Celtic rugby- The state of the Welsh regions

Despite their lack of tribal identity and affiliations, the health of Welsh international and regional rugby has to be classed as, “Good, and improving”. Wales were RWC semi-finalists, Grand Slam champions and Ospreys have become Celtic champions for the fourth time. This has been accomplished against a background of financial restraint, dwindling crowds and the steady drain of talent overseas.

Ospreys’ victory over the recently crowned champions of Europe on their home ground was a just reward for their reaction to the meltdown that enveloped the region only a short time ago. They are playing an irresistible brand of rugby that is a joy to watch with its blend of pace, power and precision that belies their supine displays in the Heineken Cup. At the RDS Leinster were put under the pump for large sections of the match. Sexton was unable to marshal his players and it was Leinster being pushed into uncomfortable sections of the pitch. In particular the immense physicality the Ospreys brought to every confrontation that sapped Leinster’s body and spirit. As the game went on the Ospreys’ scrum in particular squeezed the life out of the Leinster forwards; they gave away 8 penalties and had two front row forwards yellow carded. The Ospreys fitness began to tell on the Leinster defence, and as they found the dynamic running and offloading of the Osprey forwards too hard to handle the opportunities began to mount. The Ospreys were able to take every chance that came their way. In the backs the young triumvirate of Webb, Biggar and Beck proved to be a real handful for O’Driscoll and Darcy, who failed to impose their game on the Ospreys tyros.

The fragility of Ospreys recent past seems to have disappeared, they can no longer look to one of their “Galacticos” to get them out of trouble, they realise that they have to do it themselves. Credit for this has to go to Head Coach Steve Tandy, plucked from Bridgend following the acrimonious departures of Johnson and Holley and he has done an excellent job. He simplified the Ospreys approach, play what is front of them and keep trying things. The players have bought into this with relish. The Ospreys have now, perhaps created the blueprint for the other Welsh regions to follow.

All the regions are being coached by Welshmen, by dint of circumstance young players are being given the chance to play at regional level and they appear to be thriving on it.

The Scarlets stand out as the Welsh team that could threaten the Ospreys’ crown. They possess a superb set of backs full of devil, power and subtle skills. If that group could be married to a hard-nosed set of forwards then the Scarlets could threaten on all fronts next season. The key will be to hold onto Coach Nigel Davies, who is in his prime and deserves the chance to see his vision through to fruition.

At the Blues the appointment of Phil Davies is an interesting one, he is an intelligent and perceptive coach steeped in Welsh rugby. He will take whatever time he is given and Cardiff Blues will improve. The loss of several influential players will be sorely felt but there is still the core of a good team, Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Roberts, Brad Davies and Warburton will give the team some much needed ballast but Phil Davies knows that it only be with success on the field will the crowds return. The notion of taking matches to

Sardis Road

is welcome, if a little late. The valleys have been ignored for too long. It looks like a long hard road back for the Blues.

In some respects it’s a similar story at the Dragons, they too have an issue of identity. Too many Welsh rugby fans they are “Newport”, they do not adequately represent their constituency of the Gwent valleys, ignoring the former powerbases of welsh rugby. They have a good coach in Darren Edwards, and In Rodney parade the sort of ground that intimidates rather than welcomes the opposition. Yet they are unloved by the majority of the Welsh rugby public. The losses of Brew and Charteris will be huge and the region’s ability to hold onto Lydiate and Faletau is bound to be sorely tested over the coming months. This season’s 9^th place in the Rabo Pro12 cannot be repeated. It is perhaps Newport more than any other Welsh region that has the most to fear from the initiative sponsored by the shadow Welsh secretary, Pontypridd MP Owen Smith to create a fan-owned side for the valleys; of course it doesn’t have to be a new region it could simply replace a failing one.

