11/10/2012 Sport Wales

stadium, where tomorrow night, Chris Coleman's men face a fight

for World Cup qualification survival, against a very familiar

survival, against a very familiar foe in Scotland.

A fixture that hasn't always been a # This is the end

People make mistake, he made a catastrophic one, it lost us the

game. # If the sky falls

# And it comes down # John Heartson w what a great

So, plenty to look forward to tonight's Sport Wales.

Coming up: The Scots are in town to kick start

their campaign, for Wales it is simple, win. No excuses for us

moving forward now, we have to make sure that we set the record

straight in these two games that are coming up. We catch up with the

man stepping into Warren GATTland's shoes, we talk autumn

internationals and the biggest job in Welsh rugby. I thoroughly enjoy

the coaching, can't wait until the autumn to get the players back in

and look forward to the challenges ahead in the autumn. The former

Scarlet, who is now a Wasp, says there are reasons to be cheerful.

If you are a Welsh supporter, you can be optimistic of how Wales will

do this year. In under 24 hours time, Chris Coleman will send his

team out from this dressing room, hoping they can revive their World

Cup qualifying campaign, after a disastrous start. Earlier today

both Wales manager and captain shared their thoughts ahead of two

crucial games, the first against Scotland tomorrow night, and then

against Croatia on Tuesday. Time to believe is the Manchester

United dra from the marketing men. Time running -- mantra from the

marketing men, time unareing out is what will inspire Chris Coleman's

team. We have to get some points over the next few games, to give us

a chance to cause damage in the qualifiers. More misfortune, more

mayhem over the next five days, and the road to Rio could be closed off

with just four games gone. excuses moving forward, we have to

make sure we set the record straight in the two games coming up.

The picture looks worrying after the loss to Belgium and hammering

in Syria. Wales at the bottom of the group, no points, one goal

scored, and a goal difference of minus eight. Anything less than

four points from the next two games leaves them with only the slightest

hope of qualifying of the If you lose the first two, you will to do

something in the next two. The teams above you, unless they all

draw, that is a possibility, but I can't see it. So if one of them

gets a win, it is seven points, maybe you will go to ten, that is a

big, big, margin, when you are only playing ten games, with six left.

We are going to win the first game, first and foremost, then go to

Croatia, depending on what happens Friday, whether it is a must-win,

sometimes you can take a draw from a game like that. I think no-one

has won the first two games, if we get two positive results from these

two, we will be in amongst it. Players make mistake, if they make

mistake, given their best, not a lot you can say about that. You can

guide them tatically or technically, but what I don't forgive easily, is

when players don't turn up. And we didn't against Serbia. So this time,

for his own sake, Coleman needs a win that has he will luded him in

the first four games. No Wales manager in history has lost five,

but he's unphased by the pressure on him. I don't listen to the media

or read newspapers, I can't afford it. If someone is saying positive

don't listen either, stay in the middle. That is what I try to do. I

try to look at it as logically as I can. I have been doing it ten years

and managed in three different countries, and 150 games in the

Premier League, the scrutiny of that job is hard enough. So it's

not something I worry about. What's going to be will be. All I can do

is affect now and the next -- effect now and the next game.

