03/03/2013 Scrum V

With five games of the regular season left, nobody can afford to

slip up in the race for the play- offs. The Scarlets and Ospreys's

rivalry does not need any extra Spice, but it is more intense than

ever with them in the race for 4th. Wales have not conceded a try in

their last two, but Scotland's feed he did fullback has them in their

sides. Wales were ugly in Paris and Rome, and at the heart of both was

a pack that refused to crack. We tackle some philosophical

conundrums. What came first, that chicken or the egg? They think it

was the chicken because you would need the chicken for the egg.

Perhaps you need the egg to already be there? Good evening and welcome

to Scrum V with Scotland first is Wales just six days away. We will

be getting the thought of Martyn Williams and John Davies. We start

with the pro 12 and the game last night between Munster and the

needed a win to return to the top four. Alun Wyn Jones was released

from Wales to captain the side and to stake his claim for his starting

berth against Scotland. Munster were hoping to hit back after

falling to a heavy defeat against up to 150 League points and that

but Jonathan Thomas easily a way. Great awareness and support. What a

turnaround. This is more like the Munster we are used to seeing. They

will have an extra latch person, number six is going in. Powering

through, number seven latching on. Forcing a penalty. Alun Wyn Jones

even though it is that close and reached the try-line. The pressure

had to come. It had to be one of the boys and it was Damien Varley

who has got it. Jonathan Thomas doing well to delay the pass with

the defence pushing up. Good hands. They have been called back. This

does not look great. It is an off- the-ball incident. Tackle off the

ball. 10 minutes in the sin-bin for the drive on, and it is good from

the Ospreys. All the way over the try-line. It has been given. That

was perfectly done by the Ospreys from the very outset. Jonathan

Thomas finishes it off. Lining up a long a drop goal for Ronan O'Gara,

but never going to trouble the posts. The Ospreys are going to get

away from Limerick with a draw. Could you have nicked it? We would

like to think so, but we got turned over a couple of times. Not the

result that we wanted. Will Wales at Murrayfield up for grabs next

week? I am in my Ospreys kit. Wyn Jones. There was a time when

winning away there was nearly impossible but it is not as

intimidating as it has been. Will they look on that as two points

gained or lost? Judging by that interview, two points lost. The few

years ago, they would have been jumping with joy to have drawn

there. In the grand scheme of things, it is not a bad draw. Two

points is still in the hunt and when the International boys come

back, they will be playing well. Disappointed not to win but good in

the end. That suggests that defence was on top. I looked at it for

analysis, but it was of. They were If the Ospreys had taken the

initiative, they could have gone and taken all the points. They

might find this comes back to haunt them. Having said that, Munster go

wide all the time. They are trying to play this expansive game. You

have to go forward first and they are trying to run slower ball. It

was frustrating to watch. It was an open game, but if you analyse it,

there was not any penetration whatsoever from either side. The

Ospreys scored when there was one man in the bin. It was an odd game.

I thought afterwards, that they could have won. We have seen that

kind of performance a lot this season. Yes, I think Rob Penney has

come to try and play a Canterbury style in Limerick, which is

difficult. Divide it difficult to fit into that style. They are not

the force that they were. It is probably worrying for them as well.

OK. Let's turn our attention to the Six Nations. Wales travel to

Scotland next week, hoping to keep their title defence on track. With

her familiar face in charge of the Scots, it is the sub-plot in this

one that makes it so fascinating. The Six Nations continues to

inspire, to confound, and to intrigue. This fixture, with all

its attendant sub-plots, that could be the most intriguing of it all.

The flamboyant Ozzy has a point to prove against a serious tactician

with a title to defend. With the Lions tour looming, it is not just

team against team, but play against player. The back three is

incredible. It is a real challenge for our back three. Everybody is

speaking about our back three other members. It is a good challenge for

us. -- at the moment. We hope we can win. Given us got his

association with Wales, have you noticed that he is more up for this

game? -- given the Scottish Association. He is looking to put

his best efforts into the team and get the best out of us. What

differences have you noticed from the Andy Robinson era? I think

there is a more positive attitude. We can play two or three phases and

then reassess after that if it is going well. It is good that we are

taking our chances when they are on offer. We could be much more deadly.

