01/05/2016 Scrum V Sunday

When the day of judgment provided, would East Bravo ale would Westby

best? Great play from the full-back, what a try.

When the curtain fell, two Welsh regions were left standing. The

season is heading for an explosive climax.

Good evening and welcome to Scrum V. It's been a record-breaking weekend

the regional rugby. 70,000 fans in the principality Stadium, two

cracking games of rugby and a hat full of tries. Please welcome Doctor

Gwyn Jones. Mr Phil Davies. And a very special cameo appearance

tonight from Doctor Jamie Roberts. We'll catch up with all the guys in

a few moments, but first let's rewind 24 hours to act one of

judging each -- Judgment Day, The Blues against the Ospreys.

A place in Europe was at stake for both teams with the losers knowing

they'd be out of the race. The Blues stuck with their policy of 37s in

the back row and Summerhill was a late replacement on the wing after

Tom James's wife gave birth to their first child. Rhys Webb retained the

skippers are banned for the Ospreys. Three sixes were picked. King,

Lydiate and Cracknell were all packing down in the back row.

Picked up by King. And scored by James King! Straight from the back

of the scrum. That is exactly what the Ospreys wanted. They've had all

the pressure early on. He refused to go fig goal, but from that scrum,

James King gets the first try of the afternoon.

Matthew Rees to Dan Fish. Isaacs. A big gap for him. He's through the

gap. He has support either side, but takes the hit from Dan Evans. Good

hands by Ellis Jenkins because that was fired back at him. Had Isaacs

linked up, there could have been danger. Rey Lee-Lo! The tap just

stopped him. Daryn Smit tries to keep it alive. The Blues so, so

close, but couldn't finish. Pressure is still back on the Ospreys. The

defence is scrambling to get into position. Navidi charges forward.

Not held so he goes again. No full-back sweeping because

defensively Dan Evans has been left short. There is no one at home for

the little grubber if they look at it. They have a free play further

penalty as well. Earlier they worked! And skim straight over the

whole of the Ospreys defence. -- and skim. The Blues get their first try

and they strike immediately. You could see James King trying to get

the position and everything disintegrated in front of him. A

pass for Jarvis almost puts him over. Right on The Blues try line.

Great ball to Dirksen, who has the strength to make the corner.

Watkin slips the tackle. Still going. Dragged down by Anscombe.

Look at the numbers left, it has to go quick. A little chip. Awkward

bounce the Tom Isaacs! Watkin... He's given Dirksen another present.

Fish. Great off-load. Williams. Could be on. Navidi still going.

Navidi! All the way, Josh Navidi! Slides over the try line. In a

seesaw game, The Blues are back in front. Blues try line in the

background. The Ospreys are looking for a bonus point try. Advantage

them as well. Web to Underhill. Underhill! The Ospreys have got a

bonus point. You knew exactly what you were

doing. Why on earth would you do that? It's opened up with loads of

rugby in the second, but the stakes are playing their part as well. That

mistake from the Ospreys has given the lead back to The Blues. Here it

is for Biggar. Straight out to Dirksen, looking for a hat-trick in

the corner. No, just held short. So, so close. Webb tries to sneak over

in the corner. He thinks he may have got there. They will have to have a

look at it. Has Rhys Webb kept Osprey hopes alive? He goes. Try.

Web picks the ball up and Rhys Webb makes that salute Leasure that the

season for the opt Ospreys those down to the last Saturday. --

absolutely sure. We needed to score five tries to get into the top six.