players we are fully behind the manager, for anyone to suggest that

the manager is under any pressure, is wrong, the only manager under

pressure is Craig Levein. Everyone has the same feeling that we need

to win the game for him, ourselves and the country and everyone else,

we need to win the game for him and perform well. That will be in the

back of our heads. Maybe a change of leader on the field will inspire

Wales, as Ashley Williams replaces Aaron Ramsey as captain. It is men

like Liverpool's Joe Allen, the newly-crowned, Player of the Year,

who they need performances from. Especially with Craig Bellamy,

among several others, missing through injury, leading to more

speculation about his international future. Where will the missing

goals come from, what about Barnsley eight-goal striker, Craig

Davies. We have been look at his goal-scoring record over the last

two years, he has scored 40 goals. He's the top scorer in the

championship with seven. It's good to push Steve Morison, Churchy, he

has impressed this week, we have a lot of players missing, not just

one. We are concentrating on the boys we have got. They are here to

play for their country, here to put themselves on the line. The

pressure is there tomorrow, but they are here, and we are

concentrating on them. We will get them ready, and we will do our best

to try to get a good result. Scotland's last visit to Cardiff,

three years ago, Wales won 3-0 in a friendly, much more at stake for

both sides this time, in a contest between players, used to squaring

up of the Another fantastic nation for us to compete against. It is

during this week now we will work, you get preparations right for the

game. Had to deal with certain elements of how they play. Again,

we are extra motivate today make sure we pick up all three points. -

- motivated to make sure we pick up all three points. We understand the

importance of the game, it is a great game against one of the home

nation, Scotland. Playing at home we want to win. Tomorrow we have

Scotland, a typical British derby game, if you like. A superb

atmosphere, and we have to use that to our benefit. I know what our

fans are like, I have played in front of them. I have managed in

front of them. Against Belgium they saw the players with their sleeves

rolled up trying to play good football, first and foremost,

working hard for the jersey. They forgive you if you don't get the

result. If you don't turn up or try hard, that's the basic, really, put

yourself on the line. Less than 12 months ago, Wales won

their third game in four matches under Gary Speed. To stop another

campaign falling to ruin, they need to rediscover their air of

optimisim and hope, that winning feeling. I can't afford to look

further than the next one. Especially at this time, you have

to concentrate on the next result and performance. One game, one good

result, all of a sudden you have turned a corner.

Mr Roberts, former Wales international, home dressing room

ahead of the game. Positive noises coming from the Wales camp?

delighted to hear all the positiveness coming from the camp.

I think our campaign starts tomorrow night. I think it's a game

we have to go into. We have to win, we know that. I don't think even a

point is good enough for you. It's probably the lowest a lot of people

have felt of after the Serbia game. We weren't good enough, poor, poor

errors, individual mistakes. It doesn't matter how good a manager

you are, if you can prepare a team as well as you can, but you can't

legislate for the mistakes that we did, and cost us that night.

Chris Coleman, has made a clear stamp on things, let's start with

the change of captaincy. What do you make of that? We have lost five

games on the spin, we have only scored one goal, something has to

happen. Chris has to change things. I think it will be a slight relief

to Aaron, there was a lot of responsibility and pressure on such

a young man and young shoulders, when he wasn't playing well, having

come back from a horrendous injurey. Hopefully it will free him to find

the form we know he's capable of. Goals, Iwan were are they coming

from? The problem is we don't create enough chances. You are

asking a lot of a centre forward if you are going to create one chance

in 90 minutes and cross your fingers that he takes that chance.

We have to be creating four or five, or six chances for these players in

each game. If we do, that we will score. Will he chose Craig Davies,

are we at that stage, he has nothing to lose, it might be a

gamble, but at this stage? We have nothing to lose, we have to win the

game. Not too many nations qualify for a major tournament, having lost

the opening two games in a campaign. We have to beat the Scots tomorrow.

It is as simple as that. He's a man in form, full of confidence, seven

goals already this season for Barnsley, four against Birmingham

the other week. He wasn't in the other squad, which I was quite

surprised at, to be fair. If I was manager for the game tomorrow night,

I would start with 4-4-2, I would throw Craig Davies on to partner

Steve Morison, he will get you two natural winners, and positive from

the very start. We will talk more shortly.

Rugby, now. The build-up to this year as Heineken Cup has been

dominated by talk of its potential demise. A row over money,

scheduling and TV rights, has threaten to derail Europe's show

piece tournament. For now, we can put admin to one side, and

concentrate on the rugby itself. Ross Harris has been to meet a man,

who has played in more of his fair share of Heineken Cup, and to get

his thoughts on how the Welsh regions might fare this year.

Since Welsh rugby went regional in 2003, Wales have won three Grand

Slams, but the Heineken Cup, club rugby's Holy Grail, has never been

lifted by a Welsh side. In its 17- year history, it has been won six

times by the English, six by the Irish, and five times by the French.

If the bookies have things right, that trend is set to continue.

Lenister have been installed at pre-tournament fairts, followed

closely by Toulouse, to you lon and others. The future is looking

precarious, the English and French clubs aren't happy with the way it

is run and are threatening to pull out by 2014. Despite money and

scheduling issues, they are made fight tooth and nail to qualify,

while the pro--12 sides have an easy ride in.

Stephen Jones has played in all three European domestic leison. Now

he's in the English Premiership with Wasps. Do the pro--12 sides

have it easier for qualification? don't think so, we must have a

European competition. From a players' perspective that is the

best competition to be involved in. The standard of rugby is top drawer.

You know, it is exciting for the players. The pro--12 is is a very

strong league, we can see it by past winners. The standard of rugby

played in the pro-12 is of the highest order. I think we should

continue with the competition along the lines in which it is run at the

moment. Stephen's old team, the Scarlets, find themselves in a pool

of debt, alongside Exeter and Lenister. They kick off against the

French team. They will be looking forward to it. The Scarlets have

backed themselves, rightly so, when they have wonderful talent like

they have. They won't change their game plan, they look to be

expansive, ar get the ball through their hands -- and get the ball

through their hands. They look forward to that challenge. Even

though you spent two seasons in France, I bet there is only one

team you are gunning from? interested and intrigued in the

game. Of course emotions are attached to both side, having spent

the majority of my rugby-playing cor around the Scarlets, I want

Leicester and Toulouse await in pool 2, but they start at home

against Treviso, a team they have lost to already this season the

played them in a pre-season game, we played them with the Carl lets,

very physical, good driving mob, direct behind. Their game plan is

relatively simplistic. Where you have to feel happy if our an

Ospreys fan, is the last three games they have been superb. They

were successful down in Munster. They backed it up with another good

win last week. They are peaking at the right time. Steve Tandy must be

very happy. In group six, the Blues mind themselves against month pelia

and Toulon. They relish the battle up front.