With the Lions tour on the horizon, Scrum V has been inviting bandits

to pick their best 15. Controversially, Jonathan Davies

picked Stuart Hogg ahead of Lee Halfpenny. The Halfpenny has been

amazing, right? But for me Stuart Hogg gives them an advantage in

attacking. He has got pace and he adds a little bit extra in attack.

My mind is focused on Wales and the challenge for that. I look at Lee

Halfpenny's game and he is an incredible player. I am a big

believer in what is for you will not go by. If it comes, it comes,

and if it does not, it does not. Next Saturday, Wales face their

third consecutive away game but they have become adept at winning

on the road. They have prevailed in Paris, conquered Rome, and the big

question is whether they can emerge victorious in Edinburgh. The omens

are good. The last time -- the last 10 times they have played in

Scotland, they have lost once. Wales Owen at the bragging rights

in the Six Nations, but in the Five Nations it was not that

straightforward. In 1997 and in 95, Scotland proved an invincible foe

at Murrayfield. Scott Hastings played five times in a row during

that period and was never on the losing side. Going into the next

game against Wales, it will be a more expansive game and that

presents different challenges for Scotland, certainly. We have seen

in the last two games how little possession Scotland have had and

yet they have gone on to win. If they do that against Wales, there

is no chance they will win with that amount of possession. The

Scots come in on the technical side. Let's be frank, it is a simple game

plan. It is all about Dean Ryan. He has got his pack performing well.

There is also self-belief, and if they get that momentum, that win on

the international rugby field, they can take great confidence from that.

It was pleasing to see. I am going to ask you to be as objective as

you can. Who will win? I knew you would put me on the spot! Sometimes

my heart rule my head and on this occasion I am going to allow it to.

I expect an open game of rugby. 28 points to Scotland and 26 to Wales.

It will be close but it will be an open game and hopefully an

enjoyable game. Jonathan Davies is laughing! Stuart Hogg was flattered

at his inclusion in your Lions team. But in all serious that, they were

once the most blunt and attacking side and they have some serious

weapons. -- in all seriousness. but the problem that they have,

they have not got that creative element in midfield. The half backs

of struggling a bit. It might come through, but that is the problem. I

do feel that Scott Hastings hit the nail on the head. If Wales have

that amount of possession against Scotland, there is only one winner.

And it will be a clear points victory as well. Ireland should

have been 15 points in front at least at half-time. They blew it.

Line bricks and everything. You can always say that they defended

extremely well. They won, fantastic for them, they have got confidence

from it, but they cannot afford to do that. They needed to do more

with the ball. Just going back on the Lions Bane, Lee Halfpenny, --

the lie-ins been. Lee Halfpenny is good but I am looking at my team,

and the Lions need attacking fullbacks. And Stuart Hogg has got

the edge. Lee Halfpenny has the You know Scott Johnson. Adam Jones

said, it will be good to see him again, let the games begin. Expect

the unexpected up with him, he will not say anything this week and then

surprise us all! There is never a dull moment. He is brilliant for

the media. You do not understand half the things he says! He is a

brilliant coach, he did a great job for us 10 years ago. The game has

changed a lot, but he brought everything back to basics. We used

to do under nines and under tens training. Getting the basic skills

right, and he did that for us. He seems to have instilled something

in Scotland, they have been enjoying themselves. Who knows what

he will say it in the press? We look forward to this week. We know

him as a garrulous character, but he is more than that, he has done a

good job. I have never been coached by him, but he is a great motivator,

he has a fun time with the boys. There is a difference between a

skilled coach and a number one coach. I do not think he has proven

anything as a head coach yet. It is a catering skills, basic skills,

everybody should have basic skills, but internationals are about

picking the right side and getting the tactics right. If you are not

good enough with the skill level, perhaps you should not be there.

