01/11/2015 Scrum V Sunday

Will he eventually go? How much of an affected the issue affect things

tonight? Nothing at all. Will they continue their best ever run? Real

pressure on the Dragons. Phil John gets there.

Can the rest started to climb the table? Lament goes over in the

corner. Will we ever see their like again? Will his feet ever touched

the ground? And will wreck ask the killer question? Red or brown?

Brown. Another packed programme. Beth

Clement has the Premiership details. Martyn Williams and Jonathan Thomas

make up a fearsome looking back row But we'll begin with the Friday

night derby, between the Scarlets Top of the table and a 100% record

for the coach with a new Scala 's contract, Wayne Pivac, he rang the

changes. Jacob Cowley join his stand in their third match day. Two wins,

the Dragons had taboo Falatau back to boost their chances.

A great break. Looks full support. Dragged down eventually by Charlie

Davies. Edwards. They are not want to give away the ball in a quick

phase. Trying to get his hands off it. A great break. It has slowed

down. The defences has reformed. A good run by Jake Ball. He takes on a

couple of defenders. The long pass. Back to James Davies. Over the try

line. Williams is there as well. Parks.

Thomas as well. It is still going for the Scarlet. Red shirts around

him. Good juggling skills. Thomas, real pressure on the Dragons at the

try line. Phil John gets there. Garlic is building the pressure up

again. Jake Ball looks hungry this evening. He has put himself about.

Carrying it well. It almost worked perfectly, they knew exactly what

was going on. The two centres were handing that one down.

Good take by Davies. Tried to get in. It bounced! It bounces

beautifully into his hands. From nothing at all, the Dragons get a

tie just before half-time. -- get a try. That is brilliant from Aled

Davies. King is in a bit of space. Advantage being played for the high

tackle. Hadleigh Parkes stands his ground at makes it available. Davies

under pressure. Quickly taken by John Barclay. A good tackle. Back by

ten metres. A high tackle against you, penalty

only. He takes it quick, you are never back ten or anywhere close to

it. Nowhere near. I am giving you a yellow card.

A bit of defending to do for the Dragons with Adam Hughes in the bin.

This will be tough, a long ten minutes for the Dragons. They

haven't panicked, they haven't panicked. Hadleigh Parkes joins Phil

John. As the try line comes nearer. No way Phil John is giving the ball

away. He goes one way and then the other and he turns. Phil Jones has a

couple for the evening and it is the Scarlet' third.

James Davies again. The line-out is working like a dream tonight, they

haven't lost a single one. INAUDIBLE Phil John with a double. Davies

looking for the same. The back door screeches as James

Davies is still in control as the Scarlet 's are getting ever nearer.

Have they got there again? Yes, another driving line-out and this

time it is James Davies. Here is a big moment. Jacob Cowley

on the field. The 19-year-old. For the first time, father and son

combination. Regan King and his son, Jacob Cowley.

Hill in the movement for the third time as they built towards the try

line. Pretorius is over. That is very well worked by the Dragons.

Pleasing to get the bonus point. It is what we are searching for. We

worked on the areas. And the line-out is improving. Stopping

their drive is important. We talked about late changes, we were

scrumming very welcome a set piece is a big improvement but still

plenty to work on. Some points left out on the field. We need to know

how to play our game, that is not another cliche. That closures or

commentators talk about, it is about accuracy. If we can play accurately,

as we should as a professional outfit more pressure on the

opposition. We can't do that at the moment. We are still trying to

develop, as I said. Lots of good in our game tonight but unfortunately a

lot of basics were amiss. We will not get anywhere unless we tighten

up our game. The Scarlets' pre-season ambition

was to be in the top four by the They have far exceeded that. Top of

the table. They're top of the league

and six from six, just how It has been excellent, we spoke

about it a few weeks ago. The culture that he is creating, you

just feel that when teams start winning it breeds confidence and

that breeds skill. The wit they played, that comes from confidence.

