09/04/2017 Scrum V

As the play-off race enters the final Furlong, there was late drama

at the Liberty. The Kingspan was lit up as the Blues did the Scarlets a

massive favour. They took full advantage of a sun soaked Parc y

Scarlets. It was painful in Parma, for the Dragons. To whom the season

can't end soon enough. But back in the heart of Gwent... Who will put

the icing on their Championship cake? And as winter turns to spring,

Judgement Day approaches. Hello, good evening and welcome to

the programme. It's been a scorching weekend. Our guests are never

anything but calm, cool and collected. Former Wales

international is Gwyn Jones and Nicky Robinson. We'll catch up with

them. We'll start tonight with the league leaders' visit to the Liberty

Stadium. Dan Biggar led the Ospreys out. His

200th appearance in the Ospreys journey. At 27, he's the youngest to

reach such a milestone, joining for -- four others.

COMMENTATOR: Possession for Thornton. Rhys Webb.

Matavesi, supporting on the inside is Cracknell. Ospreys moving the

ball wide. Biggar transfers ball. It's a great try. What is caught for

-- what a start for Sam Davies. A fabulous drive from the Ospreys,

four minutes played here. Henshaw again,... He breaks inside,

he's away. They won't catch on. Leinster are back in style, back in

the game. A great solo effort from the hooker, Sean Cronin. What pace,

from a hug. My goodness me, I don't think Dan Biggar will want to see

film of that again tonight. Position from Ruddock, in the line. Joey

Carbery, Zane Kirchner, like a knife through butter. The support comes

from Cronin. He is collared, about five metres out. Leinster forwards

arrive and again, they are pressing. Right at the heart of it is the

winger, Rory O'Loughlin. The try has come, Dunleavy, the flanker, it is.

Great from Tipuric. Webber is ready to release it. Still going forwards.

Leavey, trying to come in from the side. Rhys Webb goes on his own,

he's still going. He's only a metre short. Great attacking position. The

ball is released. Inches short of the try. Try is on the card, I would

think. A mass of bodies over the try line, Rhys Webb looking left. Which

way will they go? Justin Tipuric, ready to release the ball. It's a

try for the Ospreys. They are back in the game.

Leinster still trying everything. They are almost up to the 22.

McCarthy bleeding with referees at the ball is being held. Jean Alesi

allows me to continue. -- the referee allows play to continue. The

effort from outside the 22. He's got it It'll Be Alright On The Night --

he's got it! Half a minute gone, over the 40. This will definitely be

the last opportunity for them to get anything from it. We'll wait, I

wonder, go for a drop ball themselves. Biggar and Sam Davies

are in the right position. The forwards have been closer though. I

think they realise what they've got to do. A little bit too far out at

the moment, one suspects. Rhys Webb. A long pass. Biggar can't do it. Nor

can Sam Davies. They try and regroup, possibly that was the last

chance. So they try and run it. Dan Evans comes for attacking, was there

a high tackle? There was, around the neck. Are we in for a dramatic

finale to this game after all? There is a penalty against Leinster for

the high tackle on Devon -- Dan Evans. 200th appearance for the

side, can he win the game for the Ospreys?

He's pulled it to the right, would you believe it! They lose at home to

Leinster. STUDIO:

So late drama at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.

Scrum V's analysis man Sean Holley was there to witness the late drama.

These were his thoughts on the final whistle.

It was a frenetic game, nothing much between a two teams. I feel a bit

sorry for the Ospreys and Dan Biggar, to have that on his

shoulders, missed the kick to win the game at the end. Two tries

apiece as a fair reflection. It's a shame one team to lose again.

