Wales Rugby

Saturday 14 February: Wales V England

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 117, England 53, Wales 52, 12 draws

LAST MATCH: England 19, Wales 26, Twickenham, London

England will travel to Millennium Stadium on the back of an unconvincing victory over Italy.  Martin Johnson is not ushering any miracles with his New England, and it is likely that their brief return to the winners circle will end again at the hands of the best team in Europe.

The former World Cup winning captain has made two changes to his team, bringing in Mark Tindall at centre and bringing Joe Worsley in for Steffon Armitage, who drops out of the match 22.

It will be the flanker’s first start in a white jersey since the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup. Hopefully his experience will shore up the visitors back row, and they will attempt to dominate a Welsh back row that is world class with arguably the best seven eight combination in the northern hemisphere.

England will be looking to enforce a stricter code of discipline, after conceding six yellow cards in their last two matches. Discipline has been such a concern, that the squad has been purposely training with 14 man defensive drills if the headmasters cane falls again in Cardiff.

Meanwhile Wales are in a buoyant mood; despite the consistent drilling that one match does not make a victory.  However, they enter the second round of the Six Nations as the fourth ranked nation in the world, their highest ever posting on the IRB world rankings.

Even this is a bit insulting, as realistically the Welsh are not only the premier nation of the North, but only an Australian would argue that only the World Champions and All Blacks shade Wales for current global supremacy.

There are no real concerns for Warren Gatland and his defending champion team, for despite some injuries within the camp, he has great depth at his disposal.

Even if Gavin Henson, probably the most crucial loss for the Welsh, will not be rushed back considering the impressive form of Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin against the Scots.

They looked a different class, not only to the Scottish, but to the Six Nations teams in general. Despite players such as Shane Williams talking up the English, Martin Johnson is years from remoulding his rebuilding team.

While Wales are beginning to rival even the golden teams of the fifties and seventies for pure talent, and the red rose of England does not have the game nor the talent to defeat the Red Dragons on their hallowed turf.

Wales by 20.

 

England: 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Paul Sackey (London Wasps), 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps), 11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 10 Andy Goode (Brive), 9 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Joe Worsley (London Wasps), 6 James Haskell (London Wasps), 5 Nick Kennedy (London Irish), 4 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), 3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps), 2 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), 1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks).

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 17 Julian White (Leicester Tigers), 18 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 19 Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks).

Wales: TBA

For the most part you could argue that for “Scotland,” we mean Frank Hadden...

Only having one lock on the park.

With an already weakened scrum, Jason White played with a bit of heart but wasn’t really the answer in the lineout. Gough and Jones were pretty dominant for Wales in an area we had (before the loss of Hines and rash selections) hoped to target.

If he had to play a back rower in the second, surely it would be Simon Taylor who has been doing it all season?

Ally Kellock has been playing well for Glasgow, with no little amount of fire in his belly. He’s been in the wilderness long enough—surely it is time for him to return and give some grunt alongside big Jim Hamilton?

Early substitutions of Cairns and Barclay.

Peter Wright apparently left the commentary box in disgust when Barclay went off. I’m pretty sure “aperplexed,” is not a word, but as it combines “apoplectic” and “perplexed” quite nicely, it sums up what was, I am sure, the mood of many.

Barclay had been relatively solid to that point, and while his replacement Scott Gray did well, surely one of the cornerstones of our defence and more importantly the one who sets the tone for the forwards (in the absence of Hines and Strokosch) should not come off just when we are getting into the game.

The expression on Barclay's face as he went off summed it up. I believe the expression was "WTF?"

While Max Evans did pretty well when he came on, scoring a great try past both Byrne AND Williams, Cairns wasn’t given a chance. I counted about two passes he received in 50 minutes. Surely if the crash ball through Morrison wasn’t working he could have had a bit of a chance, or failing a chance, a pass?

Now that Max Evans has made his mark, Cairns would under normal circumstances have to fight for his place back from Evans. Having said that I would still stick with Cairns as he has a slight edge defensively but Evans is pushing hard. This being a Frank Hadden team, though, you could see Andrew Henderson in the lineup next week for all we know.

Not picking Strokosch or Thom Evans.

Max’s late try seemed a little like an “I told you so” (though that was not the language I used when I first expressed this thought) from the Evans family to Mr Hadden. His pace and lack of fear set a little spark in the crowd, which in turn spurred on the team.

“Win the crowd. You will win your freedom,” Olly Reed said in Gladiator. Shadows and dust, Max Evans, shadows and dust.

