England v Wales 1988 Scrum V Classics

In 1988, Ronald Reagan was in power across the Atlantic

and Margaret Thatcher had become

Britain's longest serving Prime Minister.

But a Welsh firebrand was snapping at her heels.

And the Welsh rugby team was turning a corner,

banishing memories of a disappointing Five Nations in 1987

to put in a strong showing at the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

And Hadley sweeps in for the try.

Superbly kicked.

He has done it!

We finished third, the highest Wales have ever finished,

and that built us up, really, for the Five Nations in 1988.

What Wales may have lacked in bulk, they made up in guile,

picking four outside halves in their backline

for the first game against England.

Preparations are just about finished, Bleddyn. Is everyone in good heart?

Yes, everyone's really looking forward to it now.

We've had two play sessions down in Swansea and they've gone excellently well.

We've got another one here,

so we're just going to go through all our moves and their preparations

and looking forward for a successful weekend up in London.

England faced France on the opening weekend

and emerged on the wrong side of a one-point defeat

but their performance made them

favourites against Wales in round two.

England had obviously played the week before against France

and everyone had written us off

because England had a really good performance,

even though they'd lost the game.

And there was a bit of revenge for the '87 World Cup quarterfinal

as well, was hitting the press,

so, yeah, we were a bit nervous going into it,

because it was our first game,

but we were very confident in our ability to win it.

The Welsh team, one new cap on the Welsh side,

a proud moment for Phil May.

Compared with England, it is

an experienced 15 with 158 caps on board.

Four outside halves selected

and obviously a major day for young Tony Clement,

the replacement cap against the American, Eagles.

But this is the major test, not only for Clement,

but also of his selection.

Upfront, Rowland Phillips wins his second cap

and the most experienced member is Robert Norster.

Wales, of course, captained by Bleddyn Bowen in the centre.

And the gamble in England's selection,

which nearly brought off a sensational result in Paris,

has now been kept.

The back row are Mick Skinner, Dean Richards and Peter Winterbottom.

England, of course, are led by Mike Harrison on the wing.

Conditions at Twickenham, absolutely ideal. No complaints.

And it really does invite running rugby.

Cusworth of Leicester and England,

to get this 93rd meeting between Wales and England underway.

No, indeed, it's the full back, Webb.

And the first touch of the game to Tony Clement.

And it's not a bad one.

Rifled that a good 35m down towards the halfway line into the sunshine.

He will be well pleased with that first touch of the ball.

The very first line-out.

Seven at the tail. For England, it's Winterbottom.

England had it but away goes Collins,

looking for the support up towards the 10m line.

Jones has sight of the ball and England go over the top.

Down they go for a scrum on the 10m line.

A much seasoned front row for England in Rendall, Moore and Probyn.

But Wales have it.

Robert Jones, Jonathan Davies, Bleddyn Bowen,

to the side of him, Tony Clement, and it's on to Ieuan Evans.

Ieuan Evans up towards the 22m line. Tackled by Webb on the 22.

But the ball nearly made available.

That was encouraging with Evans showing that dynamic pace of his.

Kevin Phillips, Welsh throw-in.

Nearly got his hands to that one.

Could be an England ball as Melville waits.

England have it. Cusworth.

That's the test for Clement, or for Ieuan Evans,

a little bit of confusion in the Welsh ranks.

Evans gets the ball away to Clement.

England, on charge, but Clement, still going.

Well, he recovered well.

Tony Clement, a little bit of indecision

in the Welsh defence that time.

And that was the test we did expect from Les Cusworth,

a perfect up and under, good following by Underwood.

A bit of confusion with Evans and Clement,

but a good recovery by the Swansea youngster.

It's a long one in from Orwin.

Ring is there, Moriarty takes for Wales

as Wales set it up midway between the 22 and the halfway line.

Jones, to Jonathan Davies.

Good switch. Probyn, looking.

The ball taken by Harrison, the England captain.

He's got away from the tackle of Tony Clement

and is Harrison still going?

This, a good England attack as Melvin waits for the feed.

