07/05/2017 Scrum V

Super Saturday delivered a scintillating climax. The Scarlets

served their best till last. Over four Aaron Shingler. A pump of the

first. Comprehensive from the Scarlets. The Ospreys were humbled

by their fiercest rivals for the first time ever. We have to make a

Welsh teams in the semifinals. We are happy to be there, we are happy

to be in former selves going into the semifinals. We will have a

chance going to Munster. Probably the only ones who believe will be

the ones going into a changing room. As the monkeys tour creeps closer,

we hear from a legend in our hemisphere. Are they good enough,

without a doubt. If you had as me 12 months ago if the monkeys had any

chance, I would have said, do not be silly, of course they do not have a

chance. -- the British Lions. The shareholders will have to turn up on

the night and be fully informed as to why we are reaching this

decision, and the consequences if it is not supported.

The regular season is over and it's Ireland versus Wales

Jonathan Davies and Nicky Robinson are here to look ahead

But there's only one place to start, and that's yesterday's extraordinary

The tackle from Rawlins. A little gap for Baldwin. He hits it and is

halfway through. The Ospreys are therein numbers. The defence from

Patchell. That is great from Giles. What pace from the winger. He shows

his strength for the opening try. Watch the inside ball. Rob Evans

does not get there. Ken Owens. He is just too quick. Owens, he switches

play. Williams, the overlap. Jonathan Davies, sure and go. He

backs his strength. He is over. Held up on the line. The video referee

will be in again. Ospreys, desperate in defence. Owens tries to crawl his

way over. Again, hammering away at the line, the Scarlets.

Now there is space. They floated pass. Space on the first side for

Boyde if he has the likes. At last, the Scarlets in the lead after that

pressure. Davies sports a gap and breaks. That

is a fantastic run. Has he got support? Are fantastic at them from

Giles. It he cannot quite get there. The lead's top scorer in expense the

lead for the Scarlets. That is a brilliant try.

Rawlins, through quickly on his opposite number, Bradley Davies. No

way through for the Ospreys. It is down field. Patchell will gather.

Liam Williams get its way to Jonathan Davies. Evans and support.

Scott Williams. Over the line for the Scarlets, Aaron Shingler, the

pump of the fest. That about it. A great first half, carrying on in the

second. The Scarlets are flying. That is turnover. The penalties

coming the way of the Scarlets. Just happy to spread the ball and

find a gap, the Scarlets. McNicholl, great. The New Zealander will cross

for the fourth try in the bonus point. It was the Ospreys who needed

one, but the Scarlets will get one. Scarlets changing things in

midfield. Kruger is on, the tight head prop. He has got the gap. The

bones is therefore Davies. Fantastic player and a great drive from the

Scarlets. Try number five. That was a good pass by Webb. Fonotia is

still going. Better from the Ospreys.

They have got to keep going, the Ospreys. Scarlets standing. Only

thing is the is the middle, inside ball. Webb fancies it. The try

comes. It is Dan Baker, the replacement number eight who

crosses. He brings the Ospreys up to 15, but well beaten.

So the Scarlets cemented their place in third, and the Ospreys snuck

Who they would meet in the play-offs would be determined by the outcome

of the other matches on Super Saturday.

Ulster ended the season on a high but were unable to rack up the

massive score needed to reach the play-offs. Michael Roger Wilson

scored the home side's first try in his last appearance before

retirement. It was a final hurrah for Montpelier boned Ruan Pienaar.

Perfect tick from the South African setting up Andrew Trimble's

second-half score despite a late Leinster penalty try, Ulster on.

Leinster's loss gave Munster the chance to go top of the table. They

ran in seven tries as they crushed Connacht. Keith Earls got the early

score to set the tone, finishing off a simple but effective set play from

the scrum. A second score followed as Jack O'Donoghue finished off a

fine move involving Andrew Conway. The fullback secured a brace, his

first, in the right corner after a clever all flowed from the fly-half.

