Rugby Mad Blog

EDF Semi-Final 2 - Ospreys vs Saracens (30-3)

The second semi final was a painful thing to watch for the Saracens faithful, many of whom had travelled through sleet and snow in London to make their way to Cardiff for the game. I, for one, wondered why I’d bothered.

To be fair, the first half was pretty tight, with only Shane Williams‘ unconverted try and a penalty from James Hook giving the Ospreys an 8-0 advantage at the break. We also had a 10-minute spell of snow, leaving the supporters and players to rue the decision to leave the flaming roof open!

[Some idiot left the roof open... hadn't they heard the forecast for snow?]

I don’t know who had done the team talk for Sarries at half time, but I think it was the same bloke who made the one against Newcastle just after Christmas! Please stop already!

[Kris Chesney goes for Mike Phillips in the loose, as the snow falls]

Basically, the floodgates opened. Sarries buckled and the Ospreys made light work of scoring 3 tries and a total of 22 points to Sarries’ 3! NOT a good day at the office for the Men In Black, nor their supporters who trudged back to their buses in a dejected manner for the return trip down the M4. [right] Osprey Jonathan Thomas dominant in the lineout, just as the rest of his team were dominant elsewhere on the pitch.

The Ospreys are due at Vicarage Road in a fortnight for the Heineken Cup Quarterfinal against Saracens. Let’s hope they don’t get such an easy ride next time!

Two casualties of the game were Osprey Mike Phillips who sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury and will be out for up to six months. And Sarries’ Kiwi Lock Chris Jack who’s hand injury rules him out for the rest of the season. He will certainly be missed, on and off the pitch.

The Ospreys are now set for their EDF Final against the Tigers. And Sarries fans are praying The Gaffer can undo the damage to morale for the team. See more match photos from the game.

Six Nations Game 15 – Wales vs France (29-12)

Wales made their intentions clear from the start, and were pressing the French lines within five minutes. Then their opponents killed the ball, and James Hook [right] stepped up to take the penatly. First blood to the Welsh, 3-0. Hook had another go at goal in the 14th minute, which saile just wide of the posts.

The French were committing a lot of players to rucks, while Wales only used the minimum. David Skrela’s kicking was pretty awful too – including one restart which actually went backwards!

The Welsh made a break in the 18th minute and Les Bleus found themselves offside. Hook stepped up for another punt which went plumb through the middle, 6-0 up.

In the next minute, Wales themselves were penalised, France took the penalty by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, and they were back in it at 6-3. They gave it away again a few minutes later when Julien Bonnaire was caught monumentally offside at a ruck, Hook made it 9-3.

On the half hour, France made decent inroads into the Welsh half. They recycled several times, inching their way upfield. 10,000 French supporters chanted “Allez Les Bleus!” but they couldn’t turn possession into points.

Just before half time, Gavin Henson [left] was pinged for a high tackle on Fulgence Ouedraogo and went to the bin. The penalty kick from Elissalde was easy, and so Wales went in 9-6 at the break, but with the prospect of starting the second half with only 14 men.

The French came out with all guns blazing, but tried to play too much rugby. They gave away a penalty very close to their own line. Hook took the kick from out wide; it wasn’t quite on target.

Then Les Bleus were making ground again, but ferocious Welsh tackling kept their line firm. Gethin Jenkins clashed heads with a Frenchman and France won another penalty – Elisslade levelled the score at 9-9.

Henson returned a minute or tow later, much to the relief of the crowd. The Welsh were desperate for some possession in order to make headway. Shane Williams broke away, passed to Martyn Williams and worked upfield. France regained after a Welsh chip ahead.

In the 60th minute, the stadium erupted when France spilled the ball, and Shane Williams fell onto the ball just under the posts. It was his 41st try for Wales, making him the all-time try scorer for his country. The conversion by Stephen Jones [left] was a foregone conclusion – and Wales were 16-9 up.

The Welsh were fired up now, three minutes later they won a penalty 37m out from the posts. Jones’ kick was good again and Wales were 19-9 up.

France’s Vincent Clerc made a break and the Welsh fumbled their defence. France got the put in at a 10m scrum. But the Welsh forwards weren’t buckling – they won the scrum against the head.

With almost 10 minute left, Wales gave away another penalty; Dmitri Yachvili on as a replacement, kicked the three points and it was 19-12. Not long after, Stephen Jones eroded the difference again with another penalty and Wales clawed back their 10 point advantage, 22-12.

The final nail in the French coffin came with only 5 minutes left on the clock. Mark Jones broke away and flew up the pitch to within 1m of the French line. France scrambled the defence, a bit of ping-pong, then Lee Byrne caught a phenomenal up-and-under. Martyn Williams [right] did the honours with a 20m run to slide under the posts. Stephen Jones conversion were a formality. Wales 29-12.

The last three minutes were filled with noise from their supporters. A well-deserved victory for Wales, and a great achievement to win the Grand Slam again. They have played some excellent rugby throughout the tournament and fully deserve their title. Remarkably, they only conceded 2 tries in their 5 matches this year. And what a turnaround from their lacklustre World Cup campaign a few months ago.

