Episode 21 Scrum V

The title race has entered the final straight and the margins

could not be tighter. Five contenders, four play-off spots and

another round of big hits and controversial calls. We will also

have all the action from the Swalec Cup semi-finals. Jamie Roberts bids

an emotional farewell to the Arms Park and looks forward to the next

chapter of his life. The next three weeks, they are massively important

things happening. I have my results on Monday and the Lions selection

on April 30th. And Warren Gatland assesses his priorities as the

Lions tour looms large on the horizon. It is all about winning

the Test series. If we drop a game on the way, trying different

combinations, different structures, I am not going to get too hung up

on that. Good evening and welcome to the programme. Plenty to get it

-- to get stuck into tonight. We will be talking Lions in just a few

moments that we start with the RaboDirect Pro12. It is the Glasgow

leaders to know any knowing a win was essential to keep their play-

off hopes alive. Classical arrived as favourites having won eight of

their last nine in the league. -- Williams safely and beneath it.

That was good from Ken Owens. Write off his bootlaces. Scott Williams,

Liam Williams. A Georgian off on Owens started it all. Now Glasgow

have to be wary. They are putting bodies around the base of that ruck.

The Scarlets go a bit wider. Good tackling. Right on the Glasgow try

line. Scott Williams at scrum-half. If he stands out a little bit and

goes left, they will have to keep their width the Scarlets. Still the

forwards persist in the meantime. Right up on the try-line again.

Phil John squeezing it and they kept it tight and kept it amongst

the forward and Ken Owens has got again. Again, they are back within

striking distance. Williams with the snap drop goal. When things go

wrong, try something to get points on the board. Williams adds three

with the tackle. Just a couple of metres short of the try line. Was

that a knock on? Yes. Alastair Kellock had to bend down that 6 ft

8 frame and it was just too much. Rob McCusker with Jonathan Edwards

in close attendance. Making sure the ball comes back again safely.

Back inside to Ian Williams. Easy try. What an easy try for Liam

now stands at 20 points. -- the gap. Just a minute and a half remaining

of the game. The game has faded towards the end partly because the

scar on its are going for tries. -- the Scarlets. Gareth Davies, surely.

Glasgow doing the best to get underneath him. No doubt at all

that he was over the try-line but did Gareth Davies get the ball to

We played in the right areas in the first half and in the second half,

we have to work a little bit harder without the ball and we did not

concede a try against a side that put 50 points on Munster. Looking

at it in the context of the fact that we have two games left, the

league position and where they are, it is probably our best performance

to win to finish the weekend in the play-off zone. Treviso were the

opponents. And the Ospreys had revenge on their minds having lost

to the Italians on the opening is a penalty coming their way. But

they have the penalty -- the ball anyway. Held up in the tackle. Joe

Bearman too quickly out of the immediately missed by Treviso. Only

Dan Parks and Ronan O'Gara have scored more points in the league

than Dan Biggar. He found the post with his first effort. But that is

better and the Ospreys are back on that malt legally. The Treviso

players were frustrated. That is knew he had done enough. Only just

but only just isn't enough. -- is enough. No thoughts of bonus points

from Justin Tipuric. The referee help a little bit, maybe! But this

is a definite opportunity now. Ashley Beck, men spare to the left.

Jonathan Spratt, Richard Fussell. What a tackle! A try-saving tackle.

That is a top-class tackle. I do not know what has gone on since.

They have tried to take the quick got a completely unexpected try for

the Ospreys. Yes, he did well. There is no let-up. The midfield is

up quickly. It falls for Dan Biggar. late, late try for the Ospreys. It

won't be enough for the bonus point but it underlines the win that puts

An all-important victory for the Ospreys. That battle with the

Scarlets continues for 4th spot. They missed out on the bonus point.

They are up against it. Yes, they probably are. The Scarlets have two

home games. The Ospreys have to go to Glasgow and then one of the

divers places to go in Europe, Leinster. As one of the toughest

places. It is an uphill battle. One major

talking point yesterday was that Ben John tried. It is a bizarre one.

