12/02/2017 Scrum V

Late the second weekend of the Six Nations, it Wales and England in

Cardiff. Wales take an early lead in the Principality Stadium. The Welsh

defence still holding out, until now. Which way for Webb, left or

right? Left, on his own. Never trust a scrum-half. He knocks it on. Wales

scores. And take the lead. Beautiful from Rhys Webb. Wales are showing

what they can do. Interception by Dan Biggar. And England scorer. It

has been an outstanding game of rugby. Wales, 16, England 21.

It was billed as the mother of all showdowns. 80 minutes of rugby, a

truly epic Test match. The disappointment of defeat. But we

have a great panel tonight in our green room. Please welcome Jonathan

Davies. Gwyn Jones. Peter Jackson. And Phil Vickery. And keeping us

company in the club, we have the ladies from Nelson. And we are full

to capacity tonight, because we also have the Wales under 20s and the

Wales women. James Hook is behind the bar. Shall we get the panel in?

Good evening, gents. Great to have you on board. Phil, this man in the

England shirt, the two of you are probably the only happy men in the

studio. It is a lot easier than I thought it would be tonight. For the

new club, author Test match. It is lovely. Sometimes big games are

hyped up and off the outcome and what is delivered as underwhelming

but I was in Cardiff on Friday night, and it was already, "Wales!".

People say to me, do you wish I still played and I say, no. I

watched yesterday, what an amazing occasion. Two teams and a lovely

thing was the confrontation, the physicality, the emotion and

passion, nothing silly. Two teams that just went for it until the

final whistle. Obviously delighted for England to get a victory at the

end but I think it was a lovely atmosphere. We all promote and love

our game and that, to me, you could bottle back up and put it out there.

So often on occasions like this, they are hyped up and they do not

always live up to expectation, but it did yesterday and some. It was a

great Test match. It was so tough. Everybody gave everything. We knew

how good England were, but I think Wales played exceptionally

yesterday. Better than they have done for a long time. It was just a

pleasure to be there and a pleasure to watch it. Did the right team win?

Well, no, obviously! But regardless of how we played, to make things

about it. We beat teams in the autumn, but we sat here largely

disappointed with the quality of the performance. Although we were

disappointed that we lost in the end, I don't think anybody thinks

that is a poor performance. It is so much better than anything we have

seen. We had pace in the game, we created and threatened and played

with the passion that we know we can. The other thing about the game,

I think we might remember it as the emergence of Moriarty in the back

row. He was just outstanding. And speaking of Moriarty, a clubmate of

yours, James Hook, at Gloucester. What a shift from the big man. He

was phenomenal. Boys like that, he was not just tackling them, he was

knocking them back two or three yards. He has been doing that all

season for Gloucester. He was the man of the match for me. He was

outstanding. And on the game itself, I was exhausted watching it. Have

you got your breath back yet? It was exhausting. We got the bus back this

morning but it was a great Test match that lived up to the

expectation. Just gutted we did not get the results. Before a football

was kicked, we said that mental toughness would see England through.

It probably did, but what else is why it in their favour? At one stage

I did not think that winning mentality would see them through.

Early in the second half, I thought Wales were going to win the game.

And then I was thinking that if they did, Ross Moriarty had to be a

serious contender for my man of the match. And then I looked up and Ross

Moriarty had been taken off. I didn't understand it for the life of

me then and they do not understand it now, but I sense that from the

moment he left the field, there was almost a discernible turning of the

tide as far as England were concerned. They came back strongly.

I think the game was won and lost not because England necessarily had

better players on the bench but because they made better use of

them. Every English substitute, particularly James Haskel, Ben Te'o,

and Jamie George, make them better. I thought every substitution made

Wales poorer. And everyone talks about the kicker did not go out but

was that the reason why? -- the kick that did not go out. The thing that

was impressive from England was the work rate of the ball. They did not

always get the ball stolen but it was making people work. Forget about

the tries, Farrell's pass... A brilliant pass. The whole thing was

phenomenal and you could not fault the work rate. You have to remember

that their finishers, starters and finishers, they are quality players.

They have the strength and depth. Looking at it from the start of the

match, you would think, right, that bench is going to make a difference.

Ben Te'o and all that. The Moriarty thing frustrated me because that boy

has a presence about him. I had never seen him play a bad game. I

would only have had to make players in my Lions team right now, all in

Farrell and Ben Te'o and Ross Moriarty. He was just phenomenal. We

will be talking about all of those things are little later. Shall we

see some highlights from yesterday? The match, like all matches this

weekend, started with silence for the man who lost his brave battle

with motor neurone disease is weak. -- this week. He wore Springbok

agreement like a second skin. Afrikaans was his mother tongue but

he was new and different. Strong, fast, and then we can then slowed by

motor neuron disease. He was brilliance in his pomp and brash. He

was inspirational in his decline. Juiced and West Houston, a giant in

his time at dawn way before his time.

