04/12/2011 Scrum V

All week, revenge was the word on every Welsh fans lips. Could Wales

bury the memories of the World Cup Priestland to the line. Pro 12

Palisson and there's a change at the top of the table. If -- powers

on. There was something else. This Good evening and welcome to the

show. I am joined by Tom Shanklin and Jonathan Davies. It was an

emotional day yesterday for a number of reasons and it all began

at the Millennium Stadium with this emotional tributes to former Wales

Shane Williams makes the first half position. This is Leigh

Halfpenny, who has gone from the outstanding on the left for

Namibia. Knock-on, no advantage. shame for Wales they could not make

any more of what was effectively a Roberts. Australia come forward.

George North goes up. Could pick up. -- a good pick-up. Slowing it down

was the penalty call earlier on. came against Australia's captain.

James Horwill came off the bench Australia... They have the

advantage. The whistle has gone. Williams denied by his own team's

knock-on. A chance for Wales to everybody else wants it so badly to

happen. The harder he tries today, the less is likely to come off.

Australia, dangerous. Shane Williams has to chase. Great finish.

If he has got that ball down, that is an exceptional piece of wing

play. Was his backside in contact with the outside of that line

before he put it down? Very, very be, Shane Williams saved Wales with

a tackle. Good work by Lydiate. Lloyd Williams under pressure.

Wales escaped with a 22, living would have preferred the advantage.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

Good work by Robert because Australia put two men out there to

give him a problem and he made the stopping... Sam Warburton not quite

managing to get a hand on Anthony defence. Jamie Roberts to the fore

with defensive duty and a pat on it on? I think it will be a yellow

card for Rhys Priestland. If he gives a penalty, he has to give the

yellow-card. But for that, would he referee's arm went straight up. Try

awarded. Will Genia. The issue over a penalty try or not is now mute

because that man has put the ball down. He has been the most

impressive man on the field. Some good tackling by the Welsh defence.

That is better for Australia. Lachie Turner... He scores. That is

Turner... Shane Williams denies the winner again. I tell you who did

good work there, Ian Evans, getting his hand on the ball for long

enough. Wales are back in shape, but still facing Australia one man

barns. Beautifully delivered pass. -- Berrick Barnes. For the numbers

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

are mounting up on the scoreboard immediate movement, try for Wales.

A good riposte from Wales. The minimum the coach would have wanted.

Showing heart having conceded three they will get the penalty, but

Wales were queuing up on the far last try. Shane Williams off in

wanted because he would have wanted that to be winning try, but it is

fitting for his career. Try No. 58. He leaves the field in Welsh try-

scoring history. This is the last The applause says it all, it has

been an emotional day for you. The crowd wanted to give you a hug

during those anthems. How tough has it been holding it together? It has

It has been even harder today. I am sorry we could not win, but we

played against the great Australian side today and we threw everything

at them. But Australia were the best side. Your boots say goodbye.

How much has it meant you to wear this Jerzy? Everything. Growing up

as a child, it is the only thing you want to do, play for Wales. I

have been very privileged to have the chance. I have had the best

Every time I put this shirt on, it is the best feeling ever. I will

miss it. It has meant a helluva lot to me, thank you very much.

have been a brilliant servant for Welsh Mugly -- rugby and you will

be missed, not just in Wales, but There's no doubt the circumstance

has overshadowed the result to some extent, but when rails review the

tapes they will realise there's a bit of a cat. -- Wales review the

bit of a cat. -- Wales review the Very disappointed. We felt with the

work we had put in over six months we deserved the scalp of a nation

like Australia. We felt our fitness Nations had dropped a little bit

since the World Cup. I don't think we reacted well to the red --

yellow-card. I thought it was a good game of rugby and we created a

lot of opportunities. We played a lot of rugby from deep in our own

half. We saw a couple of good tries as well. Given the youth of the

team, something to be excited about. It was not his fault at all, he

conceded seven points, but we conceded 21. When we went down to

14 we struggled, but we struggled in attack as well. There we are,

plenty to work on am looking forward to the Six Nations. If we

can get back to the level we were at during the World Cup, I'm sure

we will have a good campaign. the same thing we say every time we

lose, it is not quite there. It shows there's work to be done. It

will give us a cat -- kick up the backside. They are a young group

who aspire to be things. They are working hard, they have a good

morale in the group and they will go into that competition looking to

win it. Can I ask you what you think they need to do to take a big

scalp? They know what they need to do. I will watch with interest from

the beach! We played one of the best sides in the world today and

we gave it everything. I am very proud of the guys. You were waving

your arms for quite a few minutes. I was cursing Ryan as well! When it

didn't come my way, I thought to pickle. But I was on the end of a

What was the most emotional moment for you today? The national anthem

was hard. I went to start singing it, I couldn't get anything out. I

knew the children were coming on, I couldn't do anything about it to be

honest. I was just looking forward to seeing this group of guys

working together. Ensure you will see me in the Millennium Stadium

with a daffodil on my head, I will be supporting them 100%. I wouldn't

change the story at all, it has been great fun start to finish.

