26/02/2017 Scrum V

The kickers did not want to. We went for the corner. You must give a lot

of credit to Scotland. They showed a hell of a lot of character. They

kept pressing in the second half. In the end, they definitely deserved

the win. They should have credit for that. We have about 100 Welsh people

in the house and one lone Scotsman. That is worth around of applause!

Andy Nicol... I was about to say can you have sat on the seat many times

looking forlorn and defeated. Ten years in a row Wales have beaten

Scotland. You have every right to look smug. I would gladly have

walked from Edinburgh to Cardiff. It has been a long time coming but

there have been painful times in the ten years.

have sat here at the start of the campaign saying to win matches you

need to be able to score 30 points. Scotland scored 29 against us and 27

against Ireland. Three tries against Ireland. We scored one try against

England and Scotland. The other trouble has been substitutions. We

make bad substitutions early against England and yesterday it was crying

out the substitutions when the momentum was leaving us. We feel to

do that. Picking up on the point about the two halves, what is it

about the second half? Wales scored three points in the second half

against Finland and no points against Scotland. Up to half time

you thought there was no way Wales was going to lose. It took about 30

minutes Scotland is to realise we are as good as this lot of not

better. When Scotland upped their game Wales had no answer to it.

Sometimes we can be too busy condemning the team without

applauding the team that has got it right. Many people in Wales want

appreciate this sentiment but what happened yesterday was a marvellous

thing for the Six Nations. Scotland have taken 20 years to become a

serious team and it's wonderful for the game in a part of the country

where they are constantly fighting against Celtic and Rangers that

Scotland have come up trumps. I go to matches and I think I've seen it

all but I obviously hadn't. A Welsh captain saying I wanted my kickers

to kick for goal. In that event why didn't you tell your kicker to go

for goal. In 1975 when Wales lost 12-10, Phil Bennett came on as a sub

and Mervyn Davies said kick the ball and you said now I've only just come

on and he said kick the goal and you missed it! It was calling out for

leadership in the second half. How disappointed I use that that wasn't

then. We were very good first half and we looked like creating tries

and I thought Sam Warburton and Justin to brick combined well. I

thought Rhys Webb had a great 40 minutes. I thought he played himself

into the British Lions squad yesterday. Then in the second half

why they didn't pick this man who came on as said, the Michu on, he

destroyed our ball the deck. He got there before war but in and we made

mistakes. The handling was far better. When you hear Alun Wyn Jones

saying that Dan Biggar had said he's not going to go for goal that is

incredible. When you are captain and he tells you to go for gold YouGov

goal. Sean Holley has been poring over the tapes and he has discovered

what went right for Scotland and what went wrong for Wales. A lot of

frustrations around yesterday and it was all about the second half. Wales

had plenty of opportunities particularly in that second half.

Here we see a great break. A good angle from Jonathan Davies and give

credit to Rhys Webb for the support when he makes on the inside. Dan

Biggar is on the outside. Can he bring one of these four players in

to finish on the space either side. From this line at an old Wales ploy.

All the backs are in their butt captain Alun Wyn Jones is penalised

for blocking at the front. And was it wasn't it? Rhys Webb a fantastic

game. But the TMO showed this was not to be. Scotland seemed to grow

whereas Wales capitulated. It was error after error. A knock-on here

from Scott Williams. Luke Charteris spills in the 22. Toby Faletau tried

to get individual in the 22 and Hamish Watson on it over the ball.

17 turnovers against Wales which was uncharacteristic. Look on the inside

for Scotland, Jonathan Davies is now lost, George North is worried about

the sharp Stuart Hogg and that is enough for the Dutchman to get over

for a great school. Look how canny Scotland were. Rob Evans and Alun

Wyn Jones are held in by Fraser Brown. They did this all game and

created a lot of frustration. They now can't fold around the corner.

