Episode 9 Scrum V

Eight months ago, it was all about this. After scaling the heights of

Europe, Wales are losing their grip. Sliding down the world rankings,

beaten by Argentina, broken by some -- Samoa but there is no time to

rest because the champions are up next. You learn a lot about

yourself when you play the sport and we have certainly learnt a lot

about ourselves over the last two weeks.

Good evening. If last week was disappointing, this weekend has

been devastating. The question tonight - what has happened to the

Grand Slam champions? And joining me in the studio, Jonathan Davies,

Kingsley Jones and Gareth Thomas. Tusi Pisi, unlucky to have missed

out on the last game. The ball didn't arrive, but the danger is

still on. There is an overlap on the right. It is a simple cross,

and it has taken Samoa just over a minute to get on the scoreboard.

The disastrous start that Wales didn't want. Aaron Jarvis, Paul

James, two prop forwards. A very simple score for Samoa.

Jones got just enough of a hound on Dan Biggar, and he is confident he

is in form. Besieging for the penalty, which is given. Hopefully

the moment. It is unlucky for Richard Hibbard. Only his fifth

international start. A few problems in getting the ball. Jamie Roberts

has done well. A penalty coming Halfpenny brings Wales back within

one point, taking him up to 200 in again. The interception for Ashley

Beck, over half way. This is going to make it all the way, and what a

way to catch your first appearance in Welsh colours at the Lilian

Stadium. A massive smile for Ashley Beck. -- at the Millennium Stadium.

Just what Wales needed really. We The there are a couple of players

down, Dan Biggar it is one of them. This could be dangerous, but he has

lost it. That is relief for Wales. Not quite the chance to counter.

Dear me. That is a nasty one for Dan Biggar. That is fair play, a

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Halfpenny and getting possession. I'm not sure Leigh Halfpenny knows

where he is at the moment. He can't stand it, his legs have gone.

is over. He is away. And George Pisi get Sauveur in the corner.

think that is a try. -- gets over little opportunity. Straight in at

Williams. The penalty in from the side, once again. Good consistency.

From just inside his own half. What Paul Williams. Williams's hurt as

well. Yeah Scott Williams are still a few yards the wrong side of the

what they are looking for. A snap drop goal...It was coming, it was

shot for nothing. Tusi Pisi. No There is an arm round the throat,

from Jonathan Davies and from Leigh now. They can't be passive here

down, it is easy for Samoa to go back ahead. Simplicity itself for

Tusi Pisi, edging Samoa back her Halfpenny can't get there, and he

looks to have got the vital torch which will give Samoa another win

in Cardiff. They have done it again. And spoke the other week about

getting on the front foot and hopefully playing in the right

areas, dominating in the opposition 22. We spent one minute in theirs,

and they spent 2 1/2 minutes in hours. That was a disappointment

and it is something we have tried to work on, in terms of trying to

put the ball in the right areas but obviously we will have to look at

ourselves and we failed again tonight. And I have some tough

physical boys who look to take it forward, but the beauty is they

have the skill to pass and run, so we are just trying to get that out

of every one of the players and playing as a team. For it is not

the coaches, not the settle, nothing like that. As a group of

players we have a fantastic preparation for these Test matches.

It was disappointing tonight as it was last weekend and it is not good

enough, not good enough from us, not good enough for Welsh

supporters and we will take it on the chin like men and from top next

weekend. Gareth, a five losses on the bounce now, we were all hoping

Argentina was a blip but if anything we were more

anything we were more comprehensively outplayed on Friday

night. That is the shame. On Friday night,

to me it was pure lack of effort. You have to try at least as hard as

the opposition, if not trying harder. The Samoans were coming

into the rucks and trying harder. When I was playing, when I used to

going to the changing rooms when things were going wrong, some of

the senior players said they would take control of the game. That is

what I wanted to see, people saying I have enough caps, I have seen

this before, follow me into the areas, and I didn't see that.

think it is very quiet, a lack of communication. Mike Phillips seems

to be the only vocal one. They are not getting over the gain line,

there is a lack of intensity, then it seems that they have no plan B.

They brought George North in, there was a lot of things going wrong. As

David Lemi said, they know what they are doing. The key players and

the decision-makers, if the structure is not going well, you

have to change it. Argentina played in the championship in the southern

hemisphere, the Samoans as well, we lost twice. Everyone now knows they

have tinkered with it, but they said we know what they were doing

since the World Cup and Argentina. They need to change it more. When

you play as a player, you know they're waiting for you, let's

change it. That is when you need the senior players to call the

On the point about David Lemi, you said that Wales had become

predictable. Samoa had done their homework. The ruck and that did not

look as strong as it could have done. The first thing is the set

pieces. You have to go forward with them. The line out here, it is good

to see Wales going for a drive. We can see the gain line highlighted.