The ref blew up for full time and the stadium roof almost lifted off with the noise. Well done Wales.

Six Nations Game 2 – England vs Wales (19-26)

The long-anticipated Six Nations didn’t begin as Englands’ supporters would have wanted. There was early promise in the first half, and I was pleasantly surprised with the way England were playing – with some width and adventure.

The two teams traded early penalties, and then England camped in the Welsh half for a few minutes. David Strettle looked sharp and made a great break before being carted off the field injured after 13 minutes, to be replaced by Lesley Vainikolo [right], aka The Volcano. Jonny Wilkinson kicked England ahead once more to make it 6-3. Lewis Moody was another casualty and hobbled off as Tom Rees came on.

Just after the half hour, England were again in the Welsh 22, having turned over ball for the 4th time, but the try wasn’t on, so Jonny popped a drop goal to bring the lead to 9-6.

One England player who did impress me, despite the team’s loss, was new cap Luke Narraway [left]. He picked up scraps, caught high balls, charged with the ball up his jumper, took a lovely intercept of a Welsh pass, and generally made a nuisance of himself as far as the Welsh were concerned. Scrum Half Andy Gomarsall also had a pretty good game, his distribution was quick, and he made some good breaks especially in the first half.

Wales squandered a scoring opportunity around 20 minutes when a wayward pass went into touch. James Hook’s kicking wasn’t great at times, going out on the full instead of just inside the touchline. At 22 minutes, The Volcano took a great crossfield kick, challenging Mark Jones in the air, and sent a lovely pass off the floor to Toby Flood to go over the whitewash. Jonny added the conversion, and England’s lead stretched to 16-3.

There was plenty of endeavor for the rest of the half, particularly from England. Hook popped over another penalty for Wales, Wilkinson missed one for England. Paul Sackey nearly made it another 5 for England 3 minutes before half time, but the TMO judged it to have been held up by Wales, so they went in 16-6 at the break.

[Lesley Vainikolo tackled by Wales' Alix Popham and Duncan Jones]
Even at the start of the second half, depsite a raft of injuries, England looked OK, and Wales were pinged for taking out lifters in a lineout – Jonny punted the extra 3 points. But unfortunately, they were the last points the Red Rose boys managed. In the last 20-odd minutes, the wheels really came off the Sweet Chariot, Wales woke up and the game changed beyond all recognition.

The first nail in the English coffin was a penalty for Wales, bringing the score to 19-9. And another on 63 minutes, 19-12. A third nail when Mike Tindall was carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Danny Cipriani. England kicked too many balls away when they looked pretty good running with it in the first half. Jonny Wilkinson threw a terribly wayward pass, Paul Sackey tried to clear it up, but English hands knocked on in the subsequent ruck and Wales had a scrum deep in English territory. Wales put together a great passage of play switching from side to side, going through loads of phases, and Lee Byrne was the lucky recipient at the end. Hook’s conversion was sweet, and all of a sudden the scores were level at 19-all. The Welsh fans found their voice at Twickenham and Swing Low died away. 12 minutes to go. Worse was to come for English fans.

[Steve Borthwick stretches for a lineout catch]

Iain Balshaw’s clearance kick was charged down by Mike Philips, it changed hands a couple of times and Philips finished it off in the corner – after an agonising replay for the TMO. Hook struck a fantastic conversion under pressure and the Welsh were leading 19-26.

The next 8½ minutes were fast and furious as the clock ticked away. England looked disorganised and wayward. Wales kept up the pressure and it was a wonder they didn’t score again since they spent much of that time in England territory.

Unfortunately, Balshaw’s [left] pre-match detractors were proven right – particularly in the second half, when he made a couple of costly blunders and looked decidedly shakey. It was his delayed clearance kick which ultimately cost England the game, and after Wales had scored that try, the whole England team looked demoralised and lacklustre. I’d be highly surprised if he’s on the team sheet at 15 next week.

It was an extraordinary turnaround for both teams, England having looked so dominant in the first half, and Wales in the second. The Welsh deserved their win, the first at Twickenham for 20 years. And England will have to pull up their collective socks next week if further disaster is to be averted. As Italy proved earlier against Ireland, they will be far from pushovers, especially at home in the Stadio Flaminio. What can Ashton do now to inspire his team?

You can see more of my match photos here.

Six Nations Game 15 – Wales vs England (27-18)

England were caught napping in the first three minutes, when Toby Flood’s clearance kick was charged down and James Hook did the honours with hand and boot to score seven points for Wales.

Wales nearly got another before Shane Williams [left] was hauled down and England won a penalty which was quickly taken and cleared. With just eight minutes gone, Joe Worsley went off concussed, to be replaced by Magnus Lund. Then Hook had a chance at goal from just under half way and made it into double figures, 10-0.

Then Wales had another strong attack, Chris Horsman just going over the line under a pile of Welsh bodies. Hook’s wide conversion just bounced off the posts, to make the score 15-0.

