Posted by If someone had suggested a fortnight ago that, two rounds into the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, Cymru would be taking two losing bonus points from games against Scotland and England, I’d probably have taken that if I’m honest.
With the level of the squad rebuild going on after the retirement and unavailability of so many experienced and quality players, the results were never going to be particularly important in real terms, but for the casual fan that remains all that matters. So to be in both games come the final 10 minutes is a positive to get everyone onboard through this rough period.
It’s individual and team progression that are the key for Warren Gatland’s side during this Championship, and I thought at Twickenham there were obvious signs of both.
From a team perspective it was an improved performance from an emotional and intensity point-of-view as the men in red were at the required level from the first minute, after the slow start suffered in Cardiff the week prior. Territory was difficult to come by, but the defensive work was second to none as England struggled to turn pressure into points.
Then as the game opened up Cymru were able to display some attacking flair in a fascinating battle between our more expansive attacking game plan, and the home side’s new Felix Jones coached out-to-in blitz defence. Ioan Lloyd’s kick passes were met with moderate success, but they set up the opportunity for Gareth Thomas and Tommy Reffell to combine with an inside pass to release Tomos Williams and put Alex Mann over for a fantastic try.
A functioning lineout certainly aided that ability to retain possession and ask questions of England, but ultimately one or two small errors, particularly the quality of the tactical kicking and some decision making post-line break, just didn’t allow Gatland’s men to kick on and claim what would have been a famous win at “HQ”.
On an individual level though that experience of being competitive in the final throws of a test match will be of huge benefit for a lot of the players. When you consider that some of the players in key positions; Ioan Lloyd at 10, Cam Winnett at 15, have hardly been in that position for their club let alone their country, it’s something they can learn a lot from.
They still performed admirably, Winnett in particular appears to the manor born, while other young or new players Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins, Alex Mann and Rio Dyer continue to impress. They are then boosted by some names who have struggled for minutes in recent times but are excelling this campaign as Elliot Dee and Tommy Reffell backed up strong showings against Scotland.
That learning curve and looking for positives will continue in earnest for Cymru with the unenviable task of going to Ireland after the first fallow weekend. Andy Farrell’s side are Grand Slam Champions-elect after a statement win in France and a dismantling of Italy, largely running the squad that earned the title last year with the exception of Jack Crowley slotting seamlessly into fly-half.
It’ll take a monumental effort from our boys to remain competitive for 80 minutes in Dublin, but as long as they show elements of individual growth then it can still be a success for this young side, building towards getting a result out there on our return in 2026.
Cardiff Rugby Life 