So we are finally underway

Rugby World Cup 2015 was launched last night at a packed Twickenham.

The cold hard facts are that England beat Fiji 35-11 and achieved a bonus point win despite a very scrappy performance, in a game that lost all flow, not helped by the constant TMO referrals

But enough of that, the capacity crowd created a party atmosphere and a racket that must have had the locals reaching for the Twickenham councils anti social noise phone helpline

Surely never has the bastion of English rugby rocked to “Sweet Caroline” which nearly drowned out John Inverdale and Clive Woodward, sadly it wasn’t quite loud enough

The opening ceremony had shades of London 2012. The film montage showing Prince Harry in one of his more acceptable fancy dress outfits, not quite James Bond and Her Majesty, but still a double take moment

ITV’s coverage was reasonable enough and inevitably, given the circumstances. A bit of an England “love-in” with Wilkinson, Dallagio and Woodward lined up in the studio like a very stern parole board

But hey it’s early days we will all be back for more today

As we crammed into a capsule on the London Eye on Monday evening, there stood at the front was an imposing figure, in a red T shirt, a man who is adored by the people of his country, Wales, and I am one of his people.

The phrase national treasure is an overused one these days but in Adam Jones case it couldn’t be more apt

A South African TV crew took the first interview, I could see them struggling to comprehend his delightfully gentle Abercrave drawl, they may have put subtitles on their piece for the folks back home when it is aired.

As the film lights went out and the cameras were packed away, the only two Welshmen in the capsule shook hands

High above the Thames, we asked each other the first question any respectable Welshman will ask another, when they first meet “where you from ” .?

Rugby World Cup took a back seat  as we discussed my Auntys house in “Ystradgynlais” just down the road from Adams home village of Abercrave

He looks fit and toned, it is difficult to comprehend that his international playing days are over,  he appears to be in his prime, and his skill and experience will be a great loss to Wales in the upcoming World Cup.

He is now adjusting to life in Surrey and a career with Harlequins, as he said ‘all a bit different from back home ”

His autobiography has just been released and the book signing sessions are in full flow

As we say in Wales there is no “side” to Adam Jones, he was always the fans, or the people’s player, and when he played for Wales you felt he represented you

A gentle and apparently sensitive character , which is in total contrast to his physical appearance  ,the man is like granite on the outside,  its like hitting a wall, one slight bump of the London  Eye and I bounced off those giant shoulders like a pinball, no wonder he has ruled the scrum for so many years.

I have a theory that he was not born but “mined” from Dan-yr-ogof caves , that can be the only explanation for such solidity

I guess journalists shouldn’t have favourites but I do and I was delighted and honoured to meet one of mine

Adam will be adored at Harlequins they will take him to their hearts and as my new neighbour , I would like to wish him and his family a happy and healthy stay in leafy Surrey

i write this article in a small bar in Barcelona, it is early Sunday morning and the warm sun is shining through the doorway ,illuminating the dark wooden floors, and an aroma of strong coffee fills the air.

In 5 days time the Rugby World Cup starts, but in Catalonia it doesn’t even exist.

This distance from home has cleared my mind, It has brought home to me how much our wonderful game fills my life.

It always had, maybe I am shallow , but through all the brickbats that life has thrown at me, and there have been a few, the one constant was rugby, and the thought that at any given time, it would only be a matter of months before my beloved Wales would be playing again.

But back to RWC, through the wonders of modern technology details of every injury, every welcoming ceremony, and every newspaper souvenir supplement has made its way to me and it somehow seems even more exciting.

It takes me back to 1971, the years before Sky, and we had only just invented colour television ! The British Lions tour of New Zealand took place, and the only way for a spotty thirteen year old me to obtain coverage of the tests, was to tune in at 3am on a transistor radio , to a crackly short wave NZ radio station and listen under the bed covers ,so as not to wake the rest of the family

When I say transistor radio, it wasn’t as you imagine some ear-pieced light weight item, it was about the size of a picnic hamper, the battery alone was the size and shape of a Madeira cake, and it had a lid that acted like a mouse trap every time your tried to adjust the tuner

There were no interviews , no pictures , but my imagination produced images better than sky BT Sport and the BBC could ever hope to broadcast

But, I digress ! The game has changed beyond all recognition from those black and white halycon days, but what hasn’t is the passion, the excitement, the anticipation, the quest for tickets

I am flying home later today to more supplements , and to fine tune my training prior to Friday, when it all starts.

