28/02/2016 Scrum V

It all begins here in Cardiff. A pivotal night in the Six Nations.

Davies, Faletau. Great interplay. Wales 3-0 France. The bounce is

everything. And he takes it. Wales remain unbeaten. Faletau does not

look delighted. It is a win and they do not look like losing. Which is

good enough. Welcome to the programme. Wales are

still unbeaten in the Six Nations and they are on a collision course

with England in a fortnight 's time. We have another stellar panel for

you tonight. Our star at the Barton Ike is Mr

James Hoch. We will also be catching up with Wales' women and Wales under

20s. And remember this guy? Possibly the second most emotional singer of

the national anthem behind Alun Wyn Jones. And he is in the studio

tonight. Great to have you in the club. Did you enjoy the game? A win

is a win but a lotta work on for Twickenham. Are you feeling

emotional tonight? I might just cry tonight. There a box of tissues if

it too much for you. Plenty to get through tonight. Let's crack on and

remind ourselves exactly what happened tonight though. -- two

nights ago. The roof was open and Dan Lydiate

was back on the blindside looking for the crunch. Bradley Davies pack

down in place of the injured Luke Charteris. Alex Cuthbert got a

chance on the wing. France looking for their first victory over Wales

since the 2011 World Cup semifinal. Rob Evans. Sam Warburton, the

captain, makes ground. Dan Biggar, cleverly behind. Alex Cuthbert

chases. 22 drop out. It was clever but there were at least three men

over had they just move the ball quicker. Faletau strips the ball and

sets off then fires out the Bastereaud Gareth Davies. It was a

late hit. Dan Biggar puts Wales into the lead.

France over the ball. Now then, that is not a tackle to

me. He has not used his arms at all. Francois on the board. Wales 6-3

France. Faletau feeds Gareth James. The

speed of Gareth Davies. Who is outside him? Another little kick by

the scrum-half. He gets a foot there. Liam Williams diving for the

try, denied. He is looking for the support and it should be with him. I

think the numbers were there. Great tackle. Davies, Roberts. Did

not get quite a full head of steam up. It is still there for Wales. No,

no. Well taken in the end. That is a tip tackle.

He has lost it, a real chance for Wales. Jonathan Davies. Kicks it

long. There goes George North. The bounce is everything. The control is

everything. A second chance for George North and he takes it that

the second bike. An element of luck in that, I think. It is amazing. He

has it at the back. On comes the big French drive. Who has the ball?

Penalty advantage to France. That is close to a penalty try. Liam

Williams arrives. For the corner. Bundled into touch.

It is another driving maul, this one has more bite to it. Thrusts of the

line. Held up. The hand time in the air allows

Wales to get in behind and drive. The surge is good. Has to be,

surely. It is a try for France. Too little, too late.

So, a comfortable victory on the pitch. This was the verdict off it.

It is an ugly way to win a Test match. We kept fighting for

territory and could not quite get it but hats off to France, they came

for the 80 minutes. The plan was to wear them down. It is a good French

team. Fair play to the French, they gave us a good challenge, especially

up front. A bit of a scrappy game but a win is a win. I thought it was

brilliant. That is what Test match rugby is all about. I thought it was

fantastic. We defended brilliantly in the second half. Things that we

had worked on in terms of stopping the offload game. And we showed some

nice touches in attack. The first time Wales have beaten France five

times in a row. I could not be happier. It is a good job I can play

rugby. I could not be a footballer. Chase everything, sometimes you

think, why am I chasing all these balls and getting nothing in return

and sometimes you get a little bit of luck. She was a bit ugly but has

a try, I will take it. England next, a fortnight of mind games? The last

two years I have not said anything. I try to stay away from the press. I

have to do this one because it is part of the contract, otherwise I

would not be saying anything now. Eddie will say enough above the

others. I think he's brilliant. He gives an opinion and says what he

thinks. I have no opinion with what he's saying. It is good for the

game. Mixed emotions after the game I think it is fair to say. If you

read some of the press and aspects of social media, you would almost be

forgiven for thinking we had lost that game. Shouldn't we be happier?

