02/03/2014 Scrum V Sunday

We are one week away from the game that never needs extra space. It is

England against Wales. It is going to be a massive game. Do you want me

to say something outrageous? One man who is desperate to feature is

Jonathan Davies. He is back Andy helped the Scarlets to victory over

the league leaders. That was the one bright spot in a weekend to forget

for the rest of the Welsh regions. Good evening and welcome to the

programme puts up that England game as seven days away and it will be

huge. It is a preview coming up. We will kick off with the RaboDirect

Pro12. Munster brought a strong side to

Llanelli. Simon Siebel was at full-back. Jonathan Davies returned

to the Scarlets in a bid to prove his fitness before the Twickenham

showdown. Can they get this one rumbling?

Bodies on the floor. Emyr Phillips still has it. He feeds Gareth

Davies. Gareth Davies goes for the line himself. Beautiful. He looks to

have got it down for the first try of the night. Very solid indeed.

Impressive from the Scarlets. Linking up with John Barclay. That

is a chance on the counter attack. Munster breakaway with a try. Just

as we thought Munster strike on the counterattack. Casey Laulala as the

first receiver. Kristian Phillips just get him into touch. Great work

and good hands. Simon Siebel looking sharp. -- Simon Siebel. Has he got

the speed to go all the way? John Barclay is going to get there. A

remarkable breakaway try from the Scottish flanker.

Casey Laulala has nobody outside him. He waits for the support.

Williams is in there. Fantastic. Munster really stringing the passes

together. They are making up the metres upfield. Could there be an

overlap? A try scoring chance goes begging. The drive from the

forwards. Pick and go. One more might do it. The Scarlets getting

bodies in there. They could have an overlap outright if they use it. In

at the corner. Or is it? It is one for the TMO. That is a potential

knock-on there. The ball is lost forwards. We go back for the scrum.

Duncan Williams comes blindside. A good tackle.

Duncan Casey found a scarlet boot coming through. It is a yellow for

Josh Turnbull. Munster scramble away. Duncan Williams with a flick

up. It could not get much closer than that. Munster trying to force

their way over. This could be another one for Tim Hayes to have a

look at. Penalty. Duncan Williams puts it in. Munster again looking

for the drive. The Scarlets have come away with it. Rhodri Williams

breaks out. The crowd reacts. Let us have a look. That does not look

good. Duncan Williams away. Munster have

not given up this chance. It is spelt forwards. It is back into

midfield. It has gone forward and the Scarlets have done it. We are

continuing to claim the table and we are still in the hunt. As long as we

are still in it, we will keep working hard. The boys were

fantastic. Very happy. Munster were going for a clean sweep over the

Welsh regions home and away but they were denied by a determined Scarlets

side? They great try. How they helped them out, I have no idea.

Sometimes, you have to look at the decision-making. I thought the

referee was poor and it did not help either side. The Scarlets were

fortunate. So many chances went begging in the second half. But you

impressed with the physicality quit Iraq -- physicality? They certainly

brought a tough edge. They went forwards. Jonathan Davies went

forwards for them. They looked good. It was a good scalp to beat Munster.

Jonathan Davies played just over an hour. Has it done enough to get his

Welsh shirt back? The defensive role he plays is important. We are

talking about it being the most difficult position to defend on the

field. When you have more numbers coming up hard and closing people

down, he is top class at that. Liam Williams has been fantastic. I think

he controls it. Either you go up and in all up and out. I think Jonathan

Davies has put his hand up to get selected. I think England will have

options. Let us move on to the big game. Jonathan Davies will find out

if he is picked on Wednesday when the squad is announced.

The pressure is well and truly on at Twickenham next Sunday for both

teams. It is win or bust. The cabin chip is up for grabs. Both teams

have everything to play for. -- championship. England were blown

away last year at Cardiff. It was getting. But at the same time, you

learn most from games like that. You take the learning out of it and you

move on. We have moved on and got better because of it. I am not

wanted by what happened. It was a day that Wales were outstanding and

they played really well. They took their chances when they got them .

