:28:43. > :28:48.Hello and welcome to Scrum V. We had a bumper programme for you as
:28:48. > :28:54.usual. We will have wisdom and insight from Robert Jones and
:28:54. > :29:00.Jonathan Davies. There is plenty more coming your way. As the race
:29:00. > :29:10.for the play-offs approaches, we will have all the action from the
:29:10. > :29:10.
:29:10. > :29:14.Pro12. We endured blizzard conditions as we need Dan Lydia.
:29:14. > :29:24.They are affectionate. They flock around you when you turn up with
:29:24. > :29:31.
:29:31. > :29:37.food. Welcome to K Club. It is when Derby time as Cross Keys meet Ebbw
:29:37. > :29:45.Vale at Rodney Parade. We. With the action from the Cardiff City
:29:45. > :29:50.Stadium last night. The Blues made five changes to the side thrashed
:29:50. > :30:00.by Leinster. The Ospreys travelled to Cardiff of the back of two
:30:00. > :30:14.
:30:14. > :30:21.consecutive wins. Hoping to card as well. The crowd are not
:30:21. > :30:29.happy. It looks a bit harsh. Yellow card, very doubtful. Here comes
:30:29. > :30:39.Biggar. Amazing. That is He's 12th consecutive kick. The scores are
:30:39. > :30:57.
:30:57. > :31:02.tied. Martyn Williams on scrum-half Jones popping up again. A new lease
:31:02. > :31:12.of life for the former Welsh captain. They are screaming for the
:31:12. > :31:12.
:31:12. > :31:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:31:52. > :32:02.the Blues are for a while. Dash back for a while. It was offside. -
:32:02. > :32:39.
:32:39. > :32:49.certainly looks like a penalty for the Ospreys. Another mystifying
:32:49. > :32:49.
:32:49. > :33:37.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:33:37. > :33:47.A good scrum. A careless pass their of the South African-born wing.
:33:47. > :33:56.
:33:56. > :34:06.Penny macro again, and the Blues's advantage is extended. -- penny
:34:06. > :34:06.
:34:06. > :35:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:35:35. > :35:45.Blues cannot match it. Biggar to cannot be kept out. The Ospreys's
:35:45. > :35:45.
:35:45. > :37:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:37:17. > :37:22.captain get the drive. -- gets the there half-time scoreline? We were
:37:22. > :37:26.a little bit more patient and directing what we were trying to do.
:37:26. > :37:31.In the first half, we got turned over, which was a bit disappointing.
:37:31. > :37:36.The score reflected again in the second half. From last weekend, we
:37:36. > :37:40.have made strides forward. We know we are in a difficult place. The
:37:40. > :37:44.big thing is for the majority of that game, our defence was resolute.
:37:44. > :37:51.We worked hard. The boys took responsibility, but unfortunately
:37:51. > :37:59.we were not good enough. We are in a good position, coming home of
:37:59. > :38:02.a good position, coming home of Friday night against the Dragons.
:38:02. > :38:09.Despite some of those refereeing decisions, it was pretty
:38:09. > :38:15.enterprising stuff. It was. They have played with a lot more purpose
:38:15. > :38:18.and will pace and freedom. A lot of the players are stepping up to the
:38:18. > :38:23.mark and playing well. This is a good example of how positive and
:38:23. > :38:33.direct they were. Just the quality and delivery of the ball. There is
:38:33. > :38:35.
:38:35. > :38:45.only one way that they can go and that is forward. They are not
:38:45. > :38:47.
:38:47. > :38:52.frightened to go either side. That frustration was born from the scrum.
:38:52. > :38:56.They fell apart after 20 minutes. George Clancy, he did not refereed
:38:56. > :39:01.the scrum at all. The dominant pack was always going to be the Ospreys.
:39:01. > :39:05.They were always going to be on top, but time and time again he penalise
:39:05. > :39:09.them. It wasn't until the end of the first half, beginning of the
:39:09. > :39:14.second half that he started to realise and referee correctly. We
:39:14. > :39:18.know it is a problem area, but when you give eight penalties at scrum
:39:18. > :39:20.time, which he did, you have to look at it and make some decisions.