-- Joost van der Westhuizen. He was told he can't make it. England still

have it. Jonathan Jones goes long. He makes the tackle. And here comes

Mike Browne. The Welsh defence is still holding out. Until now.

Cuthbert sets off in pursuit. Dan Biggar is there. Wales arrive. Two

meters from the line. It is brilliant by Knowle to save the day.

That was good play by England. Dan Biggar had no option. Alun Wyn Jones

stretchers. Which way for Rhys Webb. Left or right? Left, on his own.

Play on. England have won it illegally. Good show. Well done,

that referee. Can Wales turn pressure into points? Williams can.

Wales score. And they take the lead. Scott Williams wearers 12 and he is

the dummy runner. It opens up for Liam Williams. That was a great

dummy run. Rhys Webb. Evans sends it long. It goes to Jonathan Davies.

Davies is inside. Courtney Lawes, Davies, two Leigh Halfpenny. Rhys

Webb. Dan Biggar and Wales showing what they can do. A change of

direction. Mike Browne. He loses the ball again. The referee has to do

whistle to his man. But he is not sure. He says he is not sure and

England are a foot shot. They drive through the forwards. Ian is to go

digging for it. They have men over on the right. Interception by Dan

Biggar. Dan Biggar chases down, with Liam Williams inside him. Against

Davies. Great skill. What a game by Davies. It was all over for Dan

Biggar and he knew it. Brilliant, brilliant. It is OJ -- Itoje

delivers. Liam Williams has turned it over. The biggest roar of the day

as possession goes from England to Wales. Alun Wyn Jones. Wales, in no

rush but at some stage they will have to clear their lines. Jonathan

Davies. Straight down the middle of the field, towards George Ford.

England comeback. Owen Farrell. Elliott Davie Cooper had chances in

doubt. And he scores. -- Elliott Daly could put chances in doubt. A

brilliant kick. England, five points ahead. Wales have to score a try.

England could win this and to get off the park. Danny Care. It has

been an outstanding game of rugby. They remain unbeaten. England have

beaten Wales at the Principality Stadium. Wales 16, England 21.

So ultimately, joy for England and heartbreak for Wales. Let's find out

what the players and coaches had to say. Did the wrong team when? It was

an outstanding Test match. The intensity, the application of our

players for 75 minutes was outstanding. I thought it was a

great game of test rugby today. A really good contest all round the

park. A lot of credit has to go to Wales. I thought that the defence

was superb today. They hit hard and often. They worked hard off the

ball. Today, it was not enough. We can talk about the defence as much

as we like but we stopped tackling in the second half. It is a

difficult loss. I did not think we deserved that result. If we are

going to beat a team like England, they are doing well at the moment,

obviously they are on a good run and they have that winning habit. We

need to be focused and stay calm. We did not do that today. We have now

become a team that is hard to beat. We are gritty team, with character

in there, that know how to get beaten. We put them under pressure

and at times in the second half we felt that we allowed them that

opportunity to get out of pressure situations, and that is all

learning. But they are very good rugby team. Wales are playing well

and you have to give credit to them. That is the best I've them play. It

was only in the second half that we started to make mistakes and get our

speed together. In the first half, they had the lawless attack. They

kept the possession for a long period of time and it was difficult

to get the ball off them. You say that Wales were flawless in attack.

Typically differently to how you expected them to play? Not really.

They're half-back is a handful. He is a strong little hugger. And the

forwards carried well. Eddie Jones called you a strong little hugger.

Do you have in response to that? It means the world to me to win their

jersey. It was a shame that I came off at that six to five minute mark.

Were you surprised that Ross Moriarty was substituted as early

because he was causing so many problems? I want to say that I have

enough to worry about without worrying about Wales substitutions.

He played 70 minutes last week and I thought the bench had a huge impact

last week. As I said before the game, it is not number 102 when

you're playing rugby. It is a sport of 23 and the players are equally

important coming on and making that impact. We will be harsh on

ourselves next week because that is a victory that went missing for us

today, we believe. But we will rest up and recover and then we will go

again. It has been a fantastic performance, except for the last six

or seven minutes. It was a tough one, but you take that, you bottle

it, and we will use it in two weeks' time. We will speak to our panel in

a few moments but first, Shauna has been analysing the final points of

that defeat. What have you discovered? So much to be analysed.

