Is An Anglo-Welsh League The Future For Welsh Rugby?
Carwyn Harris
On Tuesday night, the news broke that Bristol Bears will play a home Premiership game at the Principality Stadium on the 10th of May 2025.
It was something which had been rumoured last season, in and amongst the mess which was a Wales v Barbarians clash on the same day as Scarlets hosted Cardiff in a Welsh derby.
Bristol’s opposition is yet to be decided for the first ever English Premiership match held in Cardiff.
Speaking on this week’s Sportin Wales podcast, Daily Mail journalist Alex Bywater offered the Welsh and Bristol viewpoints of the decision.
“There’s two different strands to it really,” said Bywater.
“If you look at it from a Bristol perspective, it’s a really exciting prospect. They can take their home games to a much bigger stadium and bigger audience to grow their brand.
“But the flip side is what does that mean for Welsh rugby? The short term is the Welsh Rugby Union will get a fee which we don’t know.
“The wider issue is that the Welsh regions might lose fans who go to watch the Bristol Bears game and from then on they go to watch Bristol at Ashton Gate rather than go to the Arms Park, Rodney Parade or to Ospreys and Scarlets.
“I think that’s a real and genuine concern for some people. I think there’s a debate to be had around taking the money for the game which Welsh rugby needs at the moment, against the long-term thinking in terms of the implications it could have.”
Anglo-Welsh Connotations
One of the most bizarre elements of the situation is that on the same weekend Bristol play the role of hosts at the Principality Stadium, all four Welsh regions are playing the first of two consecutive games in South Africa.
The travel involved in the URC and wider European rugby has been criticised time and time again, with Sportin Wales co-founder Alex Cuthbert noting the risk it creates for players in his column in our May magazine.
Could this therefore be a soft launch, as the kids call it, for a possible future Anglo-Welsh league?
Regular Anglo-Welsh competition has been at a premium since the Anglo-Welsh Cup was ended in 2018, the year where all four Welsh regions finished on the bottom of their pools.
In its heyday, the finals attracted attendances between 40-65,000 at Twickenham with Scarlets in the final in the first year before consecutive Leicester Tigers v Ospreys finals were shared and then Cardiff’s brilliant win against Gloucester in 2009.
In recent years, those matches have been restricted to Europe and wins for Welsh sides have been at a premium.
Ospreys’ memorable wins at Leicester in January of 2023 and Sale at the Brewery Field last season are two standouts, but it is perhaps Cardiff who’ve seen the biggest rewards.
Their home games against Harlequins and Bath saw sell out crowds and brilliant atmospheres, benefitting particularly from the proximity of the West Country club and an historic rivalry.
The prospect of more fixtures like that is something former Wales and Cardiff forward Josh Turnbull would like to see.
“Bristol are trying to attract a different audience, it’s like Ospreys going to play in London,” said Turnbull.
“I just look at what Cardiff did, selling out the Arms Park on a number of occasions. Bath and Harlequins last year, Sale the year before, I don’t know how many time the drum needs to be banged but an Anglo-Welsh league would be fantastic.
“Bring back those cross-border rivalries. The URC was exciting when it first started, travelling somewhere new, going to South Africa and playing against some of their best players.
“In terms of the travelling the novelty has worn off and I think it would be exciting to have an Anglo-Welsh league. It really would.”
The Reality of an Anglo-Welsh league
Following the collapse of Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish there are now 10 teams in the Gallagher Premiership.
Those three sides going into administration emphasised the fragility of the position rugby finds itself in as it recovers post the pandemic and Wales is no different.
During their strategy announcement, the WRU and CEO Abi Tierney announced they faced a £35m funding gap spread over the next five years.
Therefore, unless a highly lucrative offer came on board, it is highly unlikely that the Welsh sides would leave the URC given the current financial situation.
That however won’t quieten the calls from fans who, like Bywater, see the Gallagher Premiership as a better “product…than what’s been shown in the URC.”