Hopefully I will still be involved in the rugby side of things for

years to come. Jonathan, let's start with the positives. Aside

from those three tries conceded, the defence was pretty solid at

times, especially in the first half they forced a few key turnovers.

Yes, they were very together, very aggressive, good line speed and a

aggressive, good line speed and a lot of big hits. I just felt it was

a great tackle that allowed get in to steal the ball. Again, Scott

Williams gets in, Williams makes another tackle which allows Sam

Warburton to come in, and unfortunately another turnover.

Defensively, very well, and I did feel some said maybe they dropped

feel some said maybe they dropped intentionally a little bit but

their commitment was fantastic. That was a very good effort. I did

feel that, I'm not sure what it was, some of them looked a little

undercooked. Maybe they didn't have the match practice they should have

had because of injuries and everything. Some of them may be

played below their usual performance because they were not

at match-fitness. A beige have not been playing week-in, week-out. In

Paul and the training was incredibly hard. In the World Cup,

we saw a very intense Wales side but perhaps that is because the set

piece was very solid, which allowed Jamie Roberts and George North to

really flourish. At times the set piece was a bit creaky yesterday.

little bit. At one stage I thought Wales were right back in the game.

At 63 minutes Wales had their tails up. They had a penalty, kicked to

touch. On the first line-out another penalty, kicked again to

touch, and I think we have an example of the second line-out and

example of the second line-out and an opportunity that Wales could

have taken. A scrum to Australia, and that is not the worst thing

because Wales can get the ball back. Unfortunately here, I'm not sure

what happened, but a penalty awarded to Australia. They kicked

to touch, and they get their own ball. Listen to the referee now.

REFEREE: Hands! That is harsh. The ball popped out, and the next

minute they were in their own 22. We underestimate how important the

set piece is. Adam Jones is the most important player in Wales, we

always say this, and they have mentioned it that they need to look

and train up another type there. We went a bit too lateral. We have got

to go forward and then go wide. Undoubtedly though yesterday the

turning point was the yellow-card. And I did feel this is definitely a

yellow-card. This was definitely a pick up by Berrick Barnes, who was

definitely man of the match. That was definitely a yellow card, not a

penalty try, because George North is coming across so he wasn't

definitely going to score. From this incident, they realised and

they went up a couple of gears. I felt they were clicking up a few

years before this happened, but then Will Genia forced his way over.

A quick ball, with the extra man, this is a great pass. James

O'Connor hits the right man, it is a money ball, and puts him over. On

the third one, it is just a lovely pass. Some communication. You can

watch Berrick Barnes coming in late. Two men over again, but he just

hauls the past. They had a couple of straight runners, the back row

carries the ball, so then they went. With the extra man, they went wide,

and we have to look at getting the basics right because we know how

good we are when we go forward and we play well. Maybe it is a reality

check because it might manage expectations for the Six Nations

for us. We have to play well to beat them. We haven't got the

luxury of playing mediocre and not winning. There is turn our

attention to the pro 12. There was a full round of fixtures this

weekend, we will start with the support, and what a charge from

Nate then wide. He has got there! - - from Nathan White. Leinster

looking hungry, and the third try of the game. Desperate times for

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

home side. So, Leinster with a Cardiff Blues has the night of all

you believe it? The softest try in the world. Given away, and he can't

wonderfully well. He was away so quickly there was nobody there, but

he Sen's the dummy. Surely the Scarlets must score. Ulster get

their first try of the evening. Ferris! There is no stopping

Stephen Ferris. 5 1/2 minutes remaining. That has gone down. He

has got the try. And this, if it is converted, will give the Scarlets

can't use it better. It is Doug Just knocked on, picked up. He

thinks it is a try. The referee is not sure. Let's have a look. It

will be a try. Confirmation from Ospreys' favour. Quick-thinking by

Rhys Webb, he has caught the defence napping, and that is a

double blow for the Ospreys. They has been again today as well,

Dragons versus Glasgow finish just the tackle. We will need to see the

replay. REFEREE: You may award the try.

gives the try Micro, the first one Glasgow out of nothing. Adam Jones,

last-chance saloon for the Dragons. Penalty given. The last kick of the

match, and the Dragons snaffle a draw. He was confirmed that Dragons

and Wales player will be out of they dropped to second. Leinster

a classic but an impressive victory against the defending champions.

was. They had 19 players out of action, seven with the Welsh team.