But did England when it ordered Wales lose at? As Eddie Jones said,

they attacked extremely well. Well marshalled by Rhys Webb and Dan

Biggar. Take a look at Itoje here. That is the channel they are trying

to cut to get at George Ford. It was all about getting to him and getting

at the game line. Even with the ball, they cannot get to George

Ford. We know that they need to play Moriarty and Tipuric. And look at

Scott Williams going up against Ford. That is what Wales wanted to

do and get him across the game line. Now they can attack on the front

foot. Bigger is in motion and he has taken the ball to the line. The

England outside backs have to backtrack to get on the front foot

again. And it manifests itself in this scrum drive. Clifford is out of

play the cause Rhys Webb gets to be the ten. George Ford is looking for

defenders on either side of them. He is. It isolated is a great run for

Williams, out of nowhere. Joe Simmonds attracted by the outside

movement and Liam Williams does the best. Wales spend a lot of time on

their 22 and will be questions asked about some of the decisions to take

the set piece. They lost this Scrum V metres out and an opportunity from

the line-out went awry. In this particular set of phases, Alan win

was not executing. They are found wanting. Did they have a plan to

score once they were in the 22? On this passage, they spent two minutes

and 20 seconds in the 22. But I will ask, should James Haskell had been

given a yellow card here? Was it a turning point? Ultimately, the

difference in the tactics in the kicking game was a difference.

England, when they are under pressure, they are intent on kicking

off the field. Two points behind with nine minutes to go and Wales

were hell-bent on keeping the ball on the field. Even under pressure,

Dan Biggar kicks the ball in the field, inviting players like Mike

Brown to counterattack. With Wales under pressure, they have kickers in

place. Leigh Halfpenny gets there and it goes to Jonathan Davies. The

kick is on the field. England, chasing a win. Fantastic play from

Farrell. Does Jamie Roberts need to dive in and connect with Cuthbert?

Daily does the rest. -- Daly does the rest. Did England when it or did

Wales lose at? They put us under pressure, but I think we're just not

confident enough to win those type of matches at the moment. We are not

playing with the composure that we needed at the end. They are good

side, and we played well for long periods but we made some crucial

mistakes under pressure. We had a conversation on this sofa far two

years ago, saying that Wales did not play, Priestland, Dan Biggar, Plan

A, Plan B. Outside, looking in, I know that England won but from

outside, looking in, the intent yesterday, and the ambition, OK it

did not manifest itself in a win but that was a Welsh team where I can

see a massive transition. That is the difference. They played

differently, and the execution of those two passes that broke Daly on

the outside, there was enough time on the 22. To win Test matches, if

you have that much possession and that much time, they have to be

clinical and they have to score tries. That is the difference. I

think that we are trying to change it. The set piece was brilliant, and

a fantastic try. We need to try something differently because I

think that England have looked more confident with the ball in hand than

we did. I think we needed to take a breath and say, right, look at how

we can attack. We have to score in those situations to beat the top

three sides in the world. That is the difference. We are trying it, we

are playing differently, rather than rapid, rapid, rapid, but that is the

crucial missing element, the attacking and the creativity. There

are couple of things. We have turned down five opportunity points in the

championship so far and we have got nothing back for any of. As Rob

says, let the players make a decision on the field, well, they

are making the wrong decision. Let's take points when they are on offer

in a close game like that. The second thing that Sean alluded to,

we have had more than 30 phases of play in the last two games between

the five metre line and the try line in attack and we have not put three

passes together. I think back to Australia in the World Cup with 13

men, and against Italy, they were just waiting for us. And England

again, when Itoje was on the touchline, five metres out within

five phases they had put three long passes on the other side of the

pitch and scored a try. We are talking about small things now

because we have made a huge step forward, but these are the things

that will take us to the next level. If you look back at the 28th minute

or the 31st minute, you could say that Wales lost the game. Admittedly

it is to be wise after the event but you did not need to be to work out

that in a tight game, you kick goals. It is one thing turning it

down against Italy, a different matter turning it down against

England. If you look at the scrum penalty, Wales got penalised and

they lost it. Potentially six points had gone down the drain. With new

management, you have to understand... We all have degrees in

hindsight. The differences that you had your head down and your cars

out. The decision-makers are on the pitch. When you are under the cosh,

you have to look down and say, it is our fault. You put it in the stands

and then you regroup from first phase. OK, you have to plan to kick,

leave it in play, but three of your forwards have done four or five

tackles, smashed in rucks, and all of a sudden you have to say, hang

on, we need a breather. We need a breather, well yet into the stand

and regroup. He walked slowly to the line-out and then you reorganise

from first phase. That turnover from Williams, if we had cleared it, we

would have been under intense pressure. Everyone congregated to

the ball. There was no one out wide. That had to go to the stand. I take

it from the question that Sean asked, you think that Wales lost it.

