26/04/2013 Sport Wales

Good evening. And so the good times roll on for a Welsh sport. Nathan

Cleverly is still a world champion and our two Conference teams battle

for the last place to return to the Football League. Stay with us for

another action-packed Sport Wales. We have access all areas with

Nathan Cleverly as he prepared to fight Robin Krasniqi. I am prepared

to fight fire with fire. As Michel Platini helps look to the future,

how long will the current boss be in charge? If they find the right

man for the job for the next qualifying campaign, great. And we

asked Jeremy Guscott for his captain for the Lions squad. I do

nothing Sam is ready to be the captain. We will begin with boxing

and last weekend's Nathan Cleverly fought his 5th defence of his WBO

light-heavyweight title against Robin Krasniqi. We had behind the

scenes access with him for the fight at Wembley Arena. The team

was calm and relaxed ahead of defence No. 5 of the world title.

With Nathan supporting -- sporting a nice little black number in the

way in. We were meant to fight each other last year, then I pulled out,

so he thinks I am running scared. So he gave me a skirt saying Nathan

Cleverly, the Princess. I wanted to show it had no impact on me. It was

good fun. I will make him pay on Friday night. It is a hostile

environment sometimes. The press conferences can get heated, there

is a lot of intensity and there can be a lot of pressure, but you have

to deal with it as a champion. After the chaos of the way in,

Nathan Cleverly finds solitude in the hotel car park. Whenever anyone

sees that belt, they want to give it 120%. All the challengers are

targeting year. So there is pressure. You have to keep fighting

these hungry fighters. preparations begin at Wembley Arena

the champion's hard work has already been done. I had a nice

sleep and I listen to a bit of music in my room. The calm before

the storm. Make sure you do not get the adrenalin pumping too early.

Get it right for tonight. When he is in the ring he will realise what

he is in with. They have trained hard and they have confidence, but

when they are in the ring with me, they realised the champion I am and

I take them down. I will take this one down as well. Right, all set. I

am prepared to fight fire with fire. If that means going to war, then we

will. If he wants to box and try and be smart and clever, then maybe

I will have to put it on him and bake him work, but as long as I am

winning the rounds, whether that is boxing or fighting, I will hit what

I see and 10 times out of 10 it gets you the result. I anticipate a

clean fight. The rules of boxing dictate a member of each camp

oversees the bandaging of the opponent's hand. Despite Nathan

Cleverly being signed off by the authorities, Robin Krasniqi's

representative refuses to move until he puts his gloves on. We do

not want you here. You have done what you are supposed to do. We are

asking you politely to leave and you are saying, no, we are not. I

will have he removed. Security are forced to step in. There is just

one hour to go and tell the first bell. First thing you have got to

have his natural ability and the second his heart and he has got

bags of that. He is a really good boxer. I think he is going to go

places and I am confident he will do the job tonight. A have you got

the shield? Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main event of the

evening. Please welcome into the ring that WP a light heavyweight

champion of the world, Nathan From the first round, Nathan

Cleverly dominates. That was a brilliant right hand over the top.

Robin Krasniqi has not moved from the ropes. He is in pretty much the

same position. He gets another left hook through. That is the best of

the fight so far. Robin Krasniqi is looking disturb for the first time

in the contest. He tries to fight back, but he is pinned on the ropes.

The stubborn Kosovo and does his best to keep the champion in check.

A right hand over the top from Robin Krasniqi. When you are

walking away from him, I do not do nothing. Walk away from him and

snap, snap. However, the fight ends as it started, with the Welshman

The more accurate work of Nathan Cleverly gets through. Champion of

the world, Nathan Cleverly! Great hit him a few times at the finish

and he could not get that finish. It was quite tough. He was gutsy. I

am pleased with it. I think he could have stopped impossibly

sometimes, but it is his first fight after a long time. The guy

was tough, he was not a walk over, so I'm happy. The next fight could

be with a German. I want to challenge myself against the very

best, so I am looking forward to that. Football now and the two

Welsh teams competing in the Blue Square Conference plate of semi-

finals. Newport and Wrexham are both just one game away from

possibly facing each other in the final at Wembley. Ian Hunter looks

ahead to Sunday's second leg matches. It is the biggest game of

the season and will be the biggest game in the club's history. We want

to get there again. We are there now and we want to make sure we get

there for sure. Five years outside the Football

League, two successive play-off semi-final defeats against little

town -- Luton Town. Did these goals When we turn up everybody in this

league knows they are in for a tough encounter on whatever Derry

it is. We know we have to turn up the same way and give Kidderminster

as tough a day as we did in the first leg. We have gone into it as

underdogs this time. We have to make sure we are up for it again on

Sunday. Few would have thought it possible Newport County could be on

the brink of League football since -- for the first time since 1988.

Last year they avoided relegation. But they finished third in the

league and they have won for it in Wembley and after their first game

against Grimsby. I think it is going to be a fantastic occasion.

It will be one we have not seen and I am looking forward to it on

Sunday because it is going to be hostile in the right way. It will

give some players a lift and you cannot walk not want to play for

those fans. They will play their part on Sunday, no doubt about that.

