smell blood. After yet another box kick was fumbled by Wales, the Springboks gathered and thought that Mapimpi had scored only to be called back for offside. The Welsh fans sighed with relief.

The relief was short-lived as soon after the Springboks had earned themselves a lineout five metres form the Welsh line. This time there was no mistake and after a virtually unstoppable forward drive Marx touched down. Wales still had a ghost of a chance when the conversion was missed and there were only two points in it at 18-20.

Time was running out and Wales could not make a dent in the resolute Springboks defence. To make matters worse they conceded a last minute penalty and the Springboks were home at 18-23.

Wales were much more competitive this week and from number one to twenty three could not be faulted for commitment or effort. In the end it was probably the South Africans’ confidence that comes from being world champions coupled with the power that they deployed form the bench that won the day. It was a sickener for Wales who had led for most of the match but they should not be too downhearted. It was brilliant to see Ellis Jenkins back and, if he can stay healthy, he will be an enormous asset to Wales going forward. The younger players in the Welsh side will no doubt gain from the experience as they will now need to step up as the old guard gradually stands down. The next two weekends with matches against Fiji and Australia are going to stretch the depleted Welsh squad to the limit. The gruelling schedule of matches for Wales is quite simply ridiculous. I know the WRU need the money but player welfare should come first every time.

In the ground, I have to say, the Covid restrictions were barely visible. Whereas last week people were not allowed to drink at the bars this was not enforced at all. Mask wearing was much reduced and we were almost back to normal. Is anyone going to do anything about this I wonder or are bar sales that important.

Great news! Pooler will be back in action next weekend when they take on Maesteg Quins at the newly refurbished Pontypool Park. It will be great to be back after such a long wait. I am counting down the days! With a host of new signings, it will be exciting to see who takes the field in the red, white and black.

Come on Pooler!

Come on Wales!

Wales Turn the Clock Back Early

Wales took on New Zealand in Cardiff in front of a capacity crowd – so far so good. From the moment the Haka challenge was accepted in complete silence, Wales were second best. It really was like turning the clock back as Wales were well and truly humbled by the All Blacks.

As it was in the past, Wales just about managed to hold on to the visitors’ coat tails for an hour or so before the last quarter turned into a nightmare and a 16-54 drubbing. It is a day that most Welsh people will want to forget and it certainly did not set off on the right foot when an All Blacks’ interception try in the first few minutes quietened the crowd. There was precious little for the crowd to cheer from then on. A couple of runs here and there and a try from Jonny Williams gave a few crumbs. The deliberate knock on from Beauden Barrett and the rough treatment of Moriarty did result in some harsh criticism for the referee and New Zealand alike and certainly raised passions in my vicinity. Let’s be fair, Wales were way off the pace.

What went wrong? Just about everything really. The lineout fell apart when it really mattered and the scrum creaked. Too many people took the ball standing still and were duly clattered by a ferocious All Blacks’ defence. Wales rarely ventured into the opposition twenty two and when they did they went sent scurrying back down field after a turnover. Losing Alun Wyn Jones certainly did not help as with his departure the body language of the team seemed to become more and more negative as I watched from the stand.

Was there anything to be cheerful about? I thought Wainright stood out in the forwards in a coming-of-age performance. There were some nice touches from Williams at scrum half, one good run from Lane and Adams tried hard but the back line was always under pressure.

Let us not forget that the All Blacks are a mighty fine team that can be irresistible at times. They are ruthless and poor play by their opponents is almost always punished by a try. Indeed, they scored some marvellous tries in this match. Hearty congratulations to them on their victory and to man of the match Beauden Barrett on his hundredth cap. You have to think, however, that the champions of Europe would give them a better run for their money.

There were mitigating circumstances for Wales with the unavailability of the English based players and a long injury list but would three or four players have made the difference? It is always hard to say but you have to make the best of the cards that you are dealt. Wales were very much at the beginning of the season while the All Blacks were match fit and firing on all cylinders. The Welsh warm up was just in front of where I was sitting and it seemed to lack intensity with the players looking bit heavy legged before they even started the match. Yes, Wales have a lot of work to do I fear.

I have to congratulate the WRU on how easy it was to get in and out of the ground. It was well organised with few delays despite the Covid pass checks and the new electronic ticketing system. It is a bit of a pain having to get in so early and not being able to share a beer or two with your friends in the stadium bars but we all understand the reasons why. Yes, you can have a beer in your seat but then you are subjected to blaring music and Eddie Butler flogging cars while you watch the grass grow. It becomes marginally more interesting when the teams start their warm up routines but two hours or so is a long time. Could we not have some young persons’ rugby on the pitch to watch? Even a couple of dancers from Strictly Come Dancing might help!

We have to do it all again next Saturday and this time it is the Springboks. They are of course reigning World Champions and have just vanquished the Lions as well as beating the All Blacks. They are tough and uncompromising – just what you need with a battered and bruised squad. Wales are likely to be without Alun Wyn Jones and Moriarty at the very least. We have the English based players back and maybe a couple of injured players retuning but it looks an enormous task based on what we saw yesterday. Still hope springs eternal.

Come on Wales!

The best news – it is only two weeks until the first Pooler league game!

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

 Still three weeks to go before Pooler play a league match. In the words of the Rolling Stones “I can’t get no satisfaction” at the moment. I’ve tried and I’ve tried to watch the games on the TV but it just not the same.

The WRU decision to delay the start of the league season looks more and more curious as we see the rugby world in action all around us but still we sit around waiting. You will remember that originally we were not due to start until 2022 so at least now we are in touching distance. Can’t smell the liniment yet but it won’t be long.

