12/11/2017 Scrum V

War rent Gatland looks on as his

Wales take on Australia.

Davies. Wales on the attack.

They are over.

Too easy.

Davies is off.

It is a three on one. Steffan Evans

is over. There is an overlap here.

Try awarded.

Oh, it is the safest hands on the

field.

Steffan Evans back on his feed.

What

tackle that is. He is away!

Beale

scores for Australia. Jonathan

Davies. It has had a bit of

everything this game. It has been a

cracker.

APPLAUSE

Good evening and welcome to Scrum

APPLAUSE

Good evening and welcome to Scrum V.

The hoodoo continue, that was our

13th consecutive defeat but there

are reasons to be cheer 68

We are

back in the club and we have a very

special panel for you this evening.

Please welcome, Jonathan Davies.

Peter Jackson.

A packed house, as always. Bridgend

sports under 16s. The Rhondda women

are in the house and so too the

wanderers under 18s. And there is

more, will you please welcome, Mr

Shaun Holly. And lock up everybody

it is Andy Powell.

From the women's

Barbarians...

So many guest, shall

we get the panel out. Maybe we

should. Come on in boys.

Welcome gentlemen, James I have to

be honest I am getting sick of this,

welcoming you in after another

Wallabies Vicks tri. You are not a

smug Australia, you are gripping

from ear to workers you must be

delighted. I thought it was a good

Test match from both teams. A great

result for the Aussie, starts our

tour off and we head off to

Twickenham to play the English.

Another defeat, we will say it

again,

A few reasons to be cheerful.

I thought it was a great Test match.

We tried to change things a bit.

They create a lot of opportunities

and it was enjoyable, unfortunately.

We were on the end of a 38-2

spanking last year. This does feel

like progress by comparison.

It

does. I think it was clearly

different, we are obviously trying

to change. But then, I reflected on

it later and thought, lots of good

things happened. We were different,

trying to get the ball wider, when

you compare us to some performances

of the home nation, they are two

years ahead of us, they made this

change two years after the World

Cup, we have been treading water for

two years and now we start to

change, we have two yearses of

catching up to do. I wonder why our

coaching staff has allowed us to be

followers and not leaders. We were a

long way to go in the short period

of time.

That is an interesting

point.

Peter, two years to go, until a

World Cup, are we too late to the

party.

It is certainly very late. I

suppose you would say better late

than never. I mean I made my views

clear a year ago, I believe the

Welsh made a mistake in allowing

Warren Gatland to go on a Lions tour

when there was an overhaul to be

done of the Wales team. It started

now, why wasn't this started 12

months ago? Steffan Evans should

have been playing for Wales during

the last Six Nations and maybe had

he done so he might have learned the

harsher realities and not made the

mistakes he's made yesterday. Having

said that I thought there was a lot

to admire what what Wales did. It is

nice the see them running and

passing and rather going round

people. I thought the most startling

statistic was a game with high tempo

Wales only conceded three penalty f

you said that before, you would

think, we are going to win this

game, but in the end, same old

result, but it was certainly not the

same old performance.

We will

analyse that more in a few minutes

time. Let us remind ourself how it

unfolded.

LAST POST PLAYS

LAST POST PLAYS

Owen Williams. It is Faletau runs

into the brick wall of Kerevi.

Advantage being played in Wales'

favour. Offside Australia. Biggar.

Steffan Evans, coming off his wing,

looking for work.

The crowd says it all. Wales take

the lead.

Hooper.

Biggar tries to hold up the

Australia captain. Polota-Nau now.

Ball with the tackle.

Foley. Steffan Evans. Has to play

it. Has to take the ball out of

play.

That is a brilliant kick.

The crowd says it all. Wales take

the lead.

Hooper.

Biggar tries to hold up the

Australia captain. Polota-Nau now.

Ball with the tackle.

Foley. Steff Evans. Has to play it.

Has to take the ball out of play.

That is a brilliant kick.

Hanigan,

with the catch. Here comes the drive

and Australia have a clear

advantage. Polota-Nau has the ball.

They are over.

That was too easy from a Welsh

perspective. It is Polota-Nau with

opening try of the game.

Alun Wyn Jones. Gareth Davies and

Davies is off. Davies beats Hodgson.

Wales pour into the ruck. Faletau

plays scrum-half. Jake Ball, good

distribution, Jonathan Davies. Leigh

Halfpenny. Steff Evans, he is over,

and grounds the ball.