Imagine what we could have done with two Evans boys in that end period. The big Stroker should definitely come in at six, with Barclay preserved at seven. Without Hines, Scotland were a blunt-edged instrument in the forwards. Strokes could be the man to return that edge, given his tendency to use anger as a motivating factor.

Pick who you like at eight, it’s a tough call between Brown Hogg or Taylor, as none of them were outstanding or terrible. I’d probably go with Taylor.

Playing like headless chickens.

So eager to try and fix things after a ropey start, they were knocking balls on, playing Chunk at first receiver (actually not unsuccessful sometimes) or rushing headlong into dangerous tackles.

Dr. Cross, in particular, will have little to remember (if he can) of his debut cap. Two poor tackles and twenty minutes in and the bench was half empty and the set piece in even worse shape.

The Mossy debate was put to bed early as he was forced on to the pitch—where he had a pretty good game and nearly scored two tries. You do wonder though if Evans or Lamont would have had the power to get over for the first of those.

Where was the controlled aggression of the Argentina tests or the autumn internationals? Still in Gloucester? Lamont ha

At times they looked like a genuine world power, but lack of a killer instinct may count against the Red Dragons as the Six Nations draws on

Rugby Maxim states that a good team goes about its work with more time and space than their opposition, but a great team not only puts it hands around the throat of their foes, but squeezes the life out of them.

In the first half, Wales looked a really good team.  They constantly broke the advantage line—appearing to employ a flat backline attacking formation—never looked like having the defence breached, and appeared to have an extra second every time they went through a phase.

The Welsh offensive systems, defensive formations, ball handling, speed and overall rugby skill looked far superior to any other European power on display in the opening round.

But to compare the Welsh to All Blacks, the black clad current world leaders would have ruthlessly put a half century of points on the hapless Scottish team.

If Wales cannot quickly remember that Rugby is an 80 minute game, the French and the Irish look to have the arsenal to derail the first Welsh back to back Slam for 100 years.

The Scots had reasonably high expectations, given the performance of their domestic teams.  They were dealt both injury and selections woes before the game.  The non selection of Thom and Max Evans detracted from their strike potential—which was proven when the latter scored Scotland’s only try and almost another at the death after coming off the bench.

But the injury withdrawal of Euan Murray and Nathan Hines, both potential British Lions, was always going to inhibit the home team’s ability to compete.  The first scrum was a mirage as the Welsh went backwards; for the rest of the match the Red Dragons eight had Scotland on roller skates.

Of course, Wales lost Gavin Henson and Ryan Jones prior to the match, but a Six Nations champion should not whimper over the loss of two men with their level of depth.

Indeed, with the strength of their individuals, there should be a heavy red tinge to the fabled team to travel to the bottom of Africa midyear.

The Welsh pack was impressive on all fronts, although their lineout was not as smooth as the rest of the machine.  Certainly Dafydd Jones filled his captain’s boots, and Andy Powell is the best number eight in the northern hemisphere.  However, considering the heavy tonnage of the Scots pack was missing, it will be a different test against hardened packs from the Emerald isle and Les Bleus.

But it was the polished performance of the three quarter line that would have impressed not only Warren Gatland, but Ian McGeehan.  Stephen Jones is in the form of his life, although his wayward kicking radar will need immediate amending.  Mike Phillips is a tower at scrumhalf, and made the highly touted Mike Blair look second rate.

Jamie Roberts was brilliant in the midfield channels, and if Henson is fit it would be a magical Red Dragon midfield to behold.  But it is the combination of the three quarters that will likely win Wales another championship.  Shane Williams continues to twinkle around world rugby, and Lee Byrne is challenging for the berth of the best custodian on the planet.

Scotland showed enough toward the dying stages to show that they could provide some mettle for the championship.  Equally, the Welsh teams switch off in the second half proved that they may not stroll through this championship unchallenged.

For despite the first half Welsh dominance and score line, statistically it was an even game.  Possession was shared, and information such as missed tackles, line breaks, errors and turnovers were all but even.  If Scotland can overcome was appeared to be almost stage fright, they could make their long suffering faithful proud.

 

Wales 26

Tries:Shanklin, AW Jones, Halfpenny, S Williams

Cons: Jones 0/4
Pens: Jones 2/3
Yellow card: M Williams (Wales) - deliberate knock-down, 66.

