22/12/2013 Scrum V Sunday

season. There was much in the way of festive goodwill between the unions

and the union at the moment. -- the region and the unions at the moment.

We will get our guests thoughts on the crisis dominating the headlines.

We start with matters on the pitch. First between the Blues and the

Ospreys. They returned to Cardiff knowing

they had not lost to the Blues in the league for three years. Phil

Davis made four changes. Hobbs retained

Hobbs, Dacey. Halfpenny transferring. In the end Cook just

running out of space on the left flank.

Drifts it round inside that far up right and Leigh Halfpenny on the

mark at the beginning of the second half.

Tipuric, a far better position. That's a great position.

Halfpenny brings the Blues back within a kick.

There was some strong wind. We felt we should have scored more points in

the first half. In the Christmas period - with great crowds. Like you

see in a Derby, a great battle. To come away with four points is great.

We didn't finish the chances off in the second half. We didn't play in

the 22 as much as I would have liked. The effort the players put in

was fantastic. We move on now. The first of the Christmas Derbies, a

good one. Plenty of enterprise from bothsides. Ospreys the worthy

winners bothsides. Ospreys the worthy

were. The Blues have improved from the ball. Pretorius over the ball.

Jones making a nuisance of himself. Entitled to do so. It takes three

Ospreys players to come in and clear the ball. Nothing from that for the

Ospreys. Hewitt over the ball. Sam Hobbs, the captain, he's not happy

to let anything easy for the Ospreys. Pressurising every ruck,

allows the defence on the front foot, forcing the Ospreys back. Alun

Wyn Jones with a carry. The Blues not happy to drive Alun Wyn Jones

back. Cuthbert straight back to his feet.

back. Cuthbert straight back to his is a political point, but the teams

would be unfamiliar, or the people who play would be unfamiliar to

people outside Wales. There have been a lot of changes in these

teams. What I loved about it though, because I am a traditionalist, is

the Blues played in blue and black and the Ospreys played in white.

Most going out now look like Coe the Clown.

-- Coco The Clown. There was talk in the last few monthses about a link

up between the regions and the Aviva Premiership about this mess that

Welsh rugby finds itself in. The regions and the unions are in

loggerheads. The clock is ticking. There is a week

loggerheads. The clock is ticking. lost in the Kay yoss. It is depress

-- chaos. It is depressing for the fans. The sooner they get together

and sort it out, the better. They are a disgrace the way they do this

to the regions. Regional rugby is secure, not only for the foreseeable

future but for the years to come. The regions and the English clubs

have spent the last few months courting each other. For the

English, it is a means of plugging gaps in their O'Callaghan len der

after they withdraw -- in their calendar after they withdraw from

Europe. For the Welsh it is whether they have the appetite to rebel. It

could spend the -- spell the end of the professional game in Wales. It

could end up the professional game in Wales. It

issues and how we resolve those. I firmly believe that the answers are

there. We have heard in recent weeks the regions have no intention of

signing this agreement because it offers no better terms and

conditions than when it was first signed in 2009. Is there money in

the union that can be redistributed to the regional game? First of all,

why would they sign an agreement that holds them to the sign

situation that they currently exist in? Which all parties know doesn't

work. It would seem madness to do that. While the bickering continues,

the player drain will gather pace. Six current internationals are out

of contract at the end of the season, including the Lions' captain

of contract at the end of the and the Lions' Man of the Series.

of contract at the end of the prized assets. It is

of contract at the end of the developed players. It's been a huge

success. It really has. We just have to look at the success of the

national team, the success of the under-20s in recent years and look

at the amount of players we have coming through the system, to the

regional exception. It works exceptionally well. It is those

players and fans who ultimately drive the game. Without the fans,

rugby will wither on the vine. Already there are signs that a

generation are looking elsewhere for their sporting nurrishment.

Football's Premier League is proving an enticing alternative. There are a

lot of people around Swansea who used to watch rugby, used to play

rugby, but now play football. It is a danger. While all this bickering

goes on at a danger. While all this bickering

support. Some of these issues -- the Welsh union have done in many

areas. You mentioned the theory that perhaps they want to see the region

fail so they can exert central control - is that how you see

things? I don't think anything has changed, nothing has changed from

the union perspective. They have been very quiet on this issue. I

think the union will turn around to that argument and say, hang on, on

one hand we have very successful Wales team. We had a number in the

Lions - the talent is there. If we can get the best out of these

players, why can't the regions? Why can't they get people through the

door? When you turn around to us and ask us for more money - the union,

they will say, hang on why? We have not spent

they will say, hang on why? We have should have had for an independent

coexistence with them. Would the regions have done a better job of

that. They say they woulden perhaps strike better -- would perhaps

strike better TV deals. I don't see they are not in control of many of

those things. If you fight for your own money you fight harder than for

anybody else's money. That is a fair point. Ultimately, I think, so,

whatever happens now will be a short-term compromise, I can see

turning into - I think if you look at this on a philosophical basis, I

think that the Welsh model of rugby is more suited and closer to the

Irish model, the Scottish model, New Zealand model. Basically only France

and England have a system where there are private ben

and England have a system where have funded the game

and England have a system where professional rugby so far.