Leinster dominated the midsection of the game. It was enough for me, they

were strong there. In one of Ross's first touches to score that drop

goal and show the composure was probably the difference. I feel

sorry for Daniel and the Ospreys really have it all to do now, if

they are to get home semifinal in the Guinness Pro12 this year. They

are up against it now if they are to get the home semifinal. A lot of the

chat post-match and today is focusing on the final kick of the

game. Dan Biggar admitted afterwards in an interview that he felt bit

dazed for the final ten minutes. Whether that was the reason he

missed the kick or not. It's an interesting talking point. He went

on for the HIA, he was deemed fit to carry on. By his standards it was a

rare wide miss for him. What do you make of this? Should he have taken

that gig? Well, if he's passed the HIA, everyone assumed he hasn't had

a concussion. Afterwards he said not only was he dazed, but he can't

remember much of the last ten minutes. If so, he's got an episode

of amnesia and therefore concussion by any definition. The medical team

have done everything right. They've recognised the head injury, removed

him and evaluated him and he passed the HIA. It shows more about how the

test accuracy as opposed to anything else. There is no particularly

strong evidence to say they recognise concussions. It's probably

the best thing we've got. It's still imperfect. It may be that we are

putting players back on the pitch who have had heard injuries but what

else can we do? The evidence isn't there to do anything else. I don't

apportion any blame. Dan Biggar must've thought he was OK, if he

passed a HIA, so why wouldn't you take the cake? If you were in the

position you were playing, if you are in possession of the kick and

it's the kick to win the game, you want to step up and take it. You

don't want to hand it to the guy you are competing with. Of course, and

in your 200th game, that's what you practice for, you don't get many

opportunities to win a match in the last kick of a game and it's on your

shoulders to win it. Even if he wasn't 100%, he was still back

himself to get that kick. It's his red zone, nine out of ten area for

him and he had kicked that well throughout the day but that was a

bad miss -- he hadn't kicked that well through the day. If their head

injury affected him, that's disappointing, but there's not a

chance he would give it to Sam Davies. Plenty of positives for the

Ospreys, ultimately they lost the game at the death. There was enough

in their performance prior to that to suggest they still are play-off

contenders and title contenders? Maybe a lack of confidence off the

back of two losses. They started the game well, hitting the ball flat.

They get really quick ball and Biggar does well to flick it onto

Baldwin, Baker. That the perfect start. Over the gain line. Took

their opportunity. Second line-out, they planned this. Davies to ten and

Biggar, so good in the air, chases and gets the ball back and from that

they get three points they go 8-0 up. Leinster, for the middle chunk

of the game, their defence was so good, well organised. They don't go

for the ball here, Rhys Ruddock doesn't bother to go for the ball.

The policy is to keep members on their feet and a tax when they can.

Ospreys may be got out of it, Nasa reads the game well and chop them

down. Possibly a bit snowball, half a second off it, Jack McGrath seizes

the gap and straight on the ball and get the turnover. Leinster are quite

happy, 8-0 down but they want to go from their own half. Really nice

pass from Penshaw. ISA Nasa gets inside Giles and a bit of luck to

get the ball back. They've conceded 60 metres. Is the first time may be

to put them ball into the stands? They don't. They want an open game

with ball in play. Three phases later they create an overlap. Dan

Evans, playing on the wing, slightly out of position, jams in. Should he

work with Lloyd Ashley and be a bit softer? Sam Davies out of position

isn't soft. Jams in. Cronin with a night step off the right foot,

really nonchalant, not even a smile as if he does it every days of the

week. Hookers shouldn't be allowed to get away with that, should they?

Sean Cronin is a fantastic player who has done that a lot and that's

his strength, ball carrying. Congratulations to Leinster. A

narrow victory at the death. They are favourite to get the top

seeding, Munster right behind them, will be second favourites to get the

second and crucial home semifinal. Yesterday, they took on Glasgow at

Irish Independent Park. There was an away win at Scotstoun

in December. They started brightly in this fourth in counter as well,

with James Cronin crossing the whitewash early in the first half.

They didn't have things all the way, with Glasgow enjoying long periods

of possession in the Munster half. A chip and chase followed by a try

gave the Warriors hope. A stout defence from the home side repelled

any further attacks. They are on course for a home semifinal in the

Pro12 as well as in Europe. Onto the Cardiff Blues then,

and they headed to Belfast hoping for a rare win that would keep

alive their hopes of COMMENTATOR:

A lovely pass by Sean Reidy. Cuthbert with an important tackle.

Hi, says the referee. This click is slotted through four Paddy Jackson.

It's a beauty. What a great kick by Ruan Pienaar. Fabulous vision. Easy,

well controlled by Paddy Jackson. They came quickly and defence to

prevent the long cut. Matthew Rees breaks through the

tackle, just short. Lloyd Williams, right up to the try line. Warburton.