I think it is crash with macro harsh to criticise. Before the Warren

Gatland era, we would have taken a win against France. People see the

team has a lot more talent and expert a lot more. But for me as a

Welsh fan and as players, you wonder what more can we do? We go out

there, we put our bodies on the line, we win, we are still in late

chance for the championship and we are being vilified in the press. It

almost does not make sense. It is credit to them that we know they are

a better team but the fact that they are winning and ultimately they can

still win the champions, if they play that way and beat England,

everybody will be up in arms. They will not mind. You look at the

stats, a fifth victory in a row against France. Regardless of what

you say about the state of this French team, that has not been done

since the 1950s. It is all about winning. Warren Gatland said it was

a great game. For him, maybe he enjoyed it. They were totally

dominant. France were not the best but defensively, I thought France

really upped their game. A win is a win. We are on a roll against them.

If they win the game next week at Twickenham, that is it, the

championship is Wales 's. As Gareth said, it is a big occasion and then

the game, they were not a lot of tries so everyone is a little flat

coming out of it. But international rugby is all about winning. Let's

get a southern hemisphere perspective into this. How do you

turn an ugly win into a beautiful win? At the end of the day it is

results driven and that is what is happening here. As I say, you just

want to see them play a bit better because you know that they can and

you know that it is something in them that is restricting them

mentally not physically because they are very capable and they have a lot

of excitement about them. I think it is more frustrated and with just how

they are going about it but we would all sit here and have a win any day

of the week. We are all pointing the finger and saying the players should

be doing this. The players do what the coach tells them to do. For

Warren Gatland to say that was a fantastic game, that highlights what

he wanted them to do. He is obviously a defence driven culture.

New Zealand know what Wales would throw at them, we do not change the

way we are playing. They had opportunities but it is the

execution that is letting them opportunities but it is the

where they were overlaps and it is the gulf between the hemispheres and

the skill levels. Wales are capable but we look at that Gareth Davies

chants, it was ace in the leading break but nothing came of it. -- a

scintillating break. You have got to be in the middle, coming up there.

They are far too deep and then he has to check and that pass has got

to go because he has five players out there.

to go because he has five players I think everybody is hearing, we

want to play expansive, but the reality is, we are not. And like I

said earlier, I will hang my hat on this, I would rather win ugly than

not when it all. I am more than happy to take that every day of the

week. Wales are not attacking in their own half. They are trying to

be positioned orientated and if they are down the attacking side, they

will attack. If they are on the defence, they are not going to. They

want to get territory. How we look at it is we need to attack to get

defence rather than kick straightaway. I would agree.

Sometimes it does not need to look pretty and if you are getting the

results, the other things will start evolving from results. Last year and

Wales beating Italy, we played, we scored a ridiculous amount of tries,

so we can. Maybe it is a conspiracy theory. Maybe we are keeping our

powder dry until Twickenham. I do not know about that. He is a smart

man, he is a Kiwi. I think it is very difficult to get out of that

mindset and offenders know what they are doing so they push in defence.

-- offenders. I would love to see as push in midfield and using Liam and

Dan Biggar because you can always pick a defender out who is a forward

who is having a breather and just run at him. He has played so little

rugby this season but he has come back into the Wales side and he has

been near perfect. I do not think there has ever been a question over

how well he can play. To have someone like that behind you,

realising he's going to catch everything is excellent. He is

attacking on scraps at the moment and he is cutting angles off-line

and running into brick walls. Most offences will find it hard if...

Every 15 wants to be hitting out wide because there is space. At the

moment, it is not getting outside of Jonathan Davies. He is playing

extremely well with a lack of ball. Use all his frustration after that

rate. And he's sitting there just saying, try and pass me the ball.

That is why he is playing so well in defence because he's getting excited

in defence and attack and his whole game is about enjoyment. He is just

playing. Another man would love is just a play is Faletau. He never has

a bad game. He was superb again. He does everything well, I feel. He is

on top of every stat in the Six Nations. The work he does off the

ball, it is just incredible. He gets that one away. He understands, this

is against Ireland, they are caught short and you are thinking, this is

where you want the Welsh boys to attack, that is a fantastic tackle

on a full-back. And watch this, he is the first one there. Everyone was

hoping Tom James would score but as he gets tackled, the first one in

there to clear out is Faletau. I just think he's a brilliant player

and I would love to see him break from the scrum because he has all

the skills. His understanding of the game and how he reads it so well,

he's never injured. You are trying to curse him. Don't do it. The Welsh

hope you just crashed. You told me earlier he is the best number eight

in the world. I would agree. He's definitely right up there. For me,

it is his workrate. He is just constantly involved in everything.