When you start going on a winning run of games, as a team you feel

indestructible. In the dying minutes, you think we will win this,

because it is the indestructible feeling. They will be a dangerous

team for the remainder of the season. One man feeling

indestructible after his second man of the match award in two weeks and

he won four last season. James Davies, you like to sing his praises

and he was spectacular. He was. When Wayne Pivac was quick to knock him

down at the end of the game. We are giving him too many man of the match

awards but he was outstanding. Following on from where he was last

year. The style that Scarlets are playing, a lot of them would have

gone around the corner and followed the ball but with Stephen Jones'

influence, he keeps his width and goes out to wider spaces. A

fantastic carry. Jake Ball could have at man of the match.

A great pass. He goes on the inside run and finishes off. This is what

really impresses me, a big accolade to put on him. He is not the biggest

of guys, but so dynamic and quick. A burst of speed and first ten yards

he is away. He doesn't dive with the ball, he looks Bobby off-loads. He

sets up the second try, one of the season -- he for the. People

question how big he is, but he is superb in the tackle area. Great

centre of gravity and he wins it for the Scarlet Scarlets. He is leading

the carry stats for the Scarlet and tackle stats, that is unique.

He needs to keep on doing what he is doing. You mentioned his size. The

mother dimensions to Michael Hinckley, maybe less so Warburton or

Richie McCaw -- similar dimensions. Is this a hindrance to his

international ambitions? Cynics have suggested he's too small

to play international rugby, but if you're good enough you

are big enough? You never know that until he has

played ten or 15 games for Wales. A low centre of gravity is sometimes

better for being in that position, getting low on the ball. The

unfortunate thing is how many good sevens that are in Wales at the

moment. Particular war button. -- particularly war

. Sometimes you need someone to get injured to get his chance but he

needs to keep doing what it does. Can he be a test player?

Technically. JT hit the nail on the Ed. Not to beat about bush, two

world-class people in front of him. It will be difficult but carry on

and you never know what is around the corner. He is doing well.

While we were on air watching the Scarlets beat the Dragons,

there was another Pro12 cracker going on across the Irish Sea.

It was an all-Irish affair as Munster took on Ulster.

It was the night of the living red on Halloween weekend, a third plate

fifth. It took Ulster only two minutes for Craig Gilroy to trick

the away supporters with this long-range gallop to open the

scoring. WHISTLE Munster hits back at quarter of an

hour later. A back row barn door. Andrew Conway the eventual

beneficiary. The first half continued to seesaw up and down as

Ulster used their big bears to telling effect. Gilroy had a walk-in

for a second. Cue a Munster response. They went up the other

end. Munster extended their lead further

when their wing went careering down the wing like he was late for a hot

date. For the home side's third try and stop Nick Williams made it a

sixth try in the first half with one just before the interval but

Munster's bonus point came on the hour, straight out of the Gaelic

football manual. A fifth followed for Munster. An

impressive bit of goal handling which took his side over the 30

points mark. Totally unbowed, Ulster completed a thigh slap of a match

with their fourth try. Two waypoints to them. STUDIO: Absolute belter.

We're going to change the subject now, because

Taulupe Faletau has been at the centre of much debate this week.

Before we chat, let's remind ourselves of the latest.

Would he stay or would he go? We found out on Tuesday. Taulupe

Faletau's possible move away from the Dragons has been blocked. The

Wales and Lions number eight seemed intent on a move to Bath. But as he

was still under contract at the Dragons, the decision on whether to

release him lay with the WRU and ultimately with Warren Gatland. He

is naturally disappointed that we did not have the outcome we wanted.

There was plenty of discussion and mature debate.

The RSA, the rugby services agreement was at the centre of it in

providing for what needed to be concerned at arriving at that

decision. It meant Taulupe Faletau was back in a Dragons Dursley on

Friday for the derby against Scarlet 's. It was neither galvanising nor

according to his head coach a disruptive one. How much of an

affected beta loopy Falatau issue that has been going on in the last

week affect things? -- Taulupe Faletau issue. Nothing at all, zero,

no affect at all. It was losing Lewis Evans as captain that had an

effect. And the flanker on Thursday morning that was a big influence.

Whether Taulupe was staying going to Bath, nothing there.

