I must admit I was very nervous about this game, especially when I saw the pre-match conditions at Parc y Scarlets. It was your typical lovely winter’s night in Llanelli! The wind was up there and the rain was driving in almost horizontally. It played right into the hands of the giant Georgians.
There was plenty of youth in the Wales side which I was pleased to see and I thought Louis Rees-Zammit, James Botham and Johnny Williams all had decent games. I’ve banged the drum for Louis to play for a long time now and he had a really good match.
It was not a night for wingers, but he finished his try really well and also defended very stoutly. He did the basics like kicking very well indeed and he can be very pleased with his night’s work.
I couldn’t believe Botham started the match. What a rise he has had. I’m not sure what he was doing on the wing so often if I am honest. If I’d been a winger playing in the match, I’d have told him to get lost and go and do what he does best in the tight exchanges.
When he did get involved, James was excellent. There was a lot of talk about his famous family in the build up to this game, but we must let him carve out his own career. I’m sure the family will be very proud and I thought there was even going to be a debut Botham try when he raced clear down the wing. Well done James and I’m sure there is more to come.
More about Williams now. He has an amazing story to tell having survived and beaten testicular cancer and he was excellent against Georgia and deserves to keep his place.
This story is from the November 22, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 22, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.