Okay so it has been a while since I last posted, but I feel that after yesterday's game I can finally put an objective post that best describes Welsh Rugby at the end of 2011. A lot has happened since our joyous victory over Ireland, and not all of it for the good. So, I feel that in response to everything that has happened in the past two months, a 5-point list is needed to go through everything that we have learned in 2011. Here we go:
1) We are a top 5 international side, lets tell ourselves this. Yes our performance in the World Cup was probably the best bar that of the hosts', but we should take it one step at a time. We were unlucky against the French, but our performances against Australia at the World Cup and yesterday tell a much bigger story. We can argue that our Semi Final took it out of us for the play off match, and that we were fatigued and affected by Shane's last game yesterday in Cardiff. But can we use that as an excuse? Australia were battered after their Semi, and hadn't played in 5 weeks except for their win over the Barbarians a week ago. Wales looked overawed in both games, and failed to play with the grit and consistency that took them past all others at the World Cup. We need to tell ourselves we are as good as the top teams, in order to beat them.
2) Either Rolland was wrong, or the rules are not clear enough. I have seen plenty of dangerous tackles made on the pitch whilst being a spectator, and in terms of Warburton's tackle on diminutive French winger Clerc, there have been far worse, even during the World Cup itself. Lets check out the facts. Warburton is a number 7, weighing upwards of 16 stone, and is a monster when the ball is around. Clerc is a number 14, weighing 3 stone less than Warburton, and is known to be fleet of foot. It was a mismatch, Warburton took him hard, but ultimately fair, and nature did the rest. It was unlucky for Wales, but their performance with 14 was admirable, even Thierry Dusautoir admitted the French were "lucky" to go through. But it shouldn't have been a case of unlucky Wales. Alain Rolland got it wrong/right depending on what shirt you wore, but the consensus is that in light of the circumstances, it should NOT have been a red card. The letter of the law is complicated. Yesterday Scott Williams made a crunching tackle on James O'Connor, tipping him off his feet. However, the landing was far more controlled, not due to Williams controlling O'Connor, but because the players are virtually identical in size and weight, meaning nature was no factor, and therefore letting O'Connor off lightly. This is where the rules need clarifying, and common sense needs to apply.
3) We will miss Shane, but what a way to go. We might have lost yesterday, but his last try in the final minute couldn't have been more sublime, and a fitting end to his international fairytale. And it summed up everything that made him a fantastic player. He didn't have one of his most dazzling, rip roaring displays, but he was there, in the 81st minute, to plonk the ball over the line with aplomb, and send everyone in Cardiff, on the pitch, and in my case, at home in front of the TV, into raptures. The emotion on his face said it all, and his record of 85 games played and 58 tries scored is one of the best in world rugby. And that's how it should stay. I think Shane could carry on, possibly for another 4 years, but why should he? His career is glittering, and he has nothing to gain from carrying on. The torch has been passed on, and now we have an exciting future in the likes of George North, Alex Cuthbert, Morgan Stoddart, and Leigh Halfpenny.
4) We need our best players to play at all times. We missed Mike Philips, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones and Jonathan Davies yesterday. Yes some were unavoidable through injury, but we need our overseas players to be able to be available whenever we need them. We do have a good squad, the likes of Scott and Lloyd Williams, Ian Evans, and Scott Andrews all getting a good run out yesterday, but they are not our starters yet, and while our squad is in transition, we need our experienced guys out there.
5) Don't fix what isn't broke. All our coaches could have left or not be resigned after the World Cup, but why change a happy family? Everyone was happy to stay, and the WRU did the right thing in getting everyone signed back up until at least the next World Cup. This continuation is vital in furthering our squads potential, and is very good business on the part of the WRU, who are showing the RFU how it should be done. I don't think there is a Welshman who knows that Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards, two of our most prominent coaches, are from New Zealand and England respectively anymore.
So, there is everything to take away from 2011, not all positive, but we can tell ourselves that this year has stood out meteorically as our finest in decades. And what next for us? Well there is the 6 Nations in February, and though France will be many people's favourites, the Welsh will not be too far away in people's estimations. Truly, it will really give us an indication of where we are at, without the momentum and the glory of the World Cup. Then we will see how we stack up against the best.
Have a fantastic end to the year, and lets roar our Welsh boys on in 2012.
Dewch ar Cymru!
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