Rhys Webb is in on the tackle but watch was John Barclay does, the

holes on the floor. Now again Alun Wyn Jones have not got around the

corner to create that little bit of wit that Liam Williams needs to make

a better decision. There are too many options to defend and it's a

sublime finish from Tommy Seymour on the wing. We look at those examples

and the words that come back is composure, accuracy. Their execution

deserted them. Yes and not for the first time. We are not scoring

enough tries. I don't think we have made of evolution. It's hard to see.

Scotland burst into the game on the 30th minute when they took a quick

line-out and through two very long passes. We don't play rugby in our

own half. We kick it up in the year. The game is moved on. We have talked

about before a long time. Wales used Justin Tipuric a lot in the front of

the line-out. Then we send Scott Williams down the ten channel so

Justin Tipuric is out of the game. If we are going to use Scott

Williams like that we may as well pick Jamie Roberts. We have talked

it up but I don't necessarily see we are making the evolutionary steps we

need to to open the game up. We spoke about those points in the

autumn. If we can see it then why cant people closer to the team. I

went to a meeting in the principality and Robert Harley was

talking about evolving. They blew us away, the All Blacks in the third

test. That one thrashing we had against Australia in the first game

of the autumn series put us back and put Rob Howley on the defensive and

we had to go back to the old ways of doing. We have not evolved at all. A

great servant for Wales, great player, but to see Jamie Roberts

coming on as sub yesterday said it all for me. Where are the young

kids? Whereas we have lost composure, you guys grew in

confidence. Hamish Watson was phenomenal, -- at the breakdown.

There was a key moment when it was 13-6 and Leigh Halfpenny missed that

penalty. Although it didn't result in a try it gave Scotland the

confidence at half-time to say this is how we need to play. But that

point Wales had dominated the tackle. Alun Wyn Jones and Ross

Moriarty made a big hits and Sam Warburton was getting over the ball.

In the second half they are at their game. Scotland had a variety of

attack. There were long passes, short passes, they were loops, they

were Danny passes. When Wales had the ball they were just very

predictable. It was too easy and there was nothing there. Sam Davies

had to come on before he did because it was only when he came on there

was any variety in attack. I've been saying from afar, and that needs to

change. Over the last three fixtures we've seen this recurring theme of

turning down points. Alun Wyn Jones said he wanted to go to the points

but the kickers overruled. Let's have a look at exactly what

happened. Dan Biggar overruling John Lacey

there are free and his captain. It may be misleading to fixate on one

morning -- moment but we all know how momentum plays a part in

international rugby and had they kicked that they could have levelled

at 16 all. It was a classic example of how Wales had lost the

leadership. The captain has to telling you have to take that kick.

He has to be decisive. He didn't and it all unravelled. In many ways the

most telling shot of all was the one of Wales head coach sitting with his

Lions kick in the stand. My views are well known on this. I don't

think Warren Gatland should be with the Lions, he should be with Wales.

That is a massive job to be done. Once Wales realised they had to

evolve their game, he should be with Wales. Wales have done more than

their share of the Lions and there was an overestimation of Wales'