:39:20. > :39:25.Somebody has to do something because at the moment, it is
:39:26. > :39:35.ruining the game. George Clancy has come under criticism for that
:39:36. > :39:37.
:39:37. > :39:41.performance, has 90. I need to be careful about what I so. I switch
:39:41. > :39:46.the TV off after 20 minutes. I thought George Clancy was terrible.
:39:46. > :39:51.We all have a job to do and we have to try and make it entertaining and
:39:51. > :39:59.referees are involved in it as well. For me, the stop and start, he
:39:59. > :40:03.absolutely destroyed the game. The Blues tried to play a bit of
:40:03. > :40:13.football and so did the Ospreys, but he tracked the game down. It
:40:13. > :40:15.
:40:15. > :40:17.was so boring and slow. The referees need to look at themselves.
:40:17. > :40:22.We are in the entertainment business and that has to be the
:40:22. > :40:31.case here. I thought he was absolutely dreadful yesterday. He
:40:31. > :40:36.spoilt the game. How the Ospreys were down at half-time is beyond
:40:36. > :40:41.belief. The Blues were very lucky yesterday. I know there are a
:40:41. > :40:51.couple of decisions you thought were harsh? It was not just the
:40:51. > :40:54.
:40:54. > :41:04.scrum, that was a farce. But the yellow card. You're talking about
:41:04. > :41:06.
:41:06. > :41:11.reactions. That was that, this was awful! Sweeney it almost tackled
:41:11. > :41:21.Alun Wyn Jones. The ball bounced off his biceps and he reacted
:41:21. > :41:23.
:41:23. > :41:28.against it. There is no doubt about it the Ospreys were the better side,
:41:29. > :41:34.but they need to look up a number of areas. The scrum, the
:41:34. > :41:38.interception and the spare tackle. The interception is the fact that
:41:38. > :41:42.you read the play. It is very good rugby because you read the play,
:41:42. > :41:50.you have got to go for it and if you go for it and slap it down, OK
:41:50. > :41:54.it is a penalty. But both of them, Evans could have caught it. Sweeney
:41:54. > :42:03.should never have got the yellow card. With yellow cards been so
:42:03. > :42:10.important these days, they do not use it when people are slowing it
:42:10. > :42:14.down. I have got to say, I agree with Robert, the Ospreys played
:42:15. > :42:19.more attacking rugby. They looked adventurous, there dummy runs were
:42:19. > :42:23.a good, but I thought and the last couple of weeks they have played
:42:24. > :42:30.exceptionally well with confidence. Biggar has been exceptional because
:42:30. > :42:33.he has not been static. Before, they were playing a slow game and
:42:33. > :42:37.the back was under pressure. Now they look as if they are enjoying
:42:37. > :42:47.themselves and they looked in a very good position and maybe it
:42:47. > :42:57.will be the biggest threat to Leinster. You mentioned Biggar.
:42:57. > :43:05.
:43:05. > :43:13.Also, but, both been linked with leaving. The is rumoured to have
:43:13. > :43:17.been offered a 3 million pound deal. Well, he has to go. He is not
:43:17. > :43:22.playing very well with the Cardiff Blues. That type of bigger, he has
:43:22. > :43:30.to go. It is another example of the French coming in and picking of our
:43:30. > :43:35.If you get offered three times your money to go and work so well, the
:43:35. > :43:40.chances are you'll go. We can't compete. Dan Biggar realises he is
:43:40. > :43:44.happy there, he likes the way the Ospreys are going. He is the
:43:44. > :43:48.Swansea boy. He wants to stay, where as Cuthbert, maybe, he thinks
:43:48. > :43:52.hang on, I am on the crest of a wave here, I've broken onto the
:43:52. > :43:56.international scene, as long as he makes sure his international
:43:56. > :44:03.contract is fine and he gets released to play for Wales, then he
:44:03. > :44:06.must be thinking, well, why not? In the economic climate we are in, the
:44:06. > :44:11.regions and Wales are finding it very tough and the boys are going
:44:12. > :44:16.to come in and take the big bucks. The Ospreys' next opponents of the
:44:16. > :44:19.Dragons and one man hoping to put a dent in their quest for a home
:44:19. > :44:25.semi-final is Dan Lydiate. We went to meet him on his parents'' farmer
:44:25. > :44:28.little did we know we would need more than wellies.
