The Future's Bright, The Future's Red
Apologies, for whatever reason the post I made on Thursday isn't showing up on this page, so here it is again.
The future of Welsh rugby is in safe hands. I wandered down to Aberavon tonight to watch the Welsh U-19's play the French U-19's in a Grandslam and Six Nations decider. Now I can't remember the last time I was down in Aberavon by choice, but it was damn worth it.
Wales won by thirty points and didn't concede a try. Although the French are notoriously bad travellers, it would have been difficult for the Welsh senior side to beat their younger counterparts on this night. They played with pace and width, doing the hard, unforgiving work that is necessary for any set of backs to flourish. Only three of the senior side are actually bigger than their U-19 equivalent so I was told down there, which says something about the ability and size Wales possesses in the younger age groups. With an U-19 Grandslam achieved this year and an U-21 Grandslam last year (they only lost once this year aswell) to go with the Senior side's, Wales isn't short of talent. Nor has that ever been the case. Unfortunately the continued issue has been the regions' ability to turn this potential international goldmine into gold. With the Scarlets recently buying a Scottish international lock, the question has to be: Why on earth are they not blooding these youngsters?
The excuse of this being a results orientated business simply does not wash. Only the Scarlets have a chance of winning anything this year, and that comes in a cup competition. So why don't the Scarlets give their 9 U-19 players a run out in a few games? Why doesn't Turner give his 10 U-19 players, including four of the U-19 backline who have been at times sublime during the Six Nations, a chance in a team that has massively underperformed? Same goes for the 7 Blues and the 2 Ospreys. From what was on show at Aberavon tonight, the second rows could easily play for the Wales senior side within a year or two, why not invite them to train with the squad for a week, or even take them on the summer tour of Argentina? The trouble seems to be the regions are afraid to blood players, there is this fear they will somehow become damaged or under-perform, possibly lose their confidence. Either that or it's a money thing, yet Cardiff happily shell out for Lomu, Rush and others, whilst the Ospreys bring in South Africans and a host of New Zealanders. Both reasons seem pathetic and to which I say: This is rugby. The New Zealand U-19 captain and openside in 1999 was Richie McCaw. TWO years later he made his full All Blacks debut against Ireland whilst only 20, he was man of the match that day and is now hands-down the best No 7 in the world. A lesson learned? You'd like to think so, but there is no sign that 'those in the know' have woken up to the sheer riches they have.
On other rugby matters I've been trying to think of something to say about Andy Robinson's panic button reaction in the changes he has made. First of all he hasn't really changed the personnel, secondly he's given into Charlie Hodgson's request to play a footballing inside-centre except Hodgson is injured and they've picked a tugboat of an outside half who is known for ... kicking the ball and who happens to play with Ireland's fullback, hmmm I smell a stalemate. Third and finally, I hope Andy Robinson keeps getting a vote of confidence from the ERFU because he is the real problem they have and the longer he and his useless coaching staff are in their jobs, the more likely everyone is to beat England, shame that.
The Commonwealth Games, what is up with that? How can a competition for mainly amateur athletes involve professional rugby players? How can teams be allowed to draft in international XV players just for this tournament, especially during the Six Nations when certain countries are at a distinct disadvantage? I love sevens, more the watching than the playing now, but it really isn't what these games are about to me.
Finally it seems certain the Six Nations will go out with a whimper rather than a war cry this weekend, with all three games played back-to-back it's going to be a tough day on the couch, cold beers in hand. However, ever since this end of tournament three-consecutive-game blast for TV, England have always played last - the BBC showing bias? Of course not, that's just conspiracy talk. The ideal results would of course be Wales beat France, Ireland trounce England and Italy beat Scotland, leaving Ireland top, France second and Wales third above Scotland and then England. However the head says France to win a tight game (waits for the 100 points to inevitably occur now), England to have too much for Ireland and Scotland to win their largest number of games in god knows how long. See you at the finish line (the bar for those interested ;))
The future of Welsh rugby is in safe hands. I wandered down to Aberavon tonight to watch the Welsh U-19's play the French U-19's in a Grandslam and Six Nations decider. Now I can't remember the last time I was down in Aberavon by choice, but it was damn worth it.
