:00:23. > :00:39.The passion and motivation is going to be huge. Got a point to prove.
:00:40. > :00:46.That is such a classy finish. We are fully aware of what is coming but
:00:47. > :01:07.were excited. Who's going to take the game by the
:01:08. > :01:10.scruff of the next? Who's going to be the X Factor, who is going to
:01:11. > :01:17.make a difference? That is the challenge.
:01:18. > :01:25.Hello, good evening, welcomed to Scrum V's Six Nations preview
:01:26. > :01:32.special. Six days to go until the world for the greatest tournament
:01:33. > :01:35.takes. We are all happy until Wales plays Ireland then it will all
:01:36. > :01:47.change. Let's meet our studio audience.
:01:48. > :01:59.They are all very loud! Also in the house tonight we have got the Wales
:02:00. > :02:05.women. And not forgetting our special guests, shall we get them
:02:06. > :02:09.in? Please welcome Jonathan Davies, Jeremy Guscott, Wyn Jones and Peter
:02:10. > :02:36.Jackson. Evening gentlemen, ie making notes?
:02:37. > :02:39.Six weeks until the start of a new condition, excited? Yes, great
:02:40. > :02:49.tournament, really looking forward to it. We are favourite and there is
:02:50. > :02:53.always a shock. It is a fantastic tournament. We always say that it is
:02:54. > :03:01.too close to call but England seem to be favourites ahead of this one.
:03:02. > :03:08.Everyone loves saying that. How big test this be for infant and Eddie
:03:09. > :03:12.Jones? I think -- for England and Eddie Jones? I think it is tougher
:03:13. > :03:20.to retain the championship than when at Grand Slam. I like the fact that
:03:21. > :03:24.Scotland are emerging, a little bit unknown were Wales, Ireland where
:03:25. > :03:27.the team of the autumn series, their tactics were first class. Ireland
:03:28. > :03:31.and England are up there in terms of favourites. England have got to deal
:03:32. > :03:35.with the pressure and the injuries but thankfully, Eddie has worked so
:03:36. > :03:40.well, he draws it all into himself rather than the team. It is mind
:03:41. > :03:46.games. That brews over the eye, suspicions on how that happened.
:03:47. > :03:52.England are clear favourites, should Ireland fans be affronted?
:03:53. > :03:56.Definitely I think they are playing so well against southern hemisphere
:03:57. > :04:03.sides, the pace and invention they have got in their game, and the
:04:04. > :04:07.intensity with which they can play in the regions and in the autumn
:04:08. > :04:13.series, I think for a lot of people and me included, they are my
:04:14. > :04:17.favourites. Scotland are coming up the rails as well, their coach is
:04:18. > :04:22.departing and they will want to send him off with someone -- something
:04:23. > :04:26.special. This could mean that they are back in the championship, it is
:04:27. > :04:29.long overdue, if the French get their act together it will be
:04:30. > :04:33.competitive. The trick with the Six Nations is, more often than not
:04:34. > :04:37.there is a surprise. It is identifying where that is going to
:04:38. > :04:41.be. I would not bet my house on Ireland winning at Murrayfield next
:04:42. > :04:45.week, I think that is potential trouble for Ireland. Likewise
:04:46. > :04:48.England and France. As long as this tournament has got it on
:04:49. > :04:53.predictability, there is nothing to beat it. You have got a bit of the
:04:54. > :04:57.Eddie Jones tonight. It is lovely to enquire about it, but the state of
:04:58. > :05:02.my left hand has got nothing to do with what I said on this programme a
:05:03. > :05:06.few weeks ago! Thanks to the wonderful NHS staff at the surgical
:05:07. > :05:10.unit I will be fighting fit for the start of the season. Glad to hear
:05:11. > :05:14.it. We will be assessing each team's cut
:05:15. > :05:20.chances throughout the night but let's start with Wales, we talked to
:05:21. > :05:28.Rob Howley. Looking at the fixture list, Italy
:05:29. > :05:33.are at first, two teams of the highest rankings you have got at
:05:34. > :05:37.home, Ireland and England, you could not ask for a better fixture list. I
:05:38. > :05:45.think the challenge is getting the selection right for Italy Mike Catt
:05:46. > :05:49.is a fantastic coach, the team are going to be the passion and the
:05:50. > :05:53.motivation. They have turned over South Africa in the autumn series.
:05:54. > :05:58.We will have to be on our best game to win in Rome. On the squad, seven
:05:59. > :06:03.uncapped payers, a few have been in the squad before but am who have
:06:04. > :06:06.not, some are saying it is a bold selection? When you give
:06:07. > :06:11.opportunities to young talent, there is a freshness about it. Those five
:06:12. > :06:15.or seven players who have not been part of the Six Nations squad
:06:16. > :06:19.before, that brings excitement and enthusiasm. It changes the dynamics
:06:20. > :06:24.of the squad. Having a new captain changes the dynamics as well. For
:06:25. > :06:29.myself it is a case of know what I am therefore what I have got to do.
:06:30. > :06:34.Ultimately, that is placed first, Captain second. In my eyes, it is
:06:35. > :06:37.not as one captain, it is a case of the senior group that can have the
:06:38. > :06:45.ability to make those decisions and I think the same thing happened on
:06:46. > :06:51.the right time in the same pressured situation. Does it battle you the
:06:52. > :06:57.amount of criticism Wales get their winning? Not really, everybody has
:06:58. > :07:00.their opinion. Everyone will say that someone should be playing at
:07:01. > :07:04.tight head prop or number eight, and some supporters have got their
:07:05. > :07:10.favourites who want them to play for Wales, whether they are playing
:07:11. > :07:15.badly all good it does not matter. They wanted to see tries galore and
:07:16. > :07:19.champagne attacking rugby, they were seeing narrow victories eked out
:07:20. > :07:24.over what they considered inferior opposition, they thought it wasn't
:07:25. > :07:28.going well. I can see that but I can also see the other side when we have
:07:29. > :07:34.come up short and we have lost those games and have been criticised by
:07:35. > :07:39.not winning. The expectations on this group of players are quite
:07:40. > :07:44.high. That is how it should be. You have got to have a rhino skin don't
:07:45. > :07:51.do this job. Double rhino skin! I have learned a lot in the last nine
:07:52. > :07:56.years. Under the guidance and tutelage of Warren Gatland, there is
:07:57. > :08:02.a bit of Kiwi in me somewhere, but you have to be tough. The ultimate
:08:03. > :08:10.goal in terms of expressing what we did in 2008, 2012 and 2013. It has
:08:11. > :08:14.been three long years and it is time where we have to step up and go to
:08:15. > :08:19.the next level and may be Six Nations 2017 is where we need to go.