:44:28. > :44:32.The international rugby field can be a pretty inhospitable place, so
:44:32. > :44:36.to come the wilds of Mid-Wales. It was here that arguably the hardest
:44:36. > :44:46.man in the Welsh squad was raised. We have travelled up here to meet
:44:46. > :45:05.
:45:05. > :45:10.the man they call the silent and Me and my brother Rufforth
:45:10. > :45:13.generation farmers here. I played Friday night, jumping the car and
:45:13. > :45:17.head back here and have the rest of the weekend to chill-out. Give us
:45:17. > :45:20.an idea of what it was like growing up here but having ambitions to
:45:20. > :45:24.play professional rugby at having to go to Newport to do so? It is
:45:24. > :45:29.quite hard because there is not a lot of professional rugby up here.
:45:29. > :45:33.It is good that we were brought up on the farm, my parents got the
:45:33. > :45:38.work out of the way so they could take us down. Big thanks to them,
:45:38. > :45:42.really. There is a bit -- there are a lot of players who don't have
:45:42. > :45:46.that opportunity. They do miss out, I think. The rigours of the
:45:46. > :45:51.farmyard prepare you for international rugby? Yes, you start
:45:51. > :45:55.learning to tackle by tackling sheep, catching sheep, and there is
:45:55. > :46:00.plenty of fields to run around so you get quite fit from doing that
:46:00. > :46:03.and you what always lumping bales around and what not, so there is
:46:03. > :46:09.plenty of manual labour to be done. Who do you think will be least
:46:09. > :46:14.equipped to deal with life on a farm? Sam Warburton, he is a townie.
:46:14. > :46:24.He is a city boy. I don't think you would live up here in these hills.
:46:24. > :46:33.
:46:33. > :46:37.I will see you at the top. See you You have a reputation as a hard man
:46:37. > :46:41.on the pitch. We come up here and see these conditions that you have
:46:41. > :46:45.been used to working in. Perhaps we should not be surprised. I don't
:46:45. > :46:50.know about being a hard man on the pitch but it is quite a tough
:46:50. > :46:54.environment at times. A lot of farmers work in harsh conditions
:46:54. > :46:59.but jobs need to be done so you get on with it. I would rather it was
:46:59. > :47:03.like this than sunny, I can't deal with the heat. As long as it is
:47:03. > :47:05.quite cool I am happy. mentioned that, a couple of us in
:47:05. > :47:09.the office have noticed you have been playing without your school
:47:09. > :47:17.cap recently. Is that something to do with the heat as well? Yes, it
:47:17. > :47:20.has been quite hot and the soft ears. I have been trying to
:47:20. > :47:25.keep it on because they are starting to rip, but it has been so
:47:25. > :47:32.hot in there, I have chucked it after 16 minutes. Nothing to do
:47:32. > :47:42.with superstition then? No, I have got baby softie is, I'm afraid. --
:47:42. > :47:46.
:47:46. > :47:53.One thing that does help you keep in shape when you visit here is a
:47:53. > :48:00.purpose-built gym. How did this come about? Basically because it is
:48:00. > :48:04.quite isolated appear, you have to travel anywhere to go to the gym.
:48:04. > :48:09.It is right next door, so it is handy. You in particular seemed to
:48:09. > :48:11.be associated with the top tackle, getting as low as you possibly can
:48:11. > :48:20.and the opponents are up on the deck before they know what has
:48:20. > :48:23.happened. Why did that starred? think it was going into the World
:48:23. > :48:26.Cup against a big physical groups, the South Africans, and the sort of
:48:27. > :48:32.thing when you're statistics come up after regain you never want to
:48:32. > :48:38.be missing tackles and what not, or have a negative tackle way you make
:48:38. > :48:44.a tackle and you get carried five metres, so I wanted to chop them
:48:44. > :48:49.down before they got going. It worked out better. Jack was in the
:48:50. > :48:53.team, Sam and getting, if you can cut them down early it gives them a
:48:53. > :48:59.chance to get on the ball, we had good success in the World Cup so
:48:59. > :49:09.trying to improve on that, really and it works so I stick at it.
