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have won only three Tests at Twickenham in the 24 years since professionalism, but under Warren Gatland, routs have been replaced by hard-earned respect.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
excellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 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
12 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.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to comments