capacity to do well in this tournament. I thought before the

tournament they would do well to win two games. I don't see where the

second one will come from now. Rob Howley, it's a tough world. You can

win the Premier League in football and it doesn't guarantee your job so

for Ireland and France he is fighting for his job. The Warren

Gatland issue comes up time and again. He's going on a second Lions

tour along with Rob Howley Neil Jenkins. Treble Townsend was sounded

out and he did not take the opportunity. The think Warren

Gatland should have taken a longer view and should have stick -- a step

to the day job. The president was set four years ago and Rob Howley

took over and you won the championship. It was Warren's

decision and he wanted it. I don't think Wales have evolved in those

four years. Warren Gatland has been coach of oil to nine years with that

coaching team. The coach has always go at shelf life and I wonder have

they got to that. In Scotland Fearne Cotton is leaving after two games

having dinner great job and Craig Lawton Townsend is coming in. This

is not the end of the job, the Scotland team is in the middle of

its development. Both our countries are at opposite ends of the

spectrum. The coaches have overstayed their welcome and in

Scotland were getting rid of one too quickly. I just think that Andy

knows far more about Scottish rugby but I watch Glasgow quite closely

and week in week out the play the best rugby in the Pro12. Its

outstanding 15 man rugby. They play with style and pace. Townsend will

become the next Scottish coach and I can see them going from strength to

strength. What worries me is when you look back at the bloodshed

Williams. James Hook is still playing, Gavin Henson is still

playing. When you look at the Scottish back three and that Stuart

Hogg, he looks up and has a go. The Welsh back three normally dealt a

downfield and that has got to change. Are the Welsh team not given

enough freedom because I spoke to Finn Russell a few weeks ago and he

was talking about the freedom the coaches give them as a team to play

what's in front of them. Is that a reason why? It's part of it. Rob

Howley has also been in charge with Warren for those years. The success

of Scotland are getting is built on the way that Glasgow play. When Finn

Russell gets the ball and Stuart Hogg is in the backfield everyone is

on edge. You know something is going to happen. That has come through and

it's taken them a while to come through with Scotland. We are

predictable, we are physical and direct. The only way you can change

things is either change the way you play with the tactics that the

easiest way is with personnel and we are in the same position now as we

were before the autumn. We have not learnt anything and we have not

developed any players. We had a glimmer of hope in terms of the

intensity against England and if we had played with that intensity

throughout the champion ship we would have been mid-table but we

will struggle to get there now. What frightens me, I look back at the

Black Tom Prydie, Hallam Amos, Tyler Morgan, Ashley Beck and all those

young men coming through and we have seen no sign of them. We had a great

chance in the autumn series to play those young players. After that

first loss against Australia Rob Howley went on the defensive and

picked the tried and trusted. But we did have some guys on the bench or

could have made a difference. Rob Howley was castigated for taking

Ross Moriarty of two early last week but yesterday the knot bringing on

the impact players when there was time to turn the game around. Sam

Davies should have been on ten minutes earlier than he was. In the

end Wales' locker was so empty that the brought on the old warhorse

Jamie Roberts who has been a wonderful player. He is the last

shot they have got to fire in a losing cause. Who would've thought

you could lose the half 20-0. I love the Finn Russell and the way he

plays with a smile on his face and he is prepared to take chances. He

plays like a Welshman. It concerns me. For me I thought Gavin Henson

was probably the best midfield player Wales have had over the last

12 years and it's a crying shame he has only played 30 odd times for

Wales. He had a good game for Bristol today. He is 34 years of age

now. I think in many ways Gavin will admit his is an unfulfilled talent

audition at international level. But where are these new players coming

through. We've batted Alex Cuthbert because of his defensive

deficiencies but what about George North yesterday? Sometimes you

wonder about the attitude of these players. It ceases to amaze me. The

skill set, coaches are there to improve the skill set. With the best

will in the world level not seen any improvement in the Welsh skill set.

We saw the passes going astray and the fumbles and the lack of

decision. Going back to the attack, the attack us to be a collective

attack. It's not about individual brilliance, that is the result of

the space that has been created. You add Rhys Webb and Liam Williams why

the only two players with any creativity. Scotland now have Finn

Russell, Ali Price, Hugh Jones, Tommy Seymour, Stuart Hogg with two

sublime bits of skill with the grubber kick and the pass under

pressure to Tim Visser. Scotland have now got a collective attack.