Two reasons why it should not have line-out in the in-goal area. The

Ospreys's Ben John catches it and put it down. It is a great defence

from Treviso. Great tackle. Then there is a quick line-out. You

cannot take a quick line-out in the in-goal. It has to be within the

try lines. And then he has his foot in touch. And then he dropped it

down. The linesman says to the referee that he did not see it. He

goes to the video referee and he gives the try. I think that is a

big decision because the conditions were dreadful and it was a dog

fight. They came and a spot, Treviso. They tried to play a bit

of football, the Ospreys, but it was dreadful. That was a huge

turning point just before half-time and it took them clear, which gave

them a significant advantage in the second half. It happened Italy

versus France in the Six Nations this year. The Italians took

another quick throw-in from the in goal. You cannot do that. It should

not be allowed. That has clear that one up. Let's talk about been

Scarlets. An impressive performance from them. Yes, Simon Easterby said

in his interview, it is probably their best interview of the best

performance of the season. They dominated from start to finish. It

was all built on the defence. The pressure they put on Glasgow

without the ball. Ken Owens starting if -- it off in the first

couple of minutes. That is in the back of Jackson's mind. The back-

row impress me. I thought a Aaron Shingler was rightly man of the

match. And Jonathan Edwards. They will all over Glasgow right through

the game. Turning over the ball in Johnathan Edwards puts Kent Owens

through early on. Great play from Rob McCusker. I thought it was very

good. In the first half they picked don't draw, picked and draw and

they were in control. Bait may be are slight favourites to get to the

top four because of two tough games. But I did feel that when they were

20 points up, I still think, to be safe, you need that bonus point.

They are capable of winning. I thought the Llanelli Scarlett had a

chance to get a bonus point but they went for goal which was quite

Some good news of the pitch for Scarlets. Ross Williams has signed

as sender. There were rumours he might be joining George North in

leaving. Staying with the Pro 12 and there was a huge Irish Derby

yesterday between Munster and Leinster. We will get all the

action from that in a few moments Belfast on Friday night and were

hoping to end their run of three defeats in a row. Tommy Bowe was

making his first start since December and they had the top of

the League in their sight. Good work, putting them under

pressure. Good scrum. Tommy Bowe is in. What a homecoming by Tommy

Bowe! Good solid defence. Ulster still in the driving seat. Golding

has done brilliantly. -- Golding does brilliantly. What a great

finish by this talented youngster. Here comes Williams. Clever by

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 48 seconds

Cave. He will get Ulster's third. pace. Here comes the Dragons. They

are looking for the last try. They are going to get it. Eight terrific

finish by Tom Prydie. Munster's Pro 12 hopes were already gone ahead of

the Irish Derby but they came into on a hike following their European

renaissance last week. It was the visitors who stole an early March,

fly-half in Madigan knocking over three penalties. That Sturt Munster

into action. The closure -- the home side... Phoenix Jones doubled

their tally despite protests by the visitors about alleged illegal

blocking. A half-time lead belonged to Leinster as the League's leading

points scorer knocked another one over. Further penalties were

exchanged at the start of the second half but this incident

became a major talking-point, Paul O'Connell's boot making contact

with Dave Kearney's head. Play resumed after a 3.5 minute delay

and with the clock and winding down, it was Leinster who seized the

initiative. There was this try from Brian O'Driscoll. Keane, no doubt,

to impress a certain phase in the The big talking point was that

incident with Paul O'Connell. There have 48 hours to decide whether he

will be sited. Jonathan, it looked pretty bad on the replays, should

he be sited? I think we spoke about it earlier. If he is sited, he gets

away with it. He is clearly going for the ball. He puts his hand, the

ball is there and then he stretches it out. He boot the ball and his

Sinn catches his head. To me, the intent was to go for the ball --

his shin catches his head. As soon as the incident was over, Paul

O'Connell was straight over to Dave Kearney to see if he was all right.