First up they face Sale, a team in crisis and rooted in the

Premiership. I know some of the players there, and they will be

chomping at the bit and excited for the competition. They got to Sale

and will back themselves and their own ability. They will be confident

of victory up there. Looking particularly at Toulon and the

problems in the Blue's scrumage, they can afford to leave Gethin

Jenkins on the bench. They are recruiting world class players all

the time. Across their pack, the looseheads, you have Gethin Jenkins

and Sheridan. They are spoilt for choice. With that you can rotate

and keep people refreshed and healthy. That is massive advantage.

Stephen as current side, Wasps, have twice lifted the Heineken Cup.

In recent years they have tumbled down the pecking order and are now

in the Challenge Cup. The first opponents is The Dragons?

former Newport player, does that give him some spice? I'm sure Shane

has many fond memories, a side we have a lot of respect for. I know

them well through playing against them with the Scarlet, they are a

well-drilled side. It will be a tough game. Another team in your

group, Bayon, featuring an old Welsh half back. It is always good

to play against Mike, a physical game, it is enjoyable when you play

against him. He's a great player. A trip out to Bayon will be nice,

great part of the world to go. It is all good.

Thank you for your time. Good luck on the weekend. Cheers.

The latest meeting over the future of the Heineken Cup ended in

stalemate on Monday. Brinkmanship will continue in the broad room

over the coming months. For -- boardroom for the coming months.

For now, let's focus on the pitch. We will stay with rugby, and no

Welsh team has ever won the Heineken Cup, in fact, the Welsh

coach, Rob Howley, is one of only eight Welshmen to have ever got

their hands on the trophy. The man who scored the winning try for

Wasps, in the 2004 final, will take part of the national side, as

GATTland takes a Saab battle. We shares his thoughts on the biggest

job in Welsh rugby. Wasps, 2004, why did you win the

Heineken Cup? We had a good team, good team spirit, strong foundation,

and probably a side with quite a few world chas players in the pack.

I think that the key aspect was along the way, outclassed in the

final against To Toulouse, a bit of luck at the end. Would it be share

to say, looking at the Welsh regions right now, they are not at

that level of Heineken Cup winners? The experience you need in Europe

you gain the experience by the competition, year in year out. When

you see the regions, they have three new coaches. That takes time

for messages and processes to be put in play. We still have a feel

anything Wales we can still be very competitive in Europe. I think on

their day, when you look at the scarlet, all when they are allowed

to play rugby and get their offloading game, they have a huge

amount of talent in their squad. When you look at the Welsh regions

now, how important personally is Heineken Cup success or

competitiveness? It is very important. I think the Heineken Cup

is where players are tested, both physically, and the pressure. And

making decisions. And actually making those opportunities count.

That is what you have to do in international rugby. The speed of

the game is quicker, ultimately your decision making has to be

better. Obviouslys that is the challenge of a player or team when

you play in the Heineken Cup. It is a step up. The step up faces Howley

too, as he takes over from Warren Gatland, for the opening

international of what will be an often gruelling series. First up

the grunt of Argentina, then the shout of Samoa, before returning to

face the top two sides in the world, New Zealand and Australia. Who pick

the squad considering your in charge of the first two games and

then Gatland comes back in. Who has the final shout? The one thing

about Warren over the last four or five years, he's been a natural

part of selection. Who has impressed you? Jordan Williams, and

Lee Williams, they have been pretty impressive.

They are the sort of players that have stood out. Andy Phenby. And

Dan Bigger has stepped up in terms of his running game, he has asked

questions about the defence. We know about his kicking game. The

next four or five weeks it is about winning. On December 3rd at 3.3030

there will be a Rugby World Cup tour. Ale goal of every nation will

be in to be the top four. Do you know the maths? I think it

goes back to beating a southern Hemisphere team. We play Australia

number two and New Zealand number one. We are determined that

Argentina and Samoa, we have had experiences in Rugby World Cup, we

have played them before, a couple of others, argen tone that, their

experiences in the rugby championship, has been pretty

impressive, week in week out. We have four tough games in the autumn.