Pooler did have a warm up game last weekend although we couldn’t watch. They travelled to Bristol Bears to take on the A Team. This was always going to be an extremely tough encounter. Pitting themselves against a professional outfit was a pretty steep learning curve Despite losing 68-5 I am sure that the experience will benefit the squad enormously.

The only rugby I have watched so far this weekend was Exeter Chiefs v London Irish and I have to say I enjoyed it (a little). In the Welsh psyche it is always good to see the underdog beat the big dog  - unless you happen to support the big dog. London Irish produced a tremendous display of running rugby and committed defence to win deservedly.

Next Saturday, by way of an hors d’oeuvre for the Pooler season, Wales play New Zealand. This is followed closely by a match against the World Champions South Africa. We must be gluttons for punishment. I am attending the match next Saturday and, from a rugby perspective, I am afraid I can only predict an All Blacks victory. What with e tickets and Covid passes and bag searches the other thing I can predict is absolute chaos before the match. I may be proved wrong but I can see us being instructed to try and get into the ground two hours or more before kick-off. It would have been far better if this had been trialled on a smaller scale first.

As to the Welsh team, which will be shorn of the players plying their trade in England, the management team will be facing a number of selection dilemmas. I haven’t really watched much regional rugby so I am not really in a position to judge current form. I do look at the results and overall they do not make particularly inspiring reading. I am sure whoever represents Wales will do their utmost but I do feel pessimistic

Anyway, I wish Wales all the very best and hope that I am not still grappling with my phone outside the stadium when the whistle blows for the start of the match and indeed the final whistle.

Come on Wales!  

Saturday, Schmaturday

I am like a man on a diet and it’s not going well. I long to watch some proper rugby that I can really get interested in. That means some red meat Pooler style!

The current fare that I watch on TV is not really quelling the pangs of hunger I am afraid.  I have tried to feel involved but, for instance, watching Leicester v Saracens yesterday and Scarlets v Lions the day before did not come close to satisfying my hunger. Worse still, now and then, there is a little something that grabs me and it is like the smell of bacon or freshly baked bread when you know you can’t have them to eat.

This is agony and we still have to wait until November 13^th before Pontypool take the field in earnest. The squad looks great, the ground looks terrific but wait we must. Bah!

In the meantime, there will be an international or two to supplement the diet which will help. This depends on whether I can manage to get to grips with the new app. Still no sign of the tickets and I begin to wonder whether I have done something wrong. I suppose it is progress.

First up for Wales will be the All Blacks who rather surprisingly lost to South Africa yesterday. The match is outside the international window of course so an understrength Wales is going to meet a New Zealand team smarting from a rare defeat. This I fear will not do much for Wales’ 9^th place in the current World rankings. It is difficult to see how the European champions find themselves in this position but those are statistics for you. You never know Wales may find the inspiration from somewhere to give the All Blacks a tough time – I really do hope so.

Come on Wales – let us have some Bread of Heaven for us hungry souls.

More Frustration for Pooler

There can be few things that are as changeable as the Welsh weather but the structure and the governance of the leagues in Welsh rugby must come close. This is particularly so for the Premiership which sits at the pinnacle of the so called community game in Wales and therefore changes to that affect those below to a greater or lesser amount. Anyone involved in running a club in either the Premiership and particularly the Championship that sits immediately below it must think they are trying to build on quicksand.

 An impartial observer would be pardoned for thinking that it should be so simple. There are league structures in most sports and once the size of the league is determined based upon the season length then there is only the matter of promotion and relegation to be determined. Promotion and relegation are vital to give the pyramid energy and allow those who have ambition to flourish.

The Welsh Premiership has been subject to changes it seems like every year although surely that cannot be the case. The size has changed umpteen times with the size both increased and decreased seemingly on a whim. New cup competitions have been introduced and discarded. Relegation has decided on the field and by algorithm. Play offs have been introduced and the league has even been split in two. Most damaging of all has been the introduction of ringfencing for extended periods. All this with little warning to the clubs in the Premiership and the leagues below.

As a Pontypool fan, it is fair to say that I feel that we have been thwarted unfairly in our ambitions to gain Premiership status more than most. Although our neighbours in Ebbw Vale and Bargoed also suffered considerable frustration before they managed to make the step up. Pooler were originally relegated by algorithm and almost went out of existence after daring to challenge the WRU in court. Thankfully under the stewardship of Peter and Ben Jeffreys the club has rebuilt and now looks every inch ready for the Premiership and has demonstrated this admirably both on the field and with investment in top class facilities.

The last few years these ambitions were frustrated firstly by the ringfence imposed on the Premiership and then an almost farcical one-off playoff against a Llanelli team bolstered by Scarlets players.

Finally in the 2019-20 season things looked set fair, with no ringfence in place, promotion was a distinct possibility. Pooler won their first sixteen matches and were set for a ding-dong battle with Bargoed who were just five points behind. Then Covid struck and the season was abandoned. More frustration for all involved but this was beyond everyone’s control.

Season 2020-21 was a complete write-off due to Covid but we all looked forward to season 2021-22. The WRU, rather prematurely I thought, initially said that league rugby would not restart until January 2022. In the mean time, they introduced optional competitive rugby with law tweaks at the start of the season. Pontypool decided not to participate in this preferring to prepare for the season proper and hopefully a battle for promotion.

The latest is that the leagues will now start on November 13^th and that there will be no promotion and relegation. The teams in the Championship will play each other only once rather than home and away and there would be a playoff to decide the champions. This is of course a huge disappointment to all at Pontypool whose ambitions are yet again thwarted. Understandably people are thinking what can happen next to keep the club from the Premiership.

I am not sure why November 13^th was decided upon as the starting date. If that had been brought forward a month there would surely have been time to complete a full season. I have never really understood why there were large gaps in the normal season when Wales played. Even starting in November and playing once a week a full season could be completed before the end of May 2022.

