Wales v Scotland 1994 Scrum V Classics

In 1994, the bitter war in the Balkans was still raging.

Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party,

the Channel Tunnel opened,

and in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president.

At home in Wales, times were tough in the sporting world.

The football team narrowly missed out on the '94 World Cup,

while the rugby team was going through a period of mixed fortunes.

Mike Rayer of Cardiff played through these uncertain times.

The low point came in November '93,

when they lost at home to Canada. A late Al Charron try,

converted by Gareth Rees, gave the visitors a famous win.

It was a good game to miss.

The autumn of 1993 we lost to Canada,

which was thankfully nothing to do with me, cos I was sat on the bench.

It was obviously a huge shock at the time, it was probably

difficult to take in the following weeks and months,

there was a bit of time between that

and when the Five Nations started, so obviously

we had time to re-gather, and I guess it galvanised us to a certain extent.

The man responsible for turning Wales' fortunes around

was head coach Alan Davies.

Now in his third year of the job, he was beginning to feel the heat.

He came in during the World Cup,

and we weren't sure how long he was going to stay,

but I thought he brought a breath of fresh air with him,

and he stayed for several seasons, rightly so.

Rugby was just months away from turning professional,

but in 1994, the amateur ethos was still very much in place.

Used to train on a Monday evening, re-gather on a Wednesday,

have a session Wednesday afternoon, couple of sessions Thursday,

one session Friday, so, erm...yeah, the good old days really.

Rayer was competing for the fullback slot

with Swansea's Anthony Clement.

A great rivalry, but a friendly one as well,

we got on very well off the field as well,

but it was great at the time, we kept pushing each other on,

and obviously he got the nod for the Scotland game.

With Clement selected to start, Rayer was on the bench.

You never know at any stage what time you're going to come on,

and unfortunately, Nigel Walker decided to tackle with his chin

rather than his shoulders, and I was lucky enough to get on the pitch.

Neil Jenkins gets the game under way,

to that great roar from this huge crowd.

And Scotland immediately pushed off that ball, but it went forward.

A Welsh hand knocked it forward,

but it looked very loose,

and Wales seemed about to take advantage of it.

Wales slightly the heavier, but as I say,

today it's about technique and getting a good grip with the feet.

Gavin Hastings in the stand-off position,

that's a huge crossfield ball, taken on there very well by Ian Jardine.

And that was the lay back by Shade Munro, good for a new cap

to get into the game so quickly.

It's one of those nightmare visions of international rugby,

when the first high kick goes up and nobody is anywhere near catching it.

Ten metres outside the Welsh 22.

Moon gets a ball that's well protected.

Clement, the fullback, good touch.

REF BLOWS WHISTLE

It looked to me as if a Welsh hand knocked that forward,

and right away...

Well, this is absolutely ridiculous, of course tension is high,

passions are high,

but that's the last thing you want to see on a rugby pitch.

Iain Morrison comes in to try and settle people down,

Neil Edwards took exception to something,

and so did the rest of them.

We've two French touch judges of course, Joel Dume and Didier Mene,

both of them on their international panel.

I think it's Garin Jenkins who attracted the attention,

there's number two.

He doesn't stop now.

There's Shade Munro, of Glasgow High Kelvinside, the new cap in the side.

Beautifully from Llewellyn,

that's Nigel Davies, Davies caught by Turnbull, Scottish 22...

Wonderful play by the inside-centre, Moon again,

Jenkins - the drop goal...

He was a bit late with it, Wainwright with the charge-down.

Picked up by Nicol, Nicol caught by Walker and held on,

it's a penalty in front of the Scottish posts.

Neil Jenkins with the penalty.

Straight through.

3-0 Wales lead.

Ken Milne's throw, Munro got hands to it,

that's Edwards sweeping and driving, Nicol, Chalmers...

Oh, lovely run there by the fullback Gavin Hastings,

coming off Jardine, inside the Welsh 22,

another lovely ball for the Scots, Chalmers going...

Chalmers half through.

Deep inside the Welsh 22.

That was a great drive by the Scots, Nicol once again,

out there to Stanger, Stanger within seven, eight metres.

And that was an awkward ball for the Scots, Llewellyn

may have been offside.