A brilliant try by Wales. Good

execution. That is what we wanted to

see.

Beale.

Beale. Tackle on him by Faletau.

Foley. Puts one through. Halfpenny.

Halfpenny plays football. It is

still in play. The wriggle for the

line. Wales, defend desperately and

it is is there for Coleman to score.

That was a brilliant piece of play.

Defensively Wales were magnificent.

Watch this pass. Patience, patience,

and he just picks the runner, they

go close, there you go, second man

in. Brilliant finish.

Genia picks it back up and says I'm

not ready.

Hanigan throws.

Beale. There is an overlap. If

Hooper can find Hodgson. Hooper, is

he short? Is he over? Try awarded.

Again brilliant finish. So, so

clinical. That is a killer blow

before half-time.

Switch of play Rob Evans. Faletau

gets the pass away, again the vital

pass goes astray.

Look at this. Prop

number eight, hooker on the outside.

Inside ball Steff Evans is there in

support. They are trying to play a

lovely blinder rugby.

Hasn't Rob Evans got good hands.

Jonathan Davies in pursuit. Hodge

waits. Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball

make the tackle, and turn the wing

over. Rob Evans risky one, Aaron

Shingler back to Rob Evans.

Beautiful hands big bishop Steff

Evans stays is on his feet. Navidi.

Halfpenny. And it is the safest

hands on the feel, Taulupe Faletau

who drops the ball.

Ken Owens. Rob Evans. Jonathan

Davies.

Steff Evans back up on his feet.

Gets away from Foley. And from

Kuridrani.

What a tackle that is. He

is away.

Beale comes away with it.

Everybody went with the dummy ball

and Beale scores for Australia.

I saw that straightaway, it was kind

of a rugby league steal. No-one knew

a where the ball was except for two

men.

Does he knock it on? That is

brilliant play, Beale,. .

The

forwards lead through Faletau. Alun

Wyn Jones dives for the line.

Think he has lost it.

The referee in

Australia's direction. Playing the

advantage. Australia in no rush,

knock-on by Wales, danger over.

Out it comes. Navidi, advantage to

Wales. All this pressure, it just,

like the World Cup game when they

were against 13, then 14, they

couldn't score. Jonathan Davies, to

chase and pick up. Driven against

the touchline. This will be

reviewed. The clock will stop.

I am happy cheeps control of that

you can award the try.

Try awarded.

Yes, reminder

you can award the try.

Try awarded.

Yes, reminder there of the match,

let us get the verdict now from both

camps.

We are disappointed in terms of the

result, but you know, we talked

about putting some new faces out

there, three new cap, three guys who

had their first game at home, some

younger players, and I think that

they will get bet refer that

experience. The boys are

comfortable.

There is probably an

element of a Scarlets' blueprint. It

sets well for a product we want to

put out there.

I thought he defended

well, we did a pretty good job

defensively and took the set piece.

And that channel. The message was,

just the pace, keep patience and

keep possession, we were art about

to shorten them up.

They got us a

couple of times on the edges, and

the ability probably for their ten

on the have that second option as

well, so he doesn't have to play

everything. Also made the nine a bit

more dangerous, so, you know when

you look at three playmakers there

is that built of, you can't watch

everything at the same time. We play

with the same sort of style.

There

is a different picture, we didn't

know too much about particular

seven, you know, and the six there,

so we had to feel that out. I am

sure and see how that was going to

play out.

Nothing showed a mental

block about playing Australia. We

were architects of our own downfall

because we weren't accurate enough

in the the first half. Not things

they created. Given the potency they

have as an attacking team, we made

it easier for them, and the pleasing

thing is we got stronger, and went

on and more accurate as the game

went on, that is a positive we can

take out.

What has happened in the

past, I am being genuine, this is

irrelevant, because it is only about

what happens in the future that

counts, what happens in the past is

done.

Our focus is in the planning

and a lot of teams focus is about

the countdown to the World Cup. And

we feel that, the nice thing is that

we have Australia in our group, and

we, that time together in terms of

the next two years and preparing and

camps and there together, we will go

on to that group with a lot of

confidence that we are capable of

winning that group.

I think we will

make a lot of changes for next week.

I think, you know, so there will be

a lot of some of the younger boys

will get a chance and some players

that have come back in to the squad,

who have been out, getting an

opportunity next week, so, and then

there is a chance for players that

you know, there is a good chance of

players who go out and perform and

play well and put themselves in

contention nor the All Blacks.

