So Why Has It Gone Wrong?
Posted: Tue 16 March 2010 20:39 by Dave Brookes
There’s been lots of talk on tonight’s and last night’s Real Sports Phone In shows concerning Wales’ performance against Ireland on Saturday and throughout the Six Nations in general. One thing you do wonder is where has our spark gone which lit up the 2005 and 2008 championships and ultimately led to Grand Slams. But then I think to myself why do we sometimes feel we have the right to think we’ll win every game? Lets be honest with ourselves, form for the regions in the Magners League and in Europe hasn’t been the best, so maybe we should have taken the hint from earlier on in the season.
Then again, regional performances have been patchy before and we’ve still come good at International level so what’s gone wrong this time? Lots of our listeners to the Real Sports Phone In have pin-pointed various areas they believe are holding the Welsh team back. For example, a common theme has been Wales being down to 14 following a yellow card and then conceding a tally of points in the process. Jackie suggests Warren Gatland docks the players pay for getting a yellow card, but there perhaps is one issue? Pay. Years ago before the game went professional players played for the love of playing, but now with so much money in the game perhaps some are happy with their lot.
Lots of callers to the show have stated the scrum and lineout have been abysmal, however we have had key players missing through injury. Does this mean our strength in depth is not as good as we think it is? Certainly we have a coaching team the envy of World rugby haven’t we? Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley have won trophies with Wasps and they won the 2005 Grand Slam, so are our players who we have not up to the same level of their other Northern Hemisphere counterparts?
Angharad mentions some players have become complacent because the media have built them up to be some sort of superstars. Perhaps. But they’re professional and surely they’d know they’re only as good as they’re last performance and that a dip in form means the next player in line gets a go. Why are we asking these questions? Simply because we want Wales to do well and we want Wales to win. That’s all. While we’re on this subject let’s wish Tom Prydie all the best for Saturday. At 18 he becomes Wales’ youngest rugby international and he’s destined for big things. Good luck Tom.
SEE THE WALES TEAM TO PLAY ITALY
Still on the sporting theme, many congratulations to Newport County on gaining automatic promotion to the Blue Square Conference. This is the league that’s one away from the Football League and it has to be said, a strong league too which includes several teams that have already been in the football league. On Thursday’s Real Sports Phone In, we welcome Chairman Chris Blight and Manager Dean Holdsworth who’ll tell us how it was achieved.
MORE FROM THE REAL SPORTS PHONE IN
Its day 43 on the Ident-A-Hit tomorrow and we’re up to £670! Will this one ever go? It was Teaching Assistant Rebecca Bantjes having a go on Tuesday’s Real Drive Home and as confident as Rebecca was, unfortunately she gave us a wrong answer. More chances to play after 4 tomorrow afternoon.
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