This is probably intended to drive George North as a safety net. It

goes backwards. Brian Jones is at the back of this small. It is

scrappy. Give it to George North with the Samoans on the front foot.

This time it is off the top. George North is running at the strongest

defenders. South Africa are the most physical side in the world.

That went across the gain line, back to where they started and

He did not have many options. Look how many Welsh forwards up in the

ruck! The forwards had to get up up the floor, go backwards, allows

Sara Hiom to get the turnover. -- Samoa to get the turnover. Some A

Macro is on the front foot. It ends up in a reset scrum. -- Samoa is on

the front foot. We needed to get people into the middle of the field.

If the camp get breakdowns in the centre, it becomes easier. -- if

you can get breakdowns. What you have to have his deception. Even

with forwards, they were doing it. They were in pairs and then you run.

We were going in ones. We were getting battered. In the back line,

we need to have deception and six people. They fixed their feet and

launched into you. -- fix people. We did not lose deception. We tried

to out muscle them, which they left. If you can move them around and

fragment the game, it is easier said than done but you can square

up the defenders. One place where Wales could expect superior oddity

is in the scrum but they were pulverised in that department. --

superiority. I believe we could have won the game had it not been

for the scrum. We have lost Adam Jones and that was well publicised.

Wales are deliberately stepping around and trying to go through the

scrum and trying to disrupt the possession. Cencus Johnstone stays

Square manages to hold his ground. That is a danger as policy. --

dangerous policy. This is a great camera angle. They are trying to

launch the left side of the Welsh scrum through Cencus Johnstone. The

Samoans have split the Welsh scrum and this has happened time and

again. In the end, the Welsh scrum capitulated. Matthew Rees brings a

lot to the scrum. There is more to it than one man. I believe if we

had had a scrum, we would have gone on and won the game but it would

have let queries about the performance. We are used to seeing

Wales play with flair, imagination and creativity. That seems to have

gone. When they have the ball, they seem to squander possession. They

had a lot of possession. They stopped us getting over the gain

line. Whatever you do, even if it is really boring for the crowd, you

do that. When they kicked badly, we have got to keep pitbull stuck a

couple of instances late on where we did not have a lot of possession.

-- kick it will start as the ball comes loose, he rushed out. They

passed it along. There was an overlap. George North was waiting.

That was the kick. That was early on. They were drifting without a

big kick. There were numbers on the left-hand side and two forwards in

front. They were only a couple of points behind but they were always

chasing the game. I do not know what it is. They're not getting

over the gain line. It is confidence, isn't it? It can become

them and us. If the backs are not running hard and hitting the line,

but forwards can say, it is your fault. The difficulty is getting

rid of the them and us culture. Rhys Priestland needs to spot

things and pass. That is the Samoa game dealt with. Only eight months

ago we were celebrating Wales winning the Grand Slam and now we

are facing the prospect of an autumn whitewash. What has gone

wrong so quickly? Being a Welsh rugby fan is emotionally exhausting.

Euphoria is so often followed by despair. How can a team that has

reached such heady heights Tambov so deep a trough? -- tumble in so

deep a trough. Wales have won the Grand Slam earlier this year,

beating all-comers with a combination of guile, power and

superior fitness. All these ingredients seem to have

disappeared. Wales scored 10 tries in the Six Nations and made 17

clean line breaks. In this autumn's series, they have scored one try

and made one line break. The once feared attack has become

predictable - easy to defend against. The two weeks running,

Wales have been out muscled, beaten up up front. The mean defence, has

leaked five tries already this series was about as before the

visit of the free-scoring All Blacks. -- this series. That was

before the visit. Knows sweeping changes in personnel. These players

held aloft the Six Nations Trophy. The injured stalwarts were so

crucial. Another absentee is the head coach, Warren Gatland. He is

on secondment with the Lions but returns as planned this week. Given

he has been involved in selection and tactics, will his return

reverse the fortunes of Wales? Other theories point towards poor

regional form. The salary cap has forced region's two/wage bills and

offload players. Some of our sides have been on the end of severe

beatings, in Europe and in the Pro12. There are those who thought

that he wears could exist in a vacuum, players could cast aside

any regional insecurities when they pulled on the red shirt. On this

evidence, they cannot. Cracks have appeared. Cracks that could rapidly

turned into major fault lines. A number of potential reasons for the

recent decline. A lot of the criticism has been aimed at the

acting head coach. Is that justified? It is totally

unjustified. He has stepped up from number two to number one. He has

done that in circumstances nothing to do with him. All too often, we

look at the coach. I'm sure he's feeling pressure and questions

himself. We have played Australia three times. I also have read a lot,

please do not disrespect Argentina and Samoa as well. They're very

good teams was dogged beat Samoa in the World Cup but that was a tight

game as well. -- good teams. We beat Samoa. Two point the finger at

one person is a wrongful stuck a number of factors you have

highlighted all contribute. -- is wrong. Argentina and Samoa are

respected opponents and stronger than they have ever been. Warren

Gatland has talked about beating the southern hemisphere superpowers

on a regular basis. If we do not play well, we will not beat sides.

