03/04/2016 Scrum V Sunday

Whether you are up at the top or down below chasing the pack, there

is everything to play for. Two Welsh derbies and a couple of all Irish

affairs give Round 19 a bit of added spice. We talk about combining

studies with rugby. Another rumour that has been doing the rounds is

you turned up to your first dragon session on your BMX. I might have

done to my first gym session with the Academy. And we meet an

inspiring woman who has turned tragedy into triumph. When I lost my

partner, I found that rugby helped me grieve. Good evening and welcome

to the programme, all change in the top six as the contenders continue

to jostle for position. Martyn Williams and Jonathan Thomas are

here to make sense of it all. I will have the best action from the

principality Premiership and you can find out how to get involved with

rugby in Rwanda. It was the start of the crucial derby between the

Scarlets and the Blues. Big games need the big players to step up,

this captain is still flying since last week's win over Ospreys and was

ready to the -- to meet the next challenge. There was a chance to

lock horns with Lloyd Williams. The Blues picked Gareth Anscombe at ten,

hoping he could push them ever closer to the top six. COMMENTATOR:

This is the halfway line. Nice and quickly back. Lloyd Williams, a kick

from Anscombe. Gareth Davies is back. Gareth Davies, Ken Owens.

Over half way. Dan Fish is lurking with intent. Anscombe did well to

hold onto that. Ellis Jenkins. The wide outside. Into the 22. Lloyd

Williams, the scrum-half for an easy solo score and that had to come.

Let's see how quick that ball is again for Lloyd Williams. Kicking

through the Dan Fish. Can he wriggle? He is on the line. A little

bit slothful Lloyd Williams who is desperately waiting for it to come

back. Anscombe, stepping inside. Keeping it alive. That is therefore

Williams. The fly half. In the shadow of the Scarlets's post.

James! I think he has got there. Yes, he has. Tom James with a cut

out pass. Look at that strength. The coach will be pairing with delight.

-- purring. A good charge down. The Blues have got it. Anscombe, Tom

James beats the first tackle, over the ten metre line. Back inside to

Anscombe. Brilliant dummy by the fly half and what a brilliant score by

the Cardiff Blues. Look at this dummy. He liked it. Warren Gatland.

A slow ball. Davies has to take it standing off. Over half way. Inside

to James Davis. Thinking that Davies had been tackled before the ball.

Evans does a few hard yards. They have a penalty coming. Now it is

given. Wayne is a concerned man. Picked up by John Barclay. Get some

shunt and grant from the rest of the pack. He is over! The first half we

played extremely well. A mixture of an attacking game and contact areas.

It is well documented, the back row will be selected, not so good in the

second half, but the Scarlets got back into the game and they were a

good side and they got back in the game and caused us problems. We

showed composure to get the results. They came here and were very

physical. They got on top of us in that every of the game. We spoke

about it at half-time. It was a bit disappointing. A real statement win

from Danny Wilson, the first time they have done the double over the

Scarlets the six years, only the second time they have done it since

regional rugby began. We have been talking about how the Blues have

become a joy to watch, but the defence was the foundation

yesterday. A brilliant performance, one of the best in years. It was

about what they did with the ball. This man yesterday, he defied the

ages, 39 next month. Allegedly. We see it from a different angle,

totally legal. That sets the tone. They just, they lost it. A great

hit. He dislodges the ball by Ken Owens, so dangerous. Going forwards,

getting it to the backs. They really are superb in the first half, caused

the Scarlets only problems. This led to Lloyd Williams and the first try.

Ever out on their feet, the Scarlets. It was all because of what

was in front of him. On the other hand he had no clean ball all day,

he was on the back foot. A superb performance from the Blues. To talk

about the importance of selection, just two changes to the sides,

Treviso, both of them in the front row. You have Matthew Rees back at

hooker alongside Jenkins. It was a shrewd selection. Not only did they

shore up the scrum, the scrum struggled a bit against Treviso,

they brought a mindset to the rest of the group. From the front, they

believed the Scarlets's pack. A lot was made of the three - sevens. You

need the rest of the team to do it. Barclay was getting cleaned out left

right and centre. I think the front row set the tone. The whole three

sevens thing, is it working for you? It is about is the balance right.