Craig Chalmers swapping direction at the last minute,

breaks one tackle, Emyr Lewis with the saving tackle really,

because on the right-hand side everything started to open up.

Scotland decide to keep going the same way,

and it's Stanger against Nigel Walker,

I think Walker gets a flick there, in the face from a stud.

Nigel Walker the injured player,

this is the lad who took part in the 110m hurdles

at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in '84, got to the semifinal.

A late entry into international rugby

but he scored a very good try against France at the end

of last season in the Parc des Princes,

and not a lot of people do that.

But that looks like a concussive thing.

And if that is so, the lad would have to stay off for three weeks.

And meanwhile, Mike Rayer

will be getting ready to come on to the pitch.

-CHEERING

-And indeed it is, Mike Rayer of Cardiff

coming on for his 12th international.

Another of the very versatile players,

although he's normally the fullback.

Neil Jenkins, the favourite son of Pontypridd at the moment.

Edwards goes down.

Ken Milne got it, Nicol, to Chalmers, this will be

the high one across the forwards, but a loud blast for offside.

And this is also eminently kickable, even on a day like this.

Hastings then.

He's pushed it wide again - oh, but he hasn't, it's come in!

For a moment I thought it had gone past,

but in fact, it's in, it's 3-3, and they've played almost 14 minutes.

Moon, Jenkins, Davies.

REF BLOWS WHISTLE

That was Scott Quinnell who made the drive for Wales,

but they went over the top and have been penalised.

Think the problem there was isolation.

All around he's got blue shirts, not a red shirt in sight,

all because of slow, static ball from the second phase.

Iain Morrison is the injured player,

he's had a lot of trouble with knee injuries, in fact he's got

little bolts and washers and things in his knee from away back.

What a season he had last season,

played in all four championship matches.

And so Doddie Weir comes onto the field,

and Scotland are lucky to have such an experienced player,

because although he's only 23,

this will be his 20th international match,

and it gives Scotland an extra line-out option.

That was done by Emyr Lewis near the front, Nigel Davies,

out to Hall, Rayer's angle of running good, up to halfway,

taking it back to his forwards.

Out there to Jenkins, Jenkins out to Hall, Hall going all the way,

very good tackle by Wainwright.

Scotland's 22, Moon goes, very unlucky to trip there,

Emyr Lewis drives on, caught by Turnbull.

A great bit of Welsh rugby, and it's not finished yet.

Along the line once again to Jenkins,

to Rayer, Rayer to the fullback, Clement was in there.

Wainwright knocked out the road, Moon once again,

Jenkins switching, marvellous rugby this by Wales.

Into the Scottish 22 once again,

Ricky Evans got in there first for the Welshmen.

Now it's Moon once again, and Ken Milne did the...

BOOING

Well, he did the necessary there for Scotland,

but it's going to be a penalty to Wales for holding on.

But that was a wonderful passage of Welsh play.

A study in concentration, looking for rhythm, Neil Jenkins...

It works.

Everybody waited, they weren't sure, but it's 6-3 to Wales.

27 minutes gone.

That was nicely done by Edwards, but Wales pillaging well.

They're foraging, they're pirating and they're succeeding.

French touch judge has brought Patrick Robin over.

Obviously seen a bit of foul play, and it looks as if it's a Scot,

and Peter Wright is the man who's being talked to.

Peter Wright just arriving from the right-hand side now

Left-footed, in he goes.

Clear-cut bit of stamping.

They left it to Quinnell, Quinnell recovers it,

he did well, the youngster. Was he held?

Moon tackled there by Turnbull, a penalty to Wales.

Offside against Derek Turnbull.

A good bit of salvaging by Wales from a situation which went wrong.

A set piece move between Scott Quinnell

and Mike Hall came to nothing,

but Wales recovered well and improvised well,

and that's a major difference from their last outing where,

if plan A didn't go well, they seemed to have no plan B,

but that's excellent play, excellent recovery work

by the Welsh, Derek Turnbull clearly offside.

Jenkins again.

Oh, it sneaked in very well.

He hit it absolutely plum. Wales 9-3 ahead.

Nine minutes to go to the break.