To Cusworth, on to Winterbottom.

Now to Carling.

Carling caught in the middle, Norster tries to get a hand to it.

It is so fast down there, so physical.

Kevin Phillips with a throw, but again England have it.

England beginning to dominate this facet of play.

Melville waits just on the 10m line, Orwin comes away too.

The charge is on from Wade Dooley.

The pick-up by Melville and on again to Skinner.

Melville to John Orwin.

He's taking on the Welsh three quarters. Winterbottom is there.

It's a well won ball for Melville.

Phil May retiring, accidentally offside.

Naturally, the Twickenham crowd don't agree.

Kevin Phillips of Neath,

his sixth international.

And there'll be a huge cheer from the Gwent contingent

if Ian Watkins of Ebbw Vale is called on as a replacement.

It may well be that he's gone off for further treatment.

And Ian Watkins, a great moment,

for the youngster from Ebbw Vale, winning his first cap.

Phil May hangs down onto Rowland Phillips.

The charge is on from Moriarty, but Wales, not making much ground.

Robert Jones has it, Jonathan Davies, to Ring,

Bleddyn Bowen, and just a fingertip away from good possession.

Collins, seven, for England.

Winterbottom, eight. In the red jersey is Paul Moriarty.

That's the towering height of Wade Dooley

going up for that one for England.

And Norster on the depth that time, but Norster has the last word.

Jonathan Davies, superb pick-up, to Bleddyn Bowen. Ring is there, too.

Clement comes into the line with the fly half, kissed by Bleddyn Bowen.

Cusworth, back there, covering for England.

That's a rare opportunity

for the Welsh three quarters to show their pace.

They've had a couple of opportunities,

but handling has let them down.

Good play by Wales, because Dooley had won the ball,

but Wales snuggled back.

Look at this pick-up by Jonathan Davies. Brilliant pick-up.

They'll always look to moving to get Clement to use his pace in the line.

Away come England again. The riposte is there.

It's up to Carling, Simms outside. Up to Harrison.

Harrison against Hadley.

Harrison checks his stride, comes back inside, looks for support.

Melville is there.

Simms is there, but the touch judge on the far side, his flag is up.

England's throw 10m outside the Welsh 22m line.

Still a glorious afternoon at Twickenham.

The sun has deserted the playing surface,

but certainly over on the East stand,

they are enjoying the warmth of the sunshine

as England win yet another line-out and the drive is on from England.

That is Moore, the hooker, going through over the 22m line,

looking for the secondary possession.

Picked up by Peter Winterbottom.

He charges towards the Welsh midfield.

Up comes Dean Richards.

He's still going. Melville, took Cusworth on the far side.

He could well have passed that to line, but it's Orwin,

but the ball comes to Jonathan Davies and he kicks it just about anywhere.

Richards...

Oh, certainly England posing all kinds of challenges

and on the run of play, surely a try must go England's way?

There's Roger Uttley. He's not looking very, very happy.

I'm sure he would have liked a few points on the board

as far as England are concerned, but tremendous defence by both sides.

The penalty is to Wales.

The move on from Phil May, onto Moriarty and a crash ball.

Wales should have it.

Robert Jones to Jonathan Davies. They miss out a man. To Ring.

Anthony Clement...

Ring goes through, with the pick-up, though. Ring, still going.

Up he comes to Ieuan Evans. Nearly got a hand to it.

Webb on the counterattack.

WHISTLE BLOWS

The knock-on spotted by Steve Hilditch.

Down they go.

So far, on the pattern of play, some of the best opportunities

are the half chances that Wales have created in the three quarters.

Penalty going to England.

The scrum being taken down by Wales.

Bob Norster, just checking as to why the penalty was given.

Jon Webb...

And that's not going to reach touch unless the bounce is kind.

But it's...a very dodgy bounce indeed.

To Clement. The counterattack is on.

From Ring, up to Hadley. Hadley. Cusworth coming up for the tackle...

Hadley, up against Mike Harrison.

Oh, that's brilliant counterattacking.

