18/01/2013 Sport Wales

Good evening from a wintery Blackpool as they prepare to

welcome top of the table, Cardiff City to the seaside. More on that,

plus plenty of big names on tonight's Sport Wales: We analyse

the unique talents of Welsh wonders, Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs with the

help of David Ginola and Bryan Robson. He will be an outstanding

player over the next few years. Whether he gets to achieve what

Ryan has achieved, I'm not so sure that will happen. We meet the five

new faces in Wales' Six Nations squad. Sport Wales profiles ironman

World Championship, Leanda Cave. We will start with football and the

meeting of two of the greatest players Welsh football has ever

known as Gareth Bale and Spurs face Ryan Giggs and Manchester United on

Sunday. How do the talents of these two superstars actually compare?

Who is the best? Ian Hunt has the verdict of two top-flight legends.

COMMENTATOR: Gareth Bale! What a The left-footed Giggs. Oh,

brilliant! The living legend, the legend in the making. Analysed for

us by a man who saw, first-hand, Giggs emerge and enthrall at United.

This is Robson. A time to control it, picks his place. A man who knew

a thing or two himself about extravagant wing play. COMMENTATOR:

It's Ginola. 2-0. Gareth Bale, fantastic subject. Gareth is in the

process of becoming one of the greatest and sometimes you see the

Messi and Ronaldo. When you watch Gareth Bale you always ask yourself

- what happen next? That's the good things about the game. He's not

what you're going to expect. Knowing that you don't know what

he's going to do. If there was one person who somebody said, could you

sign tomorrow, I would say, well, I wouldn't mind, that the moment in

time, bringing Gareth Bale and Ronaldo into Manchester United

again. And put them into this team that we've got at the moment. He is

going to be an outstanding player over the next few years. Whether he

actually gets to achieve what Ryan's achieved, I'm not so sure

that will happen. Just count the trophies, Giggs more than 30

winners' medals. Bale, nothing to show for all the talent. Consider

their strengths, how similar are they? I think Gareth Bale is

probably stronger as a person, physically stronger. He's an

athlete. An athlete in all a different way. Strong legs,

stronger on the upper body. He's... I think he's quicker, probably

quicker. I think he's got also this ability to be a creator. He's not

only a winger, he's not only... I think Gareth Bale is... Has got

this talent to play in any position on the football pitch. I'm too sure

whether he has the same stamina that Ryan has got. His balance,

when he attacks people, he can go on the inside, he can go on the

outside. He has a great left foot. Delivers a great ball. He can score

a goal from distance. Those are all the attributes that Ryan has got.

The only one which I would put a question mark against is, does he

have the real strong mentality that Ryan had to progress to be a great

player for 15, 20 years? Bale the shy teenage played for Southampton

at 16 before Spurs. The youngest ever Wales international at the

same age. The street wise 23-year- old raging against those who claim

he doesn't always play fair. COMMENTATOR: Another yellow card

for a dive. People say I'm diving. If you get contact, it's not a dive.

Referees have to look closer and see the contact. Has Giggs changed

from the shy lad protected fiercely by Sir Alex? My family keep my feet

on their ground. I have a lot of family in Cardiff. Yeah, I come

home, you know, try to tell my mum I scored a goal tonight. She just

says "wash the dishes," or something like that. In the early

day fs we had a Christmas party, Giggs was dancing on the table. He

was always the one who liked to have a laugh, a joke around the

place. The one thing that Ryan learnt very early in his life was,

don't publicise exactly what you are like. When the cameras and the

public were about, then Ryan would calm everything down and not be,

sort of, that bubbly sort of person. He would be the quiet one. Still

playing, a little less these days, still scoring. He may be offered

another year at United, taking him beyond his 40th birthday. The

noises won't go away that Real Madrid and Barcelona want Gareth

Bale? Gareth Bale moving from the Premier League no, way! I wish not.

The English Premier League have, you know, worked so hard in the

last 20 years to be one of the best, if not the best league in the world.

