Success or bust? The return of Michael Schumacher

When Michael Schumacher announced he would be returning to Formula One in December 2009, the motor-racing community didn’t react with quite the enthrallment that would be expected of the sport’s statistically most successful racer coming back for a final hurrah. After all, sport has seen many comebacks fail to live up to the hype. The iconic swimmer Ian Thorpe’s attempts to qualify for London 2012 spring to mind, as well as tennis legend Bjorn Borg failing to win any of his 12 matches in his 1991 comeback. Some have been more successful, like Michael Jordan returning in 1995 from an ill-fated spell in Minor League Baseball to lead the Chicago Bulls to three championships from 1996-98, and George Foreman returning after a ten-year absence from boxing to become the oldest World Heavyweight Champion in history at the tender age of 45, but what would a return hold for “Schumi”? Now that he has once again announced he will retire after the Brazilian Grand Prix in a week’s time, it seems appropriate to try and answer that very question.

Michael Schumacher is waving good-bye to Formula One once again at the end of the season

The 2010 season saw Schumacher mired in mediocrity, struggling to out-perform his team-mate Nico Rosberg. It was also the first season ever in which he had failed to finish on the podium, with a race victory, a pole position or fastest lap. Though continuing his working relationship with Ross Brawn, the technical mastermind behind his five successive titles at Ferrari from 2000-2005, the Mercedes he was in never seemed to suit his racing style. Though both cars were designed for different racers (Schumacher’s was designed initially for Jenson Button before he left for McLaren, and Rosberg’s for Rubens Barrichello who moved to Williams), Rosberg seemed to cope better with the Mercedes’ set-up, and as a result led to Schumacher finishing in 9th position in the drivers’ standings, two places behind Rosberg. His failings that year brought the first murmurs from people that he was “past it”, though former-world champion and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso did state “he will always be super-class. If the car is right, he will be a contender that we will fear the most.”

2011 was marginally more successful for Schumacher, with strong performances including a 4th place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix and two 5th place finishes in Belgium and Italy. Also at the Japanese Grand Prix, he become the oldest driver since Jack Brabham in 1970 to lead a race, the first time he had led a lap since the same race in 2006. He ended up finishing the season in 8th place, a one place improvement on the previous year. Nevertheless, he still finished the season behind Rosberg, and there were signs that Schumacher was becoming more and more disgruntled in the sport The revelation from Brawn that there was a “break-clause” in Schumacher’s contract allowing him to walk away at the end of 2011, a year shy of the three year contract agreed, plus rumours of Mercedes trying to negotiate a contract with Red Bull Racing’s reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel for a 2012 drive, added fuel to the fire of Schumacher’s imminent departure. This never materialised though, and Schumacher added himself at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix “I have always said it’s a three-year programme, and that’s what it is”.

This season though has been somewhat of an unmitigated disaster for Schumacher. With one race left, he is lying 15th in the drivers’ standings, a whopping 50 points and seven places behind Rosberg, and over 200 points behind leader Vettel. Though this is quite clearly dreadful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Schumacher has actually put in some of the best races of his return this year, but the luck has not fallen his way, with numerous mechanical failures and accidents leading to him retiring from seven races this season. In the first race in Australia, he was running third until a gear-box failure retired his car. The following race in Malaysia he qualified third but finished 10th after being hit from behind by Renault’s Romain Grosjean on the first lap. In China, he locked out the front-row with Rosberg, starting second, but had to retire after a mechanic failed to secure a wheel properly in the pits. Rosberg went onto win his first ever Grand Prix and Mercedes’ first since 1955. He then qualified on Pole for the first time in his comeback at Monaco, only for a gearbox change from the previous outing in Bahrain leading to a five-place grid penalty, eventually starting him sixth. Finally though he had some reward, after a chaotic European Grand Prix, a collision between Pastor Maldonado’s Williams and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton a lap from the end meant that he overtook both, finishing in 3rd. This led to him becoming the oldest driver since Brabham to achieve a podium placed finish. That was where Schumacher’s luck deserted him completely though, and it was announced in September that he would be replaced by Hamilton, leading to him announcing his retirement in October, stating “There were times in the past few months in which I didn’t want to deal with Formula One or prepare for the next Grand Prix”.

Schumacher standing on the podium in Valencia this year. The only time he achieved a podium-place in his comeback

So what went wrong? Well at the initial age of 41, many, including motorsport legends Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart, claimed that Schumacher wasn’t going to be at peak physical condition for a return to a sport that places the human body under enormous strain. This was summed up before he’d even stepped foot into a Formula One car again, as his return was actually delayed. He had initially signed up to replace a severely injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari for part of the 2009 season, but failed fitness tests due to a neck injury. Though the neck issue was resolved well enough for him to return to compete full time for Mercedes, concerns that he was just simply too old to recapture his old form of seven world title wins never went away.

The team he joined also was a shadow of its former self. The previous year they had won the driver and constructor championships, under the guise of Brawn GP, with Button and Barrichello at the wheels. But behind the scenes, the team was still reeling from parent owners Honda pulling out of the sport, leading to major cut-backs and redundancies. As a result, never, apart from at China this season, has Mercedes ever looked like challenging the front-runners (Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari), and has often spent most of its time fighting in the midfield.

So is this a real fall from grace? Andrew Benson, the BBC’s chief Formula One correspondent believes this isn’t the case. “Schumacher was one of the very greatest (drivers) there has ever been. And nothing that has happened in the past 3 years can take that away”. Though it has not been the glittering ending to the career the Schumacher envisaged, or had when he initially stepped away, his achievements on the race-track are still unparalleled. The sport will miss Schumi, but maybe this time, the feelings won’t be quite as mutual.

The Expansion of Sport

We’re fresh off the back of another successful regular season NFL game being played in London, this time with the New England Patriots pummelling the St Louis Rams 45-7 in a one-sided contest. But, with this being the sixth time since 2007 that the NFL has staged a game on our shores, what is the obsession with the expansion of national sports?

This year saw record breaking numbers attend Wembley to watch the Patriots and Rams do battle. Though featuring a franchise that is broadly known in this country (the Patriots, mainly thanks to superstar quarterback Tom Brady, and the fact that they are the most successful franchise of the 21st century), obviously helps boost the popularity of the match, it isn't the first time they have played here. In 2009, they entertained the Malcolm Glazer owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a similarly uneven contest. Therefore, the high turnout this year has re-affirmed the belief of many of the suits in the NFL that England just simply can’t get enough of the game, despite it apparently being only the joint seventh most popular sport here, on a par with darts. The belief is so sure that there are two games pencilled in for next year, with the Minnesota Vikings clashing with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have signed a contract to play one game at Wembley until 2016, take on the San Francisco 49ers. This will be a real test of whether or not the game has “taken off” over here, but with three of the four teams new to London, it will give a chance to fans of those franchises to come down and experience a game first hand. Gaining a wider fan base is one reason for the NFL’s expansion, but another is money. Currently, the NFL is a $9 billion business, with revenue coming purely from the States. However, to turn it into a $20 billion business, then global expansion, and revenue, is necessary. Just like all businesses, the NFL is always going to be looking at ways to increase their revenue, and by taking the sport to England, it is the most logical way of them doing just that.

It’s not just American football that is trying to expand from a national to international scale. European Rugby Union is also trying to do the same thing. Recently, London-based club Saracens took on Parisian side Racing Metro in a Heineken Cup match at King Baudouin Stadium in the Belgian capital of Brussels. It was the first time that a top-level rugby match had ever been played in Brussels, and was seen as a “stepping-stone” to the continued usage of a developing country’s stadium as a ground in a Heineken Cup tie. With many European countries slowly taking up the sport more, including Belgium, Spain and Portugal to name but a few, the idea is to have these countries host top-level matches as a way to increasing the games popularity there. Expansion of the game is not stopping at Europe though, with the Rugby Union World Cup taking place in Japan in 2019, and with Russia and even Jamaica both registering interest in hosting the event in the future, rugby looks set to truly go global in the next decade or so.

Naturally, there are those that disagree with the degree of expansion being seen at the moment. When the infamous “Game 39” of the English Premier League was first mentioned, fans were quick to slate the idea, mortified with the thought of their favourite teams playing a supposed “home” match in a foreign country. Even though football is a truly global game, Premier League chiefs were very hot on taking a game overseas. Nevertheless, due to fan discontent the idea was never really allowed to get going, and after many years of it being dug up from the ground for month or two each year, it seems to be dead in the water for now at least. In fact, if it’s revenue that drives the need for expansion, it is often the fans that are the people who fight against it. The NFL are highly unlikely to give the “home” game to a team with a strong following or good record back in the States, such as the Green Bay Packers or the Baltimore Ravens. Before the Jaguars’ tenure at Wembley started, the NFL used to pick teams who were struggling for home attendances to give up the “home” game, due to the understanding that the fans and franchises alike would be upset if they were a successful home team having to give up that game. Even the perennially travelling Saracens team’s fans were sceptical about the game in Brussels, saying that due to them constantly moving (while they await the completion of the new Allianz Park in Barnet) and having such a small fan-base anyway, it just didn't make sense for them to be hosting games abroad. It really is turning into a tug of war between the owners of clubs who need to keep the money rolling in to stay competitive and the fans who desperately want to stop losing any chances to keep the team their own. The difference is that the fans now understand that expansion really is the main way of staying competitive, and have to let go the chance to see their beloved teams play as often in order to ensure that they keep winning trophies and having renewed success on the pitch.