We'll was had the belief we would score five and a win. We came out

firing in the second half. I thought we played some good rugby, we

controlled the contact area for the majority of the game and got a lot

from that area. If you scored 27 points, you should win. Before we

get stuck into the game, a quick welcome to Jamie. You've played in

some of these big games at Twickenham with over 70,000. Great

day yesterday. How do you think that compared? A fantastic day, first and

foremost, for the Welsh regions and all the fans. 68,000 people. Just

jealous! I would have loved to have played. The rugby was awesome. All

four teams playing with intent. Blues against Ospreys, two team is

hell-bent on scoring tries. The Ospreys took the spoils. A humdinger

of a second half, it went back and forth. The Ospreys got the win and

the bonus point so their European hopes are still there, hanging by a

thread. From The Blues perspective, will they be kicking themselves

after surrendering a ten point lead? They will be. For parts of the game

they looked in control so they'll be disappointed. They seemed to have

turned a corner from the start of the season and they had some

momentum, but they came up against a good, determined side with very good

players. They are showing what they can do now. It was typical Ospreys.

Ten points behind and it looked like they would lose, but they are the

most bloody-minded of all the teams in this league and they never roll

over, even when the chips are down. They don't, they were excellent.

Before their game there was a lot made of The Blues, the 37s. Navidi,

Ellis Jenkins and Sam Warburton. Early on, the three sevens are

together. They get a penalty from Nigel Owens. They were good all

afternoon. But the Ospreys were clinical at the breakdown. Jenkins

just about to go into the tackle. Lydiate and Nicky Smith clear the

tackle and produce quick ball for web. They did this all afternoon.

They got into the Blues 22 and they were clinical. A good drive in play

through the middle. They sucked all the Blues forward around that area.

Adam Beard was earlier targeted. He's back on his feet and he sees

the mismatch. He goes at Tom Williams. He carries out, which

makes it harder for Ellis Jenkins to make the tackle. You can see

Underhill coming around. Tom Williams has to tackle the big

forward again. Webb season coming around the corner and bang. A great

score. They did that in the last 15 minutes and they were very clinical

in The Blues 22. They were creating mismatches, they know what they were

doing and they took their opportunities. I think playing in

the back row is a good thing. It's becoming a trend. Hooper and Pocock,

World Cup, created problems. The Scarlets have been playing Barkley

and John Davies. We have three number sevens in the back row with

The Blues and it causes trouble. I wasn't a big fan of it initially,

but at the beginning of the end of the season, the pitches are dry, the

rugby is faster, more recycling and more tackle areas. They are having

a". It's causing teams headaches. The Blues destroyed the Scarlets a

few weeks ago doing that. The Ospreys are probably the best team

in contact in Wales, but they struggled against the three sevens

and struggled when Warburton went off. We have to consider how that

changes in the future and also the applications it has on whether you

pick another six and what the job of the mother six is. It's a good

point. The Ospreys have obviously thought about it. They were a hell

of a threat in this game. What the Ospreys did well, their first

support play to the ball-carrier, his job was to get rid of the

tackler and that's what you saw them Lydiate doing with Warburton. The

job of the second player was to secure the ball, which Nicky Smith

did well against Gethin Jenkins. With The Blues, you haven't got

three tacklers. You've got four. The Ospreys had thought it through and

they did a reasonably good job. The point about Warburton was crucial.

In the last 15, he's brilliant at sniffing out the key turnovers in

tight situations. Stepping out turnovers. Sniffing up tries, Rhys

Webb, no better player. He's arguably a better player after

injury than ever was. He's fantastic. There's a clip which

shows him manipulating Defendi is. He's as good as Will Genia was in

his prime. He gets the Ospreys over the gain line. Dirksen, he sets

Tommy Isaacs down. Look at this. Sam Davies does a brilliant job. Talking

about creating space for your friends. He's holding Tommy Isaacs

back. Webb identifies this and sneaks over in the corner. A cheeky

five points. That was arguably the crucial score. Creating space for

your friends, a euphemism! I think The Blues contained Rhys Webb for

about 60 to 65 minutes and in the last quarter of an hour his glass

showed. Around the rucks, he's very good at minute collating defenders.

