24/03/2016 Sport Wales

Good evening. Two Euro 2016 warm up games for Wales and a world

superstar running through the streets of Cardiff, not a bad Easter

weekend of sport by head! Here's what's coming up. The Euro is less

than three months away, we sit down with Chris Coleman ahead of two key

friendlies. You're playing for your country. I don't expect it to be a

timid affair and I don't want it to be one. Danny Gabbidon goes for a

catch up with the captain. We've got to try and make sure we get the job

done because we are a good team. The world half Marathon comes to the

capital along with one of the greatest athletes on the planet.

Hopefully they will be cheering my name and hopefully will make a big

difference. Mo Farah can run a half in less than an hour, so we

challenged Gavin Rhys Owen to do it quicker in traffic. Surely there's

only one winner? It's neck and neck! And we catch up with one of Welsh

netball's rising stars. I've got some goals and the next World Cup is

definitely in my reach, so I will be doing everything to get there. But

only one place to start and that is with the man who tonight takes

charge of Wales's final home game before Euro 2016, Chris Coleman. A

warm welcome to Sport Wales. I'm guessing this week getting the squad

back together again for the first time since the autumn, there must be

a real sense of excitement with the Euros just around the corner? There

is, yeah. If you look at our players who have been at their respective

club who have maybe not been starting readily, they are starting

to go on loan so they can get the chance to play regular football and

be in the best physical shape the old enough to when we named the 23

for the summer. Credit to them for that. Some of the lads in this camp

have not been with us for a while will stop its a good chance for them

to get a feel of it again. The Northern Ireland game will a tough

one. They have done an unbelievable job to qualify. Michael O'Neill has

done a great job. There is always something on it when you're playing

for your country. Identity spectator be a timid affair and I don't want

it to be a timid affair. Once we put that to bed, we will start

immediately concentrating on the next one which will be Ukraine. Two

different games, two different challenges for us. The crowd will be

disappointed there is no Gareth Bale out there as well as Aaron Ramsey

this evening, but I guess the fact that he has just had his second baby

daughter vindicates your decision not to involve him in this, doesn't

it? He needs that rest. We need him to have that rest because we need

him coming into the summer to be peaking rather than feeling tired.

He has had a couple of difficult months with injury and of course,

like you said, his wife gave birth yesterday. So there is a lot going

on for Gareth at the minute. With the new baby he won't be getting on

a private jet and flying in for this one! I don't think he will. He

normally does, if he is not fit to play he normally has a few days with

us. But he has got bigger priorities at the moment and we understand

that. In terms of the Euros and the planning for the Euros, you have

been out to France several times. Are you happy with how it's all

looking out there in terms of facilities and venues, stadiums?

Yes, we went to see the stadiums and get a feel for the dressing rooms.

The different towns where we're playing, the Hotel where we will be

staying at prior to the games. It looks fantastic, to be fair. We test

it before it happens in the summer. That was important for us, as

representing Wales in a major tournament is the biggest honour we

can have. We're going there to enjoy it. We also want to make sure we

succeed and we make a fist of it. You talk about all the Hoo hah

around it and there will be a huge amount of hype, but there is a lot

of speculation about your future as well. You've been linked with

Swansea and Aston Villa. Out of about that? Two years ago at the end

of the last campaign my contract was coming to an end and I wasn't being

linked with anybody! It wasn't a fruitful campaign. This time around

it has been great and my contract has not been decided, so I have been

linked with clubs. You know that's going to happen. When you're an

international manager, you missed the day-to-day stuff. You have less

control because the players are not yours, you are borrowing them from

the clubs. You're always chasing round to get a squad together

because it's so difficult. When you are out club manager, you can affect

things everyday. You do miss that. That's not to say that when I'm

standing on the touchline as manager of Wales and it is a full house,

that feeling is not something you want to give up easily, I promise

you. It's been an absolute honour to manage Wales. I'm in a privileged

position and it's not something I want to give up easily. Equally,

things need to be right. At the moment I can't stop speculation, all

I can do is control myself and my group and make sure they are

prepared. Finally coming you had the manic Street preachers at the camp

is recording a song, together stronger, for Wales. They were

brilliant. Such big football fans and really humbling, really down to

earth. We had a great laugh with them. We were trying to sink!

Hopefully those guys can do great work and make it look a lot better

than it was from our point of view. The Manics were first class, they

were brilliant, but we weren't so good! Well, all the best against

Ukraine. Still to come tonight, the man

inspiring thousands of miners this weekend, Mo Farah on running the

Royal Half weekend, Mo Farah on running the

netball. My guess this evening is the former Wales international Danny

Gabbidon. We know there is one big name missing tonight for Wales

against Northern Ireland, Gareth Bale. But who is this? Danny

Gabbidon! Still on this mural. Because you are still part of the

squad at the start of the Euro 2016 campaign. Have you got your boots

just in case? Yes, always leave them in the boot of the car, you never

know what in the boot of the car, you never

job lightly but he does miss the day-to-day involvement of club

management, what you make of that? I think most managers would say the

same. But he has done a fantastic job. Two years ago, no one really

wanted him, as he said, and it shows how opinions can change in a short

space of time and rightly so. Clubs are interested in him now because he

has done a fantastic job with this set of players. It's a difficult

decision going forward, I'm sure. We will talk more later on and also

find out what happened when you caught up with an old friend. I

think it's another chance... LAUGHTER

I know what the question is! I know what's coming! No you don't. I do!