Despite direction from the visitors, Munster broke the 50 point barrier

and finish top seeds. Confirmation of the top six. Munster's thrashing

of Connacht at them ahead of Leinster the finishes top seeds.

Leinster were seconds, Scarlets third, and Ospreys clung on to

fourth place, despite the victory for Ulster over Leinster. Glasgow

lost their final match to Edinburgh and remaining six. They qualify

automatically for the Champions Cup next season. This is how the

semifinals line up a week on Friday. The Scarlets travel to Dublin to

take on Leinster. You can watch that live. The following day, it is

Munster against the Ospreys. Details on the screen.

So two mouth-watering semifinals in prospect.

Let's hear the thoughts of both head coaches,

It was not perfect. We left a few tries out there, a few final passes

early in the game went down. As the game went on, we got stronger and we

finished well. How -- how disappointing was the performance

and the result? Disappointed with some of the performance and the

result. It is what it is, we have got the semifinal, and in isolation,

it is tough to take, particularly against the Scarlets away from home.

They deserve the result but we have to reflect on it, and be ready to go

to Limerick. It is Leinster rather than Munster. What are your

thoughts? They are both different sides. Leinster has a great that on

score lots of tries. They have weapons across the park. The hardest

thing for us is making the play-offs.

It is a season. If we can have all players available, we will find

yourselves. We're happy to be there. You will not be favourites, will

that act in your favourite -- in your favour? It does not make any

difference. We know we have to be better. Hopefully we will have more

backs available for selection which will help. Philosophical from Steve

Tandy and Wayne Pivac fairly diplomatic in victory. It was a

record victory for the Scarlets against their West Wales rivals, a

big scoreline. As Wayne Pivac acknowledged, they left a few tries

out there. Yes, and all those stats, they favour the Scarlets, the

floods. They came with the intent to play. We know what their backs can

do. Steffan Evans gets involved. Watch Rob Evans. Involved a couple

of times. A lovely pass, stepped inside and takes the man out. The

defender fails to get there. Watch this, he takes it one-handed, Rob

Evans, back to Patchell. The defence is short. Steffan Evans gets easily

outside. It shows their confidence. He goes into channel one. It is a

foot race. He takes on for pace he is gone, he is away. Great support

from Jonathan Davies. He gets to him but there is a try. They played with

so much confidence through everything, Scarlets. They all look

so comfortable with the ball in hand. The front five were solid.

We're used to seeing Scarlets playing on the back foot, but the

front five were immense yesterday. It gave them a launching pad to show

their skills. The counterattack was good. Defence was solid. It was a

comprehensive victory for them. It was. I am not sure at the front row

will be too happy. Missed passes and the like. The other thing that

struck as watching the game, the Scarlets coaches had clearly done

their homework. They know the Ospreys like the kick and they

figured out a way of not only dealing with that, but counting.

Yes, with Webb, Biggar and Dan Evans, they tend to do that.

Scarlets worked hard in making sure the centres got back. They use that.

This is a good example of Webb going along. Ospreys always had the ball

in their own 22, so this was a problem. The centres were working

hard to get wide and deep. When they got the ball they were running on

Tidser they were making yards all the time. This is the three we have

highlighted. Shingler, Scott Davis. They were linking up for the try.

Liam Williams, we know he's going to run. Jonathan Davies is highlighted.

He gets the ball under three we have highlighted before, the inside pass

to Williams. Shingler is inside. It is the work rate to support each

other. It is not the case of waiting. They get back and they can

attack the Ospreys. The. So many times we have criticised the skills,

the skill level of the Northern Hemisphere. Yesterday they scored

some beautiful tries with great distribution, the ball in hand. The

difference was the intent they went out with, but also how clinical they

were with their passing. In terms of intent, no players with more intense

than Liam Williams who was saying farewell to the Scarlets faithful

yesterday. It was an all action display and an emotional farewell.

It was perfect. Will Boyde does that all the time. He gets great angles.

They took him off before the end and they gave him a standing ovation.