You made your point about the start

about Wales adopting this style too

late. There was more ambition,

willingness to offload, you must

have been encouraged

There are

elements we all were delighted to

see. We got to the edge, we created

opportunity, and a lot of praise has

gone to, a lot of attention rather

has the gone to Owen Williams. He

made us look different behind. When

you boil it further down, what was

the biggest difference was the

number of pass, one of the biggest

on the field, more than Owen

Williams was Rob Evans. He passed

the ball 12 times, we were play the

ball, we have altered that a lot. If

you look at some thelet better

movements. The two forwards got the

ball.

Rob is a Scarlet. It is their

blueprint.

They were all trying to

do it. Some were familiar and some

were less familiar trying to do it.

We don't either know where our

limits are, we want the boys to play

with high risks but it comes with a

hazard if you get it wrong. We don't

know what we are able to push and

what we are not.

We brought that up

in commentary yesterday, the fact

when Australia gets slow ball in

their own 22, they will boot it,ing

on and put the pressure on Wales, we

were, an offload that Gareth Davies

did. You can do that for the

Scarlets and you won't get punished

but you have to understand where to

put the miracle ball, you know, and

when to hold on and go to the, build

through the phases again, it was

refreshing, I am going back, we

didn't have the strength in-depth at

12 position, I didn't think that

Scott Williams wasn't good enough. I

know the Scarlets approach and their

forwards playing, it has been forced

on them a bit, as was the Lions

playing a ten and 12, now they have

done it, there is no going back now.

Scarlets played so well last season,

every time they did play, if I had

been Wales I would have been

embarrassed. Compare to it a turgid

season, treading water, I think he

is probably being polite. It was a

huge season of wasted opportunity,

also it is important to consider

where Australia have been, since

they were here last autumn. They

have been to hell and back. Hammered

four times by England. Losing to

Scotland in Sydney. Humiliated by

the All Black, boxing match would

have been stopped ten minutes in.

They recovered from that. Maked 25

new player, ended the doll sick

season by beating the All Blacks.

Let us talk about that, the fact

Australia have been together for a

while. Warren Gatland, he didn't use

it as an excuse, he mentioned it

post match. Is that a big factor?

When you try to play a new style you

will have the teething issue,

especially Wales have been trying to

play that way for a long time. The

guys get used to it. There is that

level of comfort round playing, you

get out there and we know what we

are going to do and keep doing it.

When you push to a new style you

have those issue, especially under

Test match intensity. As soon as you

get out there with pressure in your

face and you saw that with the

mistakes they were make, you can see

they were making great inRhodes,

especially on the edge there of the

Australian defence but they just,

that last pass, they weren't

composed enough with the ball. I

think they need to stick at it, I

don't think they should make that

many change, if you pull guys in and

out you don't get that time,

building some combinations to get

there, if you pull a bunch of guys

out and expect them to pick up where

they left off, I think it will be a

big ask.

If you look in training,

someone said the Scarlets were head

and shoulders above most of the

other regions because of the

awaresness they have and the

confidence they have in passing and

the way they are play, I think the

game they are trying to play

unfortunately, the skill level

collectively, at crucial times, it

let us down yesterday. I don't think

Owen Williams had a great game. I

don't think he did anything special.

The Scarlets have a hard defensive

press, we mentioned the line speed

yesterday, and when there are

mistakes or turn overs it is two

pass, get away from traffic and see

what happens on the outside, so, you

know hopefully now with the players

they have picked, you know, they

will have got confidence, but I am

with James as well. I-wouldn't make

huge changes for next week.

There

was a feeling that Wales perhaps

were in the ascendancy in the second

half, there was that critical Beale

steal, the ultimate steal you called

it. Let us look at this now. There

was the suggestion of a late tackle,

or high tackle rather. But also,

looking at are replay a clear

knock-on.

We saw it, it was right

below us. It was a great steal, a

one-on-one steal. I think the

referee and the TMO made an early

call. They were confident on what

they had seen, maybe there was one

angled from the camera that showed

he has knocked on and it was a clear

knock-on. He doesn't, at that point

in the game, when you are trying to

slow the game down as an Australian,

you don't take a quick conversion.

I

didn't see a clear knock-on. I

thought Graham is one of the best

TMOs in the business.

I think he got

it right.

APPLAUSE

Whether it was or not, it was a

critical juncture, we know how

momentum can swing in test rugby.

We

were playing well. Attacking well.