That is it. We need a platform and the platform has creaked a bit.

Basics have not happened - we have not executed things very well. When

you are on the field commit you need people to stand up and say,

that is not working. Keep the ball a little bit. There seems to be a

lack of on-field leadership - players on the field. Everything

fits into a game plan and everything seems to have creaked at

the moment. You mention confidence. If they get the basics right and

they go over the gain line, all of a sudden, everyone is picking the

games up with the defence on the back foot. That is not happening

and they need to sort that out first. You mentioned about the more

mature, of the more Senior players in the squad. A lot of these

youngsters have not experienced the losing. What do the older guys need

to do in terms of taking them under their wings and guiding them?

need to stand up and be counted the study did not become a great player

overnight. They have earned reputations. -- and be counted. You

did not become a great player overnight. We have gone backwards.

The Senior players need to pull the young players up and say, you know

what, it is not good enough to lose and lose wealth. -- well. We have

to go back. When I played it was OK to lose but now it is not. This

team are good enough to beat Argentina. This team are big enough.

They need to instil that they're good enough to win. -- good enough.

Warren Gatland delegates well. That is rightly so. They have been with

him all the way. Maybe the players have gone on. Maybe they have

dropped their confidence. In hindsight, after his injury in

Australia, he did not have much input. When you look at it, the

autumn Test series and the World Cup rankings came out in the World

Cup fixtures and groups. Rugby away to the Lions after the autumn

Test. It is crucial to us because of world rankings and World Cup

pools. It is a lot of different factors. Now everyone analyses

everything because we are losing. They made a decision and you cannot

do anything about it. We have got Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and

Australia. That is tough. I do not care how the Lions get on. I would

rather Wales do well in the autumn series. If Warren Gatland being

away has hampered that, it is the wrong decision. Wales comes first

to me. On the topic of regional rugby. Roger Lewis has been

speaking to BBC Wales today. He spoke to the Eve Myles Report

programme. He said an agreement appears to be imminent. Do you

accept the view that Welsh rugby is in crisis? The good news is that

the talking is virtually over. I am confident that this side of

Christmas we will sign a new accord Back to matters on the pitch and

things are not about to get any easier - New Zealand are the next

opponent for Wales but first let's look at the weekend's other matches

starting with England versus electric pace. He crashes over the

line, and Australia celebrate. An immediate response to take the lead

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in the second half. Scurrying away, trying to fairly regained position

but they have been penalised. Australia, who have had 75% of the

possession in the second half, see that now reflected on the

making towards the try-line. Nothing can stop them. The 14th try

of George Clancy in the tackle. -- for the score, the Hawker for his

second try for South Africa. Two have come in this match, the second

Largely disappointing weekend for the home nations, with the

exception of Ireland. It is a Lyons year, we are going to Australia in

the summer, what implications does this have on their tour? They are

improving. The gifted the South Africans points, but in the second

Africans points, but in the second half they were pretty good in what

they did. It is not good, England losing to Australia, a bit of a

surprise. I'm not sure if England really know their best 15 at the

moment. We need to have a strong Six Nations tournament for

confidence and selection purposes. Six months ago, most pundits would

have said the first 15 would have been largely composed of Welshman -

that is probably not the case any more? Probably not, but I think

each camp would be more concerned individually about what is going on

in their own camps. When the Lyons come together, it is a new team and

we forget about everything that has gone on in the international teams.

I think the difference at the moment is the southern hemisphere

boys play up here a bit better than us. Scotland were allayed yesterday.

The Australians suddenly found a scrum because Ben Alexander was

back, and New Zealand are on different level. Australia,

everyone thought if you had put money on the for the autumn Test

that the Lyons would beat Australia, but Australia have to perform, they

have to go well, because rugby union is their third sport and they

can't afford to be blown away. The world champions are next up, on

The All Blacks got a card of just over an hour ago after a fairly

easy victory yesterday over Italy. As they prepared to face Wales this

week, we thought we would catch up with an All Black legend. Sir Colin

Meads gave us his thoughts yesterday. After last year's World

Cup, we thought Wales would be the one team that could give us a fight.