Townsend has forged a lot of that through Glasgow. Both were asked by

Warren Gatland to be attacked coaches for the Lions and the

attacked coaches Rob Howley and you look at yesterday and is it the

right decision? We have heard about from our guests but let's hear from

the experts who were at the ground yesterday. Today I thought we were

in control. We had good possession and territory. Our defence was

strong. But unfortunately we're not creating anything and we don't look

like scoring tries. International rugby has moved on. It's all about

creating and scoring tries. Scotland learned their lessons from the first

half. It wasn't about getting the ball wide, they didn't give us

opportunities to turnover as easily as we did in the first half. They

build pressure on us. Scotland to be fair to them scored two wonderful

tries. Wales had some decent line breaks but they couldn't continue or

retain the ball to make a good attacking to try. I don't think

anything happened in that second half would have been from coaches

orders. It's a case of keeping it tight, stay in the game and try and

make Scotland make errors. We didn't do it. Ten minutes into the

second-half Scotland have a lot of momentum and we needed to do

something. If you are looking to change something that ten is the

obvious one to do that. Justin Tipuric around the half-time period

was fantastic. A turnover on Hugh Jones was brilliant. Rhys Webb

worked his guts out. He was unlucky not to score. There were some

positives but although the guys went off script and locks composer. --

lost composure. I think the pack have got to step it up as well. The

front row have got to get more involved in the game around the

field. It was like a holding operation in the scrum today and we

have to find a way to fire up the pack as well as getting the backs to

take their chances. Let's speak to someone who has

always got plenty to say for himself. I am falling all over the

place! Let's hope he hasn't drunk the bar dry, have you, Craig?

Malabar and Coke? I have a gin and tonic after. You're a Welsh rugby

fan like the rest of this now so what was your assessment of

yesterday? It was a hard game. If the kicker is not confident, you

don't kick, you say, OK, we go to the corner and score. Being a big

fatty upfront you relish the chance is, you don't have to run 95 yards,

you only have five yards. You blame Alun Wyn Jones for going with his

kickers? If the kickers don't want to kick it you go to the corner but

you go with confidence. Why do you not want to go to the corner? You

want to push them over, do whatever you have to do, but have confidence

in doing it. You have been in this position like the Welsh boys are in

now, off the back of a bad defeat. Yes! They will be feeling so much

pressure, everyone has an opinion, how will they be dealing with this?

It will be hard, they have two weeks before the next game, they could

prove -- would prefer next week so they can put it right but it is hard

for them. They don't seem to enjoy it when they are winning so losing

will be worse. We don't play any rugby so where is the fun in chasing

the ball in the air and just hitting it up? Chase the ball wide, spread

the field, get running around, enjoyment. You get ten Russell, big

smile on his face, Hogg, smile on his face, Williams smiling when he

runs, that's all they want to do, play rugby, and I don't think we do

it. For the rugby fans to get that enjoyment, what changes would you

make ahead of Ireland? I don't know, it's difficult to make changes now

because we have played the same rugby for 89 years as the boys said.

We are too late to change, we should have made it last summer and brought

fresh coaches in. You know Rob Howley well. I do. Our defence was

outstanding. The players attitude is fantastic. It is brilliant what they

do on the pitch. It is just fine tuning and the way we play and that

has to be down to the coaches. Can be fixed in a fortnight? No. How

about that? Craig Canal, everyone. APPLAUSE.

-- Craig Quinnell. According to Craig Little to cheer in Murrayfield

yesterday but the under 20s and women have ambitions of their own in

Scotland. Here's how they got on. COMMENTATOR: Can Wales score of

their first attack? The drive, a powerful one, Scotland struggling to

defend it, Wales at the line and they are over. Going a little

sideways, difficult control for Harris, can she pick up? The ball

just short of the goal-line and the referee goes straight underneath the

posts for a penalty try. Thomson with the charge, lovely angle. On

the hour, pick-up, going herself, lovely off-load to Law, and the try

for Lloyd. That is another penalty and a chance for Scotland. This

could be a winning shot. From Law. Our scrum looked superior and our

line-out was good, it is just our discipline let us down. COMMENTATOR:

Only three four metre short, a route one ball, and is it a try for

Cameron Lewis? No problem with the line-out again, taken off the back

by number eight, a simple walk-in for Baldwin. Jones does well to get

it to back-up, I the halfway line, defensive ball, and he does.