It is hard to know, because you

could argue the try was... I think a

couple of other things going back, I

can't get my head round they won't

play Owen Williams. We have to have

a full-back who is good at

attacking, they said we have been

working on Leigh Halfpenny's counter

attack, there is a famous quote you

can't pull in what God didn't give

you. It is about beating the man

with the agility...

He is is not

playing for his club.

Neither is

Owen Williams playing 12 for

Gloucester. You can't put apply the

same argument to different people.

APPLAUSE

One more thing... Go on.

What I, we

talk people playing in the wrong,

don't play in the wrong area, by

that attitude, Liam Williams would

never have started that try the

Lions scored ins in. We are still

pushing the boundary, where we have

to understand is we have to push

things but as the game develops, as

the phase develops, you have to

realise this isn't on. We have to

change what we are doctor we don't,

barely kicked in the tackle. We saw

how important that was, there are

times to say we are going to go but

we have to pull it in now because it

is not on those are the difficult

things the Zaha lets are struggling

with -- Scarlets are struggling

will.

What is it about the Aussies's

killer instinct you convert

opportunity, look at that Coleman

try and the pinpoint pass from

Genia, when Wales had a man

advantage as they did for ten

minutes they couldn't convery. There

was the Alun Wyn Jones opportunity,

couldn't get over the line.

It was

the patience the guys showed. That

is important. You build phases,

pressure and hopefully they get a

penalty, Australia give a lot away

to Wales there, but the big thing is

that patience and belief we are

going no get over. If we build

phases they will creek in form of a

penalty or a lazy defender, not

watching the ball, someone come

tonnes blind shoulder and it was a

good ball.

If you look at Australia,

they have Beale, Foley, even Hodge

can step in as a first, as a

stand-off, if you have Owen

Williams, you need someone at

full-back to go I will take the

kick. If things are poor, you have a

sense of what is happening on the

field. If you are struggling and you

are bogged down in your own 20, kick

it. That is it. The vision comes

from the back as well. Genia was a

different level. He controlled

everything, didn't rush anything.

What yesterday shows is Australia

have more players with better skills

when it matter, I think it's a skill

factor many tend. Gatland can talk

about we made silly mistakes but if

your skills aren't up to it you are

likely to make more. I thought Foley

and Genia were terrific and they

weren't the only one, that is an

Australian team without the best

player in the world in my opinion

fall law.

Jonathan Davies, nasty

injure right at the end, how much of

a loss would he be if he is, we are

waiting to see how he will be, if he

is out for the rest of the series.

He will be devastated. We are trying

to develop a 12, that would be the

best way to do it. He is a wonderful

player, important for the defence as

much as attack and you know, really

hope he is back as soon as possible.

It would be a devastating blow.

One

more thing, you probably all saw the

pictures of the crowds, thousands

trying to get into the stadium, and

a lot of them didn't get in until 15

minutes after kick off because of

the increased security measures. It

has been the talk of social media. A

lot of fans missing much of the

game. A statement was issued that

said the fans were warned, that

extra security measures were going

to be in place, they will be in

place now for the remainder of the

Autumn International games so I

guess the message if you are go

ocean to go to any more, go early.

Good advice. The next man needs no

introduction at all. He is unique,

he is the one, the only Andy Powell

ladies and gentlemen.

APPLAUSE

How are you big man?

Andy, great to see you always. What

were your thoughts on the new Wales

we saw yesterday?

I was, you know I

was happy with the game, before the

game, I proi probably would have

said probably have 15, 20 points put

on us, the intensity, we matched

them up front, like somebody said,

was it Peter said, Rob Evans was

offloading the ball. Alun Wyn Jones,

it was good. That is how Wales

should be playing rugby. But it is

positive. I think it is a good sign

going forward for Wales.

We were

forced to reshuffle a bit because of

injury, what did you make of that

blend with Shingler and Navidi, a

top tackler he was yesterday.

It was

a good mix, back row is keen to have

a balance in it. I thought Shingler

and del Fava di. Faletau was quiet.

It was a good back row, and it is

good to have competition.

You are a

rare breed because you are a

Welshman who does know what victory

against the Wallabies looks like,

nine years ago, you were at your

best. What do you remember of this

one?

Standardn't it for me. --

standard.

The hair is looking good

there. .

I have aged a bit since

then! We had a good squad. The

Wallabies had a good squad. You have

to take it to them, and you know, we

have the players in Wales to do it.