Ian Davis has a look and yes, the try has been awarded. O'Connor

takes. Rory Best, so used to driving. The line-out is going ahead

of him, a bit too quickly, they almost lost their feet. They've

regained it, up to the try line and Davis goes into the sticks for a

penalty try. And scum delays. That's a great try,

so simple but so effective. The Blues are back ahead at the start of

the second half. Finds James Down. Finds Nick Williams.

Great bust, he's going to go all the way. Steps inside, it's the second

for him, and that's a great individual score. Real pressure on

the Blues now. Jackson back to Luke Marshall. Slips the tackle and Luke

Marshall gets through with a try that could bring Ulster back level.

I thought our midfield called them Maiza -- caused by major problems

and we have to play that high-speed off-load game as possible and with

that comes risk and the odd one that doesn't stick and go to hand, but on

the whole I thought our attacking game tonight was superb. Credit to

match it, our attack coach has done great work recently. It's paying

off. How many thank you texts have you had from the Scarlets tonight?

Nothing yet, but I'm sure I'll have a few.

Great performance from the Cardiff Blues, and one

which could so easily have ended in victory.

There were a lot of hearts in mouths when we saw Sam Warburton limp

But early indications suggest that there is nothing to be

He is having a scan tomorrow. The expectation is that he might face a

couple of weeks on the cyclone, which will rule them out of Judgment

Day but not for the Lions tour. So we can breathe a huge sigh of

relief. Absolutely. He has had a fantastic Six Nations. The Blues do

not have much to play for, or guaranteed a play-off position. I

think he will be the Lions captain. A couple of weeks where he doesn't

pick up another bank is important. Nailed on captain? Yes. The bookies

agree with you, and who wouldn't? As we heard Danny Wilson say

himself, that Blues result did the Scarlets a massive favour

by holding Ulster to a draw. If the Scarlets could muster a BP

victory against Treviso, they'd have one foot

in the play-offs. Ken Owens was the second Welshman

this weekend to make a 200th appearance for his region,

11 years after making his debut He led his team against a Treviso

side flushed with confidence after their unexpected victory over

the Ospreys a fortnight ago. COMMENTATOR: Barclay on the 22.

Jones. A lovely show and go. That is the

first try for Van der Merwe. Steffan Evans is off on one. He should be

able to get a try. The referee has given the try. Dermot nickel, Wilkie

open up to the fullback? -- will he. He manages to get a miracle passed

away somehow. Could this be the third try for the Scarlets?

Taken by John Barclay at the back. And now we go to the caveman stuff.

It is the skipper, by the look of it. The skipper gets the bonus point

try on his 200th appearance. That's the 22 of scholars. And the

chance. It is Steffan Evans again. There he goes. How easy was that?

Exhibition stuff in the first half at times by the scholars. And that's

a beautiful try and stop Tom Price. -- a beautiful try by Tom Price.

Take from McKinley. It is deemed dropped. It is an easy one for

Treviso. Here we go, Alan Davies, two passes should do it. Opening the

back door to Van der Merwe. This is unopposed. This is training

ground rugby. He finally scores at the posts. We did talk about it, it

has been a long time since we have done something like that, so please

do have got there, and some good results this weekend so it has been

predicted. But Ospreys match at the end of the season, it could be very

important. Yes, it could be a quarterfinal sort of game. A lot to

play for, for both sides. But we're trying to keep that in the back of

our minds and focus on the Dragons. Then we will worry about the Ospreys

after them. Glasgow's defeat puts down 11 points

adrift of the play-offs. Ospreys, Scarlets and holster are in a 3-way

fight for third and fourth. They could yet come down to a sensational

West Wales shoot out on the last weekend of the regular season.

The scholars would have been wary, but they needn't have been. --

scholars. That is one thing Ospreys did not do in Treviso. Treviso are

very different, home and away. Scarlets were very clinical and

probably the only minor blip was Dan Jones's kicking. He was so good, 21

in a row, had a bit of an off day. But they were so good. James Davies

struggled to find his place in the team, he is now flying. I was

watching him at Glasgow a few weeks ago and his ability over the ball is

so good. And the game we saw last night, his open play and how well he

reads the game, and such a natural footballer. He was exceptional. When

you have the Olympics, Warburton, he is as good as anyone in Wales over

the ball. He has low to the ground, gets good body position. What sets

him apart from the others is his ability in attack. You could play

centre, like to correct, we saw plenty of that. -- like to correct.

