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Neil Best - Wales to be fuelled by their Twickenham injustice next weekend

By Neil Best
Wales to be fuelled by their Twickenham injustice

It is not by muscle, speed or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character and judgment.

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The first two-week lay down in this year’s Six Nations will play differently for the teams that have started well than for those who haven’t. For one it’s a disruption in momentum, for the other chance to regroup and build – but for both, it’s an important opportunity for reflection.

As a player the cycle of forward-looking preparation and matches didn’t always provide adequate opportunity for individual or team reflection – and that was certainly true in the cauldron of the Six Nations. It’s nearly impossible to dissect what has happened without at least one eye on the challenge ahead – especially if that challenge is less than a week away.

In the 2007 Six Nations by the end of our first two games we had beaten Wales away and narrowly lost to France at home -a match that ultimately cost us a Championship and Grand Slam.

But after the two-week lay down we came roaring back and thumped England at Croke Park. The Welsh will want to fuse the memory of their absolute destruction of Scotland with their sense of injustice against England to sound their own roaring comeback in Dublin next weekend.

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Sounds good if you’re a Welsh fan? The problem for Wales is that this Irish team aren’t going to be blown away by anyone. The loss of Henshaw means Ireland are now without their three first-choice centres given Jared Payne won’t, and Gary Ringrose is highly unlikely to feature. But as has been the case with losses in other positions someone will unassumingly come in and get the job done.

Munster centre Chris Farrell is most likely to replace Henshaw with Sam Arnold’s name maybe a little more surprisingly being mentioned. Either option will have Ulster fans once again questioning some of the decision making in Belfast given both these players have been allowed to leave in recent seasons. Some might argue that the loss of Henshaw could and maybe should have opened the door for talented Ulster pair Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall, but Schmidt just doesn’t seem to be a fan.

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Fitness permitting, I expect the rest of the Ireland team to change little for the Wales match with Ryan likely to return to partner Henderson in the second row and Toner to find himself back amongst the replacements.

Ireland have momentum, Wales have a sense of injustice. Both will want to keep that going into their match in Dublin next weekend.

The Irish will go into this match knowing they can lose but expecting to win. Their confidence is shielded and fuelled by the character and judgment of Schmidt.

But ultimately this match is a bigger test for the Welsh than it is for Ireland -for the Welsh there on their second and last chance -and if they get knocked down they won’t be getting up again in this Championship.

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When you look into the abyss the abyss also looks into you.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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