I’ve been tapering since 2011 so I have to fit it all in to one Pilates session on Thursday, yet I am confident of being ready

I hope you are ready, I hope you have a great RWC ,and if the ball doesn’t bounce your way in 2015, may you be spared to do it all again in Japan in 2019

Yours in rugby

Mike

Wales v Italy

Even the cover of the match day programme looked sombre and funereal, was this a portent of the events to follow in Cardiff ? as the late afternoon sun gave way to heavy clouds sweeping up the river Taff, their Colour ? black

Wales ran out the tunnel at 16:54 to flame throwers, fireworks, an expectant 50,000 crowd not in their traditional glorious scarlet shirts, but this time in their away kit, shirts with gold trim but the main colour ? black

The negative dark shade subsided fir a brief moment, at 12:35 of the first half,when a glorious break, by man of the match , Scott Williams ended in a try for George North, Black Magic.

The darkness descended as Rhys Webb, after ten minutes of treatment on the pitch , was stretchered off taking in oxygen to ease the pain ,the atmosphere in the stadium changed completely, the mood turned…. Black

From then on in, we all just wanted the game to pass quickly with no further injury, but the worst was yet to come.

As Leigh Halfpenny ran for a loose ball his studs appeared to get caught in the turf, and his already heavily bandaged knee gave way as he collapsed onto the green grass.

Another black moment perhaps the blackest of all !

On the stadium big screen we all saw his knowing look, the look of a man, whom after months of hard work, has had his World Cup dream shattered.

His eyes were filling up as the sweat and tears cascaded down on to his shirt …the colour?  black

The record books will show Wales win, but the crowds mood at the final whistle was not one of victory, of optimism, of looking forward to. rugby World Cup, our sadness was for Rhys and Leigh, and as we all as the headed out of the darkness, of the stadium with the roof firmly shut, into the late evening sunshine , the mood was Truely ….Black

Ok , so I’m about to get kicked out of journalism school, if was even allowed admission in the first place !

Rule one,  watch the game you’re reporting on, the game you are attending……,,, FAILED !

Let me explain , I am Welsh, now for some people that is reason enough, but let me continue.

I decided to set up my iPad in the corner  of my place in the press box, to keep half an eye on Ireland v Wales in Dublin, you see underneath this journalistic front is a basic no nonsense Wales fan, I got so engrossed in Wales wonderful display ,that my report headed toward the horizon with its bottom on fire

The Olympic stadium itself looked a great venue , early problems with wifi were soon overtaken by the pitch sprinkler system, these problems will be rectified by the time the Rugby World Cup starts ,but fans complained that the venue ran out of beer, and there was nowhere to get a coffee

So if I get expelled from journalism school , thank you for your following, and in the mean time, here are some photos of the sprinkler system going mental

Oh by the way the Barbarians won 27-24 I think !

The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is being transformed ahead of hosting its first ever Rugby match.
The Stadium will host Barbarians v Samoa on Saturday, enabling final operational testing at the venue ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015 matches next month. Rugby posts were this week erected in the Stadium as well as pitch markings being put in place ready to welcome players and fans to the Stadium on August 29.
Along with the installation of the goal posts and flag poles, the Field of Play has been marked out in accordance with Laws of the Game this week, creating the final important update to the Stadium, and completing the transition from an athletics-only stadium to a multi-purpose venue. From September 23, some of the world’s best players and teams, including current Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand, will take to the turf at the iconic venue.

Steve Brown, Managing Director of England Rugby 2015 said: “The Stadium is a tremendous venue and we’re delighted to see its transformation into a Rugby Stadium ahead of its first ever Rugby match on August 29 which will serve as an opportunity for final testing ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015. Many will remember witnessing some thrilling sporting performances at this venue in 2012 and we hope to build on these with world-class Rugby and entertainment to provide spectators with long-lasting memories.”
To deliver a consistent look and feel across all venues during Tournament Time, guidelines have been implemented to ensure aspects such as grass length & the mowing pattern are consistent, and this will be visible at the stadium this Saturday. In addition, England Rugby 2015 has provided pitch equipment to the venue ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015 including; branded post pads, flag poles, branded flag pole pads and moon flags.
David Goldstone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “It’s tremendously exciting for the first Rugby match to be about to kick off in our fantastic multi-use Stadium. The match will be a wonderful way to welcome the world’s greatest rugby teams and their fans to East London, and we are really looking forward to Rugby World Cup matches that will follow soon after.”
Sir Robin Wales. Mayor of Rugby World Cup 2015 Host City Newham, said: “We showed during the 2012 Games that we can create a festival atmosphere. Newham is looking forward to welcoming great Rugby players from across the world to a transformed Stadium that will offer the best possible experience for competitors and spectators alike.”
Alongside changes to the Stadium’s inner bowl, fans can expect to see a number of updates to the exterior of the Stadium during Rugby World Cup 2015 including a large spectator plaza with live on-stage entertainment and giant LED screens to entertain fans ahead of matches and during half time.