With the great successes of the NFL’s invasion of the UK and of rugby’s progress across the globe, it appears that expansion of national sport is not only going to be around for the foreseeable future, but also that it is largely a success for those that persist. It’s the age where the club is no longer just that, instead, it is a corporate entity. Money is driving the success of many clubs, particularly in football with Manchester City and Chelsea, and in rugby with Toulon. The NFL has this slightly under more control with the draft system enabling less successful teams to remain competitive, but franchises still strive for that little bit more to help give them an advantage their rivals. Expansion provides the foundation on which money can be bought in easily and quickly. Those that succeed will have the edge in this day and age. One certainty is then that while the potential for expansion is there, it will be exploited by those who can.

Media Overload

You may have noticed that things have been a bit "quiet on the western front" as far as my blog is concerned. Never fear, here comes not one BUT two posts wrapped into one lovely thread. This won't take much explaining, and the sharp-eyed among you may have noticed the title of the blog. We are interactive today!

First, we have a podcast asking the question, are we as a nation "in it when we win it"? My team of reporters, Samuel Rowntree and Danny Butterwick, set about putting that question to some people in the know, and the whole thing is tied together by the dulcet tones of Rob Britton. The producer, ah well that is a rather dashing chap - me!

Second, we have a video package detailing whether or not American Football has finally "taken off" in the UK, in response to the regular season NFL game taking place at Wembley last Sunday. All those curious people out there will finally get to see me in the flesh, though not too much fortunately, as I am the chief reporter. My team of camera and sound men were Danny, Travis Sumner, and George Preece, and the whole package was wonderfully produced and edited by Samuel and Rob.

I hope you enjoy both these new bits of media, and let me know what you think!

Are we as a nation 'in it when we win it'? Golf and Tennis podcast by SSRsportJournalist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WefSUt6RVLE

Cheats and Injuries

So this post is going to be a little different. Due to me being out of town this weekend, I basically caught next to no sport, though I did get through all the results. So, instead of doing my "weekly rundown", I am going to go through the biggest story of the week: The findings of the Lance Armstrong case. On top of that, I will also be assessing how the Baltimore Ravens can cope with the season-long loss of two key defensive players. Hope you enjoy!

Armstrong - Now I just want to put out there that for me, the focal point of my youth while watching the Tour de France was Armstrong. Regardless of the allegations bought against him, I will always accredit him with keeping me hooked into the sport, as will many other people of my generation. I think it is also important to separate the doping allegations from his work that he's done for cancer awareness and prevention. This week I have seen numerous "hashtags" on Twitter and words in the press from journalists I respect playing on the name of his foundation: Livestrong. These include "LieStrong" "LiveWrong" etc. The man may be a cheat/liar whatever, but to tar his foundation which has actually helped to save people's lives with the same brush is nonsensical and unjust.

Back to the story at hand then. For Armstrong to say that he wasn't going to contend the charges was an admission of guilt in it's own right. Though he never failed a drugs test (without being able to back it up with a doctor's prescription) during his career, doping allegations followed Armstrong around like a bad smell. So when the USADA (the US anti-doping agency) bought the charges against him earlier this year, it seemed that they'd finally "got their man". But I think this is the whole problem with the case.

I'm not going to use this forum to say that I don't think Armstrong is guilty or use it to throw out a wanton or controversial opinion. But I do think, and will say, that the way the USADA went about their findings into Armstrong are backhanded and unjustifiable. Much like the US Postal Team that they dubbed "ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program sport has seen", they have come undone by their own flaws. 

First of all, I want to take this away from cycling, and bring it to athletics. Justin Gatlin, American 100m sprinter, and bronze medal winner at the London 2012 Olympic games, has failed not one, but two drugs tests during his lengthy career, and as a result been banned twice. First in 2001 for two years for testing positive for amphetamines. Secondly in 2006 due to a positive test for "testosterone or its precursor". After both cases, he point blank denied the allegations, and looked for ways to blame anyone but himself. Instead of receiving a life-time ban for his second doping offence, he initially was served an eight year ban, which eventually was halved in 2007 to just four years. A small price to pay if you ask me for a man that knows the rules, yet broke them multiple times and then looked for scapegoats when he was caught ashen-faced and red-handed. The amount of leniency the USADA showed to Gatlin was remarkable and incredulous. It's no wonder that to this day, many American athletes are still knowingly pumping themselves full of illegal drugs to enhance their abilities. Some of you reading this might go now then "Ah, but Armstrong has received a life-time ban, surely that's the USADA learning from their mistakes and making their punishments more severe". Yes, Armstrong has been banned for life. But let's look at the other dopers mentioned in the case that all come under the USADA's jurisdiction:

Floyd Landis - Winner of the Tour de France in 2006, subsequently stripped of title after posting an "abnormally high rate of testosterone" in a urine sample after Stage 17 of that Tour. Banned for two years from 2007, but denied all charges until 2010, when he admitted to cheating, and stated that other members of USPS, including Armstrong, continually doped. No further action has been bought against Landis to date.

Tom Danielson, Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Christian Vandevelde and David Zabriskie- All banned for 6 months from September 2012 for admitting to doping while on the USPS team, again saying that Armstrong doped while there. 

So the differences are then that if you dope, but tell on someone else for doing the exact same thing as you, you will receive a far less severe punishment, even if you tried to feebly maintain your innocence for years before hand, then suddenly had a change of heart... Makes perfect sense right? Phil Liggett, ITV's long-term Tour commentator, though daft is his fierce maintenance that Armstrong didn't dope, has somewhat of a point when he accused the USADA of putting Armstrong on a "pedestal high above all the other riders". Not only this, but again it shows that the USADA is far too lenient when it comes to handing out suspensions for doping. It should be black and white, so much so that I'm going to give what I'm about to say a whole line to itself:

If you dope, regardless of the circumstances, and you get caught, you should be banned from your profession for life.

Armstrong deserves his suspension, and all the abuse that he is getting from all corners of the world for lying and deceiving his way to multiple Tour wins. But so do the rest of the riders who dope/have doped. One man that is not a rider, but deserves all the fury that is directed his way is the recently departed Team RadioShack-Nissan boss Johan Bruyneel, who cowardly didn't show up at the 2012 Tour due to the forthcoming allegations. He was the mastermind behind the doping program at not only USPS, but later the Discovery Channel team. If Bruyneel is not convicted for his involvement, then the sport will be in an even greater state of disarray than it is now. 

So to sum up then. Armstrong is a cheat, yes. The lifetime ban imposed on him as well the stripping of all his race results is a just punishment for his years of deceit. But the USADA have let slip a chance to really solve the doping cloud that hangs over cycling by not taking harsher action on those riders who have not only been caught cheating, but also admitting their guilt. The fact that the report also called those riders "courageous" is an insult to all the riders who are clean, and have never needed EPO to make it to the top of their profession. Lets just hope they don't put their feet in it even more by giving Armstrong's wins away to other riders who have been caught cheating as well (Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich etc). This was a chance for a real corner to be turned in the history of pro-cycling. However, I fear that incompetence by the anti-doping bodies has ruined the real chance for all sports, not just cycling, to be drug-free.

Baltimore Ravens defensive woes continue - So this was the big news for me of the weekend. Though the Ravens are 5-1, and top of their division, the performances of late have left a lot of people, me included, cause for concern. Now the latest turn of events could really determine what kind of team the Ravens are. Coming off the back of a lucky (according to Joe Flacco) win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was the news that the main man in the middle of defense Ray Lewis is out for the season with a torn tricep. On top of this was the almost as bad news that in the same game, starting cornerback Ladarius Webb is also out for the season with a torn ACL. 

Now in terms of form, Webb's injury on paper looks to be the biggest concern for the Ravens. Already this year, he had achieved one forced-fumble, one interception and 25 tackles. With questions raised over second stater Cary Williams and whether or not he would be replaced by first-round pick from 2011 Jimmy Smith, suddenly they're both going have to step up their game. Williams responded after a mauling against the New England Patriots with a pick-six against the the Cleveland Browns, but he will have to improve his consistency with Webb now gone. Smith on the other hand has not quite seen his draft potential flourish yet, having seen the third-round pick from 2009 Webb keep him out. This is his chance though to stake a starter spot in the future with the Ravens still seemingly headed for the play-offs at least. Third choice now is going to be Corey Graham, who was signed from the Chicago Bears in March after a Pro-Bowl season last year. This again provides him with an ample opportunity to see more defensive game time, as well as trying to push for a regular starting spot next year. 

As well all know, games aren't played on paper, and for me, the biggest concern is seeing THE best middle linebacker in the history of the game Ray Lewis gone. After 17 years, you have to wonder if this could have been his swan-song, and whether or not he will return. When he was drafted in 1996, he didn't just become a member of the Ravens, he became the Ravens. He embodies everything that the team try and fight for, and is the emotional leader on defense. Though this year it seemed that father-time might have been catching up with the veteran, having seen him lose weight over the off-season and in turn not having the same devastating power he has had, it is still no question that his loss is about as bad as it could have got for the Ravens. Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayenbadejo will now fight it out between them to fill Lewis' big boots, but it might be a job that both of them combined won't be able to do. Though there is no doubt that Lewis will be there pumping up the team for game-day, his presence on the field will be sorely missed. One has to wonder if it is the end of an era for the Ravens, but as the great man himself will tell you, he'll never say never.

Next week should bring about the return of the more normal format of my blog, so until then, I hope you all enjoyed reading, and thanks for your continued support.  

The Blues

I am currently writing this with a head full of Lemsip/flu tablets/coffee and a tissue box within reach. Seems like the flu can reach us all eventually. Baring that in mind, I was hoping for an exciting Sunday in which I could settle down in my room, and be entertained from the start of the Japanese Grand Prix at 7 am, which I just about managed to wake up from my comatose state for, until the end of the Ravens vs Chiefs game a full  14 hours later. Needless to say, things didn't quite go to plan...