Phil, I think we are feeling, as the lads alluded to, proud of the way

the team seems to be evolving. But for you guys, are you feeling

relieved, or have you used up all of the get out of jail card is? One

thing about Eddie Jones, he is brilliant at organising the England

team. The first game, they look tired, that is my responsibility,

can I prepare them better? They did looked jaded against France.

Everybody seems to write off the French team but they were not

exactly a bad team. It was a good Test match. The menu yesterday, I

think the challenge is for England, on the unbeaten run, less than 18

months ago it was doom and gloom. The world is going to end, and then

suddenly an unbeaten Grand Slam, unbeaten summer tour and then the

autumn series whitewash, going into the Six Nations, with the Lions tour

coming up, coming into Cardiff, what is going to go wrong? Everyone wants

to beat England at the best of times, let alone when they are on a

magnificent run. A lot of it is the mental side of it. There are things

which happened at the weekend for me, things that you talk about like

decision-making. Owen Farrell, asking the referee how much time was

left with 15 minutes left to go. England were calm. Injuries did not

matter. Guys came in and stepped up. Owen Farrell was just immense. All

day long. But so was Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes. I thought he

stepped up to the plate. But we have not talked about Dan Cole, and the

scrummage. I thought the scrummage went well with Joe Marler. That was

fantastic. All of the simple things. And Itoje, he is the most of

athlete. I stood next to him last week and he scared me. You mention

that, but I'm sure is scared of Ross Moriarty, because he cut him in

half. But him and Nathan Hughes, they both have the full brunt of

Moriarty's tackle, and we mention of the top on his sword to his salt

attrition mystified many. Talk to me about his contribution yesterday. He

has evolved into a genuine test animal. He is an old-fashioned sex.

A lot of these back rows are hybrid sixes and sevens. -- and old

fashioned six. He would've gone mental if that had been an

Englishman. What he does for us, he might not be in the game all the

time but he has big contributions that change momentum. He inspires

the team, getting the crowd in the team and changing the flow of the

match. We were all utterly confused as to why he was taken off

yesterday. Clearly, it was preplanned. They wanted Falatau on

even earlier. He has just made to enormous tackles, with a good run.

But hang on... He may not have another period in his career where

he is playing against England and smashing them. He has been taking

off. And you can see the frustration. Because it was Falatau.

I think that is the reason why. We know is quality and what he will

bring. At the end of the game, with all of that experience, he is just

phenomenal. But should you make that decision according to what you're

seeing? It is a telling point. I cannot believe that it is

preplanned. As a coach, you react to the game as it is unfolding in front

of you. Surely you do not take off a player who is hurting England every

which way, literally and figurative leap, and has got wheels on the

front foot? England could not believe their luck. Also, we all

know that Falatau is an outstanding number eight. But he has not played

since Christmas Eve so you replace arguably the most dynamic player

with somebody who has not played? But Falatau is world-class.

Absolutely world-class. If you are going to bring on anyone, you bring

him on. We had to pick man of the match yesterday, when he got taken

off we said, he is the man of the match. He was clearly the man of the

match. Irrespective of whether it was planned or not, we don't know.

It is all about the data. But for me, irrespective of the plans, you

do not take your best player off. And not only that, you look at the

work that Scott Williams did defensively. He was brilliant in

defence, and then they lost the momentum. Rhys Webb also, he was

controlling the game. Eddie Jones, when he brought on the finishers,

they did not seem to struggle. The energy levels, they did rise and if

you had to be critical of the Welsh team, it felt like when the

replacements came on it became more disjointed. It robs them of their

rhythm. That is it in microcosm. You agree that it was won or lost off

the pitch? I wouldn't say it was won or lost. They played with such

intensity, I do not think you could be expected to play for that long.

When England brought on fresh legs, we had to bring on replacements and

our replacements are not as good. But they didn't miss a trick when

substitutions were taken. They brought on one after 52 minutes,

nearly half an hour left to play. We agree with that. I am not saying

that, but you have to make some substitutions as the game goes on.

When you make them is the key decision. And that is what we

probably got wrong yesterday. The only substitute left on the bench

was Sam Davies and nobody is asking why he was not brought on, because

Dan Biggar had such a good game. He answered his critics.