:49:09. > :49:19.has and you is the nickname, Djerba. That is one of your many nicknames.
:49:19. > :49:29.-- Chopper. I will take that one. Warburton tries to make up a few
:49:29. > :49:30.
:49:30. > :49:38.but they never stick. I will stick with Chopper. If it is not you, who
:49:38. > :49:42.is the hardest man in the Welsh team? It would be Huw Bennett, he
:49:42. > :49:47.will push himself until he is sick and then push himself again. You
:49:47. > :49:53.have people like Luke Charteris, who is out with injury after the
:49:53. > :49:57.World Cup but I got injured in the first game but he played the whole
:49:57. > :50:00.campaign, so you have a lot of respect for people like that. If
:50:00. > :50:04.you get ten years being a professional especially
:50:04. > :50:09.internationals, you are lucky, so we are not there for a long time so
:50:09. > :50:15.we make the most of it while we can. Make hay while the sun shines.
:50:15. > :50:19.good farming analogy. Yes, got it in there. There has been rumours
:50:19. > :50:23.that given your performances on -- some French clubs have been showing
:50:23. > :50:28.an interest in you. Where do you stand? Are you looking forward to
:50:28. > :50:33.another season with the Dragons, or further afield? I am quite a
:50:33. > :50:37.homeboy, so definitely the Dragons next season. They gave me a chance
:50:37. > :50:46.when I was younger to play a lot of rugby and it really helped me was
:50:46. > :50:50.my development, so I can't thank them enough in that respect.
:50:50. > :50:54.Warburton was my source, I will give it away, he says you have a
:50:54. > :51:03.reputation for showing shapes on the dancefloor? Yes, I have. What
:51:03. > :51:07.is that all about? On the odd occasion when I do drink, that is
:51:07. > :51:16.when I like to. You have to wait once every six months while I do
:51:16. > :51:18.that but there is no stopping me kitchen so we had better go red
:51:18. > :51:28.talking. We'd better had come otherwise my mother will not be
:51:28. > :51:28.
:51:29. > :51:35.happy. -- we had better go and read. I contested by his mother does make
:51:35. > :51:39.good food. An interesting thing and that's chat, his hero growing up
:51:39. > :51:43.was Richard Hill, the England flanker, and it is no surprise that
:51:43. > :51:48.it is the unsung heroes who do the dirty work. Very much, he plays in
:51:48. > :51:51.the Richard Hill mode. He does the donkey work, makes the tackles,
:51:51. > :51:57.probably one of the most prolific and better tacklers in the world
:51:57. > :52:02.game. He is nicknamed Chopper and he stops them at source. He has had
:52:02. > :52:07.a fantastic Six Nations. He is one of the very good back row that
:52:07. > :52:11.Wales will take for the next few years. He is really grounded, from
:52:11. > :52:15.that background. He must think that going to Poland as a doddle. You
:52:15. > :52:21.have someone like by Morris and climb up -- Clive mergers -- Clive
:52:21. > :52:25.Burgess, Bryan Williams, that is different altogether. That a
:52:25. > :52:28.working environment is really hard. The travelling he does, the gym
:52:28. > :52:36.work he does, he must be an inspiration to all those kids who
:52:36. > :52:42.live in wit -- who live in Mid- Wales, with no ambition, they see
:52:42. > :52:45.someone like that, if he can do it, I can do it. Warren Gatland has
:52:45. > :52:50.broken both his heels after falling off a ladder. It has raised doubt
:52:50. > :52:55.as to whether he can tour Australia with Wales. If he can't, a good
:52:55. > :52:59.dress rehearsal if he gets the lion's job? First and foremost it
:52:59. > :53:03.is down to his health. It is not -- if it is not right for him to go,
:53:03. > :53:08.he can't go. There are more important things in life than rugby.