I feel as fed up as most Pontypool fans but I am sure nothing like as frustrated as the management and players of the club who have invested so much to achieve the ambitions of making Pontypool a club to be proud of. The squad has been strengthened and the ground looks a picture – all we need is the opportunity!

One thing is certain we will stand by them in whatever course they choose to pursue.

We will prevail!

A Win for South Africa as the Lions are Tamed

It is fair to say that the quality of rugby in the South Africa v B&I Lions will not live long in the memory. It will be remembered for its ferocity, the Springboks ability to stifle any hopes that the Lions had of playing open rugby and the willingness of both sides to kick the ball up in the air and chase like hell. Sadly, the South Africans were better at the kicking and chasing.

We duly gathered to watch the third and deciding test match yesterday afternoon. The Lions had by choice made six changes from the side that was well beaten in the second test. The South Africans were without two of their most influential players in de Clerk and du Toit due to injuries. The mood of the room was slightly pessimistic it has to be said. Beer was on hand to quell the nerves.

A cagy start to the first half saw Biggar miss a kickable penalty and shortly afterwards leave the field with a leg injury. Cue the entrance of the mercurial Russell at fly half. The early signs were promising as the Lions managed to put a bit more pace into the game and look to have an edge. It was the Springboks who took an early lead though with a Pollard penalty. This was cancelled a couple of minutes later by a penalty from a nerveless looking Russell – he must have had a master class or two from Neil Jenkins.

There followed the best quarter of rugby that the Lions have played in the series. It started when they spurned a kickable penalty in favour of kicking for the corner. An excellent lineout drive saw Owens touch down for a try which was converted by Russell (3-10). The Lions were definitely on top and were managing to up the tempo and even get some offloads away which was stretching the home defence.

On the half hour, a great chance of a try was butchered when Williams held on to the ball instead of passing to Adams who looked to have the try line at his mercy. A couple of minutes later the Lions again kicked a penalty to the corner and looked for all the world like they were going to score. Sadly this was called back as Curry was deemed offside. These two missed chances in such a tight game would surely cost the Lions dear, we groaned and called for another beer. Plenty of “if onlys” and shaking of heads followed.

As the half drew to a close, Wyn Jones who had scrummaged well went down clutching his back. As these things happen, he had to pack down in a scrum straight after. The result was a penalty to South Africa and Pollard obliged. This left the score at half time 6-10 and you really felt that the Lions had missed a great opportunity to build a decent lead. We all knew that the Springboks would return with fire in their bellies after some mentoring in the changing room.

The third quarter belonged well and truly to the Springboks as they pinned the Lions in their own half. Wyn Jones tried to continue but was soon replaced by Vunipola. The Springboks missed an early penalty as the Lions came under pressure. Russell was lucky not to be carded after a high tackle of Kolbe and the ensuing penalty again went wide. Perhaps the luck was with the Lions today, I thought.

Moments later I knew the luck was not with the Lions as one of many high kicks turned into something resembling a basketball tip-off. The outcome of this untidiness was Kolbe scurrying down the right wing. Kolbe easily jinked around Liam Williams to score an all-important try. The TMO took ages to decide whether there had been a knock on but there was no clear evidence of this and the try stood. This time Pollard made no mistake with the kick and with twenty minutes or so left the home side had taken the lead at 13-10.

The final quarter was pretty frenetic with plenty of mistakes as both sides tried to get a grip on the game. There was an exchange of penalty goals - one for Russell and one for Steyn who had come on as a substitute. It was 16-13 with thirteen minutes to go. The Lions were awarded another kickable penalty. Murray who was now captain as Alun Wyn Jones had been substituted decided to kick for the corner. Another great lineout surge was held up over the line. The Lions continued to press but then, disaster, they conceded a penalty at a scrum and the home side gleefully cleared their lines. With only seven minutes remaining had the Lions blown it?

Well, not really, they were awarded another penalty and this time they opted to kick for goal. Again, Russell struck the ball perfectly and the scores were tied at 16-16 with only five minutes left. This was agony especially for those of us who remember Steyn kicking a last-minute penalty to secure the Springboks a win in the last test series.

Our worst fears were realised when the Springboks were awarded a penalty in the 78^th minute. It was no surprise when Steyn converted it with aplomb to give the home side a 19-16 lead. The Lions did well to reclaim the restart and give themselves a glimmer of a chance to snatch a draw. What might have been a penalty was a Lions’ scrum. The Lions were penalised as the scrum went down and that was that.

As I suggested earlier, this was not a series that will win many new converts to rugby as it was dour and attritional. When you compare it with some of the newer sports on view in the Olympic Games that are far more fast moving and exciting, fifteen a side rugby comes off very much second best I would venture.

Was the tour a success? The absence of a crowd was big miss as this would surely have brought more atmosphere. There were far too many off the field shenanigans and far too many delays for TMO decisions. The tactics of the two teams to a large extent cancelled each other out so there was little enterprising play. It was gripping because it was close. I still watched every minute of it but in some ways felt sad for the game of rugby that I love.

There will no doubt be plenty written about where we went wrong and endless analyses of each player and Warren Gatland’s tactics and team selections. I don’t propose to do any of that but I will say that I was delighted for Adam Beard who will now surely go from strength to strength.

I don’t think anyone can criticise the Lions for lack of commitment. They put their bodies on the line and pushed the world champions mighty close in difficult circumstance.

Well done boys – have a safe journey home.   