F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Okay we shall start here, although this wasn't technically the start of my sports viewing week. Having pulled myself out of my bed, I trudged downstairs and made a Lemsip before the start of the parade lap. Hoping for more excitement than the Singapore Grand Prix, I was not disappointed. Yet again, Romain Grosjean was in the thick of the action on the first-lap, taking out Mark Webber with an ill-judged sweep into turn 2, clattering into the Aussie's Red Bull. After the race, the pragmatic Webber came out with another golden quote, this time labelling Grosjean a "first-lap nut case". He has a point though, it was the 7th time that Grosjean had been involved in a first-lap collision, and it appears that even his one race ban from the insane move he pulled at Spa has not changed his reckless, gung-ho mentality. Nico Rosberg also was an unfortunate victim of this battle, his race lasting just 22 seconds, something he humorously pointed out in his video blog after the race. However, the first-lap's biggest talking point was from an incident far less controversial, but far more significant in terms of the championship. Fernando Alonso retired after seemingly collecting a puncture from a passive Kimi Raikkonen's front wing, and as a result span on the very first corner. How no-one managed to plow into his prone Ferrari pays testament to F1 drivers' lightning reactions (unless you're Rosberg...), but for Alonso, the damage had already been done. With Vettel inevitably winning from pole, the Spaniard's lead now stands at just 4 points. With a car that isn't in the same league as the Red Bull's, McLaren's, and dare I say the Lotus', he will struggle to top the standings for much longer I feel. For once, it was the other Ferrari driver left to reap the rewards of Alonso's failure to finish. Felipe Massa, along with Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi, produced drives yesterday that might just secure their seats going into 2013. Massa finished second and on the podium for the first time since Korea in 2010. To be fair, it was the end result of a renewed  sense of belief in the Brazilian, having seen his performances improve dramatically since the mid-season break. Kobayashi also gave his home fans something to smile about, coming home third after a tough battle with Jenson Button, just holding him off before the finish. It was Japan's third driver to be on the podium since Takuma Sato at Indianapolis in the 6 car race in 2004 and Aguri Suzuki at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix. With his team-mate Sergio Perez performing well enough over his two seasons in F1 to earn a drive at McLaren next year, and in the process outperforming Kobayashi, questions were being raised over his future. Nevertheless, I feel he has done enough to warrant a drive next year, and this podium finish should put to bed any doubts over his continued participation at Sauber.

Oh and just a word on Lewis Hamilton moving to Mercedes, and Michael Schumacher retiring. The move is good for both McLaren and Hamilton. Why? Hamilton became too big for his boots at McLaren, and has not been consistent enough to warrant such a lucrative contract that he was demanding. Also, he needed a change of scenery, and should feel more settled at a team that can cater more to his needs to be the number 1 driver (poor Rosberg... again). As for Schumi, he leaves (for good?) with his reputation still intact, and will still go down as the most successful F1 driver to date. Though I thought maybe he would go to Sauber, which Sauber wanted to happen, stepping out of the game now probably is the sensible course of action for a man that has been there and done that multiple times in his career. So we bid you adieu Michael, and long may your legacy live on.

Liverpool FC - It seems we're playing two games every week at the moment, this time a Europa League clash with Udinese on Thursday before playing our Premier League match against Stoke on Sunday. The Udinese game really encapsulated Liverpool's season to date. Great performance marred by several defensive lapses in concentration. Yet again our young players shone where our experienced individuals were found wanting. The best performance of the night belonged to Udinese's Antonio Di Natale however. His touch was impeccable, his finish for the first goal sublime, his work-rate unstoppable. He can be compared to a fine wine or a strong cheese: he has gotten better with age. How he remained at Udinese, who he effectively carried on his own for the whole match, for so long defies belief. Stick him at a league winning club, and he would still be the best player. I have a feeling that AC Milan may be enquiring into his availability before too long. Another loss at Anfield will only dent the confidence that the win at Norwich bought, but we had a chance to rectify that on Sunday...

Yet things never go to plan. The less said about the Stoke game the better. It was boring, tepid (insert similar adjectives here). For all our possession, we bought just two half decent saves from Asmir Begovic, both being 25-yard attempts from Gerrard and Johnson. Suarez's embarrassing dive in the box further made the game a farce, whereas Stoke seemed content with a point from the first whistle. 0-0, two points dropped at home, what more can I say?

Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs - And the afternoon didn't get much better. After a tight win vs the Browns, I expected a rejuvenated Ravens to capitalise on a weak Kansas City team. Even though the Chiefs turned the ball over 4 times, including a hilarious fumble 1-yard out from the Ravens end-zone, the Ravens failed to capitalise, with Joe Flacco throwing an interception of his own. In the end, both sides were limited to field goal attempts with the Ravens prevailing 9-6. It was the first time this season that the Ravens failed to get going on offense, and it bodes badly for us with sterner tests to come. This being said, a win is a win, and with us topping our conference with a 4-1 record, the playoffs become more and more realistic with every passing week. However, Ravens fans expect this as a minimum requirement, realistically, only a Championship game appearance will satisfy their needs. Coming into week 6, I rank the Ravens as the 3rd best team in the AFC, behind the Patriots and the Texans. Therefore, the Championship game would be a good achievement, though again I think the SuperBowl will be a step too far.

For me now then it's back to bed, hopefully I'll be back to full fitness by Wednesday! Thanks for reading, and hopefully next week will provide more entertainment.

The Good, The Greater and The Ugly

Hello sports-fans! Thanks for all the comments regarding last week's post. The main point I have taken into consideration is to make the blog a bit less like a commentary, and have more of a comment style going on. Again, all comments (barring offensive ones) are welcome, and feel free to suggest ways in which I could improve this for all! Anyway, lets crack on shall we?

Liverpool FC - So again, two games for Liverpool this week, starting with the Worthington Carling Capital One Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion. After being thumped 3-0 by them on the first day of the season, I was impressed how well our team of youngsters played against them. We recovered well from a dreadful start, and showed great maturity in hauling ourselves back into the game, albeit with a great hand from WBA 'keeper Ben Foster. Rodgers continues to put great faith into our young players, and it's paying dividends, with Suso, Oussama Assaidi and Andre Wisdom all knocking on the door for regular first team places, joining the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey. However the stand-out performer of the game for me was Nuri Sahin. I was heavily critical of him on his debut against Arsenal, saying that he had no right foot, and looked extremely short of match fitness. However, he's gone some way to proving me wrong since then, picking up two goals to help us seal our place in the next round of the cup. His vision and distribution was spot-on, and he manages to be in the right place at the right time to either pick up an assist or a goal. With Gerrard not getting any younger, surely if Sahin keeps this form up Rodgers should be looking to sign him at the end of the season?

On Sunday came our Premier League tie at Carrow Road against Norwich City. Searching for our first win of the domestic campaign, we couldn't have had it much easier. It looked like our sterling performance mid-week had served as a real confidence boost, and had injected even our senior players with a belief that we could still have a good season. Sahin, who now has three goals and three assists in four games, and Gerrard were dominant in midfield, barely putting a foot wrong. With Martin Kelly unfortunately being ruled out for six months with a torn ACL, Andre Wisdom also came in and put in a great performance at right-back. However, star of the match was the much maligned Luis Suarez. In securing his second hat-trick in as many games against Norwich, he showed that he can finish with as much aplomb as Van Persie or Torres (when on his game). One thing that will continue to haunt him is his reputation for going down softly in the penalty area, having been denied a clear stone-wall spot kick for the second game running. Even so, scoring five goals will certainly do a previously goal-shy Liverpool less harm than good, and the performance may be the catalyst to get our season finally up and running.

Ryder Cup 2012 - Wow, just wow. I tweeted with the scores at 10-10 that this could be a comeback of Istanbul 2005 proportions, and it didn't disappoint. After being provisionally 10-4 down on the Saturday, to think Europe won by 14.5 to 13.5 is almost unfathomable. There were some terrific performances on the final day, but to single one player out would be unfair on the others. It was team game, yet it was in the singles performances where Europe really excelled. Now I'm no "golfist", but this had me hooked all evening. I would defy anyone to say that they were bored while watching this, because it had everything that is required in a drama: Tension, hope, jubilation, and emotion. What did disappoint me most though were the USA fans in attendance. I feel that it is right to cheer your team on, it is the done thing. However, you should also be respectful to your opponents, something that the USA has a reputation for not being (Olazabal/Leonard 1999 anyone?). The booing at the end after Kaymer sunk the cup winning putt for Europe was nothing short of disgraceful. Fortunately, this did not carry to the players of the USA, who held themselves with grace and dignity. Bubba Watson and captain Davis Love III particularly were role-models in how to deal with defeat. As the USA dealt with the defeat, Europe's players were jubilant. The emotion at the end was something else, and I think that's why this Ryder Cup will live long in the memory. As a common theme, I think that that one was for you, Seve.

Baltimore Ravens vs the Cleveland Browns - First of all, I have to say it was great to see the real referees return for this match, the first after their lockout had ended. I was worried after Sunday and Monday's game that with the replacements not having any control on the games, something nasty was going to happen. Thankfully, after Monday's botched call between the Seahawks and the Packers (Google it if you don't know what it is), this was put right, and the reception they received at the M&T Bank Stadium was one of relief and heartfelt appreciation that they were back. Now for the game itself. So this was not a pretty win for the Ravens by any stretch of the imagination. Coming off an emotional and hard fought victory against the Patriots just 4 days previously, it was always going to be a lethargic performance, but the expectation of victory was still there. The Browns were very physical, going some way on defense to tearing apart the Ravens O-line. That said, when it mattered, the Ravens got it done, both on offense and defense. Joe Flacco looks more and more like a top tier quarterback with every game he plays, and with receivers like Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, it makes his job look even easier. At the end of the day, even if the Browns aren't one of the better teams we're going to face this year, it was still going to be one of our hardest test, and we came through it. Also at 3-1, our record looks very good heading into week 5, with some of the top teams around us faltering at the moment. Up next, the Kansas City Chiefs.

