Autumn Leaves Us Feeling…?

A bit unsettled, really.
After the 6 Nations, it looked as though teams had worked Wales out. Witness the England match, where they programmed Joe Worley to crash time and time again into the midfield, and – it nearly worked !
Today at the Millenium the Wallabies looked pretty comfortable in defence, but their lines of running, superbly marshalled by Matt Giteau, looked a class above anything Stephen Jones and his Unhappy Band could muster. Perhaps fielding two big lads like Roberts and Davies was telegraphing our intentions a tad ? How about following the Ospreys by trying the Hook at No 12 experiment ?

New Season, New Coach, Same old Ospreys...

The fans were leaving long before the end of the latest Magners League match against Heineken Cup winners Leinster. The visitors were efficient enough in defence to allow the pressure to grow on the Ospreys, and Sexton's boot did the rest. The fundementals of the Ospreys game seem solid enough, although perhaps they could be accused of lacking some depth in attack, but overall the error count suggests that the team still lacks a collective will. Perhaps the wounds of last year's Heineken exit will take some time to heal, and new boy Scott Johnson's methods likewise need some time to bed down. Unfortunately, in the professional world, this star studded squad has to deliver. Time may be the only thing they can't buy.

Justice ???

In a display of breath taking arrogance, the Springboks took the field with “Justice 4” written on some make shift armbands, a mark of their sense that the hitman second row Bakkies Botha had been unfairly cited, and therefore unable to play at Ellis Park. Some might say that those who live by the sword…
Thankfully, those armbands looked as ragged as the Springboks by the end of another full blooded encounter, and this time there was no escape for the home side. The Lions were good value for the win, faithfully sticking to their exhausting brand of multiphase rugby. Ultimately, however, they may reflect on the fact that they were exposed by the Springboks off first phase moves at Durban and Pretoria, and they themselves ran out of gas last week.
Their sheer will to win was tangible yesterday, and they can travel home with heads held high. The press began to circle the still breathing corpse of Lions rugby last weekend, again predicting the end of what is called “the brand”. It is clear that the players don’t care a hoot for the economic judgements. They still regard playing in a Lions test as the ultimate career high.
Jusifiably…

Do they have the number of The Beast ?

The sight of poor Phil Vickery trudging off the park last weekend was enough to make this Welshman cry into his beer. Vickery is a proud player, and may have seen this tour as his swan song. But the lasting memory of this test match, and perhaps of Vickery, is the sad, confused shake of the head.
Any front row forward under pressure is an excruciating sight for the armchair fan, but the pincer movement performed on Vickery's spinal column by The Beast and the giant hooker DuPlessis was gruesome indeed. Crucially, he was afforded no protection by the ref, who blamed him time and again for the collapse of the front row. Not once were the Boks even spoken to in this regard. If we get nothing else right this weekend, it would be great to see us spinning some solid scrum ball, because those centres could do some damage...

Waiting for Dawn...

O’Connell will be moving among his troops tonight, Henry Vth style, understanding the importance of a big, confident performance in Rustenberg. The opposition will be no BaaBaa XV, out to bobby dazzle, then fading when they have to dig in and fight. These are Afrikaaners, out to show their illustrious Blue Bull blooded compatriots that they should be the main event.
The Lions management have made a canny start to the tour selection process, blooding new kids like Earls but also seeing how a grizzled second row partnership like O’Connell and Shaw looks in the heat of battle.
Can’t wait, but will have to…

The Life of Brian

After the dust has settled on a ferocious Heineken campaign, the Irish talisman hardly had time to dust himself off before heading for the airport. Couple of paracetemol for that sore shoulder, and now for the Boks.
Ah yes, the shoulder. He must still see that spear tackle in slow motion in his worst nightmares, with Umaga's kindly face upside down, and a gentle "and I hope you're just fine after that" from little Kevin Mealamu ringing in his ears. One thing is for sure - the Boks will have noted the dire effects on Woodward's Lions from that point on. The current management, having had everything crossed for Saturday's final, will hope O'Driscoll plays a full part in this tour. Despite the fact he's lost a yard or two of pace in attack, his huge heart, allied to his know how at the breakdown, makes him a leader of this pride of Lions.

Shanks' Mare

He may look like an oversized version of Dr Evil, and look pretty ungainly on occasions – a bit like a second row forward who’s been allowed to play in the backs at a training session – but Tom Shanklin can lay some claim to being the most consistent midfielder in the Northern Hemisphere. News of his withdrawal from the Lions squad will be greeted with a wide grin by the Springbok coaching side, who respect his hard running and miserly defence. The squad will be the poorer for his absence, surely, and the coaches will be praying that this is the last of the pre tour casualties.
One look at the end of season playing programme will make them realise that they would be better off praying that Schalk Burger becomes a vegan pacifist…

The Luck of the Irish…

“Did you know that an Irish player has been injured before even setting foot in South Africa?”
“Oh, really ?”
“No, O’Leary “

Got to feel sorry for the Terrier that snaps at the heels of the Munster pack of hounds. When David Wallace jogged out at the Liberty Stadium mid week, with orders to spoil whatever he could, he didn’t mean to include his mate Tomas’ summer.
The Lions coaching staff will cast around for a replacement, and Dwayne Peel’s name should come to the top of the list. An on form Peel would dance some pretty patterns around the brutish Springboks, and take some pressure off what could be a back line short on attacking flair.
They may go for one of two Scotsmen, Blair or Cusiter, either of whom would offer a sharp passing game. Danny Care would be a liability. He lacks judgement, and will want to play his own game. What ball the Lions pack win needs to be carefully used.