And the ability to put Steffan Evans over. He is really a contender.

Steffan Evans, there have been a lot of good runners on that pitch last

night. But I do not think anyone stood up quite as much as Steffan

Evans, who is so full of confidence. His

confidence is coming through. People have been doubtful about his

defence. It is difficult to judge all aspects of the game against a

Treviso side who were just awful at times last night. But he does look

to be growing as a winger. The two of them, real shining stars last

night. Do both of those on the Wales summer tour? I they would have to

be. Steffan Evans could have played during the Six Nations at times but

he is continuing to play well so I think those are once you definitely

need to see at a high level and this would be a great opportunity to see

them. Some great performances in the Scarlets. In the Blues game, going

back to that one on Friday night against Ulster, it was the midfield

that Danny Wilson referenced. The guys you played alongside, the court

also all sorts of problems. The last three games we have played against

Gloucester and narrowly losing to Leinster, but some good performances

together and disappointed we didn't get the win over Ulster. But when it

is a dry night and we get some good balls, they are so hard to defend. I

do not think they know what is going to happen. Those two as abolishing

did well. The character they showed, the injuries in the first half, they

all went off and managed to come on. They did a really good job. To go

somewhere like the Kingspan and get a draw just shows real character. We

shall have a lot to play for. Is it true that Lilo doesn't do his laces

up. Team meetings are interesting with him in them! The other end of

the scale, Gethin Jenkins making his second game after that injury

lay-off. Looking pretty much like the Gethin Jenkins we know and love.

He has spoken about wanting to add to his tally of caps but there are

some who think he will go on the Lions tour. I think he will struggle

to get on the Lions tour. He is a fantastic player and he is playing

well again but there are some concerns he has displayed a very

conservative Six Nations. There are other players who are probably ahead

of him. He did have a very good autumn season so it it is not

without a chance. Could he be captain? I think the others are

ahead of him at the moment. I would not be surprised if he went because

of his experience. I would not take into the roster I would say if we're

going to play for Wales in the future or be a finisher or starter,

I think perhaps just not being part of this too and let the others come

through. The 19th of April is the day the Lions squad is announced,

creeping ever closer. We will find hard than whether he makes the cut.

Anyway. The Dragons were on the road

in Parma this weekend. And were hoping for a first win

on the road in a year. Good early pressure from Dragons.

Davies again. Little snipe from the scrum-half. Cory Hill. Gets a second

goal, Cory Hill is over. A real rumble. Wagons with a

crumble. -- Dragons. They are putting the

pressure on again. A little chip and neck. Nice work from the flanker.

Davies. The hand takes them to the tragedy.

Five metres to go, Dragons. His 100th start for the Dragons, Aduriz.

The Dragons have been burgled. They were fancying it.

Lovely hands. Beautiful pass. Could this be the bonus point for a Zebre?

So, the misery continues for the Dragons. A year-long drought on the

road. Now just two points ahead of Zebre, who have leapfrogged Treviso.

If things stay as they are, seventh and eighth, both of them will play

off against inclusion in sight for the 20th Champions Cup spot.

The Dragons, we have said this so many times this season, spoken about

their plight in the misery they are suffering. I guess this is just a

new low. The trouble is, this is not a new position for Dragons to be in.

It is the same season after season. They do not know where their future

lies. It has been great uncertainty and anxiety generally. They are

really in trouble. But not just all season, it is season after season.

Something has got to change. A-lister was the decisions along the

line we will just keep having the same conversation every season. --

unless there is. We will be waiting with baited breath to see what

happens, but next week, Scrum V comes from the Principality Stadium.

And if the previous occasions have been anything to go by,

Judgment Day has finally come to Welsh rugby. That was so well

worked. It's their! Dan Biggar, all the way! Underneath

the post, Scott Williams. He tries to sneak into the corner.

Rhys Webb makes absolutely sure. STUDIO:

It's nearly here. It all starts on television at 2:30pm. Stick around

for the second act. The Blues and Ospreys, a month ago

ago you'd have thought that game would be for conclusion but given

how fragile the recent performance of the Ospreys, the Blues have to

fancy their chances? Possibly they were unlucky yesterday, they know

where they are. They were definitely looking at a top two position. Now,

they will do well to be in the top four. A massive running for them.