Last week against Treviso, they all played well individually, but as a

unit, for me, they were all in the same space. As you can see in the

teacher, as it comes up, it really carries. Ellis Jenkins is

supporting. The seven, he is in the same space. Ideally one of the back

rows needs to pull width. Danny Wilson has obviously spoke to them

about it in the week. He would never normally be in that position. He is

pulling width and this leads to the try. A great line speed. He puts the

pressure on. They get the turnover, we all know how the Blues like to

play from turnover ball and that leads to this. Good support from

Anscombe and the man who made the initial pressure, he is on his

shoulder as well. Can they play together? The improvement they have

shown in the last week, they most certainly can. They are such good

athletes, if they are complementing each other like that, they most

certainly can. Warburton was man of the match. We saw the try at the end

of the match, sensational dummy. A lot has been debated about Gareth

Anscombe, is here ten, 15? What is his role in Wales? Was that a

coming-of-age performance? P has come into a Blues team that was

really struggling last year. -- he has. He must be thinking what is

going on at the Blues. It is a side that has had injuries. He is top

quality. He has all the touches, a very intelligent player. He works so

well in the last few games, himself and patch on -- Patchell. We heard

it is all about the 71st minute for them to kick into gear, compare that

to their performance against the Ospreys, basing to be lacking in

tent and desire. Was it an emotional hangover from the liberty? -- from

playing the Ospreys at the liberty? I felt it was a real moment for them

to kick on and progress. Sometimes, emotionally they would have been

right on the end of the game going to the Liberty Stadium. No one

expected the Blues to go down to Scarlets and wins and sometimes that

creeps into the players's mentality. You talk about the breakdown and the

line speed, that is enthusiasm and mindset. The big thing for the

Scarlets is how they will react to that defeat, they either kicked on,

they get a bit behind their teeth and they go one for the rest of the

season or it can affect their confidence. Where does that leave

the Scarlets? They are in a precarious position now. If they had

one yesterday, we would be looking at the top two, now they are looking

behind them, Glasgow are coming up the rails, they have a tough one

coming up. It is looking dodgy. They have enough quality just to sneak

in, but a home semifinal is more or less gone. Plenty of drama to come,

there were dual Irish Derby 's, Leinster had a bumper crowd, we will

get the highlights of that after this. -- two. Two Irish Derby is

this weekend, 16,000 fans were at the stadium as Ulster look to move

back into the play-off places and it was never going to be pretty. It

will be a try for the captain! They have got it!

Opportunity. Halfway through. A trifle Gilroy. -- a try for Gilroy!

Healy. This is good. It is going to be a try for the man just on the

pitch. Another huge occasion at the Aviva Stadium as a crowd of over

43,000 saw the two Giants of Irish rugby face each other. In a game

with few chances, Munster had the best of the first few exchanges. It

came down to the number tens, Johnny Sexton scored all of Leinster's

points including this try. The last one -- this try gave Munster the

lead. Although they lay siege to the try line, the defence held firm.

STUDIO: Leinster held on against Munster. Not with the winning bonus

points that would have taken them back into the top four. What this

says is that this top six is just so wide open at the moment, you cannot

put a slice of paper between most of these contenders.

You think Leinster timing them to perfection? I think the favourites,

as I said a few weeks ago, Rob Kearney coming back, it is so

difficult to pick who will get in the top four, let alone the top six.

Interesting they are not the dominant force they used to be.