There is a question over him. He would agree with that, because he

has not been that successful debt. But he has brought in Dean Ryan.

Yes, they had the good cop/bad cop scenario, it is a clever move, to

print in a hard edge. It looks to be working well. You could see what

it meant to him when Scotland beat Ireland. Fist pumping at the end,

it meant something. To win against a big team, but also, something for

him as well. For him to win on the big stage is very important.

Stuart Hogg said that Dean Ryan has encouraged them to be nastier.

should be it in bread, though. You are not there to be nice. In the

professional game, they are too nice. That in the 70s and so one,

it was very dirty, but now, you need a bit of nastiness. Mike

Phillips still does it, he is a massive influence. You have to have

at international level. That is the difference between winning and

losing sometimes. You have been looking at Scotland, you have

targeted some areas Wales can look. The environ has looked at the set-

piece game. One area they have struggled in is the breakdown,

England annihilated them in the They will try to move the ball,

Scott Johnson says that the forwards should have the ball in

hand and with the defenders about. But they lacked control at No. 9

and Number Ten. They try to run it. They lose their shape completely.

They have got one for would follow when the ball. Greig Laidlaw will

not move an Italian second-row come back and there is the penalty. A

slower ball around the halfway line. They are toted -- totally

disorganised. He has gone into the heart of the defence. A pass over

the top. Greig Laidlaw has had to begin again. Geoff Cross has to

play scrum-half. He is a split second too slow. It is a penalty.

Whip the Welsh back-row and how good they are in that area, that is

one area that Wales can have a go. That is not like the Scottish.

they got a lot of the ball, they can attack cleverly it did field,

Sean Lamont is a winger playing in the centre, and he runs up-and-down,

with no idea what he is doing sometimes. Interesting.

Back to the Pro 12, and the Scallops played Edinburgh, 11 but a

victory would push them back into Liam Williams and Aaron Shingler

were back to bolster or them. Edinburgh were hoping to end a run

of 10 consecutive defeats in all, groan of disappointment around Parc

y Scarlets. It is a shame the ball did not go to hand, because it up

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back for them. That was a very good shoulder, acres of space. A very

were four or five on the outsider. They could have got the ball away.

Scarlets. It is a mighty relief at Our error Cawte was shocking in the

first half, we played in the wrong areas. In the second half, replayed

in the right areas, we had better discipline. We got nothing from

We make life very difficult for ourselves. We could have lost,

because we only had one point between us. Delighted to get four

points, but the performance was way below par.

A frank and honest Simon Easterby, he said it was not good enough.

Edinburgh is on his worst run in the professional era. If the

Scarlets have got ambitions of winning the title, they should have

put them to the sword. Yes, they were lucky on Friday night, they

deserved to win the game, but they did not book like they were going

to threaten the play-offs. Table be disappointed. When you play sides

like that, it can be difficult, Edinburgh were desperate, but Simon

was honest, they have got a lot of work to do. At about getting to the

play-offs, it is a fascinating run in, scallops and Ospreys are

battling for fourth place. On the face of it, Scarlets have got the

Yes, if they lose one match, they might lose out on the top four.