Toulon- “We are the terrible Pilou Pilou warriors”

When Johnny Wilkinson swapped the cold of Newcastle for the Mediterranean beaches of Toulon; most thought if it, as Johnny’s “Year in Provence” moment. Yet, he has signed on for another 3 year contract. Since entering the portals of the fearsome Stade Felix Mayol he has become completely accepted and converted to the crusade of making RC Toulon the champion rugby club of France. Toulon is on the edge of France, a huge naval port, with a slightly shadowy reputation. The followers of the club have taken the clean-cut Wilkinson to their hearts as one of their own. In their own land, Toulon has become used to being unloved, their results looked for in the hope that they have lost, rather than won. Much of this appears to be their reluctance to doff their cap to the FFR. Their ambition is naked and tangible; the Boucleir de Brennus is what they want. It’s been a twenty year wait and they appear to be in a hurry to regain it. But, too many it looks as if they are trying to buy the title by recruiting the best players in the world. In the rugby world though it is Toulon, that appears the most atavistic of all the French clubs though their financial plan is dwarfed by the massive budget of the establishment’s favourites Toulouse, at 31 million Euro.

Much of the establishment’s frustration is directed towards the colourful publishing magnate the unapologetic hard rock loving Mourad Boudejal. The Stade Felix Mayol is his theatre woven, into the fabric of Toulon, like Kingsholm of Gloucester. It has become a theatre with AC/DC blasting over the pa, followed by the evocative “Pilou Pilou” call to arms that involves the crowd being brought to a frenzy of expectation. Boudejal looks on with satisfaction but so far the team has failed to deliver the ultimate prize. The actors are there but they seem to be constantly fluffing their lines. Once again it looks like the pretenders to Toulouse’s throne will be disappointed. This season might well have a sting in the tail.

On Saturday Toulon put aside the bitter disappointment of defeat in the Amlin cup final and gave a huge show to overturn a half time deficit of 10 points and defeat the Racing Metro 92 club 17-13. It was the type of demonstration that can turn a season around, and the fans loved it. After fifty minutes the Toulon players, perhaps sensing another opportunity slipping away began to play with an irresistible controlled ferocity that left racing Metro devastated. In a sign of the growing maturity and collectiveness of the team when it became clear that Wilkinson was not enjoying one of his best days with the boot, Matt Giteau stepped up to the challenge, superbly. Perhaps the greatest threat to Wilkinson’s iconic status with the “Pilou-Pilou” is another Englishman, Steffon Armitage, France’s player of the year. His try was another symptom of the wonderful season he has enjoyed; his dynamic lines of running and support mark him out not only as an exceptional player but without doubt as the best English number 7. His performance combined with the impact of Botha and Shaw that broke Racing Metro’s resistance

Toulon’s semi-final will be against Clermont. Toulon can play without fear; they will want payback for the travesty of their last semi-final against Clermont in 2010. Laporte is going to have let go of his infamous pragmatism and let the players have their heads. There is a rigour about Toulon now in the manner they took care of business on Saturday, using the recent disappointments as a reason to push on, to motivate to restock the fires. They will now look forward to going to neutral Toulouse next Sunday, Clermont will be seen as eminently beatable; the example of Leinster the blueprint for Toulon to follow. Clermont will go into game slightly undercooked, injured players might have recovered but the physicality that Toulon will bring, will challenge the efficacy of their healing.

Boudejal and Laporte deserve credit for getting the club to this position. They have created their own monster of expectation, and occasionally this pressure has got to the both of them. But the RC Toulon machine has waxed rather then waned. Fiscally the club is in excellent shape; new blood will come in next season specifically chosen to strengthen the squad. The Boucleir is in their sights, Toulon is a storm is coming out of the south. Next Sunday the red and black will have an excellent chance of overcoming Clermont, and they will definitely fancy their chances of dealing with the strangely lacklustre kings of France, Toulouse in the final. Maybe the sting in the tail is about to be unleashed?



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Castres vs. Montpellier

Castres see themselves as the keeper of the flame of French rugby, bastions of tradition against the money men of the big cities. From their fortress of the Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres have enjoyed another successful season turning over the so called more glamorous clubs, and stand a well deserved 4^th, squeezed between the well heeled Toulon and their opponents on Friday the wealthy Montpellier. They know that they have given themselves a good chance of winning the Boucleir de Brennis, and traveling the 50 miles to the Ernst Wallon stadium will hold no fears, it’s a place they always do well.