Cutout pass finds the number eight. He gets over the line and the

pressure tells for Scotland. He kicks and finds green. A try for

Wales, and Williams, in the shadow of the posts of Scotland. Form an

orderly queue at the moment for Wales, they look to be over the

line. Steaming up towards the posts. The

referee awards try. One more pass should do it, and it does for Wales.

And a bit of a break. Hutchinson, one of the replacements, still

going. It's going to be a Wales try.

Pleased overall, I thought it was excellent to watch, real pressure,

some of the tries we scored, scored 65 points away from home, full

credit to the players. APPLAUSE.

A real bounty of points for the under 20s. That takes them back into

the top half of the under 20 in the Six Nations table. England and

Ireland leading the way, both unbeaten, England reigning supreme

with maximum points from their first three fixtures. Similar story for

the women, England and Ireland leading both joint on 14 points but

England ahead on points difference, Wales force after that agonising

last-gasp defeat against Scotland. And there has been some Pro12 action

this weekend of course and big results, let's look at the

highlights, starting with the Ospreys at the liberty this

afternoon. -- the Liberty. COMMENTATOR: He has missed this time

that good off-load. Fantastic pick-up from Howells. Giles, he is

away, you have to credit the try their for Howells. Incredible

pick-up. Jones making his presence felt. Matavesi, Giles, spins this

time, gets away, off-loads to Price, has he got support? What a very good

kick indeed from Price, it will go all the way, and great play.

COMMENTATOR: Boyds to Davies, Davies, a little chip over the

defence, and it is a try for the Scarlet. -- the Scarlets. Leading by

example, lovely chip from Davies. Boyds controlling again. Gets it to

Davies, Davies on a cheeky run, get the tackle, outside him as the

full-back McNicol, a lovely dummy, he comes back inside, a wonderful

score for the Scarlets. Davies again, changes direction, Jones with

a long pass to Williams. Fantastic rugby from the Scarlets.

The Dragons conceded eight tries and 50 points against a below strength

Leinster at Rodney Parade, this is the first to open the floodgates,

taking advantage of a purely ornamental defence before sending

Conan to the first of a first half brace. Six tries came after the

break including this one fashioned by Deegan and finished by scrum-half

Dixon- Park. Dark times indeed for the Dragons.

COMMENTATOR: Not getting much change in this Edinburgh defence at the

moment. Williams chooses a different route. He streaks for the line,

pop-up to Williams and Bennett gets a try for the Blues.

A little kick for nothing for Williams and it may work out anyway,

yes, indeed it has! So, a great gutsy win for the

Cardiff Blues meaning they close the gap slightly on Glasgow ahead of

them, sixth in that race. Ospreys back second and strong contenders

for a home semifinal, Scarlets remain fourth with a 5-point cushion

over Ulster who have a game in hand and it would be rude not to ask you

about the Scarlets, Phil. Any win is to be treasured but to win when you

are 15 points down at time this monumental. It was probably the win

of the season with a side they have, and missing so many players. They

have a strong squad then now with good forwards and guys like Shingo

playing the best rugby I believe of his career, outstanding form.

Eliasson, lots of good young players, but the basis of it all,

Parks controlling in the centre but the half-backs, Davies when he

plays, and Jones, Wales under 20, I don't think he has missed a kick for

five or six games, he controls things. When you are missing key

players if you have a key outside-half playing well like Dan

Jones, they are firing on all cylinders. Big match against

Leinster coming up. John Barclay, what sort of welcome will he get? No

one will talk to him! He played well yesterday, captained Scotland with

pride and dignity. . Let's round up the rest of the Six Nations action

this weekend when Ireland hosted France and England welcomed Italy to

HQ. COMMENTATOR: OJ the capture. Reset

on the floor at the moment, on comes the drive. Farrell joins in, tries

to clear him out of the way. Try awarded. Back to the 22. Penalty

He has missed it. Something good could come of it though, it has!