He had a brilliant game. He was for man of the match, but you know what

he brings, 100% all the time, carrying it to George Ford, his

defence is incredible, right? His reading of the intercepts saved a

couple of tries. If you are picking down you know what you get, he will

never ever let you down. He is not the creative elements some day this

has got, so that again is selection and what you want to bring to the

game. Maybe it wouldn't have been fair to throw him on yesterday

because Wales were under the cosh. If we were in the ascendancy and

ball carrying with the momentum, that's when you throw him on. He

made a difference in Italy, I know they were dreadful but he made a

difference because he spots people, and that is a different player. He

is a tremendous talent. It perhaps would have been wrong to bring him

on yesterday because if it had gone wrong he was the person who didn't

quite make touch, and he would have been thrown under the bus. He is a

tremendous talent to have and it's exciting for Welsh rugby to see that

coming through. I want to stick on the topic of Dan Biggar because we

will now to speak to one who has won the Welsh number ten jersey with

pride and a fair bit of pressure no doubt. Let's chat about your mate,

Dan, he was phenomenal yesterday. He was outstanding. If you look at the

pressure he was under, whether Sam Davies would start, he has answered

his critics. I thought the interception would be the turning

point of the game but we lost the line-out. In attack you know what

you get with him. His hands were crisper yesterday, bringing Scott

Williams into the game. I thought he was outstanding and you have two

quality tends now competing for the shirt. On the sofa we Act like we

are surprised with Moriarty's performance but he was your

team-mate and we see that week in week out. He has been outstanding

all year for Gloucester and he just needed his opportunity. We have a

dilemma now, four into three don't go so it is a big call for the next

game, interesting to see how he goes. Have you spoken to any of the

boys? I have textured a few of them. They are all gutted -- sent a few

of. They review the video and see how close they were to beating a

quality England team. A lot of confidence to take into Scotland and

hopefully we can build on it and go forward. We will chat more later.

APPLAUSE. I don't think I have ever seen the

press room at the stadium as busy as yesterday, it was a genuine who's

crew of former international superstars and we caught up with a

fair few to get their verdict. I thought it was a fantastic

performance, probably one of the best I have seen from Wales for a

number of years, two or three notches higher. To me it was

reminiscent of the way we played in the World Cup when we had that never

say die attitude. We ask questions of them that haven't been asked in

the last 15 games. Let's face it, it was in Wales's hands, they were

fantastic 478 minutes. It looks as if Wales were trying to play with

more intent and free spirit, to create things get the ball wide or

change direction and just make things happen. They gave everything.

The conditions out there who are immense. It was so close and a great

opportunity to beat them. It must have been disappointing for Moriarty

to be taken off at the time he was. Obviously it was a preplanned move,

but you could have left him on, they were playing so well at the time.

Moriarty has grown into an international player. I thought that

was one of the turning points, Nathan Hughes in his pocket most of

the game and maybe unlucky to come at that point. England will be

battered and bruised this morning but if they go on to do things that

the World Cup they now have to win those big games away from home. I

thought the scrum wasn't as strong as spares, and the line-out we lost,

we lost composure, when Dan Biggar had the interception. They have been

a bit more creative this year, the Pratt platform, the scrum, the

line-out was good but it is always disappointed when you play against

England and lose. To win a game like that with a mistake, Jonathan Davies

missing that touch, I just feel for them. That ball needed to go off the

field. Get it off the field and rebuild. It came off the boot wrong

way and England were clinical. They did really well to have that

attacking option but certainly that ball goes into touch, we hold on for

the win. Alex Cuthbert couldn't quite get there. We question most

defensive mishaps but you have to applaud him and say well done for

getting there. There are other things you can take heart from. In

that respect it looks as if we are going in the right direction. At

long last! I'm going to come to you, Phil, on

the set piece. There were positives but we missed a few crucial

line-outs and scrums. What was your assessment on the battle up front. I

thought it was pretty good, the line-out perhaps suffered at the end

more when there was a communication issue and changes but I was more

impressed with England particularly at scrummage time because they

hadn't been scrummaging particularly well but Dan Cole and Joe Marler did

a great job. Look at the second rows, Launchbury, it is heavyweight.

In that sense they have been pleased because when you come to a bare

pitch like card if you need to do your basics. You talk about the

tries and the fancy stuff -- bearpit like Cardiff. Driving line-out play

from England was good as well. Always felt in control. I never felt

nervous at home watching it so credit to the guys for that. One

area Wales has undoubted supremacy was the breakdown, eight turnovers

against two. England's back row despite being good individuals were

inexperienced at test level. There were no jackals yesterday because

the referee allowed them to hold the ball on the floor so it was more

ripping the ball and the team did that well. Warburton pinched to

tackle area -- a tackle area. I think more it was the confrontation.