Their opponents Montpellier were only born in 1986 and see themselves as a modern cosmopolitan side, representing the most glamorous city in South West France. Exactly the type of opposition that Castres and their supporters like to conquer. Fabien Galthié, the Montpellier coach has at his disposal a team of internationals, capable, massive and pacey. But there is a hint of softness about them, they are too keen to blame others when things go wrong, and that goes for their fans as well. Castres enjoy playing them, and have done the double over them this season and will be relishing this challenge. Montpelier though will recall last season and their victory over Castres by one point at the same stage in the competition.

Castres are a self contained outfit. Coaches Labit and Travers have them playing a brand of rugby that is fast, exciting and natural. Occasionally there are mistakes and the impossible pass tried, but as a team they support each other and work for each other, whatever the risk. On the wing Andreu is a slippery customer, he makes things happen. At 10, Teulet is a clever player, plays what is in front of him. Up front Castres will field a pack of menace, power and skill. When their off loading game is on song they are impossible to stop; Toulon can vouch for that; when Castres came back from 22-6 down at Toulon to draw 25-25.

Montpellier’s most recent outing exemplified both sides of their game. At Toulouse, a game they thought they had to win to make the play-offs there was a mass brawl that resulted in their talisman the Georgian forward Gorgodze being sent off. They were simply too indisciplined and that could cost them dearly on Friday night. Fortunately for Montpellier, Gorgodze was given a paltry 10 day ban and is available for this game. But, they also lost their excellent scrum half Tomas to a broken rib in the Toulouse game and his replacement, Paillaugue is capable, but callow, and will be mercilessly targeted by the speedy Castres back row. Montpellier knows that for them to enjoy any success they need Gorgodze at his rampaging relentless best and the link with French outside-half Trinh-Duc to work well. Trinh-Duc has an excellent temperament and he will keep his head whatever is going on around him, but without the ball he will be helpless.

The key clash will be between Masoe, the ex All Black and Gorgodze. Masoe moves to Toulon next season, he has been a model professional for Castres a superb captain and an inspirational player. Without doubt he will not want this to be his final game for Castres and will be looking to produce another massive performance. His pace and tackling power, keep opponents honest, and very wary. The collisions between Masoe and Gorgodze will be seismic and worth the price of admission alone. Gorgodze is the mercurial source of Montpelier’s success and if Masoe subdues him then Montpellier’s game plan will fatally falter.

Castres will need no second bidding to be up for this game. The prospect of revenge for last year, and the chance of a semi-final against local rivals Toulouse is a sufficient incentive. They have the momentum and mental strength to close out what is certain to be a fierce game and take their worthy place in the Top14 semi finals.

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Quade Cooper

As the next round of Super 15 matches begin on Friday, it will be a moment of truth for Wallaby coach Robbie Deans. On June 5^th he has to prepare a team to play Scotland and four days later the Wallabies take on the 6 Nations champions, Wales. This would be a tough task for any side Scotland will be no pushovers, and the memories of Samoa 2011, still resonate with Wallaby supporters. It will be a real test of the strength in depth of Deans’s players. Avoiding injuries will be Deans’s main hope but, his most fervent prayers will be offered over Quade Cooper. After the confirmation of O’Connor’s unavailability Deans has a problem over the selection of Outside Half. So far Cooper has managed a careful 40 minutes for the Reds after his seven month injury lay-off. Because of the unfortunate groin injury to Cooper’s understudy, Ben Lucas; Cooper has to front up against the Brumbies on a cold night in Canberra. The best Deans can hope for is that Cooper plays for an hour and stays whole.