So, if you got great talents, you have to keep them. I'm sure that

the boss will offer Ryan another contract. I mean, I go in and watch

training every now and again much I go to all the matches. Just

watching him, the way he trains and dedicates himself to football, I

don't think he will have any Spurs always had flare players and

players who can entertain people. Gar Seth one of them. I'm sure the

Spurs fans are pleased to have a player like Gareth. If you are

going to ask me who is the best, I have to go for Ryan. Just in what

he has done. If Gareth Bale can prove me wrong in 10 years' time.

Good luck to the lad. He will have to be some player! I have come in

from the cold. I'm joined by a Champions League winner with

Liverpool. He is a German international, he is also the last

man to score at the Old Wembley. He happens to have caused a stir on

Twitter this week. Dietmar Hamann, good to have you on the programme.

If we look to the game on Sunday, Giggs, Bale, you have played

against both of them, we start with Giggs, how good is he and what

makes him special? Well, it's unheard of that a player is 39 now,

I think, Ferguson came out this week saying he has another year in

him. For a player, for an out field player to play to that age is

unheard of. The new Welsh superstar, if we can call him that, is Gareth

Bale. You played against him, how good is he and can he be as good as

Giggs, can he be better maybe? Ability wise, no reason to believe

he can't get near to Ryan Giggs' qualities. He is an exceptional

talent. He is blessed with electric pace. He has a great left foot on

him. You know, his control, you know, when he takes on people he is

dynamic. He has got everything a left-sided player needs. At some

stage he probably has to move. You play football to win trophies. He

won't have that opportunity at Spurs, I feel. If he wants to win

the League he probably has to move at some stage. I will take you back

to the start of the week. You have been busy and causing headlines.

Twitter. It seems it's a dangerous tool. Yourself and Joey Barton have

had words. For those of us not, perhaps, familiar with what has

been going on, what happened? How did it all start? Now, it just all

started with Joey posting a tweet about transfer activity between QPR

and Newcastle, I just felt that, you know, being a QPR player still

that he maybe shouldn't get involved in these things because he

is still a QPR player. That's how it all started. It got a bit out of

hand. Got quite hurtful, didn't it? Yeah. From his side more than mine!

I tried to keep my composure. It's a powerful fool. -- tool. Once you

say it in there people got in more trouble lately the people went to

jail for what they said on social networking sites. You have to be

aware of that. You know, he took it a bit too far. Took it a step too

far. He phoned me the day after, or two-days after. I spoke to him. He

apologised and make a public apology yesterday. For me, matter

is closed. Thank you. We turn our attention to rugby now. Wales'

interim coach, Rob Howley named his 35 squad for the RBS Six Nations

tournament which starts in just over two weeks' time. Amongst the

names, five uncapped players. Sport Wales went to meet them.

# You can be the greatest # You can be the best

# You can be the King Kong banging on your chest

# You can throw your hands up # You can move a mountain

# You can break rocks # You could be the master

# Don't wait for luck... # With so many players injured there are five

new faces in the squad. All are keen to take their chance. I try

hard at anything I do, to be honest. It's all about the experience.

First callup. Don't really know what to expect. I'm not here for

the ride really, I want to get game time. Hopefully, I can put my name

out there and show what I can do. The hard work only starts now. For

me, personally, I need to make sure I push whoever is in front of me as

hard as I kfplt it's about Wales doing well. I will put the work in.

If the coach think I am fit and I put the work in, they will pick me.

Eli Walker could be pushing for a red shirt? Definitely. I will see

how it goes. When I get into training I have to work hard and do

everything to the best of my ability and hopefully that will

take me through. A Welshman with a keyy twist and the other born and

bred in South Africa. I have been in the UK for seven years. This is

my home now. I have a small family back in South Africa. It's not a

place I would like to go back to. was born in Bridgend and went to

New Zealand for two years, two seasons and came back and handed my

CV out and ended upped in the Blues Academy and I went from. There I'm

a proud Welshman. Hopefully, I can show it in the Six Nations. Andrew

Coombs can add versatility in the absence of many first-choice

players. He has shown for the Dragons. James King could go to the

I will try what I have been doing this season, keep my head down, try

and work as hard as I can, proof I am capable of playing at that level.

