Let's Play Kick Welsh Rugby

Home » Featured, Headline, Magners league, Rants, Regions

Let’s Play Kick Welsh Rugby

No Comment

It seems a fun game, certainly Donal Lenihan seems to be enjoying himself in an unbelievably smug interview.

He said to the Western Mail

I’m a little bit surprised really at what’s been going on over there,” said Lenihan, speaking to the Western Mail.

“From this side of the water, we look at the Ospreys and Blues as the big challengers to our teams – Munster, Leinster and the like – in the league.

“The Ospreys are the sleeping giant of European rugby but you do wonder whether they are going to wake up.”

“They [the Ospreys] are the most frustrating team to watch. Every year you think they are going to be the team to beat in the Heineken Cup, but they flatter to deceive,” he explained.

“True, they, the Blues and others have been drip-feeding their international players and the Lions back into their teams, but that can’t be used as an excuse.

“I noticed six of their 22 on duty against Leinster featured in Tests for the Lions against South Africa during the summer. That demands success really.”

“The [Wales'] infrastructure is superb, they have lovely new stadiums at the Scarlets and Blues but, like the Ospreys, there were thousands of empty seats.

“The Scarlets have only moved two or three miles along the road, but they only attracted just over 6,000 for Magners title holders Munster. Why?

“There was only 7,000 at the Ospreys against European champions Leinster.

“I find those figures amazing because I thought, after the Lions tour, Welsh rugby would be buoyant with people wanting to go and watch matches.

“You would think there was a lot to build on, but it doesn’t seem to have happened so far.

“Rugby over here in Ireland is buzzing. Munster had sell-out crowds of 10,000 in Cork for both their pre-season friendlies, against Sale Sharks and London Irish. So to see the situation in Wales is a little bit worrying.”

“When people like Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, David Wallace, Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip are missing, the guys who come in see it as a chance to fight for a place,” he said.

“That puts more pressure on the Irish guys, when they come back, to perform.

“If you win tight games away, like Leinster and Munster did at the weekend, it improves the mindset of the players.”

Now is it just me or is that taking smug to a whole new level?

Firstly why is it worrying him to see the situation in Wales? As an Ospreys fan I can say that there is good reason for 7,000 fans and it has nothing to do with us not having an appetite for rugby – it’s because we don’t want to shell out £20+ on tickets to watch the turgid rubbish that the Ospreys are playing.

From a playing point of view Ireland obviously have every right to be smug, they have a Grand Slam, Heineken Cup and Magners League – but has he forgotten who Ireland won the Grand Slam off, or which ‘sleeping giant’ have won the Magners League twice?

We have problems, no question. People are free to point them out, but the manner is one of the most smug interviews I have read in a logn time. He compares the attendances to preseason games, he compares players coming through whilst the Lions are out to those doing the same in the Irish regions – but forgets that it is also happening in Welsh regions. Ken Owens anyone?

There are huge problems at our regions but Donal spectacularly misses the important points. Attendances are a symptom of the problems in Welsh rugby, not the problem in themselves. Youth players are coming through, Dan Evans, Jason Tovey, Dan Biggar, Martyn Roberts and the like aren’t far off Welsh squads after only a season or two of top level pro rugby.

The problems lay inside the regions themselves, the coaching, the attitudes and more.

But don’t worry Donal, we still remember how long you guys went without winning a Grand Slam. I’d be a bit less smug when laying into Welsh rugby if I were you. And let’s not forget a quick look at the top two in the Magners League gives a Scottish side and a Welsh side.

Did you know you could get a FREE Welsh Rugby Blog newsletter delivered straight to your inbox? Simply enter your details here.

You can also follow us on Twitter and on Facebook now. Isn't technology wonderful!