We were passive when they were good and then they we had that 15 minutes

of supremacy. We soaked it up then once we stood our ground and started

hitting them back that's when we were good. The back row debate will

be interesting. The best player so far, probably Moriarty, the

second-best, Warburton, then it becomes a decision between Fala

Tawau or Tipuric, Tipuric, man of the match against South Africa,

played very well this year. In the physical games I am sure he has

physicality to impact the game often enough early on, and perhaps he is a

bench player in those games. That question now is, shall we play the

two sevens, six and seven, that is gone. Moriarty six, Faletau is seven

or eight, then he has to make a call on the two sevens. Simple as that,

the balance is better, Moriarty, Faletau and that is job, he makes a

call. Let's discuss this in more depth as we look ahead to the next

game, team selection for that. The men's team as discussed didn't get

over the line against England despite the valiant effort. Let's

find out how the under 20s and women's team got on as well.

COMMENTATOR: They have had a lot of success with the kicking game.

Lovely kick over the top, Jones collect fund scores. That is a great

try from Wales. -- collect and scores. Good hands again by Butler

clearing away from the tackle, getting the ball away. Mercer with a

straight drive once again. Penalty given away by Wales. Then quickly

taken by Randall, and they don't need advantage because Harry

Randall, the former Wales under 16 captain, as England's first try.

England are full of running now, lovely ball to Mercer once again, it

gets the past. Bounces off tacklers. England have picked up the pace,

plenty of men going left, need to carry on the same way. Mullis gets

it away. The try comes to England. Mercer slips it. He is still going,

Mercer, all the way to the corner, pop it back inside to Bayliss! On

the try line. This could be the killer blow for England. Mercer

spins, reaches, and makes it! , COMMENTATOR: England looking to

create space in midfield, they could have an overlap, Waterman has Wilson

- Hardy outside her, Wilson Hardy is in, and has scored the first try,

third minute. Maclean and Hand combining yet again, Waterman has

Wilson- hardy outside her going for the corner, and using strength as

well, but just repulsed a couple of metres out, the try therefore

Danielle Waterman in the corner. Scott picks it up, still there, out

to Maclean, she has a Amy Wilson Hardy with a run for her second try.

Hunter brought down a couple of metres out. Can England get it wide

yet again? Maclean, out to Lydia Thompson, and that will be the

Worcester winger's hat-trick. Final score here than at Cardiff Arms

Park, Wales 0- 63 England. So a bitter pill to swallow for the

Wales winning team but they have fronted up tonight and are in the

house with Sean Holley. I have members of the 20s and the

women with me here, I commentated on both games, a tough day at the

office, and you are facing a professional outfit on fire on the

day. Yes, credit to England, they are professional and are also world

champions and played that way yesterday. They were outstanding. We

are disappointed with how we played and our performance but also credit

to the crowd, we had a great crowd and they kept us going till the end.

Good occasion, Sian, a lot of experience, in the England side,

what will you learn? Loads of experience from England, current

world champions with Olympians in there. Lots of experience. We came

second place in a lot of little battles which led to that result. We

will regroup and bounce back, and a lot of wrong is to put right so we

are looking forward to the next game. Scotland next, Rowland

Phillips has his hands full, what can we expect? We said after the

game we will not let one game define us and we will definitely pull

together. We are a really tight family, and going out to Scotland

will be tough because they are pretty decent this year, they are a

good team, but we will remain confident in our ability. Good luck

in Scotland, over as the 20s, Calum Bradbury and Shane Lewis Hughes.

Great atmosphere, big crowd and for a large amount of time you put

England under pressure. We are at standing at the beginning putting

the boys under big tackles, but we let ourselves down and conceded

three tries. We will bounce back and are looking forward to the next

game. It is a young squad against an experienced England side, what is

the feeling like in the camp? We are a young squad but very keen to learn

as individuals and team, and playing a team like England, it is a good

experience for us boys to take on, playing with such a packed crowd. It

is great but as you said it is a long way to go in the championship,

so still early days. Good luck to everybody for the next game, back to

you, Sarra. APPLAUSE.

I think it is worth mentioning that it may be 3-0 to England this

weekend, but two weeks ago Wales's deaf teen beat England 23-12 at

Sardis Road, so we have one. Well done. Shall we have some Pro12

action? Billy continued this weekend, all four Welsh regions

taking part and here are the highlights.

The Scarlets leapfrog Glasgow into fourth place with an impressive

victory. Despite the home side going headfirst the visitors fought back,

Tom Williams with the first of two tries. The second soon followed for

James Davies who proved the rock in defence.