-- manipulating. When you have a few players manipulating that channel,

it's very difficult to defend and the Ospreys obviously worked on that

and saw it as a weakness. Blues against Ospreys were sacked one of

Judgment Day. Act two was Dragons against Scarlets.

The Dragons had nothing but pride to play for, but arrived in positive

mood after their strong showing against Montpellier. Langman was

making his 50th appearance for the region. Davies and O'Brien lined up

at half-backs. The Scarlets new win was vital to keep their semifinal

hopes alive. They were boosted by the return of vice captain Scott

Williams, who made his first appearance all season for the

region. Liam Williams switched to the wing to accommodate Michael

Collins at full-back. Off the top, good hands by Davies.

Support from Samson Lee. Down the blindside. Very good pass from

Davies to Evans. Still they go. Card is down in the middle, he looks

unsteady on his feet. Williams off-loads. A little step inside. He

will go over for the try! What a welcome return for the man. Back

from injury. Dream start for the centre. This is the past. No one has

to check stride. The return ball from the full-back, great support

from Scott Williams. Davies. Short ball. Still going.

Dragons fly out. Langman makes the tackle. Shingler steps inside. He's

over! The referee was right on the spot and the rangy outside-half used

all his height and got over underneath the sticks. Great ball!

Parks into a little bit of space. Flicks the ball over the top. A

break by Collins, insightful Williams. They really heart having a

field day, the three quarters line for the Scarlets. Samson Lee takes

it on. It's on. Davies, he'll go himself, surely. Almost an off-load

from Davies, using all his sevens skills. Couldn't quite get the ball

to Steph Evans. That was an opportunity gone begging. You have

to say it was a good cover tackle from Charlie Davies.

Great work from Langman and Fowler towel following up. An

opportunity... Talk about an individual try. That came from the

hard work of the second row, Ryan Langman. 50th game for the Dragons

today. A great opportunist try by the Dragons, digs at the what they

needed to get back into this game. Fallow tower at the back will push

that across to Davies and finds Hughes. Joe Bryan. Warren. Tackled

by the opening try scorer, Scott Williams. An opportunity now...

Couldn't get the ball inside. Rate attack from the Dragons. -- great

attack. Talk about getting two passes in.

That could have worked with Scott Williams. Players outside, what does

he do? Off-loads. It will be Evans who will go over early doors in the

second half. Scott Williams scored himself in the first half, this time

he's the provider. The simplest of passes to his left winger.

A little dummy from the scrum-half. Well marshalled by Evans. Knock-on,

advantage blade. Can the Scarlets clear this? Players are racing back

to get into position. Shingler hacks the ball downfield. Only goes as far

as Carl Meyer. He will run it, a long way to go. Great play from the

full-back! Over the line! What a try! Great play from Carl Meyer.

He's got on the outside and caused the winger to step in. Shows his

power from five metres out. Barclay pulls it back behind to

Evans. A mismatch. Can Evans get through? Good tackle coming across.

Scarlets close to the line. Plenty of support. Thomas comes in. Davies

waits. Barclay close, spins. Excellent tackle from Warren. They

go again. He's over! Just to keep the pressure on, Gareth Davies, who

hasn't been on that long, but knows his way to the try line. Very happy.

We achieved a couple of goals we set for ourselves this season.

Qualifying for Europe was a big one. It's good to get that off our backs

with the game to go. When we went 14 points down our response was

fabulous and we came back into the game. The same at the death, we came

into it, but we've come away with nothing again. The losing habit has

to change. A handsome victory for the Scarlets which has confirmed

their place in next season's Champions Cup. What does it tell us

about the character of the Scarlets to come back from those two soul

destroying defeats against Glasgow and The Blues and do what they did

yesterday? It's been an up and down season for them. They've been good

during the World Cup and the Six Nations. They've had bad lows in

between. They showed some determination that they didn't want

to finish the season like that. It would have been terrible to go into

freefall and lose out on everything if they had played badly again. Good

that they are back. It's important that we have representation in

Europe and they still have a chance of top four. I want to talk about

Scott Williams. We've talked about this -- Rhys Webb. Williams making

his first start since the World Cup in September. He looked like he'd

never been away. Fantastic performance. Cruciate knee ligament

injury is difficult to come back from. Making one of his trademark

breaks on the outside. This is a 21. Fantastic at executing that. -- two

on one. To do that after seven months out was pretty impressive.