So there we have it for another week, I hope you enjoyed reading, and stay tuned for another post next week, where I will have more Liverpool and Baltimore Ravens coverage, plus another Grand Prix to cover!

The Emotional Weekend

Hello everyone, and welcome to the all-new and improved sports blog by yours truly!  With the new blog, I shall be covering any sports I have seen in the past 7 days, and then analyse and scrutinise it until I'm blue in the face. To get a better idea of the regular content, look at my previous post! Now without further ado, here is the first post.

The Emotional One.

This weekend has quite possibly been the most emotional of any sporting weekend I have ever been alive to witness. From Football, to the Grand Prix, to the USA, every event I saw had a deeply emotional back-drop. What it left me with though was a great sense that no matter what anybody says, sport brings people together. Whether it be as large as a nation, or as small as a family, sport, much like religion in some parts of the world, is something that people can turn to as a mutual common ground. It relieves burdens and promotes unity. All in all, sport is a wonderful tonic to life.

Liverpool FC - Fresh off the back of the Hillsborough Inquest findings that Liverpool fans were not to blame for the deaths of 96 of their own supporters in 1989, Liverpool have had their own tribulations on the pitch this year. Without a win domestically, and desperately short of attacking options, they look a shadow of not just the team of the halcyon days gone by, but the team of even five years ago. With two competitive fixtures this week, they had a lot to deal with. First off, a trip to Austria to play Young Boys in the Europa League group stage. In the first game of the campaign, it was vital that Liverpool got a win, and they delivered, just. Having led 1-0 through a comical early own-goal, then 2-1 at Half Time, Liverpool's young team were suddenly on the back foot just after the break, conceding two goals in quick succession to be 3-2 down. However, Young Boys tired, and Jonjo Shelvey scored a smart brace to eventually secure a 5-3 victory for the Reds. Though a vastly inexperienced side, there was still cause for concern, particularly with the defending from set-pieces. However, a win on the road was vital, and it'd be the result, not the scoreline or the game-play, that was most vital here.
Sunday then finally saw the most eagerly anticipated match of the season (as it still is in my opinion) between Liverpool and Manchester United. Talk pre-match was of respect in search of 'Justice for the 96'. Sir Alex Ferguson even wrote an open letter to each United fan saying how the sickening chants regarding Hillsborough and Heysel had to stop. Likewise, Brendan Rodgers came out and said he hoped it'd be a new era of 'respectfulness' between the two clubs. In the ground, 96 balloons were let off in the stadium, and fans held bits of card to represent the words 'Truth' and 'Justice'. Even the side-show that was the Evra/Suarez will-they-won't-they handshake was almost consigned to memory, and then firmly put there when the two shook, teaching Terry and Ferdinand a thing or two. You could really get the sense that both clubs were doing their utmost to maintain the accord, and to some extents they succeeded. However, events on the field would lead to their being a change in the atmosphere at Anfield. Contentious refereeing has been a sore point for many a fan recently, and here was no exception. Jonjo Shelvey was harshly sent-off for a lunge on United centre-back Jonny Evans while Liverpool were firmly in the ascendancy, even though it look like half a dozen of one and 6 of the other. Either both or neither should have been sent for an early bath, but as it happened, lady luck had deserted Liverpool. Even with 10 men, Liverpool took the lead through a man fit of scoring such an important goal at such an important time for the club. Steven Gerrard emotionally pointed to the sky in memory of his cousin who died at Hillsborough after he scored in the time of 45:51 (anyone good at maths might see an interesting fact there). It wasn't to last long, as with their first real effort of the game, United's young Brazilian full-back Rafael curled in a sublime shot from just inside the box which eluded Pepe Reina, and went in off the far post. It was a goal of class that United had been lacking up until that point. Then another contentious decision finally sealed Liverpool's defeat. Antonio Valencia went down in the box after a challenge from Glen Johnson, though it looked as if Johnson never touched Valencia, who was on the way down before Johnson had even reached him. Up stepped Robin Van Persie, and United had a 2-1 victory secured. After the game, reports of some Liverpool fans performing aeroplane gestures to the United fans taunting them about the Munich disaster, who responded with chants of "You're always the victims", marred what had been a game based on the basis of respect. Still the result left Liverpool in 17th, and even though it's early in the season, it's still a dangerous place for them to be.

Formula One - The Singapore Grand Prix - To be fair, this was a fairly dull race in my opinion. It only became interesting after Hamilton retired from the lead, leading to chaos from the restart. It was the pre-race tribute to Professor Sid Watkins that really caught my eye. To a casual fan, some may not even know his name, or what he did in/for F1, so I'll keep this short. Sid Watkins was the head of the on-track medical team from 1978-2005. During this team, he is accredited with not only saving the lives of various drivers, such as Gehard Berger, Mika Hakkinen, and Rubens Barrichello to name but a few, but also vastly improving the safety of F1 in general. It was fitting therefore that leading his tribute was former driver Sir Jackie Stewart, who himself lobbied for better safety throughout his time in the sport. Not only this, but the plethora of current drivers who paid tribute to him was fantastic, it really showed the world how this man touched generations, who in turn have much to be thankful for. As for the F1 title race, it's still wide open. Jenson Button may be too far back, but stranger things have happened. Ferrari might not have the quickest car, but it's proving to be the most reliable, having not retired all season with mechanical difficulties, something that has hampered the Red Bull's and McLaren's in the past two races.

NFL: Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots - What a game this was! A rematch of the painful AFC Championship game from last year, where the then-Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed a last second 32-yard field goal to send the Patriots to the SuperBowl, this one did not disappoint either. Fiery from the outset, the Ravens got off to a slow start and found themselves 10-0 down within the first quarter. Then came the man of the hour (or 3, it was a very long game). Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, whose 19 year old brother Tevin had been tragically killed mere hours before game-time, caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Joe Flacco, to somehow to pull the Ravens to within 2 points at 30-28 down going into the final 4 minutes. Smith's achievement was made even more incredible by the fact that the Ravens left it up to him to play, and at the start of the match, he was seen visibly crying on the side-lines. It was a big performance from a young man who had so much on his mind other than the game. Then came the real drama's. Several contentious calls from the replacement referee's (please Roger Goodell, sort this situation out, even Barack Obama tweeted that it needs to be resolved!) gave the Patriots the ball at the half way line with 3:30 to play. However, for the first time in the match, the Ravens defense held firm and forced the Patriots to punt. Flacco had to engineer a drive with 2 minutes to go to lead the Ravens from the 18-yard line to within field-goal range. On the first play, Flacco connected with 3rd choice wide receiver Jacoby Jones to take the Ravens to the 43 yard line, just outside field goal range. After Flacco was almost intercepted with an ill-judged pass to primary wide receiver Anquan Boldin, and facing a 3rd and 9, he launched a ball down field to Jones again. The pass fell incomplete, but the pass interference was called on Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty, taking the Ravens to the 16 yard line and a field goal attempt to come with 2 seconds remaining from new kicker Justin Tucker. After the Patriots called a time out during his initial kick, which went straight through, he stepped up again. This time, however, he shanked the ball, and it sailed high in the air. Nonetheless, the ball stayed true enough for the ball to travel just inside the posts, according to the referees, though the Patriots were incensed as they deemed that it had gone wide. There was no review option for the Patriots though, so the ruling on the field stood, giving the Ravens a 31-30 win. In the dressing-room afterwards, Smith gave an emotional tribute to his fellow team-mates, saying that they'd "made this a lot easier to deal with". With the victory, Ravens go to 2-1 and play the divisional rivals Cleveland Browns on Tuesday night.

Hopefully emotions will be more in check next week, and we can just focus on the sport, which is what ultimately, everyone from the fans at Anfield on Sunday, the teams in Singapore, and Torrey Smith in Baltimore wanted to do this time around. I shall leave you with a quote from Smith himself, which he said on his Twitter account regarding the death of his brother. Though not sport related, it still bears true to us all. Thanks for reading.

"Be thankful for your loved ones and tell them you love them... This is the hardest thing ever"

Changes are coming soon!

Hello everyone and welcome to my latest post! I hope you all a great summer, and what a summer of sport it has been!

As you may have noticed, things have been a bit quiet on here, even if my views have gone up considerably (many thanks to all!). Due to a lack of Welsh Internationals, and my inability to see any of the test series against Australia, there has been very little to comment on, for which I apologise profusely.

Therefore, it is with great regret that I am announcing the end to the Dragon Still Roars (boo!).

HOWEVER!

Seeing as people are seemingly interested in what I have to say, from henceforth there shall be a NEW blog, dedicated to sports that I have a particular interest in. As of now, these posts will include updates on:

- The ongoing F1 season
- The ongoing Premier League season
- The Baltimore Ravens in the ongoing NFL league, plus any stories of interest
- The fortunes of London Welsh in the Aviva Premiership
- Home International football fixtures
- And any other sports that I am fortunate to witness

Welsh Rugby fans though, do not fear! I shall still be writing my usual reports on any future match, plus the British and Irish Lions tour. These shall be all given the title of "The Dragon Still Roars" with a subheading, to alert your attention to them!

I hope that all these changes will benefit not only myself as an extension of my career as a budding talker of the sports, but also you, the fans, who will get to experience more variety on this page, with your favourite sports being critiqued and potentially ruined  by none other than yours truly!

Thanks for your continued patience and unwavering support (yes I lay it on thick).

David Venables

Wales vs Barbarians Post-Game

Okay, so that last post seemed a little rushed, but then again, seeing as I did it typing on my phone whilst enjoying a Brains and soaking up the atmosphere, I'm glad that I tried! However, now for the big daddy, the post-game blog!

