Originally Posted by Finny Skeleta:
“While a lot of the seven-weeks-a-year rugby followers in Wales still have the 'as long as we beat the English' attitude the genuine rugby fraternity has left that boorish view back in the 90s where it belongs.
The mood in Wales wasn't lifted this weekend by the fact that we beat the English; it was because we dominated from start to finish against a top 4 side in a meaningful game with everything to play for. It wasn't the colour of the opposition shirts, it was the manner of the win. If we had beaten a Slam-chasing, NZ-beating Ireland or France in the same way then the feeling would be just the same.
The problem with Wales is that since the current resurgence started ten years ago we are still behind where we should be. If you look back at what we achieved in 2005 and the quality of the players that would be coming through in the next decade then we have been performing under-par in that time. By now we should have been regularly competing with and beating Southern Hemisphere teams not to mention being regular contenders for the Six Nations.
Unfortunately there is an inbuilt tendency for self-destruction in Wales. The whole Ruddock-gate thing and the Gareth Jenkins wilderness years took a lot of the the wind out of our sails and the career trajectory of Gavin Henson is a perfect example of this problem. Wales' biggest enemy isn't England anymore, it is ourselves.
That's why this victory seems like another step up. We've done Slams; we've done winning crucial last games; we've done beating up Scotland and Italy; we've done beating England, France and Ireland relatively comfortably and we've done pushing the SH teams close. However we were doing all that back in 2005, that's why last year's slam seemed a little bit flat, we hadn't really progressed since then.
Finally administering a thumping to a top side feels like a step up. Hopefully (and I've said this three times in the last few years and it hasn't happened yet) Wales can push on from here and get to the next level. A Lions win with a healthy Welsh contingent could be the spark that helps us do that as in 1971. However it is also possible that the tour could destroy us as in 2001.”
I agree with this BUT I believe that maintaining a decent NH challenge for 2 years running IS an improvement on 2005 and 2008.
As for the SH teams, I think it is unfair to look at last summer specifically. Wales were without their coach due to injury and even with that uncertainty they only trailed by 8 points. We've pushed Australia close a few times but not as consistently as we did last year in the 3 summer games and the autumn game (losing by a total of 12 points over 4 games). I know it is still a loss but the consistency of pushing them close is something we've never been able to achieve.
The AI's were blighted with injuries - we had 18 players out with injury at one point and didn't have the strength in depth to cover it. If anything, that has always been a huge issue in Wales - strength in depth.
This six nations has shown that we are developing that, it doesn't come over night. I mean, we were missing Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies from the second row, something which caused a huge headache during the autumn, and then in the 6 nations, even missing those players, there was still a competition in those places with Andrew Coombes, Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones. The back row the same, having the pick of Aaron Shingler, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and, again, Andrew Coombes, is a priveleged position Wales hasn't found itself in in a while.
Since the RWC Wales have been developing and, yes, the autumn and the first half against Ireland were heartbreaking o watch but thery are still a great team with a developing consistency. To have not conceeded a try in 360 minutes of rugby is a phenomenal achievement for any side and certainly a record for Welsh Rugby and the confidence levels generally in the team is something that will take them on. After semi-final of the world cup, playing 60 minutes with 14 men, grand slam, 6 nations championship and 8 straight defeats have meant that this team have learned what they can achieve when they play well but also what happens when they are not, the Welsh public will criticise them and expect more from them but will back them all the way when they do achieve.
Well done Wales for a great performance against the English and well done the fans for believing that it was possible even before the game had kicked off - the mood from Wales was certainly far more positive than the mood from the English (the English I know, of course).
Onwards and upwards and here's to a fantastic Lions tour and may it contain many Welsh players, if not in the team, in the squad at least - they deserve it!