What he does is he does not go to ground really early, he stays on his

feet. He has that ability to offload. I would like to see him

being supported more and then you would see a lot more off roads and

penetration through the centre. Offensively, he just works. When he

tackles, he gets up really quickly and goes off the ball. And Sam

Warburton also had a great game. Let's have a look at one of the

sets. Sam Warburton, straight back to form. Let's go and speak to

today's star at the bar, Mr James Hook. Great to see you, James.

James, I will talk to you about France because you are well

qualified to talk about France, having spent time living out there.

People have said this is one of the worst French teams in living memory.

What do you make of them? I have senior players, they have got the

talent, they are talented boys but they do not click as 18. -- as a

team. You can name all these boys, talented players, but they cannot

seem to put it together. I think they have to settle on a ten. They

seem to have a ten for everyday of the week the minute in France.

Settle on one and stick with him. Warren Gatland said he thought it

was brilliant. The boys are saying, he would. Will he be saying

different things privately to the squad? Will they be disappointed

with the discipline? Definitely. They got away with it against

France. Against England, Owen Farrell with his goal-kicking, they

will be punished. That will definitely be mentioned and it will

be a big focus point for them. We have heard sounds from the camp

saying they are trained to build a bit more flair into their template.

What would you like to see? I think they are trying a little bit but

with personnel I Jamie Roberts, he's so good at what he does, he is so

direct, he is not a Scott Williams type of player who can play that

expansive game. They are not going to change the way the play for

England and the foreseeable future either. Thank you, James. We will

come back to you later in the programme. The 6-nations stealing

all the headlines this weekend but there was a full round-up of Pro12

fixtures as well. The race for the play-offs is beginning to heat up.

40 tonnes of sand was needed when the champions came to Rodney Parade

on Thursday. The Dragons lead at half-time but a 73rd minute try by

Duncan Weir helped Glasgow take the spoils. Both teams were enjoying a

unbeaten runs before Saturday's match at the sports ground. It was

three tries apiece. Rhys Webb 's comeback from injury continues as he

made his first start of the season and made his -- scored his first

try. There was controversy as Sam Davies' try was ruled out for a

double movement. I think the Ospreys will feel very aggrieved if this is

not given. It is not. James Davies put in a man of the match

performance on his return from injury and scored his try. Last

week, the Scarlets beat Ulster and it looked as if they would enjoy

another victory in Edinburgh today with three tries in the first half.

When they met just over two weeks ago, the Scarlets won by a single

point but this time it was Edinburgh. The first half at the

Arms Park was a low scoring affair. 6-6 at the break and it looked as if

the Blues would lose their second home game in a row. The Blues soon

hit back with the try of the match by Rhys Patchell, who scored 18

points. Lee-Lo, he is looking to go through the whole. Inside to Rhys

Patchell. What a try this will be. Great work from the three quarters

line eventually resulting in the try. Irish provinces to get three of

the four play-off places with the Scarlets the top Welsh region. It

said it highlights of all those matches online. And we are in West

Wales next week as the Scarlets take on Treviso. Speaking of the

Italians, the national side welcomed Scotland to Rome yesterday. Many

were calling this the battle for the Wooden Spoon. Scotland arrived on a

nine-game 6-nations losing streak. They may just one change their

starting 15. The home side made four changes, and veteran hooker

Ghiraldini was restored to the front row. Wilson, abrasive runner, right

into the heart of the Italian defence. Tim Visser. Stuart Hogg is

just short but what a burst and what a bit of timing. And what a line by

John Barclay. Russell. Still Russell, who is on hand? Good work

from Dickinson. Into the corner. A try each for the flankers.

Sergio Parisse in midfield. This is Garcia. The support is excellent.

And Ghiraldini makes it. Johnny Gray. Russell. Seymour on the

chase. It looks like an injury but there is a break for Italy. Danger

here for Scotland. He spills it. And Scotland off the Hook.