Scotland 13

Try: Evans
Con: Paterson
Pens: Paterson 2
Yellow card: Cross (Scotland) - dangerous tackle, 20;

Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Simon Webster, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 John Barclay, 6 Ally Hogg, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Jason White, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams (c), 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Why, on BBC Scotland, were Scottish viewers subjected to over 80 minutes of biased Welsh commentary?

Scotland played poorly against Wales and lost 26-13 in their opening RBS Six Nations encounter at Murrayfield, but we didn’t need Jonathan Davies harping on about every Scottish mistake and delighting in talking up Wales.

I actually heard him groaning when Wales made what he believed were mistakes.

How is that unbiased/objective commentary?

It is his job to comment on the game and that is fair enough, but calling a Scot's mistake “silly” moments after Wales had failed to throw a line out five yards, which was mentioned (but without half as much pomp and ceremony), is unbalanced.

Adding to that, Davies' comments in the first half after Scotland’s debutant prop Geoff Cross had taken Wales fullback Lee Byrne out in the air were unacceptable.

Instead of waiting for the referee to make a decision that he could comment on, he mentioned “yellow card” close to ten times over the next few minutes as the Scottish player lay knocked out on the turf. Anyone watching the game already knew it was an obvious yellow card offence.

It was honestly cringe-worthy; and it infuriated a nation.

Oh, and Max Evans scored Scotland’s try because Welsh winger Shane Williams was carrying a “slight injury”.

Talk about sour grapes; imagine if Wales had been losing. Actually, it is not worth thinking about.

I didn’t mind Davies being critical, as there was plenty to be critical of, but it works both ways. Yes, Scotland was generally poor. Yes, Wales was at times terrific. I am a man; I can accept that. But not being able to separate your personal loyalties from your job is simply unprofessional.

To the BBC: give Scotland our own commentator if you can’t give us a neutral one.

Wales kicked off the defence of their Six Nations crown with a solid 26-13 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

For 65 minutes it was an impressive and professional performance from a Welsh side that many have tipped to complete a historic second consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam. They sucked in the Scottish defence and spread the ball out wide at will, creating problems for the opposing players that they struggled to deal with.

In the last 15 minutes, however, Scotland offered glimpses to suggest to the vocal home fans that they could go on to make an impact in the reminder of the tournament.

“It was potentially a huge banana skin for us today, so we are just glad to get off the mark with a win,” said Welsh captain Martyn Williams, who had taken the armband from the injured Ryan Jones. “Scotland are never going to lie down and let you walk all over them. The good thing is there are a lot of things for us to work on, and a lot of things to improve.”

The final scoreline—massaged by a rare poor kicking performance from Stephen Jones—was arguably a fair reflection of a match that Wales started explosively, before fading away and allowing their opponents to ask some awkward questions.

If Chris Patterson had managed to apply some downward pressure to the ball behind the Welsh line late on, it could have set up a tense finish for all concerned.

As it was, Patterson was adjudged to have knocked the ball on—and Wales proceeded to do enough to see the game out.

“To be honest, the game was ours to lose, and we said that before the game,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland. "I think we lost a little bit of momentum around the 60 minute mark when we tried to make a few changes, perhaps we were a little over-confident.”

Rank outsiders at the beginning of the match, the Scottish starters had obviously been told to be very physical in the tackle while defending, and try to spread the ball out wide while attacking. Unfortunately, neither tactic quite worked.

Errant tackles from winger Montgomery and prop Geoff Cross—one that resulted in the debutant also being awarded a yellow card—ended up each time with them lying unconscious on the pitch. Cross did not return after his time in the sin bin, and Montgomery never fully recovered from the effects of his tackle and was eventually substituted.

In attack, the Scots' attempts to get the ball wide frequently put them under pressure, and it was little surprise when centre Tom Shanklin crossed for the game’s first try.

Alun Wyn Jones and wingers Leigh Halfpenny and Shane Williams added further tries, before Max Evans provided a consolation for Scotland. The home side went on to dominate the last period of a play—thanks in part due to Martyn Williams’ sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.

Intriguingly, the last 20 minutes of the games should have a positive effect on both teams ahead of next weekend’s fixtures.

Scotland will go into their match in Paris against France with a bit more confidence, knowing that they did a great job restricting arguably the best side in the tournament—and even caused them a few headaches in the process. With the French being infamous for their inconsistency, the Scots might even harbour hopes of coming away with a surprise victory.

Wales on the other hand, might just have been reminded that there are no free passes in this tournament. England might not be in great form—a fact only reinforced by their labouring performance against Italy on Saturday—but they will still capitalise on any errors their opponents make.