It was a dream day for them and was a nightmare for us. It is still the

game all Welsh fans went to win. Has the animosity settles after the

British and Irish Lions talk? I have spoken to them a few times. It will

be good to see them again. You have revealed that a couple of players at

one Direction fans. The kickers would have the windows down and the

music blaring. Any friendships have been set aside as both sides set

their course for championship glory. Wales stuttered in their opener

against Italy and fell to pieces a week later against Ireland. The game

is done. A fortnight later, redemption arrived. France travel to

be Millennium Stadium and were destroyed by a Welsh side with a big

point to prove. Jamie Roberts, straight through. He is going to

score. It has been a huge recovery for Wales. I felt the pressure going

into the game. A lot of the players felt the same . That brings the best

out of a lot of players. The journey for England has been more

consistent. They appeared to be heading for victory in Paris. But

they were undone at the death by some classic French flair.

They did not panic. A pensive drubbing of Scotland followed before

heroic rearguard action V E over a strong Ireland. We react to things

like that and do not dwell on it. You have to take your chances

against a team like Ireland. The resolve shown in the victory over

Ireland, you must have taken something from taking them out --

keeping them out in the last ten minutes? It is great, it drove us

through to get the win. With all four title contenders winning their

home games so far, it could be a factor. Add a member the sound

surrounding the whole stadium. I could hardly hear. I have never

heard the Twickenham crowd as loud as they were. It was definitely a

factor in getting back against Ireland and getting the win.

Sometimes, a little reverse psychology can work. It is a great

feeling to play away from home and the home crowd are pretty silent.

You know you are playing well. A lot of your colleagues have been

diplomatic, saying it is like any other game. You don't believe that,

do you? Do you want me to say something outrageous? ! All we can

control is ourselves. Wales have got some big, experienced players and

they know how to win the games, so we will have to play very well for

the full 80 minutes to beat them. Out for revenge? I wouldn't say

revenge, but we are looking to the next game and we want to be better

than we were against Ireland. England have performed well under

Stuart Lancaster. They have taken the scalps of New Zealand,

Australia, France and Ireland. But one significant scalp remains...