:08:20. > :08:22.He sounded pretty confident and plenty to get stuck into but I will
:08:23. > :08:32.come to you on the headline, Alun Wyn Jones, he was announced as
:08:33. > :08:36.captain, right man for the job and a I am not sure whether Rob wanted to
:08:37. > :08:42.give it up or not, there are mixed signals. He has done it before for
:08:43. > :08:56.the Lions. He is a tremendously go. He is good hands. You think it might
:08:57. > :09:06.be Warren Gatland? I would not write him off as Lions captain. His name
:09:07. > :09:17.will come to me! I think Sam has always been a reluctant captain, he
:09:18. > :09:24.has also, I think he is a classy blokes, he has been an ambassador
:09:25. > :09:31.for Welsh rugby. He is an example that everyone. I do not think he is
:09:32. > :09:38.as natural leader on the field as Alun Wyn Jones. Selection would be
:09:39. > :09:44.crucial against Italy, and he has been labelled bold and brave given
:09:45. > :09:47.that he has announced a new captain and five people who have never been
:09:48. > :09:52.in the squad before, but how brave you expect him to be when it comes
:09:53. > :09:56.to selection? I do not think he has been bold or brave yet, and I would
:09:57. > :10:02.be surprised if any one of those seven uncapped players make the 23
:10:03. > :10:07.to play in Rome next Sunday. I would like him to be bold, but there is
:10:08. > :10:13.limited scope. For me, the most damning fact of the 37 that he has
:10:14. > :10:17.picked is there is such a paucity of midfield talent in this country,
:10:18. > :10:23.that there are only three specialist centres. Out of 37. Scott Williams,
:10:24. > :10:27.Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts. And Jamie, he has tried to drop and he
:10:28. > :10:33.is a bit like the man who cannot stop smoking, he keeps bringing him
:10:34. > :10:38.back. The buzzword now is evolve. As we all know, a good team is
:10:39. > :10:45.constantly evolving because it is a process which never stops and never
:10:46. > :10:50.ends. So, for Italy right now, I think I would take 3-0 in Italy
:10:51. > :10:54.right now. The bottom line about next week is winning that game. And
:10:55. > :10:59.I think in view of the confused state in which Wales finished
:11:00. > :11:04.November, I would take any old win in Rome. You cannot have that, I
:11:05. > :11:08.refuse that. You are Wales and the Welsh team, you have got so much
:11:09. > :11:11.experience in that side, so much talent, it is just underperforming
:11:12. > :11:14.in terms of individuals. There is a slight change in the way that they
:11:15. > :11:18.want to play, but you cannot as a member of that Welsh squad that has
:11:19. > :11:23.been together since 2011, want to go to Rome, they will not be happy with
:11:24. > :11:29.3-0. They have got to rack up the points. They are a good enough side.
:11:30. > :11:34.Rugby has changed. If you look at the last six months, seven games,
:11:35. > :11:40.England's average points is 38, Ireland, 30, four or five tries per
:11:41. > :11:45.game. We had 20 points per game at the moment. You cannot win a game
:11:46. > :11:50.3-0 any more, those days of gone. You have got to score tries and win
:11:51. > :11:54.matches. That is why I think the bonus point is irrelevant because
:11:55. > :11:58.teams are going out and scoring four or five tries, did you do not, you
:11:59. > :12:04.will not win. I would have been surprised that he said that, we
:12:05. > :12:08.spoke so much about the Wales evolving, sometimes you get better
:12:09. > :12:13.performances but not necessarily get the win, so how do we appease the
:12:14. > :12:17.critics? Is it all about winning or without be satisfied with a good
:12:18. > :12:21.brand of rugby could like it is all about winning. You know it is tough
:12:22. > :12:27.as a player going over there. It is tougher than at Murrayfield,
:12:28. > :12:32.Twickenham -- at Murrayfield, took on and in Dublin. So this is a good
:12:33. > :12:39.start for an away game. They are good enough side to beat it to be
:12:40. > :12:44.comfortable. They have got to get it -- beat Italy come to be. They have
:12:45. > :12:48.got to get it right tactically, they are going to be better under the
:12:49. > :12:53.leadership of Conor O'Shea and Mike Catt. Their kicking game has got to
:12:54. > :12:58.be good and you have got to turn them, when the opportunities come,
:12:59. > :13:00.you score tries. When we talk about whether performance or result is
:13:01. > :13:04.more important, world rankings come to bear and we all know what
:13:05. > :13:09.happened a few years ago when Wales dropped tonight and ended up in the
:13:10. > :13:14.pool of death in the World Cup, you cannot sacrifice wins in the sake of
:13:15. > :13:23.sacrificing performance -- getting better performance. You cannot. I I
:13:24. > :13:26.want better things from Wales. Orton was great for Wales. The performance
:13:27. > :13:31.is the most people were not back good. People who know more and best
:13:32. > :13:35.about that other players and the coach, they are trying their best to
:13:36. > :13:39.get it right but they are just a little bit below the level. This
:13:40. > :13:42.championship might bring them up because with all of that talent,
:13:43. > :13:45.they have got the most room for improvement out of all the teams in
:13:46. > :13:50.the Six Nations. The problem we have, we have got three centres, and
:13:51. > :13:55.if you are going to evolve the game, those two positions are critical in
:13:56. > :13:57.how you play the game. And the skills in those positions. At the
:13:58. > :14:05.moment, that is the biggest problem for me, selection and who he goes
:14:06. > :14:10.with. He hasn't seen a lot of England and he has not seen a lot of
:14:11. > :14:15.Wales, Jeremy, and he does not understand the level of
:14:16. > :14:22.dissatisfaction there has been. I have got no Welsh friends at all! I
:14:23. > :14:27.think the level of dissatisfaction, while we won, with generally shown
:14:28. > :14:32.in the quality of the game. It was obvious how slow and ponderous we
:14:33. > :14:34.were in attack compared to when you see England and Ireland playing with
:14:35. > :14:38.such ferocity and intensity. And they do not throw the ball wide all
:14:39. > :14:42.the time, they generate pace into their game and that is something we
:14:43. > :14:44.have struggled to do. Unless we do that, we are not good to beat the
:14:45. > :14:49.sides. Let's talk about one of those sides,
:14:50. > :14:54.England, because despite the fact that it pains most of us in this
:14:55. > :15:02.room with perhaps one exception that to admit that it England are
:15:03. > :15:05.favourite, Eddie Jones did turn up to the launch looking a bit worse
:15:06. > :15:09.for wear, with a black eye. He claimed it was slipping in the
:15:10. > :15:11.shower not one of the opposition coaches sticking one on him. He was
:15:12. > :15:29.in pretty relaxed mood. I -- a Grand Slam winning, England
:15:30. > :15:42.rugby team. What a try for England! England in full control.