Quade Cooper is the enigmatic heartbeat of an exciting Wallaby back division. Since being capped at 20, in 2008 he has become almost indispensable. When he is on song he is one of the most accomplished rugby players in the world. He plays on the edge of the edge, dominating games with his daring running, audacious distribution and complete self-belief. This enables the Wallabies to play a high tempo game, counter attack with panache and rack up the points very quickly.

The issue with Cooper is that he can drift in and out of games, can appear uninterested. Occasionally he intimates that he has fallen out of love with rugby union and will join the NRL. Given his less than powerful tackling that might not be as easy as he might think. Apparently the ARU are not so sure, and have decided that Cooper is their main asset and have rewarded him with a massive contract. There is no doubt that Cooper is box office and that he puts bums on seats yet to play him in the June series entails huge risks. Cooper might simply be not yet up to the intensity and pace of international rugby; although Horwill the skipper thinks so. Even when fit he is prone to lapses of concentration, unforced errors, petulance, and a certain fragility in heavy traffic. His dismal performance against Ireland at RWC’11 was more typical of his performances last season. Both Deans and McKenzie, his coach at the Reds tried to hide him as the loose player behind the defensive line but international teams soon worked this out and mercilessly exposed Cooper.

There can be no doubt that the Wallabies are a better side with a fit and motivated Quade Cooper on the field. There are precious few serious alternatives available; Berrick Barnes is going backwards, and might not even make the cut, and that leaves as the only other possibility, Kurtley Beale of the Rebels. He has been a revelation since taking over from the “departed” Cipriani and revitalised the attacking potency of his team. An outstanding Full-back he has revelled in the opportunity to dictate play and appears to be a threat every time he has the ball in his hands. Whether Deans would be happy with such a maverick approach from his Outside –half would be doubtful.

Brumbies vs. Reds is always a highly charged game and Deans will be watching the game through his fingers wincing at every tackle and hit. Cooper as always, is confident that he can do this that he is ready to play. Even after 7 months lay-off, only 40 minutes game time he is the best Outside-half available to Australia. Wales will be watching with interest, they are not coming to Australia to make up the numbers and if Cooper plays he will be a target. This is just the type of situation Cooper thrives in, his chance to put the detractors in their places. Whatever Deans decides to do, it will be one of his most difficult decisions. Gets it wrong, and the Wallabies season could be over very quickly. Of course he could always give Campese a call?


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Can Leinster do the double?

Leinster are close to a remarkable achievement, already worthy champions of Europe will they cap the season off by becoming the champions of the Celtic League. It is tribute to their all round excellence and superb coaching of Joe Schmidt and his staff. Leinster play a recognisable brand of entertaining winning rugby that regularly fills their RDS ground with 20,000 fans and makes them welcome and exciting visitors wherever they go. Their efforts have given them a tilt at the chance of being forever recognised as one of rugby’s greatest teams.

To achieve victory in both games will need a combination of pragmatism and flair aligned with bruising and selfless defence. It will require a lot more than all out attack. Here Sexton this season has shown that he has come of age as an outside half. He has developed into a supremely gifted game manager and has learnt to play each situation on its merits and rarely makes a wrong call. Outside he can call upon the two old heads of Darcy and O’Driscoll, who maybe not as deadly as in their pomp; but with sufficient left in the tank to create mayhem in attack and defence. O’Driscoll’s inspirational leadership can be relied upon to steady the ship in stormy seas that will inevitably come their way. Augment this with the excellent, and in form full back, Rob Carney and Leinster can attack with fluidity and deadly accuracy. Any side that plays Leinster knows that they simply cannot give the ball away.

Up front Leinster’s workmanlike Front Five will compete in every facet. Cian Healy will attempt to bring his dynamic running to the loose and he will dovetail with the two heavy hitters of the pack Heaslip and O’brien. With the formidable presence of Brad Thorn to punch holes and keep defences honest Leinster can hold their own with most packs. Defensively they are well organised and knowledgeable, but they will always push the breakdown laws to their limits but they do so with a high level of proficiency and shrewdly. They are top of the RaboPro 12 Fair play league, with only 8 yellow cards, that speaks eloquently about their collective discipline and judgement.