Boks’ Kicks Win It

 I think everyone who watches rugby knew what to expect from South Africa following last week’s defeat by the Lions. The winning formula that secured the Rugby World Cup when they dismantled England would surely be coming. They would be fierce and combative up front and they would employ the box kick and chase game to apply maximum pressure. The defence would rush up and stifle any attempts by the opposition to make inroads on the gain line. The only question was how much would they have improved from the previous week?

I have to admit that we all felt a little apprehensive with overtones of pessimism as we waited for the match to start. It would be nice if the Lions had an anthem before the game, we thought, as the South African team belted out theirs. Perhaps some clever soul could come up with a rap sampling the four nations’ anthems. My guess at the final score was 22-6 to the Springboks but was that just Welsh pessimism?

The match started fairly well for the Lions and the first half though ferocious was nip and tuck with the Lions having a narrow lead at 6-9. The home side were certainly better than the previous week with the Lions’ scrum beginning to creak and the Springboks' physicality giving them an edge in the contact areas. There had been a yellow card for each side with van der Merwe dismissed for a rather Norman Hunteresque trip on Kolbe and Kolbe dismissed for tackling Murray in the air. Either or both of these could have been red cards.

On the positive side, the Lions did cross the South African but the TMO ruled that Henshaw had not grounded the ball. He certainly should have but it was hard to see conclusively whether he had done so. The Springboks had suffered a blow with the loss the influential du Toit through injury.

Half time arrived and I did feel that the Lions seemed to be hanging on and the home side were gaining confidence. The Springboks forwards must have been practising against the elephants in the Kruger National Park as they looked to be taking control. The South African kicking game was playing havoc with a shaky Lions’ back three. It was a replay of the World Cup final.

The second half started with a try from the Springboks as Mapimpi caught a kick ahead and left the cover defence for dead. The conversion was missed but the home side were in front 11-9 and the Lions needed to react and quickly.

Try as the tourists might, they could not escape the stranglehold that the Springboks were exerting on the match. The Lion’s scrum was overpowered and the lineout was under pressure following the introduction of the giant de Jager from the South African bench. The home side bossed the break down and that meant a rash of penalties being conceded. All this on top of the back three spilling far too many high kicks. We looked on despair – perhaps the replacements could turn the tide?

Matters became worse when Am touched down a clever kick from de Klerk – or did he? The TMO and Nigel Owens on the TV had a field day with this. I have to say it looked like a try to me but others in the room disagreed.  The try was awarded and duly converted by Pollard.  Even though the score was 18-9 and twenty minutes to go there seemed to be no way back for the Lions.

The last quarter saw the Springboks in complete control. They continued to follow their game plan to the letter and resisted any temptation to run the ball. The Lions didn’t have any ball to run even if they had wanted to with their replacements making negligible impact. The outcome of the Springboks power game was more penalties and Pollard helped himself to three more as they moved to an emphatic victory with the final score 27-9.

This defeat was comprehensive and squares the series at 1-1 with the deciding test next week. All the momentum is with South Africa and it is a huge task for the Lions to find a way to fight back. After yesterday, surely no one can be considered certain of retaining their place in the test squad. We can be certain that South Africa will continue with the same game plan so the challenge is how to negate it. We can rest assured that the Springboks will probably bring a rhinoceros or two to beef up their training sessions when the elephants begin to tire.

So, what to do? The back three needs looking at as the fielding of the inevitable high kicks has to improve. Surely this means Liam Williams has to start along with Josh Adams at the expense of Hogg and van der Merwe. I think we might need to go to six forwards and two backs on the bench to give us more options in what will be a huge forward confrontation. If we did this there are implications on the midfield selection in the backs. It would be madness to go into this decider without two highly rated goal kickers….. Ouch! my brain hurts already.

I think I will leave this to the men who matter but I can see straight away how difficult a selection this is going to be. In simplistic terms, we need to field the biggest strongest pack we have plus sufficient fire power to bring on from the bench. We need to be able to defuse the South African high kicks and take every three points on offer and, yes, it would be nice to score a try or two. All this against the world champions in their own backyard. Good luck Warren!

Can the Lions do it? Of course they can - but they will have to play out of their skins.

Come on the Lions!

The Lions Claw Their Way Back

No one said that this Springboks v. Lions test series was going to be pretty. Most said that it would be decided by penalties and goal kicking and close calls. If the first test was anything to go by, they were absolutely right. Not much prospect of open running rugby here just a fierce physical confrontation with high kicks the order of the day in Cape Town.

The first half belonged to the Springboks as they won the collisions and collected points via penalties to lead 12-3. The Lions were second best and conceded too many soft penalties as their discipline let them down. As we watched in the comfort of our home, we were more than a little concerned. Our only solace, apart from a beer or two, was that the Lions seemed to be gaining a measure of ascendancy as the half drew to a close. Both sides seemed to have adopted fairly similar tactics with plenty of box kicking it was just that the home side were doing it a bit better.

The second half saw a turn around with the Lions resurgent and applying the pressure that produced the valuable commodity that is penalties. First, they had to close the gap in the scores and in the first five minutes they elected to kick for touch when awarded a kickable penalty. The subsequent driving lineout worked to perfection with Cowan-Dickie getting the touch down for the first try of the match. Biggar converted and it was game on and those of us hiding behind the couch re-emerged.

A couple of minutes later it was agony. South Africa looked to have scored a try down the left wing. But wait was Le Roux offside? By the finest of margins, the TMO decided that he was and the try was disallowed – big sighs of relief. The score was still 12-10.

The Springboks were incensed and moments later the TMO was adjudicating on another home try following some really scrappy play which ended with de Clerk touching down. Was that a knock on by du Toit? This time the Lions didn’t get away with it. Fortunately, the conversion sailed wide and the Lions were still within a converted try at 17-10.