Rugby World Cup 2015 matches at the Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Wednesday September 23 – France v Romania, 20:00

Thursday September 24 – New Zealand v Namibia, 20:00

Sunday October 4 – Ireland v Italy, 16:45

Wednesday October 7 – South Africa v USA, 16:45

The inaugural Rugby World Cup took place in 1987, but if the tournament had commenced fifteen years earlier maybe, just maybe, the final would have been between arguably the two best teams in the world at the time, Wales and New Zealand.

The two sides faced each other at Cardiff Arms Park on December 2 1972, in front of 50,000 spectators, as part of the seventh All Blacks winter tour to the UK and France.

New Zealand had already tasted defeated in Wales when Llanelli led by Delme Thomas won 9-3 at Stradey Park on October 31st,  Thomas was made captain of Wales for this match, the only time he led his country.

In torrential rain, Wales struggled to get into the game, Maori full back Joe Karam kicked two penalties in the opening eight minutes to give the All Blacks a 6-0 lead.

After eighteen minutes Sid Going kicked ahead, and after receiving the ball from the resulting ruck, worked it out to prop Keith Murdoch who drove through the Welsh defence, and despite being tackled his momentum took him over for a try,

Joe Karam missed the conversion but kicked another penalty soon after, followed by one from Phil Bennett on twenty two minutes, to give the All Blacks a 13-3 half time lead.

Five minutes into the second half, a tackle on Sid Going forced him to spill the ball, Wales moved the ball quickly to left wing John Bevan who sprinted 40 yards to score in the corner.

Phil Bennett missed the conversion, but gave Wales another three points after kicking a penalty four minutes later, taking the score to Wales 10 New Zealand 13.

Karam and Bennett exchanged penalties to make it 13-16 to the men in black, before Delme Thomas and Barry Llewellyn got in each others way resulting in a penalty to give Karam a shot at goal resulting in another three points for the visitors, extending their lead to 13-19.

With eleven minutes to go Delme Thomas caught a drop out just outside the NZ twenty five, and fed the ball to JPR Williams ,the full back drove for the corner, was half tackled, but grounded the ball to score what looked like a perfectly good try but referee Johnson, of England, deemed that the good doctor had made a double movement and awarded NZ a penalty.

The Welsh pack were totally dominant at this point and New Zealand were under the cosh and looking exhausted.

With 78 minutes on the clock the All Blacks were getting more and more desperate as Wales launched attack after attack, which they could only repel with a series of obstructions and late tackles, Phil Bennet kicked a penalty to bring Wales within three points.

Another late tackle by the All Blacks in injury time, gave Phil Bennett a penalty attempt to draw the match, the kick drifted wide, and New Zealand emerged as victors 19-16.

In Ancient Rome the colour red symbolised blood and courage, whilst in China, it is regarded as a vibrant optimistic colour symbolising success, happiness and warmth, along with good luck and wealth.

In Wales the colour red has been a symbol of our nationality, and heritage, the Red Dragon on our national flag, the red shirted heroes of our national rugby team.

But on a damp night at Eden Park, Auckland, on 15 October 2011, the colour red came to symbolise the end of a glorious dream, the cruel twist of fate that cost Wales the place in a Rugby World Cup final for the first time in their history.

With Nineteen minutes on the clock, Sam Warburton upended France’ Vincent Clerc, referee Alain Rolland pulled a card from his pocket, the colour ? Red.

Disbelief, anger, sadness, helplessness emotions we all felt as a result of that colour red.

As Sam sat hunched near the touchline, holding back the tears, swathed in his tracksuit top, the colour red, the colour symbolised a young man showing dignity in the face of adversity, in the biggest game of his, and his country’s life

Maybe the colour red will, on 26 February , be the colour in which we Welsh will paint the town 