Leicester and Munster yesterday, I thought the Welsh derbies were

brilliant over the weekend, I watched the Leicester Munster game

and it was dour affair. Conditions were not great, lots of kicking. If

they cannot slink that makes Nick into the top four they can beat

either Leinster or, away. I think, you normally expect Leinster and

Munster to be involved in European competition at this stage of the

season, they haven't got the top" and have lost lots of their leaders,

both teams recent seasons, but in a way that made them more of a

dangerous force in April 12 because they are directing all their

attention at this competition and the next few Giggs doing that which

will be awesome. You want Kiad meaningful games that are key twist

in the season and it's set up for a wonderful finish. Talking about a

meaningful games, on a tangent, the managing director of the Pro12 was

speaking about potential changes that might be made to beleaguered

one thing that always comes up is form and quality tends to dip during

the international period, Six Nations at automated National 's and

he has stated clearly this week in the press that he would like to see

that clash not exist, that the brutal would have games on during

those periods and also thought of having two converses and play-off.

Would you think they would and have the league? You always want stars

coming over and playing, it is interesting. The league isn't as bad

as people make out. It does suffer when it is rational that are on, but

I think they can sit down at the year, we'll is Italy on the Saturday

last week and five days later the Reds played the Blues a week later.

Maybe you could change it around. Just little things that could help

the league. I'm not sure if the conference would work. It is what it

is and we need to work on improving the league as it is. I don't think

we're far. We seems brilliant games over the weekend. Yes. As live on

the Scottish sides, both them faced Italian opposition this weekend,

Edward Egon Zebo -- Edinburgh took on zebra and Glasgow travelled to

Treviso. Four second-half tries so Edinburgh over, so don't Backstabber

and team. Crossing twice the legal side, a win sees them in seventh

place behind Munster. Jason Tovey enjoyed a fine home debut and a man

of the match performance, while Zebre rain in 11th addition, playing

over 240 minutes without a single point. -- remain in 11th position.

The Italians looking for their first win over a Scottish side in two

years and their first over Glasgow since September 2011 took a surprise

two point lead at half-time against the defending champions. But the

second half saw Glasgow making their comeback, with inform Stewart Hogg

taking the limelight in his man of match performance as he teased the

defence to secure another bonus point win for the Warriors as they

move up play-off places. We will have a full highlights and analysis

of the other Welsh derby coming up later, that is Dragons versus

Ospreys. First, over to you best. Thank you. Let's start with quite a

moving story. Recently Rick O'Shea when the meeting inspirational woman

from the Swansea area who turned to rugby following personal tragedy.

The truth is there aren't more important things let in life than

rugby and life itself can often be challenging. -- there are. But when

fate gives you up poor hand it is often rugby that can help you come

to terms with that adversity. In the Desmond nine Becky Watkins lost her

partner in a road traffic accident. To help manage her grief, Becky

turns to rugby. This has resulted in a reforming Morrison ladies RFC. --

Morriston. Becky, today Morriston ladies will play their first ever

game. Tell us how and why you felt the need to get this rugby club

going? To be honest, when I lost my partner, my youngest was only three

weeks old. As you can imagine, it was a very difficult time. But I

found that rugby helped me grief. Both my boys played from Morriston,

I got one in the under 16 's and the little one is in the under sevens.

Because I have so much passion for rugby I thought, well, I will do it

for myself as well. It is the only thing that helps me get on with life

and be mother and father to my kids. You know? Everything you've done in

training, we will get points on that board. We will be ready for it. Yes!

She has a massive inspiration to the team, to be honest. From her setting

up only ten weeks ago to getting them all together as a unit, they're

like a big family. They are a hell of a team. She has so much patience

with me is the first time ever played rugby. She is an outstanding

woman. She always makes sure things are perfect -- are perfect for the

team. Make sure everyone's got their kit ready and does it all for the

team. She has worked wonders. Obviously, bringing the kids up a

coaching the sevens and keeping her job down, she has done the Mendis.

She deserves everything she can get. You have put years of effort into

this and the intensity has been building, has it been worth? Yes.

Even though we lost, we still won. We did. Tell me, what did you think

of your mum? Good. I bet you're proud of her.