Quick ball to work with. Bernardo. Edoardo Gori. Johnny Gray. Standing

in his way. Castrogiovanni looking to go round the side and work it

over the try line. Italy offside. Penalty advantage

being played. Maybe it will be enough for the Scots. Driven back

hard in the tackle. Laidlaw. Russell. Taylor. Stuart Hogg. And

then goes Seymour. He seals the deal. Putting an end to the misery

and lapped, ladies and gentlemen, is a smile. I think we can improve and

get better and I think that is the challenge that the players will see

and look at and look forward to and there will be a bazaar training.

There will be a different atmosphere. I think it just

validates a lot of the hard work that has been done. It has only just

started. They smile and a big sigh of relief for Vern Cotter. That was

Scotland's first championship win for two years. It has been a long

time coming. We were talking about Wales, I would rather be in the

position that we Ah Van the position that Scotland are in. Be that

ecstatic about eating Italy away, you have a realisation that we are

in a decent place. The most important thing about yesterday's

win it's that they back it up against France because you would

expect a team that can reach the quarterfinal of the World Cup, the

unlucky not to reach the semifinal, go to Italy and win. The progression

comes next week. They have had some real attacking weapons after years

of prodding three quarters. Some of them really came to the fore

yesterday. Yes, Stuart Hogg played exceptionally well. He is really

quick. He counterattacks a lot. He has a great step. This is the first

try for John Barclay. He looks to attack from everywhere. And then

Finn Russell takes the ball to the line every time. He has an arrogance

at ten, which I like. He engages the defenders a lot more as well.

Forwards either side of him and then he has distribution. This is a

lovely pass. That is the winner. As Alfie said, the relief that you

could feel coming through the television... Hopefully that will

give them the confidence. They have run sides close but they have made

errors all the time and they allow teams back into the game. Once they

get into the back -- last ten minutes, they get all nervous and

they have lost a lot of games they should have won. Maybe that will

give them a lot of hope. Much credit Mizdow today coach? His

securing what he wants to, the backlight straightens up from ten

and that is difficult to defend as a forward because you know there is

that threads are you slow your lines please up, so that is probably

catalysts to how they are doing when they go wide. For Kiwi coaches, they

need time, three or four years Dexia give what they're trying to do

because it is not just the focus on results, it's about a mindset change

and installing a culture, not only with the top team, but with the

nation so that you are getting talent coming through the entire

time. These boys are slowly getting time, Warren has had some time and

it will slowly get better with results. I think Scotland will

improve and they will probably beat the French, but they will get better

next year as well. I don't think they had the player to score tries a

few years ago, they didn't know what to do, it always been competitive in

the forwards but now the backlight are capable of scoring tries and

they will be difference. -- backline. Well done Scotland back to

Wales, and Judge Dredd 20s and women both faced French opposition this

weekend as well, Beth Clement had a keen eye on both.

side. Wales started with intent, the full-back crossing in the qualifier

and unconverted try within four minutes. With a Welsh defence

holding firm, France change to their forwards, number eight powering over

to even the score. The French took the lead early in the second half

with a penalty, Another outstanding win for the

under 20s and whisper quietly that they're on for a Grand Slam, Dylann

Lewis and Harry Killy join me. Congratulations. Dylann, that was

the third victory in a row but possibilities which is because it

was a top of the table clash? It was definitely good for us to kill and

get the result from last year taking it and losing twice, it was a good

step for the boys. That try was a thing of beauty from your own try

line, you are involved Harry, do not stand by your involvement, is that

the kind of philosophy Jason strange is trying to instil? Heads up Robbie

Blake? He encourages us to attack the ball, especially on turnover,

now that we did, but it wide and really go at teams. That is what

we've done well so far this year. You can see some of the dressing

room shops, there is clearly a good spirit? You look pretty happy.

Explain that. Richard will come in at the beginning of the cab and has

brought in some good philosophies, so he has brought in a song from

that the end of the game, so the boys are enjoying that at the

moment. It looked like it. Congratulations to the under 20s and

also congratulations to Wales women, completing the Queens week, three

victories against France this weekend, the first family will have

done that since 2008. Charlene Harris is with me, congratulations,

only a couple of hours ago, it must still be sinking in? Yes, but the

girls have been really excited just now. Huge right for us in the middle

of the campaign, with bloody campaign wide open, so off the back

of this when we have qualified for the World Cup in 2017. Massive news,

congratulations, it has blown the competition open, as you say.