There were thirty minutes to go and it was time for the Lions to go to work and the catalyst was some storming play from Lawes who really took the game to the Boks. Both sides brought on their replacements and it was the tourists who seemed to benefit the most. The Lions had the momentum but could they turn it into points?

The home side started to give away penalties and through the boot of Biggar the Lions made inroads. Three penalties and the Lions are in the lead for the first time at 17-19 with around fifteen minutes to go. This was going to be close – cue another beer!

The Lions needed to keep cool but a tip tackle by substitute flanker Watson moments later looked like yellow card territory. Phew just a penalty and even better Pollard’s kick at goal sailed wide. “Don’t do anything stupid”, we roared.

Biggar took a bump on the head and departed for a HIA so Farrell slotted in at fly half and we were down to ten minutes remaining. A cock-up in mid-field by the Lions saw the ball go loose and de Allende touching down despite being held back by Daly. The TMO came to the Lions rescue again – a clear knock on by Kolbe was spotted. Scrum to the Lions but another close call.

Play became frenetic as the minutes ticked away. This could still have gone either way. Three minutes left and a penalty awarded to the Lions. Up steps Farrell. “Take your time young man”, we shrieked. He knows what to do and with a nano second of the time allowed for the kick running out he calmly slotted it. It’s 17-22 the Boks had to score a try now.

It was a long three minutes but the Lions defence was absolutely brilliant with Itoje to the fore. “They shall not pass”, was their motto. With the clock in the red, a turnover was forced by Itoje and Hogg booted the ball gleefully into the stand. The Lions had won. We all collapsed in a heap.

On reflection not a great game of rugby in terms of quality but fantastic endeavour and commitment with the Lions doing really well to bounce back from an unpromising first half display. Standout players for the Lions in the second half were Itoje and Lawes backed up by accurate goal kicking from Biggar. In the battle of the replacement front rows, the Lions did not suffer in the scrums as many predicted they would. Alun Wyn Jones lasted the full eighty minutes and was calm and authoritative as captain and managed the referee well. He must have paid a visit to Merlin when he was at home nursing his injured shoulder!

So, we move on to the second test next week. Will there be changes? First and foremost the injury list from a bruising encounter needs to be assessed – will Biggar be fit after his head knock for instance?  Is the use of Daly at outside centre worth another go? – it was not really a great success. The Lions didn’t really look like scoring tries which is a cause for concern. After such a bruising encounter, should there be some squad rotation particularly in the forwards? The management team just about got the first test right so we have to have confidence in them rather than try and second guess them.

Win the next test and win the series but of course the South Africans will have other ideas and can be expected to come storming back. It promises to be a cracker.

Well played everyone.

Come on Lions!    

The Lion, the Puma and the Wallaby

Yesterday I had a triple helping of rugby. The third test between Australia and France was by far the most exciting with little to choose between the two sides in what has been a close series. Australia won narrowly (33-30) to secure the decider despite being down to fourteen men for most of the match. France has by no means been at full strength for this series but has demonstrated that their strength in depth is becoming formidable.

Wales against Argentina was like watching men against boys as the brawny South Americans quickly took a stranglehold on the match. Unlike the first test last week, Argentina managed to keep fifteen men on the field and were far too strong for what was very much a second/third string Welsh side.

Wales started well enough with a fine try from Lane but, from then on, they were really up against it as the powerful Puma forwards made ground with virtually every carry. The visitors scored two tries to take an 8-17 half time lead and it could have been worse.

The second half was even more difficult to watch as a Welsh supporter. The yellow card for Amos didn’t help but Wales were on the back foot for most of the time. With what little good possession that they did have, they tried to spread the ball wide but their handling was just not up to the job. Meanwhile the pressure exerted by the Puma forwards led to a series of penalties and the scoreboard kept ticking along in Argentina’s favour. Wales never gave up trying but wilted in the heat - what are we doing playing rugby in July on the hottest day of the year? It was no surprise when the Pumas scored their third try from yet another forward surge to take the final score to a chastening 11-33.

Wales can at least take comfort in blooding a number of young players against what is, after all, strong opposition. There is some potential there that is for sure. Yesterday though, few Welsh players came out in credit. Definitely one to forget!

The third match was the Lions against the Stormers. The Lions had suffered a defeat in midweek against a South Africa “A” team stacked with seasoned internationals so needed to bounce back convincingly. The first twenty minutes or so belonged to the home team who had plenty of possession and troubled the Lions in all aspects of the game but only had three points to show for it. The Lions gradually established a level of control with a try from Beard settling the nerves. Beard has really grasped his opportunity with both hands and is looking pretty comfortable amongst the more exalted names in the second row.

From then on, it was reasonably plain sailing for the tourists with forwards dominating the try scoring. The Lions held a comfortable half time lead at 3-21 thanks to tries from the effervescent Cowan-Dickie and Hill.

After the break, the Lions added a further four tries through Conan, Fagerson, Rees-Zammit and Simmonds to wrap up a satisfying 3-49 victory. The second half was noteworthy for the return of Alun Wyn Jones who looked pretty sprightly against all the odds. A special word also for Marcus Smith making his first start and who certainly looked the part.

All thoughts now turn to the first test next Saturday and endless speculation as to who will be in the Lions team. Others far more knowledgeable than I will be pontificating on who should and shouldn’t be picked but one thing is for sure the pack needs to be the strongest that we can make it with emphasis on the set piece and breakdown for at least the first hour. What happened to England in the RWC Final shows what the Springboks can do if they gain dominance up front. Should Alun Wyn Jones play? It seems incredible that he has a decent chance of doing so. The three definite starters in the pack should be Furlong, Itoje and Curry after that it is up for grabs. Beyond that I will not speculate as it is far too early on a Sunday morning but surely Cowan-Dickie had earned a place with his performance yesterday.