The thought of reigniting the old-standing rivalries will be a draw for several, in particular those who remember the rebel season of 1998-99 where Cardiff and Swansea turned their backs on the Welsh Premier Division opting instead to play friendlies against English Premiership clubs. 7
For the time being, it looks like a plan Welsh fans dream of, without it ever being a risk of coming into fruition.
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European Recap: TNS Cruise, Caernarfon Win Lottery, Nomads & Bala Heartbreak
Carwyn Harris
It was a week of mixed emotions for the four Welsh clubs in Europe with success, disappointment and failure dished out almost equally for the Cymru Premier sides.
Heading into this week TNS, Caernarfon Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads all carried first leg leads however Bala had to overturn a 2-1 home defeat to Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia.
The second legs began on Tuesday as Cymru Premier champions The New Saints travelled to Montenegro, looking to protect a 3-0 lead from the first leg of their opening qualifying round of the Champions League.
A Brad Young penalty before half time provided added security for TNS, adding to his two goals from the first leg and despite a poacher’s effort from Asmir Kajević 20 minutes from time, The New Saints safely secured their place against Hungarian champions Ferencváros.
TNS will hope they can keep hold of Cymru Premier player of the season Young amid rumours that he is sought after by the likes of Bristol City.
Penalty Heroics Send Caernarfon Through
Success didn’t end there either. Caernarfon Town, on their European debut last week, beat Crusaders and travelled to Northern Ireland with a 2-0 lead.
The Canaries were making their first appearance in continental football and did so in the Europa Conference league.
In the second leg, Town appeared to have put the tie beyond doubt when Arnaldo Paulo Fernandes Mendes smashed the ball home from a corner, however, three second half goals from the home side brought the tie back level in normal time.
With minutes remaining in extra-time, Crusaders thought they should have had a penalty for handball, but the referee waved away protests leading to a tense penalty shootout in front of the Caernarfon travelling faithful.
14 penalties were taken and scored before three successive misses. Crucially, two of those were from Crusaders meaning the experienced Marc Williams sent the keeper the wrong way sending Caernarfon Town through to the second round on their first attempt.
Next up for Caernarfon will a trip to Poland and former European Cup semi-finalists Legia Warsaw on Thursday the 25th of July.
Heartbreak for Nomads
Connah’s Quay Nomads were the third Welsh side to carry a positive result into the second leg after a 0-1 win away at Slovenian side Bravo, courtesy of a Ben Maher smashed finish from close range late on in Ljubljana.
They too looked to be heading into the Europa Conference second round only to see Bravo defender Nemanja Jakšić run from defence, pass the ball out wide and slot coolly home two minutes from normal time.
With scores level the game went into Extra Time, and with six minutes left Matej Poplatnik headed the Clovenian side through, leaving the home side heartbroken.
Paide leave it late to beat Bala
Bala Town were the only Welsh side to have a deficit going into the second leg but had been given a ray of hope after Joshua Ukek’s penalty in the 95th minute of their first leg left the scores at 1-2 as the sides headed to Estonia.
The Welsh side cancelled out their deficit in the 12th minute when defender Nathan Peate headed home from a corner.
Home side Paide had chances in normal time but Bala’s defence held firm with the aggregate scores at 2-2 in a tense game.
With 10 minutes or so remaining in Extra time, Bala defender Alex Downes received a second yellow meaning the visitors were down to 10 men as penalties loomed large.
However, in added time of Extra Time, Paide teenager Oskar Hõim took a shot from outside of the box and it arrowed perfectly into the far top corner sparking scenes of mass hysteria amongst the Estonian fans.
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A Day In The Life In Olympic Camp
Carwyn Harris
with Exclusive Sportin Wales columnist and GB Rower Becky Wilde.
My body feels like it’s been hit by a truck. Heavy from fatigue my legs buckle walking up stairs, my arms ache getting dressed, my eyes struggle to stay open.
