Saturday Morning Covid Blues

There is not much rugby to be had at the moment so I was pleased that the Scarlets v the Cardiff Blues was televised. There is no doubt that the Cardiff Blues deserved to win a low-quality affair. It is worrying that, with the Six Nations Championship just around the corner, so many top players failed to live up to expectations. There were more injuries to Wales squad players but on the positive side it was great to see Ken Owens and Josh Navidi return after long term injuries. Whether either them will be fit enough to start in a full-blooded test match in a couple of weeks has to be in doubt.

There was little to cheer about for the neutral Welsh fan with injuries to Hill, Wyn Jones and Tomos Williams plus the early departure of Jon Davies a cause for concern. For the record, Cardiff Blues won 10-13 with Botham named man of the match - perhaps the man of the match was drawn out of a hat as to my mind no one really deserved the accolade. I am sure that Dai Young will be delighted that his new charges got off to a winning start but that perhaps sitting in a nice warm car in a traffic jam for the first part of the match wasn’t so bad after all.

Given the current injury list in Welsh rugby, the Welsh squad did not really contain many surprises. It is a shame though that there was no room for Ioan Lloyd who is one of the most exciting players I have seen this season. There would seem to be little point in selecting Dan Lydiate if he is not going to feature in the match day squad and you could easily see a return to the balanced Lydiate, Faletau, Tipuric back row with Navidi on the bench. I would go with Ball and Beard in the second row (Alun Wyn assumed unavailable) and Wyn Jones, Ken Owen and Tomas Francis in the front row. Half backs: Gareth Davies and Biggar (Tomos Williams and Callum Sheedy/Jarrod Evans on the bench). Without the banned Liam Williams the back three could be Halfpenny, Adams and North (Rees-Zammit on the bench). I think the centres are the biggest headache – Jon Davies is still not the player he was but will probably get the nod. Johnny Williams, Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins have not been too impressive of late so this is a close call with Williams showing the best form in the Autumn internationals. Could Sheedy or North be an option in the centre? As always, I will be completely wrong as so much depends on desired style of play and fitness.

There is always a lot of concern about building for the next World Cup. Does anyone truly believe Wales can win the World Cup? A quarter final place is about par with anything more than that a great performance. Failing to get out of the group stage is unacceptable. For my own part, I would far rather us do well in the Six Nations year in year out so I would not worry about picking experienced players to form the nucleus of the team even if they are the wrong side of thirty.

First up for Wales is Ireland at home. As always, this will be a tough game but you feel that this is one that Wales need to win if they are to make any impression on the tournament. Scotland, Italy and France away and England at home will follow - Covid permitting. Wales will have it all to do to win more than one of these fixtures. In the absence of a crowd, home advantage is somewhat diluted so there is no help from the fervent Welsh supporters.

I know it sounds pessimistic but this is how I feel at the moment. I guess I am in need of some of that old Pooler magic to cheer me up.

Win or lose I will still be behind Wales all the way – remember we can still field six or seven British Lions in the team.

Come on Wales!