Solid to begin with, moving patch. Penalty to England.

Courtney Lawes gets the pass away, Care again. Elliot Daly scores

again. Campagnaro, the strength of Michele

Campagnaro. Brilliant finish by Campagnaro!

And still short, penalty advantage, though. Young's had spotted it at

last, George is out there, it wasn't the best pass but he has the speed.

England are going to finish in style.

It has gone backwards, no, can he score a second? He can.

COMMENTATOR: Still advantage to France, still their penalty, again

back to Lopez for the crossfield kick, it might work for France. Back

it goes, and it is a try for France. They might just want to look at

something. No try. Back for a penalty. Held at

the back there, and the decision of Nigel Owens. Flat ball to within two

metres, Conor Murray goes for himself, now gets to within a second

move, try given to Conor Murray. The ball turned over, no advantage to

Ireland, penalty coming, so a free attack, chance or drop goal, and it

is good, Ireland have the three points.

Henshaw again, so quick off the mark. Skip infield by Jackson.

Ireland have the penalty and this will be a chance for Jackson. 13

from 14 for Jackson, Ireland ten points clear with four minutes of

this match remaining. Still Ireland's chance to finish with

another try. Stander set sit back and they say that is enough, they

will take the victory, Ireland with just that one try, a ten point

victory over France and their title challenge is still alive.

STUDIO: Let's look at the table after three rounds, England still on

track for another Grand Slam. Scotland still in the championship

after their win over Wales yesterday. Italy despite a good

first half performance at HQ not even a losing bonus point to show at

the bottom. England roll on, then, top of the table, but they were

spooked in that game, Quinn, and perhaps the most abiding memory for

me was James Haskell looking bewildered and asking what the rules

were. You know where the offside lane is normally all where not to

be. It was interesting to see because I have not seen it at that

industrial level, it was obviously a premeditated tactic to chat with the

referee, saying we will flood the areas. You can't go to the ball

because it is an offside line within the tackle but you can stand

anywhere else. But I think it will cause problems if everyone starts

doing it because if you don't have offside lines the game will be

unstructured and people when put anyone in and flood the other side

of the ball, but it worked brilliantly today. Obviously people

will do it on going from here and it will be in testing to see how

coaches come up with strategies to stop them. Matt Dawson has already

tweeted that he agreed with you that it could ruin rugby. I can't wait to

see all the clubs here tonight, Armageddon next Saturday! Italy

needed to do something today. They have been bad in the first two

games. For credibility in the whole debate we could have about

relegation and promotion, they need to do something today -- needed to.

They were innovative. England took too long to cope with what it was.

It is used a lot in the world sevens series, without the offside line.

They took too long to work it out today. My issues it is almost over

coaching, the players do what the coach tells you. It crystallises the

moment when no coach had thought about it and the players took time

to think on their feet. I have never seen a team is flummoxed as England

for 40 minutes, it was hilarious and they looked eminently beatable but

no one has got round to doing it and they are 17 in a row now. I wouldn't

rule out Scotland winning at Twickenham in two weeks. Stop it!

Law of averages, 34 years since the last happened. Ireland of course

beating France in Dublin. Jonny Sexton was back. How much of a

difference does he make, as Jackson has been playing well. Great form

for Ireland but Jonny Sexton on his day is one of the leading half a

dozen fly-halves in world rugby and is vital to Ireland, a great

tackler, good defensively, but what he brings, different angles and ways

of playing. He is vital for Ireland and has come through injury free and

will be a huge threat to Wales next Friday. Great win for Ireland in

what is evident for me as the ball carrying on the back row, Sean

O'Brien, Stander, huge ball-carriers. Which leads us nicely

to Sean Holley, looking at Ireland during this championship, what have

you made of them? A tough two weeks for Wales but in Ireland we have a

confident team gunning for the title. They are also difficult to

beat. As Phil Bennett said it is about their ball-carriers in the

back row, using them to cut the line. Get them into midfield and it

cuts down the space they have. Look at the gain line, give Jackson and

Sexton space to allow the outside backs to get over the gain line.

