The Long Road Back

It's been a long road back. In 1979 in Cardiff, following a 1978 Grand Slam, Wales retained the then Five Nations Championship with a 27-3 win over arch rivals England.  The following year, England won in Twickenham by a point on the way to a Grand Slam and the slow and horrible decline of Welsh Rugby began.  

At the Weekend, England were again on the way to a Grand Slam and arrived in Cardiff on the last day of the now Six Nations looking to seal the deal.  In a http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21818579">comprehensive 30-3 beating I've watched twice (at times with tears in my eyes!) and will watch many more times I think, Wales bettered their 1979 scorline by 3 points to achieve their biggest margin over England, and retained the title for a second year in a  row for the first time since 1979. A sweet, sweet memory I shan't ever forget.

For me, this journey back began in two bars - in Paris and Cyprus - in 1999, two decades after the decline began.  First was a rare win in Paris followed by beating England at Wembley Stadium to deny them another Grand Slam.  Neil Jenkins and Scott Gibbs were the heros then when a foundation for a rebuild was laid. 

Four years later in Sydney's Olympic Stadium, I was in the ground to see Gareth Thomas and a young Shane Williams seriously put the wind up the All Blacks in a group game of the World Cup.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/3230081.stm">The final score - 53-37 - doesn't tell the story of a game that looked for a while like one of the biggest upsets in Rugby history.  

The seeds of the 2005 Grand Slam were in that match in Sydney, I believe, and as confidence returned, talent flourished and investment grew the first of three legendary Grand Slams - in 2005, 2008 and 2012 - saw a new era begin.  After 25 years in the shaddows of the "Glory Days" of Welsh Rugby in the 70s and haunted by seemingly mythical figures like Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Barry John; a new chapter of history can now be written.

You could argue the heros of this era, like Ryan Jones, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones and Jamie Roberts, have achieved far more than their own 1970s heros.  A Grand Slam against 5 nations not 4 is a far greater feat.  A Semi-final appearance in a World Cup of course wasn't possible in the 1970s, and the World Stage was far less competitive then also.

Reports are that Wales will now grab the Lion's share of the places in this Winter's British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia.  I'll again by in Sydney's Olympic Stadium to see the pinacle of this story in Sydney as Welsh Players combine to contribute to a winning margin to avenge the defeat of 2001.  Perhaps I dare dream of something equalling *THAT* great Barbarians Try of 1973 and complete this Welsh resurgence.

3 responses
I don't know where to start. Despite JPR's heroics back then, it's difficult to imagine a full back with more talents than Leigh Halfpenny. I had the "pleasure" of playing against Gerald Davies once. It was like trying to tackle a jet-propelled ghost! How do you compare Messrs. North and Cuthbert.
I don't think I've ever seen a Welsh side more solid in defence than this. It reminds me of RAF Coltishall's motto, "Aggressive in Defence". And this front row is arguably better even than "that" front row. They have not only destroyed formidable packs this season, they sown the seeds of the oppositions' downfall.
I have long argued that the professional game has produced bigger, fitter men, but no improvement in basic rugby skills. Perhaps I have just been proved wrong!
JPR is still a hero, as are all those guys. I read an interesting examination of Welsh Rugby in the amateur era that spoke of how Welsh supremacy was down to hard labour work (in the mines etc) and how strong it made them. In many ways that hard labour has been replaced now by hard training. But you are right, the skill is not necessarily there. Its there now because of great experience, the experience of winning. 3 x grand slams = a winning habit and the hunger for victory. I dearly hope the experience and hunger of now will carry on to 2015!:)
Alun Pask, the No. 8 used train by running with a ruck sack filled with concrete on his back.