The end of the routing era at Twickenham
Wales have won only three Tests at Twickenham in the 24 years since professionalism, but under Warren Gatland, routs have been replaced by hard-earned respect.
My grandfather hailed from Nantymoel, in the Ogmore Valley, north of Bridgend, and often headed for Twickenham in the 1920s and 30s where not even the brilliance of Wilf Wooller, Vivian Jenkins and the mesmeric Cliff Jones could disrupt a period of English dominance. After one particularly painful loss, he swore TW2 was no place for a Welshman in defeat. “That place is where dreams are buried,” he intoned, gravely to my father. It’s probably the reason my father made it to the home of English rugby only in his seventies, not to watch England, of course, but a Varsity match.
That maxim has wrung out on several occasions since the advent of professionalism for those of a Welsh persuasion.
Who can forget England hitting the 60-point barrier for the first time in 1997? An aberration? Sadly not. At the turn of the millennium, England’s ascendancy was such that visits to Twickenham could only be attempted with blind optimism or a heavy alcohol intake. Between 2000 and 2002 in the Six Nations, England, led by Will Greenwood’s peroxide-blond mop, ran amok. Wales shipped 150 points, with only 37 points in return. When it came to World Cup warm-ups, the English didn’t do charity in Cardiff, either. The memory of Dorian West beaming like a Cheshire cat after scoring England’s sixth try, after Wales’ 43-9 drubbing in 2003, still chills those of a Celtic leaning to the bone.
The mother of all humiliations, however, came on August 4, 2007 when a Gareth Jenkins-led Wales rocked up to South-West London’s leafy environs for a World Cup warm-up game. In front of 66,000 sun-drenched fans, in the wilting heat, an experimental Wales side featuring Lee Byrne, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas and a young lock called Alun Wyn Jones were routed. More Wales squad members played themselves out of a plane to France than on it. Some saw their Wales careers irrevocably shortened.
It was an insipid, disjointed, dispiriting display. Nick Easter had a blast behind a dominant English pack, scoring four-tries – equalling George Burton’s record as a forward, again, against Wales in 1881. Such was the English eight’s dominance that Easter only ran about 10 metres for his tally. Indeed, if ‘Minty’ had wanted to spark up a cigar, take in his surroundings and wave to friends in the crowd, an overpowered Welsh pack would have been powerless to stop him. It was a joyous afternoon to be England fan; Jonny Wilkinson passed 900 Test points, and Wales’ tormentor-in-chief, Lawrence Dallaglio, showed his readiness for World Cup duty by bullocking over from the base of the scrum. By the time Mat Tait skipped over, the scoreboard read, 62-5. Welsh faces had turned as crimson as their jersey.
As Welsh fans staggered punch-drunk out of the stadium to top up in the nearby hostelries, a clearly shaken-up, Jenkins, tried to make sense of a calamitous afternoon by going into damage limitation mode. It didn’t bode well, and within seven weeks Wales were flying home, after a first-ever loss to Fiji, 38-34. Jenkins lasted as far as the gates of the Vale, Wales’ training base, before being relieved of his duties.
Wales, in truth, adapted to professionalism far slower than their old foes. They have won only 10 of their 31 meetings with England since 1995, and only three games in 24 years at Twickenham, all under Warren Gatland. In 2008, in a Grand Slam year. In 2012, in a Grand Slam year and 2015, in the sweetest of all victories thus ruining their hosts Rugby World Cup.
If you need reminding, for all the talk of warm-ups being meaningless, it’s pretty clear that if a side has serious designs on a World Cup – as Wales and England do – not getting pumped in the warm-ups is imperative.
The inferiority complex has been replaced by close-fought affairs under Warren Gatland, Wales, while not always victorious, have been a far more obdurate opponent for England. In 14 fixtures against England – if you exclude 2013 and 2017 when Rob Howley took the caretaker role – the points difference between the sides is +20 in favour of England – a point or two’s difference. Cigarette paper margins.
Compared to 2003 and 2007’s capitulations, the 2011 World Cup warm-up showed Wales’ stiffened resolve under Gatland. Two tries from George North and one from Shane Williams, saw Wales perform creditably at Twickenham, losing 23-19, before beating England in the return-leg in Cardiff, 19-9. It was no coincidence that a young Welsh side won many friends on their way to a first World Cup semi-final since 1987. Had Leigh Halfpenny’s penalty kick carried a metre further, they would have enjoyed their first World Cup final in Auckland. In the Gatland era, Wales have ceased to be cannon fodder for the Red Rose.
Reasons for this serendipitous upturn are myriad but it’s clear Wales have benefitted from a golden generation of players.
In 2008, Wales came fourth in the Junior World Championships. In that team, they had the spine of a Welsh side that has served Gatland for close to a decade. Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric have earned nearly 400 caps between them, and all have all played their part in winning three Grand Slams, a Six Nations title and a World Cup semi-final.
Gatland himself deserves enormous kudos. He is the most experienced coach in Test rugby, leading Wales into 115 tests, long since overtaking Sir Graham Henry’s 102 Tests with the All Blacks. His, at times, spiky public persona, which has unleashed a box of grenades over the years, hides a compassionate man-manager who treats players as adults, puts family first and on the flipside, is unafraid to take the tough calls. He has cut players who have served him so admirably adrift when he feels they’ve peaked for Wales – near Test-cap centurions, Adam Jones (95 caps), Mike Phillips (94 caps) and Jamie Roberts (94 caps) can attest to his ruthless streak. Sure Gatland has had his critics but when he bows out in Japan, he’ll know he’s set an impossibly high-bar for the incoming Wayne Pivac.
The outgoing coaching team has also played its part, none more than Shaun Edwards. A trademark of Gatland’s Wales is a mean-spirited defence and Edwards has masterminded the gutsiest rear-guard actions in Welsh history. A deep-thinker and master tactician, Edwards has been able to prise some Herculean efforts out of his players. Edwards will leave Wales for France ahead of their home 2023 World Cup and you can expect an improvement to be palpable.
Unlike my late grandfather, when Wales trot out in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham on Sunday, buoyed by 14 consecutive victories, those clad in red will not fear the ghosts of yesteryear, they will acknowledge the progress made and relish the contest ahead.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
17 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
17 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
17 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
17 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
17 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
17 Go to comments