Quite a story. Let's turn our attention to the principality

Premiership and we were meant to go to the Talbot athletic this weekend

but the weather had other ideas. The game was postponed because of a

waterlogged pitch so our round-up starts in Pontypridd. After the

dreadful conditions that Salva Kiir last week the mud Bath had cleared

slightly and they are detained in need, whose energies and cannot come

soon off to Motherwell Pontypridd are still involved in three

competitions. , it is a tri- but the fly-half, Calum Hall. Alex Humphrey,

charging into the 22, support from Rhys Jones. He thunders over, they

deserve that. Here come Pontypridd on the charge. Tom Williams in some

space into the 22. Looking for support. Scrum-half pop by Ed

Howley. Support is there in the form of Ashley James. For a second try

and the bonus point. Williams digging at the base. Spot a gap, and

is over at the posts. Possession plenty for Pontypridd. Tom Williams,

nicely out of the cat flap. There must be a try on wide outside from

Matthew. It was a huge game today. As far as the league is concerned.

It is a big positive, we could finish with the 18-year-old boys out

there, to give their experience of the big end of the season to come,

but looking for to it. The juggernaut rumbled on as to driving

mauls extend their ten league match unbeaten run that stretches back to

November. Money kinds notched up his fourth try in as many games and a

late try by the Quins need for an early finish. They'll held on. --

avail. Church bank has been hunting -- happy hunting in recent years.

One of their rivals for the play-offs are braced for boys point

in the first half, helped by two tries. They had a revival in the

second half and came away with a try and bonus point. Both Cardiff and

Bridgend have added underwhelming campaigns this season with the two

in the bottom half of the table. But conditions were running rugby, they

came out victorious and did a league double over the blue and Blacks, and

a bonus point. One was from this afternoon. And it remains tight at

the top of the table, Ebbw Vale leading the way. Close on their

heels are Pontypridd, having played one game less. There have three

difficult away games to come. Newport dropped to fourth but they

also have games in hand. You might not think rugby and Rwanda may

necessarily go together, but thanks to one Welsh couple, Mary and Glyn

Watson is from Newport, the sport is gaining in popularity over there.

Friends of Rwandan rugby is a UK-based charity that funds rugby

develop and inland. The main aim is to teach tag and rugby the Primary

School children, but they're also involved in the development of the

adult game. In August this year the charity will be coaching the in

Rwanda and are appealing for any coaches from here who would like to

get involved to get in touch with them and if you have any rugby team

did for rugby balls that you would like to donate. One line of

congratulations to Nigel Owens, who earlier found out he will be the

most experienced international referee when he oversees Fiji

against Tonga in the summer. In what will be his 71st Test match in

charge. Quite an achievement. Congratulations. Fiji Tonga,

nightmare for these referees. Badree Pro12 full stop despite a despoiling

season there will be a couple of shining light in their back three.