We are nearing the end of our pre-Olympic training camp and this has without doubt been the hardest training any of us have ever done.
Each stroke has the same goal – being the fastest we possibly can be in Paris.
The British Rowing women’s squad have been in Varese, Italy for almost a month now. Over 600km has been rowed in the scorching sunshine. The Alpine views and stunning lake have done nothing to ease the brutality of the training.
We work in three-day cycles: two three session days followed by one two session day (kindly named a “half day”). Each cycle is made up of long endurance sessions, shorter race pace sessions, weights and intensity sessions on the bike or rowing machine.
Time between sessions is filled with eating as much as physically possible in order to recover and be ready to go again. That’s five meals a day with napping or lying horizontally for as long as possible in between.
Recovery is vital to stand a chance of making it through the next session, let alone the next three days.
By the time the half day crawls around we have no energy for sightseeing, only a quick trip outside the hotel for a gelato.
There’s no sugar coating it, it has been horrific at times, but every stroke taken, every weight lifted and every litre of sweat lost is done in the hope no one else is training as hard as we are.
When you are unsure what will come first, throwing up or passing out – that’s when you know you’re putting in the work.
When you are unsure how you are going to make it back from one end of the lake to the other -that’s when you know you’ve had a good session.
When you are unsure if your legs will ever feel fresh again – that’s when you know you’re deep in the training hole.
It’s a special feeling completing a session knowing you could not have given anything more, and when you add the sessions up, then the days, then the weeks, it fills us with confidence ahead of racing later this month. We know nothing in Paris will compare to the pain we have gone through out here.
Having only joined the senior squad this year, it is not hard to see why Great Britain are so successful.
Every element is taken care of; physical, technical and mental, no stone is being left unturned and every percent is being squeezed out of us.
Whatever happens at the end of July we are in the shape of our lives. Time to show the world what we can do.
📷- Photographs by Benedict Tuffnell for British Rowing
Becky Wilde is set to compete in the women’s double sculls at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following a long and arduous journey to become an Olympian.
If you want to know more about Wilde and her route to Paris then check out this month’s magazine here or subscribe to the magazine at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.
You can also keep track of her progress on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X, Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.
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Sportin Wales EURO 2024 Team of the Tournament
Carwyn Harris
EURO 2024 has ended and whether you feel disappointed or relieved at the result of the final, it was a tournament that still leaves a bitter taste for Welsh fans.
We should have been there. You only have to look at the performances of Poland in the group stages to know that they weren’t a great team.
Poland lost to Netherlands, the side you voted for Sportin Wales to support during the Euros, along with everyone’s second team Austria, but despite the difficulty of the group you’d like to think Ethan Ampadu and co would have performed better than the Poles.
Overall, it was a tournament of moments, where young stars shone brighter than old ones with ultimately the best team, who played the best and most progressive football, winning out in Spain.
But who makes our coveted team of the tournament? It’s hard not to recognise the Spanish with five of Luis de la Fuente’s side in our side and a case to be made for at least three more, but this is the side we have chosen:
GK – Jordan Pickford (England)
England scraped, scrapped and scrabbled their way into the final, unable to formulate anything that resembled a coherent team from the end of the first half in their tournament opener against Serbia until the semi-finals.
They often relied upon their defence with moments of individual brilliance dotted around, such as Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick.
One player who can rarely be faulted was their keeper, Jordan Pickford.
After years of debate around the England number one position, Pickford came into the tournament after an impressive season personally with Everton, the former Sunderland stopper deserved his place in the line-up and produced some crucial saves, including a couple to keep England in it in the final.
Unlucky to miss out: Diogo Costa (Portugal), Mert Günok (Türkiye)
RB – Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
This caused much debate inside the offices of Sportin Wales with Portugal’s Joao Cancelo and Spain’s Dani Carvajal coming close, but Dumfries gets the nod
Despite not grabbing the headlines as he did during the last Euros and World Cup, Dumfries was incredibly important to Netherlands’ attacking play, offering them balance high and wide on the right-hand side.
