Episode 10 Scrum V

When the All Blacks swept into Wales, many feared the worst. And

New Zealand lived up to the hype. Ruthless. Clinical. Cynical. Wales,

for their part, were battling. Bonkers. Yet brave in defeat. It

all comes down to Australia and a last ditch fight to stay in the

world's top eight. Good evening and welcome to Scrum V. Wales fell to

their third defeat at Bath hands of the All Blacks but it was a

performance full of passion and grit. My guests are here to share

their thoughts but let's return to the Millennium Stadium and Wales

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This is where they have to be competitive. They were not combated

against Samoa and Argentina. There is another Welsh player injured.

Oh... That was a cheap shot. behind, that was a bad one. This

doesn't look too good on Aaron Jarvis. And not a great start for

Wales. Two of the front five going backs in the back three, Wales get

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has not had a blast at these. Leigh Halfpenny and Conrad Smith

got their hands on the ball. First Williams. He took the man touching

the ball. A bid to tackle. The extra man created by the All Blacks,

the dummy run that holds the defence, but a great tackle by Liam

Williams, that will give him The very good tackle. It had to be

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Is that it? It is just going to it. There is the missed tackle,

then another one, then another one, and then it his danger. -- it is

penalty advantage being played. Well, here is the end of it. Paul

James knocking on. Wales have gone for the corner. He's missed the

corner again, for the second time. but illegally and advantage being

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Zealand's second try. They opened keep it ticking over, nothing fancy.

Again, the defence is too narrow. Good effort bike half butt. He was

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on his own, he had to cover three 15 players. There is no back line.

This is a catch and drive, I would imagine. They have done the

catching bit, and this is the driver. And they score! Well, that

caught the All Blacks slightly off- guard. Williams comes into the

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line-out, takes the drive, and result! Sam Warburton, tremendous

passes will do it, a couple of passes have come to fruition and it

is a second try for Wales! That was good handling skills, good passing,

and they scored. They deserved that, and they put a lot of pressure on

New Zealand. Very well tried. last chance from Wales. He is off,

it has come back to life in the The boys were desperate for a win

and we tried everything and that was epitomised today. People said

we were predictable, but they did not see that coming, that went all

right. The crowd went wild in that line-out and it worked. Hair worked

and it was a great atmosphere, a gutsy decision but it paid off.

They are was a lot more spirit today and effort from us which was

great -- there was a lot more. boys went into the collisions are

hard and turnovers, and we played more rugby. Even though we have

lost, there are positives we can take from this and move forward.

expected them to come out and play passionately and with a lot of

energy and they did that and I was surprised they did not take the

points when they were on offer. That is their choice, but it could

have made a difference. I think we controlled them comfortably for 60

minutes and the score will show that. Of the way we played in the

second half, we headed about 60% territory and possession -- the way.

There were a lot of pleasing aspects and I hope the All Blacks

feel they were in a difficult game, particularly in the last 40 minutes.

Jonathon, we wanted to see pride restored and we did, but it was the

6th defeat in the road, where they are more positives and negatives?

Scott Williams played well, the second half performance was a lot

better and showed a lot of commitment. 33 down at one stage

could have been 50 points down if they did not show courage and

character, so that was better, but we lost momentum on missing for

touch. Why did that way they did not go for penalties, I do not know.

Too many missed tackles in the first half and the game was over.

The All Blacks are almost perfect in everything at the moment, but

their decision-making makes them a class apart. Everything they do,

going into breakdowns and when not to contest the ball, just the way

they play the game on their feet. They are so effective in everything

they do. The Man of the Match epitomised that, everything

revolves around him. He does not want to go off his feet, he is

making another tackle after two seconds. He gets back to his feet

floor and that makes it easy for the All Blacks. Here, he is keeping

his discipline onside. He is making decisions, Welsh players on the

floor again, it's easy meat for him. Tackles, what comes from this? A

turnover for the All Blacks. They are effective at the basics,

running straight, fixing defenders, and a trust everybody to do their

job. Two players using the width of the field here to get the ball.

Again, two players at the breakdown of. Two players allows all the

other players to keep their width, a trust them to do their jobs. And

look at the whiff they were able to keep up. - the width. He is there

and it allows him to put pressure on Phillips. Good tackles again.

Look at the decisions on the breakdown. How many Welsh players

are on their feet? Not effective. Waned into the tackles. Six or

seven Welsh players in that area up. They are so far in front of

everybody else but for me it is the time they spend on their feet so

they can commit to the games. has to make a decision and he looks

up and there are more New Zealand players, difficult for decision-

making if you have six players out of the game.

New Zealand are probably the most streetwise team in world rugby but

Wales can be naive at times. Yes, are many similar theme, there is a

lot of hard work but then kinks not is what the game has about and

there are a few examples in the You are committing a lot of people

and it has just not, around, that his inexperience at plane forward.