-- at disappointing season. Because up with the two flying wingers. It

has been a gloomy Pro12 season for the Dragons, but with the likes of

Hallam Amos at Ashton who it is lighting up their backline, the

future might be looking brighter. The region Blaise two deadliest

finishers are also their brightest minds. You're both pretty unique in

professional rugby in your balls full-time student and combine that

with your rugby. Is that because it gives you a sense of perspective? I

think so. Especially in Wales, the Goldfish bowl that is, the media

scrutiny, it's quite nice to step away from it and have time off if

you're playing well or badly, whatever, it's nice to have a

distraction. We all know how is a medic, what about you Ashton? Im

criminology. What kind of motivated you to go there? Working with

disadvantaged kids who were interested in sport and need a bit

of help in other aspects of their lives. It has been a season of

contrasting fortunes for the Dragons, the quarterfinals of Europe

at the bottom end of the Broadwell having won only four games, is that

anything to do with the fact there's lots of young players in the squad,

perhaps you don't have the senior players that are used to getting

over the lines? We might be young age wise, we are still 21 and the

bulk of the squad is that age, but it gets to the point when we have

these periods and 100 games between us now, I would say. The same can be

true across the entire team. It starts to come to a point where

you're like, we need results on the pitch. There might be a myth, you

turned up to your first ever Dragons training session on your BMX, is

that true? No, Chinese whispers have been going on. When I was in the

Academy 16, that was my way of getting there. My first senior

Dragon session I didn't. Might the gym session with the Academy, that

is true. The medical practical is one thing, but how would a mosque

there under the scrutiny of the scrum five cameras? -- how would he

do under the scrutiny. It was a close run thing, but

HalepMcStay had eventually won it by a nose.

Gloucester next. Do you believe this is a competition you can win? I

believe we can as long as we are on top of our game. With confidence I

think we can win the run of games we have got coming up in the European

Championship. We have seen you play at full-back and wing, for Wales as

well, have you got a preference? Hopefully I will move to 15, whether

that is in a year's time or five years' time, I don't know. I hope

that is where Warren Gatland sees me in the future and that is where I

see myself, for the time being I am happy on the wing. But I would like

to move to full-back. Some injuries have opened the door for others,

have you thought about Wales? No, I have not heard anything. I try not

to think about it. We have games coming up with the Dragons. If I was

to get an opportunity, then amazing, but if I don't, I strive towards it

in the future. A couple of characters and just another ball

work ethic from the two of them, full-time students and full-time

rugby players, awesome. Callum talked about his positions, most of

senior rugby on the wing, but maybe sees himself as a three four years

down the line, Warren Gatland said he did not think he had the pace to

be an international winger, but has picked him on the wing sense. I

think Warren Gatland had to say that publicly. It would not have done his

confidence much good, but he is talented enough to play either. I

like him on the wing. He is a good winner. Liam Williams, Leigh

Halfpenny will be back, quite a few options. He is playing in a side

with the Dragons, it shows what a quality player he is. He will end up

playing wherever he wants to. He is that talented. Hewitt is a crop of

young wingers coming to the system, we have talked about how in the

recent years, they have not been blessed with depth. We have heard

that Keenan is being looked at, Ashton Hewitt is another example of

a lot of young wingers coming to the fore. It is encouraging to see that.

I think probably too soon to take them on a summer tour at the moment.

Bring them on the plane perhaps and not play them, given the midweek

game. Against the Chiefs. It is a big call to make. It is good to see

the depth is coming through. They are coming into their own in the

next few years. Ashton Hewitt, unfortunately for him has been

pulled out injured. Here are the highlights.

History tells us the Ospreys are used to being in the hunt for

trophies at this time of year, not languishing in the lower half of the

table. The likes of Alun Wyn Jones, it seems a distant sepia toned

memory. Dan Biggar is at half-backs. They start for Ollie Cracknell

suggest the Ospreys were looking to the future. -- a start. There was a

special farewell to this man, he would lead out the men of Gwent in

his last home league game. COMMENTATOR: Each surge wins a few

more yards, a few more metres. On the outside. That is a superbly

worked try. Tyler Morgan outside him. One man to

beat and they have beaten him. Backtracking all the way, took him

out of the game. A late run. Dan Biggar. Almost created the gap for

him. Going round the corner. They have managed to reach it. They get

the try. Cracknell with a carry to within a couple of metres. Cracknell

goes alone. They have men on the outside. Watkin delays it, but he

still has time. Dan Evans puts it in the corner. The Ospreys have a third

try right on half-time. Links up with Warren. Warren with the break,

looks the outside. Amos into the 22. In the end it is Dirksen who wins

the race. Scintillating rugby all-round. It just shows what they

can do if they keep the ball. They are doing all of this with hardly

anything. Play lovely kick from Amos. He gets his second strive for

the second week running. -- try. A deep pass to Sam Davies, over the

top. Watkin, great feet from a standing start. Desperate defence of

the Dragons. Just about managed to keep him out. This is real pressure

from the Ospreys. There is a man on the outside in Dirksen. He gets over

to the Ospreys bonus point try. More defenders than attackers on that

side. Finding a way through. In the end he only found the arms of Gareth

Thomas. Mayer powers over! They deserved that. Brok Harris. The

Ospreys may have got the bonus point, but they do not have the wins

secured yet. -- the win. After 16 phases, the Dragons come away

empty-handed. A pretty eventful game, we came to play some positive

rugby. It got a bit loose at times. It cost us a bit there, it is job

done. It is the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes that caused the

