Rugby / Six Nations

Six Nations Blog

Several points to prove against Ireland

Top of the morning to ya!!!

A tip for you – although I'm sure you're already wise to it – don't listen to taxi drivers after a night out on an International weekend! Since my encounter with the doom and gloom merchant last weekend, I spent most of the week fretting because we had to win by 25 points or so. I was really chuffed when I worked out that it's only by 13 points to win the Championship. I reckon we've got a real chance there.

New blogging location!

I'm writing this in the brand new library in Cardiff, which is very different to the dodgy Internet caff I've spent most of my time in, I must say. I'm sitting at the computer, surrounded by books, with the sound of some piano playing echoing through the library – very posh!

Grand Slam Saturday

Well, Grand Slam Saturday is tomorrow! By the end of the weekend, the Six Nations Championship will be over for another year (aargh!), but Wales are still in the race to finish at the top of the table. We're starting to get used to this, bois!! What do you think about Gatland's comments about Ireland then? He said during the week that the Welsh players don't like the Irish players very much. It strikes me as a very strange thing to say. Maybe he's trying to wind the Irish team up, but I have to say, it's the last thing I would have thought he'd want to do!! It's like what happened in the football match last weekend between Man Utd, and Liverpool, when Wayne Rooney said he hated Liverpool, and what happened? Liverpool came out to prove a point and won 4-1 at Old Trafford!! Hope nothing like that happens at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow!!

Great team selection

I'm really pleased with the team Gatland has chosen/ There's loads of experience in the side, with nearly everyone showing a flash of real talent during the first four games. I'm especially looking forward to see Henson and Shanks having a chance to renew their partnership in midfield. Shanklin is playing brilliantly at the moment, and I heard a statistic in the week that Henson has never been on the losing side in a Northern Hemisphere match. Hope that remains true tomorrow. For the first time in several seasons as well, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll has regained some of the spark that he had at the beginning of his international career. He's had a great Championship so far, but the game against Wales will be the hardest yet, I'm sure. Shanklin and Henson have managed several times to limit O'Driscoll's movements, especially in 2005 when Wales won the Grand Slam. This will be key this weekend.

The Big 8

The front row had a hard time playing Italy, so it's good to see Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins returning to the team, with Ian Gough in the second row to add his weight and technique in the scrum. Any forward will tell you that this is that games are won and lost in the front eight and this will be especially true tomorrow. Wales will have to win that battle to win the game, and perhaps for some individuals to ensure their place on the Lions' tour of South Africa in the summer. A good platform for the backs to get quick, clean ball will allow Wales to show everyone the brilliant open game we know they can play!! But we'll have to take every opportunity to win by more than 13 points.

Busy weekend

I've got a couple of mates coming to stay in the flat over the weekend, and once again, the plan is to watch the game in a city centre pub. We'll have to get there good and early to get a good spot in the pub, I'm sure. I still haven't managed to get a ticket as you can see – maybe something to do with the fact that I haven't finished paying for the trip to France!! Best go – the piano-playing is really getting on my nerves; maybe I prefer the weird man swearing in the Internet caff after all!! Speak to you Sunday – for the last time. No tears, please…

POB LWC CYMRU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rhys

This blog has been translated from Welsh.