We would love to see him stay with us. Money will talk. It is his

future, he wants to go where it is most appropriate. He is one of the

best players. He will be for a number of years, I guess. As a

Dragons fan, I would love him to stay. He will be staying for the

next seven months but then the decision to leave will be entirely

his own. What then? If the contracts will be revisited, we certainly want

to be adding to that. Can he be persuaded to remain in Wales or will

the new oil of greater riches and potentially greater Glory be to much

to resist? The lower of Bath, champions cup rugby, the facilities

at Bath, the financial incentives at Bath, maybe that is where he wants

to go, I don't know. The suggestion is that he is unhappy but may be

frustrated is the wrong word. Should we feel sympathy for a player who

has expressed a desire to move and been vetoed or has he just got to

get on with it? We both know him and he is a really humble, quiet guy and

he loves playing rugby so out of anybody that would be in this

situation, you will get his head down and whatever happens to him,

whatever situation he is in, he will do his best. You have got a feel for

the player. No one will hate this situation more than him. All this

speculation, he is a quiet guy, he will not like it. It is not great

for the Dragons either. You just hope it comes to an end soon. He has

never searched for the limelight. Let's get back to the action and the

Blues, after four defeats on the road, were hoping to reignite this

season with a trip to Parma. Josh Navidi switched back to number eight

as he made his 100th appearance for the Blues. Tom James was back on the

left wing. The host name and unchanged pack from the side that

beat Edinburgh. Luke Burgess returned at scrum half. Luke Burgess

away from the base by Zebre. They are over for the first try for

Zebre. How beautifully worked was that? The Blues looking to strike

back straightaway. Important they do. That is the line of Zebre in the

background. Dan Fish. Rhys Patchell. That is a laser of a pass

out to Adam Thomas. Can he stretch, the centre? He is over for an

equalising try for the Blues, made by Rhys Patchell. The Blues getting

a bit of possession now. Tavis Knoyle. And a Horlicks made of it in

midfield. It is picked up by the Centre. Over half way he goes. Dan

Fish hauls him down but quick ball would be handy for Zebre. The try is

there. The number eight. It was a mistake by the Blues.

Burgess. Just collared. A little dink and tear from the ten. Miles of

space. Nobody back for the Blues. And it was just a pick-up put down.

Collared on ten metres but Berryman does well. And looking to attack the

short side again. More points for him. Or did Lloyd Williams just

getting with the tackle? A smother tackle from Williams. No drive.

Sevres on the rampage, looking for the bonus point. Living dangerously

behind their own line. In tent to have a runout with it though. Tom

Isaacs. He gets up to the 22. Lloyd Williams. Dan Fish. Still a long way

to go as he evades the first tackle. Lloyd Williams. I little snipe from

the scrum half. He has got only one defender and it is Tom James with

him. It will be a stroll in for him, back after injury, the Welsh

international. Even the PA man if sorting Zebre to

go for the posts. -- points. No drive on as yet but there is a fair

bit of weight there now. 12 men in the maul. They get the tried and the

bonus point for Zebre. Diabolical and embarrassing with the

words of Danny Cowley to describe the team's performance against

Zebre. But Italy shambolic was the defence in the first half. Was that

the system or just individuals not making the tackles? It is

disappointing because I have watched the Blues a fair bit and they have

had a really tough fixture list, playing away from home. Even though

they have not won, they have gone to difficult places and performed

admirably. If you look at this clip, there are five Blues defenders

against just the outside-half. It is just a lack of wit in defence. The

nine's run pretty much takes up four defenders. That is the opening few

minutes of the game. This is the second try. 25 metres out. There is

no real threat from Zebre. It is a passive missed tackle. You have got

to give Zebre credit because of the width they have in attack. But three

defenders to narrow, not scanning, and too many forwards standing

around the wreck. Good interplay. Not a dry, who early because of

great urgency and defence by Lloyd Williams. If you are Danny Wilson,

you have come in and you are trying to coach structures in attack and

defence, the thing you don't want to be talking about is showing attitude

and effort. They are almost non-negotiable is. What has happened

at the Blues, looking at it from the outside, they have been going to

Connacht, Munster and Ulster in fear, so they are on the edge

mentally, but they beat Zebre easily a few months ago so they thought it

was going to be a walk in the park. They are not good enough at the

moment. The last three or four years, they have got this habit of

losing. They have got a tough one against Glasgow next week.

Speculation that the likes of Luke Charteris, Leigh Halfpenny, Taulupe

Faletau are targets for the Blues. Yesterday, after six weeks of high

passion and drama, the World Cup finally came to a fitting finale.