:53:08. > :53:14.I feel that with the backroom staff he has got now he will be confident
:53:14. > :53:18.in them taking over. His communication is good now. If he is
:53:18. > :53:23.healthy enough to go, great, if he is not, well Rob Howley and the
:53:23. > :53:26.team should do a good job. Let's go back to the Pro12 and Dan Lydiate
:53:26. > :53:36.was in action on Friday night as the Dragons welcomed Treviso to
:53:36. > :53:36.
:53:36. > :56:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:56:35. > :56:45.Dragons. It is a bonus point try for the Italians. Can the Dragons
:56:45. > :56:55.
:56:55. > :57:00.try, a consolation one I'm afraid, I think, for the Dragons. Lovely
:57:00. > :57:07.passing particularly from Lydiate. All to no avail, even if the
:57:07. > :57:11.Our focus is on finishing the season strong. A lot of young
:57:11. > :57:14.players are having first experiences and that is another big
:57:14. > :57:19.experience because we scored four tries and did not win a game of
:57:19. > :57:24.rugby. That should not happen. sums it up, doesn't it? Four tries
:57:24. > :57:28.and on the losing side. The Dragons' season is picking out.
:57:28. > :57:32.is, they should have won it. The disappointing thing is they will
:57:32. > :57:37.lose some players. They need to strengthen in some ways because
:57:37. > :57:40.this year has not been great. Next year will be more to offer. Some
:57:40. > :57:46.sad news, a for Porte -- former Newport stole what, Malcolm Thomas,
:57:46. > :57:50.has died at 82. He won 27 caps for his country and was a double Grand
:57:50. > :58:00.Slam winner in the 1950s. He toured both New Zealand and Australia with
:58:00. > :58:05.
:58:05. > :58:15.the Lions. Our thoughts go out to Highlights now between the game
:58:15. > :58:52.
:58:52. > :59:02.this afternoon between the Scarlets long range and Jonathan Edwards get
:59:02. > :59:19.
:59:19. > :59:29.that first important try. -- get converted try would bring them back
:59:29. > :59:43.
:59:43. > :59:53.level. It is a penalty try given by great score and the Scarlets really
:59:53. > :00:26.
:00:26. > :00:32.for Aironi. It is a very difficult place to come. The result was all-
:00:32. > :00:36.important. Of course, we would have loved the bonus point, but we are
:00:36. > :00:46.still in the fight and that is the most important thing. Let us have a
:00:46. > :01:14.
:01:14. > :01:20.look at the weekend's other It is a shame they missed out on
:01:20. > :01:28.that bonus point, but the scrum did look week today. The Ospreys should
:01:28. > :01:31.finish second and fingers crossed, there is hope for the Scarlets.
:01:31. > :01:36.They will be desperately disappointed they did not get the
:01:36. > :01:42.bonus point. I am briefly, Stephen Jones said that he is moving to
:01:42. > :01:47.Wasps. I surprised by that? None at all, he office he wants to prolong
:01:47. > :01:52.his career. Going to Wasps, obviously still fighting to stay up
:01:52. > :02:01.and short of money. Surprising in that respect, but I think it is all
:02:01. > :02:05.about playing. He wants another couple of years on the field.
:02:05. > :02:13.knows what it is all about, it's just that Wasps are in a bit of a
:02:13. > :02:23.predicament. Let's move on to the game between Ebbw Vale and Cross
:02:23. > :02:25.