Unlucky to miss out: Jao Cancelo (Portugal), Dani Carvajal (Spain)
CB – Manuel Akanji (Switzerland)
Switzerland will look back on a largely successful Euros with a tinge of regret. Their 3-1 win against Hungary, 1-1 draw with Germany and especially their 2-0 defeat of Italy in the round of 16 were all impressive performances with some brilliant goals to boot.
However, when they took the lead against England in the quarterfinals, their hopes of going further than they ever had before will have been raised.
Unfortunately, England responded immediately with a goal of their own and then came penalties, with Akanji, who had been a rock throughout the championship, being the one who saw his penalty saved.
Heartbreaking for the Manchester City defender who, up until that point, had not put a foot wrong in what was at times a superhuman effort of defensive stability.
Unlucky to miss out: John Stones (England), Abdülkerim Bardakcı (Türkiye)
CB – William Saliba (France)
Hardly surprising that the best defender in the Premier League makes this list, Saliba was royalty at the back for France during the tournament.
His pace, strength and positioning play was excellent as France relied almost solely on their defence during the tournament as their front four misfired.
The Arsenal defender finally established himself as France’s first-choice centre back having had to wait his turn. He just wins out ahead of another French qualified player in Spain’s Aymeric Laporte who has not lost any of his sharpness during his time in Saudi Arabia.
Unlucky to miss out: Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Marc Guehi (England)
LB – Marc Cucurella (Spain)
Never in a million years did we think we’d be writing this name in our team before a ball was kicked in Germany. Indeed, I don’t think anyone thought Cucurella would start for Spain given his troubles at Chelsea and the form of Alex Grimaldo at Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Cucurella was brilliant offensively and defensively during the tournament, forming a formidable partnership with Nico Williams down Spain’s left flank, capable of under or overlapping at will.
His assist for Mikel Oyarzabal’s winning goal in the final was a sublimely controlled first-time ball, while he was rarely beaten in defence. Just selected ahead of Theo Hernández’s incredible speed and defensive solidity for France.
Unlucky to miss out: Theo Hernández (France), Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
DM – Rodri (Spain)
Player of the tournament. Need we say anymore?
Rodri’s control, first touch, defensive positioning, range of passing…to be honest everything he did, oozed class throughout the tournament.
It was an indication of his importance to his side and the tournament as a whole that when he was forced off with an injury at half time of the final, English pundits actively celebrated his departure. Simply the best holding midfielder in the world by a distance.
DM – Fabián Ruiz (Spain)
Another easy pick in midfield, Fabián Ruiz’s ability to drift around from holding midfield to the opposition penalty area with unequalled serenity was crucial for Spain in what was arguably a breakthrough tournament for the 28-year-old.
Despite having played for Napoli, PSG and been a part of Spain’s 2020 Euro’s squad, Ruiz has never truly received the recognition on the global scene until this moment and it will be interesting to see how his career develops from here.
His coup de grace in this tournament came with his brilliant footwork and finish for Spain’s second in a 3-0 dismantling of Croatia in the first game of the tournament.
Unlucky to miss out: N’Golo Kanté (France), Vitinha (Portugal), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)
RW – Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Young player of the tournament, Yamal, who turned 17 the day before the final, is an incredible and irresistible talent.
He is perhaps guilty of at times drifting in and out of games but he produces moments, and what moments they are. The equaliser against France, the run and assist for Nico Williams’ goal in the final and the balls for Dani Carvajal and Ruiz’s headers against Croatia and Georgia were all brilliant.
England’s starboy Bukayo Saka and Germany’s Jamal Musiala were others who were phenomenal and reflective of a bright future for European football, but Yamal just gets the nod.
Unlucky to miss out: Bukayo Saka (England), Jamal Musiala (Germany)
AM – Arda Güler (Türkiye)
Another teenager who shone, Güler came into the tournament having scored five goals in his last five games for club side Real Madrid and continued that form at the Euros.