:15:43. > :15:49.We all know about the phenomenal success you have had with England
:15:50. > :15:51.over the last year, do you like that pressure? You only have pressure
:15:52. > :15:57.when you do not know what you are doing. So no, we know what we want
:15:58. > :16:03.to do, we are planning to do it and now we just need the attitude and
:16:04. > :16:06.consistent sides to do it. The pressure, for me, for a team that is
:16:07. > :16:13.performing well, is the expectation of people around the team, not in
:16:14. > :16:17.the team themselves. From day one, the message has been improved, make
:16:18. > :16:22.sure you improve, and the next time we are together as a team, make sure
:16:23. > :16:24.we improve. What we did in the Six Nations last year and in the autumn
:16:25. > :16:28.internationals will not be good enough to beat France next week. We
:16:29. > :16:35.have had to raise training intensity and go and explore other avenues
:16:36. > :16:39.better. We have had a good year, but that is irrelevant. We need to crack
:16:40. > :16:42.on and keep improving. Had it been weighing on your mind over the last
:16:43. > :16:49.few weeks that maybe you would not been here? Six weeks ago, I picked
:16:50. > :16:52.up my ban, it put a lot of things into jeopardy and it was a good
:16:53. > :16:57.thing to reflect. I reflect most days, but I have had a very clear
:16:58. > :17:00.directive from Eddie and the coaches from what they expect, if he sees
:17:01. > :17:07.something from me, I just want to deliver. Alun Wyn Jones said... You
:17:08. > :17:11.could be making this up! I am not! He said that they want to be key
:17:12. > :17:16.because they are better than you. Why do you want to always beat
:17:17. > :17:20.Wales? I want to beat France. I think you have said that you think
:17:21. > :17:25.England can be better, are you going to scare the Welsh public, how can
:17:26. > :17:29.you be? We have not played well at all, in the last 12 months there is
:17:30. > :17:34.not one game where we have put in. To me, if you play well in a game of
:17:35. > :17:38.rugby, your game is 80 minutes. If you play 50 minutes of good quality
:17:39. > :17:42.rugby, that is a perfect rugby game. Perhaps we are 35 minutes at the
:17:43. > :17:49.most playing really well. I have got a lot of growth to be done in our
:17:50. > :17:53.game. Unbeaten last year, have you got any lucky socks that I can ruin
:17:54. > :17:58.before the chaplain Chip? I have got these, my lucky red Sox on. These
:17:59. > :18:02.are the lucky ones. I wore these are the setting games so please do not
:18:03. > :18:08.take them from me. -- I wore these 413 games.
:18:09. > :18:11.I will start with you, we are picking you up and calling you
:18:12. > :18:17.favourites putting pressure on you, and rightly so because 14 straight
:18:18. > :18:21.wins, not losing into 16 and/or head coach says you have only played 35
:18:22. > :18:27.good in it of rugby since he took over. Is that the case, are there
:18:28. > :18:34.any more gives to go out? Imperious they play with such intensity, it
:18:35. > :18:38.mystified and muddies what has not been going right. There is quite a
:18:39. > :18:42.lot when you analyse it deeply and that is what Eddie is doing. When
:18:43. > :18:46.you look at England's attack, it is not as functional and as pairing as
:18:47. > :18:50.may be an All Blacks or even Ireland. There is a lot of scope.
:18:51. > :18:57.England have based their game on a big set piece and a lot of defence.
:18:58. > :19:06.When was the last time you saw George Ford run through the gap or
:19:07. > :19:09.Owen Farrell busts the game right? The toughest game for England will
:19:10. > :19:13.be Ireland away, traditionally hard game against Wales, everyone will be
:19:14. > :19:17.looking forward to it and people will raise their game. England are a
:19:18. > :19:19.team that winning and they have got confidence. Inwardly they will be
:19:20. > :19:26.reasonably confident coming into this championship as Eddie says,
:19:27. > :19:31.they have not reached that peaked. They have got strength and depth as
:19:32. > :19:34.well, they can pick courses courses and with a short turnaround in
:19:35. > :19:41.games, they are the strongest side because of the strength of their
:19:42. > :19:49.player pool. They will miss some ball-carriers, he has done immensely
:19:50. > :19:55.well, but I think the nailed on 12 is Owen Farrell. Eat controls
:19:56. > :20:01.everything, -- he controlled a living, he has got a great tackling
:20:02. > :20:03.game and he creates space. That is the difference between England and
:20:04. > :20:13.the rest of the Northern Hemisphere sides, that tent at 12 axis. --
:20:14. > :20:17.10-12 axis. What about this way of taking his pressure of his players,
:20:18. > :20:23.Eddie Jones. You hear him saying, we have only put together 35 minutes of
:20:24. > :20:27.good rugby in any 80, but keeps saying that there are world-class
:20:28. > :20:30.players, unless you are hearing a different message internally, do you
:20:31. > :20:36.start to resent that kind of talk? I would not have thought so. From what
:20:37. > :20:40.I gather he is close and supportive to the players, but that huge much
:20:41. > :20:46.pressure on his coaching staff, he makes their life hell, meetings at
:20:47. > :20:54.6am and e-mail at 5am, why didn't you read it. For the team he is with
:20:55. > :21:00.them 100% and a father figure. I think he says it with a smile on his
:21:01. > :21:03.face. I cannot believe a word he is saying, he cannot be telling them,
:21:04. > :21:13.boys, you are rubbish, you are playing Wales but you are rubbish.
:21:14. > :21:17.It is a game he plays. He has a good way of judging the mood, I compare
:21:18. > :21:20.that with the intensity from the Welsh coaches. Little things in
:21:21. > :21:25.press conferences that I would be amazed if I ever heard it from a
:21:26. > :21:29.Welsh coach, some while back a big conference at Twickenham, and he
:21:30. > :21:36.said, boys, he was looking for a fight, I read somebody said that
:21:37. > :21:41.James Haskell had a poor pair of hands. That is not true, he has got
:21:42. > :21:45.a terrible pair of hands. That lightened the mood and he can make a
:21:46. > :21:53.quick like that. I never see that from the Welsh management. He enjoys
:21:54. > :21:57.it. I think it comes from, you should play in Australia, it is a
:21:58. > :21:59.lot worse there, having played there and coached in Australia, I can
:22:00. > :22:08.assure you that whatever he says in public, he does not say the same. He
:22:09. > :22:11.is behind them 100%. Modern players need a bit more of that. We are
:22:12. > :22:19.going to watch, however many millions, are going to watch the Six
:22:20. > :22:22.Nations, when you have a bad game, you do not really need a coach to
:22:23. > :22:28.tell you. A coach at this level should not be doing too much
:22:29. > :22:31.coaching. It is all about tactical play, the execution comes from the
:22:32. > :22:35.players. Eddie is very good at saying it as it is, you did not play
:22:36. > :22:40.well, look at this and that and make sure it improves. We have just spent
:22:41. > :22:44.three minutes doing exactly what he wanted, talking about him. How are
:22:45. > :22:56.they going to manage with their back row injured, getting their major
:22:57. > :23:03.ball carriers out, Vunipola is out, Mike Brown is dodgy at full-back, we
:23:04. > :23:09.have been talking about it. There is no way that Elliot Daly is playing
:23:10. > :23:15.full-back. They are developing him. Mike Brown is therefore as well.