:02:25. > :02:32.Keys. In has been a huge week for Cross Keys. They are trying to
:02:32. > :02:36.reach another final this afternoon. We are going to speak to the
:02:37. > :02:43.coaches now. Probably one of the biggest weeks in the history of
:02:43. > :02:48.Crosskeys, would you agree? A yes. We knew we had a second semi-final
:02:48. > :02:56.this week, so we had to get the bumps and bruises out of the way
:02:56. > :03:02.midweek and get ready for today. Lloyd has had to retire. Abbey lost
:03:02. > :03:08.to rugby. The definitely. The news filtered through on Tuesday. We
:03:08. > :03:12.wish him all the best. Good luck this afternoon. I'm going to speak
:03:12. > :03:15.to the other coach. Can we have a quick word with you. A huge there
:03:15. > :03:24.this afternoon. What are you expecting from the game against
:03:24. > :03:29.Ebbw Vale? I am quite apprehensive. We went through a lot last week a
:03:29. > :03:36.we're just hoping and praying that we don't come down from the
:03:36. > :03:40.adrenalin rush. Although Cross Keys other favourite this afternoon, do
:03:40. > :03:50.not right up Ebbw Vale. They have beaten three Premiership sides to
:03:50. > :04:17.
:04:17. > :04:27.get to this stage and have not lost Tom Lampard has put Cross Keys
:04:27. > :04:42.
:04:42. > :04:49.The referee is right on hand to a wall the try. This is so dramatic!
:04:49. > :04:53.Dorian Jones put Ebbw Vale into the lead. This is sensational! We are
:04:53. > :04:58.in injury time. Ever felt just need to keep their discipline. Nash
:04:58. > :05:08.tried to force an error and Iping he has done it. That is rugby
:05:08. > :05:11.
:05:11. > :05:16.suicide. the referee reaches for his pocket. Two semi-final so close
:05:16. > :05:22.to each other, I have been really stressed. It is hard work to deal
:05:22. > :05:30.with it. We have not won anything and we have to find us to contend
:05:30. > :05:40.with. It is massive for the club and the boys. Congratulations there
:05:40. > :05:53.
:05:53. > :05:58.There had been playing really well. Good luck to them. They play with a
:05:59. > :06:05.bit of freedom and it is great to see they have established
:06:05. > :06:08.themselves in two cup finals. tout stay in Gwent and the latest
:06:08. > :06:13.candidates in our new challenge kick club.
:06:13. > :06:23.Let's us recap the walls. There will be five per place kicks and
:06:23. > :06:28.
:06:28. > :06:33.one drop goal. Gentlemen, welcome to kick club. We journey east, and
:06:33. > :06:43.I'm not sure we will find three wise men, but we have got some
:06:43. > :06:51.
:06:51. > :07:01.Dragons. Go, Sam Perry. That is five more, even with a bit of
:07:01. > :07:21.
:07:21. > :07:31.Sir. Come on, the clock is ticking. You are out of time. -- for the
:07:31. > :07:36.
:07:36. > :07:46.seven points. Next, the man who bought the thunder by air Ebbw Vale.
:07:46. > :07:46.
:07:46. > :08:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:08:45. > :08:55.Lewis Evans. Here are the highlights, most of which seem to
:08:55. > :09:12.
:09:12. > :09:22.That should constitute an immediate get 10 from the right-hand touch?
:09:22. > :09:22.
:09:22. > :09:32.No, he can't. He races into the pocket. That was a scandalous
:09:32. > :09:39.stitch-up! As good as it was, it will not count. He was out of time.
:09:39. > :09:49.Stop on 13. Unlucky. Away they go, of to the kebab shop. Prop Rhodri
:09:49. > :10:02.
:10:02. > :10:09.A man of many talents, Faletau. He is part of the Dragons back-row he
:10:09. > :10:14.take on the Ospreys next week. weather front five are going, they
:10:14. > :10:20.will be hard to stop. They are playing with momentum and freedom.
:10:20. > :10:25.They looked as if they are enjoying the game. It will be a tough ask
:10:25. > :10:33.for the Dragons. A foregone conclusion? I think it will be. It
:10:33. > :10:37.is a home game. The quality of rugby the Ospreys are producing, I
:10:37. > :10:45.can only see one winner. But the Dragons have always done well
:10:45. > :10:50.against them. Let us talk about the Scarlets. They should have got a
:10:50. > :10:55.bonus point. They have a crucial game coming up. They are desperate
:10:55. > :11:00.to get each and every point. It is important they do all they can.
:11:00. > :11:08.That would put the cat amongst the pigeons if the Scarlets did win,
:11:08. > :11:17.and they can win at home. Bentley very much. Shane Williams revealed