09/11/2012 Sport Wales

Passion. That is where it starts. Power. It is this opportunity to

come and get the world title, so I have to be on my toes. One shared

goal. The Pumas. Gone are the days of being friendly. The knockout of

the Hawk. Life can change for you desert night. Will the Dragons

reign supreme? Hello and welcome took Sport Wales.

And we will preview Wales against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium

but first, we head to the City of Angels. In the early hours of

Sunday morning in Los Angeles, Nathan Cleverly will step into the

boxing ring to defend his WBO light-heavyweight title against the

American Shawn Hawk. And we have been granted exclusive behind-the-

This is the life, isn't it? Brilliant. Since I arrived in LA,

the Sun has been out. A great reception from the people. I have

been really enjoying it. Take us through your decision to come here.

Basically, I was meant to be fighting in the arena on the

credits at the October but we had an opportunity to fight in America

two weeks later. I'd thought I would get some new s exposure,

ready to set up big fights in 2013. It is a major step for my career.

Had things gone a little stale? Possibly. In the last year. This is

only my second fight in nine months, which is quite inactive. So you

could say it has gone a little stale, but I have had a good break.

I had a good break in the summer, went on holiday, mentally freshened

up, physically freshen up. I feel back to my best. It has not been

ideal, the preparation. No. I have practised with a southpaw fighter.

From the US. Political issues. He could not go ahead with the fight,

so the search is on for another opponent. Actually, we have another

fighter this week. It is a golden opportunity to get the world title,

so I have to be on my toes for this. We are heading out to the renowned

Wild Card Gym in LA. When Manny Pacquiao trains. It is Tuesday now

so we have four days until the fight. Mickey Rourke is meeting us

here at the gym. The Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, run by the world's

most respected trainer, the form what professional Freddie Roach. A

man who has mentored over 30 world champions and a good friend of

another ex-boxer, star Mickey Rourke. What do you think of him?

Joe Calzaghe told me about him. I was in London and there was a fight

going on. Of all the fights and saw I was most impressed with Nathan

Cleverly. I think he fought some really strong Russian kid that

night. He was at boxing him because he is a fantastic boxer. Does that

bring back memories for you? Yes, it is hard for me to come in the

gym. I get very sad and depressed, when you come in and you are around

guys doing step they used to be able to you -- to do. Do you miss

it? Tara pier. -- terribly. America he is not too well known.

It is his first ride in America. I think he is starting to get nervous.

He is an excellent boxer. He has been knocking guys act. He is

getting there. Saturday night. was Nathan Cleverly? He was really

good. He throws a lot of punches and he is really shop. He has some

decent power as well. Is this long- term strategy? Can you see yourself

relocating here? Yes, possibly. There is a strong possibility I

could come here for a lot of my future fights. I have enjoyed the

training over here, the experience in the gym. It was great. It is

something I definitely want to experience again. Provided Saturday

And there will be more from California later on in the

programme so stay with us. But here, tomorrow, at the Millennium Stadium,

Wales kick of the autumn series against Argentina before facing

some other, new Zealand and Australia. Four matches that are

billed as friendlies, but as Rob Harris reports, there is so much

In current form, Wales remain the leading lights of the northern

hemisphere, but are about to lay it all on the line, as the world's

best teams arrive on British soil. It is a massive challenge for the

acting head coach, keen to atone for a 3-0 series defeat in

Australia. Agor y bleidlais is to win all four games. That is our

mindset. -- ORACLE is to win all four games. Most of the team have

returned from ate porridge training camp. It has served them well ahead

of the World Cup and Six Nations. - - returned from a Polish training

camp. We did a lot of fitness. always, there has been speculation

surrounding selection. Jamie Roberts has held on to his spot

despite competition. A lot has been made of the kicking and I agree it

has not been up to scratch and I'm disappointed. Obviously I would

like to be paying -- playing better but I have had a few injuries but

you just do the best you can. Blues announced this week Jamie

Roberts will be leaving at the end of the season, with Racing Metro is

likely destination. Prior to that, he had been singled out for

criticism in the press. The only thing that matters to me is my

coaches, fellow players and parents. Whatever some clown journalist

wants to write about my form, guys who have not experienced rugby at

the highest level, it does get over my head. Eyebrows also raised at

the selection of Scarlets scrum- half Tavis will. I am over the moon

for Tavoris Cloud. It is not get replacing or bringing Kong.

