So we’re half was through the autumn test series with Wales 2-0 down following losses to Australia and South Africa.
I've been fortunate enough to attend both games so far, although with the WRU’s new ticket pricing structure I had to sell my collection of Max Boyce albums and ma and pa’s caravan in Tenby to pay for one. My reward for this sacrifice was a half-decent seat in the top tier, a perfect vantage point from which to see the many sparsely populated sections of the stadium.
Chernobyl - Still more populated than the south stand for the Australia game
There’s been plenty of sage views on why the ticket uptake has been so poor. Whatever the details are, the general reason is money. Cold hard dirty cash. If tickets are £50+, by the time you’ve added on traveling, a bit of food, booze, it’s easily a £100+ day, and that’s assuming you’re not taking the family along! The monthly budget is being squeezed, and to some people, watching Adam Jones galloping along with his sweaty curly locks flowing majestically behind him, is not as important as eating.
This or food. That's your choice.
The decision to put ticket prices up at this time, for people to watch Wales play teams they are, if we’re honest, likely to lose to, displays an incredible lack of understanding on the part of the WRU of the fans they’re selling to.
Typical Welsh rugby fan according to the WRU
But that’s the small business side of things, what about the big business side, what about the rugby?
1st Test - Australia (16 - 25)
The first test was decided by Australia's backs, who were simply too good for Wales. There was some admirable defending from some of the Welsh backs, but when they had the ball they never seemed to really test the Aussies. The one truly bright point for Wales was the performance in the scrum, where they obliterated an admittedly weak Australian pack, but sadly they lacked the same sort of dominance in the line-out, Wales’ perennial Achilles heel. The score was not an embarrassment (as some recent ones have been), and with a few breaks it would have been closer, but to say that Wales deserved a win would be pure one-eyed fan delusion, Australia were the better team and deserved the victory.
2nd Test - South Africa (25 - 29)
Lordi dordi, where to start? Well the beginning is usually best. The atmosphere was an improvement on last week largely thanks to the roof being closed, and I couldn't hear myself singing during the anthems, which is a bonus. But following a rousing rendition of the anthems, Wales started the game by quickly conceding 3-points to the Boks. At this I sank down in my seat a little and thought to myself ‘here we go again, another romp home for South Africa’. But then, as if guided by the spirit of Gareth Edwards himself (he’s capable of astral projection), Wales took control of the game, repeatedly puncturing the flimsy SA defense and going on to cross the try line twice. Would you believe it, they finished the half 17-9 up!
What a tremendously riveting first half. I am greatly anticipating the second half.
At half-time I dared to dream...
I was in the unfinished stadium 11 years ago when Wales recorded their first and only victory against South Africa, was I about to witness another one of those oh so rare occurrences? In another 40 minutes would we be dancing and signing in the bars around Westgate Street and St. Mary’s Street, united by a triumphant joy borne from an inspired victory over those hard men, the current world champions, South Africa? Would we drink late into the night, recounting and reliving the tries that had been scored, talking of George North’s incredible debut and whatever drama and excitement would come in the second half, bringing ecstasy to our hearts starved of victory and volume to our voices withered by defeat?
Would we fuck.
South Africa came out with that hard nosed winning mentality back in place and smashed Wales off the park, achieving a quite remarkable come back. Those Welsh fans who are desperate, and or in denial, will point to questionable refereeing decisions, lacking a bit of luck or the need to just have a couple more kicks go over as reasons for the loss. But really, deep down, Wales lost it mentally. It was as if being rather comfortably ahead and outplaying one of their bogey teams was too incredible to be true, the discipline started to slip, crazy passes started to be chucked about and little penalties began to crop up.
"GWWWARRRGGH" - Translation; I'm rather keen to win this game
This is not to denigrate South Africa’s comeback, it was truly remarkable, but I can’t help but feel that the game was Wales to lose, and they threw it away. It’s as if they don’t believe they’re allowed to beat the Southern Hemisphere sides convincingly, if at all. In contrast England lack this psychological enfeeblement, they don't see themselves as a second rate side, which they have been for the last few years. As a result they stuffed Australia, weren’t too far behind against New Zealand, and if they finish the first half 17-9 up against South Africa next weekend, I’ll bet all the Brains beer in Wales they wont go on to lose the game.
Okay I take that back, I bet all the Worthington in Wales. We don’t want it anyway, it’s shit beer.
So where do we go from here? A shaky (but hopefully entertaining) win over Fiji, then a convincing win by New Zealand is most likely. Especially if the latter play like they did against Scotland. Mercy!
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