communities. They choose to stay with clubs and they choose to stay

with local passions. And in my opinion, if you had central control,

I don't think you can ever had Newport playing with 15 blokes from

Newport - of course you can't. Dit toe Cardiff and Swansea. I think

there should be a local identification, with local sponsors,

fans and community, which you won't get. You play for your local village

team and you play for it and you dream of playing for Wales. I think

and I think - I would be amazed if there was any rugby player who grew

up in Wales who didn't feel that way. Put the national team at the

enter of what every ambitious player wants to do. The only reason they

they want to play in Wales for they want to play in Wales for

Wales. If that is where you are they want to play in Wales for

that will be. The players and coaches, it must be an unsettled

time for them. Players have to be 100% focussed on what they are

about. It is a massive distraction. The sooner it is sorted, the better.

I don't know when it will be, that is the problem. Deadlines are

getting closer and closer. I don't know personally what the solution

would be. It seemed a few weeks ago, other Wales regions may have had

bargaining power, when it looked like a solution might be on the

cards, from what I have seen that is becoming a distant dream now. When

you look at media, social media, everybody who writes in and you

meet, they would love it to happen. That goes for

meet, they would love it to happen. England have people with great

meet, they would love it to happen. necessary? If everybody on every

side stops seeing it as a power play and sees it as something to put

rugby, the national game here and massive games elsewhere back on an

even keel, things are not all lost. Until that goes, we've had it.

Europe has to be the first thing to be sorted. If the French get their

backsides out of the way, there is a chance that can happen. You can have

a great European tournament where you don't have to go to connach with

respect and don't -- Connacht, with respect. Then you can have something

to play. Then you make it so that Ireland can play there - all their

teams in the Heineken cup and rest Ireland can play there - all their

them for the next match. There are personalities

The Scarlets and Munster rang the changes with the visitors making

nine in all to the side that lost to Clermont in Europe.

Munster hoped to keep their lead at the top, but were weary of the team

who beat them at this ground last season.

Taken by Duncan Casey, illegally. You can't put your hands in there.

Thomas - half a dozen metres into Munster's half. Wind-assisted. First

A penalty coming for Munster. struck by the

A penalty coming for Munster. It is right under underneath them.

If they win this game, it will be a miracle. 15 phases they've gone

through and still they build Lloyd Williams - a gap is there -- for

Duncan Williams. A gap is there. Kristian Philips manages to hold him

up just enough. Just short of the line. A desperate tackle by. A

up just enough. Just short of the try-saving one. Can they still get

their Munster desperate defence of the Scarlets on their line? They

expect the break and the break came from the scrum-half. Incredible

pressure! They had a south-westerly p wind.

Wardle went past the defence to put Dan Evans in after six minutes. The

Dragons might have had a second. Wardle with a home attack and

finding Harris, who tip toed the touch line before he could offload

the scoring pass. With the rain bouncing down, the Dragons still

held an 11-6 lead after 76 minutes. Dan Parks struck for Connacht.

Inevitably, in injury time, Parks tripped over a goal to give his side

victory, which hauled them tripped over a goal to give his side

bottom of the table. A couple of other results for you -

It was the half-way point between World Cups which might have made it

a bit unexceptional, except Wales came on the back on seven straight

defeats. England would be going for a Grand Slam. New Zealand would

strive to go a whole year unbeaten. There was lots at stake. And there

were lots of good tries. Wales have to be sharp - to Scot

Williams. To Leigh Halfpenny. Wales have to be sharp - to Scot

Williams. Williams in field. A wonderful try.

Williams. Williams in field. A tackle. Warburton on his feet.

Leigh Halfpenny... Tipuric. Tipuric, still going!

Wales are storming to the title! So, the top try - the ultimate test

of composure. Ireland against New Zealand in the first quarter had

exposed the All Blacks to new levels of stress and now, with under 30

seconds remaining, the All Blacks had to deliver their answer.

Away comes Nanu.