Stander has been a principal ball-carrier in the Six Nations

already. Heaslip, more of a ball player, then the basher O'Brien.

They work in tandem all the time, it sucks defenders into the rucks and

earls and Carney have benefited in the wider channels, but they work so

well in tandem. Here is seven, guess who follows, eight. They suck

defenders in, and there is six, Stander, doing the rest. Wales must

combat this. They are almost marauding players at the moment but

there is one saving grace. They do have run around techniques and a

smart coaching team and in Sexton they needed to get him in the game.

This full France a little because they expected big ball-carriers but

the forwards into play pass got the likes of Ringrose and Henshaw into

play. Watch Heaslip, the French defender is expecting a big

ball-carrier but no, he is also ballplayer and puts Carney and on

the angle. The saving graces they get isolated, they carry so much

that you cannot attack them at this area. If Warbler and -- Mark

Warburton Agger Bridge are true to form there will be opportunities to

steal it. Can they target Stander or Rob Ryan on their own? How can Wales

beat them, how did Scotland beat them? They expose them in the wider

channels. If you get good go forward they get tight around the rat, look

at this angle with Earls, the widest back, offering space. As they did

against Wales Scotland but their white guys here and exploited them

with the gas. Hogg does the rest. As I said, a long fortnight of planning

for Wales, and I will ask you, Phil, will it be about selection, do we

just the performance or is it a must win game? That is a great one there!

I think it is about time we took a chance and said, let's go for gold.

That means for me Liam Williams has to go back for full-back and let him

attack from there. Then I would choose from two wings in one

position, either Evans or Giles, whichever is red-hot in training.

Made his comeback today for the Ospreys. The other wing, the liver

to George North, between and Halfpenny. I would say is it time we

gave Sam Davies a chance to say, starred, if you are good enough,

play the game at number ten, and upfront... APPLAUSE.

I don't know... Just to go back to Sam Davies, we can keep on bringing

him on with 15 minutes to go but he has to start. Upfront quickly I

might bring Charteris back into the second row and if he is fit maybe

fell at our number eight but we have to really give our youngsters a

chance -- maybe Toby Faletau at number eight. I think we can expose

Ireland. We said it in the autumn, we spoke about the back three and

fly half, we never seem to be in a position to throw caution to win.