:23:16. > :23:19.Alex Lozowski could fill in as well. I think he is a little bit old
:23:20. > :23:23.school, takes the pressure off the players and it is similar to the All
:23:24. > :23:26.Blacks, in amateur games where you take all the pressure of the All
:23:27. > :23:32.Blacks and the only thing they would have to focus on is playing. That is
:23:33. > :23:35.what he is doing and England are benefiting it, don't have a beer,
:23:36. > :23:39.look after yourself do not be stupid.
:23:40. > :23:44.Now, these next two could not be more different. In terms of stature
:23:45. > :23:48.and personality. They had many a fierce battle on the field of play.
:23:49. > :23:51.Now they have ended up playing for the same club. We thought we would
:23:52. > :23:53.fit Mike Phillips and Peter Stringer in the same room at the same time to
:23:54. > :24:13.see how they get on. So, we are team-mates, once rivals,
:24:14. > :24:22.I did not like you're back in the day, and I do not like you much now.
:24:23. > :24:27.Feeling is mutual. What are your feelings on the Six Nations? Recent
:24:28. > :24:32.times, Ireland under Joe Schmidt has been a revelation, the coach has
:24:33. > :24:35.come in, brought a new damage to their game. Not playing hugely
:24:36. > :24:42.attractive -- and you don't mention to their game. Not playing hugely
:24:43. > :24:47.attractive rugby but they are doing well. Welsh rugby is going through a
:24:48. > :24:52.transition. Yes, I think myself retiring from the game, the boys
:24:53. > :24:56.have not recovered. The Welsh boys are in a different situation. They
:24:57. > :25:02.have a decent autumn in terms of wins, the performances were not
:25:03. > :25:05.quite there but they have picked a young squad and the guys turn it on
:25:06. > :25:09.for the Six Nations so it'll be exciting. Do you think that Wales
:25:10. > :25:17.will pull off another fluky win against Ireland, you scoring that in
:25:18. > :25:23.try that should have this.! -- that should have stood? You have won a
:25:24. > :25:30.World Cup there, the celebrations you had. My hair looks a bit dodgy,
:25:31. > :25:36.shocking. The crowd have touched the ball, it is a different ball. It was
:25:37. > :25:42.never a try. The Welsh girls were excited. That's try it was the
:25:43. > :25:47.difference. That was a massive moment in the game, you guys were on
:25:48. > :25:52.fire as well so it was a big win for us. The history of the fixtures
:25:53. > :25:55.between Ireland and Wales, predominantly Wales would have had
:25:56. > :26:00.good games in Ireland, and vice versa, Ireland having victories in
:26:01. > :26:04.Cardiff, it is the best game I have ever played from an atmosphere point
:26:05. > :26:11.of view. And the memories of the Grand Slam that day that we won. Who
:26:12. > :26:17.is going to win the game, Wales or Ireland? Tough one, no doubt, I'm
:26:18. > :26:27.going to go Ireland. I fancy them coming off the back of a decent...
:26:28. > :26:30.What a big surprise! Beating the southern hemisphere teams, giving
:26:31. > :26:35.them that confidence, I fancy them for the Six Nations and filling of a
:26:36. > :26:40.win against England. -- Robert Pilling four win against England.
:26:41. > :26:44.There is something -- pulling off a win against England. There is
:26:45. > :26:49.something special about Twickenham, it is coming down to the tiny
:26:50. > :26:54.margins of things. Where are we going to watch, are you going to
:26:55. > :27:00.come round mine? I stay well away from you after a few beers.
:27:01. > :27:05.That really was a brilliant afternoon's filming. The stuff on
:27:06. > :27:11.the cutting room floor is priceless, maybe we'll stick some online.
:27:12. > :27:16.Ireland, you said at the top that they are your favourites, they beat
:27:17. > :27:18.New Zealand in Chicago, enormous psychological significance. They
:27:19. > :27:23.come into the tournament thinking they can beat anyone. It is pot
:27:24. > :27:27.impossible to overestimate what they achieved in Chicago. No British or
:27:28. > :27:31.Irish team had scored five tries against the All Blacks in one game,
:27:32. > :27:38.there was a period where they looked like they would lose the game, but
:27:39. > :27:41.in the end, Ireland won it going away, in horse racing parlance. They
:27:42. > :27:47.generated an intensity that not even the All Blacks which were pretty
:27:48. > :27:52.much at fault strength, phenomenal achievement, not even a 71 Lions got
:27:53. > :27:55.five tries in one game against the All Blacks. They are favourites
:27:56. > :28:00.because they have got England at home but none of us know what a toll
:28:01. > :28:03.injury will take over the next seven weeks. I think Scotland at
:28:04. > :28:07.Murrayfield is a tricky one for Ireland if they are going to
:28:08. > :28:12.stumble. It will be there. Joe Schmidt described Wales as the
:28:13. > :28:17.sleeping giant. I think he might have been trailing the Irish squad
:28:18. > :28:21.around the Blarney Stone, because if you look at Ireland's record in
:28:22. > :28:26.Cardiff, 16 games and they have only lost three. It is not even about
:28:27. > :28:28.that New Zealand win, you look at the Irish provinces, Munster and
:28:29. > :28:35.Leinster are playing some great rugby, they are flying in Europe so
:28:36. > :28:40.those guys will be going into camp with great confidence. Yes, they are
:28:41. > :28:44.on the up, they are hugely confident, they had a good tour of
:28:45. > :28:53.South Africa as well. They have got some depth, Paddy Wallace came in
:28:54. > :28:59.when they'd beat it the Springboks. Ringrose coming in as well. Joe
:29:00. > :29:08.Schmidt is actually quite tired tactic, he's very prescriptive about
:29:09. > :29:11.what everyone does -- he is quite didactic, he is no prescriptive
:29:12. > :29:15.about what everyone does, very organised. Phase after phase is
:29:16. > :29:17.planned and done and when they play it a look $1 million, but when they
:29:18. > :29:23.lose the structure they can look lost. But when they get it right,
:29:24. > :29:29.they are formidable. He found an energy source, because this time
:29:30. > :29:35.last, they were worked out, this is what you would do on every point of
:29:36. > :29:39.the field. They went to South Africa and reinvented himself. There was
:29:40. > :29:44.some doubt about Joe Schmidt. He got the team focused again and they are
:29:45. > :29:49.playing the best rugby. That game in Chicago would be in my top five
:29:50. > :29:55.ever. They have got the better kicking game in world rugby. I also
:29:56. > :30:00.think that the half-backs are playing exceptionally well. They
:30:01. > :30:07.also attacked from first phase. They put something on all the time and
:30:08. > :30:12.they build from there. They will say, the writing of the kicking is
:30:13. > :30:18.brilliant. -- variety of the kicking. An intensity which they
:30:19. > :30:22.play at is amazing. I agree, I think favourites for me.
:30:23. > :30:30.Just briefly as well, they have unearthed a rich seam of talent. We
:30:31. > :30:35.thought Driscoll, Darcy and O'Connell would leave them bereft
:30:36. > :30:41.but the new generation, Furlong, Ringrose, Carbery coming through as
:30:42. > :30:46.well, they have seemingly come from nowhere. He reminds me of Driscoll
:30:47. > :30:50.in his early days, and I for the line and the gap and he will keep
:30:51. > :30:55.trying. Many youngsters have the merger in their head, I will keep
:30:56. > :31:00.going, rather than being programmed. I am really looking forward to that.