I do feel it was a nasty injury but we have all been there. You had

been on the floor. It looted. It is one of those things that happened.

He is a hard and uncompromising player but no signs he is a debt to

one. Warren Gatland was running his rule over Paul O'Connell and a

number of other players. The Lions squad will be announced in a

fortnight's time. Their head coach spoke to Scrum V and I asked him

how a satisfying was for Wales to retain their Six Nations ground. --

crown. I was absolutely delighted for the squad and the team. Became

under huge amount of pressure from the media and the public. I got

more of a buzz out of Wales winning the final game than if I had been

in charge. I was delighted for the coaches, the squad, so yes, it was

a big thrill. I could not have asked any more for a final game as

the Lions coach just the players having to perform under pressure. A

great atmosphere. And real pressure cooker atmosphere. So much at stake

with England going for the Grand Slam and Wales knowing they had to

win by seven points or more to retain the championship. A big game,

a big occasion but exactly what I wanted. For a lot of Welsh players

it was their last trial given there were no Welsh teams in the latter

stages of Europe, so for them to stand up in the way that they did,

it must have changed things in your minds thinking? I think as we were

going along, we had three or four meetings before the last game and

you put in thick specs to players and for ours, there were probably

three or four that the coin was on the other side -- to Hicks. We have

seen you in the crowd back countless games as a thing all the

options, give us an idea about how much -- how close you are to

nailing down the squad. There are probably 23 Aug 24 players who have

been on the list of 36 of 37 and players coming back from injury.