After last night, we didn't know what to expect. Is the Gulf to big

to leap between the dismal defeat to Samoa last night and the All

Blacks coming to town - is it too much to ask in a week? Now, a week

is a long time in rugby and the attitudes of the players. They'll

understand death in his not that mobile after his accident, he has

got to learn to keep off the ladder and don't go painting his beach

houses, but there will be a different side. He were will be an

angry man right now. Knowing him, he won't be very kind to them in

training this week. Gareth Thomas was in the studio last night for

the game and he had a similar thing, that it is almost the best possible

opposition to have next, because it will force Wales to raise their

game. I am sure it will. Every team that plays the All Blacks play is

10, 20% better than they normally do and that is because of who they

are. They have this aura about them that makes teams play well against

them, and it was the same back when we were playing in the 60s. Teams

were not that flash, but when they played the All Blacks they played

pretty well. What is the current state of the All Blacks? As you

mentioned, maybe they are not quite the complete team some people see

them as, but they look pretty formidable to the the Northern

hemisphere. They are a good side and with over 15 players they are

hard to beat but they do have the odd he -- the odd problems. They

were very upset when we drew with Australia, and they said we played

poorly. It is keeping the team for all the time is quite a challenge

for the selection panel, but Ritchie McCaw, they have grown and

he has grown into a great captain and a great leader now. He is part

of the motivation that keeps the thing going. Jonathan, New Zealand

have already got zoo fairly impressive easy wins on tour with

two different teams. What did you may cough them? They are brilliant

side, great to watch. You have got to keep the pressure on them all

the time. The difference was the contact, the cleaning out, the

recycling was so quick. You could play scrum-half. I quite fancy that.

As I mentioned, they have got a squad of 30 players and they wanted

to give everyone again, and they did that. They have not lost for 15

months, are there any weaknesses? They are way ahead of everyone at

the moment and they make everything They work on the policy of more

players on the attack than the defence. You pick the ball all here,

look at the numbers in the rocks micro. -- in the rucks. The ball on

a plate, if five Scottish defenders in the Channel and you will always

be in trouble. This set them up for the first try. It is outstanding

play. It looks simple but it is just the efficiency. They are

vulnerable if you are smart. Scotland did cause them problems.

One man at the breakdown, pressure from Scotland, get New Zealand on

the back foot. It is difficult to find a weakness, but they certainly

are... We see it again here, one man at the breakdown, a turnover

and a try so there are areas you can have a go at them, but the

first thing you must do is defend them on the gain line. We haven't

beaten them for 59 years but your team came close back in 2004. They

are a human after all. Yet, and that is what you have to remember.

They come with an aura which is so invincible that it picks you up.

The fact that the New Zealand All Blacks come into town for the under

treatable world champions, a lot of the players have nothing to lose

and they know they have to play with 100% effort because if you go

with any less, you will be back on a hiding. You can not fear them,

that is the thing. Sometimes you put the jersey on and you think I

don't know if I can beat them. You have to respect them, but not fear

them. Hair think of anyone ever wants to make a statement in rugby,

you do it against New Zealand. The faint is of the support. Cardiff

will be dancing, and whatever has gone on in the previous two weeks,

the whole stadium will be behind the Welsh boys. If they start well,

it could be a great evening but they have got to believe they can

do what. We will be keeping our fingers crossed. They have not been

many joyous affairs between Wales and New Zealand for Welsh fans, so

we got Rick to comb the archives How do you address the haka?

fight culture with culture. Guess what the score was. You won. This

one we did give you a fight, we came very close. This is one of the

little straws we hang on to, and look at the All Blacks on the final

whistle. They look mildly happy to have won. The No. 8 is on his knees,

the number 13 on his back. That is a game of rugby. When the All

Blacks are lying down at the end, that is a big effort. You would

have to call that the moral victories. Or we have is moral

victories and frankly it is patronising. This is the closest we

have got in 60 years. We were winning at this point and there are

still debate now what that Graham Moody... He jumps out of the line-

out. The Saux have a look. This is a lesson in technique from him.

Look at him, good vending of the knees, strong extension through the

trunk, and project yourself powerfully through the line-out.

The guess what the result was. Zealand won. Use four. The look at

that. That is all we have got. Evidence would suggest that is all

you have got. It is evidence, it is a fact. It to is very difficult for

me to argue with that fact as to present them. The try of it will be

murder coming over here now. A Welsh win over the All Blacks is

like the Loch Ness Munster, it has never been seen in colour. I think