Wales's so-called second string XV saw off a challenging Barbarians side 30-21 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday. However, even though several Welsh youngsters were blooded yesterday, it was ultimately the relative veteran in James Hook that led the charge to defeat the Baa-Baas, as he scored 20 of Wales' 30 points.

Much maligned for his displays in the months leading up to and including last year's World Cup, Hook looked like the player he was once billed to be. He proved that he could lead a back-line effectively, and his kicking, which again had come under scrutiny, was clinical. Yesterday was a game that called on the veterans to step-up, and the ever reliable Ian Evans, and the Jones duo of Alun-Wyn and Ryan, stepped up and led, giving the youngsters a chance to settle with more ease.

Of all the new Wales faces, Harry Robinson was the stand-out. His 60-yard dash for his try was phenomenal, his legs recreating that of the Roadrunner. Even Mils Muliaina, who is an experienced fullback to say the least and no slouch, admired the speed of which Robinson used to obliterate through the Baa-Baas team. Other players who shone were Aled Brew, who packs a solid punch to say the least, and was well worth his somewhat fortuitous score, and Dan Biggar, who gave the kind of performance that helped his Osprey's side to an unlikely victory over Leinster in the Pro-12 final last weekend.

However, it was a more important day for two Williams'. Martyn Williams finally reached his 100th cap, becoming only the third player in Welsh history to do so. Nugget came on to a rousing reception, and after confirming his retirement post game, it was a fitting way to end such a special international career. Also, Shane Williams played his game too, though this time for the Black and White for the Baa-Baas, rather than the customary red. Though seemingly going through the retirement process since December when he scored that magical try in the last minute against Australia, Shane has finally hung up his boots, a week after his club career ended with another last minute try, this time to win the game for the Ospreys. However, there would be no last minute dart over the line this time, but he was inevitably greeted with much love from the Wales faithful. Thank you both Martyn and Shane for all you have done over your storied careers.

For Wales now, it's time to go to Australia for three test matches. Though unbeaten in all six matches in 2012, Wales have not beaten Australia Down-Under since 1969, so it will be a very stern, and true, test of how good this "golden-era" of Welsh players actually are. In the past year alone, Wales have lost twice to the Wallabies, once in the World Cup, and in Cardiff in December, so it is a fair assumption that they go in as under-dogs. However, a close series would be seen as a success, especially given the poor record.

So until a week from now, I bid you adieu!

Final Score: Wales 30 - Tries: Robinson, Hook, Brew. Convs: Hook (3). Pens: Hook (3).
                   Barbarians 21 - Tries: Rees, Donald (2). Convs: Donald (3).

Dewch ar Cymru!

Pre-game Wales vs Barbarians

As something new, I am currently writing this from inside the Millennium Stadium where Wales are set to take on the Barbarians in 45 minutes.

For Wales, it's their first game since beating France in the final 6 Nations game in March. With a three game tour of Australia coming up, they have named a relatively inexperienced side, but one still full of talent. Matthew Rees leads the side, which also contains veterans Alun-Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, and James Hook. Martyn Williams is also in line to get his 100th cap, but starts among the replacements.

The Barbarians field a typically strong team, but one that includes 3 Welsh players: Duncan Jones, Richie Rees, and, playing his last ever competitive match, Shane Williams. Captained by John Smit, and with Mils Muliainia at fullback, they are going to be a tough test for the Welsh boys, even if the final result isn't important.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Special Post! Saracens vs Harlequins at Wembley Stadium

Now I know that normally this is a very Welsh blog, but for today at least, there is going to be a slight change. I was fortunate enough to receive tickets to go and watch London Saracens play Harlequins at Wembley Stadium yesterday. Seeing as this was such a big occasion for plenty of reasons (it being my first visit to Wembley, and the fact it was a top of the table clash in the Aviva Premiership, plus my girlfriend's brother got to parade around the Stadium itself!), I felt inclined to write a post regarding my day. So enjoy!

We had a painfully early half 6 start from Colchester (my home town, essentially) Rugby Club, from where we took a coach down to The Hive football centre. This was opened in 2009 by then England manager, Fabio Capello, and is the training ground of Barnet FC. The facilities were state of the art, and the size of the bacon butties being handed out were enormous! You may be wondering at this point why we were at the Hive, but there is a reason! There was a Saracens' Champions Cup tournament taking place for the top six under 9 teams that were part of the various tournaments over the course of the the season. Colchester's under 9's were one of the six, and so got the chance to win the Cup. After sinking a large coffee, we went to watch them play their 2 pool games. The first game was an easy 10-0 victory over Harrow for Colchester, and the boy's enthusiasm for the game at such a young age was amazing. I was jumping around like a lunatic on the sidelines, much like everyone else, willing them on to victory. Their second game, against Marlow, was a much tighter affair, with it finishing 0-0. In truth, Colchester were lucky to hold on, but some great defence kept the scores level, and at the end they even had the chance to nick the victory, only to be thwarted with a great last ditch tackle by one of the opposition players. However, it meant that going into the last game of the pool, Colchester were top. They needed Harrow to either draw or win against Marlow, or hope that Marlow didn't score two tries, to ensure they progressed to the final. At half-time though, Marlow were leading 2-0, and on the sidelines, we were admitting that we would probably be in the third place play-off. After the break though, Harrow found a gear that was missing, and charged at Marlow relentlessly, eventually earning a score. On the sidelines, we were jubilant (in good grace though!), and thought that we would be in the final. But will literally the last play of the game, Marlow ran the ball from their own line and scored a game, and pool, winning try, condemning us to third place play-off. The lads weren't disheartened, but ultimately lost 3-1 in a tough match to finish the tournament fourth, not a bad showing at all.

So after a quick bite to eat, we left for Wembley! Arriving at about quarter past 1,  we congregated by the beginning of the arc to let the children go off to their parade groups, whilst we went to the gates to take our seats. I was hugely impressed with the Stadium, and the view that we had was very good. For my first trip, it was a little bit daunting, as it is the home of England's national team, and also where my beloved Liverpool won the Carling Cup final barely a month ago. However, a pint soon set me right, and we settled down for the pre-match entertainment. The parade featured all 40 teams of the tournament, from various age groups, all carrying banners, and wearing their teams shirts with pride. It was a great moment for the kids, and they were beaming with pride as they paraded the stadium. Following was the 1600 strong Rock Choir, who sang three numbers. Boy-band McFly were up next, who gave a rousing performance and thoroughly entertained the crowd, who were growing in number by this point. Once they had performed, it was time for the biggie, Saracens vs Harlequins!

Now I must confess, I am not an avid follower of the English Premiership. However, I did know that Harlequins were top by three points, and that Saracens needed to win in order to be in with a chance of coming top. The majority of the crowd were supporting Sarries, as it was technically their home game, but the mix was much closer that I thought it would be, with about a 70-30 split. With no preference, I just wanted to see a good game, and have the best team win in the end. And that is what I got.

Quins started very well, and after a minute and a half, had the game's first try though centre Jordan Turner-Hall, with fly-half Nick Evans converting. The majority of the crowd were immediately silenced, though the Quins in the stands were in raptures. However, Sarries did pull in front with three Owen Farrell penalties, after some indiscipline in the rucks by Harlequins. But yet again, Harlequins were able to move the ball between the backs, and some great play by scrum-half Danny Care and outside centre George Lowe led to a superb breakaway try for their second score. Again, Evans converted to put Harlequins 14-9 ahead. Both sides then exchanged penalty misses before Farrell sent one over on the whistle to make the half time score 14-12 to Quins.

After some more McFly, the second half began with a penalty scored by replacement fly-half Rory Clegg for the Quins to make it 17-12. After a barren period, where the game transcended into a kicking battle, Quins got another breakthrough, stretching the Sarries defence to breaking point before going over to score through Care, and with Evans' conversion being successful again, it left Sarries 12-24 behind. Then came the final 20 minutes of madness. First, Harlequins had prop Joe Marler sin-binned, as the Saracens piled on the pressure in the Quins 22. Three times, Saracens were in, only for the final ball to either be mis-handled or off target. When they did go over the line, great scramble defence from Quins meant that centre Chris Wyles' leg was in touch when he grounded the ball. Then Quins had Care sin-binned as he deliberately tackled a man from an offside position. Down to 13 for a minute, Sarries finally took advantage and scored. Replacement scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth crashed over the line from the penalty resulting from Care's sin-binning, and Farrell scored to leaves the Sarries only five points behind, with 9 minutes to play. Try as they might though, Saracens couldn't get the final breakthrough, and even though number 8 Nick Easter became the third Harlequins player to be binned, Quins clung on to win through 24-19.

In truth, Harlequins were the much better side. They moved the ball through the phases a lot more precisely, and were more determined in the contact area than the Saracens. Until the last twenty minutes, Saracens had a game to forget, and even then, sloppy handling errors meant that couldn't convert their pressure into points. Conversely, Quins will be disappointed with their last twenty minutes, and their ill-discipline meant that they almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. In the end though, the right team won.

It was a fantastic day all round for myself, and with the new club record attendance of 83,761 being set at Wembley, a great day for Rugby on the whole.

My next post should be regarding the International Rugby 7's tournament in May, so stay tuned for that Wales fans, as I'll be blogging about their games, and how the rest of the tournament shaped up!

Final Score: Saracens 24 - Tries: Wigglesworth. Convs: Farrell. Pens: Farrell (4)
                Harlequins 19 - Tries: Turner-Hall, Lowe, Care. Convs: Evans (2), Clegg. Pens: Clegg

Wales - 2012 6 Nations Grand-Slam Champions!