While you most most things about the star players here are a couple

of things you will not know about the new faces. I breed cats, they

are quite pushy, bushy-tailed, quite big. Bigger than most Docks.

I saw some blood dripping down, the physio told me I needed to go off

and they said I needed to go for surgery. He was still attached to

the bottom. 90% was taken off. The doctor said it would be all right

because the blood vessels were still attached. I can make fire out

of wood with note that cheese. cousins are doing their thing in

football, amazing talent. Back to football. Cardiff City are

away here at Blackpool tomorrow with Malky Mackay's side eight

points clear at the top of the championship. We sent police to

Rogers for a catch up with Mark Hudson to gauge the mood -- Lisa

A things are looking rather good. Since I last spoke to you things

have gone well. A bit of a dip in the season when we last spoke, but

we answer to that well. A great Christmas period, that has put us

in the position we are in at the moment. We have been in good

positions before, we know it is not done yet, 19 games, the next three

Orrell way, they are all tough grounds. Another block of games we

need to put some results together. They stayed top of the table.

the last seven seasons the team have been top now, they go on to be

promoted. I hope we are the 8th in eight seasons. It is difficult to

get excited because you know you have got so many tough games to go.

We have seen teams go on runs before and come from a position

where you think they are not going to make it and then have a great

run. We don't want to slip up. There are a lot of experienced

players who have seen things like that happened so we will continue

with their homework and trying to drive each other on. Do you get the

things with strikers and defenders? I will not tell you. Sometimes,

depends who you play. What is the worst thing that has been said?

don't think you can repeat that on a camera. Going into the crash at

Blackpool they are eight points clear of hole at the top of the

championship. Blackpool are in 15th. We are properly expected to be them.

The pitch isn't great, if it goes ahead it will be pretty tough.

Every time we have been there it has always been a tough game,

whoever is in charge. Sometimes if they have not got a manager may be

their number two is in charge, things can go for them so we have

got to go there, be at full tilt to win the Games and that is the same

as any other. Cardiff City, eight points clear at the top of the

championship, what have you made of their season? They have done ever

so well. They have got a golden opportunity to get out the

championship which they did not manage in recent years. I did think

they will get a better chance than this year. Is there a danger, with

that success, other clubs will come knocking? If you were Malky Mackay

it would you stay with Cardiff if a big club came knocking? He is in a

big club now, if they were to get out of the championship there will

be funds available to strengthen the team and turn Cardiff into a

good Premier League club. And not sure whether he would be tempted to

go, because he has found the right club, done very well. If he takes

them back into the Premier League I did think he will be leaving, you

never know what happens in a few years' time. How important is away

form going to be because they have oppressed -- impressed at home? How

will they do away against Blackpool? Blackpool have problems

of their own, dropping a manager, not been on the best of runs. If

they keep that home form I think they look very likely to get into

the Premier League. We will be back very stroke -- surely. With a Grand

Slam, the Olympics, and there Paralympics in 20121 Welsh athlete

may have slipped under the radar -- 2012, one Welsh athlete. Leanda

Cave was nominated for the Sports personality of the year after her

double success in the iron and triathlons circuit. -- Ironman

triathlon the circuit. Distance is no obstacle for Leanda

Cave. The English-born Australian bred, as -- Arizona resident

compete for Wales backs to a Welsh- born mother. She has won at four

world triathlon titles over four different distances. Last year she

won the World half Ironman and full Ironman titles, the latter

involving a 2.4 miles when, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.

Something I have been striving to win for several years. I said back

in 2007 when I raced by first Ironman in Hawaii I would win this

one day. I felt the words just bit me, I was never able -- I was never

able to get there. Is being on top of the page and worth all that?

is. I never really, until you win, you could recognise it and for me I

always wanted to win Hawaii, not because of all the glory or the

bonuses, the extra stuff, I just wanted to win. Winning the World

Championships, I didn't get this recognition. Neither with the

Commonwealth Games. I have gone through all these other great

achievement, now I have finally been recognised. You first came to

people's attention 11 years ago at the Commonwealth Games. I cannot

believe it was that long ago. I don't feel like it is 10 or 11

years ago I achieve this result but that is where I started. I had big

dreams come the big goals to go to the Olympics. I fell short.

world champion at Leanda Cave is the triathlon champion of the world.