Wales should still have enough in their locker to win—especially with home advantage at the Millennium Stadium—but the slightly panicked finish to the game at Murrayfield should at least keep them honest.

Judging by their words in the post-match press conference, both Gatland and Williams know exactly what they need to improve before next week. They seem to have learned something about their side from the weekend's performance—something that England coach Martin Johnson might be hard pressed to claim.

All in all though, with Ireland performing so well against France on Saturday, many spectators might already be circling the 21st March clash between Wales and Ireland at the Millennium Stadium, anticipating that encounter to be the deciding game of the 2009 competition.

With Ireland having not won the competition since 1985, and Wales going after back-to-back Grand Slams, it could yet be a historic clash.

Scotland (3) 13
Tries: Evans    Con: Paterson    Pens: Paterson (2)

Wales (16) 26
Tries: Shanklin, AW Jones, Halfpenny, Williams    Pens: S Jones (2)

Once again, I am very happy to welcome in our friends from Heavens Game, to talk a little Rugby Union.

Today the topic is 6 Nations. That's right it is our favorite time of year when the European powerhouses take the field for bragging rights. And don't forget, Walker-Sports will be in Ireland in March for the conclusion of this great tournament.

On the eve of the 6 Nations, does any team have the ability to remove the "kings of Europe" mantle from Welsh Rugby?

On the face of recent evidence, both France and Ireland have a chance. The French are only a chance because they are France—a team that is so unpredictable that it is simply not worth saying too much more about them.

Wales travel to Paris with memories of recent wins. This will be without doubt the hardest match for both teams with Wales greater technique seeing them through.

Wales of course start their campaign up against the Scottish forward pack and seven other blokes along for the ride. Scotland—should they find a decent backline to compliment their excellent forward pack—would be a handful for any team in the world, the problem is they have an average backline and as such will be put to the sword by Wales on Sunday.

The Wales v. Ireland game is one that provides the two best fullbacks in Europe a run against each other in what will be a playoff for the Lions starting spot. Lee Byrne and Rob Kearney both come into the championship under injury clouds, in front of them is where the battle will be won.

Ireland have a world class lineout, if Wales get parity they will beat Ireland. In David Wallace Ireland have a great player, he may struggle to keep up his tempo with Wales' ability to build phase after phase. In what should be a tight match Wales will get home on the back of home advantage and the confidence that being a champion team brings.

Wales travel to play the Azzurri, a match that has tested Welsh teams in the past. Not this time I'm afraid. Italy's depth is being exposed and expect Wales to pull away with the match.

England at home will always be an emotional game for the Welsh. This Welsh team is simply too strong for England at the moment.

So there you have it; Wales to complete successive Grand Slams, with only Ireland and France to provide a challenge.

Wales are the favorites for the Six Nations championships. Its there, plain for all to see on betting websites, in the press, and even coming from the players and coaching staff themselves. We are the favorites. 

I have tried hard to deflect the weight of expectation away from the team, but its just not shifting.

It is of course understandable that Warren Gatland’s team, a talented yet shambolic ensemble, plagued infighting, player power, and severe technical deficiencies just twelve months ago, are the team that the majority of pundits are looking at to set the tone for the tournament.

Last season’s Grand Slam, coupled with the autumn victory over Australia, sets them apart from the other northern hemisphere teams in terms of recent success. And the steady progress of the Cardiff Blues and Ospreys in the Heineken Cup has done nothing to ease the sense of anticipation surrounding the team.

There is a widely held belief that, unlike in 2006 when an injury depleted squad, soon to be exposed for the nest of backstabbing and disharmony that it was, embarked on the doomed mission to defend the 2005 Slam, Gatland’s new model Wales are still moving forward.

Inside the Principality itself there are mixed emotions, generally swaying violently between a sense of unbridled optimism, apprehension and bewilderment, particularly amongst my own younger generation.

For us, the very idea of Wales entering a tournament under the tag of favorites seems perverse.

Growing up in the 90’s and early 21^st century, the glory days of the 70’s were considered just that; an unrepeatable, fairytale period when the Welsh "sidestep wizards,"ruled the world (or the Northern part of it at least.)  

The 80’s and 90’s were grim and the leap into professionalism had only seemed to widen the gulf between the Celtic nations and the giants of England and France.

England’s dominance in particular, built upon organised, powerful, forward orientated rugby (everything the Welsh stood against), created a particular feeling of injustice amongst the fans for whom scalps against the old enemy became as precious as they were rare.