That's exactly the kind of game

that Wales need to employ against this form of domination of England.

Through go Wales, but Winterbottom is there to salvage the possession.

Watkins trying to get through as well, but here comes Wade Dooley,

a giant of a man - the Blackpool Tower onto Moore. Onto Kevin Simms.

This is an opportunity. Simms, back inside...

Rendall, underneath the shadow of the Welsh posts.

It's Dean Richards.

The charge is on for England. England wait for possession.

Melville, burrowing away. The opportunity lost, surely?

No, Cusworth gets the ball away, but England making a hash of things.

Davies trying to tackle.

And the ball coming in to Rory Underwood and into touch.

Well, about four or five lost opportunities for England

and that will come as no small relief to the Welsh contingent.

Bleddyn Bowen shouts instructions to his fellow three quarters.

Away come England. Probyn on the charge.

And over the 10m line.

This is good work by England.

Melville has good sight of the ball.

Onto Winterbottom. Tries to take on Collins.

They're playing basketball in the middle. And suddenly, it's Moriarty.

Onto Richard Collins, and he is a basketball player.

On goes Collins, towards the halfway line. Wales have it.

It's Phillips on the far side. The ball picked up by Jonathan Davies.

He's got down the outside, Jonathan Davies. Is he going to get there?

Oh, he's tackled short of the line!

And the ball comes to England's hands

and that, the best scoring opportunity for Wales.

What a superb break. And he may well have been injured in the process.

Tremendous play by Rowland Phillips here.

Getting the ball, moving it, and look at that pass -

brilliantly taken by Jonathan Davies. And here's the first chance.

He's had a little bit of room and just watch him use his pace.

Dean Richards hasn't got a hope of catching him.

Chose a half dummy, and it's odds-on that he's going to score.

But again, magnificent defence by England.

Webb gets back there to halt the flying fly half

and Cusworth does a cleaning up job.

We can see it again, beautiful. Look at this man's pace.

He looks as if he's going to score

but as both sides have done all afternoon, tremendous defence,

a last gasp startle and Cusworth back to tidy up for England.

Tremendous play by both sides.

Watkins to throw. Moriarty at the tail.

It is taken by Norster.

Jonathan Davies...

And onto Rowland Phillips.

Setting it up on the 22m line as Wales drive.

This, a better period for the Welsh shirts.

Norster, one-handed to Jones.

Jonathan Davies, the drop goal...

It's gone to the left.

And that's the second attempt

that has gone a little wrong for Jonathan Davies.

Moriarty on, beyond the 10m line.

England may well have been offside that time,

but the ball had come out, says referee, Hilditch.

Cusworth, with a speculative kick over the head of Hadley.

The ball, into touch. And that, indeed, is the half-time whistle.

What a splendid half - full of excitement, full of incident,

but the half-time score at Twickenham, England 0 Wales 0.

-ADRIAN HADLEY:

-We didn't have many opportunities in the first half,

except when Jonathan made that one break with myself outside,

so if he had've given it, I may have got a hat-trick.

But we won't hold that against him.

He'd his blinkers on in that particular instance.

We were under the cosh in the first half

and they blew a couple of chances, England.

To win the actual Five Nations you need a bit of luck

and I think we had it in that first 40 minutes.

Robert Jones breaks.

Jonathan Davies, Mark Ring,

and Ring taking it really nowhere.

But Robert Jones calling the options.

Jonathan Davies...

And the tackle by Skinner, a hard one on Jonathan Davies.

Rather noticeable in that movement

that Jonathan Davies is merely a passenger.

He's hobbling around, hardly able to walk.

Yes, he took the ball beautifully and gave it out in one action,

but it was noticeable again

how quick both back rows were there to snuff the moves out.

And the cleaning up work being done by Probyn.

Melville, waiting for the feed,

but it's the field drive and will Melville have a space?

It's Nigel Melville up against Tony Clement.

Melville going for the corner.

Has he got the speed to get through on his own? Looking for support.

Evans comes back with a crucial tackle.