Great to see Jack Dirksen back as well. He's been out for a while.

We'll talk about New Zealand and a bit. With that New Zealand tour

coming up, so great you have guys coming in through our fresh and

haven't had a season of being battered in domestic opticians and

have come into it fresher? Certainly. Leigh Halfpenny as well

has been injured. He's had a setback with his injury. Somebody like

Scott, he's had seven months of pre-season! He'll be going into the

last few weeks fresh. It's great for the Scarlets stab someone like that

back as well. Especially with what was on the line yesterday.

Conversely, Scarlets looking for a semifinal, the Dragons consigned to

the lowest place Welsh region, 10th in the table, just four wins all

season. What needs to change for them to become contenders? Pretty

stark reading. 26 points behind The Blues. People have been, rightly

perhaps, questioning the value of the Italian teams in the league. The

Dragons have won the same number of games as zebra. Over the last 11

seasons they've been the bottom Welsh team. Unless something

changes, this cycle of existing from hand to mouth and reproducing the

same cycle each year, something will have to change. They are obviously

looking for a benefactor to come in, but at the moment no one is in

sight. Whether they change their philosophy and become more of a

development region. They are losing 18 games per season in the Pro12 so

why don't they change their philosophy and become like a

Connacht model? Bring players through, take the under 20 stars,

give them an avenue to play rather than sitting on the bench in other

regions. Look at Connacht. They are the model. They are doing well in

the top four. The other thing is, do they need to become more regional in

their outlook? Incorporate other clubs. It's the biggest regional

area. Something has to change otherwise it will continue. I think

it would be bad -- it wouldn't be bad to be more developmental. We'll

get views from the fans in a moment. You've been a coach of two of the

regions. You know this regional game inside out. Has he got a point or

would that lead to the kind of dwindling insignificance of Welsh

rugby in the wider Pro12? They are good points because this to

statistics bear out what he's saying. It's trying to strengthen

our playing numbers and in that we need four strong regions. With the

Dragons, for me, it is a bit about continuity. Do they look for a

broader identity? Gwent has already produced fantastic rugby players. We

mentioned the under 20s. When we coach them, the first squad we

picked, 54% were from the Dragons region. James Thomas was at the

forefront of that group. It's just consistency, continuity and giving

them an opportunity to grow and to become stronger. They need a

stronger squad, they have an amazing spine of young players. Dixon,

Morgan. They have a really good spine of players and it's about

trying to grow and support them. It's not long ago we were talking

about Connacht being poor and look how successful they've been. I don't

think the Dragons are fall off. Connacht have had more investment

from Irish would-be union. As it surprised you, as someone who used

regularly play against Connacht, how much they've transformed themselves

recently? Yeah, but you have a core of younger players. We talk about

Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan... There are some quality youngsters and you

just have to give them time. It'll maybe take a couple of years, but

these guys will go on to be leaders and people will follow them.

Connacht, you look at their younger players, and they've stepped up and

delivered this season. Final four? Unless something

changes, the Dragons will be the poor relations. They are spending

the whole play a budget on their players, and they are scratching

their heads why that is not happening. You complain about the

standard of players but you don't spend the money on your budget.

Unless that changes, they will stay as they are. Of course we want the

four strong regions but we haven't got them and we haven't for some

time. Let's make some changes to get four regions in the future, and

let's be perfectly honest, there are some journeymen in that side who are

not Welsh who are contributing very little to the future of Welsh rugby.