It is a three match series crammed into three consecutive weekends so winning the first test is incredibly important. It is a big ask for anyone to play all three tests so managing the squad through the series will be important as there are bound to be many injuries.

I wish the team and the management all the best on coming up with a winning formula.

Come on Lions!

Wales Find Argentinian Beef Tough

A double header on the couch yesterday with Wales v Argentina followed by the Lions v Sharks II. There was of course competition from Wimbledon and the remote suddenly went missing and got into management’s hands fortunately a compromise was quickly established.

In Cardiff it was clear right from the start that the tough Argentinians were an entirely different prospect to the Canadians the previous week. Mano a mano they looked physically stronger than their Welsh counterparts and this was going to be hard going for a below strength Wales team. There was little rugby played in an error strewn first half with neither side being particularly impressive. The Pumas were on top in the scrums which were a constant source of frustration that ultimately led to a yellow card for Lewis and Chaparro as the referee lost patience quite a while after the rest of us.

With the scores at 6-6 following a couple of penalties each, the Welsh cause was helped by the red card for Argentinian fullback Mallia after a high tackle on Hardy. Strangely Hardy was not required to undergo a HIA after what looked like a considerable whack on the head.  Equally strangely the numerical advantage that the Welsh now had (14-13) did not seem to help at all as the Pumas enjoyed their best spell of the match scoring a try either side of half time to take a deserved 6-20 lead.

Wales had to react and they did. The Puma’s defence was uncompromising and Wales struggled to make the extra man count. The introduction of Tomos Williams at scrum half helped to increase the tempo of the Welsh attacking play and, ten minutes later, Wales at last scored their first try when Rowlands ploughed over from short range (13-20). Wales continued to attack in fits and starts and finally with ten minutes left Williams darted over from close range and with the conversion the game was tied up at 20-20.

Could Wales go on and win it? Well both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock with late penalty attempts but neither were successful. I suppose a draw was a fair reflection on the game but it is fair to say the Welsh team has plenty to work on before they face the Pumas next weekend.

In South Africa, the Lions’ tour is becoming disjointed to say the least with the impact of Covid disrupting both schedule and selection. Last Wednesday the Lions had to make wholesale late changes to the backs before their game against the Sharks due to Covid isolations. They still won comfortably (7-54) with Adams and van der Merwe helping themselves to a hat trick of tries each. The Bulls game scheduled for yesterday was called off and the Lions faced the Sharks again in a hastily arranged fixture.

Both teams were much changed with the Sharks fielding a more youthful team. The first half came a as a bit of a shock if the Lions were expecting an easy runout. A highly motivated Sharks team seized on every Lions mistake (and there were many of them) with glee and went toe to toe with their more illustrious opponents. The lead changed hands several times with the score after a breathless first half tied up at 26-26. The Sharks had troubled the Lions in all areas and were clearly enjoying the challenge.

The Lions had to improve in the second half and they did with the error count much reduced as they tightened up their style of play. The sending off of Sharks scrum half Hendrikse for elbowing Liam Williams was a turning point and the Lions quickly stamped their authority on the game to eventually win 31-71 with a total of eleven tries scored. They did concede five tries which will be of great concern to the coaching team.

The battle for places in the test team looks far from being resolved in many areas with few players enhancing their chances yesterday – Watson, George and van der Merwe being honourable exceptions. Injuries/Covid could have a part to play no doubt but how would you like to choose between the wings available? The scrum didn’t go particularly well in the first half or in the game on Wednesday and selection here will be crucial if the Lions are to match the Springboks in a key area of the game where they are so strong.

There is plenty more rugby to come with no competition from Wimbledon. The remote is safely under lock and key.  Happy days! 

Well, it is the cricket season

It is back to some serious rugby watching in couchland. Yesterday we had Wales v Canada from Cardiff and the B&I Lions v the Sigma Lions from Jo’burg. Both games turned out to be very one-sided but at least the right side won in both cases. This followed on from the All Blacks beating Tonga by a 100+ points and the Springboks winning by 40 against Georgia. A collection of cricket scores indeed.

Wales fielded a blend of new and old and proved to be far too strong for the Canadians. For large parts of the match Wales played with verve and invention and at times rang the opposition ragged. It was good to see a large contingent of Dragons show what they could do. Carter in the second row looks a real prospect. The only really sour note in the match was what looked to be a serious knee injury to the redoubtable Halfpenny on what was his one hundredth international appearance. He has been a great servant to Wales and I wish him a speedy recovery. For the record Wales won 68-12. They now take on Argentina who will no doubt provide much stiffer opposition.

Following on from their victory over Japan the B&I Lions played their first game in South Africa. Understandably there were a few misfires along the way but the tourists never really looked like losing in what was a useful warm up game with the final score a resounding 14-56 victory. Josh Adams continued his scoring streak with four tries and did his test ambitions no harm at all. Louis Rees Zammit scored the first try but thereafter the scoring passes went out to the left wing for Adams to gobble up. Man of the match was Hamish Watson who put in a storming performance and he does remind me of David Pocock the great Australian flanker. In fact, put Navidi and Watson together and you might have something like the Pocock and Hooper combination that the Aussies deployed so successfully.

None of the players who played did their chances of test selection any harm at all and all will have benefited from a game at altitude. There will be selection conundrums for Gatland and co to work through as the tour progresses. Not least of which will be the 10,12 & 13 combination. Russell and Farrell together was not a great success yesterday but it is early days. Both Farrell and Biggar are proven top class goal kickers and as such you would probably expect both to be in the twenty-three man test squad. The question is how to deploy them along with the fine centres available. There are four more matches before the first test for the management team to firm up their ideas.