That is a silly try for Wales to give away. The first line-out for

New Zealand, everybody stays on the floor and they are defending the

out come. Wales can have the ball but they make sure Wales do not get

what they want from the line-out. New Zealand got what they want and

Wales are struggling. If New Zealand has challenged that, Wales

would have been able to go through. What have they got? Thank you,

clever thinking. Simple small things, a lot of hard work and

effort goes in with Wales, but these little things are lacking in

They just of better thinkers of the game at the moment and that is

crucial at times -- they just got better. We do you are big club

courage a Regional College, you create how players think -- whether

you are a big club coach or a regional coach. They are not

physically battered, but they have a good attitude and they think

about the game -- they are not physically better. And the trust

each other. If I know the first two guys will secure possession, that

will secured a break down. We have a lack of confidence at times and

think we need five players to make a breakdown. Pick detracts from has

been able to play on our feet and take away from those breakdowns. --

it to track. Missed tackles have played Wales. They have missed 17

in that first half and four contributed to that first tries.

do not understand why they did not take the points in the first half.

Against the All Blacks, if you have three points, you have to take them.

You are ahead in the game. But first I comes and all of a sudden,

12, 156 -- 12, 15 points out, that is the problem. We must momentum.

If we look at the first try, that Priestland, but they do not

communicate in the chase. Williams missed the tackle. Jonathan Davies

missed the tackle, then it is an offload maybe. But just watch here.

He has to stay out of touch here. It is great play. What an

opportunity to go in and get the ball! April in. Second row. -- they

Kyle in the, in the second row. -- pile in. They have got the wind

The first two receivers will not just take it in. They have got

options either side. They are always thinking. Very difficult for

Rhys Priestland because they have got three players back and they are

communicating, like they are on a piece of string. One goes back, one

forward and one across, so they fill the space and can counter-

attack. They can shift the defence. I think the chase has not been good.

Some players have run up before others and got behind them and we

have struggled unfortunately. had the worst possible start,

losing three important players within 20 minutes. One of them,

this was an unforgivable -- unforgivable act of violence.

Bradley Davies collared from behind. hog Cup which was very sad for the

game and for New Zealand -- and this was a cowardly assault from

the hooker. He has just taking that mind about, whether the police get

involved, I do not know, but I am sure that New Zealand rugby

authorities will look. This was as important as what happened to Keith

Murdoch in 1972 and if he has to go home, he deserves it, and it will

Why would you punched and stamped on a head? I do not understand.

They are so good, they do not need to do that. They do play tough, but

that was vicious. Barely a minute had gone, it seemed

justify it. Badly is doing his role. -- Bradley Davies. This happens all

the time in the game. He is frustrated and it is unforgivable

to do that from behind. Paris name -- there is no place in the game up

for that. I was a fan of his until It is a red-card offence, no doubt.

And again changes because two important players have gone off. --

to be gained changes. I said yesterday, how long will it

be before an official concern and says, that is a red card?

At half-time, I thought somebody should go in and explain what was

going on. That is a debate for another day.

And within the last hour, we have heard he will be sited and will

face further punishment potentially and Bradley Davies has returned. He

was taken to hospital suffering from severe concussion, he is back

Rabo Direct Pro 12 returned this The those still training, the

Ospreys were in with the bonus point Mike Windsor's penalty left

Phil Price allowed for this wide out. Three penalties from Tom Prodi

did well for the Dragons. The Blues to hit back. This charge down gave

them a foothold in 322. A recycled ball led to a try in the corner by

the prop. This meant the Blues trailed by a 7-5 at half-time.

Sweeney had a hat-trick of penalties to give the Blues the

first win in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 in five matches.

Row and in of the week and were the Scarlets hoping to consolidate

their second place. Against the elements, the scholars

did well to keep it a 3-3 at half- time. The main talking point was

this spike up. Judge for yourself. Anyway, Roman left the field on a

stretcher. With the conditions in their favour, the Scarlets looked

the more likely in the second half. Scarlets. They think they have

the first ever for the Scarlets against Munster, keeps them ahead

of the Blues, which makes the Dobbie at the Liberty on Friday

A very welcome three wins for the Welsh regions. The pick of the

bunch, the Scarlets against Munster, the first time they have beat them

in 15. Conditions were dreadful. It just keeps them ticking over, top

of the table. Vitally important wins for the Blues and Dragons. A

good confidence booster. Dragons haven't won in a long while.

It is all about the win sometimes, and that was the case for them.

Based seemed to Paul jammy tries up from a row. -- they seemed to pull

jammy tries out of nowhere. Ospreys, they must have been

disappointed. The referee gave a dodgy decision. What is good about

this period is that you've got a chance of seeing tomorrow's

regional players playing in this area and for the regional -- for

Wales to get three points regionally is a great plus.