OK, we always come to Scrum V for strong opinions. Let's have a word

with some of the fans. Just under 70,000 in the stadium yesterday and

we have a few in the bar with us. Some controversial thoughts there.

What is your take? Just that that basically the Dragons played good

rugby at times and I just think they need to work better on their kicking

game and closing out the game as well. Would you still go and see

them if they were a development region? I definitely would, but I

don't think a lot of fans would be keen on the development side of it.

A die-hard fan there. A Blues fan, and a mixed bag of this season, poor

start but then you had all the Irish regions away while the World Cup was

on and a better end to the season although you didn't make it into the

Champions Cup. As the glove Haas MD or fault? Half empty. We had a lot

of hard work -- is the glass half empty or fall? Hoping for a good

finish next week in Edinburgh and have a good finish. Positive signs

and positive roots. Let's speak to an Ospreys fans, and we said they

were the bloody-minded region, and they got through the last challenge

yesterday and they've never not been in the Champions Cup before. Fancy

your chances against Ulster? Of course. We are desperate to win,

aren't we? With a bit of luck we will go out and win a bonus point

and we will have the five points and hopefully the Scarlets can win

against Munster and deny them the bonus point and we will be there. An

intriguing situation you've just described. You, my friend, will be

supporting the Ospreys next week and vice versa? It's going to be

difficult. Needs must. It's going to be tough for us going to Munster to

try and win there, but if the Ospreys can do as a favour and we

can win out there, who knows? Who'd have thought Ospreys and Scarlets

sitting together and supporting each other in the Pro12. We have done all

the maths on the permutations and this is the Pro12 round-up.

It was a record making -- record-breaking night when Glasgow

running ten tries. One of ten players leaving the club scored a

hat-trick. Another lever clinched a first-half try bonus point and

Glasgow have now won nine league games on the trot and secured their

fifth successive semifinal spice. It was also ten out of ten for Duncan

Weir who converted all of the tries, including his own. He moves to

Edinburgh next season. Edinburgh took an early lead as Jason Toney

scored 16 of their sides points, including his only try of the game.

But Simon zy both finished off the move of the match as he crossed for

Munster. Edinburgh kept the pressure on the Irish before a late score

secured the try bonus point and took Munster into the Champions Cup

places above Edinburgh. The shock of the night came in

Treviso where Connacht needed just a point to ensure a play-off place in

the first time and they soon will run up 14 unanswered points. But two

quickfire tries from Treviso brought the game to life before Jayden

Hayward's winner put them in the Euro spot.

Ulster dominated this all Irish affair. A penalty try in the first

half gave them a narrow lead before Jared Payne crossed early in the

second half. The game was made safe when Paddy Jackson intercepted and

ran 80 metres, but they couldn't get the try bonus point that might be

crucial. The wind does guarantee Ulster European Championship places

ahead of the final game against the Ospreys next weekend. So it is all

over for the Blues on the Dragons. They have nothing to play for, but

every other team does on the last weekend fixtures. So this is what it

all. Glasgow travel to Connacht with the winner guaranteed a home

semifinal play-off. A win for Leinster over Treviso would probably

give them a home semifinal. The two Italian sides are still fighting it

out for their one Champions Cup final, and Edinburgh need a bonus

point win over the Blues and hope that the Scarlets beat Munster by a

big score to reach the top six. The two West Wales regions will be in

the unusual position cheering for each other next week. The Scarlets

are away to Munster are looking for a top four finish to reach the

play-offs. Two bonus points could be enough for the Welsh region of the

Ospreys do them a favour by beating fourth-place Ulster. While the

Ospreys need a win over Ulster as they chase a Champions Cup place and

hope that the Scarlets beat Munster and preferably deny them a bonus

point. That is about as simple as we could make it, and Gwyn and I tried

to do the other permutations and gave ourselves a headache. We won't

get bogged down other than to say that the Scarlets and Ospreys still

have prizes on offer but their destiny is in either of their hands.