It is good to see Wales playing,

chucking the ball about on the

weekend. It is looking good for

Welsh rugby.

A quiet night after

that one.

Probably, yes.

An early

night.

Like Sam Warburton in bed

early.

We will have more from Andy

in a few moment, let us find out

what happened at the stadium

yesterday. We caught up with a few

other big names to get their secret.

I thought it was impressive. Not the

best of starters in the autumn but

we came out, confident, looking to

play a slightly different brand of

rugby to what we have seen in recent

years.

We have proven as a national team we

can move the ball round, score try,

we made a few too many mistakes but

that was down to the fact we were

trying new things that perhaps we

were excited about. Manufacture

Our

ability to pass under pressure came

through from 1-15. In the tight

areas we got the ball wide, quickly,

we committed defender, I think we

just looked a very good side.

The

selection of Owen Williams worked

well. He got the ball to the wide

channel and had success there.

Hopefully they will continue to play

in that way. I think he will be a

permanent fixture this autumn.

The forwards that interplay with the

backs. I thought Rob Evans put a big

shift in.

He looked as comfortable

as anyone with ball in hand. It is

great to see from a Welsh point of

view.

When the forwards got the

ball, they popped it out the back

and chose to take a width option

when you are in the defensive line

it is hard to defend teams who are

stretching you axe teams who are

going narrow. I thought the game

plan was good. That helped Wales

play a more expensive game plan

I

thought we played well. We went off

the line quick, to cut out any major

attacking threat they offered. It

was a work man like performance.

Alun Wyn Jones was immense, his work

rate, his ability to hold people up

in the tackle. Came through loud and

clear.

Back row, Navidi, Shingler,

all the guys we were questioning,

stepped up today. So another step in

the right direction as far as the

Welsh scwards is concerned.

It a

case of going out and playing with

the same attacking intent they

showed today and hopefully a good

victory next week

When you have a

side on the ropes like we did, you

have to make sure we take the

opportunities that are there.

We scored a couple of tries,

probably left a few out there and

lost the ball twice on the try line.

We have got to be positive, it will

be a tough game next week against

Georgia.

That's the view from the

pundits. Sean Holley, what has

caught your eye?

The captain summed

it up perfectly. What impressed most

perhaps was

it up perfectly. What impressed most

perhaps was the style of play Wales

played with. Expect to see the 12 at

ten, Williams. This was one of 12

line breaks that will be reviewed on

Monday. Were we clinical enough from

our line break opportunities? It was

the off-loading game we saw,

Scarlet-esque and it was those

players who led the way. Rob Evans'

handling was superb, six carries,

this was after seven weeks out of

playing. Look at Amos, hungry to go

off nine. Biggar now has three

forwards as options, and maybe in

Watkin we have unearthed a future

talent. Then the support lines come,

Amos again. Because of the freedom,

to play with a bit more style.

Exiting is a major concern in the 22

line-out. The freedom allows them to

play, yes, but there's a time and

place to do it. 20 turnovers from

Wales. If you are going to play

deep, make sure you can kick and

kick effectively. Look at where the

Wallabies end up from this kick from

Steffan Evans. Straight after

half-time, are the half-backs on

page from the team talk? Not sure of

the tactic, and look where he puts

the Wallabies, straight towards the

22. What can we expect from Wales,

look at Alun Wyn Jones, the energy

of the man. Faletau playing

scrum-half, they have to be

interchangeable. There is Shingler

in midfield, Steffan Evans has a lot

to do but it's the width they give

that

to do but it's the width they give

that allows him to get over. So a

real improvement in the style of

play of Wales. Back to you.

Good to see the Steffan Evans try. A

must as well, there was some debate

whether it was a dry or not. It was

a lovely finish though, wasn't it?

The very rugby league style finish.

That's what winners do, they finish.

That's what he's paid to do and

that's what he did. I enjoyed it.

The way they square their shoulders

up and held defenders, whereas

previously they had been lapping and

lapping, a really rigid game plan.

Now everyone knows the game plan, it

doesn't matter where you are, you

have got to adapt. No missed passes

for the sake of missed passes, they

all straightened up and held their

man. It was a positive performance

in the right direction for me. It's

those little decisions at the right

time and that's what you got to

learn off your forwards. Just well

ate it, get on with it, then defence

is up... That's what we have got to

learn, you cannot play and score off

every phase we go through.

We have

showered Beale with praise but take

a quick look at this. I want you to

assess his scrummaging technique.