It is the biggest game of the season and probably the biggest

game in the club's history for 25 years. We know what is at stake.

The way we dealt with the game on Wednesday and the way we went about

our business is all that could be asked for. They know their way

around Wembley. Last month, Wrexham won the FA Trophy. The county had

to settle for loser's medals in the final of last year's competition.

We want to get there again because that means we are in with a chance

of going to the Football League. know what Sunday means. It gives us

a step closer to that promised land and what a fairy-tale end to the

season it could be. But we have to focus solely on the second leg

because Grimsby are going to give a good account of themselves and it

will be a tough encounter. I am joined now by an absolute legend at

the racecourse, former Wales international Mickey Thomas. Who is

happier going into the second leg? Justin Edinburgh getting that one

goal away from home. Newport have got passionate fans. I think they

are favourites to get to Wembley for sure. Wrexham have got an

advantage, but they have to go to Kidderminster who have got a very

powerful strike force and they are in form. I think Wrexham and

Newport are going to Wembley. deserves it most? Newport have been

outstanding in the league and they have got a good strength force as

well. They have gone to a new stadium. Their pitch has not been

conducive to good football. I think Andy has done well. To get to this

position again after last season his incredible. Newport probably

shaded at the moment. Who is under the most pressure, Andy Morrell or

Justin Edinburgh? I think the pressure is on Andy and the simple

reason is because he has spent a few bob. Welsh football has

blossomed this season with Cardiff and Newport and Swansea and Wrexham.

We will be back for some predictions vary sharply. Next week

Warren Gatland will announce his long awaited selection for the

Lions tour this summer. So, we spoke to some Lions legends to find

out who they think should be on the plane. The Six Nations was the

final chance for Lions hopefuls to press their claims in the Test

arena. With four days to go and tell Warren Gatland reveals his tan,

you can bet there will be chewed fingernails and sleepless nights.

wrote down a few names and I got to 85 names. It is staggering. He has

got to reduce that to 37. I would not like to be a player in the back

row with days to go and you could be counting every time you missed a

tackle. Could I have made a tackle? What happened in Scotland? All the

doubts will start going through the player's mind. Perhaps the biggest

decision of all is that of the captaincy. A number of bookies have

stopped taking bets on Sam Warburton. But there are a number

of leading contenders. I do not think he is ready to be the captain

of the Lions. He has proved beyond doubt he can captain Wales. Winning

the Grand Slam, and some of them have done it a few times, but there

is a doubt over his selection as a Lions captain. The stand-out

candidate is Brian O'Driscoll. He has world respect. The breakdown

will be one of the key contests Down Under. There are a raft of

quality open sides to fill the breach. If I am Warren Gatland I am

not thinking too much about Australia, I am thinking about our

game. No. 7 has been the best so far. But Warren Gatland might have

a different game plan and strategy. He may think, let's just smash them

out of the park every time we play them and it does not matter who

plays No. 7. If you are demolishing them, you do not need somebody to

do the fetching. Sam Warburton will come in there, take Australia on.

And Robshaw will come into it as well. Who do you think over these

next few days will be biting their fingers the most? Maybe Alex

Cuthbert. His first game against Ireland was not particularly

brilliant. Chris Robshaw. He played brilliantly for Harlequins and did

well as England captain. Tom Wood was the last name I put on my list

and how could I miss a player like Tom Wood. He was one of a number of

players whose reputation suffered when the red rose was trampled upon

replicate that. I don't think it will be dominated by the Welsh side.

After that. That is four play players guaranteed. North?Oh, yeah,

Remember the time for a small period of my life I was proud of. Wales are

expected to make up the bulk of this squad. Is that how you see it? Do

you expect most of this squad to be Welsh? They certainly saved their

best performance to last. You need to be in a winning environment to

produce the best form in the British and Lions campaign. If they win the

first two, it's very difficult to pick yourself up to get the

whitewash. If I look at the talent available for Gatland to pick, we

can play them off the park. It's gelling it altogether, yeah, 2-1.