Wales won by thirty points and didn't concede a try. Although the French are notoriously bad travellers, it would have been difficult for the Welsh senior side to beat their younger counterparts on this night. They played with pace and width, doing the hard, unforgiving work that is necessary for any set of backs to flourish. Only three of the senior side are actually bigger than their U-19 equivalent so I was told down there, which says something about the ability and size Wales possesses in the younger age groups. With an U-19 Grandslam achieved this year and an U-21 Grandslam last year (they only lost once this year aswell) to go with the Senior side's, Wales isn't short of talent. Nor has that ever been the case. Unfortunately the continued issue has been the regions' ability to turn this potential international goldmine into gold. With the Scarlets recently buying a Scottish international lock, the question has to be: Why on earth are they not blooding these youngsters?
The excuse of this being a results orientated business simply does not wash. Only the Scarlets have a chance of winning anything this year, and that comes in a cup competition. So why don't the Scarlets give their 9 U-19 players a run out in a few games? Why doesn't Turner give his 10 U-19 players, including four of the U-19 backline who have been at times sublime during the Six Nations, a chance in a team that has massively underperformed? Same goes for the 7 Blues and the 2 Ospreys. From what was on show at Aberavon tonight, the second rows could easily play for the Wales senior side within a year or two, why not invite them to train with the squad for a week, or even take them on the summer tour of Argentina? The trouble seems to be the regions are afraid to blood players, there is this fear they will somehow become damaged or under-perform, possibly lose their confidence. Either that or it's a money thing, yet Cardiff happily shell out for Lomu, Rush and others, whilst the Ospreys bring in South Africans and a host of New Zealanders. Both reasons seem pathetic and to which I say: This is rugby. The New Zealand U-19 captain and openside in 1999 was Richie McCaw. TWO years later he made his full All Blacks debut against Ireland whilst only 20, he was man of the match that day and is now hands-down the best No 7 in the world. A lesson learned? You'd like to think so, but there is no sign that 'those in the know' have woken up to the sheer riches they have.
On other rugby matters I've been trying to think of something to say about Andy Robinson's panic button reaction in the changes he has made. First of all he hasn't really changed the personnel, secondly he's given into Charlie Hodgson's request to play a footballing inside-centre except Hodgson is injured and they've picked a tugboat of an outside half who is known for ... kicking the ball and who happens to play with Ireland's fullback, hmmm I smell a stalemate. Third and finally, I hope Andy Robinson keeps getting a vote of confidence from the ERFU because he is the real problem they have and the longer he and his useless coaching staff are in their jobs, the more likely everyone is to beat England, shame that.
The Commonwealth Games, what is up with that? How can a competition for mainly amateur athletes involve professional rugby players? How can teams be allowed to draft in international XV players just for this tournament, especially during the Six Nations when certain countries are at a distinct disadvantage? I love sevens, more the watching than the playing now, but it really isn't what these games are about to me.
Finally it seems certain the Six Nations will go out with a whimper rather than a war cry this weekend, with all three games played back-to-back it's going to be a tough day on the couch, cold beers in hand. However, ever since this end of tournament three-consecutive-game blast for TV, England have always played last - the BBC showing bias? Of course not, that's just conspiracy talk. The ideal results would of course be Wales beat France, Ireland trounce England and Italy beat Scotland, leaving Ireland top, France second and Wales third above Scotland and then England. However the head says France to win a tight game (waits for the 100 points to inevitably occur now), England to have too much for Ireland and Scotland to win their largest number of games in god knows how long. See you at the finish line (the bar for those interested ;))
posted by Owen at
7:44 PM
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