Rabo Direct Pro 12 continues next week. The Ospreys and the Blues

play. We have an online feature, previewing the big game next Friday

at 7pm. Let's return to the autumn series and round-up the rest of the

weekend's action. England versus of the South Africans. It is a

great try, but it is a messy try. The ball was bouncing around

everywhere. It has come right at the start of the second half.

A penalty coming in. The advantage being played. Oh, no! Ashton could

pulling themselves back into this penalty for Tonga but they think

they have got the try. Scotland think they have conceded,

so let's see the confirmation. It that could be the dagger in the

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heart of Scottish rugby. A mixed bag, but the result that

stood out was the defeat by Scotland to Tonga because it has

led to the resignation of their coach. Where does that leave them?

I just... I watched that. They had a scrum to win it. The coach must

have said, that is it, I'm done. has reacted, because they did beat

Australia in the summer. He is upset about what went on yesterday.

He should have hung on, reviewed his situation. He is a very good

coach. A very good man. Good luck to the next guy. Another result

which was nearly a big shock was France versus Samoa, 22-14, but it

Samoa were ahead at one point. Does that give a bit of context to

Wales' defeat? Argentina fell away. I think Samoa, we sat here last

week, we looked at them, and I spoke to Andre, and he told me how

worried they were about Samoa, particularly because they were

leading. He was very fearful and France have been particularly good

with good wins over Australia etc. Samoa have got a pat form now. They

are going to be dangerous. Australia versus Italy, that was

close as well. But it is still southern hemisphere are dominant.

One more match for Wales now. There's a whole lot more than pride

at stake. It is the Wallabies up Well, this game has now become

enormously significant. Throughout this autumn series, there have been

a lot of if, but an me be, but if Wales lose to Australia, they will

be out of the top eight, and that could mean a huge blow for the

World Cup seeding. It is a must-win game. The worrying thing is

Australia have got a platform because Ben Alexander is back. They

did play a lot of scrums against England, and pressure on the

England try-line. This is England's put-in. Australia's 22, they put a

lot of pressure on some. The defence stopped the English boys.

Here we see the step around. The outcome what they want is to split

the scrum and they are very successful. The England scrum split

in half but Australia keep driving through the space. They allow the

turn over and Australia, a devastating side when they play the

turnover ball. The Wallabies have been beset by injuries lately.

David Powell Koch has been out as well but there are rumours he will

be fit, what sort of impact will he make a? We spoke about the welch

effectiveness at the breakdown being important and we have some

clips of him. This is from two years ago. Outstanding, everything

he does. Feet, over the ball. His decision making around the

breakdowns, and keep his almost immovable. He can play with the

ball as well. Interesting statistics from the World Cup, they

didn't have a lot of possession. They based a lot of a game on

turnovers and this guy gives them the turnovers allowing others to

run the ball interplay. That is the danger of Australia. If he doesn't

play, the land that replaces him will be almost as good. New Zealand

are way in front of everything else. Wait in front. Australia, they came

into England, they regrouped, everyone expected England to win.

They know that on their day, they have great mental toughness. Their

last game against the All Blacks, they drew it. This is the last game

of a long, long season. We haven't beaten them for a while now. If

they beat Wales, they will be delighted with their year. But they

are still second in the world. And they have had a lot of injuries, so

it is going to be a very tough ask. Wales can win it. It could be great

if we could go there and win it. We have been unlucky a little bit with

several decisions. I shouldn't blame the referee, but they have

been some bad decisions. The All Blacks get the majority of the

decisions. There was a couple of -- couple of incidents yesterday. Sam

Warburton, he ripped the ball away, and had somebody else done it, he

would have been applauded. Let's not get back to the World Cup!

talked about the significance of David Poe cock, and how do you do

the -- how do you see the balance of the Welsh defence? There was

lots of strong performances yesterday from Wales. There was a

couple of weak ones as well. One permutation is to put Ryan back

into number 8. Sam Warburton could take on the front. International

rugby, it gains a lot more when there is a loose play. We have not

coped well in the tackling, the breakdown. They have to look at it

on Saturday. The turnovers is key. They will attack from handling

errors. The balance of the back row is key and why not start with Sam

Warburton, but they are a lot of injuries. Thank you for your

company tonight. It is the Wallabies against Wales next. We

can count for a lot of support. Perhaps somebody who wants to win

than anybody else is this man who has recorded a special message to

Good afternoon. My greetings to you, the people of

Welsh rugby. Today I come before you with an urgent message.

Although recent times have been hard, another darkness looms more

disturbing than anything you have faced. The Aussies are coming. To

pilfer and linger, to loiter these feckless fugitives are on tour. And

they care not for history and culture. So I called to you now,

you there and in your favourite trek, you there with your hand on