Retribution was finally achieved, and glory ultimately attained, as Wales beat France 16-9 in Cardiff to clinch not only the 6 Nations title, but the Grand-Slam. France pushed Wales all the way, but in the end, the right team won, and shows the culmination of effort and skill that took a team from 4th in last years tournament, to the top team in the Northern Hemisphere this year. I will defer from my normal review system for this final game, as it is the final game for a while. Instead, I am going to sum up my personal highlights of the tournament, and firstly of the game today.

Highlights vs France:

Dan Lydiate was the deserved man of the match. Normally the unsung hero, he deserved all the accolades today. He was constantly chopping at the French ankles, and only missed one tackle during the whole game. He stepped up to the plate when Warburton went off, and dominated at the breakdown. Has to be a certain pick for the Lions tour next year.

How on earth does Rhys Priestland kick that far out of hand? His leg swings barely an inch and yet the ball travels miles! He was deadly accurate as well, and though his dead ball striking might not be up there with best, from hand he is one of the best.

Wales' defence was again solid. Scrambling is their speciality, and they are quick to snuff out any opportunities that the opposition may get. They are quick to organise, quick to rush, and deadly accurate in bringing the man down.

Tournament Highlights:

Warburton's tackle on Manu Tuilagi vs England. This tackle almost certainly saved the Grand-Slam from Wales. To everyone in the stadium, Tuilagi was through, but Warburton somehow clung on to his ankles, and brought the big man down with metres to spare. When fit, Warburton led by example. Lets hope his latest shoulder injury isn't too serious, and that he is back playing soon.

Scott Williams' try vs England. A great solo effort from the replacement centre, to rectify an earlier missed chance. Stealing the ball expertly off Courteney Lawes, he punted the ball on and had too much pace for the chasing defenders to get anywhere near him. A great moment of inspiration from the young lad, and it broke the monotony that had existed in that game beforehand.

Leigh Halfpenny's last minute kick vs Ireland. Halfpenny snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat against Ireland when he converted a penalty with seconds to spare. After an iffy kicking display previously from Priestland, Halfpenny steadied himself and slotted it over the posts to give Wales the win. Great composure to put his miss against France in the World Cup to bed.

So that's it for this years 6 Nations, and Wales will carry a lot of confidence towards the end of the year. We must build though, and have 2015 as another goal to attain. However, Wales have proved a lot of doubters wrong with this victory, and they will stand to serve as a warning to any team coming to play us in the future. Roll on to the rest of the year.

Final Score: Wales 16 - Tries: Cuthbert. Convs: Halfpenny. Pens: Halfpenny (2).
                   France 9 - Pens: Yachvili (2), Beauxis.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Only Les Bleus stand in the way of the Welsh dream

Okay so before I get into previewing tomorrow's game, I have to start with two side notes. My first, I'd like to apologise for not having a review of last weeks Italy game up. I didn't actually get the chance to see the game, as I was helping a friend move house, and only got a chance to see the highlights. Therefore I felt like it would be an injustice to have a review purely based on twenty minutes of action! Also, I would like to offer my condolences to Mervyn "Merv the Swerve" Davies' family and friends, after his passing today. Davies was a truly inspirational captain and player, and also would have been a remarkable Lions captain in 1977 had his playing career not been cut short, much like his life. A minutes silence will be held tomorrow in the Millennium Stadium before the match to commemorate his life, and hopefully everyone will be thinking of fond memories during the time.

However, we must press on to the matter in hand: Wales' potential Grand-Slam clinching game against France. Before the tournament began, this was possibly the most eagerly anticipated clash in the schedule. Wales' narrow 9-8 defeat in last year's World Cup semi-final is still ingrained in both set's of supporters memories for differing reasons. For the French, it set them up to have their best game of the tournament in the final against hosts, and eventual winners, New Zealand. For the Welsh, their was a bitter sense of injustice, and led to them leaving the tournament with somewhat of a whimper in 4th place. This tournament has only gone on to fuel the fire of that injustice, with Wales picking up where they left off, and France again be unpredictable and inconsistent. You can guarantee though, that France will be on the money for this game, and Wales will have to play 50% above what they have done previously in the tournament if they want to win.

Wales have made only one change from the squad that played Italy last weekend, with captain Sam Warburton reclaiming his place at 7 from Justin Tipuric. Through all 6 games, the Welsh back line has been unchanged, and this consistency has been key to Wales' impressive attacking displays. North, Roberts and Cuthbert will be looking to power through a French underbelly that looked decidedly vulnerable against England and Ireland in their previous games. France have only lost once in six visits to the Millennium Stadium, that coming in 2008, but Wales would still need to be thumped to lose the title to England. However, that would provide little consolation if the Slam dreams were dashed at the final hurdle.

Philippe Saint-Andre has made several changes to his French side. Veteran lock Lionel Nallet's days as a French international look to be over, with him being omitted from the squad, being replaced by Julien Pierre on the bench. Dmitri Yachvili plays his first game of the tournament, coming in for Julian Dupuy, who drops out of the squad altogether, and Morgan Parra is benched, with Lionel Beauxis retaining his place at fly-half. Florian Fritz comes in for the injured Vincent Clerc, who will be thankful he doesn't have to come up against Warburton again. Star man Wesley Fofana moves to the wing as a result. On the other wing, Alexis Pallison is favoured to Julien Malzieu. In the pack, Dimitri Szarzewski is replaced at hooker by William Servat, and David Attoub replaces Nicolas Mas. France will not only be looking to beat Wales, but also aiming to avoid their worst performance at a 6 Nations since 2001, where they only notched up two wins during the duration of the tournament.

So the question is, will Wales fulfil their potential, in turn laying to rest the demons of the World Cup defeat last year, by beating France and claiming the Grand-Slam? Or, will the pressure be too much, and will they slump to defeat, still being denied the chance of glory that the team so thoroughly craves? For once, being at home may not be the key difference. Yes, support is always good to have, but as mentioned earlier, France have a near impeccable record in Cardiff. Wales have to stay focused, and forget the hype and occasion that is surrounding the game, in order to win. The backs have to be patient, and concentrate on getting over the gain line. The forwards have to dominate at the set plays, and be careful at the breakdown, or penalties could be the key game breaker. If Wales play to their potential, then they should win. But that is a big if. France will be fired up for this, and it will be a game of the ages, that is for certain.

Wales:

Backs: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips.
Forwards: Jenkins, Rees, A Jones, A-W Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Warburton (c), Faletau.
Replacements: James, Owens, Charteris, R Jones, L Williams, Hook, S Williams.

France:

Backs: Poitrenaud; Fofana, Rougerie, Fritz, Palisson; Beauxis, Yachvili.
Forwards: Poux, Servat, Attoub, Pape, Maestri, Dusautoir (c), Bonnaire, Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Debaty, Pierre, Picamoles, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Buttin.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Two wins away from achieving the ultimate 6 Nations goal

So, we are two weeks down the line from the dramatic, if erratic, victory over our old foes England at Twickenham, and are now back in Cardiff for the remainder of the tournament. Securing the Triple-Crown on English soil was a feather to put in Warren Gatland's cap, but as he would tell you, the job is only half complete. Today, Wales have to beat a tough Italian side, who have yet again shone in bursts, but seem set again to end the tournament with a whimper, and the inevitable last weekend battle with Scotland for the Wooden Spoon. Wales should be wary though, defeat against Italy would be border-line catastrophic, and would ultimately cost us a potential Grand-Slam, and maybe even the chance of winning the 6 Nations itself. There is another bonus to beating the Italians. The more wins that Wales rack up, the more points they get in the IRB World Rankings, which ultimately decides the top-seeds for the World Cup draw. If Wales can finish in the top four of these rankings, then they are guaranteed to not be drawn with the likes of New Zealand or Australia in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup. So hopefully, the rest of the 6 Nations will be a case of onwards and upwards (literally) for Wales!

In terms of the squads, Wales are again without captain Sam Warburton, who has a knee injury, and looks an ever increasing doubt for the France game next weekend. In his place comes Justin Tipuric, who starts his first game for Wales, having made 3 previous appearances off the bench. The other change sees the front row Lions trio reunited, as hooker Matthew Rees comes in for Ken Owens. Hero of two weeks ago Scott Williams is named on the bench, with Jamie Roberts fit to face Italy, days after it looking like his tournament was over. Also on the bench, scrum-half Lloyd Williams is replaced by Rhys Webb due to a thigh strain, whilst James Hook is back in the replacements, along with Luke Charteris, meaning there is no place in the match-day 22 for Stephen Jones. Captaining the side will be Gethin Jenkins, who leads the side for the fourth time. A danger sign if any is that Wales have lost seven of eight games while a prop has captained the side, so Jenkins will be hoping to break his duck today in Cardiff.

Italy have made whole-sale changes to the side that got trounced by Ireland two weeks ago, again shuffling their half-back pairing, with Kristopher Burton replacing Tobias Botes at fly-half, and Fabio Semenzato coming in for scrum-half Edoardo Gori, who has dropped out of the squad completely. Gonzalo Canale has been preferred to Tommaso Benvenuti at centre, and the old war-horse Mirco Bergamasco replaces Giovanbattista Venditti on the wing. In the forwards, Andrea Lo Cicero is at prop ahead of Michele Rizzo, second-row Marco Bortolami drops to the bench to make way for Cornelius van Zyl, and flanker Simone Favaro replaces Robert Barbieri. The Italians will be looking to put in a good performance for the whole 80 minutes today, having played well in the first halves against France, England, and Ireland, but then losing their way badly in the second period.

In reality, you can't look past a Wales victory, but the margin of victory could be crucial. A ruthless, confident performance would really set the wheels in motion for a Grand-Slam next weekend, and the momentum we take from this game today could be crucial in aiding our efforts against France. We have to take Italy seriously though, and we cannot afford to be complacent, as England almost found out to their cost in the second week. They have beaten us twice before, though on the road, so they know how to win. But ultimately, Wales should prove to have too much skill and composure to break down and crumple the Italian resistance.