Schmidt has created a team that when the mood takes them can dismantle any side it faces almost by sheer speed. They have the most elegant passing game in Europe but if they need to dog it out, then they will. Eleven of their games have been won by less than 7 points. If they find themselves in a tight game they have the priceless knack of finding a way to win. For opponents there is the quandary of never knowing if Leinster are actually beaten and if you try to take them on in their own game you could find yourself being smashed. Five tries tells its own story

Ulster with its Boer phalanx provided a hard nosed and spirited challenge. They failed to subdue Leinster, sow seeds of doubt by taking the pace out of the game. Their choice of tactics was flawed, and it gave Leinster the chance they wanted. Leinster thrive on momentum. They know that there will be chances and they will take them. Ulster did not have sufficient weapons on the day to fatally wound Leinster. Despite the score it was a physically draining encounter; awaiting the returning triumphant Leinster will be the Ospreys, once again determined to spoil the RDS party.

The Ospreys will not be underestimated. Since the mid season "Night of the long knives" at the Liberty the Ospreys have rediscovered their mojo. They are playing with the purpose and poise so strangely missing from their lacklustre Heineken Cup campaign. As four times Celtic champions they will relish this opportunity to win the title again. They have beaten Leinster twice this season and will not fear the RDS. Ospreys have a well drilled and tough pack of ball playing forwards plus a solid scrum and good lineout. They will win their own ball and have the capacity and astuteness to make it hard for Leinster. Hibbard has been a revelation; in the latter part of the season, seizing his chance to emerge from Bennett’s shadow. Adam Jones will once again give Healy a tuning and keep him immersed in the scrum. Evans and Alan Wynne-Jones are a real handful in the loose and lineout with frightening levels of stamina. Allied to this the back row of the ball carrying Bearman, the tenacity of Tipuric and the unstoppable Ryan Jones this is definitely a pack of forwards that will fancy their chances.

The galacticos might have gone to pastures new but their replacements; Webb, Beck, Dirkson, Fussell and Bishop are no shrinking violets. This is not a backline that is easy to contain and with Shane Williams playing his last game they will have the inclination to run angles that Leinster will not have had to contend with for sometime. Leinster do have the pedigree to win this last difficult game. Winning the Heineken cup was a fantastic effort but the double will beyond them. The massive loss of Fitzgerald has robbed them of the cutting edge they would need to match the power of the Osprey’s backs and the costs of the attritional game that Ulster will have made them play at Twickenham will make this a game a step too far for the men of Leinster.

Gareth Hughes

Where's the va va voom?

After the sterile, indisciplined ugly occasion of the Amlin cup final on Friday. It is clear that French rugby has lost its verve. The BBC christened the game as a “Typical French rugby domestic dogfight”. Wayne Barnes did his best to weave a good game out of the dross on offer but when players are only concerned with not losing he had no choice but pinging both sides. Playing schoolboy rugby in the valleys of the ‘70’s we were taught that there were only 2 nations that we had to be concerned about. They were first, the All Blacks, legends of the darkness, menacing full of relentless power and pace. The other was France. Our spiritual brothers wedded to clever passing and the élan of the counter attack. Yet as the dust settles from the Six Nations of 2012 and the enthralling Heineken Cup, only Wales and the Irish seems to have stuck to her roots. France appeared lost in a sea of indecision, preferring pragmatism and power to skill and the finding of space, a sterile ethos, which led to one of their most disappointing performances ever in the tournament. Such an approach has failed; it’s the Celts that rule in the northern hemisphere and France, despite some halfhearted excuses from a disappointed Saint-Andre, is left to retreat behind the barricade of the Top 14; supposedly the best league in the world, certainly the wealthiest.