I don't know what he was doing here.

Look at that.

He's trying his best,

isn't he?

He doesn't know what he's

doing.

James, why

isn't he?

He doesn't know what he's

doing.

James, why did they put him

in the scrum? I don't actually know.

He wasn't doing anything.

He's not

perfect, is he?

No, but it's funny

how backs have no idea about

scrummaging.

We heard Warren Gatland talking

about it earlier, the World Cup.

Wales are in the same group as

Australia. How important is that

match when you are preparing to face

them again in two years?

We seem to

play Wales a lot, we seem to get

them once the years. It's about the

future, that is in the past now.

It's about the boys get confidence

playing against Wales. Michael

Hooper spoke about it, they weren't

sure what to expect this time

against Wales and I think we saw

that. Wales caught them short a few

times, we were short defensively

which the defensive staff will be

working on against England. The

World Cup is a long time away and

you can see a lot of changes in both

teams so it's good confidence and we

always love winning but I don't

think it will hold too much stead

for the World Cup.

There is an irony

here in a way because the Aussies

have adopted the system, where is

the Australians yesterday picked two

big bashes in the midfield.

Yes but

they have super players elsewhere so

it was a nice mix for them. I think

it has taken Wales too long to

realise that what Jamie Roberts

brought was far too predictable.

Careful, he is his mate!

I

appreciate that. The coach gets

properly if you mention Warren Bull,

the principle of going through

people instead of round it, and that

had gone past its sell by date

before Wales got round to changing

it and it's interesting Gatland's

decision has been influenced by what

the Lions did playing sexton at ten

and Farrell at 12, but Owen Farrell

is a better passer than anybody in

Wales.

There wasn't a standout

footballing 12, but I'm sure they

might have gone to that pattern

earlier. Owen is putting his hand

up.

Having put Owen Williams there,

I think they have got to keep him

there.

If you look at the teams that

play this style well, then Russell,

sexton... We talk about ten, 12. Ten

is the guy that takes the ball to

the line, set the tone and makes the

decisions. And Biggar was a fine

player but he hasn't played the

system so much. I would like to see

them having a chance to play it

because it's totally different to

what we have done.

He is the player,

ten, 12 is just the option. It's

down to the stand-off, but yesterday

they didn't really alternate the

kick in. It will be interesting to

see how that develops and who they

play at ten.

Biggar might be able to

do it, don't get me wrong, but I

would like to see others do it as

well.

We are going to talk changes

in a few moments but first cast your

minds back to Wednesday. Were you

doing something nice, watching

Coronation Street?

I think I was

watching our director abseil...

As

you do! We were watching rugby. It

was a night of rugby and remembrance

at a cold park on Wednesday night,

and moving match ceremony. It was

also a chance to mark a very

significant anniversary.

It's 100

years since women joined the British

Army and served in the Armed Forces

so I'm proud to be standing here

representing females joining the

Army really. We have seven full

international caps in our squad,

it's a fantastic team United Kingdom

are fielding tonight.

It's an

important time of the year,

Armistice Day and also the fact that

it's a good opportunity after the

World Cup to get new blood in this

team and go forward.

I see a lot of

young girls coming in, it is just

encouraging more young girls to get

involved in the game and it is for a

great cause as well.

We are hopeful

about women's rugby in the future?

Yes, it is the fastest-growing

women's sport in Wales by far and I

think it's really exciting.

It is

really fast, really quick, a

genuinely good experience.

It is the

first fixture since the World Cup,

and now the Welsh women's team are

there in four years it gives the

staff an opportunity to look at some

young players. We have got another

game this month against Scotland in

November, we have got the Six

Nations, and the girls going to the

Commonwealth Games for the very

first time. It will be nice to have

the girls' team there representing

the union and team Wales.

I've come

along to support my friend tonight.

She had none of the match

performance.

Yes, and she definitely

deserved it so I'm glad I was

supporting.

We love it every year,

we want to keep it going. It was

such a great occasion, a great

showcase of rugby and we cannot

thank them enough for putting this

on.

The best act of remembrance we

can do is come out and give a

performance. There's people on our

side who have lost people in battle,

friends and family, and it's time to

come together and remember those who

have fallen before us.

A good win on

Wednesday night for the women and on

Friday night a good win for the

Barbarians women in their first ever

outing, and two members of the squad

join me now. Rachael Taylor and Alun

-- Ellen Evans. What did you make of

that performance as they try to

develop the side?