Pro12 leaders Munster made it 14 wins in 15 games with a bonus point

victory over the Dragons in Cork. The men from Quins didn't help

themselves with this try. Conway gathers, the bounce is kind, and

Andrew Conway scores Munster's second try. It was the home team who

dominated proceedings. Rhona Nemani cutting through the Dragons defence

for Munster's sixth try and 45-17 victory. He in under the posts for

try number six and it is emphatic from Munster.

The Ospreys, currently second, ran in six tries against bottom of the

table Zebre despite being behind at half-time. This was Dan Evans's

first try. His second as he breezed their nonexistent Italian defence.

-- breezed through. His hat-trick came after Luke Price pass. The

final score in Italy, a convincing 40-10 win.

Connacht came from behind to beat Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park to

complete the league double over the Welsh region. It was the home side

that got the early lead, Nick Williams with his second try for the

region despite the decision going to the TMO. Matt Healy then took his

opportunity for the visitors just before half-time to close the gap,

having been left alone on the wing. In the dying minutes of the game,

Connacht had their opportunities to seal the win, but it was left to man

of the match I Halloran to secure the drop goal, although there was a

late penalty for the visitors as well. 19-13 the final score.

So here is the Pro12 table after 14 rounds of action. Munster remain top

of the pile following the big victory over the Dragons, the

Ospreys hot on their heels. Important as well, Scarlets leapfrog

Glasgow into fourth place, back into the play-offs, the Blues seven

despite the last-minute defeat to Connacht and the Dragons in tenth.

Back to Six Nations, and narrow win for France against Scotland in Paris

earlier this afternoon, so let's have a look at how the Six Nations

table looks after two rounds. Wales have dropped from top down to third

after the defeat, France moved to four, Scotland slipped to fifth, all

three teams on five points though, Ireland after their impressive

display in Rome go from this up to second and reigning champions

England top on eight points. One man who will be devastated by that

result in Paris this afternoon is former Scotland scrum-half Andy

Nichol, watching the game from Paris studio, and sent us his thoughts on

the final whistle-stop yellow Scotland can continue their

victorious start the RBS Six Nations after an attritional physical battle

in Paris. It was a huge French pack that dominated possession and field

position. Scotland showed great bravery and courage in defence but

couldn't stop the juggernaut that was the French team here. A good try

in the first for Scotland with Stuart Hogg again with his dazzling

feat many faces, then in the second a good bounce to the ball for Tommy

Seymour to set up Tim Swinson, but other than that they couldn't get a

foothold in the game just because of the physicality. Many injuries as

well, Greg Laidlaw off injured, John Barclay, John Barclay, John Hartley,

so in two weeks it will be Murrayfield. Wheels come off the

defeat to England at home, Scotland come off the defeat in Paris, but it

is always a great game when the Welsh come to Merrifield and I am

looking forward to it immensely already. Fighting talk at the end.

He was still smiling but ultimately Scotland's 18 year wait for a win in

Paris goes on, and as he mentioned they were outmuscled by that

enormous French pack. Some things never change. They were smart in the

way they beat Ireland and at one stage I thought that would continue

today. Controversial decision in this game, disallowing a try, what

is downward pressure, what isn't, I thought the try was good but it

wasn't given so probably on this occasion the best team won, but

Scotland- Ireland I thought was a great game, probably superseded in

terms of intensity by what England and Wales did yesterday, and I think

Scotland- Wales in two weeks will be another humdinger. What are we

making of this French side? You feel what the French need is continuity

in performance, and they seem to be getting that now. They have identity

back, the frustration of the French of recent years has been what are

they? The scrum is not great, they can't keep looking back but the

thing at the moment you can see if the embryonic stages of almost a

classic French team, big, powerful men running hard, aggressive ball

carrying, off-load, pace out wide, it is not particularly well groomed

all strategic, it looks chaotic, but you get excited when you watch the

French team. That is important because I feel they lost their

identity. The other game at the weekend, Italy- Ireland in Rome,

63-10, an absolute spanking, Ireland so furious after losing to Scotland

they would always take it out on the Italians, wouldn't they? They were.