They will miss him next year. I know that Jonny McNicholl has come in and

made an impact and Steffan Evans has come on leaps and bounds but the

three of them work well. When Liam Williams comes back, he really adds

something. He can create things. They will miss him. One man who the

Ospreys did miss for much of the second half was Dan Biggar. The

Ospreys say there will be a scan on the injured right ankle in the next

48 hours to find out the extent of the damage, if there is damage. He

went off in discomfort. Would you have taken him of earlier?

We are thinking the Lions and the semifinals. Sam Davies wasn't on the

bench. But if it was a bad one or something that could have got worse,

I would have thought as a player you would have said straightaway. He was

not on for long. Sometimes you try and run them off. He was only on for

a few minutes and did not get involved. Briefly, semifinals coming

up. How much difference can Alun Wyn Jones make? There is a clear

indication that when he has not been there, the standard has dropped. He

is a talismanic player. This year he has been incredible for Wales and

the Ospreys. They have missed him. The opposition will love it when he

is not there. There seems to be something lacking there because on

paper, you would have said that pack would have been dominant against the

Scarlets but they were definitely second best. And no away side has

ever won a semifinal there, can the Scarlets change that? Hopefully. I

thought Steve Tandy 's post match assessment was good. They will go

there and they would prefer to go to Munster. They have the mental

strength to compete with them. The Scarlets, if you go to Leinster,

they play a brand of rugby that gives you opportunities. They can

spread it about and the confidence the Scarlets are playing with at the

moment, you can't write them off. It will be one hell of a game. Why

can't both sides win? It'll be an absolute cracker. There was another

Welsh derby yesterday. The Dragons took on the Blues in the unfamiliar

surroundings of Caerphilly. COMMENTATOR:

Nice continuity from Thomas. In various Davies. A bit messy.

Creating problems for the Blues. They could carry by Ollie Griffiths.

That is the Blues' try line. This is not what they were expecting. This

is not what anyone was expecting. He has kept it right across field and

there is absolutely no one at home. That'll be the simplest try he has

scored this season. This is genuinely the first time the Blues

have been in possession in this fixture so far. Inside the Dragons'

half. Morgan kicks it off the outside of the right foot. That is

the easiest of tries. Another good pass around the back

from Gareth Anscombe. Halaholo. Steps off too. That made it look so

very simple for the Blues. Again, Dixon. Somehow manages to get away.