We accepted that those rare moments of success, such as Graham Henry’s brief salvo as "the Great Redeemer," and the magic of 2005, would be our lot and got on with things. The game’s popularity never diminished but ambitions were severely curbed.

It may well of course turn out to be that 2008 sits alongside those moments as brief flashes of Welsh brilliance and, by 2011, we will once again be scrapping it out with Fiji for a token quarter final appearance.

This current crop however, seems different.

Much of the talk from the English press seems to create the impression that the title of favorites sits unhappily on the shoulders of the Welsh and that the emotion driven Celtic mentality is no match for the stoicism of the Anglo-Saxons.

It is not however, a theory I buy into. The body language emanating from the camp is relaxed and positive and Captain Ryan Jones was in jovial mood at the official launch of the tournament laughing off the failures of the 2006 campaign.

Indeed, the presence in the team of so many who were involved in that dramatic unravelling of morale will surely be able to learn from the mistakes made then.

Gatland, unlike his predecessor in 2006, Mike Ruddock, appears to be in total command of the team and such is the presence of his bullish, cocksure deputy Shaun Edwards in the camp that any form of dissent seems not only futile but an invitation for physical torture.

All this is not to say Wales are nailed on for another Grand Slam. History shows us how difficult a back-to-back, clean sweep can be and trips to Paris and even Murrayfield on the opening day provide at least two potential banana skins.

But as Gatland stated recently, "being favorites is something Wales teams of the future should expect," if they are to continue to develop into a team capable of consistently challenging and beating the world’s best. And so, despite the desolate years of my youth, tentatively, with just a slither of foreboding, I’m beginning to believe him.

With two Six Nations Grand Slams in four years, the current Welsh team will go down in the annals of history—but still are short of the glory days of Gareth Edwards illustrious team.

After winning Five Nations championships in 1965 and 1966, Welsh rugby took a backseat to the emergence of France as a world power who won back to back titles for the second time in the 1960’s.  However, in 1967, world rugby heralded the arrival of a young 19 year old from Pontardawe, a small welsh town in the Swansea valley.

Scrum Half Gareth Edwards, started his epic career by captaining his team one year later—yet in 1968 even he could not stop the French from recording their first ever Five Nations Grand Slam.  The following year, the Welsh defeated England to win the championship and the Triple Crown (victory over all home unions) this being the genesis of the golden era of Welsh rugby. 

It was the beginning of legends that some label as the finest rugby team to walk the planet – as well as Edwards himself, no doubt the greatest No. 9 to ever play the game.

In 1970 Wales shared the championship with France, but recorded a 6-6 draw against the mighty Springboks in Cardiff—at the time their best ever result against the Africans. 

1971 was considered by some to be the finest year of Welsh rugby history, winning the Five Nations with a Grand Slam and using only 16 players in four games.  The same year the renowned British and Irish Lions assembled with Welsh centre John Dawes captaining the side—and the Red Dragons contributing more players than any other team. 

With their recent form confidence and belief had begun in the minds of the Welsh players, with Gerald Davies remarking “we actually believed that we could defeat the might of the All Blacks”—whom themselves were in the midst a dominant age.

The Lions won that series 2-1, and to this day remains their only series win over the All Blacks.  In 1972 the series was not completed due to “the Troubles” in Ireland.  The subsequent year saw the Five Nations record its first and only five way tie—although the Welsh destroyed the Wallabies 24-0 in Cardiff, their greatest victory against the Australians.

In 1975 the Welsh won the Five Nations, and then followed it up the next year with a Grand Slam triumph.  Then in 1978 the Wales repeated their heroics with another Grand Slam, at the same time becoming the first home union to record three consecutive Triple Crowns.  Following their unprecedented success Phil Bennett and Gareth Edwards retired.  Months later the Welsh controversially lost to the All Blacks 13-12, whom went to record their first touring Grand Slam.

1979 saw the Welsh record yet another Five Nations triumph with a Triple Crown, as their age came to an end.  With the exception of a shared title with France in 1988—it would be fifteen long years before Wales again claimed a championship crown.

In this distinguished period of the seventies, Wales fielded legendary players such as Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies, centre Ray Gravell, Welsh sprint champion John James Williams, and John Peter Rhys Williams—whom almost became Wales best tennis player before playing rugby.

The Red Dragons in this time won five championship titles, five Triple Crowns and three Grand Slams.  They had an 80% winning record against all Five Nations teams over this time; with the exception of France—themselves a brilliant team over this period—but they still won six of ten games against the Tri colours in this time.  They recorded 32 wins in this decade, for a 73% overall winning record.