Wales:

Backs: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips.
Forwards: Jenkins (c), Rees, A Jones, A-W Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Tipuric, Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, James, Charteris, R Jones, Webb, Hook, S Williams.

Italy:

Backs: Masi; McLean, Canale, Sgarbi, Bergamasco; Burton, Semenzato.
Forwards: Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Cittadini, Geldenhuys, van Zyl, Zanni, Favaro, Parrise (c).
Replacements: D'Apice, Staibano, Bortolami, Barbieri, Botes, Benvenuti, Toniolatti.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Wonderful Williams rescues Wales' Grand-Slam dreams

For all the pre-match hype surrounding Wales in this showdown, it was England who almost stole the show, and taking with it Wales' Grand-Slam hopes. Wales, at times, looked nervous, and often couldn't break down a solid England midfield, led superbly by my man of the match Brad Barritt. England on the other hand, were on top for large periods of the game, and had they had the killer instinct of old, then maybe they would be leaving Twickenham with the victory, sending the Welsh back across the Severn with their tails between their legs.  Scott Williams leaves Twickenham with the plaudits though, after his stunning 50-yard chip through and collect led to the only try of the game being scored, and crucially, gave Wales the lead for the first time, which they never surrendered.  Strettle's over the line dart at the end might have rescued a share of the spoils, depending on what colour shirt you were wearing you would call it either way. Multiple replays seem to suggest that the ball did not quite touch the ground, but it was a gallant last-gasp attempt by an England team hungry for a victory over their neighbours. However, this speculation will not change the final scoreline of a 19-12 victory to Wales, and their first Triple-Crown on English soil. Time for my review of the game, using the same system as before: positives (+), negatives (-), and uncertainties (?):

Positives: 

+ Though Wales never really got into top gear with the ball in hand, they were patient when it mattered. Mike Phillips, who again was well contained by England, still managed to move the ball well, though often it was through the forwards, rather than the expansive back play that Wales have freely shown so far. Regardless, it worked, and they went through the phases expertly, tiring England's resistance.

+ It was a physical game, with emphasis again being thrown onto the forwards of both teams. Wales rose to England's test, and out-muscled them convincingly. Their scrummaging was spot-on, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins leading the line well as they normally do. Though I thought England's Dan Cole and Alex Corbisiero, who I am a big fan of, would be a tough test for them, they rose above, yet again staking their claim as the best Prop pairing in the world.

+ Sam Warburton was Wales' stand out performer. His tackle to stop Manu Tuilagi crossing the line was something special, his power and determination to get to the ruck first was second to none, and the fact that he kept this up for the full 80 minutes is a credit to his fitness, especially after being ruled out against Scotland with a dead leg.

Negatives:

- Wales just did not get going! I was screaming at my television for the whole second half for Wales to break out of their 22 and get hands on the ball, but for whatever reason, they just looked overawed by the occasion. Credit must be given to England for throwing Wales off their game completely, something no team has been able to do since last year's 6 Nations tournament. But even I expected Wales to somehow pull an expansive, flowing play out of the bag, but it never materialised. They will have to improve that if they want to remain a top-level international team.

- I hate to moan about referees, I always feel they should be given the benefit of the doubt as their job is mightily tough. However, how an offside tackle can result in a yellow card yet an illegal pull down from a line-out is only a penalty is beyond me. Yes, Wales had been warned about going offside, and the tackle stopped a potential try-scoring opportunity, so Priestland's yellow was justified. But a dangerous play like Robshaw's on Warburton in the line-out surely deserves a yellow? Another reason that IRB needs to clarify tackling laws.

Uncertainties:

? This is more of a general poser, but can Wales actually win the Grand-Slam,  now that they have secured the Triple-Crown? They have stuttered by over England, and France is another stern test to come. Not only that, but we have to get past a stubborn Italian side as well. Though another win will boost the confidence further, we really need to step it up against Italy so that hopefully we can be in the right vein of form to face France on March 17th. 

Overall, a thoroughly unconvincing performance by Wales. However, it has proven that we can grind out a result, and win ugly if we have to. The question is though, does that highlight any frailties that we might have, or does it serve as a warning to the Italy and France that we don't have to be at our best to win? We shall see in two weeks, when we take on the Italy in the Millennium Stadium, and then a week later when we entertain France in what could be the title-decider, again in Cardiff. Lets hope that Roberts' injury is not too serious, and that we can have a fully-fit squad to choose from for these games, because we are going to need it. The Dragon is still roaring, just.

Final Score: Wales 19 - Tries: S Williams. Convs: Halfpenny. Pens: Halfpenny (4)
                England 12 - Pens: Farrell (4)

Dewch ar Cymru!

Wales vs England. Need I say more?

I have always been a Wales fan. Though by blood I am half Welsh, half English, I can honestly say that my allegiance to Welsh rugby has never been tested. Not when Johnny kicked "that" drop-goal. Not when they thumped us 62-5 in August 2007. I have always stuck to my Mother's roots, and pulled on my red shirt when the two behemoths collided. However, I don't think I can recall a game where so much was on the line.

For Wales, it is a chance to finally stand up and say that they are the better rugby-playing side. For a country where Rugby is the national sport, this would be a monumental occasion. Since 2005, minus the blip aforementioned in 2007, Wales have been knocking on England's door, worrying them on more than one occasion. If the last two test matches the sides played last summer is anything to go by, Wales, though only winning one of them, played the better rugby in both, and it set them up perfectly for the World Cup. There is nothing that Wales like more than beating England, something that fly-half Phil Bennett could relate to in 1977. Before facing the English, he gave the team a famous pre-match pep talk, saying:

"Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our houses and only live in them for a fortnight every 12 months. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We've been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English - and that's who you're playing this afternoon"

As you can tell, there is no love lost there. And with Wales starting to build up a head of steam in this tournament, they look like recapturing the form that they had at the World Cup. Therefore it is no surprise that they start as favourites on Saturday.

For England, it is a chance to show the rest of the rugby world, and especially Wales, that they are still top six contenders. After a torrid World Cup, beset by off the field incidents and on the field dourness, England are a much changed side. A new coach in Stuart Lancaster, a new crop of players, England are going some-way to rebuild their reputation that was so badly tarnished in New Zealand. Even so, they do start the game as underdogs for the first time in a while, even though they have home-field advantage. This is mainly due to the fact that while Wales have been climbing the gears, England seem to be stuck in second. They were pushed close by Scotland at Murrayfield, before almost imploding against Italy. In fact, had Tobias Botes not left his kicking boots at home, England would have come away from Rome empty-handed. However, they need no motivation to play Wales, and this will definitely be a totally different side to those that have appeared so far in the tournament. Added to this, Wales have only beaten England once in the past 24 years at Twickenham, that victory coming in the Grand-Slam winning campaign of 2008. England therefore have just as much reason to be confident of getting the victory this time around too. 

As far as the teams go, Wales have the fit again Alun-Wyn Jones back at number 4, replacing Ryan Jones, who drops to the bench. Also captain Sam Warburton has finally shaken off the dead leg that kept him out of the Scotland game, and he comes in to replace the unlucky Aaron Shingler, who was formidable last week on his debut. Hooker Ken Owens comes in as well, replacing the injured Huw Bennett, with Matthew Rees still not fully fit.

England have powerful centre Manu Tuilagi back from a hamstring injury to replace their only try scorer Charlie Hodgson, with young Owen Farrell moving to fly-half. There are also starts for lock Ben Morgan, number 8 Geoff Parling, and scrum-half Lee Dickson, replacing Tom Palmer, Phil Dowson and Ben Youngs respectively. Palmer misses out on the squad altogether, while Dowson and Youngs are joined on the bench by the fit-again Toby Flood and Courtney Lawes. 

Wales' expansive back play is enough to worry any defence, and this could be the key for the victory, If England can contain Wales' backs, especially the sublime George North, then Wales will have to rely on their forward line to get them the win. For once though, Wales should win the battle up-front, with arguably the most impressive pack in the tournament. An area that England could target though is the line-out, especially with relative rookie Owens on the field. Wales have lost the ball 6 times on their own throw in the opening two games, but they do have A-W Jones back to try and steady the play.

For me, the game is too close to call. With my Welsh head on, I can only see a Wales victory. They are playing too well, and have the better squad on the pitch. However, this is England at Twickenham, and they know how to play Wales at home. There are only two guarantees. One, It will be a physical, absorbing game, as it always is. The other? For the victor, the satisfaction and bragging rights will be the sweetest reward of this tournament, bar nothing else. This is the game that both sets of teams and fans alike want to win, badly.

As a final bit of fun, here is David Mitchell talking about his mixed heritage, and Wales and England's rivalry. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bOqY2xSD6U

Wales:

Backs: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips.

Fowards: Jenkins, Owens, A Jones, A-W Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Warburton (c), Faletau.

Replacements: Hibbard, James, R Jones, Tipuric, L Williams, S Jones, S Williams.

England:

Backs: Foden; Ashton, Tuilagi, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Dickson.

Fowards: Corbisiero, Hartley, Cole, Botha, Parling, Croft, Robshaw (c), Morgan.

Replacements: Webber, Stevens, Lawes, Dowson, Youngs, Flood, Brown.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Ill-discipline works in Wales' favour as they roll over Scotland

Another enthralling match involving Wales, this time with the slightly more emphatic scoreline of a 27-13 win. Scotland, apart from 10 minutes of madness at the start of the second-half, more than matched Wales, and were highly impressive. However, yet again, ill-discipline costs a team, this time Scotland, who shipped up two tries and 14 points with a reduced number of players. Credit must be given to Wales though, who took the opportunities presented to them well, and ultimately deserved their win. Anyway, onto my review, using the system I used last time, positives (+), negatives (-) and uncertainties (?):

Positives:

+ Wales' clinical finishing. Two errors from Scotland players resulted in yellow-cards, and Wales capitalised magnificently. Two tries, two conversions, 14 points, and effectively game over from that point onwards. Wales dominated with 15 men superbly and gave Scotland a horrendous time and ran them ragged. It is especially sweet after last week, leading me nicely onto my next point...