The struggle for the Boucleir de Brennis is the most attritional tournament in world rugby yet to the clubs and supporters of France it is the Holy Grail. To achieve it super wealthy French businessmen throw their fortunes away, apparently to gratify their own egos and wallow in the adulation of the supporters of “their” club. Ultimately the rugby on offer is a far cry from what is considered generic French rugby; wedded to attack, style and entertainment. Avoiding losing is the premier aim of all teams, only occasionally does a bout of exciting rugby breaks out. Most clubs are the baubles of rich businessmen, who adopt the approach that in order to win, in order to be loved by the supporters you have to give them the best players not only from France but from all over the world. There in lies the rub.

Excellent stadiums, many municipally owned are full and noisy for every home game. The game is awash with money, not only from benefactors, gate receipts, a massive TV deal enables the wage demands of the world’s top players to be met. But that as the example of Bayonne plainly exhibits, is not enough. Across the Top 14 apart from some notable exceptions next season will see a plethora of new coaches and players in place. How many of these will prove to be “Birds of Passage” remains to be seen. There is very little evidence of building for the long term, creating stability. Defeats are seen not as a chance to learn or develop, but lost in the confusion of freefall and maybe, heaven forbid relegation. Clermont failed in their Heineken semi-final, yet were they that bothered? They make no secret that it is the Boucleir de Brennis they covet. Toulon for all Mourad Boudjellal’s’ talk of the need for success in Europe it’s the Boucleir de Brennis that he knows his supporters demand. All of this has a cost not just in monetary terms, but for the French national side. The currency of France as an international force is on the slide. Saint Andre will be viewing the forthcoming tour to Argentina with trepidation. The Top 14 final is on the 9^th June, and a week later he is going to have to put out a team against the Pumas in Buenos Aires. He knows his players will be exhausted, bruised and battered.

Saint Andre is between a rock and a hard place. The supporters expect France to win in style and to do so in every game but they also want their clubs to do well. After the World cup Saint Andre decided not to rebuild, and largely stuck with the side created by the eccentric Lievermont. Coach Philippe Saint-Andre clearly wanted to start his coaching reign with a Six Nations’ win. He failed. There are no excuses for the result. His team was the most experienced of the tournament. He knew that Nallet, Bonnaire and Servat were retiring from international rugby after the tournament, while players around 31 or 32 included Rougerie, Clerc, Yachvili, Harinordoquy, Pape, Mas, and Poux. Yet, all of them were selected. Nallet, Bonnaire and Servat ended their rugby career on a sour note. Dusautoir, Debaty, Szarzewski, Pierre, Poitrenaud and Fritz will all be around 32 or 33 come the next Rugby World Cup. Some are still at the top of their game. Leaders like Dusautoir or Szarzewski should stay and make the transition between the generations. But Debaty, Poitrenaud or even Pierre have always been fringe players for France and this won’t change: they are not going to be the best in their position in 2015.Many in the 22-man squad which played against Wales in the Grand Slam match are not even regular starters at their own club. Beauxis is behind McAlister at Toulouse; where Poux shares the front row with Steenkamp, Botha and Johnston. Pierre has to deal with Cudmore and Hines in Clermont’s second row; while his teammates Rougerie, Fofana, the great French hope and Buttin share the backline with Sivivatu, Russell, Canale, Byrne or King. This pattern continues across the league.

But did Saint Andre have any choice? This plainly did not work, as a return of only two wins is simply not good enough.  All over France the players that compose the spine of a successful rugby side are not French, and the issue has been recognized. The clubs are now being put under pressure by the FFR, yet the malaise will continue. The FFR might have put in place a strict quota system of 40% foreign players this will be adhered to, but will be circumvented; the quota does not prevent young players being brought to France at 16, joining academies and becoming French qualified after three years; also it cannot dictate what type of players the clubs choose to bring in. 40% of the squad means 250 foreign players available for selection. Added to this is the salary cap; in England it is £4 million, in Wales £3.5 million and in France the cap is the best part of £8 million. That means the best players can be attracted, the sort of p[layers that can win a game. The result is that some of the best French talent get less and less game time, sit on the bench and watch as someone else does their job. Over thirty Southern Hemisphere players are on their way. All over the major clubs are trying desperately to secure the most influential players available. Perpignan after an unfamiliarly difficult season has recruited extensively, Charteris, Stokosh and Narraway will not have too much bother with the language or fitting in. Toulouse the bastion of French rugby has never been shy of importing talent they have not spent much yet. On the other hand they have followed the fashion of securing the services of a Georgian prop. 20 year old, Kakovin 6feet four and 23 stone will have a formidable physical presence for several year to come. But, what if you’re a young promising French tight head prop where do you go and play?

