Welsh Rugby

Rugby in Wales is a religion. Wales team Rugby players are worshipped like Hollywood A-List celebrities. Do they deserve this celebrated status? Well, as a rugby fan who was a teenager in the seventies when the whole team was made up of Welsh rugby legends such as Barry John, Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Ray Gravelle I will confess to sucking a deep lungful of air through my teeth when asked this question. Since the golden days of the seventies we have had the occasional bright light in players such as Jonathan Davies and Scott Gibbs and many fans will argue a case for Mark Ring to be included among the list of the exceptionally talented, but we simply haven't had a team of legends since. Actually, a team of legends is a big ask and achieving legendary status only happens with the passing of time. That said, have we a team of "potential" legends in 2011? Well, Shane Williams has now cemented legendary status and I will argue the same for Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins, but after those players I find myself chewing over the question... James Hook certainly has, many would argue "had", the potential to achieve legendary status, whilst Gavin Henson will achieve legendary status after having played very few games for Wales. Both those players are immensely talented, whilst, I would argue, that talent has been wasted. James Hook has been played out of position almost his entire career and Gavin Henson, whilst settling comfortably into the role of inside centre, was used as a full back too often which eroded his confidence, plus the fact he wasn't liked by the worst Welsh coach in living memory, Gareth Jenkins, and that shattered his confidence. Henson is a confidence player who need his ego massaged and, whilst many will say "to hell with the guy!" I say, many of the genuine stars in every sport are a bit prima donna-ish and have fairly fragile egos. In most sports this is understood and these rare talents are well looked after, but in Welsh rugby, when a star gets a little egocentric they tend to get knocked down a peg or two pretty sharpish. I, personally, would prefer to see a rugby player strutt with confident arrogance as it means they have to live up to it and play their best.

So now we have a new crop of talented players strutting their already considerable stuff! Players such as George North who is already establishing himself as a Welsh legend and Sam Warburton who plays with real dynamic intent and looks to charge down any opposition and Dan Lydiate who plays with heart and soul and has demonstrated a considerable developing talent and let us not forget Jamie Roberts who is a big man who can punch big holes and is still only 25. In my opinion the future looks good. Now, with Rhys Priestland at fly-half firing up Jamie Roberts at inside centre we may see Wales have a long and lasting winning streak that challenges the team of the 70's for greatness! Or am I dreaming... again... ;) ... Afterall, it is only in winning teams where legends are truly born...

Welsh Regions

Without central contracts, the regions have to play their part and support Gatland now. Fitness levels have been proven to be key and it is important those fitness levels are maintained. Also, who will be first choice fly-half now at Scarlets? Priestland being first choice for Wales should mean he is first choice at his region for confidence and experience, especially in the big pressure games. Halfpenny needs to be first choice full-back at Blues now. I would also urge the Ospreys to give Matthew Morgan lots more game time than he's getting as he is a great contender for the Welsh 10 shirt and may even be first choice at the next World Cup, but only if he gets game time in the potision at his region. And, lastly, I would like to see Sam Warburton rewarded for this World Cup with the captainsy of the Blues.

And when we look to the regions we see a host of youth coming through who are going to challenge for shirts in key positions. Warburton is already considered world class and he deserves all the accolades, but Justin Tipuric is already proving a player of similar qualities and we are spoilt for choice at scrum-half with a queue of players pushing eachother for the label "first choice". At fly half we have Jason Tovey and, as I've already mentioned, Matthew Morgan emerging strongly... And if the injury that dare not mention its name was to happen!! *whisper* *George* then we have another big explosive player in the wings (pardon the pun) in the Blues winger Alex Cuthbert... The future looks bright! The future looks Wales!!! :)

Tim Rees