More football now and a true legend of the world game, Michel Platini,

has been speaking to Sport Wales about the chances of Wales hosting

major European games in the future,but first Chris Coleman on

his future as manager of the national football centre, a

permanent base for Wales and they hope a football factory to produce a

conveyer belt for the next Gareth Bale's and Aaron Ramsey's. What

about the future of Welsh current figurehead, will Chris Coleman be

around to benefit? I will sit down with the powers that be and discuss

the best way forward. The most important thing is that Wales

qualify one day. If I'm the right man for the job for the next

qualifying campaign, great. If I'm not, then if that decision is made

by someone else so, be it. The laths six months I am heapier with the way

things have gone and more settled. I think the players now, the team are

grasping what we are trying to do. I'm not a quitter. I knew it was

going to be tough. I also knew when we losing it I'm breaking up one

else's legacy. If I win I'm carry on someone's legacy. I wanted the

honour of doing the job, not under the circumstances under which I got

it. It is what it it is. Are signs of growth after a stagnant start to

Coleman's re Gill n. Three wins from the last five game and the Welsh F A

have been urged to extend his contract and lead him into the next

campaign. There are many conversations still to be had. I'm

sure Chris would want to have a conversation with us. We have four

matches to go, Ireland at home, friendly. Great, great friendly

match against Republic of Ireland we have four more qualifiers. Let us

not jump to the guns too soon. Everybody is thinking we are doing

the right thing now. Everybody is behind Chris Coleman. Qualifying for

a major tournament nothing ranks higher. Welsh F A have lofty

ambitions. Platini poured cold water on European matches saying the

infrastructure isn't good enough. It's the question of the players,

it's the question of the airport. There are a lot of questions. When

you bring 60,000 to 80,000 people in the game for the same game, you have

the big games we have that. It's different to have 30,000 and 60,000.

You need rooms, airports, you need planes. Everything. That is more

complicated. No problem endorsing Dragon Park the new centre in

Newport that is modelled on similar HQs in France and England. All the

teams under one roof nurturing Welsh talent. You are waiting for

generations and generations. They have to work somewhere. That could

be important, interesting, then you need good educators and good

players. If you want to winsome games you don't need a centre, you

need good players. This centre can help to good players. Are trying to

catch up with most of the countries around Europe who have something

like this in place. You can see the players that France have produced.

We have to try and keep up with everybody else and produce good

players. A place like this is ideal. The important thing for me or

whoever my successor is in the future, Welsh football will be here.

How best we look after that and how much we invest in it. This is a

strike forward. Back to rugby now and a look at how

Cardiff City's rise into the Premier League might impact on their capital

neighbours, The Blues. Ian Hunt assesses the challenges

facing the rugby team in a capital city that's preparing to host some

of the biggest sporting sides in the world. The football landscape is

about to change in Cardiff. Promotion to the Premier League for

the Bluebirds in a few short months some of the world's biggest teams

and biggest stars will be on the doorstep. Best football theatre

around as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the rest

descend on the capital city. How might that affect the Cardiff Blues.

It's not a worry. It will force us to be Bert at what we do. It will

force us to reanalyse our marketing strategies and be Bert and

competition in my mind can only be a healthy thing. We have to engage

with our community and develop the Blues as a region. Their optimism

isn't shared by everyone. Former Wales captain, Mike Hal, raised big

fears. For me a league which is dying on it is feet. The Blues have

worked hard to engage with all the clubs in their region covering not

only Cardiff but Merthyr and taking a session to Christ College. Winning

back hearts and minds seems more important. The kids will want to see

Manchester United, Liverpool etc. They want to see Leigh Halfpenny's.

There will be individuals who support rugby and those who want to

support football. When you get the individuals to the ground to see the

product you are providing, it has to be right. If it is right, they will

continue to come back. You need a successful side. The Blues have

played in front of 30,000 a couple of years ago in the Heineken Cup,

where have the spectators gone? The product has dipped. The team's

performance have dipped. People have drifted away. The average attendance

has been under 8,000. 14,000 less than Cardiff City averaged in the

Championship. Swansea have averaged 20,000 at the Liberty Stadium,

double what the ospreys average. How have they Combed having the Swans in

the Premier League for the last two seasons? Has it changed things, no.

Have we to sharpen our focus on where we are and what we are doing,

yes, it does. There is a distinct rugby crowd in Swansea and a

distinct soccer crowd. It made us sharpen up a bit. The latest

development to break the deadlock between the union and the regions

over the governance of the game saw the Chairman meet with the board of

the Welsh Rugby Union last night. With the benefactors set to walk

away things could go from bad to worse. They operate under one of the

lowest salary caps in the world. Leading Wales stars like Jamie

Roberts have said goodbye to the Blues, there is concerned that the

trickle could turn into a flood. They want to see the George North

and Goth Berths and Leigh Halfpennies. They need to be kept in

Welsh rugby. There is a big job ahead. They have to get it right.

Certain people will always watch rugby, certain people will watch

rugby. It's form have both cases showcased. To have two premier

sporting teams in Cardiff is fantastic. Conservative estimate is

a million fans coming through the football stadiums next season. The

role moodels of a new generation of supporters rather than Leigh

Halfpenny or Ryan Jones. Sport, more than ever, is about the experience

for the fans. No place then for substandard pitches. The facility we

moved back and we, if the truth be non -- known we were in a rush to

get it down. We are looking to improve the pitch and facilities for

the fans. The Blues or the Bluebirds or maybe both. It's up to the fans

to decide. It is back to football. Who is going into the football

league next season? Wrexham. Newport have done well. I have to go for

Wrexham. I have played for them. I have a love for them. They gave me

an opportunity to play professional. I will go for Wrexham. Midfield will

win them the game. Sorry about that. Thank you very much for joining us.

Thank you. That's it for tonight.

We're back next Friday, but don't forget that you can hear full

commentary of both games this Sunday on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru,

but next week hopefully with a preview of two Welsh teams about to