APPLAUSE It has blown the Six Nations opener

because you are now joined second along with France, England are top

and you have them next, could be a title? I don't want to jinx it. We

will take every game as it comes, but again, last year we began, St

Helens and off the win today against France were going into that game

with more confidence behind us. That is two weeks on and it's a lot of

time for us to work on some things as well. Best of luck, you have the

back -- backing of everyone here and the entire country, so do the under

20s. Those move on and see how Eddie Jones does make England fear against

Ireland but now it's time for did you see that? They were nothing on

the pitch but dominate our awards like the French connection, our

first category. Moshiri Francois and his comedy moustache. George North

and his footballing skills, or not. Nice one, George. Congratulations

Robin McBride. Step forward Mike Brown, the lock. Three nominations,

French under 20s when Gabriel and randomly for a well-deserved red

card. A page of Frenchman for those and 20 years is not for those anthem

tears but the gong goes to Mr Francois, who has swept the board

this weekend. Let's get back to the action and

Ireland without a win after two rounds were hoping to get off the

mark when they took an unbeaten England. It was England's first run

out at Twickenham since they crashed out of the World Cup 149 days ago,

highly regarded Saracens forward Mahrez today made his first England

start. Eddie Jones had fired things up when he questioned Johnny

Sexton's fitness in the week. Joe Schmidt made five changes and debuts

for centres during the costly and openside just van der Spuy it. Here

comes the driving ball for England, just halted for a moment. You have

used that men used it once, Young's looked at other things available,

little fumble at the back. Vunipola is a way, nobody knows why he

stopped there. Vunipola crashing to the line, just out of the corner.

Andrew Trimble did his best to act like a speed bump. There is a very

ball again, and early test of what a man he is. What a power, eventually

taking down. England coming forward, and it George is there, getting

closer. Partly in the grass and England up to the line, just short.

They have it over, right on the line. The referee will look, it

might well be a try. You can see clearly a hand under the ball there.

No try. England knocking away again on the door and nearly getting

through, I live's defence is being tested. Haskel drives over, cannot

quite get it down, just as he went to stretch and get it over the try

line he was repelled and England have to try again.

That one goes to stand and on from Ireland.

Foul play against white. Haskel is off, England stand of 14 men for the

next ten minutes. The green shirts come thundering in again. Another

advantage penalty coming for Ireland because Chris Robshaw is coming from

the site, Ireland are driving towards the light, they are just

short. Conor Murray looking down the blindside. Throwing himself through

and he has got there, it is a try for Ireland. England closing in on

the Ireland line once again, they trailed by one point. The gaps

beginning to appear, but then the ball is spilled. It goes wide, it

will be a try. It is Anthony Watson who scores. Real pace about England

now. Once more, over the head of Haskel to Farrell. It will be a try,

Mike Brown this time, Brown is in. Nice little 1- do with Sexton out

into the open, wonderful play. Headshot for the line, what drives

this will be. No! Jag nor was covering tackle. What a moment in

this match. Seven minutes reining in this game, trying to barge their way

over, one was there. Van der Spuy, can he get its down? They celebrate,

but England say they are under the ball. There is no clear evidence

that the ball was grounded. We were just not clinical enough, we allowed

them to get a hand in at the break which slowed the ball down, made

some bad choices in front of the goal line, but they are things we

will improve on. This core was 21-10, we probably left ten or 15

points out, there is not a bad effort. Wales next on how much do

look forward to going to order told Warren Gatland? I told them at ago

that I will put a self-imposed media ban on myself so I will let Warren

do the talking. You won't be able to help yourself! I well, don't worry.

