Carwyn James: Tries of the '70s

We all applaud that individual moment when a player crosses the line to score a try for Wales,

sometimes, perhaps, forgetting the teamwork that produced that opportunity.

So, in choosing my ten best tries of the '70s,

I've placed them in order of merit,

awarding more marks for the team effort than the individual effort

and just to tease everyone a little,

I'll show them to you now in reverse order,

starting with try number ten. This is a tribute, I think,

to the players of the future,

the Terry Holmeses and the Gareth Davieses.

The player to watch is number 13,

that mercurial fly-half and centre David Richards from Swansea.

Jeff Squire, number seven, has gone to the tail,

so this could well be a throw to the back.

No, it was a decoy move

but Squire certainly got the ball there from Martin.

Holmes waiting, in goes Ringer to help.

Now it's Holmes to Davies, along the line.

Richards. Richards to JPR Williams.

JPR out to Dave Richards and Richards is going to score!

A brilliant try!

That try was scored last season.

Now, try number nine, excellent teamwork

leading to an important try against France in 1978.

The try scorer is JJ Williams.

Now it's out to Edwards.

The feed there to Gravell to John Williams, the full-back.

Another tremendous tackle by Rives.

Fed out from Allan Martin.

Edwards... Gravell once again.

This is out to Phil Bennett.

There's a chance here for Fenwick!

JJ Williams must score!

And JJ Williams also figures in try number eight.

From a wheeled, controlled scrummage, Mervyn Davies very much in evidence,

JPR Williams scores the first of his two tries

against England at Twickenham in 1976.

The first bad pass from Lampkowski.

Oh, a great scrummage thrust by England.

Nonetheless, from Mervyn Davies to Edwards to Bennett to Fenwick.

They've missed out John Williams, the full-back.

JJ. This is John Williams now.

Can John Williams score his third try against England? Yes, he can!

With try number seven in the '70s, Ray Prosser's "Pontypool front row"

became a legend. Against Ireland in Cardiff in '75,

Bobby Windsor does all the running and the popular Charlie Faulkner

scores the try.

Mervyn Davies, tries to get the quick pass to Phil Bennett.

Bennett, that elusive little run.

JJ Williams, a bit of room to move.

Windsor in support. Is he going to score like he did against Australia?

It could be a try for Faulkner!

Pontypool again!

And for try number six,

the other member of the Pontypool front row, Graham Price,

scored an incredible try against France in Paris in 1975.

Gareth Edwards. The kick charged down.

That's good possession for France.

The pass to Dourthe from Bertranne going to ground,

but still France in possession.

Lux, despairingly, Vaquerin.

The charge downfield from Graham Price.

And Price - this could be a dramatic score!

They'll never believe it in Pontypool!

For try number five, we go back in time. 1971, Paris.

The try of a maestro. Easy, brilliant.

Barry John at his insouciant best.

From a set scrum.

The sun disappeared now. A bit colder.

A cold wind against the head. There's Barry John.

He's got one yard -

he's going to score!

Try number four, Cardiff in 1972 against Scotland.

Spike Milligan's favourite try, apparently.

A try scored by the other maestro, Gareth Edwards.

Jim Greenwood, the old Scottish number 8 and breakaway.

Mervyn Davies takes the tap-down from Peter Brown.

It's beautifully laid back for Gareth Edwards.

Edwards, over the Welsh ten-yards line.

Over halfway. The kick ahead by Edwards.

Can he score? It would be a miracle if he could!

He may well get there!

And he has!

Try number three. Again, Paris, 1971.

The eagle eye of JPR seeing the interception,

Gareth Edwards in support

and outflanking the opposition as he often did.

Right over the top to Christian Carrere.

To Spanghero, Claude Spanghero.

Fly-half Berot, this is Bertranne.

Scrum-half Max Barrau.

Villepreux! He's got Bourgarel outside.

That's Bourgarel now inside.

Elusive running, this.

Barry John, tackling once again.

Williams, on the interception.

John Williams, up the line. He's got five people inside him!

Inside him is Denzil Williams.

Gareth Edwards on the outside! He must score!

Try number two. Murrayfield in 1971.

Delme Thomas deflection, quick passing

and a classical try for Gerald Davies

which John Taylor converted.

Scotland, four points ahead at 18-14.

Delme Thomas again.

Edwards to Barry John.

Out to John Dawes. John Williams. Gerald Davies!

Can Ian Smith get him?

It's Gerald Davies for Wales!

And now for the best of them all. Murrayfield, 1977.

The counter-attack, the magic of Gerald Davies' running,

good support, the flip-pass from Fenwick

and the Barbarian-like sidestepping of Phil Bennett.

Watson, almost up to the Welsh 22.

Gives it to Carmichael.

Out to Morgan again.

Morgan switches.

McGeechan! There's half an overlap there...

That was a good tackle there with Clive Burgess in.

Again it's Morgan, out to McHarg.

Irvine in.

Irvine into space.

Across comes JPR.

JPR, flattened by Carmichael.

Fenwick. Gerald Davies, what was he doing there?!

And you can see... Davies, Phil Bennett!

Bennett, out to David Burcher!

Burcher, back inside to Fenwick to Bennett.

Oh, this is going to be the try of the championship.

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