Over the top, a beautiful inside pass. The objective was to come to

Caerphilly, a different venue, against a gritty Dragons team and

achieve a win and we achieve that objective. It has been a

disappointing season. Lots of different things have gone on this

season. Plenty of effort but the same old really. Not enough wins and

lots of promise. People tell us, we love watching the Dragons, that is

good. But we need to win. This is how the bottom half of the table

finished up. The Blues finished seventh, they are in a semifinal

play-off with Stade Francais for a place in the Champions Cup. Treviso

qualify automatically as the highest placed Italian side. You were there

for S4C yesterday and it was an ugly win for the Blues. Some good

individual performances. Yes, a really well worked try by the Blues

but the Dragons should have been further ahead. The Blues' defence

was not too good. In the second half, they should have pulled away

with the amount of possession and territory they had. It was good for

them to get that win, leading into the play-offs. That sums up the

Dragons' season. The Blues now face Stade Francais. A semifinal

play-off. Will they fancy their chances as you mark it is good to be

harder there. But it is an opportunity to get into Europe. It

has been a long season but from everyone, it is a big effort now to

put ourselves in a position. To away games will be hard but it is an

opportunity. Danny Wilson was set to tour with Wales as one of the

assistant coaches has announced he has pulled out due to increasing

commitments at the region. The right decision by what he has said. It'll

be a shame for him not to go with Wales that his priority are the

Blues. If he thinks he's needed there then that is what he has to

do. We have spoken about the Blues. The Dragons finished 11. A miserable

season for them. But off the pitch on Tuesday they face questions over

their very existence. There will be a vote on the proposed takeover of

the region by the WRU. Stuart Davies told scrum five this week it is of

monumental significance. I think we have done all we can to make sure

that no matter how difficult the message was, it's being clearly

relayed through a number of channels. We made sure that as best

as we are able, all shareholders are turning up on the night fully

informed as to why we have reached this decision, what is being

proposed and what the consequences are if it is not supported. I am

certain it is the right thing to do. But I cannot call it one way or

another. It is such a difficult process, I suppose, and an unusual

one insomuch as the vote is sitting with the shareholders. The

shareholders of Newport from some 20 years ago. And on the night, it will

be day that determine the future of the club and the region. As far as

you are concerned, what are the scenarios? It is very clear. We are

actually on stand-by to deal with a no vote the next morning because the

directors are aware of the obligations they carry on that

situation. In that event, the Dragons as we know it will no longer

continue to trade, such is the financial position of the region and

because of the relationship between the Dragons and the rest of the

group companies, in rural Newport Rugby club, the rest quickly

follows. There is no blood, no rumour-mongering, no scaremongering.

If we wake up on Wednesday morning with a No vote, business as we know

it discontinuous and it is likely that the enforced Sale of Rodney

Parade will follow quickly thereafter. Because of the need to

meet the demands of the creditors. We are very clear on that and we

have had to be explicit so we cannot be charged with not spelling that

out, such is the importance at the magnitude of the vote. If it is a

yes vote, we will quickly tie the legals and we will proceed as has

been shaped by the heads of terms and those documents and we quickly

ready ourselves for a fresh and exciting new start, I suppose. Both

for the Dragons and it must not be forgotten for new board as well

because the current arrangement is not serving the Dragons well and it

is not serving Newport well. Both will benefit from a fresh start.

Stuart Davies has laid that out there in black and white. It is

pretty bleak if it is a No vote. You can understand the passion. It is

unpalatable as it seems, the alternative is it oblivion. It must

be terrible to be a Dragons or a new board supporter, player, manager,

management, whatever it is. -- Newport. The sad truth of it is that

if they don't do it, the future ends on Wednesday mornings. It has been

tough but hopefully they will make the right decision. We shall wait

and see what happens on Tuesday night. But talking about this in

business terms and the Sale of land, it all sounds removed from the

emotions of the players. We saw what happened with London Welsh. These

guys could be losing their livelihoods come Wednesday morning.

It is everyone, the backroom staff, the office, everyone that is

associated with the club. But from speaking to the players, obviously

whether you are in or out of contract, it makes no difference

because Wednesday morning you could be a completely free agent. For some

young and talented players, that is fine but other players don't know

what is happening with their mortgage payments at the end of the

month. It is not nice. Hopefully the correct decision is made on Tuesday

night. A significant moment for the Dragons but if one thing puts all of

this into perspective, it was the news we heard this week that Ed

Jackson has suffered a serious spinal injury and is currently

recovering in hospital. All the very best from everyone here. Moving on

to the Premiership, and it was the final round of the regular fixtures

for the Premiership as well and there were still play-off places up

for grabs. RGC secured a place in the play-offs

at the expense of Pontypridd. Despite a second-half comeback, the

visitors held on. Tom Hughes with his second of the afternoon. RGC

will now face top seed is Merthyr. They ended Ebbw Vale 's Saint

answers of reaching the semifinals. Despite a consolation try out the

death, Ebbw Vale 's reign as champions is over. Aberavon

guaranteed themselves a home semifinal with a win over Bedwas.

Local pride was the only thing riding on the Church bag Derby. It

was a winner takes all clash on Friday night. The Welsh All Blacks

rallied to secure a win and a home semifinal. Next week, Crosskeys

travel to Neath and Newport welcome Llanelli.

Congratulations to all those who have made the play-offs. The

domestic season may be about to draw to a close but the mother of all

tours is about to get underway. On May the Lions set off for New

Zealand. We caught up with a couple of legends of the game to find out

what they thought the tourists chances were.