also probably Mike at these moment in time is probably available for

Australia. We cannot get to the Australia game with three or four

key players not available. Up front, there is an Adam Jones for shaped

hole to fill that management is confident his regional team-mate

Aaron Jarvis is up to the task. have been delighted with his

performances for the Ospreys when he has replaced Adam, and the

impact of Matthew Rees as hooker and Gethin Jenkins, two British

Lions players, Winnie that experience. And although many

thought they would see very Warburton combination in the back

row, it is dross Turnbull who will start as blind-side flanker. We did

discuss the other two left and right but you have to do things

naturally. We are probably better off to have a specialist six. We do

a lot of tackling and make the sevens look good. There is more at

stake than usual this autumn, with the 25th league World Cup draw

taking those in December. If world -- Wales can break into the world's

top four, they will avoid the southern hemisphere Super Fowler.

So what are the challenge posed Argentina? Gone are the days of the

Pumas arriving at prepared. This is a team battle-hardened after their

first season competing in the rugby championships against the top three

teams in the world. We are very aware of the fact that they have a

good scrum. So we have to make sure we really don't take too long to

get into it. Why a hat -- one thing you have to do with Argentina is

take them out of their comfort zone. That is what we have been trying to

get our mindset rant. We will be ready for kick-off on Saturday.

I am joined by former Wales captain Gwyn Jones. Good to see you. Let's

start with the news that has come this week about yet more player

drain, Jamie Roberts. Are you surprised he is leaving the Blues?

I do not think anyone is surprised. It has been talked about for a long

time. I can understand that the Blues are upset because they have

looked after him and they have allowed him to play so much for

Blues -- Wales and not so much for the Blues, so they might have

expected some will be there, but he is keen to use rugby as a passport.

Let's go on to the series, starting this Saturday with Argentina. A

huge task? A difficult task, are theseth, because Argentina are a

good side, but it is four games in four weeks which is the thing. It

is a tough month for rugby. On the back are the regional game which

has reached record over the last few weeks, especially in Europe, so

they have to try to bring the Welsh squad back together. What about the

team, then, the changes? Injury has unforced most. The any selection

decision was to bring in Tavis well ahead of Mike Phillips and again

this place into Gatland small. And the manager saying, if you go

brought you might miss out. So a bit of a warning shot to those who

are going to leave, but that is the only big decision. Let's look up

front. Traditionally, historically, perhaps where Argentine have been

strongest, how will Wales do? a challenge. They do not want to

get caught down into the challenge. That has been the difficulty for

them, scrum, line-out... They have to be able to stop Argentina

dominating in those areas. Once they can do that, they want to move

Argentina Iraq. Week sought Rob Howley in that piece saying he is I

think three Quins out of four. were semifinalists in the World Cup,

they're playing at home, I think people would expect them to beat

Samoa and Argentina. They have every chance of beating Australia,

who have with a windy outside. And any comes up against the All Blacks.

They are number one in the world, but I do not think they have quite,

for Wales anyway, the invisibility tag that they used to have. We will

take a closer look at Argentine Shawky. To cycling and after the

success of Four Geraint Thomas in London 2012, with his second gold

medal, Wales has a new crop of young, talented cyclists looking to

follow in his tracks. Welsh Cycling have set up their own team to

compete alongside Team GB at international events, and to give

the next generation the best possible build-up to the

It is a long-term project. He is easy to say we need medals at the

Commonwealth Games, but to get to that they need the racing and the

competition. That is when you stop thinking about the World Cups. I

thought, if we can go to the World Cups and race at that level, be

competitive, offer the right experience, when it comes to the

Commonwealth Games, although the expectation on Wales to perform at

that level, the actual level of the competition is probably slightly

less than what they have experienced at the World Cups.