Ryan left singing the Blues

EDF Final at Twickenham
Cardiff 50 – Gloucester 12

The work in progress that is Gloucester Rugby Club again failed to turn up on the day, and surely time is running out for the self styled Big Bad Wolf, Dean Ryan. Although infamous for his no nonsense approach as a player, he has singularly failed to put together a side that can play to win often enough to keep the denizens of the Shed happy.
Meanwhile, across the Severn, Dai Young has assembled a team that plays like one. Unlike Ryan, Young has bought wisely. His foreign imports, Rush, Tito, Blair et al are high quality, consistent performers. The raft of Welsh internationals give them a home team feel, but keep their standards high. The evergreen Martyn Williams was Man of the Match, although Tom Shanklin and Leigh Halfpenny must have been close behind.
Next in their sights are the Tigers over the Bank Holiday weekend. Expect a packed Millenium Stadium to roar the Blues on. The Ruckandroller expects the gnarly Leicester forwards to test out the Blues front row, though…

The Pride of Lions ?

After an uncertain, perhaps disappointing 6 Nations campaign, the prospective Welsh lions have lost some of their Autumn roar. The glow of a superb first 40 minutes against the Scots, followed by a tough repelling of the Saxon hoards (I said “Hoards…”) has been dimmed by the troublesome French, the bloody minded Italians and the frankly unspeakable Irish.
So – will our Lions hopefuls get the nod ?
Surely Lee Byrne, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins and both Williams boys have been inked in. As disappointing as the campaign may have been, they are still good enough to play a part this summer on the high veldt.
Ryan Jones, Andy Powell, Ian Gough, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees (in descending order…) have decent claims to a seat on the plane.
A few to consider – Leigh Halfpenny for his cleverness, Dwayne Peel for his subtlety and speed, Gavin Henson for his classy handling skills. These are not certain to travel, but they are useful performers, with varying levels of experience. And Henson could do with the opportunity to eradicate the memories of Woodward’s ill fated trip to New Zealand. As always, his selection would be a gamble, but I’d love to see how he would handle the Springbok midfield.

Liberte, Fraternite, Harinordoquy

A stunning display by the French back row put an end to Welsh dreams of back to back Grand Slams last weekend in Paris. It was, well, so French. Expecting to be beaten, they roused themselves to score the crucial game levelling try before half time, then resolutely manned the barricades in the second half as the Welsh became guilty of waiting for Les Bleues to conk out in the Friday night air.
In Croke Park, the England's squad once again tested out the referee's supply of yellow cards. The sight of Danny Care exiting stage left with a look of tortured innocence, followed by the video replay of his brainless assault on Marcus Horan, underlined the extent of Jonno's problem. The big man was then seen punching the seat in front of him. Presumably it was seat number 9.

Jonno's Boys on the move ?

How times have changed. A few short months ago, the Welsh would take any kind of victory over the Saxon hoards. Now it is their turn to rummage through the ruins of another international defeat for sustenance.
The key, as ever, lies with the forwards. In Jonno's day (and, in fact, right back to Will Carling's day), England could field any 2 or 3 packs to outmuscle the Welsh. We were always living off scraps as juggernaut English forwards rumbled on and on. Rarely pretty (but they always talked about "aspirations to play a wide game) but brutally effective. Now, with the new laws moving the focal point of the game away from the hairy backs, the English have a lack of talent in the pack. Now it is the Welsh who send on young bucks full of talent, ready to avenge those dark years watching their dads crying in their beers on these Spring afternoons.

A Proper Charlie...

Has to be said that the drug in question was not "performance enhancing" - not unless the definition of "flying in the front row" has radically changed since the ruckandrioller hung up his boots - but oh dear, oh dear...
The chubby faced pop wannabe has blown it, it would seem. A lucrative contract with Bath, the lack of options in the English front row guaranteeing him passage to the next World Cup, the Lions on the horizon back in his home country - all blown away like, well, a line of white powder. The cynical nature of the announcement, coinciding as it did with the exact moment when Obama was clearing his throat several thousand miles away, leaves the average rugby fan wondering...

Just what the doctor ordered...

Medical student Jamie Roberts grabbed the Heineken Man of the Match award as the 14 man heroics of the Blues silenced the Shed. A late try by replacement second row Bradley Davies means that Gloucester have to travel to Biarritz next weekend with their hopes of qualifying fading fast. The Blues, on the other hand, top the group and seem to have shed the also rans tag which has bedevilled them in the past few seasons. Now, with clever leadership from Martyn Williams, and the potent threat offered by some of the best ball carriers in the Principality (Powell, Rush, Shanklin, Roberts) Dai Young's outfit will go into next week's fixture against Calvisano secure in the knowledge that they have qualified for the next round.