It has been a very disappointing 12 months and my hope is that not only the health of the nation but also the wellbeing of the team will improve dramatically in 2021.
With the coronavirus vaccine around the corner, we will hopefully see fans back in stadiums for the Six Nations. By the same token, Wales as a team also needs a shot in the arm.
It was a morale-boosting way to finish with a win over Italy. Losing was not an option as the Azzurri are no great shakes. Wales did the job and now they need to take that form and momentum into the Six Nations which will arrive very quickly once Christmas and New Year is done.
At one stage I was very worried about the Italy game, especially when they went ahead in the second half. All those memories of losing to the Azzurri in 2007 started coming back... that was certainly one to forget!
In the end, Wales did enough and we have to hand plaudits for the win to Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau who were just brilliant. They are world-class rugby players – we all know that – and they certainly delivered against the Italians.
Wales have struggled this autumn – you can’t get away from that – but part of the reason they have done so, in my opinion, is because their experienced players have either not been fully fit or not firing on all cylinders.
It was no coincidence for me that Wales ended up with a decent enough win against Italy because the likes of Justin, Taulupe, George North and Tomas Francis all had excellent games.
I was really disappointed to see Johnny Williams pull out at the 11th hour with a hamstring injury. For me, Johnny has been the find of the autumn.
He is a powerful ball carrier who gets Wales over the gain line time and time again. He is my 12 for the start of the Six Nations.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin December 06, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin December 06, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.