So, as Saint Andre and his exhausted players, leave for Argentina his scope for making strategic changes, selecting new dynamic players and the future for French international rugby are very much in doubt.

The outlook for France is plus ça change!

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Wales line out a work in progress

As Wales announce their squad for their tour to Australia one area of concern should have been at the forefront of Rob Howley’s mind; the apparent lack of improvement in Wales’s lineout. At the RWC 2011 they had managed 87% success on their own ball but had not managed to improve on that during the 6 Nations. In the World Cup NZ had enjoyed 92% and France 90% success rates. Possession is the “Gold standard” of rugby. The most potent of attacks can do nothing without the ball. Security of possession from the set piece, particularly from the lineout, gives a side the stable platform from which to impose their game. The Six Nations of 2012 confirmed the lineout as the most important set piece of all. During the tournament 33% of all tries were scored from a lineout, the next highest was turnover ball. On average there were 23 lineouts in each game, a potential source of gilt edged possession. Lineouts now concentrate the minds of all coaches, and at international level where the margins are so tight a lost lineout could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Italy had the most successful lineout of the 2012 Six Nations, winning 85% of all their throws. The worst performance was from Ireland with a disappointing 78%. Wales won 83% of their throws but lost 11. Given the proficiency of Wales’s kicking game that adds up to 11 lost hard won opportunities. Italy had the best lineout but they lacked the attacking flair of Wales to fully capitalise on this. While Wales won sufficient possession to deservedly win the Six Nations, they will need more quality possession to utilise their attacking strengths to consistently gain victories against the Southern hemisphere powerhouses, with the forthcoming tour against the Wallabies being the first opportunity. Culpability for any lineout loss is all too often laid at the feet of the thrower-in, largely this unfair. The lineout of today is a fluid dynamic affair composed of many moving parts that need to synchronise in harmony. So much of it is a team within a team and needs to be regarded as such; as well having to cope with the opposition  spending many hours dissecting their opponent’s lineout creating strategies for negating its effectiveness. Robbie Deans and his staff will be well prepared for this area of Wales’s play and will target it mercilessly. If the WRU coaching staff need evidence of this intent then they need to examine, the Journal of Sports science and medicine (2011) 10, 553-558 Htpp//www.jssm.org paper by Mark G. L. Sayers.

Wales without doubt need to improve this facet of their play. The question is how? The nation is blessed with some high quality lineout exponents: Charteris, Wynne-Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, and both Warburton and Tipuric can leap high when required. In Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones Wales have two of the strongest forwards in world rugby, so what is going awry?

Throwing in is a greatly under-rated skill in rugby, only really noticed when it goes wrong. The thrower can be the most isolated and stressed player on the field called upon to be faultless at any given time of asking. Often the Hooker arrives to make his throw after a lung bursting defensive effort or after a stamina sapping session of hitting multiple rucks and phases of play and is then asked to thread a rugby ball through the eye of a needle. Factor in the context of a full blooded international match, the noise and crowd it’s a wonder they can complete their task. Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ken Owens and Richard Hibbard are all seasoned professionals yet they have suffered from, “Lineout yips”, their technique has let them down. What Wales needs to do is to recognise the specialty of this role, and support the players as well as examine their lineout again.

The lineout captain is a relatively new phenomenon in the game and it has taken on a very high level of responsibility, if not public recognition.  He has to react like any captain in the game and empathise with his group and in particular work closely with the thrower. In the midst of the turmoil of the match select the most appropriate throw for the situation but more significantly as the player grows into the match, can his thrower confidently and consistently make that particular throw. Front ball might not be the most glamorous of options, but it is the “money ball” of the game, and as confidence and security grows, other throws may be contemplated.