We know Ireland are a good side. Probably put into context how good

Italy are as well. When you move them around to play with pace they

cannot cope with it. Conor O'Shea has an enormous job and it brings

into question whether Italy should play with Georgia to be in the Six

Nations, and the longer it continues to be totally one-sided, the fate of

Italian Rugby hands in the balance. That is an interesting point, the

relegation. I have strong views on this, I personally think us of the

game, Six Nations, whoever is in charge, someone somewhere with a

suit on, we have a responsibility with Italy to make things better and

help them, it is not just about writing cheques. We have gone

through two cycles of players now and are Italy's players better than

when they started? The answer is they are not so what are we doing is

going to help them? Italy were as bad yesterday as they have been at

any stage and when this man was in the England team and they were

winning by 80 they were not competitive, missed 37 tackles which

I think is more than England, Wales and Ireland missed between them. How

long do you give Italy? In Georgia, they are saying, how much more do we

have to do to get in? Promotion and relegation has to come sooner rather

than later but it should be loaded in favour of the Six Nations team.

If Wales or Scotland have a bad team -- season they should have the home

advantage, so if you don't win that you have no excuse to say they're

not good enough to continue. Let's look ahead to Scotland - Wales. I

will come back to you in a moment, Quinn, about the front row

configurations. You mentioned your concern about the continued lack of

creativity, Jonathan. The reconfigure the field or the

half-backs partnership? Scott Williams was brilliant yesterday and

Jonathan Davies had one of his better games for Wales, he hasn't

played well for the region but he had a very good game yesterday. They

have improved. The question is, how can you work the 10-12 axis. The

only way is maybe picking a ten in 12 positions. You have Owain Fon

Williams, maybe Dan Biggar there because he is big enough to play on

the 12 position. That is the only thing. We just need the composure

and the creativity to get over the line. Would you do that for

Scotland? It is difficult, where do you start Sam, it is still very

difficult with Scotland- Ireland and France coming up -- Scotland,

Ireland and France, big matches. It is a tough call. Unless I am in the

training camp I don't know if I would do it. Look at the England

scenario before the game yesterday, Jack Leopard coming in, you don't

get a bigger game than Wales away, should he or shouldn't he play --

Jack Clifford. We didn't mention his name but it was his big game. My

point is that some point if Wales are to change players... I think

they needed 10-12, whether Scott Williams or Dan Biggar, Owen

Williams and Sam Davies. Unfortunately training that is the

one element that is missing and the important one to get over the try

line. We were a huge step forward yesterday in terms of being

generally more of a threat. I wouldn't change too much after that,

I take your point we need to score more tries. In the 10-12 stuff, I

wouldn't be surprised if England move Fallon into ten. I used to

watch Ti'o play in Australia, he is brilliant, but they have had

Tuilagi, had they had him, maybe they wouldn't have fallen on Ford

because he is a big fan of him. He is familiar with the Australian way

of playing. Eddie George likes the footballing commendation. Scott

Williams has been the most creative world centre for about four years

now and again he was taken off, would presumably be able to keep

going, though what scares me is the fee -- about the future is the

paucity of alternatives. Rout Rob Howley picked seven or eight

uncapped players and I thought none would feature in the Six Nations,

and you'd think, is that window dressing? I think... I will not

blame Cuthbert, he was taken out by the perfection of Farrell's pass, so

I will not criticise Alex but I would have picked Evans yesterday.

In the full-back position, I know they picked Halfpenny because of the

defensive qualities and the running. OK, so when we defend, put Leigh

Halfpenny at full-back, when we attack, swap smoker, we did with

Paul Thorburn and Adrian Evans so it is not difficult, is it? What

worries you most about this Scotland site? Fin wrestle a couple of weeks

ago was talking about the feed Vern Cotter gives them to play. That is

presumably a daunting prospect. Scotland have always competed up

front, always. They kicked their goals. The one thing lacking for

over a decade is the cutting edge behind. Now they have that. That is

a problem. They will score tries, with Finn wrestle and Stuart Hogg,

they will create things. That means we will have to score as well to

beat them. That is the problem, they have confidence from the Glasgow

side, creativity, freedom given by Townsend and Cotter, so they will

look at Wales and say, we will win. Gents, we have to leave it there,

thank you for your time. Jonathan Davies everyone, Gwyn Jones, Peter

dextran and Phil Nicholls. APPLAUSE. Thanks to be under 20s, the women

and Sean Holley, that's all we have time for this evening I am afraid

that if you want more there is a Facebook Live after the programme

with James Hook and Sean Holley. An epic weekend, a titanic tussle in

Cardiff, a humdinger of a game, Wales had to settle per second best

this time. We will see you next week.

CHEERING. APPLAUSE. It's amazing how many people

still remember him as "David Parry-Jones,

the voice of rugby in Wales." If I wasn't here,

of course he'd be in a care home. And, really,

I can't see him in a care home. Beti George asks if more can be done

for couples like them. There really needs to be

a revolution in dementia care.