They are relying on results from elsewhere. All the Scarlets can do

is go away to Munster and win. No mean feat. And hope the Ospreys do

them a favour. Can they do it? Of course, they can. A magnificent

winner probably their best performance of the season away at

Ulster earlier this year so they can do it. It will be tricky. They are

in Europe and there will be some tough games in the top four and

there is more in the balance for Munster and their tradition. They

might get something out of it and I don't know if they will win it but

they will give it everything. You've been there many times, very

vociferous home crowd, the cliched 16th man but they are not quite the

force they were in recent years. Are they there for the taking? I think

so. The Scarlets have got quality and I think they showed at the

weekend when they get the attacking game right they are a formidable

team. No doubt about that. I think they can go in with confidence. They

know what they have to do, go out there and impose their attacking

game. Munster have not been the team of previous years and this is a

great chance for them. Interesting they will be cheering on the Ospreys

and vice versa. Bizarre, utterly bizarre. Phil, a losing bonus point

could be enough depending on the results but the Scarlets, and we

have number crunched this, they've scored more tries in the opening 20

minutes of their games than any other team in the league. Is that

what they have to do? Go out and look to score from the off and play

attacking rugby? When you go away from home you have to be positive.

You have to win the territorial battle and when you get in their

half you have to be accurate. I think they will be looking to get

out of the blocks, and it is in their DNA to start quickly and get

points on the board. With Scott Williams back in the form he has

come back in, they have every chance. The Ospreys, slightly

different scenario in that they are four points behind Ulster but their

fixture is at home and they have scored three bonus points in the

last few games, so they are on a roll. They are on a roll and no one

would want to play them at the moment. I think they rely heavily on

one player to drag them through the start of the season and they got

some form back. They develop confidence in Europe but now you can

see they on a different trajectory and they are a tough team to beat. I

think they will win that one. Ulster smashed Leinster and opposed them

from the top of the league. Yes, the league is pretty competitive. You

look at the top six and it's brilliant it's come down to the last

week for the clubs and supporters and I think the Ospreys will not

lose at home. I think they have too much firepower, talking about Dan

Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones, you have leaders and behind them as well.

Somebody like James King, Rhys Webb, these are top international players

and guys who can fly the flag even without those other guys. A strong

team and I don't see them losing. Very interesting next week, super

Saturday and all the games on the same time so we will have the

calculators ready. Onto something a bit different, as football is known

as the beautiful game but perhaps not when it's played by an ungainly

retired rugby players, as Beth found out. To all of you loyal rugby fans

and Scrum V viewers, may I apologise for what you are about to see,

football. But it's football and a great cause. It's great to get all

the boys here but the ultimate thing is to raise money and it's a great

effort by Gethin Jones to get all of these people here. A ragtag outfit.

A little bit disappointed with the professionalism. We asked them to

stay in, and you can see by the performance they didn't do well. If

he is the manager, and we haven't heard him say a word, I'm putting

all the blame on him. You just have to survive. The boys are doing not

too bad at the moment. Have you been a manager before? In any sport? I

don't think I have. Maybe a social manager somewhere. It is hard work

for them football players, but it's a good cause and a great day. Lots

of people saying that the rugby players are faster than the

footballers. I'm not sure what game they are watching. Yes, there's some

really good athletes on the pitch. But not on the rugby side at the

moment. I think they are struggling. I keep telling everyone it doesn't

matter, it's about a fantastic cause and we are very happy to support it.

To be honest I didn't think it would be as comfortable as it is today. A

few men trying to take me out, like Gareth Thomas, and I wasn't happy

about that. But it has been great fun. Do you watch rugby on the TV?

It's all big hits, trying to have each other's eyeballs out, but apart

from Shanklin, he's a mess. I expected a bit more action. I can't

play rugby. If they got me on a rugby field, they would get their

own back on me in seconds, but it was a good day all round. We were

really enthusiastic or ten minutes, and then the energy levels were zero

and you can tell a lot of them have had no physical activity in three or

four years. Good fun and we've raised money that's what all about.