They have a few tough games as well. The Blues chasing, making sure they

stay in that position for Europe and a bit of confidence building towards

what will be the play-off matches at the end of the season. The other

game, you'll be commentating on that one, Dragons against the Scarlets.

We talk about the Ospreys' confidence being fragile, the

Dragons' rock bottom. You can only see one winner, can't you? You can,

Welsh derbies macro are tight games but you would be surprised if the

Scarlets don't start well and open the game up and they will be

difficult to stop. That's what they will be looking to do. It's what

they did Jim Treviso, high-risk, high reward, from anywhere in the

pitch you can back their runners. Indeed, 50,000 tickets sold for the

principality, make sure they -- you get yours because they are expecting

a sell-out. Aber Raven gave their play-off hopes

a boost with victory over Pontypridd. Five tries for the home

a hat-trick for Ospreys academy star winger Jay Baker. This is third,

making it a to remember for the rampant wizards.

Bed us move up to second after a bonus point win against Llandovery,

that's fourth win in five matches. A late burst of tries for the home

side to secure the victory, three in all, second row Joy Davis with the

last of the lot. Mercer had to battle hard for their bonus point

win against Harlequins. The final try of the 18th, -- wins.

The replacement Rhys Williams securing the win here. Ideal

preparation for the National cup final next weekend. The ironmen

stayed top. On dear two. 14 men Bridgend boosted

their chances of a play-off place with a tense victory over old rivals

Cardiff. The blue and Blacks yet to get a win since the split. Crosskeys

is their 100% record come to an end after a rampant display. There were

eight converted tries. 19 points from the Teever one full-back.

Newport do remain unbeaten in tiered two, they brushed aside struggling

Swansea in a somewhat bad-tempered encounter. A bonus point win, the

first of four tries in three minutes. There was an nitride bonus

win for Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets. -- eight point bonus

Yesterday I enjoyed the sunshine and hospitality at Pontypool RFC,

Pooler had already wrapped up the Championship title last week.

But the trophy was being presented yesterday, so they were desperate

for another win in front of their faithful followers.

Pontypool Park looks uninviting place in the spring sunshine. But

for visiting sides during the glory days of the 70s and 80s it was an

intimidating arena. It was basically law of the Jungle. That was what was

impressed on me when I was a young 18-year-old kid. They were feared

opposition. It was great to see a club with that was their philosophy.

You couldn't move away from that and they were successful as a result of

it. It's something they believed in. Great memories. Since then the

famous club has suffered mixed fortunes. Five years ago it stood on

the brink of oblivion, before a generous businessman came to the

rescue. I came along and wrote a cheque to bail the club out. It's a

club I've followed since I was a child. I thought that would be the

end of it. I would write the check and leave them to get on with it.

But it became apparent the infrastructure wasn't there in the

club to move in the professional era and that's when we got more

involved. Today, we're hoping to have well

over 1000 people here, celebrating what we and the team have achieved.

There's a lot going on off the field but on it, they have to deliver.

It's interesting to see how you can take something that is a shell of

itself and reinvigorated. Despite having won the Championship with

three games to spare their will be no Premiership promised land,

because the tier above has been ring-fenced for three seasons. A

source of continued frustration. Is a rugby fan you want to see the

element of jeopardy. It's why football works so well. It's a

simple structure. If you are not good enough, you go down, if you are

good enough, you go up. We will be knocking on doors, trying to prove

ourselves. The fact it is ring-fenced for three years is a

little bit annoying. The players worked hard. They clearly get the

wings. It will be good for the supporters, if they did get up. Is

it something that is under review? At the end of every season there is

a review but whether people are prepared to put their hands up, at

the end of the day the clubs at the time voted for ring fencing. That

was the decision made by clubs at the time. You can't keep moving the

goalposts. That was the plan for three or four years, so unless

there's a strong demand and agreement, if actually broken, I

suspect it will carry on for another couple of years or so. Bulot's

Triumph has come at a time when professional rugby in Gwent is

facing an uncertain future. Next month the shareholders of Newport

RFC will vote on whether to accept the WRU's offer to buy Rodney

Parade. If it's a no, the future of the Dragons looks the carriers. All

we've done is put an offer on the table that we think will enable

professional rugby to continue in Gwent and indeed for

semiprofessional rugby to continue in Newport. People claim it's some

sort of grand plan by the union, I can assure you, it's not. We don't

want to be purchasing property. That's not why we are in business.