LAUGHTER So, on Saturday thousands of runners

will make their way across the barrage here in Cardiff Bay and

weave their way through the streets of the capital for the World Half

Marathon championship. Among them the champion Mo Farah.

I'm really excited to be taking part in the World Half Marathon. It's

going to be my first half marathon and what a place to do it, in

Cardiff, so exciting. The guys will push along and I can just sit back

and get the home crowd, the support of the home nation. It makes a big

difference. It's going to being credible to have so many people

taking part. It's an elite race but the rest of the guys are just

running for fun. It's a great chance to talk to them and cheer for them.

Hopefully they will be on the streets of Cardiff and everywhere

cheering my name and hopefully it will make a big difference. It would

be amazing if I could add to my collection, another global medal

would be amazing. I have not done a half marathon before, so it will be

my first one. If I win, it will be another title, hopefully. Mo Farah

is coming to Cardiff and the race will start just outside the castle.

We will head down towards Penarth, I crossed the barrage, around the lake

and finished by the Civic Centre. Mo will take an hour, not as quick as a

taxi, I would say, but what about eight taxi in the city during rush

hour keeping to the speed limit? I think there's only one way to put

this to the test. Let's have a race. Drive? Follow that Mo!

Just passing the Cardiff City Stadium. Six minutes 27 seconds on

my watch. Three miles is touch and go, actually. Mo Farah will be doing

splits of four minutes 40, and we have a straight run as we speak.

This is the only uphill section on the whole course, which means most

of it is flat. We've put a good field of runners together like at

the weekend and they will be close to the hour or just under. For your

club runner it's a still significantly fast course. Scenic

horizons which is very important and the crowds will make it a great

place to be on Saturday afternoon. 18 and a half minutes, four Miles,

it's neck and neck. The barrage. It's when the burnt kicks in for

many of the fun runners and frustratingly they will know that

the winners may have finished by then. That's the amazing thing about

the Cardiff half marathon. Technically you are in the same race

as Mo Farah, an amateur can run against the world champion. I'm

running my first half marathon and I'm very excited but also a little

bit petrified! I'm going for the fastest half marathon record dressed

as Superman! I have never run this far before, only started running in

April last year, so a year ago thinking I was going to run a half

marathon, I wouldn't have even considered it! You can make it

whatever you wanted to be really. For some it will be about getting

round the course and for others it will be about getting certain time.

I'm very proud of myself for considering it and if I finish it, I

will be over the moon. We could actually do with a Tardis! Now we

have hit another snag. It's just delaying us.

Mo is flying, but we are stalling. I had a good run from the wharf, dual

carriageway, straight run, lucky with traffic, so we are catching up

with Mo game. Straight on, follow that transit van, stay in the left

lane and straight across Newport road. We turn left on this one and

then it is a straight run. The runners will have stewards and guide

marks all the way. We haven't got that. We've got to rely on maps. It

is even been collection day. This is really close, 45 minutes, nine and a

half miles and I think we might do it. The lake is absolutely stunning.

The one thing that really hits you doing this is the amazing scenery

that Cardiff has to offer, and the world will see these views. I think

over 50 countries are being represented in the mass raids, and

TV pictures will be beamed around the world. -- the mass race. It is

the best spotlight you can have. I can't believe it, we have had a

straight run past the lake. What has happened to the traffic? I don't

know, but happy days. One mile to go and seven minutes to do it. We are

going to win! We are going to do it! DRIVER HONKS HORN

Come on! We are literally there, three, 400 metres away. Why we

haven't moved for the last three minutes, I don't know. It is

literally round the corner there. Right at the last minute, Cardiff

traffic is going to scupper us. Oh, here we go! Left here... Six, seven,

eight, nine... No! We've lost! One-hour, 11 seconds. We just missed

out, because Mo Farah's British record is 59 minutes 32. The world

record is another minute faster. As for the mere mortals, they will get

to the finishing line in a bit longer, but I tell you one thing,

they will have a blast. The welcome will be fantastic and the scenery is

great. As for me, well, I reckon I could do it again.

The Celtic Dragons are the only Welsh team in a competitive netball

super league. Despite a narrow defeat to Loughborough- lightning

earlier this week, they possess a big threat, bigger than most.