We know the exploits and the players of the current Welsh team.  Players such as Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Martyn Williams and Gavin Henson form a world class team.

We could judge the Welsh on the decade since 2000—but a record of 47 wins and 53 losses does not make for greatness.  In 1999 under Graham Henry the Welsh had a sparkling year, defeating England at Wembley to spoil their Five Nations party, beating France in Paris for the first time in 24 years, and recording their only ever victory over the Springboks in 93 years of attempts.

One solid comparison of the current and Welsh side of seventies—world rugby was very strong, as it was then it is now.  France, Ireland, and England; despite their issues, can still beat any other Six Nations team, and the All Blacks and Springboks are as overwhelming now as they were then.

So this leads to see who is the stronger of the two Welsh teams.  To be fair, this current Welsh side would need to win another Grand Slam or even World Cup in the next four years.

But to really call themselves the greatest, they need to do two things even Gareth Edwards and his lads could not do.  Winning back to back Six Nations with Slams would go a long way.

But, of 11 games lost by the great 1970’s side, six defeats were inflicted by the All Blacks—the same number of defeats inflicted by the Men in Black over Wales this millennium.

Overturn history, and beat the top two teams of the world—and then let the comparisons begin.

The English young guns of the Guinness Premiership stuttered this weekend in the Anglo-Welsh Cup as the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, the Scarlets, and the Dragons gained the upper hand in round one. However, the disappointment of a weekend of near misses for the English sides was tempered by the dynamic and encouraging performance of the next generation of English rugby players against the seasoned pros of the Welsh sides.

The match of the weekend came at the Liberty stadium as the defending champions, the Ospreys, played host to Harlequins. The 24-23 victory for the Ospreys was only confirmed in the dying moments of the game, despite the valiant efforts of the likes of Tom Williams, Mark Lambert, and Charlie Amesbury.

The next generation of Harlequins will take heart from such a performance against an Ospreys side packed with seasoned internationals.

This generation gap was also apparent in the match between Saracens and the Scarlets, with the likes of Alex Goode, Noah Cato, and Owen Farrell—the 17-year-old son of Andy Farrell—all featuring for the Saracens. The Scarlets used all their experience with southern hemisphere recruits Kees Meeuws and David Lyons touching down, and Stephen Jones booting the Scarlets to what was, in the end, a decent 26-17 win.

Sale’s nail biting 18-17 loss to a last minute try against the Cardiff Blues was made even worse for Phillipe Saint-Andre by the news of Oriol Ripol’s broken arm in the closing stages of the match. The largely second string Sale string pushed the creaking Blues team to the edge in the early stages, however, as the match wore on, the Blues’ superior fitness and experience came to the fore.

The final Anglo-Welsh clash of the round came on a dreary Friday night in the North-East as player-coach Colin Charvis came off the bench to put in a man-of-match performance for the Dragons against Newcastle. The Falcons missed the mastery of Wilkinson, as the Dragons ground out an important 25-14 win.

The Welsh regions weren’t the only teams to profit from the weekend’s rugby, with wins for Worcester, Leicester, Gloucester, and Northampton against fellow Guinness Premiership sides. Gloucester ensured that Wasps' miserable start to the season continued with a narrow 24-19.

The lack of a certain young English fly-half in the Wasps ranks allowed another young fly-half, Ryan Lamb, to take the limelight and earn back some of the plaudits after a series of flaky early season displays. However, it was fullback Willie Walker who shone as he scored 16 of his side’s 24 points.

Worcester showed how abrasive they can be as they ground out an impressive 22-5 victory against London Irish. The Exiles looked all at sea as their much-changed side failed to cope with a Worcester side largely unchanged from their Premiership exploits the week before. Miles Benjamin, the England U20, grabbed a brace of tries in a performance which showed intent from the Warriors—a team to watch for the remainder of the competition.

Northampton’s first season back in the Premiership has so far been a success, and their strong squad ensured a comfortable win against a Bristol team already struggling in the Premiership. An ill-tempered game which saw five sin binnings, also saw seven tries as both sides went all out, however, it was Northampton who came out on top with a 30-17 victory.

The final game of the round saw last year’s defeated finalists Leicester come from behind to record a 15-19 victory against Bath. Leicester’s South African fly-half, Derick Hougaard, marked his debut with a haul of 14 points, with a 70th minute drop goal to seal the victory.

The first round threw up some enthralling performances—just the right way to whet the appetite before the Heineken Cup kicks off!