Hip, Hip, Hooray

Last Saturday as Pontypool were playing at Llandovery I was having a total hip replacement operation in hospital. One minute I was wondering how the Pooler were getting on and the next I was out for the count. When I finally came around I learned that Pooler had lost 38-27 in what was described as an exhilarating exhibition of rugby to which Pooler fully contributed. Two days later I was back home a little worse for wear but mobile with the use of crutches. It says much for the advances in medicine that this can be the case.

The following days have seen a mixture of pain and frustration as I adapt to my circumstances. I have started my rehab with the physio and feel like I am making progress. There may have been progress but nothing like enough to enable me to go to Pontypool Park to watch Pontypool play Swansea in a cup match. This of course adds to the frustration.

As always, I am thankful for the updates that we get via social media but nothing beats actually being there. My spies tell me that Pooler were not at their best and were perhaps fortunate to come away with a narrow 32-31 victory. It sounds like a real nailbiter with Pooler not actually clinching victory until the fat lady had opened up her music and was about to sing. You really do get the feeling that Pooler are strong finishers these days. Well done to all concerned and it did put a smile on my face.

I, of course, was on the couch watching rugby and I have to say I was captivated by the Gloucester v Leicester match. There was a fair sprinkling of Welsh players on view some in the squad for the Six Nations and some not. I am sure Warren Gatland was hoping that there were no injuries picked up by those likely to be on duty next weekend. The most prominent Welsh players were Tomas Williams and Max Llewellyn who played a large part in Gloucester’s victory. Anscombe and Freddie Thomas also showed up well. For the record Gloucester won 38-31 in a pulsating match. The previous evening Harlequins v Northampton was of a similar calibre even though the England squad players were missing. English club rugby seems particularly vibrant these days with much more of a will to play open rugby.

The Six Nations Championship starts next Friday with Wales away in France. I have watched Wales for sixty years or so and I have to say this is the most pessimistic I have ever felt at the start of the championship. I am not alone I am sure and it seems our best hope of a victory is in Italy on the second weekend. Just watching Benetton play it is clear that Wales will have to put in a special performance against the team who were normally the Wooden Spoon favourites if they are to pinch a win.

In France on Friday evening, it feels like damage limitation as it is hard to imagine any of the Welsh players getting into a combined Wales and France team. I well remember the match when Graham Price scored a try when Wales won an unexpected victory so the unlikely can happen. I won’t be putting any money on Wales for the Six Nations even at 66 to 1. The heavyweight clash of the weekend will be England against Ireland in Dublin which should be a close one.

Next Saturday Pontypool travel to Carmarthen Quins for another cup match. Hopefully they can avenge their defeat in the league earlier in the season.

Come on Wales!

Come on Pooler!