Someone told me that the England football team won yesterday. I wonder if there will be anything about it in the Sunday papers. I will go and find out.

Come on Wales

Come on Lions

….and so it goes on

I am beginning to wonder whether this rugby season will ever end. Of course, for those of us who support the community teams the season never began but for the professionals we have reached mid-June and with temperatures soaring the players are still flogging their guts out. It seems an age since Wales were crowned Six Nations Champions

I have never got to grips with the Rainbow Cup at all and have only watched snatches of matches here and there. Suffice it to say the Welsh regions have not covered themselves in glory. It appears that somehow the Italians of Benetton have contrived to get into the final and will play the Bulls from South Africa in Rovigo. The pandemic has played a major part in all this I am sure but let us hope that Benetton put up a good show against their powerful opponents.

I have, however, been watching the English Premiership fixtures. There has been some fabulous rugby played at times by Bristol and the Harlequins in particular. I am glad that they both ended up in the play-offs which will be played over the next couple of weekends – taking us perilously close to July! The other two teams left in the shake-up Sale and Exeter are heavily reliant on their power game and I guess one of them will probably prevail in the end. The do play each other in a semi-final which I am sure will not be for the faint hearted if yesterday’s encounter is anything to go by. Sale could easily change their name from Sharks to Springboks as they do include a vast number of South African players in their ranks.

As the English Premiership grinds to an end, our eyes turn to the British and Irish Lions and their tour to South Africa. We seemed to have weeks of everyone and their uncle picking their squad for the tour in the social media. Not many got it right that is for sure when the people who really matter announced what was actually going to happen. I for one was glad that there was a strong Scottish contingent which reflects how they have improved over the last couple of seasons.

Now, of course, everyone is busily engaged in picking their test team. I think I will leave that to Warren Gatland and co. I guess it is a way to fill column inches and occupy spare time. I cannot say that I have been gripped by the prospect of the tour yet. Maybe that will change over the next couple of weeks. Maybe I have just fallen out of love with rugby. Maybe I just need a dose of the Pooler vaccine. I am sure I will come round eventually.

Talking of Pooler, it is great to see how well Pontypool Park has been refurbished. It really is looking a picture and I can’t wait to get back there. I have tried to get enthused by the “rugby-lite” that the WRU have put forward for the community game over the coming months. The law changes being implemented are wide-ranging so I only got halfway down the list before I decided, like anything with “lite” attached, it was not going to be as satisfying as the real thing. There would also not be any spectators anyway and then there would then be a long break taking us up to the New Year. I understand that Pontypool have decided not to participate and will wait for “real rugby”, as we used to call it in school, to begin in early 2022. I think that it is the right decision.

There is no doubt that the last eighteen months has been extremely frustrating as a Pontypool fan with the bread and butter removed from my rugby diet. Not being able to watch the Wales games in the flesh has also been a bind but at least Wales turned their fortunes around to win the Six Nations Championship.

I do watch football and did agonise yesterday with the Welsh team as they managed to hold on to a draw against Switzerland it stifling heat in Baku. Well done boys for hanging in there. The tragic events surrounding Christian Eriksen in the match that followed between Denmark and Finland brought sport into perspective and I wish him a speedy and full recovery.

I have just re-read this and on second thoughts I am looking forward to the Lions’ tour after all.

Come on Lions!   

French Kickers Do Not Titillate

I settled down on the couch yesterday in anticipation of an enjoyable afternoon’s rugby on the TV. The remaining two European Champions Cup quarter-finals were all French affairs and promised some French flair – or so I thought. I have to say I was bitterly disappointed and found my fingers fiddling with the remote control and channel hopping far too often. Both games turned out to be penalty fests with not a try to be seen or likely to be seen. Not great fare for the neutral observer even though both games were fiercely and evenly fought with the result in doubt to the end

The first featured Bordeaux-Begles and Racing 92 with the odd penalty in fifteen giving Bordeaux-Begles a last gap 24-21 victory. Neither side managed to get the blood coursing through the veins with their attacking prowess but there was plenty of grunt from the two large packs of forwards.

The second tie surely had to be better with French aristocracy on the field with Clermont Auverne taking on Toulouse. Admittedly it was wet, but there was yet more blood and guts with the teams going at it hammer and tongs but not really looking to be able to crack the stern defences. This time there were only eleven penalties with Toulouse taking the spoils 12-21.

This was not a great advertisement for rugby but I don’t suppose either Bordeaux-Begles or Toulouse give a hoot. They take their place in the semi-finals where they will face off against each other. It has to be more entertaining, doesn’t it?

The other quarter-finals were much better to watch. Leinster recorded an excellent win at reigning champions Exeter where the teams scored three tries apiece with some outstanding wing play on view. Leinster had the upper hand once they had recovered from the early concession of two Exeter tries and the boot of substitute fly half Byrne with five penalties made sure that they kept Exeter at arm’s length for a 22-34 victory.

Sale, who had looked so good against the Scarlets, were brought down to earth with a bump at La Rochelle who totally outplayed them with a thumping six try 45-21 victory. What would La Rochelle have done to the Scarlets I wonder?

So, the second semi-final will be La Rochelle at home to Leinster which should be interesting. At least the Pro 14 has some representation in a tournament dominated by the French and Leinster do look to have the wherewithal to become champions again. What is not a great year for the English continues.

The semi-finals for the Challenge Cup are: Bath v Montpellier and Leicester Tigers v Ulster with the teams that put paid to Welsh hopes the previous weekend all losing out in the quarter-finals. Home advantage may well be the telling factor in these two semi-finals but Ulster who looked impressive in their victory at Northampton may have something to say about that.