When you see somebody like Craig Bellamy, a proper footballer and you

think you are half decent, but you are not. You are terrible. It is

good that Craig has given us some feedback. Something to work on and

we have 12 months to put it right. A few training sessions before next

week. Jamie, you were involved in that,

drafted in as a late replacement but you manage to avoid actually

playing. How did you dodge the bullets? Sam got injured yesterday

and he was meant to manage the all-star team and I got the call to

come in as a last minute replacement. Fantastic event, great

charity and a lot of money raised for a great cause. It was hilarious

at times. We had a few Olympic athletes running rings around the

old rugby boys but a great turnout and really funny. We won 9-1. A 9-1

victory for the ex-footballers and some of the rugby players showing a

total lack of skill. A little clip from Andy Powell. Can you critique

this from the opposition standpoint? A bit of an overhead bicycle kick?

Blame it on the pitch. Blame it on the studs. Back to the serious

business and you can't get much more serious than a tour of New Zealand.

It gets our blood pumping, -- and it must get your blood pumping, Jamie

as you're going. Do you approach it with trepidation or fear or a

mixture? Both and excitement. You play against the All Blacks and they

are the trendsetters in every facet of the game of rugby. That is why

they are world champions the last two times and certainly when you go

out there and you play New Zealand at home, it's one thing, but to go

out there is probably the toughest tour you can go on. As a squad and

group of players, we know that anything short of our best won't

even come close out there. That is the challenge. That's where you want

to be as a professional rugby player, going on a tour like that

knowing where you stand in the pecking order. We get to play the

world champions and that a fantastic opportunity. There are Wales fans

who might be worried about the injury to Sam Warburton yesterday as

he went off in the first. We spoke to the Blues today and they have

reassured us that it's not a serious injury as first thought. He has been

assessed and scanned and the Blues will be checking him out when they

are back in camp. That raises the question, if Sam Warburton does Mr

tour, and we know Justin Tipuric is out of the tour, so there could be a

vacancy for the openside berth. Good job we have a few good sevens in

there. We are blessed. I think Sam is going to be OK from what we

understand. Obviously we have Ellis Jenkins and James King from

yesterday and there is James Davies playing very well. James Davies

might be tempted by a tour to New Zealand for midweek game and to hold

the tackle bag, but he has the opportunity to be an Olympian this

year and to go to Rio, and I would really hope that Warren Gatland sees

the bigger picture and the personal development opportunities for James

Davies to go and spend time with the rowers and athletes and the cyclists

and learn and develop what the best athletes in all disciplines across

the world do. Who knows? Britain might have a chance of a medal,

rather than playing a midweek match in New Zealand, become an Olympian

and do all of that. I would encourage him to go, but I would

encourage. You are renowned as a guy who made the most of life, you when

to Quins, Cambridge University, France, every opportunity that came

your way and that is a tough dilemma if he is faced with it. He has to go

with his heart and his gut instinct and whatever decision he makes is

the right one because it's what he wants to do. There is no doubt he

will be in potential to go to New Zealand and there is the alembic

opportunity, but I'm sure he has thought about it and spoken to his

brother about it -- Olympic opportunity. I'm sure he has. What

about other boulders on this tour? Gatland will have to take a bigger

squad and he will need a separate 15th in a midweek game. Anyone who

saw on Judgment Day yesterday, billed as a Wales trial, that might

have caught the eye for Warren Gatland? Whether he will go with it

I don't know, but I like Rory Thornton who has been in the under

20s. He was on a jewel contract. Adam Beard went off yesterday having

played quite well prior to departing the field. I'd like to see one of

those two guys going. At the backs, Adam Hughes played quite well for

the Dragons yesterday. We know lad from under 20 coaching days and he's

really committed rugby player and very busy. He can play centre, the

wing and he gives you versatility. They are young players. There is