Gareth Llewellyn at number four, opposite Shade Munro,

but it was the old master Phil Davies who made a great jump there.

Moon, Jenkins...

that's a big one. Logan waits.

Gavin Hastings.

Oh, that's a huge lick he's given that one.

There goes Mike Rayer.

Just saves it.

Anthony Clement, two fullback rivals together there,

but team-mates today. Quick throw in.

Nicely taken by Gregor Townsend, good thinking by the youngster.

The drive on, with Rob Wainwright in the van.

Almost up to the Welsh 22, Nicol going,

Chalmers, change of kick that time.

But the call and the mark by Emyr Lewis.

Some people look upon Emyr Lewis as a bit of a bash,

he's called Tarw - "The Bull", but he's a very good footballer,

as you can see from that.

Something of a kicker actually,

one punt led to a try by Ieuan Evans against England,

he dropped the goal to win Llanelli the cup final,

and here he is making a mark and clearing into touch.

And the Welsh forwards really thundering on,

they're almost up to the Scottish 22.

Now it's Moon, out to Jenkins, Davies to Hall,

there's a real chance here, it goes to Rayer, Rayer going

for the corner, Rayer still, help there by Perego, right on his elbow.

Chance still for Lewis - he's caught.

Back from Ricky Evans, Moon misses out

Jenkins, Nigel Davies, Nigel Davies of Llanelli still,

caught there by Ken Milne.

They're 15 metres from the Scottish line,

and a penalty to Wales in an eminently kickable position.

Excellent driving play by the Welsh forwards.

They need really quick ball here, it's just held up a fraction

of a second there, but even so, it's going Mike Rayer's way.

Great one-handed take, there it is.

Perhaps he should have just transferred it to the hand

and gone for the outside,

but it's still excellent play by a fullback playing at wing.

Grant Fox all over again.

Jenkins straight and true.

Four penalty goals by the 22-year-old,

Wales are in the lead 12-3.

Just to see us in a huddle there in the middle,

having our half-time oranges as it was, was quite surreal really.

But in many ways it was great - couple of minutes,

I never tended to listen too much to what was going on,

just focusing on my own job within the team

and before you know it, the second half was under way.

It really is, there's a real chance here now for Wales to open up.

They're playing with immense confidence,

wouldn't think they'd been beaten by Canada.

And certainly seeking to reinstate themselves in pride and prestige.

Again from Moon to Jenkins. Was he outside his 22?

Back there goes Ken Logan.

Logan's kick, taken by Jenkins.

Thundering on, Scott Quinnell.

He really is so fast for a big man, young Quinnell,

only his second international.

Pick up and drive by Lewis, they're almost up to Scotland's 22.

Scotland have pinched it, Andy Nicol has kicked,

but actually there was a chance to have handled there.

Clement goes back. Once again a huge return.

Gavin Hastings, he's going to open out to Wainwright.

Wainwright felt the space was blocked,

Townsend did well to take and give, Tony Stanger now,

on to Burnell, Hastings

- good tackle by Mike Rayer.

He stopped the ball as well.

REF BLOWS WHISTLE

"Stay on your feet." Patrick Robin penalising Scotland for diving over.

Turnbull threw quickly, but very well away to Jenkins,

this is Hall, Hall straightening up, magnificent run by him!

Up to the 22, tackled there by Townsend

- look at the red jerseys arriving in such numbers!

Out to Moon, the pick up by Jenkins, on to Lewis...

and that is another beautifully manufactured kick by Emyr Lewis.

As I say, he's such a skilled footballer.

Neil Jenkins under pressure here, Wales are just shipping the ball on,

but there's the change of angle,

good acceleration off the mark by Mike Hall,

and now he just seems to run out of support, he's looking for it

and just can't get that final pass away,

everybody a little bit distant from him.

Nicely lobbed. Phil Davies, on to Perego, Quinnell batters on.

They're up to within 10, 12 metres of Scotland's line.

Moon again, out there to Phil Davies, Emyr Lewis,

this is Jenkins...

And that was a crucial tackle by Andrew Nicol.

Jenkins almost home. Emyr Lewis, number six there.

Once again, Turnbull getting in that time and got hands to it. Nicol...

..Chalmers, great burst, Wainwright.