:31:01. > :31:06.There is a lot of pressure on Sexton because I don't think the centres
:31:07. > :31:12.have a great kicking game. There is a lot of pressure on Sexton. We will
:31:13. > :31:16.talk more about Ireland and the rest of the Six Nations teams and a
:31:17. > :31:21.little while but it is not just the senior men's teams this weekend, the
:31:22. > :31:30.under 20s and women are as well. Wales women are in the House!
:31:31. > :31:33.CHEERING. APPLAUSE. Great
:31:34. > :31:39.all on board, Charis Phillips, Captain. -- great to have you on
:31:40. > :31:45.board. Your campaign has been good, a win in Spain and Ireland and you
:31:46. > :31:49.have been filming a documentary. Yes, we have had four games before
:31:50. > :31:54.the Six Nations four wins, a great feeling for us and we are building
:31:55. > :32:00.as a squad each we play, but we won't get too comfortable because we
:32:01. > :32:04.have a lot of hard work still to put in to consistently compete at the
:32:05. > :32:09.top level of rugby. We are looking forward to the Six Nations now. I
:32:10. > :32:13.would ask you about the impact of the new coach but he is your dad so
:32:14. > :32:20.I know what the answer would be! Yes, he is my dad, but in camp he is
:32:21. > :32:25.my coach. As a squad we have respect for him as well. It is nice to have
:32:26. > :32:27.the whole coaching staff with professional backgrounds and they
:32:28. > :32:35.bring that expectation and standards for us and we have to rise to it. It
:32:36. > :32:44.is a good feel at the minute in camp. We spoke to die young earlier
:32:45. > :32:51.in the season who said Thomas has to play harder than anyone else, is it
:32:52. > :32:58.the same for Carys? We have a professional environment, and Carys
:32:59. > :33:02.has worked a bit harder I think, just so nobody can say that, but I
:33:03. > :33:08.definitely don't think it is a case of thinking Charis has to compete
:33:09. > :33:12.harder. A few shots of the documentary, you training hard, keep
:33:13. > :33:19.up the good work. Mel, fourth last year, what is your target this year?
:33:20. > :33:24.Top! We can end on that, confident! Keep an eye on the Wales women, best
:33:25. > :33:29.of luck to them. Best of luck to be under 20s as well, we hoped to get
:33:30. > :33:33.them in the studio but best of luck to all our teams.
:33:34. > :33:38.Let's turn our attention to Scotland and France, really favoured these
:33:39. > :33:45.days, not seen as potential champions, but right off at your own
:33:46. > :33:51.peril. -- write them off. Merrifield is absolutely rocking.
:33:52. > :34:01.To feel Scotland have the depth, the players that can perform now? We
:34:02. > :34:04.have players that can win, we still don't have the magical number with a
:34:05. > :34:08.majority of the squad with between 40 and 80 caps but we have players
:34:09. > :34:12.with shared experience who have played Test match rugby and are
:34:13. > :34:16.getting better. It is a young team coming together with a few older
:34:17. > :34:21.heads. It is confidence but there are a humble group of players and
:34:22. > :34:26.they certainly know there is a hierarchy and they have to do
:34:27. > :34:28.something exceptional. Are you coming into this campaign more
:34:29. > :34:31.optimistic than you ever have been Marc
:34:32. > :34:42.? There are silent indicators that Scottish rugby is on the move in the
:34:43. > :34:46.right direction with players qualifying from Europe. I am no more
:34:47. > :34:50.confident because the teams we are playing have improved as well. Look
:34:51. > :34:57.at Ireland firstly, it doesn't get more difficult than that.
:34:58. > :35:04.What a try for France and the captain scores. Having swapped the
:35:05. > :35:09.Tigers for Toulouse, one man who knows all about the French style of
:35:10. > :35:14.play is former England international Toby Flood. France at the moment,
:35:15. > :35:18.the backs have a new lease of life and they are putting their own
:35:19. > :35:22.personality and mark on a game but at the same time they are still
:35:23. > :35:27.lacking a little cohesion, and that will probably come with time. You
:35:28. > :35:33.can see Guy's personality come through. It seems to be the tightest
:35:34. > :35:37.championship we have had for years, it could be. You are right, it is
:35:38. > :35:43.going to be very close. It is exciting and great to be part of and
:35:44. > :35:47.we look forward to getting started. We
:35:48. > :35:56., Scotland -- we say it every year. You sense a lot rests on the first
:35:57. > :36:02.game, if they beat Ireland, they can get on a roll. I hope your husband
:36:03. > :36:08.is in watching! Shouldn't have said that, should I? I can't see it. With
:36:09. > :36:12.Glasgow playing the way they are and Scotland to some extent as well,
:36:13. > :36:17.they are playing exciting rugby and try to score tries. Where I think
:36:18. > :36:20.they lack at international level is power in the back row to carry the
:36:21. > :36:24.ball and in midfield to carry the ball. They have skilful players that
:36:25. > :36:28.whether they have the power to bust through defences when they need to,
:36:29. > :36:33.I think that's where they lack at the moment, but they play well and
:36:34. > :36:39.are looking to be exciting. The new game is much faster, fewer set
:36:40. > :36:44.pieces, more playing, fabulous counterattacking, so they will cause
:36:45. > :36:48.trouble and may win matches, but I don't know if they are getting close
:36:49. > :36:51.to the top of the table. If we talk about research in Scotland, we could
:36:52. > :36:57.talk about a resurgent France as well, so long they lacked an
:36:58. > :37:02.identity. Didn't rate and the tall. On this show we talked about South
:37:03. > :37:07.Africa, how pants they were and how Wales would beat them. We class
:37:08. > :37:12.France pretty close to it -- I would class them. We saw the close line
:37:13. > :37:19.against Australia was flattering for them. New Zealand were tired. I
:37:20. > :37:26.watched some of the Top 14 on TV as drudge, absolute drudge. They could
:37:27. > :37:30.do something, but in terms of development, ambition, it is a
:37:31. > :37:35.boring team. I don't think they are fit enough, look at the French
:37:36. > :37:42.league, they are not fit enough. If they get smashed into Ocon... They
:37:43. > :37:51.don't have smart enough players. Chops and changes too much. The key
:37:52. > :37:59.is, as Quinn said, when we were in Scotland they used to compete but
:38:00. > :38:01.not score tries. That is where the differences -- difference is. For me
:38:02. > :38:20.the scrum-half is Upper To Make Him Captain, I Think It
:38:21. > :38:24.Blunts Scotland's attacking play. I will be interested to see how that
:38:25. > :38:31.develops in the Six Nations. I think the demise of Scotland has been the
:38:32. > :38:36.biggest blow in the Six Nations. Every year you go back 20 years or
:38:37. > :38:40.so to other players, and you think, they will entertain us. I cannot
:38:41. > :38:49.remember the last time I was on the edge of my seat watching France.