another seven around, Ollie Griffiths, and I like him. He has

been billed as a young Sam Warburton and he is another killed -- kid who

firmly in the future who will be a hell of a player. We have some good

players to come through. You talk about the ultimate challenge of

going to New Zealand, Jamie, and you will be a senior player on that

tour. What is it like for the younger players who might be having

their first taste of international rugby? I remember going in 2010, the

year before the World Cup, and as I said, it's a chance to test yourself

against the best. I remember the first test we got blown away really

by 30 points and in the last game at Carisbrook, and then in the second

test we conceded a last-minute try and it killed the scoreline a bit,

but we felt better in the second one. A lot of players came of age on

that tour and went on to feature in the World Cup in New Zealand later

on. It's a great place, not just for the guys who start, but the guys who

travel as well and that experience, that midweek game against the

Chiefs, they are on fire. Again, that's a great opportunity. There

are those that say it's a good time to go. No Dan Carter, no Richie

McCaw, no Conrad Smith. Do you go along with that? No, I don't. No

doubt that they have planned for that. There will be a succession

plan. Players like Kieran Read, Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, these guys will

step up as senior players. As I said, you have to give them the

utmost respect. They just won the World Cup may have been the best

side in the world for a decade. That is the benchmark. If anyone has a

conveyor belt of talent, it is the All Blacks. We talked about Judgment

Day comedy extravaganza at the principality stadium, and today

another bumper day of rugby with the sway like finals. In the first of

the afternoon finals, but a report fought back to score two converted

tries and sneak a victory. The ball moved swiftly out with a lovely

inside pass and Stefan Powell scored. Scrum-half Ben Williams

kicked the all-important conversion to win the game 20-18. The Plate

Final was a local derby between two villages for mild apart. Penallta

got the only score of the game through Ryan Davis. But their joy

turned to heartache deep into injury time when Liam Jones with a

last-gasp drop goal won the game, with the last kick. What drama. And

they could be league success to follow for the foxes next week --

there could be. That was the ball and the plate and the cup final is

going on as we speak. 13-6 in the second half. The only try of the

game so far from the scrum-half, Rhodri Davies. We have a little bit

of time left to reflect more on Judgment Day, and Jamie said at the

top of the programme he was jealousy was not involved. It really has gone

from strength to strength and much was made of the fact there was a

record crowd for regional rugby yesterday, 18,000 up on last year 's

figure. Any reason why it cannot be a sell-out in years to come?

Absolutely not. A huge amount of credit must go to the regions and

the union for the big marketing push they put on it. The regions have not

been really attracting crowds generally but to suddenly sell the

stadium out is a huge boost. Very good ticket pricing as well and it's

gone from normal regional support to beyond that community. Getting

people in, children as well, and maybe future regional supporters,

and now I think part of the rugby calendar. At the end of the season

are used to be a cup final on a sunny day, but now it will be

Judgment Day and people will go to Cardiff for that. Briefly, guys, who

is going to win the Pro12? Glasgow. The same. Glasgow. The defending

champions to defend their title. Unanimous for the boys. That's about

all we have time for. Next week is Super Saturday and we will be there

for every minute of every game and I hope you can join us. In the

meantime, put your hands together to thank all our guests this evening,

Gwyn Jones, Mr Phil Davies, and of course, our special cameo appearance

from Doctor Jamie Roberts. And as it is Judgment Day, give yourself a

round of applause as well. So, we have had a fantastic weekend

of regional rugby. It's been a record-breaking weekend as we have

said. Next Saturday, super Saturday, all the games kick off the same time

and we will have every minute of the action on Scrum V. I hope you can

join us on Saturday and again for Scrum V on Sunday. Enjoy the rest of

your bank holiday weekend, I will see you next week. Good night.

# # "It Aint Over Til It's Over" - Lenny Kravitz.