Yes, but that is the same team I was picked as Bill has outlined and we

haven't been chatting earlier! The championship is gone and unless we

waste more time, we don't know if Davies or Evans can do it at this

level but the longer they stay on the touchline is the longer we will

not know. They have deficiencies but Russell had deficiencies when he

started and look at the player he has become. It is unfair on Biggar

because he played so well against England, but we know what is unfair

-- what we get from him when he plays, that competitive spirit, we

want to see if Davies offers something different. Rob Howley was

saying yesterday, I trust my bench. If he trusts Sam Davies and other

members of the squad he would start against Ireland and give them their

head because otherwise he is saying basically he doesn't trust them. I

think we are in a position with George North as we were with Alex

Cuthbert, picking a guy who consistently doesn't play well but

we keep picking him. They chopped Rick -- dropped Jamie Roberts for

poor defensive mistakes in the autumn. They will have to do the

same for consistency with George North. Here is the dilemma, if they

throw caution to the wind unpick all the players Howley hasn't entrusted

with that responsibility yet and winning becomes not the priority but

performance, what about world rankings? We know Wales are likely

to drop to 7000 result of that defeat now and we know what happened

before the World Cup when we dropped out of the top eight and ended up in

the pool of death. I don't give a fig for World Cup, World Cup

ratings! That is irrelevant at this stage. There is no way he can name

an unchanged team on Friday week for Ireland and I agree with Phil

Bennett I can't believe Keelan Giles didn't play in November and Steph

Evans didn't play against England last week. Why were these changes

not made three weeks ago? But this question is predicated on if we take

this team we have a chance of winning which no one can see

happening. The championship is gone, let's make changes and see what we

can do if we open it up and counterattack and let Davies take

the ball flatter, see if we can create chances and score more tries,

otherwise we will not beat Ireland or anyone else. And Stuart Hogg

looked up one occasion in midfield and said, what is in front of me, I

will go here, other times he will kick the ball. We don't do that at

full-back for Wales, we don't have people looking up and saying it is

on, and we have to give them license to play. Williams could do that at

15. Your last two games are against the sides playing our first two

games so we know it is power. The analysis, not just Ireland, against

France, it is direct, physical, it is brutal. Sam Davies will be

targeted, absolutely, but you have don't -- to find out about this kid

and see if he can cope. I am not sure they will but I think they

should. They think they will go with Dan Biggar because they know what

they will get and they need to win, Wales needs to win a week Friday. Is

the way to beat Ireland is to get the ball into wide channels, Sam

Davies with his distribution is the man to do that, isn't it? He has

been outstanding with the Ospreys. The thing we don't know is if you

can do it internationally. We have to find this out and forever we can

have them on the bench and say he played brilliantly for the Ospreys

and come on for ten minutes. We have to take a chance and see if he can

do it. I think Ireland are vulnerable on the wings. If we have

two decent wingers with Pace had somebody with metal -- in midfield

to move the ball we have a chance but for goodness sake let the young

man have a go. Dan Biggar has been outstanding for Wales, let's see if

he can offer something different. Would you consider Biggar at 12 and

Davies at ten and have the two playmaker role? Wales lacked

creativity, get two playmakers in and see if that makes a difference,

try something different. Are we in a position now, such as Ireland ten

years ago and England a couple of years ago, do we not need to do what

they did, throw youngsters into the mix? Every nation has been through

what we are going through. We can only come out of it better, right?

I'm trying to be positive, do you think that? If you keep doing what

is not working nothing will change. That's my point. We have been saying

this for a long time. I think we all agree, everyone is, we need to take

that step forward, make a leap of faith that may be a step back before

reaping the rewards Scotland are doing now, that if we keep playing

the same way, conservatively, without the power players other

teams have, we will keep having the same results. What concerns me is

the Lions distraction. We have the Chief Executive and chairman saying

it is good, our coaches will learn more by going to New Zealand with

the Lions. I don't buy that because didn't rub off after Australia in

2013. I think the Welsh coaches should be with the Welsh team in the

South Pacific. It is a big tour now. I don't think Welsh will get a say

in that one. Martin Phillips has said it is good for our country is

to go on Lions tours because they will learn more which in the and

will be good for our team. I don't see evidence of that, that's all I'm

saying. Oh! We will discuss this further because we have run out of

time. Please, please, give a round of applause for Phil Bennett... Gwyn

Jones... Peter Jackson... And Andy Nichol. APPLAUSE That is it from, so

Scotland have beaten Wales for the first time since 2007, just pride

left to play for now for Wales and title chasing Ireland are the next

visitors to the Principality Stadium.

We will catch you soon. Good night. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

It was such a glorious world of music and culture and connections.

In '90s Wales, confidence flourished.

What you wanted was actually happening.

We celebrated our differences and felt liberated like never before.

I was gabbing an opportunity to give my kids a better life.

On the day of the vote, it was a no-brainer for me.

So, apparently Red Nose Day is back. Cool. We love Red Nose Day.

Yes. So, Comic Relief have asked if we could maybe help this year.

Comic Relief? Yes. So, like, what is that? Right.

Like, I don't even know what that is. No.

So, Comic Relief is the charity that actually invented Red Nose Day.

OK, cool. Yes. So that's, like, who knew?

OK, cool. So... Like Red Boot Day. No, hang on! Red Toes Day.

So, the thinking was that, as head of brand, you could perhaps... Sure.