Some players will play their way out of a potential squad. It is

probably trying to finalise that last 10 or 12 spots. For us, it is

about form and ability but also looking at personalities and having

good people and good characters and people who can create that harmony

within a squad. As you are probably aware, every rugby fan up and down

the country is picking their Lions 15, the ones that matter is when

you and Rob Howley sit down the table together. We met on the

Wednesday after the England-Wales game and it was a little bit

emotional. Trying to take a bit of the heat out of it. I said, in

terms of the suppliers, they need a list of 50 or 60 names to start

thinking about putting be gear together. We did not pick a squad

of 56 -- 36, we picked a larger squad. For Graham and Andy, so

close after that final game. Rob Howley magnanimous or a little

bit smug in the first meeting? would like to think he was a bit

smug. I think he deserved to be as well. He has been under massive

amounts of pressure and criticism. Only in Wales sometimes it is quite

personal. Talking about the bond and the unity, how bothered are you

about having a blend of all four nations? Do you want

representatives from each or depict the 36 best players? We will pick

the 36 best players but personally I would feel uncomfortable if the

four home nations were not represented and that is the history

of the Lions. It is players coming from four different nations and it

is important. I would not feel right to be going on tour with

players from two countries of three countries. We need to have that

representation. We try to do it in some way with the management as

well. The coaches are from Wales and England but behind the scenes

we have representation from the four home unions. The Super 15

season is well under way, I assume you have been casting your eye out

for that as well for so what have you made of the Aussie side? He has

left that a number of players. I know a couple were suspended. The

Brumbies have had it good start and the other three teams have probably

been disappointing. Saying that, when they put that Jersey on and

they represent Australia, you know what is coming. There is no better

example than we saw in the autumn when Australia were soundly beaten

by France in Paris and people were expecting a touch up against

England. They dominated England and deserved to win. Whoever does get

selected it will be tough, it will be competitive but hopefully it

will be incredibly exciting as well. Do you think Robbie Deans is

playing mind games by suggesting Wallabies will be at a disadvantage

because they will not have the preparation time he would have

liked? Absolutely. They will have some time together. They have a

camp this weekend. For us, our preparation is brittle. If you

think about how iconic the Jersey is and the history of the Lions,

the ideal thing for us is would be to have a couple of weeks in the UK

or Ireland preparing for the tour as a full squad if we hopped on a

plane. Reassemble on 26th May and fly out on the 27th. -- we assemble

on 26th May. That is the first time the squad will be together. Part of

the plan for us when we go on tour is to make sure, if we drop a game

on the way because we are trying different combinations, I am not

going to get too hung upon that. Looking back at 2009, and the same

things that happened in 2009, we had been through the tour

undefeated in terms of the provincial games but we lost the

series 2-1. No one remembers that. It is all about winning the Test

series. It is all about making sure we arrive in that first Test in

Brisbane ready and prepared to take on hopefully what will be a great

occasion, a great atmosphere and hopefully great rugby as well.

It is getting close now, isn't it? Plenty to talk about that. Let's

talk about the captaincy. He was very tight lipped about it. Who

should it be? I do not know. It is a tough call. People mentioning

Ryan and Gethin and Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones but you cannot rule

out the two Irish boys. At the moment, I still think Driscoll is

there. And were you looking at Munster v Leinster. When we that

beat Six Nations he was on every flight with us. May be out of all

of it, that will be the toughest one. The tests are the important

games. If he picks a tour captain, if he does not make the Test side,

batted as decision you will have to make them. I think it is

interesting that he is conscious he wants all the nations represent to

-- represented. It is very heavily based with the Welsh and English

coaching staff which makes me think he will go for Driscoll. He will

not go far wrong whichever one he picks. He says the 36 best players

and then he says he wants representation from the four, I

think that is slightly contradicting himself a little bit

but it will be a very tough choice. Is certainly will be. I also talked

to him about Walters. Christian Wade he said has been terrorising

for the Wasps and Madigan from Leinster. Anyone from outside the

international arena that you think might squeeze into the reckoning?

would take anti-poll again. He made the 2009 trip. It is key you have a

few personalities -- anti-poll. They will be speaking to the Irish

coaches on the field and off the field. Nathan Hines is another one.

He is a brilliant player. He was great in 2009. I know warren has

got a lot of time for him. Something could potentially come

It is very difficult. There has been a problem with those players

and it may be has come down to personality. The Australian sides

are not going too well. I think having been down there playing

rugby league and rugby union, he will have the best players because

I think this time it is maybe the strongest Lions side that will go

there and maybe the firmest favourites. But without a shadow of

the doubt because they need to win because they are the third or 4th

best sport, they need to win because economically for the game

to survive, rugby league has plenty of money, the pressure is on

Australia as well. It is time now for the Premiership. Three fixtures

over the weekend. But we start with against Carmarthen Quins. Could

they cook up a tasty performance metres line. James again. The

hooker is through the gap. It is Godfrey. Godfry storming away for

the first try for Pontypridd and we scrum-half and nobody in particular

that interested in it. Pontypridd Pontypridd. They are off the line.

It is given. I think it is the ochre. The last player of the game

for Carmarthen Quins. -- play. He has got there. An amazing end to

this match. The conversion to come. Dixon is down injured and he is the

goalkicker. You have to fear for this man, Jack Maynard. His first

kick of the ball for extra time. He has missed it and Pontypridd have

prevailed. We did our own work and we knew they would be difficult

opposition. They have proved that over the last couple of years. Very

lucky to get the win. We knew it Neath edging closer to the line.

Aberavon dragging down the maul. They are over the line. Has it been

awarded? The referee stops his watch. I think it was the captain

emerging with the ball. He consults the touch judge. Yes, try given.

14-3, Neath. Good attacking position for Aberavon. That is a

lovely weighted ball from Davies to Matthew Jenkins. How many times

have we seen him run back line this season? He is over the line. A try

for Aberavon on the stroke of half- time. Five minutes gone in the

has got support. Morgan, tries the chip once again. Look at that.

