Legendary Lions coach Carwyn James chooses his top tries

And Carwyn knew his stuff...

John Dawes recalls British & Irish Lions' 1971 success

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/13913041.stm

from ScrumV - Dawes reflects on 40th Anniversary of the Tour

"Some men see things as they are and say 'Why?' I dream things that never were and say, 'Why not?'"

Fans at the Millenium may have been asking "WHY?" on Saturday, as the impressive Barbarian line up threatened to overwhelm the young Welsh side. WHY award caps for the summer jamboree ? WHY stage it here, when it was always going to be half full ? Most obviously - WHY does Henson get another chance at redemption ?
To which, the words of RFK might be relevant.
WHY NOT give Sam Warburton and his charges exposure to life in the fast lane ? Ryan Bevington would have learned more from Saturday's arm wrestle with Carl Haymans than he would in 6 months on the bench with the Ospreys. And if we are serious about competing against the best this Autumn, WHY NOT see if our Gav is worth a run. If he can face 80 minutes in close contact with Monsieur Bastareau's thighs, then he's on the way to being ready.

On the Front Line

Mike Ross, Cian Healy and Richard Strauss were not in the game in the first half of the Heineken Final against the Saints, but were central to a breathtaking turnaround in the Milleninum last Saturday. Quite what happened in the Leinster dressing room over the half time oranges will remain in the annals of rugbying history as long as the game is played.
They were free of the crushing pressure of Hartley and co for the first quarter of an hour of the second half, and that may well have been critical. The ethereal Jonny Sexton ghosted through a gap out wide to get the Dubliners swinging, and when the front rows next locked horns, it was Heaslip's turn to play on the front foot, and Hartley's to be popped out. From that point on, the Leinster side was in cruise control, recycling the ball quickly and always looking dangerous in attack. For all Foden's prompting, the Saints faded badly. This will be a difficult pill for Mallinder's charges to swallow, but they have established themselves as a force in European rugby, and no one will relish visits to Franklin's Gardens in next year's Pool stages.

Ben Foden and girlfriend Una Healy (who does SHE play for ???)

The Saints march on to the Heineken semi finals after a tough encounter with this year's surprise package, the men of Ulster. Watch for them next year !
The winning try was created due to the quick thinking of England pair Foden and Ashton, and Martin Johnson will be happy to see these two developing their counter attacking game. But Johnson will be wary of Foden's tendency to court the papparazi. Not too long ago, the Welsh fans lost (possibly permanently) the perma tanned Henson, who sacrificed himself on the altar of self publicity. Foden's yobbish behaviour in the back of a London taxi will be a development that will have the famous Johnson frown full on.



Now he's going to be REALLY fed up...

The unlikely possibility of Wales snatching the Championship from England by defeating the French in Paris was quickly snuffed out by the delicate skills of Lionel Nallet. The biggest man on the Parc sold the Welsh defence an extravagant dummy before galloping over for the first of his two tries. Shaun Edwards, the Welsh Defence Coach left at home following an unspecified incident at the team hotel last weekend, would have been distinctly unimpressed. For the ref to sinbin James Hook for an aggressive bit of work on his opposite number would have rubbed salt into the wound.

All in all, Gatland's charges have recovered pretty well after a disasterous opening Friday night, when their own indecision, allied to a strong forward display from the Saxons, meant that they were immediately under pressure.  

Next up - the World Cup...let's just keep well away from the Fijians...

Will it be a lucky weekend for the Irish ?

O'Driscoll, the Prince of Centres, holds the key to the next match in the 6 Nations campaign. His mucker-in-chief, Gordon D'Arcy, looks off form, so it is up to Ireland's captain. Will it be an unlucky 13 for James Hook and co ?