I'm Georgia Rowe, I'm six foot five and I play

Through school, I was always known as the tall one and it had quite

I knew my mum and dad were discussing things that

could maybe turn it into a positive and get me a bit more confidence,

I remember going to my first Celtic Dragons game when I hadn't

had any trials, and I was amazed watching the game.

I got in contact with the coach and was asked to go down

I sat in with a training session with the seniors.

Because of my age, I went straight into the under-19s.

It was a massive surprise how quickly it happened.

I didn't even play netball at school so when it all started and picked up

I had a year as a goalkeeper when I first started.

It's definitely helpful, being able to have the experience

at both ends, because, as a shooter, I know what my defence

She's certainly catching up in some aspects, as she came to the sport

Height is an advantage, particularly in the shooting circle,

but it's what you do with that height that is the key,

so using that height to the best of its advantage is what Georgia

People think the closer you are to be net, the easier it is,

which isn't the case because it all comes down to technique

She has worked very hard on her shooting technique.

I have had more court time this season than ever.

I played for Celtic Dragons two years ago, missed out

on the opportunity last year, but I am the main shooter or one

It is a lot of pressure, having to get those last shots

We took her to the World Cup obviously last year.

I don't think Georgia expected too much court time,

and we were able to actually put her on the court far more

Even getting on for a quarter here, a quarter there, you learn so much,

and that is the main competition that has

By performing well on the court, I am hoping to inspire girls out

there who watch the sport and play it in schools.

The experiences that I have had have made me so much more determined,

I've definitely got some goals I'm aiming for.

The Commonwealth Games and the next World Cup are definitely

in my reach, so I'll be doing everything to get there.

Right, back to the big game, Wales against Northern Ireland, coming up

right after this programme. Danny Gabbidon caught up with an old

friend and former Wales team-mate, the skipper, Ashley Williams.

Great to see you, my friend, looking forward to this week? It should be

good, I think. We had a couple of good sessions. Nice to see the boys

again, after not seeing them for a long time. Always nice to get back

on the pitch was not a couple of boys are out, so it is a chance...

Sorry,! I've never seen you like this before. What was the question?

I don't even remember... I know what the question is. Is this another

question? You set to move on. Come on, I'm on it, man. Oh, come on.

Obviously, no Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey, but it was a similar

situation in the last friendly against Holland and the team

performed well, so does that give the squad a lot of confidence? I

think so. We have missed some players before and everybody that

has come in has done well, so we will be looking for something

similar. When you play against another home nation, you always want

to win it especially. It is not a throwaway game and we will be

wanting to get two wind out of the next two games. With 2016 drawing

ever closer, have you allowed yourself to have one eye on the

summer? A bit, it is at the back of my mind will stop with the Premier

League season, it is difficult to take your mind off that. It is such

a big thing. All of the guys are thinking about it a bit. You have

had some good moments for Swansea as a captain and some recent good

moments in a Wales shirt captain. Would walk out on that pitch, first

game against Slovakia, major tournament on the world stage, would

that dwarf any previous achievement? I think so. It's probably the

proudest moment in my career. I don't see how you can top that,

especially the first game but it will be massive. Knowing how many

people are watching back home, it is something I think is important for

us to enjoy and not feel too pressurised. We worked hard enough

to get their so we have to enjoy it but, at the same time, to try and

get the job done, because we are a good team and we can go far. What

constitutes a good tournament for Wales? Getting out of the group

stages? We would like to get out of the group stages. It's difficult,

because we have no experience to think of what we did last time, so

just trying to get as far as we can, whether that is to get out of the

group stages. It would be nice to definitely do that and see where it

goes. You have seen smaller nations progress really far before in

tournaments, so we will be trying to follow some of those nations and

drag it out as long as it can go. You have got -- if you look at what

we stayed in a few years ago, the Premier League this season, very

topsy-turvy, does that give you confidence that a lesser nation can

go all the way Mr Mock -- if you look at what Greece did a few years

ago. If you get a bit of momentum, and our squad is how we work for

each other. Hopefully that can take us far into the tournament. That is

why I think these friendlies are important, to try and get as much

momentum as possible and run with that through the tournament. If you

pick up a viewpoint, you could find yourself through the first stage and

you could get a good draw. -- if you pick up a few points. Last question

I wanted to ask you is if you are feeling a bit tired. I am more than

willing to dust my boots off, 49 caps... I still think you could do

the job, mate. Thank you. caps... I still think you could do

Ashley Williams flaking under the pressure of being interviewed by a

former team-mate. You got there in the end! Thank God for retakes and

editing! It has been a difficult season for him with the troubles at

Swansea. Can he easily put that on one side when he pulls on the red

shirt and focuses on what lies ahead? I think so. Look at his

character, a fantastic player for club and country for a number of

character, a fantastic player for the squad can do before the

tournament starts. That is it from us. We are back next Friday, but

don't go anywhere. Coming up right now, Wales against Northern Ireland

in match of the day Wales, the perfect start to your Easter

weekend. From all of us, goodbye.