Winning two medals in the Track World Cup in Colombia was a success.

To the project. The reward for the Riders is an exhaustive training

programme ahead of the next event, There are a lot of early mornings

and at lunch back on the track. Caps on the sofa and watch

television! A track race is about 60 minutes. We're going around six

kilometres an hour by the end. Looking up at the clock and seeing

how much I have done, it is not the best feeling of morale but that is

All the World Cup is a track based event, training on the open roads

around south-east Wales is key to future success indoors. On a

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we have got a road in the morning and

to track in the afternoon. That is giving you your base and a level of

endurance. Sundays it is tough but insurable but other days it feels

like you hit a brick wall but you get through it and have the

motivation to get you through your sessions. It is exciting that I get

to race with the best in the world and I'm still the youngest. Huge

opportunity because every time you go to an international event or a

World Cup, the amount of experience he gained his invaluable. You get

to learn more about yourself when you're racing, you get to work on

any weaknesses and build on your strengths. It is a huge advantage.

There is little rest after the morning's exertions and it is back

An opportunity for the Welsh riders to do more World Cups through the

winter. If the girls got a sink -- silver-medal -- the girls got a

silver medal which was great for them. Then I was ill for much of it.

I missed the second day but then came back and came third in the

points race. To come back with a medal, I had a smile on my face.

The support from sports psychologists, physiologist its, it

is a big team effort to help us get to get -- get a fair we want to get

to. The brain controls everything your body does, so if you can make

your brain work as effectively as possible then you will get the most

out of your body when you're out on the track or on the road. There is

a lot work teams going to Glasgow. The Olympic champions are going to

be there. It will be better to aim for a time rather than a position.

We are getting stronger, we are getting our track legs back, so

will slowly build on Columbia. is like a home World Cup, really,

to be with the Scottish crowd. They are other Celts, so hopefully they

will get behind us! I do not want to put too much pressure on myself.

I will see what happens. At back to California now and to the build up

of the Nathan Cleverly fight. And to the tragic story of the last

Welshman to box in LA. Johnny Owen was that the Welsh,

British,, Welsh and European champion. Fighting at the Olympic

Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, or one was ahead on points in the

9th round. However, heavy blows took their toll and he was floored

twice. He was knocked unconscious and rushed to a local hospital. He

would never regain consciousness, eventually losing his battle on 4th

December 1980. It is no longer a boxing venue, but

there is something quite poignant about being here ahead of your

sight. It is quite so real beings two-tier outside his building. To

think that myself on Saturday night, I am fighting about half-a-mile up

the road from a world title. It is a strange feeling, but it is one

that I feel inspired by. God bless Johnny Owen and rest in peace. I

feel that I should be under pressure but I think that being and

coming year has kind of given me strength and confidence. It makes

me want to perform on Saturday A mile up the road from the Olympic

Auditorium is this place, the Staples Center, holder of the

Lakers, the Kings and the clippers and home patch for this legend of

the sport, Oscar De La Hoya. Nathan Cleverly is about to be introduced

to the American public. I want to introduce to you, with our record

of 24 or tree or and 11 knockouts, Nathan Cleverly. We at what you're

poster behind you. His name is not on the poster. He is that an

indication of where he is right now in regards to his name in the US.

His name will be splashed inside the ring. This is a big stage now.

Nathan Cleverly, his fight have not been televised here in the States.

But this is the opportunity. People have described you as the most

I would not go that far. Should Nathan Cleverly win this fight.