:38:50. > :38:54.Fijian 's! It will be sad but interesting to see what is done with
:38:55. > :39:00.them in this tournament. You have been on a trip this week. 24 hours
:39:01. > :39:04.in Rome, not romantic, I just saw Conor O'Shea. Let's see how he is
:39:05. > :39:14.settling in as the new head honcho. Rome is a place where Wales have
:39:15. > :39:18.experienced mixed fortunes. There was the eight try romp two years ago
:39:19. > :39:22.but dark days as well they would rather forget and when they face
:39:23. > :39:28.Italy in the study Olympic Owen a week they will face a new team
:39:29. > :39:33.coached by new man determined to turn them from perennial Wooden
:39:34. > :39:40.Spoon winners to genuine contenders. You greeted me in fluent Italian so
:39:41. > :39:46.clearly you are settling in well. Everyday is learning day. It was
:39:47. > :39:50.pretty special beating South Africa. We are getting stronger and
:39:51. > :39:56.stronger, we will have great days and tough days, but we will get
:39:57. > :40:02.better and better. Perhaps the fixture list is in your favour this
:40:03. > :40:06.year. I said to the players, I am not a shirker, I know I am judged on
:40:07. > :40:12.results but we have a lot to change here, I want to see energy, workrate
:40:13. > :40:19.and intensity from minute 12-minute 80. Winning is irrelevant. That will
:40:20. > :40:23.happen. Our performance is what is important and that's what will focus
:40:24. > :40:28.on. How do you rate this current Wales? If I went through the team
:40:29. > :40:31.and options and selection options, they are incredible. We know the
:40:32. > :40:38.threats they have and the ability they have in the backline to strike
:40:39. > :40:44.from anywhere. They have one of the great leaders of world rugby now
:40:45. > :40:47.Alun Wyn has taken over. They have leaders throughout. It will be
:40:48. > :40:56.pretty brutal. We need Italian rugby to be strong because we want the
:40:57. > :41:03.game to expand, and we will be very, very intense. Sergio Priest they 14
:41:04. > :41:06.Six Nations campaign coming up. He is unbelievable but truly
:41:07. > :41:11.spectacular. If you play 20 odd times for your country, suffered
:41:12. > :41:16.dark days, still alive with the love of a child for the game, still
:41:17. > :41:20.wanting to win, still thinking, this is what we will be in three years'
:41:21. > :41:25.time, still buying into it, not many people are like that. We know we
:41:26. > :41:29.have to improve. This is not a country we can let rugby go
:41:30. > :41:33.backwards in. Hopefully we can put a performance in against Wales and
:41:34. > :41:37.make the people here proud. You can never kid people, if they see energy
:41:38. > :41:42.and workrate, the team literally willing to fight tooth and nail for
:41:43. > :41:46.80 minutes, they understand, and that is probably where the gladiator
:41:47. > :41:50.in the Coliseum comes from. We talked about Eddie Jones getting
:41:51. > :41:55.inside your head earlier and persuading him at this point of
:41:56. > :42:00.view. Conor O'Shea has that similar approach, he convinces you to
:42:01. > :42:05.believe in his theory. I left thinking, you will take it to them.
:42:06. > :42:09.Worried I think is the word. We can gather from someone like Conor
:42:10. > :42:13.O'Shea is that he is clever and smart and intelligent from the way
:42:14. > :42:17.he chats there. Wherever he has gone he has made a change and had an
:42:18. > :42:21.impact and made a difference. He will struggle with Italy because
:42:22. > :42:25.everywhere he has been before it has been a rugby country with a rugby
:42:26. > :42:29.philosophy. This is totally different, and he doesn't have the
:42:30. > :42:32.talent yet. The clubs are playing in the Pro12, there was a massive high
:42:33. > :42:39.when they beat South Africa but that was a poor South African side. It
:42:40. > :42:43.will just be a start in five or ten years which is great, but then they
:42:44. > :42:47.lost to Tonga, which shows you the dynamic of the national side. If
:42:48. > :42:52.anyone can make a change, that clever man can and I wish in the
:42:53. > :42:59.best of luck. He was talking about Sowrey say with the love of the game
:43:00. > :43:08.like a child. They have great players, but without Parisse, what
:43:09. > :43:13.are they? Look at Richie McCaw's record, someone like -- something
:43:14. > :43:18.like 95% success rate that you can put down to those captains, Parisse
:43:19. > :43:23.is about that mark but when you think his appetite is as great as
:43:24. > :43:27.ever in a team that more often than not loses, and loses heavily, then
:43:28. > :43:31.you have to take your hat off to the man. He is one of the all-time great
:43:32. > :43:35.number eight to probably a bit like George Best in soccer wondered, why
:43:36. > :43:39.did I never get a chance to win World Cup 's? Parisse alone as a
:43:40. > :43:47.threat and it will be interesting to see what team Wales, with. We
:43:48. > :43:50.mentioned bonus points, they are in the Six Nations tournament, and in
:43:51. > :43:55.the past they have experimented against Italy and gone looking for
:43:56. > :44:01.tries and to wreck of a heavy score. It is not necessarily the place to
:44:02. > :44:07.do that, is it, to go there first and look to tries? When you pick a
:44:08. > :44:11.game you don't think you will win by 40, you set up to win the game than
:44:12. > :44:16.ones who are in a position of comfort you try to score tries. It
:44:17. > :44:19.is all about creating and taking opportunities and that is the
:44:20. > :44:25.problem we have had. We have not created anything so we don't score a
:44:26. > :44:31.lot of tries. The problem we have is selection of midfielders. Are we
:44:32. > :44:37.creating it or not? I don't think he will make much change. It will be
:44:38. > :44:48.Dan Biggar, Scott Williams, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, but for me,
:44:49. > :44:54.now, I would start with Sam Davies. You know what Dan Biggar does and if
:44:55. > :44:59.it is a problem you put him on. I might be tempted to play Dan Biggar
:45:00. > :45:05.at 12 because he has the distribution. For me it is not about
:45:06. > :45:09.Parisse but their creativity, the Italians, full-back is very average,
:45:10. > :45:18.half-backs are poor and they can't control games, they have no
:45:19. > :45:24.creativity, but off the field, that will get a couple of years to come
:45:25. > :45:30.through. We'll sit back, be patient, absorb it for the first 20 minutes
:45:31. > :45:34.then cut loose. I think we need that creativity in midfield. George North
:45:35. > :45:40.has stepped up. We all recognise what a great player he has been for
:45:41. > :45:42.Wales. In the last couple of seasons he hasn't performed, he needs to be
:45:43. > :45:48.standing by the Centre's shoulder giving him the ball as much as
:45:49. > :45:54.possible. It is up to the Welsh boys to have an attitude and when it
:45:55. > :45:56.comfortably and start the Six Nations on the front foot. You spoke
:45:57. > :46:03.about the backs, how do they go in the back row? I agree with Sam
:46:04. > :46:10.Davies. Attacking rugby starts at ten generally. He is the best at
:46:11. > :46:15.doing it in Wales, Dan Biggar. I think it starts with Sam Davies.