Scorer of, if not the best, then the most aesthetically pleasing goal of the tournament during his side’s 3-1 win against Georgia, Güler also provided two assists during his sides 2-1 win against Austria in the round of 16.
Dani Olmo is another Spaniard who was unfortunate to miss out. Seamlessly replacing Pedri in Spain’s number 10 role and scoring three goals along with two assists to earn his share of the tournament’s golden boot.
Unlucky to miss out: Dani Olmo (Spain), Christoph Baumgartner (Austria), Jude Bellingham (England)
LW – Nico Williams (Spain)
If Rodri and Ruiz were Spain’s controllers, Williams was their most devastating weapon.
His pace and dribbling ability caused defenders plenty of problems, whilst his directness and confidence had an air of dismissiveness towards those in front of him.
A beautiful shimmy and blast against Georgia and a sumptuous first-time finish against France showed that he has an eye for goal too. A big summer move is on its way with Barcelona leading the queue.
Unlucky to miss out: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), Rafael Leão (Portugal)
ST – Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
It says a lot about the paucity of options up front that we have decided to move Gakpo from his berth on the left wing to striker.
Gakpo scored three goals in the tournament and was Netherlands’ best attacking outlet during the tournament, driving forward, committing players as well as providing a memorable assist for Donyell Malen against Romania when hopes of a second goal seemed lost.
In a tournament where Europe’s biggest stars – Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé to name a few – underperformed, strikers were often more noticed for their pressing and work rate than their finishing prowess.
Unlucky to miss out: Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Niclas Füllkrug (Germany)
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What Have We Learnt From Wales’ Second Test Defeat To Australia?
Carwyn Harris
So, the wait goes on for Wales.
It is 55 years since they last beat the Wallabies on Australian soil will continue for another year at least while Wales’ winless run in international test matches is now nine – their second longest in history.
However, there were plenty of positives from Wales’ display on the weekend, Sportin Wales dissect the good and the bad from Warren Gatland’s side on Saturday.
Maul Supremacy
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Wales do have a massive weapon in the shape of the driving maul.
Wales scored tries directly from the driving maul against Ireland, England and Scotland during the Six Nations and it has been used to full effect in Australia.
It was causing Australia chaos in defence. The only questions was why Wales didn’t go to it more.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Wales were trailing by 10 points and opted to go for posts rather than the corner. The slightly negative decision was compounded by Ben Thomas missing the penalty, but it did raise the question why they didn’t go to their strengths.
Later in that half, having already scored from one driving maul, Wales went with a trick play going to the front with Taine Plumtree. The question to ask, if it’s not broke, why fix it?
In the second half, Wales went to the maul time and time again from distance to great effect with the Wallabies unable to answer.
Ben Thomas + Cam Winnett Axis
Ball in hand, Ben Thomas was superb on Saturday.
Double pumping, picking the right options and showcasing all the skills which justifies his selection at 10.
It was an excellent 60 minutes from the Cardiff academy graduate.
What was particularly noticeable was Thomas’ combination with Cardiff teammate Cam Winnett with both showing lovely touches to feed outside backs and their forwards.
It was part of a noticeably more coherent Welsh attack with dummy runners to full effect and players coming around the corner effectively.
At times, the use and choice of kicks were also effective, Winnett’s grubber kick through to build pressure and Thomas’ early chip kick but one or two others could have been more accurate from the Wales 10.
Individuals Step Up
Wales had a reshuffle ahead of the second test with Winnett and James Botham coming in for the injured Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright.
Winnett had already shown his class during the Six Nations and fitted seamlessly into the backfield, however, the question was whether Botham and Taine Plumtree could replace the ball carrying of Wainwright who was superb in the first test.
Much was made of Botham’s cricketing grandfather Ian before kick off and how ‘Jim’ was going to carry on the family legacy in Australia.
Botham did everything possible to achieve that. Not blessed with Wainwright size, his work rate was off the scale, constantly carrying and being a nuisance to the Australian defence and attack.