New Zealand retained the Webb Ellis trophy and confirmed their status as

the best team in the world. Australia taking on defending

champions New Zealand, who were attempting to be the first team to

retain the Webb Ellis cup. And it was the All Blacks who reigned

supreme, winning 34-17. 19 boots -- points from the boot of Man of the

Match and Carter. Beauden Barrett is going to score the winning try of

the World Cup. With a history making win for the All Blacks, Dan Carter

was given a fitting sendoff but for one young Kiwi fan, it was going to

be an unforgettable night. Sonny Bill Williams giving him his medal.

To come out on top like this in the pinnacle of international rugby, it

is what every player wants to be a part of and achieve, to be standing

here having done that is very pleasing. I am so proud to be a part

of such a special group of players. Australia made a real fist of it

coming back from 20 - three down. But as has been the case from the

tournament, the All Blacks had far too much class. Deserving winners I

think. I have got so much admiration for the All Blacks. If you take the

semifinal and the quarterfinal, against France, who were not the

greatest, but they played rugby from the gods. Some of the tries they

scored were brilliant. A week later when they have got to go toe to toe

with South Africa in the rain, they knuckle down and do it. I am so glad

they won. Brilliant for Steve Hansen who coached us for many years. To

back it up. Four years ago it would have been easy to take their foot

off the gas. Fully deserved. Daniel Carter, a fitting ending for him. He

was outstanding. You can't buy experience. The All Blacks note that

they needed the likes of him, Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu. There has been

times over the last two years with Dan Carter has not been great but

they have stuck by him because Cumberbatch ten minutes of a World

Cup final, you need that to win. -- come the last ten minutes. The All

Blacks have lost three games in four years and when those guys speak, how

humble are they? Steve Hansen is massive on culture. Those guys play

for each other. There is no one bigger than the team and they are

credit to themselves and their country. Sonny Bill Williams, a

fantastic gesture. A young boy ran out of the crowd, he was tackled by

an overzealous security guard, and Sonny Bill Williams gives him his

winner's medal. What a gesture. It is a big part of what the All Blacks

are about. They have gone around the country and made a lot of friends.

The security guard was lucky Sonny Bill Williams did not give him a

hammering. But a great gesture. It is OK to give your World Cup medal

away if you have got two. On more serious matters, Richie McCaw

referenced it yesterday, he did not want to rest on his laurels from

four years ago so New Zealand have changed, evolved and improved. They

have only lost three times in that period. What do Wales need to do? We

are the beginning of a 4 year cycle, 2019 in Japan, to improve so

they are genuine contenders next time around? I am short Warren

Gatland and his management team are going through that, reviewing

everything, how they want to approach the next four years. I am

sure they will talk about Shaun Edwards, the dynamic of it, Warren

Gatland has got a rigid game plan which has been relatively successful

for us. He has got to think about, does he evolve that? Part of that

evolution is, do you bring in potentially more creative players? I

think Jamie plays 12, do you try to evolve Jamie in the way Ma'a Nonu

has involved wiki becomes a distributor? Or do you bring in the

likes of Justin Tipuric or Ross Moriarty, these guys who offer a

little bit more in attack? And do you involve the game plan? Our game

plan has been successful for us but I need -- think we need to think

about how we score more tries. When you look at that England side from

1999 - 2003, pretty much a mirror image of us at the moment. The best

team in the northern hemisphere but Clive Woodward realised they needed

to score more tries. They started to take quick tabs around the halfway,

started playing with more width and they evolve. I think Warren will be

going through that process at the moment. Can they change? Is this the

time to start to change? I think the template for Wales is Argentina. Two

or three years ago, you knew what you were going to get. They have had

two years in the Redbridge in chip and they realise they are not going

to beat the top teams by doing that so they have revolutionised how

Argentina played a game. There is no doubt we have got the talent, all

the northern hemisphere teams. It is just having the belief and the

confidence from the word go. No rugby in the lower leagues this

weekend because of the World Cup but a full round-up of Premier ship

action. We begin with Pontypridd against Ebbw Vale and we sent Rick

O'Shea to catch up with the head coach, Nigel Davies.