This is the important bit here.

Moon going, great run all the way by Moon,

back inside to Ieuan Evans, just got hit with a high tackle

but not deliberately, cos Ieuan Evans went down.

On once again, Quinnell driving.

They're within ten metres of Scotland's line.

A chance here - Jenkins, Nigel Davies, Hall,

out there to Clement,

it's a marvellous try for Rayer!

Mike Rayer the scorer, it was a brilliant score.

17-3 Wales lead, 12 minutes of the second half gone,

and that was beautifully created and marvellously finished.

The whole of Cardiff Arms Park is on its feet here...

for what was a great try.

Just for a moment I thought Wales had taken the wrong option,

but Scott Quinnell had the strength to set it up,

and it was his drive that set it up for the three-quarters,

Anthony Clement so nearly dropped it,

but Mike Rayer, on as a sub, scoring his try.

Douglas Wyllie is about to come on to the field,

as Chalmers goes off injured.

And Gregor Townsend has gone to stand-off for Scotland,

Wyllie filling in at centre.

Nicol, Townsend, it's quite a useful one,

Wyllie slightly obstructed as he went for it.

Ten metres outside the Welsh 22, Ken Milne feeds.

Nicely out to Townsend, to Wyllie, Gavin Hastings drives.

Ricky Evans in on the tackle there - that's the Welsh 22.

Nicol again,

Townsend with the drop goal!

I don't think the referee was sure,

he was very well away from the posts.

Just have a look at this, he had plenty of room and time.

Now, he didn't hit it quite right, it was, eh...

Well, it looked a good one to me,

should have been three points, I think.

Jenkins...Doddie Weir, they weren't sure who was going to take it.

Wainwright has managed to rescue it for the Scots, Nicol, Townsend...

Nice bit of play by the Gala youngster.

So, Scotland realising, as we come towards the last quarter

of the match, that they need a score,

and indeed they need a try and a conversion

to really give them the feeling that they could pull this round.

Kenny Milne got through.

Nicol burrows. A penalty.

Ken Milne is the link man. They're just looking for ruck ball.

Now it's Nicol, on there to Wright.

Nicol going, almost through, tackle there by Phil Davies.

That's the Welsh goal line.

And Wales have won a ball, as Mike Rayer feeds it out to Jenkins.

And that was absolutely vital for Wales.

How they pinched that ball, I'll never know.

Scotland held that one better, on to Turnbull from Wainwright,

pick up by Nicol, there's Townsend, there's an overlap to Hastings,

back inside to Wainwright

- marvellous tackle by Perego!

And Tony Stanger tackled as well.

Out from Nicol, penalty there by Phil Davies.

He says, "I was retiring", but you're still offside.

That's the best angle any outside-half

has run onto the ball all day, Bill.

Gavin Hastings then, he's scored

58 points against Wales

in eight matches,

and he's got another three, he's struck that well.

His second penalty of the day.

Nicol again, Townsend, on to Jardine,

well tackled by Nigel Davies,

another ball for the Scots, Gavin Hastings on halfway,

tackled by Rayer.

And Phil Davies going in there, Turnbull held him,

and Garin Jenkins took exception.

A penalty for a punch, Scots have taken it quickly,

Nicol may have gone the wrong way, Wales hadn't retired the ten metres.

Townsend still.

Townsend to Stanger, good acceleration, the drive on.

Nicol, Townsend, missed out everybody to Wyllie,

on to Jardine, inside the 22,

he was held and it may be a penalty against him.

Referee, is he waiting for a Welsh advantage?

It's Nicol again,

Townsend along the line to Jardine, Jardine half through,

on to Townsend, Townsend to kick through, but it had gone forward.

And one or two examples of Townsend's flaring pace

in this match since he went to stand-off.

Absolutely, ever since he went to replace Craig Chalmers

the game has suddenly changed, and he's orchestrating things

in the Scottish midfield, and it's looking very dangerous.

Big hit there by the Welsh back row, knock forward,

but Scotland look suddenly very dangerous.

Wales have pirated once more.

Moon, Jenkins, an overlap here, out to Hall, Ieuan Evans,

and back there goes Douglas Wyllie.