Not only have Lancaster's England never beaten Wales, they have never

scored a try against them either. I know you have been studying this

campaign. We mentioned their consistency so far in this

tournament. What have you found out? Are there any areas Wales can

exploit? If you look at the attacking patterns, the same old

England, in many ways. A lot of the attacks start with a drive, they

like to drive, to suck in defenders. Care they're carrying. Positive

play. They split the field, forward runners either side. Playing off

ten, this time it is early Twelvetrees. Again, just two players

to win the ruck. Options either side, they can play off Twelvetrees,

Farrell. But we are looking at is the weaknesses. One man in the ruck,

we are looking at a wind and a fallback winning rucks. The ball

comes out eventually and we see here again playing off ten, this time

Farrell using Courtney laws. This is a common theme, options both sides a

game for Danny care. Twelvetrees popping up, only one player

supporting the ball and the turnover eventually came for Ireland. It

shows the way the attack. This from a drive, from a restart. They are

not played -- not afraid to play drives. Here we see positive play,

they want to off-load, poor body position from Wilson, who is

tackled, another Irish turnover. This one, Best, they want to play

positive, a lot of attackers on their feet and another penalty for

Ireland. It could be a good day for the likes of Lydiate and wore button

if they carried their form from the last much into that. -- and

Warburton. And Warburton was back to his best against France? We saw how

many tackles he made, if you get Lake tackles, effective ones, with

Sam going over the ball, and the others, Toby Faletau is becoming

good at this as well. Those turnovers could beat the difference

in the game and I can see Wales creating a few turnovers and

exploiting them. We know that games are won and lost upfront, but if

England get parity and plenty of possession they have got some

dangerous runners right now. Danny Care and Mike Brown have been key

for them. This guy has been on fire. Deceptively strong, left footed. He

has just got great balance and he is confident, he has waited a long time

for his opportunity but he is confident, it is a very, very good

finish. Our kicking game can't be loose. This is a guy that just

controls the tempo of the game. Taps and goes, taps and goes. Just watch,

this is a Harlequin strike. Good support by Brown. The hand goes up,

quality play by Brown. A very, very good finish. I was at Twickenham, a

great place to play, and even better placed to win, but it is a fast

track and it will be a very fast game. They have got a lot of

ball-carriers. They have got believe I'm a pilot out. That could be

significant. If we can play with the intensity we

did against France and the defensive structure, I'm not sure, on the back

of lusty, what they have the confidence. At the defensive line is

crucial for us. The breakdown will be significant. On form, we have to

look at England. Kind against Ireland, they got the confidence

back -- kind against Ireland. How they lost to France, they will be

kicking themselves. They go in as slight favourites coolly because of

their consistency, and then the home advantage as well. But if Wales play

as they did against Ireland, they won't win. They like they did

against France, I would expect them to win. I think they will win as

well. We always used to kick to Brown's left, he struggles to kick

off his right foot. He is dangerous when he runs. Those breakdowns in

the wide channels, the likes of Cuthbert, North, Jonathan Davies,

those are the guys who need to contest and they have got the power

to do that. Actively PRO12 and the Blues were in

action facing bottom of the table Zebre.

Revenge was on the Blues group of mind but to claim it they had to do

something they have failed to do so far in the league this season, win

away from home. Zebre's team contained five players on loan.

Leonard completes what he thinks is a try. Did it go forward from

Filippo Ferrarini? Knock-on. No, it is trite. -- it is a try. And a try

is awarded to the scrum-half. The Blues can consider themselves a

little bit unlucky. He does well with the reverse pass to get himself

out. Leonard opting for the blind-side this time. Luigi Ferraro

on the outside. A second for Zebre. Can the Blues get something before

half-time? Lewis Jones to Gareth Davies. Lovely outside break by Tom

Williams. Just forced out. Lewis Jones... Tom Williams on the

perpendicular, great angle from the fallback and a deserved score for

Williams. Blues needed to attack from deep. Five minutes ago. Dan

Fish on the outside, get around his man. Very intelligent cross kick.

Will it land for Ellis Jenkins? The vagaries of the bounce take it away

from Jenkins but it could still be on for the Blues. Copeland at the

back. The referee saying to use it. It forced upon Davis. He is over the

line. Obstruction, says the referee, and it won't count.

Lewis Jones, caught at the base but does well to make it available. Fish

has got space on the left-hand side. There is the equalising try for the

Blues! But the referee going to the TMO. I'm not sure what he is looking

for. No try, obstruction. No try. Obstruction, and the Blues have

conceded the double to Zebre. A dreadful result for the Blues, but

it was mired in controversy after that tribe was denied by the TMO.

Dale McIntosh said he had no idea what he called that decision.

Bizarre. Give us your thoughts, try or no cry? For me, it is a try. I

watched it without volume last night and I thought it was given for a

forward pass. I can freeze-frame any minute of all in play and show you

clips where players are close to other players, bumping other

players, and it's fine. That, to me, is an offside position but he does

not interfere with the play. Ellis Jenkins is being penalised for

obstructing... For obstructing the defender. Once the TMO is brought

in, if you watch things in slow motion, back and forth, it is matter

of fact, but the referee has got to be able to feel that. It is the

worst decision I have seen by a TMO. Just watch, what is the TMO looking

at? You can judge on a try scoring decision, on a tackle. Look at the

players, that is the one allegedly blocked. He does not even put his

hand up, you doesn't think he is being blocked. The assistant referee

is an Italian comedy TMO an Italian... I don't have to say any

more. That is the worst decision I have ever seen on a rugby pitch. It

is a dreadful decision and if it comes down to putting new assistant

referees, because of that decision, they have to look at it. If I was a

player there, losing a game on that, I would be utterly distraught

and have to have a word with the TMO and referee. But, the bullet is that

the Blues should not have been in a losing position against the bottom

side. I don't know if that is right, at the moment. They are not sure of

their finances, there are a lot of players not knowing whether our next

year, and also then, are they going to put more money in? Is there more

money coming in? Unless someone puts more money in, if anyone thinks the

Welsh regions are going to win the PRO12 all the European cup, they are

deluded. That is the situation. The national team is doing very, very

well. Regional rugby is at that position at the moment. Dragons, if

they went to Zebre, you would be worried. They lost to Edinburgh last

week. The four regions should be looking at top four with finances

but unfortunately it is not happening and the longer it goes on,

the worse it is for the region. I don't care who it is, they have got

to sort it out. That is the situation the region is at. We can't

buy overseas players, the youngsters coming through are not good enough

yet to play in the PRO12 and we cannot have overseas players...