Nigel Davies has played and coached at the highest level of the game. He

was last seen in Wales at the Scarlets before going

across-the-board to Gloucester to become the director of rugby. He is

now back in Wales in Ebbw Vale, taking up a new challenge as the

coach of the steelmen. And he is in that cafe.

There is not many roles in rugby that you have not fulfilled. Which

did you enjoy most? I enjoyed it all. I still like to think I have a

long way to go. It has been fantastic. Rugby has been my life

and having understood the game, the professional game in Wales and in

England, I thought it was really important to understand the

Premiership game in Wales as well, the semiprofessional game. I thought

I understood it and I do now. For someone on the outside, they will

look at the trajectory that has brought you to Ebbw Vale, that is a

downward trajectory but do you say this is part of a bigger plan? The

opportunity to come to a side like Ebbw Vale and get back involved in

rugby and on the training pitch was too good to pass up and I am really

enjoying the experience. It doesn't come much bigger than an

away trip to Sardis Road. It is a big game for us, always one or two

teams consistently good. Pontypridd is that team. Certainly, the players

have been hype hyped up this week. We need to be our best. I am sure we

will be, we have had a good week We need to be our best. I am sure we

training. I am looking forward to it, it is a good challenge.

Last season was fantastic. Blatter pushed and pushed. Having someone

developed that further is a fantastic achievement. -- Back To

The . We can see what Nigel is bringing

to the table. A huge amount of knowledge and experience. And a

level of calmness when things haven't gone quite well, which is

great. It is a fantastic club with a rich

tradition. It is a community club and it is run very well and they

have ambition to succeed and be successful and develop rugby

players. It is going to take work but we will develop more with it.

The -- Moorside we play are better but we will improve and we will be

at the top at the end of the season. To come here is a big statement from

this group of players. They are a good side. We can achieve a lot. We

are a still a work in progress with new coach and players. We want to

move things in a good direction, chasing the rugby. We left a future

rise out there, we deserved that, we were the better team today and it

was a good win for us. Congratulations to Ebbw Vale.

So, let's wrap up the other games, and we start at the

Talbot Athletic Ground, as Aberavon welcomed Llanelli.

After Pontypridd's lost to Ebbw Vale, Aberavon kept the pressure up

with a sixth try demolition. Phillips scoring his third try in as

many weeks. 14-14 at half-time, the Wizards scored a further four before

Jordan Williams got his second in this match.

In what was Cardiff's first home match of the season, Newport Gwent

took control, with two tries helping the Black and Ambers to a 22-at

half-time lead but the blue and Blacks stormed back in the second

half, three tries in 11 minutes which saw the home team to get bonus

point win. Last season, the double was done

over Bridgend but this time the ravens came out on top as they

enjoyed their first win -- third win on the trot. Two first half tries

gave them a 16-0 lead at the break. Although two second-half tries were

scored of their own, they could not rescue the draw.

Six wins and a draw in their last seven matches for Cross Keys as they

secured the points in a hard-fought and entertaining game.

All of the tries were in the first half. They led 16-8 at the break but

their efforts went unrewarded. Still no windfall what placed club

who were away on Friday. The visitors took an early lead, they

dominated the set pieces and the Welsh All Blacks conceded three

tries by half-time. They could not manage to cross for their fourth,

for that bonus point. They were temporarily moved to second but

dropped back to fourth with Pontypridd losing. Cross Keys with

and within touching distance of the top.

Yesterday he refereed the Rugby World Cup final but Nigel Owens is

set to face his toughest challenge yet. Next Saturday he will be the

man in charge. Division one, west. Scrum V cameras

will be there to see how he gets back to earth with a bump. Good luck

with that one. Let's finish our Pro 12 round-up

with Glasgow v Ospreys. Before they travelled up to

Scotstoun, we caught up with their former All-Black scrum-half,

Brendan Leonard. Half-time in Australia and former

All Black Brendon Leonard took time out of training to help with some

wannabe Ospreys. Ten metres. Start standing still. Make sure you stay

over the ball. The New Zealander arrived in the summer but his new

team has struggled to find form. Losing four out of their five

opening games. In the preseason and before the games, we trained well.