:46:16. > :46:20.Back row wise, same argument for Tipuric at seven, he has to be part
:46:21. > :46:23.of that team, but it leaves a slight in terms of competing for the ball
:46:24. > :46:29.which is a massive part. Tipuric doesn't do it as well as a
:46:30. > :46:33.Wolverton. Warburton and Alun Wyn didn't compete against Australia in
:46:34. > :46:36.the first game of the autumn. We were lighting tackling and
:46:37. > :46:42.struggled. Gethin Jenkins isn't there any more so who will compete
:46:43. > :46:46.for the ball? If Fallon et al is fit and he plays, I think Moriarty will
:46:47. > :46:50.come into that position -- Toby Feller Tao, Sam Warburton still has
:46:51. > :46:55.a great role to play and I think he should start with Moriarty at eight.
:46:56. > :47:00.How are these new directive is likely to play into the Six Nations?
:47:01. > :47:05.We have seen questionable cards being shown and players getting to
:47:06. > :47:11.grips with the directives. Eddie Jones said he was worried gains
:47:12. > :47:15.might be decided by a bad decision. There will be a controversial
:47:16. > :47:19.incident involving none. The wrong player will be sent off as happened
:47:20. > :47:24.in a recent Saracens game when Barrington the prop was sent off and
:47:25. > :47:30.Brad Barritt should have gone. I should hope referees should have the
:47:31. > :47:35.mouse to referee with empathy and be able to discern what is deliberate
:47:36. > :47:39.and not be sympathetic. Getting back to Wales, the questions that concern
:47:40. > :47:46.me, George North, no tries in five games, Jonathan Davies well below
:47:47. > :47:55.par. Luke Charteris, half an hour for Bath this month played, Faletau
:47:56. > :47:59.hasn't played since Christmas Eve. Warburton was a victim of the
:48:00. > :48:04.confusion in being made captain and then wasn't captain when push came
:48:05. > :48:12.to shove. How will they react? Leaning towards a Grand Slams. That
:48:13. > :48:16.is the back row I would go with, play Wolverton at six, Moriarty
:48:17. > :48:24.deservedly at eight. I don't see how you can play Faletau. You can't.
:48:25. > :48:30.Here's the one guy who seems to come back like that. Hears world-class.
:48:31. > :48:35.He has not had any injuries apart from this last time. Something in
:48:36. > :48:40.the water in Bath! He didn't play much against South Africa that he is
:48:41. > :48:45.such quality player. You have to start without him but if he has half
:48:46. > :48:53.a chance of being fit you stick on the bench, here is that good. The
:48:54. > :48:57.other minor decision is where they play Halfpenny and Liam Williams.
:48:58. > :49:02.There is more freedom on the pitch for wingers these days to move
:49:03. > :49:08.around. You see Ashton doing it with Saracens, and in Claremont it was
:49:09. > :49:11.unbelievable. You could say give the freedom to Williams to do it more
:49:12. > :49:18.but his biggest strength is hitting the line, coming from odd angles,
:49:19. > :49:22.and also counterattacks, something we are quite poorer. For me I would
:49:23. > :49:24.play him at full-back but it seems almost certain they would put
:49:25. > :49:31.Halfpenny and full-back and Williams on the wing. Who would you go for in
:49:32. > :49:35.centre? I like the potential of Scott Williams, I say potential
:49:36. > :49:41.because he has been around for a while and amass the caps. Jamie
:49:42. > :49:48.doesn't help in terms of that he is that far-away. It just hasn't fired.
:49:49. > :49:54.I would back the boys by saying go with Davies, because I prefer a ten,
:49:55. > :50:00.when I played at centre, that ran, so it took the focus away from what
:50:01. > :50:03.we were doing. Rob Andrew. Yes, exactly the same thing, who would
:50:04. > :50:10.you rather play with, and I would rather play with the running.
:50:11. > :50:14.Farrell is not the fastest guy in the world but because you have
:50:15. > :50:18.players outside him and he directs them, especially with Ashton, they
:50:19. > :50:24.create space and think outside the box, they look for work. If some
:50:25. > :50:29.Davies takes the ball to the line, same as a forward does, that holds
:50:30. > :50:35.defenders and if you have players either side you create space. You
:50:36. > :50:39.could be telling George North, get on my shoulder, George, you have
:50:40. > :50:45.them all as many times as you can. He needs to get in the ball far
:50:46. > :50:49.more. He is massive and can score, he is quick, he just needs the ball
:50:50. > :50:53.in hand all the time. I still think Liam Williams is a full-back and
:50:54. > :51:02.Halfpenny as a winger, Rob Howley is the coach and doesn't agree with me
:51:03. > :51:06.so it will not happen! The argument against some Davies was size and
:51:07. > :51:14.stature that look at Ford, Russell, Foley. Beauden Barrett. There are
:51:15. > :51:18.ways of hiding it. I think it gives you more in attack and you lose in
:51:19. > :51:23.any other position. His kicking game as good as well. Dan Biggar is a
:51:24. > :51:30.fine player but the game have changed and can work score points?
:51:31. > :51:35.The game hasn't changed. The game changes with the personnel who are
:51:36. > :51:39.playing. You still have to score. There are fewer scrums and
:51:40. > :51:44.line-outs, more open play time players going up so you will have to
:51:45. > :51:48.create, not like we did with Jamie Roberts, who was great, far fewer
:51:49. > :51:53.line-outs now, people don't give this line-out so Jamie becomes
:51:54. > :51:57.redundant in that game plan. Now we have to create from rock faces and
:51:58. > :52:01.faces and counterattack and turnover rather than online + scrums. One
:52:02. > :52:07.player won't make a difference with Coral and Ford. Farrell and Ford
:52:08. > :52:11.coming with the phase is not from the set pieces, but then you have to
:52:12. > :52:19.go back to what you are good at, more of a forceful game, playing...
:52:20. > :52:23.Headaches...! We will catch you up in the second, we have to leave it
:52:24. > :52:27.there but let's look at this pair because with him then they have 78
:52:28. > :52:32.caps from their respective countries, Tom Shanklin with 74
:52:33. > :52:34.Wales, David Blackman a mere eight for England but still suggested
:52:35. > :52:41.eight English caps was the equivalent of 80 Welsh caps!
:52:42. > :52:47.Unbelievable! Here they are with their guide to the Six Nations.