Plumtree too performed well in the second half after a quiet first 40, making a nice half break from a delayed Ben Thomas pass, but it was Botham who stood out.
As captain, Dewi Lake also led from the front, carrying spectacularly, producing turnovers and generally doing everything you’d expect of a player of his ability and stature within the team.
He still can develop in certain areas but a fit and firing Lake is not far off the best hookers in the world and expect him to develop in the years to come.
Wales Have a Player for the future in Griffin
Another who has been a bit of a revelation this tour has been Archie Griffin.
It is fair to say Griffin was taught a few lessons by England during his debut in the Six Nations but, against Australia, he showcased that he is a fast learner.
Griffin’s former coach Chris Horsman told Sportin Wales that the 22-year-old Bath tighthead was ‘one-to-watch’ and he certainly lived up to the billing playing a mammoth 142 minutes across the two tests, only missing 10 minutes due to a HIA check in the second.
During those minutes, Griffin was a presence in attack and defence utilising his ball carrying size but also soft hands as a link to Ben Thomas and the backs.
It was a highly promising display. One hopes that he and Wales can build off it for the next decade or more.
Test Match Rugby
Sportin Wales co-founder Alex Cuthbert described rugby as a game where the side who makes the fewest mistakes wins.
It is also about the side who capitalises on those mistakes the best.
Australia were clinical. A coast-to-coast try early doors created after a questionable pass across their try line and a poachers effort from Jake Gordon after a spill from Winnett were Australia’s only chances in the first half.
Then there was Filipo Daugunu’s try in the second half, capitalising on Liam William’s flick back into play before scoring.
On the flip side, Wales missed several opportunities. Taine Plumtree held up over the line, a poor lineout drill inside the final five minutes, a scrum 10 metres out resulting in a disappointing attack and losing the ball.
After the match, in an interview on Sky, both Lake and Gatland said that Wales’ loss was in part due to how clinical both sides were.
“It’s the same messages: taking our opportunities,” said Lake.
“They were better on the scrap balls. Those little opportunities we’re missing we need to take.”
“We showed a bit of our inexperience,” said Gatland.
“Gifting them points which they didn’t have to work hard for.”
However, to every sweeping statement there is an exception, as was the case with Rio Dyer’s brilliant finish after Christ Tshiunza’s charge down.
Lineout Malfunctioning
When you have a weapon, you want to feed it at every opportunity. Unfortunately, while Wales’ weapon was their maul, the food was the lineout.
Wales have struggled at lineout time ever since that display against Australia in the World Cup where they were perfect with their darts.
The issue is not merely the throwing, it is often the calling or the drill itself and on Saturday, too many went awry for Wales to be successful.
The most noticeable and arguably crucial of these came with 73:20 on the clock and Wales less than 10 metres out from the Wallabies line.
Evan Lloyd was on as hooker, but his throw was low, almost hitting Cory Hill at hip height and the man who has been playing his rugby at Japanese fourth division side Secom Rugguts spilled the ball.
For his part, Lloyd looked devastated post-match. Lloyd will be a brilliant player for Wales, you just have to look at his work rate, regathering a loose ball on 72mins which he had no right to get to and getting across to stop Daugunu with the winger on a hattrick.
Additionally, his performance against Ospreys on Judgement Day, showed that he can be a real threat in wide channels, much as Dane Coles or Dan Sheehan have been for New Zealand and Ireland.
But he needs to work at his throwing. Unsurprisingly for a converted back rower, it is currently the big work-on of his game. With the experience he will get for club and country this season, expect that to improve ten-fold and be up there consistently challenging for selection.
Gifting Momentum
A theme of last week, this reared its ugly head again on Saturday.
Wales’ inexperience was telling at times, particularly in the way they gifted momentum to the Wallabies.