Obviously everyone will be keeping an eye on the ranking. It is the

job of the players and coaches and everyone to be in the top four to

give us an easier draw. Back to the big game, Scotland have

only lost once in six World Cup qualifying campaigns. After

disappointing back-to-back draws in their opening games. They will look

to improve the record, and take maximum points off bottom of the

table Wales. Like Wales, there was much

optimisim in Scotland before they started their campaign for World

Cup qualification in Rio 2014. After home draws against Serbia and

Macedonia, that optimisim has been replayed by disappointment.

The Scotland manager, Craig Levein, like Chris Coleman, is under

pressure, despite an undefeated start, and securing two points more

than Wales. The stakes, then, couldn't be higher ahead of

Friday's game. Two home draws is not what the doctor ordered for

Scotland. The chance to redeem ourselves, and get back on track, a

victory in Wales. We can't think too far ahead, the

group we are in. We need to concentrate on the next game. That

is Wales. If we win that, will give us five points. I'm looking forward

to the game, riot from the moment the draw was made. There is little

bits exciting as you can imagine. As opposed to a normal qualifying

match. The Scottish squad has been boosted this week, with the return

of the two Fletchers, Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, who has

been out of the game through illness for Tennant months. And

Sunderland's leading scorer, Stephen Fletcher, who has not been

around after making himself not available for selection last year,

after a falling out with his manager.

A goal scorer is worth his weight in gold. Stephen Fletcher is a goal

scorer, it is great he has resolved the situation with the manager or

the manager with him, they have made up and he's back in the squad.

Dan flech certificate quality player, he has played many times

and many international, and European matches. One thing we can

look forward to on Friday night a good old British derby, with

Scotland ready for whatever Wales will throw at them. Sometimes it is

a different type of football. When you are playing Spain you know you

will get a short pass, and keeping ball position and all those things.

Wales have a couple of big strikers who could knock them from back to

front and play through the mid-of the talent. Aaron Ramsey and these

lads here. Both sets of players knows and has played against each

other, it will be a tough match, but we are looking forward to it.

Scotland has seasoned enforcers in the squad, and Gareth Bale could be

in for the type of attention that he has received from Charlie Adam

in the Premier League. I wouldn't single out and say Bale will win

the game for him. If we could stoch him it would enhance per-- stop him

and enhance performance and better the Khans of taking the game.

person who knows about Scottish misfortunes, is Neil Lennon, who

could have five players in the match? James Forest is an

exceptional player, very quick, old school winner, both feet. He could

really hurt Wales, he is one to watch. Charlie is the current

Scotland Player of the Year, a great example to any player out

there. Scott Brown, leader, inspirational player, reads the

game well, covers the ground. He's at the heart of everything good

about us at the moment. There was supposed to be two Welsh players,

but an ankle injury today, ruled out the fullback Adam Matthews,

leaving Joe Ledley to fly the flag. Joe has been one of the best

players, consistent and a midfield player. With Wales hurting after

the 6-1 defeat in Serbia. Scotland will be targeting all three points

tomorrow. I'm desperate to win the game. It is a big game for us, as a

group of players, and as a country. We want to win it, and hopefully we

can. With the talent like Beale and the Ledleys, you know the Matthewss,

the Ashley Williams, they have a good span of team there. There is

no reason why they can't. I think they will give Scotland all the

trouble that Scotland will be looking for. Can't see Wales

beating Scotland, I'm sorry to say at that to Chris. But I think

Scotland have too many better players than Wales, and usually the

better players win football matches. The danger for us is that we always

get some sort of response from that. Are you worried about that?

worrieded about a lot of things. A deem that has a poor result

generally when they come out for the next match. With pure

determination to go on through. The toings increases through the

fixture. -- the tension increases through the fixture. We are all

under pressure, it is a different job to club football.

Sometimes if you have a poor result, that you have to wait a period of

time to fix it, which makes it quite difficult.

Iwan, former Scotland manager, Jason Brown, he fancies Scotland to

win this one. He says they are better than Wales, what do you make

of that? I totally disagree. I back on the game, we played them in 2009,

we beat Scotland by 3-0. We are having a bad time, so are they.

They have only won once in the last five games, that is a friendly

against Australia back in August. We have a better squad of players.

I think we have better players in the Welsh squad.

Have you thought about what happens if Wales lose, is that it for

Chris? I think the players, deep down they know, first of all they

let themselves down against Serbia. They let the fans down. And they

let Chris down, they will be determined to put things right, and

owe people a performance. I'm sure we will get one. Predictions?

win. Thank you very much. That's it for this evening, there will be

highlights of Wales against Scotland on Match of the Day Wales

at 11.00pm tomorrow night on BBC Two Wales. Before I go, do you know

anyone who deserves to be our BBC Waleser Wales sports unsung hero of

the year, they have to be un-- BBC Wales, unsung hero of the year.