Wales are the only nation hit by this international. To be able to

field the likes of John Thomas, Ian Gough, Andrew Bishop, they have

great strength in depth. We have great strength in depth. We have

talked about this, the scheduling of this international match. The

Union have obviously said it is a fund raiser, the money will

eventually go back to the regions, but it has left them compromised on

the pitch. Yes. They have been fantastic, Ospreys, they have gone

about their work. The Blues got a thumping and that was maybe one

game too far for them. It is difficult, there is no continuity.

The Heineken Cup coming up now and a lot of the players won't play for

a couple of weeks. They need to look at the season structurally.

The crowd want to see the best players and this is difficult

because of the number of games they have to play. It is very tough,

very, very tough. But the Scarlets going to Ulster with no back line.

Eventually they came unstuck. It is a difficult time for those sides

and they have to keep plugging away. It won't be too much of an issue if

it is a one-off, but if it happens every year... Back to events at the

Millennium Stadium where more than 60,000 passionate fans watched the

curtain fall on the end of an era. I'm here to date the ostensibly as

a journalist, but in my heart, I'm a Welsh rugby fan coming to say

goodbye to one of our favourite flourish! Last game, last try.

amazing. Such an amazing player. Tell us what you think of Shane

Williams. He's a great player and we are just all going to miss him.

He is able to score the one time he gets the ball at the end. A cried

my eyes out at the end. -- I cried. Very few players get the chance to

go out when they want to and at the right time. If he can stick to this,

and I hope he does, and go out with the memory of a home try, he has

done a lot better than most people. He called time on himself when he

wanted to stop, not many players get that opportunity and that is

the quality of the man. It was a great way to sign off with the try

and he walks around the stadium with his family, fantastic. I have

been reminded of the virtues of Gerald Davies over the last 10

years. Watching Shane in a game that changed dramatically, it is a

bit of a comparison. I don't like comparing players from different

eras, but yes, he's the one he reminds me of more than anyone.

has been absolutely magnificent on and off the field and Wales will

miss him more than they ever realise. Even though the coaches

will not admitted. Even today, in a poor performance by Wales, one bit

of brilliance from Shane Williams. Even he was struggling, but he

still produced some brilliant. was a privilege to be able to watch

him. He has certainly lit up a lot of international pitches. When they

put his montage together of the greatest tries ever, you'll have

hours and hours. I'm jealous! praise indeed if J P Williams is

jealous. You told us on Friday night that he was the best player

night that he was the best player you had ever played with. Now that

his international career has come to an end, your abiding memories?

have a few. One in 2003 in the World Cup and we were with the

players not involved in the first team. We were playing New Zealand,

he was quite ill. He ended up playing and he was man of the match.

It was the turning-point in his career, he never looked back.

Another one was him coming in after the 2008 Grand Slam game against

France, been carried in by two players and propped up against the

bar. Yesterday you said Gerald Davies was your ultimate rugby hero

growing up, Shane Williams will be a hero to a whole generation of

fans. Yes. When I was growing up, it was Davies and I can imagine all

the children growing up looking at Shane in the same light. He has

given people so much pleasure. Very lucky to commentate on him playing,

numerous tries. Difficult to pick out a try. Maybe against France

when he dribbled it on the floor. A great all-round sportsman, creating

space for other people as well. He has been great off the field as

well. Whatever he chooses to do, enjoy his time at the Ospreys. Tell

the Ospreys to make the most of him. He could become even better with no

international duties. Good luck to him, he has been fantastic. In many

ways he is the last of a dying breed. We don't produce players of

his size, they can't thrive in the modern game, but he defied the odds.

He did. It is about producing players with the whole package. The

only thing he doesn't have his height, but he has everything else.

He can run as fast forwards as he can sideways. He is one of a kind

and you can't see a player that will take over from him. Rugby is a

game for all shapes and sizes. Players are getting bigger and

bigger, but if you have a player of that ability, he can play any sport.

Any kid at home watching thinking I'm too small to play rugby, look

at Shane Williams and people in the past. If you've got that awareness

about you, and how he drifted past Berrick Barnes to score that try,

it was just a pleasure to watch him. He scored 58 tries. I would have

put money on him scoring yesterday. It epitomised his career, the

timing of it. Just to see him with his family was fantastic. Looking

ahead to the Six Nations, only eight weeks away, he will leave a

big void. How will we cope without him? It is difficult. We will have

to! He could have gone on for another couple of years. There's

plenty of good winners in the squad. -- winners. It might have been a

reality check. The players need to create a bit more intensity in the

games they play in so that when we come to the Six Nations bid is not

so much of a shock. It will be tough. France will be there under a

new coach. England will put their house in order. Scotland are

looking to build after a poor World Cup. It will be very, very intense

and very exciting, as ever. But if we play well, we can win it. Thank

you. We shall be due fare well. It has been an emotional weekend,