I watched the

match back and I was very impressed.

It was a very emotional fixture, I

think it's great we fulfil that

fixture. A lot of the Welsh girls

are in the services as well and lots

of them had a cracking game. I

thought Alex was brilliant in the

centre, Alicia Butcher is great in

the back row. A lot of players

getting their first start but it

looked really promising and I think

the services played very well as

well and it made a good game of

rugby.

They have Scotland next, the

Wales women, but let's talk about

Friday night. How was sunny

limerick?

Yes, it is known for being

a bit wet and it was. We had a good

training session the day before so

now we are getting excited about the

rugby but come the match day it was

a bit of a downpour and a horrendous

wind going across the pitch, but

some great tries in the end. We did

a good end. The first try was a

penalty try but we will gloss over

that.

That will be a question on

question of sport one day!

It was a

seven minute penalty try, but it was

a lovely experience.

And some

pictures of you celebrating there.

Do you socialise much?

It is very

good trip away, an exclusive club

and credit is to go to the people

who it happen.

Yes, and it's all

about developing the game, I guess.

Definitely. To be involved in the

first of Barbarians game, speaking

to the management, you know how hard

they have worked and it's an honour

to be on that list, to wear the

shirt for the first time so thanks

very much to the committee really.

A

good round of applause for Rachel

Taylor and Ellen Evans.

So, to Georgia, that is who Wales

face next. An unfamiliar opponent

for many, so here is a low-down.

Don't muck about. I don't look like

Gorbachev.

I am Shanks.

And I am Flats. We have

come here... You have come here

because you look Georgian.

I don't,

I look Italian.

They are ranked two

space is higher in Italy. Yes, it's

all very well talking about being a

shop window but this will make the

rugby world sit up and take notice.

This Wales game is one of the

biggest games they will play for a

long time.

A rapidly improving

nation.

We are thankful the Welsh

Rugby union has given us this

opportunity for Saturday and

everyone is excited about it.

How

important has this game become for

you?

It's a great opportunity to

prove ourselves, that we deserve a

chance to play Six Nations.

I will tell you what, it is not a

myth, there is some proper big units

about.

Normally this is my domain

but even I'm feeling out of it. How

are they so big?

I think there's a

little secret ingredient, I will

show you.

Go on then.

Thanks for lending me

your kit.

I would have done it

myself... Just imagine he's Jiffy,

getting to him. People will think

you are warrior. Give them to me.

Glory in these years.

Jiffy. Jiffy.

Jiffy. David, you might need a safe

word. Get whatever you want. Grand

Slam.

All right, how are you, mate? I used

all right to walk my dog on Tuesday?

Quiet, Shanks, I'm on the phone to

Nugget.

I hope the boys have come

into camp well and that Shanks and

Flats are not keeping you too busy.

Good luck and hope to catch up soon.

That's nice, Milton will love that.

Tommy, Milton will never see that.

Bigger picture. It's a ladder we are

climbing. Milton is safely in bed,

restaurant... Flats and Shanks to

the stars, OK?

Set piece is huge for

this team, massive strength.

Yes,

the scrum is a strength at least. We

have seen them in the gym, they are

big, muscular alpha males so the

scrum is almost the embodiment of

what they want to be as men on the

field so it's no surprise they have

a great scrum but the line-out is

different. You need timing, it is

actually quite delicate art form so

that's what we will see in games

against teams like Wales, tier one

teams, that's where we will see if

they have got detail yet.

Georgie,

they won't let us out.

Was that

really the Prime Minister?

Yes.

How

do you know him?

We went to school

together.

Prime Minister, how big a

moment visit to meet David and me?

That is a joke, how big moment is it

for Georgian rugby to be playing

Wales on Saturday?

It's a great

opportunity and we are very proud of

our national team. It is in our

blood and we are very proud I

believe that our rugby players will

have a great game in Wales.

And I

presume that showed George beat

Wales in Cardiff you will declare a

national holiday for all?

Yes,

absolutely.

I had a good time

actually. Yeah, absolutely, where to

next?

It depends where they send us.

How do you follow that? We can't

take them anywhere, can we? He has

no shame. I would love to see what

they did off-camera. You were

mentioned, Jiffy? Fancy taking them

on? No! Go to our website for a

longer version, it is definitely

worth a watch.

We have heard the

slightly quirky view from Georgia

but on the pitch they have been

pulling up trees so far. They have

beat Kingsley Jones' Canada 54-22

and if you have any doubts about

their finishing prowess, watch this.