We will see about that, the victory means England are the only deemed of

13 from three in is your's tournament and the only seem to be

marketing still capable of Ram Slam, England against Wales is a big game

in the scheme of things. First verse is second and a probable winner

takes all. France dropped a third and Scotland leapfrog Ireland, who

have yet to record a win in this year's tournament. England ruled on

three from three, had he been impressed in what you seem? That was

probably the best match of the Six Nations so far. The Eddie Johnson

Warren Gatland thing is humorous, the Apple is having fun, look at how

relaxed they are. It is a different feel for what you use to. For me

what is showing, England scoring tries where they just walk it in,

meaning they are minute policing the defence so that they are getting the

numbers and is all going in for me you can slowly see Eddie Jones's

ethos coming through, you have the -- belly full Ebola running wide and

making enormous breaks and your number nine challenging around the

defence. Ayes Billy Vunipola. -- you have been the Vunipola. They're

playing what they can see and can gobble size. It hurts to say this

but they are looking quite good. Ominously so? Of improving game on

game? Yes, I think they have, part of me was glad they won yesterday

because it helps build up for the game to be interesting, especially

with England going for the Grand Slam. They have improved and they

have kind of gone back to a bit of a basic and have played a very

powerful game, they are very strong but because they have 12 complete

ten and two playmakers able to get the ball in a wide channel quickly,

that is where they make their numbers, if you're the Vunipola

making yards and it's easy to get white, I think Wales for the next

game will have to come the want to beat England, do something different

because I don't think we can beat England up, those days are gone. It

is a good England team and you have to bring something out. That we

haven't expected or seen yet from Wales. You mention Farrell, there

were doubts about whether they would work in the same backline is a

former attend you think it is working? Yes, they have played

together, rugby league backgrounds, they play flats to the line but I

think Farrell helps straighten up the attack, the scrum-half gives the

defence honest, then they distribute. Vunipola does the big

yards, again, defensively Jamie Roberts going down ten or 12 channel

against them is I agree with the boys, then they scorer wide quickly,

it is pointless trying to bash them, just smash over ten and 12. They

will have to defend Jamie in numbers, cannot see one of those

boys taking it down on their own. There will be an overlap somewhere.

Might we see the return of mild to allow any? Rumoured specifically for

the Wales game? -- Tuilagi. You don't want to sledger team to

counteract this threat of Wales come select your team to beat Wales. Joe

Worsley played against Wales and they picked him to play him then and

they won that game. Because, I think, they have such a dangerous

backline, you can almost come yet to Langley can play about you might

take the threat away if you bring it into him. I would love to see, and

I've played with Jamie, what he does for Wales, he does it well. -- to

Langley. The gift can pass everyone is expecting him to go down, give

him a reason to play and a reason to pass and have a go, rather than

being in the background, which he does well. As a decoy? They cannot

bring him into making visionary bench but he will not do that, it's

not what Eddie Jones is about, he does not believe in stars come will

not do that. My thing for Wales is to use Jamie with options, if he

will crash, have an option at the back because the only way you beat

the defence these days is to make the defender mentally challenged

himself, he has got to choose if he is going there are there and if he

makes the wrong choice then you are through, that is the problem with

the Welsh backline, there are challenging them. Hold that thought,

we will come back to this but we want is big but the Eddie Jones

affects, three games under him now, Sean Holley has been taking a close

look at what is making England's tech.

England have become the team to beat and they are still smarting from the

World Cup, but they are different animal than they were then and Wales

will have to be wary of their basic but very effective tactics. Both the

Vunipola brothers are weapons for England. Especially up the short

line-out. And they find themselves costing havoc in the wide challenge

is -- channels as well. A chance from Billy Vunipola to use all of

that might. Lovely off-load to score against Italy, then his brother out

in the Channel 4 at prop, great skills to score against Scotland.

Another renowned Saracen 's way is now the England way, with pressure

built by kick and chase, George Ford pumps the ball in the air, isolating

the back three players come on to using centres and full-back great

turnover, resulting in a try. At the other end of the field, the full --

will pack defence cheese is crucial, getting the kicker and hunting them

down for turnovers, creating their tries. They do not get a try then

they have a back four ready to attack and with people like Watson

and Mike Brown, they are real force. Stewart Hogg is trapped again, they

are very clever and ball outside his kicking foot and force him back

inside to strength. But England's subtle attack in shape with Ford and

Farrell as a combination takes the ball hard line. Look how close Ford

England claim the try. Now we know gets to the

England claim the try. Now we know about Dylann Hartley's disciplinary

record but I think Wales can pressure Hezbollah was welcome it

has happened in the early games and he gets frustrated, look at his

petulant response to miss line-out throw here. -- can pressure him

early game. Wingers Wales have won! Williams scores a

try to take Wales to their Triple Crown at Twickenham.