Straight into his hands and he is over for the third. Neath join

Pontypridd in the Swalec Cup final. All three games to be played at the

y Scarlets. The only try when to Llanelli. -- went to Llanelli. And

it was a slugfest at the Brewery Field. Llandovery kept their play-

here in their difficult season with a comfortable win over Newport. --

Pontypridd cannot be caught at the top. Llanelli close the gap. It

looks to be between Llanelli and Llandovery for the play-offs. But

Back to the RaboDirect Pro12. The Cardiff Blues played their last

home game of the season against Zebre. It was the end of an Era for

Jamie Roberts. I will feel quite emotional come Saturday. I would

like to think I would come back to clarify some points. But whether

that is in three years or further down the line, it is a special

place, a special region and a lot of people that I have made a lot of

good friends with. Saturday will be pretty emotional. Is that it for

your medical studies for the time being? I have my results on Monday.

Nervous times. I will find out if I pass those finals. And whether I

have graduated in July. Or resits I suppose every professional rugby

player in the UK will be very nervous over the next three weeks.

And rightly so. No one really knows what sort of squad Warren Gatland

will pick. There are two massively important things happening. My

results on Monday and the Lions selection on April 30th. It will

easily -- either be a fantastic three weeks for me or disappointing.

Those are the biggest cause that I have and I find out about them over

nerves as he ran out for the final Cardiff Blues looking to put

pressure on them. Atrocious conditions at the Arms Park. Rhys

Patchell, half a break from Rhys Patchell. Can he get there? Yes, he

can. A great try by the youngster. Quick ball for Jones again. Rhys

Patchell. He opts for the long kick again. You can see the elements

really playing a part. Kick and chase by Zebre's winger. Jamie

Roberts, they could be a chance. Evans shows a clean pair of heels

shove on. And Zebre's scrum in all sorts of problems. Roberts, has he

got the strength to go all over? Yes, he has! And that, a fitting

end before he is off to France next consolation score. They have an

himself but there is no way through. over. And it is a score for Zebre.

But too little too late for the Italians. It is sad for me to be

leaving but there they are a lot of young players that need to take the

region forward and the likes of Rhys Patchell and Williams, Luke

Hamilton, these Young's -- young boys that have come through the

system, they have an opportunity next season to shine and to see

them play as well as they did today, it is great. It is great for a guy

that has been here for a while now. I cannot thank the people at the

Blues, the fans, the administration staff, everyone, they have played a

huge part in my career and I owe them a lot. One other result to

bring you from the weekend. Connacht with the victory over

Edinburgh in Murrayfield. The only changes in the table came in the

A very emotional Jamie Roberts bidding farewell to the Arms Park.

He will be missed but he has 50 caps, been on a Lions tour. It is

understandable his motivation for leaving. As a kid growing up, you

want to see the Welsh stars playing for the regions. That is not going

to be attracting the young kids to the game and then with youngsters

leaving, that is worse. I think everyone is just basically fed up

with the situation in the game and saddened because at the back of the

great result in the Six Nations now it is about the politics again and

I think everyone wants Wales and Welsh rugby to pull together to the

betterment of the players and the regions and the Union. And the

national side. If they cannot do that, the union has to make a

decision, they have to look at why it cannot work with the regions and

vice versa. Everyone is totally fed up with it. The more that people

get fed up, the less people that take interest in it and walk away

from it and where does that leave the game? We do understand that the

regions will now be accepting an invitation to address the board of

the Welsh Rugby Union a week on Thursday. It looks as if both sides

are willing to talk. Fingers crossed that would lead to

something a bit more constructive. We talked about Welsh players

leaving, something we have not touched upon so much as five fact

that because of the salary cap, the regions are no longer in the

marketplace for the top stars that we see in the Irish side? I think

that is a huge issue. Losing the likes of Dan Lydiate, George North,

we signed players for the Cardiff Blues, Xavier Rush, they had a huge

influence over the squad. The sides left in Europe all have overseas

players. We are not attracting that quality. If you what to be

successful in Europe, you need to attract the big names. As well as

keeping the Welsh players. It is a balance. Thank you. That is all for