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!