All members of the Welsh lineout have to become more aware of the “Cues” that they invariably give away: stance, position of their hands, eye contact, nods and feet movement. They must practice a more neutral approach. The thrower will be given the most scrutiny by the opposition and a grooved action achieved through practice can easily deteriorate in a competitive situation. As many live line outs as possible would certainly help in breeding confidence amongst the players. With a more neutral stance coupled with a fluid throwing action will make the throw much harder to pick. Those eleven losses have to be forensically examined and utilised through the eyes of opponents as Wales seek to recast their approach to this vital set piece. As they travel Down Under it would be a feather in Wales’s cap if they took with them a lineout Australia had never seen. But, Australia’s depth of preparation is well illustrated by this article; found in the Journal of Sports science and medicine (2011) 10, 553-558Htpp//www.jssm.org a paper by the very astute Mark G. L. Sayers

It would be no exaggeration that if Wales gets this critical part of their game working proficiently combined with the fluidity and tempo they already have, a top three place in the world will be well within their grasp.


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Gareth Hughes

Ospreys vs. Munster

Munster will bring their traditional mix of fierceness and guile to the Liberty Stadium on Friday, eager to add to their victories achieved against the odds. But, does the “Big Red Machine” have enough left in the tank to succeed? This has not been an easy season for Munster and at times they have stuttered; the loss to Ulster in the Heineken Cup a particularly bitter pill to swallow. Yet, they can not be discounted, they will come to Swansea as underdogs but they still have plenty of bite.

South African props do not surrender easily, and in Du Preez and BJ Botha Munster have two of the most durable in the league. This sense of toughness is enhanced with the hard-hitting presence of the two Donnachas in the engine room who add considerably to the doggedness of the Munster pack. They will ensure that the strains of “Stand up and fight” will ring around the changing room. They will be glad to have Ronan O’Gara behind them on his return from fitness. He has seen it all before, he will not be phased by the situation and given the room he will pin the Ospreys back, nurse his pack, and if the chance presents itself unleash the pace of Earls and the tyro Zebo. Munster has the knack of winning tight games, bring the wagons round and snatch a win.

The Ospreys are no longer the side that meekly surrendered to Saracens; they sniff a chance of glory, of getting their hands on some silverware. Their winter blues are behind them. They have put together a good run and the days of Munster being their bogey team are now banished. The Ospreys will be confident in the quality of their preparation, and that they have the nous to deal with the men of Limerick.

The presence of Shane Williams will add gloss to the occasion. Every time he touches the ball the crowd will instinctively rise to their feet. Munster will do their best to contain him but he is not the only facet of the Osprey’s attack that they will need to be concerned about. Hugo Dirksen is ready to pick up Shane’s mantle; he is an effervescent player a threat every time he has the ball. Ashley Beck glides over the ground, he has good hands and clever feet and in Rhys Webb the Ospreys have the sort of player who can elegantly influence the tempo and fluidity of a game, and take it quickly away from the opposition. In Dan Biggar you have the Welsh equivalent of O’Gara, he may not be part of the current Welsh set up but his excellent goal kicking and game management will be a critical part of the Osprey’s game plan.

Tipuric will relentlessly dog O’Gara’s footsteps, deny him the space he covets, get in his face, win the battle on the floor and generally undermine the foundations Munster will try to create. The rest of the Osprey’s formidable hard working pack will thrive on this and the class of the inform Ryan Jones will ensure that the Munster pack will have to work very hard to stay on equal terms. Their scrum is solid, the lineout secure and Hibbard having emerged from Bennett’s shadow will be doing his best to impress the watching Welsh management, with his strong ball carrying and heavy tackling.

Munster know how to spoil a party they will come to do what they do best, but Ospreys have the air of winners about them. They will not underestimate Munster and will need to impose their game on the men in red.

Ospreys to win a close match, and then a final shoot out with Lenister beckons.