It has not quite transferred to the field. I am sure it is a number of

little things that it has been frustrating for everyone. Hopefully

we are over the hump. We want to keep building on from now. It is all

about the art of the box-kick. The drop of the ball and the body

position is important. Don't drop the ball here. You need to try to

swing our leg around and it could go straight up and too much. We wanted

to be in front of our body. A number of World Cup stars returned

to regional duty this week and that impact was felt immediately.

As soon as they came back in, the training standard lifted another

notch. The younger boys feed off things the older fellows do, coming

back from the Welsh team. We can put a good performance on the

field on Sunday. Remember, nice and up and down, making contact at the

bottom point. Nice and high so the wingers can contest for the ball.

With just one win in five this season, the Ospreys welcomed back

Dan Biggar and Dan Lydiate to the starting 15 as well as Alun Wyn

Jones on the bench. Glasgow have only lost once in their last 12

matches also had international players back as they were aiming to

get their title the fence back on track.

COMMENTATOR: The Osprey forwards pile in.

Offside advantage. WHISTLE Kick to nothing from the Ospreys,

they knew that. A chance for them here he comes to get the Ospreys

back on level terms. He struck it beautifully. Sam Baker, did we need

to doubt him? Not at all. That is the Osprey try line in the distance.

Phase after phase. Wave after wave of attacking options. The try has

come in the end. Laments over in the corner. Orchestrating things,

letting the forwards take responsibility. This is effective

from the home side. Great defence, but they are getting closer and

closer. Another yard closer. The Ospreys piling into the tackle area

and it had to come. The try is under the posts.

The pass was wayward. He has a second chance, it did not go

forward. There is an advantage. The Ospreys

are under the cosh. It is all falling apart, a bit. Peter Horne

breaking the Osprey defensive line-up. A second card. The Ospreys

will be down to 13. Ryan Bevington has only just come on the field and

the Ospreys will be two men short. He slips out of the tackle. Good

off-load. One other pass would have done it. They have to get there. You

would think. The Ospreys trying to battle to keep out Glasgow.

Alun Wyn Jones on the side. They are all but through. Not quite, 1 more

surge would probably do it. This time it is a try.

Walker can shift. Nice to step back off his left leg. Ospreys have a

chance. Dan Biggar could be in, but he is not held and Baker scores.

Some respite, some joy for the Ospreys.

Tipuric special coming up, that is what is needed. It is there for the

scrum-half. They are over for the try! It is the Fijian who has had

the bonus point. To get nothing out of this game, it

has cost us. If you look at them, they have done it good possession

and territory and finished up dominating the scoreboard. We need

to dust ourselves off and try and get better for next week leading

into Zebre and inter-European rugby. -- and into European.

Connacht moved up to second. O'Hara and with the only try in their 14-9

win over Edinburgh. Leinster are looking likely again.

They enjoyed a 27-3 bonus point try against Treviso. The Scarlet 's have

to travel to Dublin. Five live game on the radio.

Here's the table then after six rounds of action,

Six from six, and the only undefeated side in the league.

Connacht though, are hot on their heels, with Munster and

But the foot of the table doesn't make pretty

Both are beneath Zebre, the Ospreys are way down in eleventh

Things just don't seem to be going their way.

it, two yellow cards. 15 points scored with two in the bin. They

were a far better team in fairness. Dan Biggar with his goal-kicking

kept the Ospreys in, in the first half and Glasgow played all the

rugby. They are in a bit of a hole. Already 13 point adrift of fourth

place. Desperate to see, second week in November. Must win game next

week. They haven't moved up. They have already lost, as you pointed

out earlier, as many games already this season as they did last

season. They snuck into the play-offs last year, is it already

the case they can't afford to drop another game? It comes to a point

that for the rest of the season, you almost cup finals every week. I

don't think you can afford to lose more than six or seven games,

otherwise you struggle to get in the tub four. It becomes potentially

difficult. They can turn it around, they played really well last

season. Rest of the season, they need to draw a line in the sand of

what has happened. Internationals away. They need to refocus and

revisit the principles of the game and knuckle down and I am sure they

will turn around. We'll leave you with some

of the most memorable images The 2015 Rugby World Cup is

underway. They will score! It's OK, buddy, chill out. It's all

right. The chase is on for Gareth Davies.

He picks it up and he's over! Barrett is going to kick over and

collect the ball and score the winning try of the 2015 World Cup.