Ring is there and Ring is upended. Surely that's a penalty?

A superb break by Nigel Melville.

What a magnificent run for this man, whose supposed to be injured

and has got a sore ankle. Tries to go outside Clement. Tremendous pace.

But again, good covering by Clement. Gets back there.

Look at number 13, Mark Ring, did ever so well

to rescue the situation as well for Wales.

Watkins to throw.

Was taken by Norster. He's having a commanding role in this second half.

Jonathan Davies, Mark Ring. They miss out a man. To Tony Clement.

He's robbed of the ball by Harrison.

The ball comes to Richard Collins.

He'll need the support.

England will try and turn him around, which they've succeeded in doing.

Harrison to Cusworth, Simms to Carling on the far side.

Underwood, up against Ieuan Evans.

Underwood, trying to go around the man.

That time, it's even Stevens.

What a battle these two wings have had.

Two exceptionally talented wings in Rory Underwood for England

and Ieuan Evans of Wales.

Dooley takes in the middle, his 17th cap for England.

Had a crucial role in the first half.

England wait for the possession.

Melville caught by Rowland Phillips.

Wales have done well.

And away goes Ian Watkins, up towards the 10m line.

A good drive over by the Welsh and Robert Norster, just handing off.

Les Cusworth. And away come Wales into the England have.

Looking for the position, Robert Jones to Jonathan Davies.

And to Bleddyn Bowen, to Ring on the far side,

to Tony Clement, to Ieuan Evans.

Underwood with a superb covering tackle.

Carling is there for England.

Wales, that time, just going across field,

not really being able to penetrate.

What a magnificent drive by the Welsh pack.

Norster was in the van, Phil May was in the van, Watkins was there,

driving forward, laying perfect ball back for their backs to use.

Still 0-0 as Melville sweeps the ball away to Cusworth.

That's a testing kick for Tony Clement.

Takes it well and makes space.

Tony Clement on the run, trying to link up. Behind is Bleddyn Bowen.

Bowen, trying to find Richie Collins.

Suddenly, the movement breaking down in midfield.

Wales have it and they had an overlap.

Jonathan Davies to Mark Ring. To Tony Clement. He's got Hadley outside.

Hadley up against Jon Webb. Up to Mark Ring. To Adrian Hadley.

Hadley will go over the line. Hadley is going to score!

What a try!

What a try!

What a combination between Mark Ring and Adrian Hadley

of Lady Mary High School in Cardiff.

A magnificent try.

Magnificent play by the Welsh backs.

Clement started it all

and it's all about good straight running and support.

Look at Clement using his pace.

Lovely play by Hadley and good support play by Mark Ring.

Look at the intelligence of Hadley -

comes back on the scissors and then he straightens the line back out,

showing tremendous pace, and he's over for a magnificent Welsh try.

And Tony Clement had taken advantage of that bad kick by Les Cusworth

and it was good play by the backs. We'll see it again.

Look at the pace Clement puts in there. Tremendous burst of speed.

Lovely inside pass, Hadley, and Ring, the clever player,

looking for the supporting Hadley again,

showing tremendous strength, pace,

got over for a tremendous try for Wales.

Here we can see it again.

You see ruck ball, and it's come out and Jonathan Davies uses it well.

Good straight handling by the back. Simple stuff.

And there's Clement, adding his pace to it.

Hadley could easily have gone outside and been tackled,

but he looked for the support and there's the scissors.

Look at his angle of running now, straightening back out.

Bleddyn Bowen roaring him on and he's over for a great try.

Plenty of confidence in the Welsh three quarters.

Adrian Hadley, the hero of Wales,

has battled against Australia in the World Cup,

which gained them third place.

Now, the hero of Twickenham.

Steve Hilditch has got Nigel Melville

to readjust the England scrum slightly.

Back it comes to Webb.

Very nearly charged down by Robert Jones.

That's a massive kick from John Webb of Bristol.

That'll give his forwards some encouragement

to get back into the battle.

Ian Watkins. Beginning to find his men in this Welsh line-out.