There is still a part of me that wants to go back to the Olympic

distance, to take that box. That is still a child could dream. If I

never make it I think I have fulfilled a different level of

success. At can be proud of that when I retire. The Commonwealth

Games coming up, yourself, Helen Jenkins, that would be a good team

to have in Glasgow. I would be definitely be up for that. That

might be my entry, seeing if I want to go back to ITU or not. I have

had the experience. Young athletes look up to you as a guide or a role

model. Gage had to do it right. Even if I am not the fastest

athlete out there I will have value for the team. There is a lot of

criticism about me and where I live, I represent Great Britain, Wales,

yet I don't live here, but at the same time when I win a race

everybody wants to claim that me. I want to say I am British. It is the

fact I'd trained in the States has enabled me to achieve that result.

2013 will see her trying to replicate last year sticking to the

longer distances. I will focus later in the season on my big goals.

That is what happened the last year. The first half of the year was a

bit of a mess, then I picked it up towards the end and tunnel vision,

got the job done in the training. Back to football and Swansea City

might be out of the FA Cup, but they are still looking to make the

League Cup final for the first time ever. In a moment we will hear from

their new signing Roland Lamah but here is a reminder of what has

already been a dramatic start to the new year.

This was the night Swansea fans Swansea City ahead in the semi-

final. A bad mistake now, a great chance for two-0. What a sensation

here at Stamford Bridge. He has doubled Swansea's lead. A scoreless

draw at Everton must have seemed a little dry up by comparison. Back

to London on Wednesday, no heroics He scores far Arsenal, he has

Back to Premier League business, they could be a day before Roland

Lamah, the Belgian international signed this week on line.

TRANSLATION: I am happy to come to Swansea because it is a good club.

They are a club that played really good football. From me the fans can

expect to see an energetic and explosive player. On the front foot,

all of the time. I hope they will get to know me very quickly. The

Premier League is a good competition, followed everywhere

across the world. It is an energetic competition, which

matches my football style. I am very eager to get going. Michael

Laudrup is a legend, so it is with great pleasure I am coming here to

play for him. I remember him when he was a player. He was a great

footballer. I am looking forward to Tomorrow at Swansea could face a

man that they are reportedly keen to sign, with talk of an initial

bid being rejected for Stoke. His possible arrival could hinge on

whether Danny Graham is a lout took leave. -- is allowed. They sit one.

At one place better off than Stoke. There's take a look at Swansea City.

They lost midweek against Arsenal in the FA Cup, but going well in

the league. They are still keen to make the final of the League Cup.

Have they surprised you? With Michael Laudrup coming in, I'm

not surprised how well they're doing, but I didn't really expect

it, he brought a few players from Spain in, they hit the ground

running. Ashley Williams, a big player for them to stop to achieve

the first final in a long time and go to Wembley in the League Cup

final, possibly against a League Two side, there would be a fairy-

tale story to win a trophy in his first season in charge.

Michael Laudrup, without success comes a lot of interest, I guess.

What danger, they could lose him again at their lost Brendan Rogers.

Even if he were to decide they don't think he will because I don't

think he is the type of guy who would jump ship after one season.

If he does decide I think they will be a number of managers wanting to

come to Swansea because they see the manager has been left alone,

the chairman let's him get on with it, and there is not too much

distraction from the football. Stoke this weekend. How do you see

it going? They have got the tools to really hurt Stoke, especially at

home because they like to pass the ball. They can keep other teams off

the ball and Stoke live off their set pieces. If you control the game

for a large part of it I think they stand a very good chance to win.

Thank you. That is it from this week. We are back at the earlier

time of 7pm next Friday. This week the Olympic gold medallist and

arguably the greatest sportswoman Wales has ever produced called time

on her career as a professional cyclist. We leave you with some of

She takes it, she is the Olympic road race champion. She has done it.