Does he need a selling point? think he has got the tools. He is

good-looking, well-spoken, it all starts with winning. If he performs,

then we start looking at a secondary opportunities. Duty that

next step, he has to overcome Shawn Hawk,. -- overcomes on Oct. I am a

native American from Sceptre Court of. I grew up fighting. -- South

Dakota. I am not afraid of nobody. I do not think a lot of people know

a lot about Shawn Hawk. We know that he is from South Dakota and

has an extensive amateur career. I do not think that he will be the

toughest enemy that anything will ever ace, but we have got to wait

and see. People are seeing that they expect Nathan Cleverly to win.

How would to counter that? He is a world champion so when not win to

take any short cuts. I am going to do what I have to do. Nathan

Cleverly is the guy that, if he has a great fight, fans love poems. In

boxing, like unchanged are you overnight and this could be his big

opportunity. And Sport Wales cameras will be at

the big fight, as a lookout for more or behind the scenes coverage

on next the's show. By then, Wales will be hoping to head into their

second autumn international on the back on the victory over Argentina.

Or can the Pumas do what they did 11 years ago and when at Cardiff

this weekend? -- win at Cardiff. August last year, a World Cup

rehearsal and centre-stage the Wales as they beat Argentina. In

the tournament itself, there was promise, with victories over

Scotland and Romania. But you can stop New Zealand? Not Argentina.

There was no morning post World Cup, what followed was a five-match

unbeaten run, including victories over Italy and France. A perfect

launch pad for the Rugby Championship. There was one defeat

to South Africa and one drop against the Springboks. A sign of

better times ahead? That was about as good as it got. Next came five

successive defeats. Iran Australia close twice its -- tries but lead

at 75 points in all against New Zealand. Soap which side will be

see in Cardiff tomorrow? Perhaps they have never been better

prepared to face Wales. It is the first time that we are not coming

from six months without seeing each other. Of course, we have many

things to improve on as a team. Hopefully this is the start of that

growth. We learned a lot. Most things are that the improved with

the ball. The intensity with which these teams play, we must learn how

to bring it down and and bring velocity to the ball. It helps when

you have got your talisman around and after missing the Rugby

Championship, this man has fond memories of Wales. I started in

Wales in 1988 and I let in 2001. -- 1998. It was a big result and a big

game for the team. This team is well prepared and hopefully we will

show off some of the rugby we have been trained to develop. It should

not be any surprises here for Wales, they know Argentina will be big,

brutal and good luck or what could be a pleasing debut. It is about

strength and hopefully it will be a good move for us to target them. It

will be a massive battle. I think if you can get our dominance out

front in the scrum, then we will have a good save. We will have a

big chance. But do they have the nous to win in Wales in the -- for

the first time in 11 years? They have won the Six Nations this year,

they are very competitive. The play good rugby. They have a good system

of attack. They have very good individual players. We are prepared

for a difficult game. I think it will be tough. We're going out into

the game with huge respect. They are such a good side.

Yes, the Pumas are in town and ready to take on Wales here at the

Millennium stained -- Millennium Stadium. How fearful should Wales

B? Healthy respect. They performed well in the championship. They wear

without some of Birstall words. -- they were without some of their

stalwarts. They have some more variety and can take advantage of

this model. From the World Cup, it went from playing northern-

hemisphere rugby to the championship and back to northern

hemisphere rugby, 13 months of relentless rugby and I think they

might be a little bit tired. A in terms of first game, how important

is the back wheels good of to a good start? First time for the boys

to get back together. Momentum is everything. They are on such a

roller-coaster of rugby over the next month. A good when and then

see what happens against the big boys. But yes, momentum behind them.

All these things are important. A good when will be a good boost to

the spot. Rob Howley once for went after four, of what will happen?

think three is very possible. I think Australia will struggle. We

should beat Argentina. When we need Europe -- when we meet the All

Blacks, will base that again. I think the actor for is acceptable,

at two out of four at... -- I think three out of four is acceptable. I

think Wales will win by at least seven. It might take a little while

before we get to the last 20 minutes to show that will stop

Thank you very much. That his offer this week. We are

back next Friday, 9:35pm. We are looking forward to Swansea City's