Zebre, Newport Gwent Dragons away, they are tougher away, but if you

lose to them... Users -- would you do not deserve to be in the play-

offs. Then, Glasgow, Cardiff Blues and Treviso at home. You have to

say, we could win all of those games. I think they have do. But

then you look at the Ospreys, they have got a tougher run in, and

their last two Games, Glasgow and Leinster away. If you are Leinster

or Glasgow, you will say, I want these boys at, because Ospreys

front row and the pack and the goal kicker can win the competition. I

am not sure the Scarlets are at that stage. They have done it

before, the majority of those boys have won titles, they know what it

takes in the play-offs. You can see Glasgow and Leinster, this will be

their focus. They will have said, that is a victory, and it is

difficult, because of injuries and formed, but it is difficult to

split them at the moment. There is one point between them. It will go

down to the wire. Bonus points might be the difference. It is that

tight. Ospreys will say, it will be Ospreys, but putting it down and

thinking it, it is so tight, one victory or a bonus point victory

could be the difference. Let's move on to the Premiership. The featured

game it is Llanelli. Before that, let catch up with the rest of the

action. It was top against bottom at St

Helens, and it was a comfortable Carmarthen raced into a 17-0 lead,

but they could not score again. Aberavon scored 23 unanswered

points. This was the first of their two tries, a spectacular solo

effort. Rodney Parade witnessed a remarkable comeback as Bridgend

came back from 17 points down to beat in Newport. The home team had

secured a bonus point by half-time, but with the home captain being

sent off, Bridgend came back strongly. Cardiff saw off their

visitors. They had their lock sent off. It was a late show for Neath

as they beat but wasn't for the third time this season. They have

won six of their last seven matches. The lead changed hands several

times. It was deep into injury time when be winning try came. Lamellae

have not played a league game for two months. Both are in the hunt

for a play-off place, it would be a from Phillips. Not a hand laid on

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for the full-back. They are in the holding on. Is this a last chance

to win it for Jordan Williams? Straight and true. What was going

through your mind with that final kick? It was difficult. I managed

to secure that recent draw so it is nice to get to win. That means that

lamellae win. Pontypridd win against Swansea.

OK, back to the pro 12 now. The Blues were a way to Glasgow on

Friday night. We start with the Dragons. They were up against

last week, coming from behind to beat Zebre, but they had a point to

prove in front of the home fans following the Glasgow Horror Show.

The Dragons have a doddering defence. Did that go forward? No,

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where they scored the first try a A little dummy. It almost pays off.

Jonathan Evans to Jones. He is in! 12 metres out now. Jennings

ploughing forward. McFadyen looks for the gap. Dave Kearney gets his

second. Can they keep it going? Wayne Evans out. Steffan Jones! He

scores. To get a boy and his point against a team that played very

well tonight, I thought that showed great character. -- to get a bonus

point. There was a learning curve a couple of weeks ago and all you can

do is react and respond and I thought they did that. Glasgow's

victory over Ulster last week was their 4th bonus point win in a row.

Both sides benefited from the return of a number of

internationals with Lou Reed breaks the defence. Still going. --

the line. The Blues carry it on. Josh Navidi with the final touch. A

coming down that right wing. That and it is Duncan Weir. Going for

the bonus point. It is as easy as that! The second for Niko Matawalu.

The other results, missed conversion in the final minute

denied Treviso what would have been an historic win. 29 all there.