The lob ball, looking for Norster. Finding the big Cardiff man as well.

Away goes Robert Jones onto Richie Collins. Bowls over Cusworth.

On he comes to David Young, the young mobile prop from Swansea,

on the short side, to Jonathan Davies.

The switch of attack, being chased by Skinner.

Ring is on the far side of Jonathan Davies and the ball to Ring now.

Ring in possession, Tony Clement in front of this man.

Ring, looking back inside for Paul Moriarty. Finding the man.

Collins to Rob Norster.

The pass out, to Bleddyn Bowen, Bowen back in sideways, and Hadley.

Is he going to get his second try? And he's going to make it!

The second try for Adrian Hadley and all of Wales and Twickenham erupts!

Well, my word, it didn't look on but they made the most of it.

Here is the key, the switch back by Jonathan Davies.

Look at him using his tremendous pace.

He's beating Skinner on the outside and he draws the man,

but Mark Ring is very worthy,

comes back in on the inside looking for support.

But the crucial moment comes here. He's tackled,

but he still makes the ball available by throwing it out.

Good play by the forwards.

They deserve all the credit in the world here.

They keep it alive. Bleddyn Bowen's there.

And look at the work done, again by Hadley.

Getting the ball, beats one tackle by the English captain,

Cusworth seems to have him but he shows strength there,

and he's going into the corner for another great try for Wales.

Again, there's the switch from Jonathan Davies,

going on the outside of Skinner, created room there,

and a lovely tight pass which has taken Underwood out of the game.

Here's Mark Ring, coming back inside.

He's tackled, but look, he flicks the ball, keeping it alive.

Good play by Collins and Norster,

two tremendous efforts by the forwards. Very fast pace.

Inside by Bowen and there is Hadley's strength,

away from Cusworth and over in the corner.

Kick not turning in at all,

so Wales will have to rest on the eight-point lead.

Adrian Hadley, very much the hero of the hour.

The ball won by Wales.

Rowland Phillips doing the cleaning up work so efficiently for Wales.

Jonathan Davies has seen a bit of a gap in the short side.

Thinks again... And they're high...

It's for Webb.

The ball coming back for the England side. Carling is in the middle.

Wales, trying to turn the England centre around.

But the ball will not come out of there, says Hilditch,

and it's a Welsh put-in.

In front of the post, 20m out.

We said before the interval that Jonathan Davies had injured his leg.

I wonder will he seal this with a drop goal here

or will he go for the attacking option on that narrow side?

Two attempts at a drop goal so far from Jonathan Davies.

This could well be the third.

Robert Jones, Jonathan Davies, drop goal, is it there this time?

It's there!

No doubt about it this time.

Third time for the Welshman.

And it's between the posts.

And look at that scrum, rock-solid all the time.

Look at Davis, takes his time, lines it up,

and strokes through the ball beautifully.

And the moment it left his boot

it was going to be three points for Davies and Wales.

11 points to nil to Wales.

Having survived the England onslaught in the first half,

Wales coming back strongly in the second.

Wales, then could well be heading for their 11th victory at Twickenham

since the matches were played here, since 1910.

Is this a penalty?

A kind of indiscipline, giving away penalties.

Could well bring England back into this game.

Rob Norster, having a quick word with the Irish referee.

What are England going to do?

They may well run it. No, indeed, they're going to go for three.

That's the decision of the skipper, Mike Harrison.

Jon Webb, then, and should he get this one over, 11-3,

so England will still have to come back

and score a goal plus another score to take the lead.

Webb with a kick. It looks a comfortable one.

It's over. It's 11-3.

And, again, we see England aiming to rely on the penalty kick.

Certainly, that facet of play

dominating international rugby for the past 20 years.

Ian Watkins, what a day it's going to be for him to remember.

His debut at Twickenham and in a winning Welsh side.

At least, it looks like that at the moment.

But England hoping to come back.

Melville, onto Skinner.

The tackling of the Welsh is there.

Cusworth, out to Carling.

Carling on the far side to Underwood. Underwood is going to make tracks.