To begin at the beginning
Last week I went home, when I Say home, I mean Wales, West Wales to be precise.
I thought a visit to the home of Dylan Thomas would inspire me to produce some wonderful poetic articles , sadly none of the great writers magic appears to have rubbed off.
In Laugharne, where a wi-fi signal is as rare as rocking horse droppings, I woke up to misty mornings, where the only sounds were the cry of the curlew and the swift, swooping over the foreshore, as the hills, shrouded in a thin layer of mist welcomed the morning sun
This was my World Cup training camp, fuelled by latte’s and chips, my cryotherapy regime consisted of chilling my Sauvignon blanc to a temperature well below freezing.
Healthy dietary intake proved almost impossible in my training camp by the “sloeblack ,slow black, crow black, fishing-boat bobbing sea”
As a result, the quest for salad items ironically proved to be the fitness boost my ageing body desperately required.
The adrenalin fuelled walks to the Spar shop, at the crack of dawn, in an attempt to get to the single lettuce, that daily appeared on the shelves, was a cardio vascular workout of immense proportions
Whilst in the land of my fathers , the quest for 2015 Rugby World Cup began.
Wales, or a team that wore Welsh shirts lost to Ireland, their performance was dismal and as a result the whole squad were forced to travel to North Wales by Arriva trains on the following Monday, a rather harsh punishment in my opinion

Forget Dohar and Switzerland, the mental strength needed for this ordeal cannot even be measured.
I can only imagine that every plastic coated piece of fruit cake and every cup of Nescafé Rocky Mountain granulated coffee was consumed, no protein shake can replicate the effect those products have on an athletes body

I think the squad arrived in North Wales on the Thursday but don’t quote me on that.
As Wales prepare for further warm up matches in Dublin and Cardiff, my training camp is over and I have returned to England in readiness for the tournament.

So as the Rugby World Cup beckons will Wales go gently out of Pool A or will they rage rage against the dying of qualification against England and Australia and reach the promised land of the quarter final stages.
It would be poetic justice, after 2011, if they did just that, and More.

  
By 1974 I had seen almost every rugby playing nation, in the flesh, apart from one exception, and a very major exception at that !

South Africa, and Springbok rugby had been shunned by the world due to their government’s policy of apartheid, hence the Springboks had not played in Wales, or the UK since 1970, a period of some twenty-four years.

In 1970,Gareth Edwards slid over in the Cardiff mud to give Wales a 6-6 draw with South Africa, Wales had played the Boks 7 times, lost 6 and drawn 1, not a great record, and that was the last we saw of them on these shores.

As a child in Wales, the South African team were thought of as huge brutal men, playing rugby on the high veld, on bone-hard pitches and battering everyone in sight, the only team that could possibly match them were the All Blacks, and a match between those two sides was always regarded as the World championship decider, akin to Ali and Frazier.

I had seen grainy footage, and press reports of Oke Geffin, Dawie De Villiers, Jan Ellis, Avril Malan, Syd Nomis etc etc, and had caught some footage of Naas Botha playing in the cape but I had a burning desire to see one of the greatest rugby nations in the world with my own eyes.

So for me the twenty-four year wait, on top of a lifetime of tales passed on by uncles just made the men in green take on an even more mystical air, and my anticipation was at fever pitch.

So, at Cardifff Arms Park on 26 November 1994, a somewhat unknown, to me anyway !, South African team took the field to a standing ovation, little did we know that the following year, the bulk of this side would lift the Rugby World Cup, and their names etched in rugby history, and indeed social and world history for ever.

On that dark November day, my world was lit up by a young 26-year-old  from Transvaal, Francois Pienaar, leading out the bottle green jerseys with the gold Springbok on the left breast glinting in the murky Cardiff gloom.

Now I have cried at many rugby matches, the tears I have shed for Wales are immeasurable, but this time I cried for South Africa and the realisation of a dream.

Wales sent in to a 12-0 lead, through four Neil Jenkins penalties, and actually led 12-10 as the match entered its final quarter, but in the end tries by Strauli, Joubert and Chester Williams, along with Hennie Le Roux’s conversion and penalty, gave South Africa a 20-12 win.

As I look at the match programme, in front of me now as I write, I see a team of men, of whom so many individual stories,of heartbreak, and joy were to be revealed as the years unfolded.

Images of Francois Pienaar, who I was lucky to meet many years later, and Nelson Mandela at RWC 1995  will forever be part of twentieth century history.

  
Unfortunately sad tales also ensued, with Ruben Kruger being taken from us far too early, and the courageous, inspiring, and yet heartbreaking sight, of Joost Van der Westhuizen battling with motor neurone disease even as I write this article.

I have seen many more Wales v South Africa clashes since that day, including one at Wembley stadium, whilst the Millennium Stadium was being built in 1998, and the great names have continued, Andrews, Botha, Matfield, Smit, Burger, Teichman, Skinstad, Habana, Smith, and I could go on and on….and usually do !

So as the 2015 Rugby World Cup edges ever closer, I am looking forward to see how the current batch of Boks, perform on these shores, and as I watch, I will pay homage to that very special day in Cardiff thirty one years ago.