Connacht fell behind against Zebre. Ulster have been overtaken by

Glasgow. Ena Brown the Ospreys swap places. Treviso have overtaken the

Blues and the Dragons remain in 11th. It is doom and gloom for the

Dragons at the moment. I know they have got an increased budget for

next season and they have that facility that they will hopefully

be using and will get a more attractive proposition. There is

more ambition. Yes, I think they responded well. We were thinking

where did they go, but they had a good win last week. I think we need

a strong four -3 with the Dragons. There are enough good players. They

need to recruit and we know that. They need to do a better job next

year. On to the other game that we saw, the 5th bonus point win in a

row for Glasgow. That record was bizarrely held by the Dragons

before that. How good are Glasgow? I think they are solid now. They

are well coached, a bit more expansive than what they were. As

you said, they have got the knack of winning. That is what it is at

the moment. They are on a roll on their confidence is very high. The

Cardiff Blues's season is over. They have to build for next year by

bringing youngsters on and getting some results. But, you know, they

said, let's get four points for this and cement our place in the

top two and that is what they did. If you look at the two Irish

promises, he would say there are one or two favourites. I think

Glasgow of the third favourites. A home draw against anyone, and they

deserve to be in that final. shall wait and see. Let's get back

to the Six Nations. The All Blacks normally steal the limelight, but

we got the attention in Rome. Ian Evans is having a cracking campaign

so far and we caught up with him You make your debut in 2006, but

you only have 28 caps. Why is that? There have been a lot of injuries,

and that takes time for me to get my form back. The big injury was my

knee, which kept it off my feet for 18 months, not doing any activity,

really. It was a long, slow process, tough and testing times. You've

suffered again this season, just before the Six Nations. What

happened? Just some problems with knee cartilage and my knee kept

locking up. I have to have some Cartledge shaved off. It kept me

out for a few weeks. Looking back at the videos, are you blowing a

You have to do the dirty work that nobody really seas. Not to stand in

the running lines, to support, really. What about the scrum, how

much of a role do you take personally in the scrum? Probably

not as much as Adam Jones on the front row. You have to ride as much

weight as you can and as much punch as you can. You do not quite

realise how important job is, without preference for one person

or the other. I think it is important. You start building a

relationship with the prop. You get used to things, techniques and such.

You have a large part to play. It is just a very important part, as

much as anybody within the pack, really. We have been worried at

Scrum V that we have got a bigger rival to interview in broadcasting.

Welcome back. I am interviewing quite a famous person, a well-known

person in Welsh rugby. Yes, that was a good experience. Just

interviewing the boys and having some bantered. Some say it was like

David Bryant! -- Brent! Do you want to swap? You have to bring a camera

down a little bit. Remember the first person you interviewed?

Jones. That must have been a good experience. Favourite sport? Rugby.

Region? All regions. The little, I like it! Favourite player. Alun Wyn

Jones. Yes, definitely. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

think it was the chicken. Because you would need the chicken for an

egg. Perhaps you need the egg to already be there. Depends which way

you look at it! Yes? I am confused to now! I think I have learned some

future lessons. This is my final question. Scotland, massive game

for your guys, how confident are you? Respect for Scotland but we

need to win the game. The set up against England and we have a shot

at the title. Pressure, but we always thrive on pressure and the

mood is confident. Brilliant. Thank you. Which did come first? I don't

really know! It is one of those 50- 50 questions! The inimitable Ian

Evans! He has been a mainstay of the side in the last two campaigns

and played every match in the last one. He has an incredible win-loss

ratio. And he is a character. has been complaining that he does

not good enough media attention so I am glad he has a profile at last.

He is the life and soul of the club, great fun. But seriously, he has

been brilliant. He has found his match fitness at international

level in the last three games. He plays well. I think, with two big

games coming up, against the Scottish lads, because they swap

and changed a little bit, if he has a big two games, I think he will

definitely go for it, if he is not there now. He has been awesome.

With the second row problems that we have had, and all that worrying,

he is taking on the mantle of the line-up. We have talked about Dean

Ryan knowing the Scottish forwards to be nasty. Is Ian Evans our

Edfors are? He would like to think he is! -- enforcer. If you look at

the Welsh pack, you could get seven Ospreys at Murrayfield. They like

to mix in and they will back down from anything. As much as Jim

Hamilton or Richie Gray will try to put it about, that will make no

odds to the boys. They will enjoy it if they play that way. There are

two games left in the Six Nations. There are no Welsh sides in the

quarter-finals of the European Cup. With the Lions tour on the horizon,

these games are the biggest shock of getting on that aeroplane,

aren't they? These games are huge. If York side is involved in the

Heineken Cup knockout stages, and you are in fifty-fifty whether you

will go or not, you have that advantage. That will be in the back

of Gatland's mind. If they have big games, they will be on the plane.

There is a significant importance on the bridge world. -- on the pro

at 120. There are the Scottish and the Irish. Intensity might pick up

after the Six Nations. These games are huge. It is the shop window. If

you have a great game at international level, everybody will

see you in the press, the coaches will be watching, and you get one

over one of your rivals. It is a big end of the competition for

Wales. Donovan said that Wales were going to win. What do you think?

They were lucky against Ireland, but I think we will be too strong.

Don't forget England! This is a tough test match. Thank you for

your company this evening. That is it for Scrum V this evening.