I was quite impressed with the selection, I have to say. I think it

is a well-balanced squad. And I think it reflects how many good

players we have got over the four countries at the moment. I genuinely

believe we have some very good rugby players and it will be one of the

strongest Lions squads that has gone to New Zealand. He has always said

he wants a very good set piece team and he definitely has that in terms

of the calibre of the players. But he has also got some very, very good

ball-carriers. I have been on radio in New Zealand that they are asking

me that question. It is biased towards the Welsh? I say to them

quite openly, who would you replace them with? Warren Gatland has said,

we are not going to have coaches from each of the home nations, we

are going to pick the best that are available on and off the field and

that is key. Warren Gatland has shown that he picks on form and he

picks on attitude and approach and training. There will be no gimme is,

I don't think, for any of the Welsh players and the other thing from a

culture 's perspective is if you know the players well, you need that

accelerated start on the Lions tour. Back in 1997, I got five Northampton

players but I knew them so well, I knew what would come out of them and

what they were capable of. They will need to have clever players and I

think be able to vary the attacking options that they have, as well as

being hugely strong in defence. He has got alternatives in the

different positions and I think you have got to take into account the

weather in New Zealand. The pitch is now are much better than they used

to be but there is no doubt on a wet day in Wellington, you have got to

be able to control the ball and then be able to choose the options at the

right time. glass you need players that can play

under pressure and take their opportunities. The key thing is not

to make mistakes and make sure you're prepared. That is what the

All-Blacks do better than most. They prepare well and make a massive

amount of sacrifice. In doing that, being so prepared, they do not make

lots of mistakes, whether it be in defence or attack, they put teams

under pressure. I think in the loose forward trio is very important. They

have a very strong loose forward trio in terms of the players that

have been selected, good ball-carriers. Players that do not

make mistakes. You cannot get away from the fact that you're set piece

has to be good. If you play on the front of it, it is an easy game, on

the back foot, it is a difficult game. The teams that win world cups

have a good 9-10. They have arguably two the best halfbacks in world

rugby. I said a year ago, basically, when we knew he was a coach, he

needed to go away and develop a game plan. With the help of Joe Schmidt,

Eddie Carter, and then go about finding players that can play that

game plan, put the All-Blacks under pressure. I think he has done that.

Warren Gatland is going back to an environment that he understands

better than any day. The Lions tours that have been successful having

compassed the culture of those countries. If you understand the

culture and where your opponents are coming from, you understand how to

beat them. The coaches of New Zealand will know what is coming,

and knowing Warren Gatland, how well prepared the Lions will be. If the

Lions win the first test, this time around, then all the pressure shifts

to the other side. I think the Lions will struggle to win the first test

that Eden Park. I think their chances to win the second one in

Wellington. It does not matter to me if they lose the odd provincial game

as long as internally you can see the Lions team tactically

developing, being ready for the first test. If they are, I'll be

good enough to put a game in front of New Zealand to challenge them,

without a doubt. If you had asked me 12 months ago is the Lions had any

chance, I would have said, do not be stupid, but I think they have a

chance. As a fan, I think it makes it exciting. There you go, Sean

Fitzpatrick has said it, the Lions have a chance. Ian McGeechan talking

about having to pick other players if they are to win the series. What

does he mean? It is six provincial game. That is key. We will see the

combinations, but also, we will see what kind of game Gatland will want

to play and that will determine what players he would play in those

combinations. If he sees that they are smashing everyone, with the big

game that he usually plays, then he might say, forget the clever players

and play the big boys. It depends. I think the Lions have a massive pack

and massive squad. If that works, he might stick with that. If it does

not work, he has the players to cause them problems technically. The

10-12 axis is key. You have to keep the ball against New Zealand. Being

able to have those ballplayers, to manoeuvre and get the ball wide,

that is the big thing. We saw how well Scarlets kept the ball against

Ospreys. New Zealand do that. Their kicking game is good. But you cannot

kick the ball, you have got to trust your defence and keep the ball. You

have players that are physical and too can get over the gain-line, but

the players have to do something when the defence is good and create.

Add international level, that is why they are better than anyone else.