Again, there were plenty of soft penalties, the offside from Winnett’s kick which led to Australia’s game-sealing penalty being a prime example, but there were also a litany of spills, fumbles and pod errors leading to Wales turning over possession deep inside the Wallabies 22.
The best sides, Ireland, South Africa et al, don’t give their opponents those opportunities.
Perhaps the most frustrating area of all for Gatland however was what has often been dubbed as the fourth set-piece.
Wales’ restart drills went awry on multiple occasions, gifting momentum back the Aussies.
After Lake’s first try, Winnett was penalised for holding on straight from his catch with his forwards offering an ineffectual clean out. Wales repeated the feet after Lake’s second try, despite a questionable shot Australian eight Rob Valetini.
In the second half, Wales’ lineout drills improved, but in general when you compare and contrast the two sides, Thomas and Costelow’s kicks were too long, giving plenty of opportunities for the Wallabies to field the kicks and clear.
How Good Are Australia? How Bad Are Wales?
Despite there being clear signs of improvement from Wales during this Six Nations, it will be difficult to know the true reflection of both sides until we see the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies face Georgia next on Saturday before hosting the Springboks on the 10th of August in their first game of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Wales face Queensland Reds on Friday, hoping to avoid a series whitewash, in what Alex Cuthbert and Sean Holley described on the Sportin Wales podcast as ‘the toughest game of the tour’.
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Cuthbert - Wales Must Limit Errors To End Aussie Drought
Carwyn Harris
Wales have made two personnel and two positional changes for their clash with Australia in their second test on Saturday.
Cameron Winnett and James Botham return for the injured Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright in moves which sees Liam Williams switch from full back to wing and Taine Plumtree from six to eight.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has resisted the temptation to make changes at half back or in midfield opting to stick with the Cardiff trio of Ellis Bevan, Ben Thomas and Mason Grady, with Owen Watkin lining up outside them in the 13 jersey.
On this week’s Sportin Wales podcast, co-founder Alex Cuthbert said: “They need more time.”
“I did like Ben at 10, he’s got that skillset trying to shift the ball wide but whether everyone is on the same page it doesn’t look like it.”
Elaborating on those words from Monday’s podcast Cuthbert said: “In attack, Wales need time to bed those combinations in because it doesn’t happen in a couple of weeks.”
“They need to find a way to hold the defenders short and then beat them with gas on the outside.
“You want to create one-on-ones or to see if you can make the defender will make a mistake like Australia did for Filipo Daugunu’s try.
“I like that Gatland and co. are sticking with the same combination in 10,12 and 13. It’s a must win test match and Wales have the players skillset wise just at the minute they don’t look like a unit.
“The back three looks pretty solid, Liam is really good in the air and Cam is a classy player it’s about getting that 10,12,13 combination working now.”
How To Fuel The Grady Train?
So far Mason Grady’s senior Welsh career reads thus; 13 caps, four wins and three positions played.
Having started games at outside centre and come on at wing, Gatland is now seeing what Grady has to offer at 12, in a similar move to the which saw Jamie Roberts brought in to offer Wales gainline in the summer of 2008.
No one can question the physical attributes of Grady, 6”5, 17 stone and, per his own appearance on the Sportin Wales podcast, quicker than brother Cory Allen.
However, Wales are yet to find a way to get Grady at his tackle busting best, something which will need to change if they are to overturn their run of eight successive test defeats.
“Mason’s playing in a position he’s not used to,” said Cuthbert.
“As a 12 you’re catching the ball in traffic, it’s a different skillset to using your pace or a fend and a step as he’s used to on the wing or at 13.
“That’s why Jamie Roberts was so good. He could catch the ball in traffic and under pressure and get us over the gainline.
“Wales need to find a way of getting Mason those one-on-ones. Sometimes it might mean getting the ball earlier and using more deception and movement at the line.
If he gets a one-on-one with Noah Lolesio, he’s either beating him or getting across the gainline nine times out of ten. Wales’ maul was a real weapon in the first test, they’ll look to use it again in the second, but maybe they can use it to manipulate the Australian back row, draw them in and then give Mason that seam to attack.”