Looking at the Blues specifically, a miserable season, four wins in the

PRO12 and conceding more than any other points than any other team.

There is a meeting tomorrow to review Phil Davies' position. A

couple of runs of defeats over the years, do take responsibility and

you get a situation like that, but ultimately there are a lot of things

going on. There has been a lot of change. Two years ago, three years

ago, a lot of top players left the Blues, let's not forget that. Phil

came in and try to put things right. It has not gone as anyone there

would have wanted it, I'm sure, but Phil is a director of rugby with two

young coaches route at Premiership level, particularly Paul John, but

that was, what, five, six weeks ago? That has to be given time.

Sometimes people change things for the sake of it. Hopefully this group

will be given a chance to show what they can do as a group. We will have

to leave it there, thanks for your thoughts. Let's check out the rest

of the PRO12 fixtures now. Edinburgh faced the Ospreys, we will have

highlights of that in a moment, but first it is all stuff against the

Dragons. -- it is also. Bruce Douglas made his first start since

signing. Tommy Bowe it is written after injury. -- made his return

after injury. Lovely stuff. Roni piano goes all the way. -- Pienaar

goes all the way. That was not straight. Tommy Bowe gets away. What

a return for Tommy Bowe excavation Mark -- for Tommy Bowe! . Pienaar

again. Here comes Tommy Bowe. Can you believe it? Sensational stuff

from Tommy Bowe. Here comes the secondary shirt. The

Dragons are trying to bring it around. Penalty yet again the and a

nap. That is three in a row. Somebody could be going to the sin

bin. Evans has gone to the bin for deliberately standing up. It is a

penalty try. It collapsed straightaway.

Pienaar had to readjust. Scholes is through. Has he made it? It is

short. The Dragons are there. Sean Doyle gets his second try. Taken

quickly. Good defence once again. Lovely hands on the giant prop.

Peter Ferguson says it is good. They are now only 30 point adrift.

Wales squad members Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric started for the

Ospreys against Edinburgh. The match was moved from Murrayfield because

of the worm infestation there. Lovely play by Justin Tipuric. Still

going and still moving. An excellent drive from Edinburgh. They moved the

point of attack. That was one for the forwards. Dan Biggar. Trying to

put the ball behind the winner. Sam Beard goes over in the corner.

Brendon Leonard does not try to force it. In the end, it is as easy

as that for Grayson Hart to get a second. The replacement trying to

get an impact on the game. The kick goes through. They go down together.

It will be one for the TMO to sort out. A try is given. Jeff Hassler.

Not a happy dressing room and not a happy group. It is disappointing.

You cannot concede sloppy tries when you are away from home. We had to

chase the season more now. We will rely on others. It was

disappointing. We have to regroup and we will probably need to win the

next five or six games to get a top four finish. The other results of

the weekend: a great night at the office for your

boys on Friday. We were outclassed. To travel to Northern Ireland and

play a side of that quality, they were too strong at front. We have

Duncan Bell and Bruce Douglas coming out of retirement more or less. That

is not an excuse, it is a fact. We have to be realistic as to where we

are. -so pleased the Scarlets beat Munster last night. Without our

front line players, it is a big ask to go and compete. We played

Leinster a couple of weeks before. 17,000 fans turned up. The Cardiff

Blues had the same thing. When the players are away, it is exaggerated

even more. The girls in between the Welsh regions and they are the

regions that is. It is something very depressing. That is a lot to do

in recruitment. Somebody has to sort it out. It is just pathetic. Let us

finish on a positive. Everyone tries to be dramatic and say it is another

game. Twickenham is a great place to go and play. You walk through the

car park now. You can see the cars and picnic baskets and champagne.

You do not need motivation. It is on. The England game is just seven

days away. The players are trying to play it down but we are not. Good

night.