Incredible. I guess the lesson there

is never give up on what seems like

a losing cause.

Yes, that's an

amazing finish. It's going to be a

tough game, one of those games for

Wales that is a banana skin. If they

don't perform, everyone will react

negatively.

How much should be fear

that scrum?

A lot. In some of the

other clips, driving line-outs and

pressure, and a lot of Georgians

playing in France both in the First

Division and second division and

they are big men. A lot of them come

from a wrestling background.

As

demonstrated by Tom Shanklin in a

leotard!

They will want to keep it

tight, they will kick well and try

to shut the game down so the

challenge for Wales will be to get

possession quickly from set piece

and move into open space.

Warren

Gatland has already mentioned he

will make quite a few changes, where

would you start, Jonathan?

I don't

know I haven't really thought about

it but one thing I would do is I

would ensure we have a strong pack.

Whatever changes you are going to do

behind, if it is not the strongest

pack, it won't help anyone behind. I

am with James, I would make many

changes to the side. They have

started this new style, Owen

Williams' first game, I would give

him a run in outside centre maybe.

Maybe change Liam to full-back and

in the forwards I would maybe tinker

but the front five has to be

stronger. Maybe put Priestland in as

well but it's not fair to make

changes in the front five struggle

and then you are in the dogfight.

Then the old style, it would have

been a boring game really, with the

old-style we played, but now with

the way we played yesterday and if

we have that approach to get it wide

again, it will be quite a convincing

win hopefully.

I'm intrigued to get

Andy's thoughts because you will

have had a glimpse of Leon Brown

with your time at the Dragons. Is he

the kind of character that could get

stuck into the Georgians from the

off?

He's a young kid, he has a

future. I'm glad Warren Gatland has

put him in, given him a chance and I

think he's the future of Welsh

rugby. He's a big lad, athletic and

strong and in a few years he could

be key for the World Cup.

So you

would chuck him in against the

Georgians?

Yes, he is a big lad and

would be physical so I would give

him a chance.

In terms of the pack

overall, you wouldn't tinker with

that too much because that is the

Georgians' major strength?

It comes

down to if anyone has picked up any

knocks. Alun Wyn Jones is critical

for the side and make sure he's

firing but I wouldn't tinker too

much. You might swap the starters

with the reserves but I think as a

whole I would keep the side as

consistent as possible so they can

get more time in the saddle

together.

We mentioned how important

the Number Ten is, you mentioned

Priestland, but you have to go with

Biggar because of the number of caps

he has?

For this game I would go

with Priestland at ten, keep Owen

Williams at 12. One person we

haven't talked about is Tyler

Morgan, who needs to get fit, then

he would come back as a specialist

outside centre and heaven knows

there's a shortage of those. I would

change back three. I think Alan Amos

has done more than enough to deserve

the start. I would stick with

Steffan Evans. Leigh has become a

sacred cow. I think also, if there

is to be a public holiday in Georgia

a week Monday...

Which there might

be!

That could change the landscape

of European nuclear as we know it

because if Georgia were to come here

on Saturday and win, I think their

claim to join the Six Nations with

the irresistible. They have already

won the second tier level six times

out of seven so they are kind of

saying what more do we have to do to

get into this club?

Also they

comprehensively beat Canada this

weekend.

And it is a good trip for

everyone! Picking up on the point

about the tens, if we want this

access to work would it not be wise

to give them a run to get more

familiar with each other?

That would

be a reasonable thing to do but we

are trying to cram it all in against

the best team in the world who are

experts at exploiting weaknesses. I

would like to see us experiment a

little but we are where we are and I

would have no issue with playing

either guy at ten but we need to use

the bench. 15 minutes to go, we

should have emptied the bench.

But

it's an experience.

If you don't

trust them, don't put them on the

bench. If you genuinely trust your

players, you use them when you need

them and there was a sense of, I

don't want to use these guys until

the last minute.

Can we have some

quick predictions about who will

win?

Wales.

Wales.

I think it will

be tough, but Wales.

Wales.

Time is against us. It is time to

thank our panel. Will you please

give a round of applause. And of

course, Andy at the bar! And thanks

of course do you guys for watching,

to our lovely visitors in the club

this evening as well. We haven't got

the win against the Wallabies, it

has been nine long years, but as

discussed plenty of reasons to be

positive after that displays.

Georgia next, hopefully we will be

celebrating a win.