Underwood, back inside. To Winterbottom.

Norster is there, though, going over.

The ball comes back with the Welsh side

and the possibility of a counterattack to Bleddyn Bowen.

Bowen, looking for the support. Robert Jones, playing basketball.

Here's the try scorer, Hadley.

And Hadley will give chase. So, too, will Collins.

But the bounce defeats Hadley and Collins.

But excellent recovery by Wales.

I can tell you, it's breathless just watching the game up here.

There was an occasion there where I thought Bleddyn Bowen,

inside his 22, could have stuck it safely to touch.

But, no, again showing his tremendous enterprise and venture,

wanting to run the ball.

Moriarty. There's the drive through Jonathan Davies.

The dummy move onto Clement, Tony Clement.

And about a yard in front of Ieuan Evans on that far side.

The pass forward...

But that's the final whistle from Steve Hilditch.

It's a Welsh victory at Twickenham.

The hero of the hour, no doubt, Adrian Hadley.

And Wales' unlimited opportunities, making the most of them.

Wales winning the first of their Five Nations championship matches.

There's the man from Lady Mary High School in Cardiff

who deserves to have quite a celebration this evening

at the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union.

Wales winning by 11 points to 3.

-Adrian Hadley, not a bad day for you.

-No, very good.

Pleased we came up with the win and throw the ball abouts,

and that's what we've done, and we've come off with a win

and we're looking forward to the Scottish game.

'Jonathan, you seemed to have a peg leg halfway through the game.

'You were hobbling about there.

'I wouldn't have minded so much if I'd scored,

'but, you know, that's the way it goes.'

One of them went over.

Yes, I think we needed a couple of points at that stage

because we had to score two tries to win

and I didn't look like scoring any at all during the game.

So, just glad that it went over at that particular time.

'And Jonathan's one his bet that he had for dropping a goal,

'that's why he had so many attempts I think!'

-Three attempts.

-He managed to get one over in the end

and he's won a couple of bob on it, I think.

I haven't changed a bit, have I? But that is shocking!

Well, Scotland were up next and after falling behind,

Wales rallied to win 25-20

thanks to two more Jonathan Davies drop goals

and two truly memorable tries.

Jonathan Davies, there's that acceleration. Very, very quick.

The try is scored. Wonderful try by Davies.

Can you believe it?

Now, you notice the two flankers having a private battle,

Richie Collins and John Jeffrey.

Jonathan Davies, Bleddyn Bowen, along the line to Ring.

There's a chance here as Hadley comes in.

It is picked up by Ring. Ieuan Evans, Evans all the way.

What a blistering run by Evans.

That is a magnificent try!

-ADRIAN HADLEY:

-'Scotland was a really good game to play in.

'We liked throwing the ball about and so did Scotland.

'I think we were ten points down at one point,'

but we came back and won 25-20 in the end,

and Ian Watkins, who scored a try that day,

will be really cheesed off because they only ever show

Jonathan Davies's try and Ieuan Evans's try.

But for the record, Ian also scored.

It was a happy camp and confidence was understandably high

as they travelled to Ireland in search of a triple Crown.

# The only way is up

# Baby

# For you and me... #

Wales have now won the triple Crown!

Back on home soil, the only standing between them

and a Grand Slam was a French side also gunning for the championship.

Ieuan Evans kicking through. What a race this is with Lagisquet.

Ieuan Evans, and he's going to score.

The try is given!

Mark Ring and Ieuan Evans still both claim that try,

but whoever scored it, it wasn't quite enough to win the game.

Wales finished the tournament on top with a superior points difference,

but that wasn't taken into account in 1988

and the championship was shared with France.

And just in case you had forgotten that Ian Watkins try, here it is.

That's Paul Thorburn. Thorburn, almost got to the post.

Taken on there by Richie Collins. Watkins diving.

The try is given.

Ian Watkins, the hooker.

Oh, they'll be thrilled down at Ebbw Vale with that one!

# Oh, I would walk 500 miles

# And I would walk 500 more

# Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles

# To fall down at your door. #