You do not have as many try scoring opportunities. You have to take them

when they come along. That is why New Zealand have been the best for

the majority of world rugby, because when they have opportunities, they

are clinical and the score. If he picks a big side to bash them, they

have played against South Africa in the year. They know how to match

them and play in the last 20. Some sad news on the Lions front, Ben

Youngs, one of the three scrum-halves selected has pulled

out. His brother, Tom Youngs, got the news that his wife has been

diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ben Youngs has decided to withdraw to

spend time with his brother and his family. Greig Laidlaw has been

called up to take his place. All the best from everyone at Scrum V to Ben

Youngs, Tom Youngs and their families.

And ahead of the Lions tour, we have two superb

Gareth Thomas has taken a trip down under to find out how

And we explore the enigma that is Warren Gatland.

Warren Gatland is a winner. I find them very good company, a very dry

sense of humour. Famously he was described as a menopausal warthog.

Come on, years the poll Hollywood of rugby, he is a good-looking guy.

Good to see you. You're like the fresh Prince. My God. How do you

beat the All-Blacks? That is a very bad way of asking the question? Have

you had any education on doing this job? You have got something to

learn. I have got something to learn. How do you beat the

All-Blacks? Score more points. I knew you would say that. I knew it.

Essential viewing, I think we all agree. We will let you know as and

when those appearing the schedules, two documentaries to cherish ahead

of the Lions tour. We will talk about the Wales tour for a bit. The

squad to tour Samoa and Tonga will be announced on Tuesday at midday.

Talking points, the first question, is this a development tour to check

out new talent, or is it Wales minus the Lions? The best that Wales can

offer? I would not chucking the youngsters. Speaking from

experience. Been there, done that, and got battered. We won the test,

but it is such a physical tour, it will be tough. It will take them out

of the comfort zone. A mixture of youth and experience. Give lots of

players an opportunity. Talking about the Blues, we have heard the

likes of Thomas Williams being kept, he is obvious competing with Lloyd

Williams at scrum-half. They are all called Williams. If it was a

development tour, perhaps you would take Thomas Williams because you

know what Lloyd Williams can do. If you want to go and win and have

experience, you would have liked. Where do you draw the line?

Hopefully Warren Gatland and Rob Howley will have had this

discussion, where they see players. If the selectors would like to see

Lloyd play at a higher level than we have seen them regionally, you take

someone like him. If you think, he's not going to play in the future, we

need to see something else. Rhun Williams. Is the next in the pecking

order? He played really well. We need to see him at a higher level.

There is a good opportunity for other banks to be seen in different

positions, Rhys Patchell, Owen Williams. Two flyhalves, is it an

opportunity to see them playing at centre or 15? You have control. You

do not have any control when they are playing club rugby. We'll is

possibly do not have the strength in depth is where we need talented

players. This is an opportunity. On these trips, players will come

through who you do not expect. You need the opportunity to play at this

level in tough physical conditions. Gethin Jenkins will not be going, he

had surgery for any injury on Friday. He has been ruled out. He

was perhaps a contender for captain. In his absence, who is captain? I

think we all know what Gethin Jenkins can do, 1 million camps.

Captain, that is tough. Scott Williams, if you're looking. He has

done it before. Will Jamie Roberts Skosan experience player? Maybe, a

view need someone to go over the gain-line, he will do a job. If

Scott Williams is there, you have two experience centres. We are

lacking in that position. Steffan Evans has to go. He has been

brilliant. He deserves a couple of cabs. It will be very interesting.

Thanks, we will find out on Tuesday at midday. One man who has staked a

claim is Tom Young, the son of Dai Young. He scored a hat-trick for

Wasps against Saracens yesterday. He will be one of the number of number

seven is vying for a column. That is all we have time for a Scrum V this

evening. Thanks for watching. We will bring you news of the team

announcement on the website, and do not forget to tune in in a fortnight

for those two massive Ireland against Wales PRO12 semifinals. If

this lives up to the hype, it should be a cracker.