problems. We scored some wonderful tries, but credit to the Ospreys,

they scored some good tries as well and there was a hell of a pace to

the game. It was a bonus point victory for the Ospreys, they are

not movers in the table, remaining in ninth place, nine points adrift

of the top six and of course of European qualification. As we

mentioned at the top of the programme, a lot of change in the

top four. Glasgow are in the top four for the first time this season.

The defending champions, Leinster have taken over from

The defending champions, Leinster three rounds of the regular season

to go. Let's talk about the Ospreys, Dragons game. Another defeat, their

worst ever run. The margins have been slim. We talked on the night

about how the Ospreys just seemed to dominate every aspect of the game,

they dominate the breakdown and it was their forward superiority that

gave the Ospreys half-backs all the room and the space they needed to

control things. It was a brilliant atmosphere. These two boys did it

for me. This has become Dan Biggar's trademark. He was active from the

word go. He was really gnarly. He wanted to pick the tempo up from the

Ospreys. He has not finished explaining what the penalty is for

and he has kicked it. He is not happy with Samper getting in his

way. He has looked up and composed himself. Dan Biggar was outstanding.

-- sound for getting in his way. Right at the end, they run under the

cosh. He is so dangerous at this. A dummy and he is so strong, he

wriggled his way over. That has become his trademark. He is so

strong. You know it is coming, but it is so difficult to stop. This

will set him apart on Friday night. Six points, comes and times it

perfectly on Charlie Davies. Wins it perfectly for the Ospreys. Timed to

perfection, the strength to make the tackle, to hold him up, that was a

scrum to the Ospreys. The players in the big games really stood up. They

were up for it, won't they? Two or three players who were dead up for

it, the back row trio that the Ospreys picked, they were missing

all their first choice players. Dan Lydiate was on the bench, but the

trio who took to the field really gelled as a unit. Probably the

second choice back row, all outstanding individually. Just from

the Dragons's point of view, they were very passive in defence. The

Ospreys in defence, that is the difference, rugby is a game where a

motion and getting off the line and line speed is important. Hart in

talks about getting off the line... Here you can see the try. That was a

really important performance, what a bright young performer he is. They

scrap for everything in the breakdown, they have good line speed

in defence and you did not see that from the Dragons, they did not

compete hard on the breakdown, no line speed. What Martin was talking

about, they had loads of time and space on the ball to engage

defenders. I think the big thing for the Ospreys, I was speaking to a few

of the lads last week and they were disappointed after the Scarlets

game. In the week, they had a mindset to go out and play and get

the five points. They were ruthless in doing that. One man who was

playing his last game, Faletau. He did not play like a man just seeing

out the last few games of his contract. His cover tackling, his

winning ball, the contact area, the winning balls he takes, he is a

truly world-class player and will be sorely missed. It is such a shame.

He probably broke the record in the post match interview for the fewest

words spoken to Phil Steele. He is so shy. His performance belies his

personality off the pitch. It is so fresh in to see a character like

that. They do all their talking on the pitch. He is what he says on the

tin, he goes on and does the job. It will be interesting, Bath are going

through their own difficulties at the moment. It will not be plain

sailing, but good luck to him. Absolutely, a quick question to you

both, it will have to be brief, Dragons are left in Europe,

Gloucester, can they win that one? I would love to say yes, but I cannot

see it. I think Gloucester will be too strong at home. Yes. That is all

we have time for. We will see you in a fortnight.