Our businesses to develop and to promote the game. I have to be

honest, I think the Dragons has proved its been a failed

organisation. There no consequence whether the Dragons goes tomorrow.

We'd be more sad if Newport went. Had historically rate rivalries with

them and we love the opportunity to go to the Premiership and continue

that. We thought it would be a foregone conclusion but it's turning

into quite a game. Quite a game, good for them. I like Tata Steel. I

knew them all, pricey, all them, Faulkner, I knew them all. We

couldn't ask for anything more today. An excellent game. I'm really

enjoying it and it's really nice seeing so many people here today. We

haven't had a crowd like this for decades, I would say. We are always

one of the best supported clubs when we were in the Premier division and

now, we get a regular support better than most of the Premier division

clubs do. But I suppose this is a measure of the feeling for the club

in this area. Its huge history. Everyone puts the shirt on today and

knows the history of the club, knows the boys that came before them and

we work hard for each other. It's a shame we are the Championship but we

have to keep plugging away and hopefully we will be back on top,

back where we should be. Moving like lightning to get out of

via the champagne. Many congratulations to Ben Parry and his

team. Wonderful hospitality at Pontypool, apart from they tell me

you look fat on the telly, thanks for that. We have a flavour of the

sentiment from the guys in the crowd. Very proud of their team,

delighted to be crowned champions, runaway leaders, but a palpable

sense of frustration that they will be bouncing against the glass

ceiling for another two seasons. Do you have any sympathy for their

frustrations? Congratulations to them and they are unimportant part

of the local community and they are huge part of Welsh rugby's heritage

and mythology in the 70s, but I'm an unapologetic elitist when it comes

to professional rugby. I think the ring fencing is important. I think

the teams should be reflected glory or success in the players they

develop to go on and represent Wales, rather than the ambitions of

the clubs seeking to travel through the leagues. We've seen it with

teams like Dunvant going up and down. A lot of money spent on

players which have come from other areas. That's what would happen if

they went up, they would have to buy new talent, same players and money

from different sources. Develop the players and let them go on for the

community. They have another two years, the same thing could happen

in the next two seasons, they could run away with it and not go up. It's

keeping the nucleus of players together because some will want to

go to the next tier, and if they can't do it for Pontypool, they will

do it for another club. They have to build togetherness and team spirit

so they know what their plan is. Possibly a bit of treading water but

keep building, so ring-fenced finishes they are ready to step up

and whether that is recruiting other players in the Championship, when

others go down, they have to recruit players knowing they will go up. If

they keep performing as they have done, that is almost guaranteed for

them. So they can plan properly to be in the Premiership when the

ring-fenced in the -- ring fencing finishes. I think we got a flavour

of your colours to the mast. Blues. Obviously. A bonus point win for the

Scarlets? I can't see anything else. Join us next Saturday

for Judgement Day V. It's Blues against Ospreys and the

Dragons against Scarlets. Make sure you join us. Make sure you get a

ticket and go along to the stadium itself. It will be a corker. The

main event is six days away but the battle for bragging rights has

already begun. Good night. Isner Judgement Day challenge,

downright daftness. Blues against the Ospreys, Warburton against

Biggar and already Warburton has given it the big one. Here goes

Biggar, one point east -- each person Skrtel, two grubber kicks

allowed. Up to nine. Taking out the facilities. The bin cam has gone.

That's 20 grams worth of equipment that. Terrific stuff from Biggar.

He's up to 29. The gallery are loving it. 49. The crowd has gone

wild for Dan Biggar. I go for the ten all the time, try to get a bit

of height and gives it a chance to bouncing. How will Warburton

respond? Here he goes. A good start, with eight on the skittles. Onto the

passing. He's about as accurate as a builder's estimate will stop Sam

Warburton and his header has gone, he's broken the rules. He's not

allowed to kick again. His head is in the shed. Warburton has lost it,

big-time. It's not really a tackle, I knew I would be struggling. It's a

40 point win for Biggar. More on social media. Winners to be crowned

on Saturday.