It is a pretty bleak picture if you are Welsh with the Regions once again way off the pace in the Champions Cup and this time not even featuring in the latter stages on the Challenge Cup. The hordes of foreign imports that populate the most successful team squads has an awful lot to do with it, I am sure. Leinster seem to manage pretty well with a select few imports though and there are signs that the French are bringing through some impressive young home-grown players. The lack of Welsh success always raises the question of finance which I do not intend to go into here.

At least Wales continues to be competitive on the international stage. We’d better enjoy it while we can!    

No Regions to be Cheerful

What a desperately disappointing weekend for the Welsh Regions. The European fixtures featuring English and Welsh teams turned out to be a whitewash for the English. This is nothing new in the European Champions Cup where only the Scarlets featured but Wales have been doing reasonably well of late in the Challenge Cup.

The Scarlets were well and truly demolished (14-57) by a rampant Sale team that was certainly not taking any prisoners. What was most disappointing was that the Scarlets did not really turn up and failed to offer much more than token resistance despite having their internationals back in the fold. The bulky Boks plus Curry in the Sale pack proved to be far too strong. The match did little to enhance the chances of British Lions’ selection for Messrs Owens, Wyn Jones, Jon Davies and Liam Williams. This was a humiliating defeat that begs many questions.

In the Challenge Cup things were very different with all three Welsh Regions building healthy leads at times but failing to close out their games. The English teams all came on strong in the last quarter demonstrating a combination of stronger benches, better fitness levels and a never say die attitude. Playing week in week out in a more competitive league must surely contribute to this. For the record the results were:

London Irish 41          Cardiff Blues 35

Ospreys  24                 Newcastle 28

Dragons 39                 Northampton 43

All three games were thoroughly entertaining with plenty of excellent running rugby and all could, in truth, have gone either way with less than a score dividing the teams at the final whistle. Sadly they all went the wrong way for the Welsh who will be left wondering how they let them get away.

A miserable weekend though following so closely after the brilliant Welsh triumph in the Six Nations Championship.

Still there is always next season – although I confess I do not feel particularly optimistic. Maybe the prospect of watching the Pooler again will cheer me up.

Celtic Double Delight

Wales are the Six Nations Champions! Something we didn’t think we would be saying this year.

Last night Scotland dashed France’s hopes with a stunning victory in Paris. With a bit more luck, it could have been Scotland who were the champions after their victories in Paris and London and two really narrow defeats by Wales and Ireland. Congratulations to Scotland who are developing a powerful squad that will take some beating in the years ahead. Finishing in fourth place seems scant reward for a great campaign but at least they are above the “Auld Enemy”.

Watching the match on the TV, the tension was unbelievable at times as the French looked more than capable of gaining the twenty one point victory margin that they so desperately needed to overhaul Wales in the Championship table. For the first time, I really got to feel what it is like to be a Scotland supporter and it is even more stressful than supporting Wales and Pontypool!

When Scotland scored the first try of the match through van Der Merwe, you sensed how heartily fed up they were of being written off by all and sundry and hearing that the match was all about how many France were going to win by. Rather like at Twickenham earlier in the season, Scotland were going to do their damnedest to prove the pundits wrong. This was mighty good news for the Welsh hunched over their TV sets in their front rooms.

It was far from plain sailing as France eased their way into the match on a rainy night which certainly was not helpful to their cause. France led 13-10 at half time and had scored one of the four tries they needed. Three tries and an eighteen points margin did not look beyond them especially as Hogg had been yellow carded for the first ten minutes of the second half.

France soon had their second try on the board when Penaud scored and now led 18-10 – another step nearer to breaking Welsh hearts. That missed conversion might be vital though, I thought.

Scotland were having none of it and soon were hammering at the French line. They took a penalty to close the gap to 18-13 and showed that they were not about to go away. They continued to harry the French and as the third quarter scored their second try through hooker Cherry after the ball ricocheted into his arms close to the French line. Scotland had taken the lead at 18-20 and made France’s task all the more daunting. France had it all to do just to win the game with twenty minutes remaining. I still couldn’t make myself believe that Wales would be Champions though.

The French still believed and hit back with their third try from Rebbadj after a period of pressure on the French line. Another conversion missed but they were back in the lead at 23-20

Scotland bounced back and attacked strongly but spurned the several penalty opportunities that would have helped the Welsh cause if not their own desire not to settle for a draw. Still the clock was winding down nicely and there were only ten minutes remaining when Scotland attacked the French line through Russell.  His fend on the French fullback Dulin was deemed dangerous and he was shown a red card. Was this the glimmer of a chance that the French needed? They surely couldn’t score eighteen points in nine minutes could they?

If it was their opportunity, they squandered it with a yellow card for Serin a couple of minutes later. You sensed that the French knew that the game was up and dejection sped through their ranks. All Scotland saw was a chance of a famous victory and they were not about to let it pass.  With the clock in the red the French had a chance to kill the game and at least take the victory. They dallied with the ball and gave away a stupid penalty. This was all that Scotland needed and a couple of minutes later van Der Merwe was over for a try in the corner. The conversion was good and Scotland had snatched victory 23-27 at the death just like France had done to Wales the previous week.

When I look back on the match, France never really looked like winning by the twenty one point margin they needed to ruin my evening. It did not seem so at the time though as good old Welsh pessimism was to the fore. A combination of the weather, six day turn round after a hard match with Wales and the lack of a crowd will have all made it more difficult for France but what really made it almost insurmountable was the commitment and skill of a doughty Scottish team who were in their faces all match. 

Well done Scotland!

Wales can celebrate being Six Nation’s Champions. It is a pity that it couldn’t have happened with the team on the field in front of a full house but these are strange times. Never mind it is a brilliant achievement and I congratulate everyone involved.

Well done Wales!