England had the chance at an attacking lineout after Wales gave away a penalty. Wales knocked on to give England the scrum. They spun it out wide, and got within 2m but were getting very slow ball.

With over 30 minutes on the clock, James Hook went for a drop goal but it went wide. Possession seemed to be all Wales’ way. But then England managed to make a break, skipper Mike Catt was chasing his chip ahead to the line. It bounced awkwardly, missing the Welsh defence, and Harry Ellis [right] was there to clear up. Toby Flood made the conversion and England were back in the game at 15-7. Shortly after, Flood struck a drop goal to claw back another three points, taking them to 15-10.

A few minutes later, Hook added another three points for an England infringement, taking it to 18-10. But immediately after, Ellis made a great break, with Jason Robinson in support, diving over in the corner. It was a Billy Whizz trademark try. Flood didn’t make the conversion, but the score was back at 18-15 at the break.

Just after the second half started, Mike Catt went off to be replaced by Shane Geraghty. David Strettle made a break and were brought up just short, then Wales gave away a penalty. Flood’s kick levelled the score at 18-all.

Wales were caught crossing in the England half, and Flood’s huge kick down the field put them back into Welsh territory. The lineout was just about won, Ellis shipped it out to the backs but a high kick was caught by Wales, who promptly passed it out into touch. A few minutes later, they did the same thing on the other side of the pitch. England’s lineout went long and was nicked, but then Shane Williams knocked on to give England a scrum.

Wales won their own scrum in the England 22, and they were making ground, but Kevin Morgan threw a wayward pass and Mark Jones [left] was unable to take it before it went into touch.

England were back in possession and in the Welsh half when they were caught holding on. At the Welsh lineout, England infringed and James Hook took a chance at goal from 39m out. It hit the right post and was collected by George Chuter. Then England got a scrum on half way but Wales turned over possession in the loose.

With about 20 minutes to go, Hook had another chance at goal and drew ahead at 21-18. England won some good ball fom the restart but an interception put Wales back in the England 22 with a throwin. Then they were up at 5m with a lineout throw. Gough took the ball cleanly, and England were on the defensive. The forwards were picking and driving but were still 2m from the line when Hook took another drop goal, to make it 24-18.

Hook then made a great break but couldn’t manage to pass without knocking on. Meanwhile Dwayne Peel was replaced by Mike Philips [right]. England got a bit more possession, but it seemed to be coming out slowly, when Shaun Perry knocked on. Wales then had another go at goal, pulling away to make it 27-18 with eight minutes to go.

No more points were added, despite England attempting to make ground in the dying minutes. At last, Wales had a win to avoid the Wooden Spoon. Hook’s 22 points made him Man of the Match.

Or, read my ten word review.

Six Nations Game 3 – Wales vs Ireland (9-19)

The Irish made a dream start with Hooker Rory Best [left] going over in the corner in the first minute. The conversion went wide, but it fired up the men in green and Wales had to sit up and take notice.

There was some fast and furious passing with plenty of ground being made on both sides. Wales seemed to have a good spell but didn’t manage to turn in any points apart from Stephen Jones‘ penalties.

Brian O’Driscoll [right] finished off a great phase of play to score in the corner, dragging a couple of Welsh tacklers with him over the line. Great strength!

Ireland went in 3 points up at the break, 9-12.

Early in the second half, rookie Welsh winger Chris Czekaj [left] was denied in the corner, by an early tackle from an Irish defender, but the ref awarded a scrum to Ireland (Czekaj having lost the ball forward), and the Irish came off lucky.

The two teams put each other under pressure for spells in the second half. Wales made a break from a slightly fumbled Irish lineout, and made good headway up the pitch, but lost it forward and gave away a scrum.

Shortly after, Ronan O’Gara made a big break, but it ultimately came to nothing. One worry was O’Driscoll pulling up with a hamstring tweak, but he was back on his feet soon after.

They kept the tempo up. Ireland’s forwards kept pounding the Welsh defence, but were turned over and Wales made some great ground. James Hook’s attempted drop goal fell just short, which was a great pity as they deserved the points for their persistence.

At one point, Denis Hickey went off the field with blood pouring down his face, having caught a stud in the head. But a few stitches later, he was back on wearing a scrum cap and running round like nothing had happened.

Ireland’s forwards continued to pound the Welsh defence, coming up just short of the tryline. They got another chance with a scrum but Wales won a vital turnover. The clearance kick came back into Irish hands and the green advanced again. Eventually, O’Gara managed another brilliant score in the corner, and managed to convert his own from way out wide.

The Welsh immediately hit back from a lineout, and Czekaj almost made it to the line, but was just bundled into touch just short. A few furious minutes from both sides, but they couldn’t put any more points on the board.

I felt sorry for the Welsh, everyone played their hearts out for the full 80 minutes, but Ireland were just that little bit luckier when it mattered. Great game, even though there was only the one score in the second half.

Or read my Ten Word Review.