:52:48. > :52:53.It's what makes the Six Nations so special. It is the history of the
:52:54. > :52:58.competition, growing up watching it, seeing the reruns of the 70s team
:52:59. > :53:05.with Gareth Edwards, J PR, Jiffy, those shorts! I think it is about
:53:06. > :53:09.proximity. It is not what team you support week to week or if you don't
:53:10. > :53:13.support a team, you come together as a nation to support your nation
:53:14. > :53:17.against another nation which is really close by so you know lots of
:53:18. > :53:20.Irish, Scottish, in which and Welsh people and it is the bragging rights
:53:21. > :53:28.that makes the Six Nations so special for me. Who will win it? I
:53:29. > :53:31.say this every year. This will be the toughest competition to date in
:53:32. > :53:37.the Six Nations. Against Italy's form, beating South Africa in the
:53:38. > :53:43.autumn, Ireland beating the All Blacks, Scotland vastly improved, I
:53:44. > :53:46.think of Wales cannot beat England in the Principality Stadium it will
:53:47. > :53:51.come down to the last game, Ireland versus England. Who wins that? It
:53:52. > :53:56.pains me to say it but I think England might. It pains me because I
:53:57. > :54:01.think you are probably right. I want England to do well but not quite as
:54:02. > :54:05.well without you in the team! I stopped playing four years ago and
:54:06. > :54:10.have stayed in immaculate conditions and sometimes I think, why do I
:54:11. > :54:15.bother! Who do you think will be the best player in this tournament? We
:54:16. > :54:20.cannot count out that guy. Who is that? I think it is Rocky Balboa!
:54:21. > :54:25.Sam Warburton is no longer captain, Alun Wyn Jones has taken over,
:54:26. > :54:29.playing with less pressure, he has a points to prove. That is the right
:54:30. > :54:34.move, look out for what Britain also Stuart Hogg of Scotland, I think the
:54:35. > :54:44.best 15th in the northern hemisphere at the moment, I think you will have
:54:45. > :54:47.a huge Six Nations. I like Iain Henderson, in terms of power he is a
:54:48. > :54:49.preacher and I say that as a compliment. He is the new Stephen
:54:50. > :54:53.Ferris for Ireland. You played rugby for Wales, had you think Wales will
:54:54. > :54:57.do? I think Wales have a good chance, look at their autumn
:54:58. > :55:01.campaign, three from four, although not the greatest rugby, they will
:55:02. > :55:05.take confidence from that. Look at the squad picked, seven exciting
:55:06. > :55:09.uncapped players, they may not feature in the first few games but I
:55:10. > :55:16.hope we will see them in the tournament, and look at the current
:55:17. > :55:22.crop, Tipuric, Williams. I like him. It is weird. He is my favourite! If
:55:23. > :55:27.they can beat England in the second game they can go on to win it. That
:55:28. > :55:31.is a big if! Really big. I think that is enough, that is good stuff,
:55:32. > :55:36.I am starving, I would like to eat and go home. That's fine. Let's hand
:55:37. > :55:42.back to Sarra in the studio. Goodbye!
:55:43. > :55:53.Was that the Mitchell brothers? I thought we were mates! Good one.
:55:54. > :55:57.Let's talk about the Lions. It is shadowing everything that happens
:55:58. > :56:01.this season, there is a line is damaging to everything we talk
:56:02. > :56:04.about. This tournament is the final trial, a tournament in its own right
:56:05. > :56:09.for every one of those players. How much will that way on their minds?
:56:10. > :56:12.Obviously you want to play well, if you don't you don't get in the
:56:13. > :56:17.Lions, simple as that. Competition is tougher, there are players who
:56:18. > :56:22.have come through since the last Lions tour and Warren Gatland said
:56:23. > :56:26.today, the Welsh players need to perform to put their hands up. The
:56:27. > :56:31.most successful you are in this tournament, the more chance you have
:56:32. > :56:36.of being in the Lions. The Lions are like bonus points. You want to play
:56:37. > :56:40.well first, if you do, that takes care of your selection, if you score
:56:41. > :56:46.tries that takes care of the bonus points. You have done it, as Ross
:56:47. > :56:50.said, it is a huge competition, but for certain individuals is lower
:56:51. > :56:57.danger they will concentrate more on their game to the detriment may be
:56:58. > :57:00.of their team? No, not in my experience, you literally have to go
:57:01. > :57:04.out and play well in the team you have been picked for. Do well in the
:57:05. > :57:07.Five Nations as it was and you could guarantee and spot. The side that
:57:08. > :57:13.wins the Grand Slam or championship will dominate more than likely the
:57:14. > :57:22.Lions side. Which we saw a few years ago, the victory 30-3, four Wales,
:57:23. > :57:27.crowned the championship. Yes, and it was also the last great
:57:28. > :57:35.performance for Wales, four years ago! But right now, if you were to
:57:36. > :57:39.pick a Lions test team to pick next week -- play next week you would
:57:40. > :57:43.have one Welshman and one Welshman only and that would be Alun Wyn
:57:44. > :57:49.Jones, and even then he has competition from people like
:57:50. > :57:54.Launchbury and Graham. You will get competition. But it is ferocious in
:57:55. > :57:59.the second row, tougher there than other players. The only other person
:58:00. > :58:03.close to being nailed on this CJ Stander, who is another example of
:58:04. > :58:06.how Ireland and Scotland have managed the top players, love them
:58:07. > :58:11.all over them and most of us loathe them because we like to think you
:58:12. > :58:15.have to be born in the country to play in a country, but they have
:58:16. > :58:22.done more successfully than the Welsh regions. I think Farrell is
:58:23. > :58:26.nailed on. Like you said, you score tries, you have to scroll with the
:58:27. > :58:33.All Blacks and play with the vision, and I think Sexton and Farrell had
:58:34. > :58:37.turned 12 at the moment. A lot will change and there are probably people
:58:38. > :58:42.now who you are not thinking about who by the end of March will be at
:58:43. > :58:47.the front of the Q. Let's talk predictions for next weekend.
:58:48. > :58:54.Scotland, Ireland? Island, comfortably. I think Scotland might
:58:55. > :59:06.sneak it. Ireland. Ireland. England France? England. I wish! England.
:59:07. > :59:17.Who's the referee? LAUGHTER. I go England. Did we do Wales? Wales,
:59:18. > :59:31.comfortable. CHEERING. APPLAUSE. We expected that answer. You all
:59:32. > :59:36.agree on something! You are like This Morning! . Thanks to our
:59:37. > :59:40.special guests, Jonathan Davies, Jeremy Guscott, Gwyn Jones and Peter
:59:41. > :59:45.Jackson. CHEERING. APPLAUSE. Thank you very much for watching and
:59:46. > :59:49.our wonderful studio audience as well, just six more sleeps until the
:59:50. > :59:56.tournament so if you haven't had enough tonight Gwyn and Peter will
:59:57. > :00:01.hang out for a Facebook Live, and another big preview programme coming
:00:02. > :00:04.on Friday on the eve of the tournament. See you next week.
:00:05. > :00:14.CHEERING. APPLAUSE. Having built the Welsh up
:00:15. > :00:19.to be a certain thing I remember you taking your cans off and going, oh,
:00:20. > :00:26.I get it. I remember turning round and seeing three blokes behind us in
:00:27. > :00:30.tears, and it wasn't till I'd actually seen that but I really
:00:31. > :00:35.truly understood that when people talk about the game being in the
:00:36. > :00:44.nation's soul, it actually is the sole for a lot of people.