+ Wales' discipline was much improved on last week's performance. After Bradley Davies' mis-hap against Ireland, it would have please Warren Gatland that Wales were the beneficiaries of another team's ill-discipline, rather than toiling due to their own. A few penalties were conceded here and there, but generally speaking, they defended impeccably, and were very careful in their own-22, where any mistake could cost you a whole load of points.

+ Contrary to my blog yesterday, Captain and talisman Sam Warburton was ruled out of the match about an hour before kick-off. In came uncapped Scarlets Aaron Shingler, and he was sublime. His pace with the ball in hand was incredible, and with such little preparation time, he gave a remarkable relaxed and assured performance. So kudos to him from me!

Negatives:

- Mike Phillips, who won man of the match last week, didn't put in such a good turn this week. He didn't do anything particularly dreadful, but he just wasn't quite to the standard that we would come to expect from him. He was slow getting the ball from the ruck, and was caught unaware by the quick thinking Scottish forwards from the rucks on several occasions. He will be looking to bounce back next week, and I am sure he can deliver.

Uncertainties:

? Warburton's fitness is an obvious concern, as is George North's, who went off injured just before half-time. Both players are vital to Wales, as much as Shingler and Halfpenny shined in their place, and we will need them if we are going to win the England game.

In addition to this, the welcome return to fitness of Dan Lydiate is a bonus for Wales, and stand-in Captain Ryan Jones put in a stellar performance in a position unfamiliar to him. Finally, as you can see, not many negatives and uncertainties this week, which is good in my opinion with possibly our toughest match coming up in 2 weeks time. England at Twickenham is going to be a monster match. England, fairly underwhelming so far, will want to claim the scalp of Wales, and with home support, they will be so fired up to play. Wales' biggest reassurance is their form. Recently, Wales have always stepped it up against England, and will look to do so again. Saying that, I still feel that it will be too close too call, and the winner will be the team that handles the pressure better. Either way, it will be a cracking game, and with the possibility of the triple-crown, Wales will be more determined than ever to beat England on their own soil. Bring it on!

Final Score: Wales 27 - Tries: Cuthbert, Halfpenny (2). Convs: Halfpenny (3). Pens: Halfpenny (2)

               Scotland 13 - Tries: Laidlaw. Convs: Laidlaw. Pens: Laidlaw (2)

Scotland showdown!

Okay so we are just over 24 hours away from the game tomorrow. Scotland will be looking to lick their wounds and re-build after their morale-crushing loss to England last week, and Wales will want to carry on with the momentum from the rousing comeback against the Irish. Traditionally, the Wales-Scotland games are tough, with emphasis on who's pack can out-muscle the other. But I think this year,  things will be different.

We all know about the strength in Wales' back-line, and if Halfpenny is given the kicking duties, they should be as potent as they can possibly be. With Scotland, they have exciting young players coming to the fore. Max Evans is a tricky winger, who is a threat when he has ground to run. Scrum-halves Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair are two of the best in the tournament, and have assured hands and quick delivery speed. The biggest boost though is Greg Laidlaw coming in for the now retired Dan Parks. He has been in scintillating form for Edinburgh, and put in a good shift against England last week. Though coach Andy Robinson has neglected the option of an all-Edinburgh half back pairing, with Blair on the bench, Laidlaw could be the man to get the Scottish attacks up and running.

All Wales' changes are up front. Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate are back, replacing Rhys Gill, who is not in the match-day squad, and the suspended Bradley Davies, who is banned for the whole tournament. Captain Sam Warburton has shaken off a dead-leg to play at 7, and Ryan Jones has been moved to the second row alongside Ian Evans, while Lydiate will play in his familiar number 6 spot.

Though I think Wales will win, it will not be as easy as some predicted. Warren Gatland and the players all came out and said that they can't get complacent, and though they are saying the right things, it is often Wales' undoing. If everything goes to plan though, I can see it being a not entirely comfortable victory.

Wales:

Backs: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips.
Forwards: Jenkins, Bennett, A Jones, R Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Warburton (c), Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, James, Reed, Powell, L Williams, Hook, S Williams.

Scotland:

Backs: R Lamont; Jones, De Luca, S Lamont, Evans; Laidlaw, Cusiter.
Forwards: Jacobson, Ford (c), Cross, Gray, Hamilton, Strokosch, Rennie, Denton.
Replacements: Lawson, Kalman, Kellock, Barclay, Blair, Weir, Hogg.

Dewch ar Cymru!

Gritty win, but discipline is key

Wales can feel very good about their performance yesterday. They battled hard through a predictably physical Irish performance, and for large parts of the game, dominated possession, creating numerous scoring chances. For these 6 Nations games, as there are five, I will review the game splitting it into positives (+) and negatives (-) as well as stating things that I was unsure of, be it tactics, changes, or individual player performances (?). I am doing this to keep it quite straight forward, and a bit less formal than a standard review! So here this is my take on yesterday's game:

Positives:

+ Jonathan Davies. All the pre-match talk was about Jamie Roberts and Rhys Priestland, but Davies quietly went about business and delivered a stunning performance. I could have put Davies in with all the Welsh backs (see below), but I thought his performance deserved a special mention. He had great awareness, constantly looking for gaps in the Irish defence, and his support play was near immaculate. He fully deserved his two scores, and was unlucky to not be awarded man of the match. It also served to prove that teams shouldn't just worry about the power of Roberts, and take note of the Scarlets man.

+ The Welsh back line looked very creative, led superbly by man of the match Mike Phillips. Each player contributed something to every play and whereas not long ago Wales would have squandered in front of goal, they were ruthless, scoring three tries at relative easy. This has to put a smile on many die-hard Wales fan's face. George North tormented the Irish with absolute power and clinical running, and Rhys Priestland, though very iffy with the boot, straightened plays when necessary, and was a reassuring presence when he had his hands on the ball.

+ Wales' game management was very impressive. They never rushed any of their plays, and were careful when on the ball. This especially rang true in the last five minutes, as even though they were down by a score, they never looked worried, and nor did they try and force the play. With such a young squad, this level of maturity is extremely rare, and a valuably asset to Wales' title hopes.

Negatives:

- Wales' discipline could be their Achilles heel. We saw it in the World Cup against France, and yet again Wales toiled at the hands of a silly sin-binning. How Bradley Davies did not get a red card is baffling (yet again see below), and with it, Wales conceded a try and five points. This could have easily been another five had the usually immaculate Jonathan Sexton been more accurate with the boot from the conversion and a penalty. As shown on the BBC yesterday, Wales concede on average almost 8 points with every sin-binning, which is 3 points more than the next worst team Italy. This has to change, and fast, or Wales will be the perennial nearly-men. 

- The tip-tackle rule needs clarifying to both the referees and the players. Yesterday, both tips went punished with yellow cards, but they couldn't have been any more different. Davies was totally ludicrous, what he was thinking only he will know, but he will wake up this morning knowing he was lucky to not be red-carded. It was the worst tip-tackle I have ever seen, and should've been more harshly punished. Rightfully, Davies has been cited, and should be banned. Though this will hamper Wales further, it is the only right decision. Ferris' on the other hand was a far more controlled affair. Yes it was a tip, which by the letter of the law is a penalty, but there was no malice, and no element of danger in the tackle. I am all for the punishment of tip tackling - it is an unnecessary form of tackle that sets a poor example of the game to the viewing public, especially youngsters getting started in the game. But there needs to be clarification between the varying degrees of a tip-tackle. Both sides of the spectrum were evidenced yesterday, and yet both were punished exactly the same. The IRB need to clarify this to avoid games, and in the worst case scenario, player's careers, being ruined. 

- Wales' kicking from the tee still continues to pose problems. First Hook, then Jones, and now it seems Priestland has caught the bug. He missed all three of his attempts, and two were very straightforward. Fortunately Wales seem to have no end of kicking "talent", but still, consistency is key! I have never thought Priestland was the strongest kicker Wales have ever had, and I know people will argue that then why should we include him at 10? But I feel that Priestland should be Wales' number 10 due to his intelligence and strength on the ball. He gives Wales direction that not even Stephen Jones could, and he is definitely my pick for that spot. 

Uncertainties

? Wales' line-out. On one had, when it works effectively, we can score tries directly from the play. On the other hand, we can give possession away easily in our own 22, and concede heavily. I think retaining Huw Bennett (who won his 50th cap on Sunday) is vital, as he is the most able and consistent hooker Wales have had for a decade. We just need to improve the communication slightly at the line, though it could be argued that without our first choice second-rowers, it was inevitable that some problems would ensue.

So overall, it was a thrilling match, and the Irish most definitely played their part. They gave Wales a right match, and will be disappointed to have not come away with the victory. However, it was a very reassuring performance from Wales, and should give everyone a belief that our injury woes won't hamper us for a decent shot at the championship. I think a triple-crown could be on the cards, though I still see beating France as a push too far. England's performance suggested that they are still fallable, and we should expect to beat Italy and Scotland at home. Hopefully Warburton's injury is not too serious, and we can keep the momentum going into next week's game. If this is Wales at only 70%, according to Gatland, then I am excited for even more skill to come for the rest of the 6 Nations.

Final Score: Wales 23  - Tries: J.Davies (2), North. Convs: Halfpenny. Pens: Halfpenny (2)

                   Ireland 21 - Tries: Best, Bowe.            Convs: Sexton.      Pens: Sexton (3)

Dewch ar Cyrmu!