Think the crowd felt that Ieuan Evans was taken out.

I think it was just the pass is delayed,

the ball is so slippery they had to just delay the passes.

I don't think there's a...

Kenny Logan committed there, no late tackle.

A fairly happy Welsh captain though.

Three minutes to go, Wales deep inside Scotland's 22,

Phil Davies goes charging on.

A wonderful run there, the forwards are all up.

And there's a drive over,

the referee saw the ball going forward I think.

But the Scots know they've been under pressure

at the scrummage almost from the start.

Moon however, out to Jenkins, Clement, super tackle by Wyllie.

Moon was on again, and Moon to Jenkins,

a try again for Rayer!

Mike Rayer's second try of the match.

That's the one that clinches it, 22-6 Wales lead,

they've only a minute to go, and it was another superbly created try.

The key is that they don't use the bashing run from first phase

as the try-scoring thing,

the key thing is to get quick second-phase possession.

Anthony Clement, that's the pass that made it, out of the tackle.

Nigel Davies has to wriggle a bit to make that ball available,

but now the try is always on.

Excellent ball from the first-phase situation,

Mike Rayer, try number two.

Jenkins...oh,

it looks a very good kick indeed.

Need I tell you? His fifth successful kick of the match.

24-6 Wales lead.

Meant for Weir, Nicol, Townsend, Jardine...

Ian Jardine has taken it to the forwards virtually every time

he's got the ball. Ken Milne, nicely out to Townsend,

this is a chance here for Gavin Hastings.

Great tackle by Neil Jenkins again,

what a game the young stand-off has had today.

That's the hoof on by Mike Rayer, back there goes Ken Logan.

Logan again tackled by Neil Jenkins, look at the red jerseys there.

Moon's got it, it's a chance for Wales again, Nigel Davies,

he's kicked for Ieuan Evans, Gavin Hastings against Ieuan Evans!

But Evans could well get there - he's scored!

His 13th try for Wales, the captain is delighted.

It was a superb score, because the kick was perfect.

Two tries in about a minute-and-a-half,

29-6 Wales lead, they've played two minutes into injury time.

There's a happy captain for you.

The key is whether Nigel Davies should have kicked,

but I think Ieuan Evans was screaming for him to do it

because he knows he's got the pace on anybody on the field.

Great try for Ieuan Evans.

The whistle goes for the end of the match, and Wales have won

a thoroughly-merited victory by 29-6, with three magnificent tries.

Just to get on the field is a great feeling,

but to get over for two tries is superb.

Because you'd warmed up for it in the first half with a

little run on the other side.

Yeah, I managed to get the ball in my hands a couple of times in the

first half, I think it was the intention

of the team starting out to

get the ball to the wings and play a little bit from there.

It wasn't as if...

I was a bit cold out there, I tried to get involved as much as I could.

It was Ireland up next,

and this man scored all the points in a tight victory.

Neil Jenkins!

Yes, he does, gets there.

We went on to play France, Scott Quinnell's game really, and it's

the first time I can remember the crowd really playing a part.

We used to try and block them out,

but actually, on that day the crowd were amazing.

Now then, one more pass? Yes, and he got it!

Nigel Walker - just look at this!

Oh, dear me! The place goes wild.

Going on to play in a Grand Slam game against England at Twickenham

was another memorable occasion.

That first half they really blew us away,

and they probably should have been more points ahead.

Space here for de Glanville, great pace from de Glanville,

what a try this will be!

Rory Underwood, gloriously done by England.

And yes, his mother was there.

Suddenly there's a little movement, greater purpose,

and gaps are opening, Ricky Evans, one more might do it...

We dug deep, we came back strong.

It was just through sheer belief and will of the team at that stage,

we had great spirit there.

It just wasn't enough.

Not the best pass.

Sensibly done, as some forwards get in a tangle, and that's it then,

that's the end of the Five Nations Championship from 1994.

It's been won by Wales.

It's a shame when you look back, it's not a regret I suppose,

but one occasion that perhaps got away from us.

It would have been nice to be sitting here having actually

achieved a Grand Slam,

unfortunately we had to settle for the championship,

which was kind of a bittersweet moment really,

but nevertheless a great achievement for that team and that time.