Limit the Errors
In the first test, Wales were guilty of compounding errors at regular intervals, gifting momentum back to the Wallabies.
That, combined with a dominant Aussie scrum allowed the home side to piggy-back up the field with easy territory.
“The most important thing for Wales this week is to the errors down and improve their discipline,” said Cuthbert.
“In the first test the penalty count was way too high. You want to keep below 10 penalties conceded a game and that’s what Mike Forshaw will be looking at this week.
“I thought Wales were a bit too eager at times in defence, getting caught offside and that’s what happens sometimes with young lads.
“In theory, combined with unforced errors, the total should be less than 25, more than that and you’ll never win the game.”
The repeated loss of possession and momentum halted Wales’ attacking game plan and the lack of territory stopped their most impactful weapon and the driving maul.
“Wales’ maul was good they scored one try and had another disallowed, if that had been scored it would have been a completely different ball game,” said Cuthbert.
“Unless you have a really good kicking game or a fluid attack which Wales don’t have at the moment then it’s hard to get territory in international rugby.
“In test match rugby the whole game is pressure and mistakes with the team which makes the fewest mistakes winning.
“If you can keep those errors and penalties down then you can always stay in the game.”
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Wales XV Of Round Pegs In Square Holes
Carwyn Harris
Wales face Australia in their second test of two on Saturday in search of a win.
To do so, they need to beat the Wallabies on Australian soil for the first time since 1969 and stop a run of eight consecutive test match defeats which is getting perilously close to their personal unwanted record of 10 set in 2003.
That side turned things around with a 54-8 dismantling of Romania, however, should Wales lose this weekend they will head into an Autumn against Fiji, Australia and South Africa.
Despite the record books, centre Owen Watkin said that victory was “non-negotiable” this week.
Warren Gatland has made two enforced personnel changes to the side which lost 25-16 last weekend as Cameron Winnett and James Botham replace the injured Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright.
Both Winnett and Botham started the 41-13 loss to South Africa before dropping out of the starting 15.
The changes see a reshuffle with Winnett coming back in at full back, shifting Liam Williams to the wing and Botham coming in at blindside flanker with Taine Plumtree moving to number eight.
Wainwright in particular will be a huge loss having produced a stellar display on the occasion of his 50th cap last week a performance which Gatland called “outstanding”.
Round Peg in a Square Hole
The reshuffle adds to one of Wales’ primary dilemmas.
Looking through the starting XV, a third of the team are now playing in new or non-primary positions.
One of those – Williams, has played plenty of rugby on the wing instead of his preferred 15 jersey but Plumtree, Ben Thomas, Christ Tshiunza and Mason Grady are all playing in positions which they are less accustomed to in professional rugby.
However, while Grady, Thomas, Tshiunza and Plumtree still have room to grow into their shirts, it doesn’t mean they are not able to perform there in time.
Much can be said about Grady’s physicality and ability to get over the gainline, an asset which Wales missed against France in particular and he certainly could fill that void whilst Plumtree does seem the most natural replacement for Wainwright in Wales currently.
Thomas’ goal kicking was impressive against Australia while Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell praised him on the Sportin Wales podcast this week.
“I thought he was alright,” said Patchell.
“First start internationally at 10, second start of the season is a big ask.
“I would say he would come off the field having kicked all his goals, some lovely penalties to touch giving Wales some really good field position. The really nausey stuff is what I look for, not the highlights moments.
“I thought the decision before Wales scored their try to put the ball on the toe into the dead space was a really smart decision.
“When he throws the ball into touch is awesome from him. He’s seen Wales have a dent, flattened up, taken the line and he’s gone so fast that people are half a second behind him. So, I think there’s plenty for him to be positive about.”
What all four of the players need is experience in those shirts. The question is now, will they get it?
Plumtree a Natural Wainwright Replacement
When Plumtree was signed by Scarlets last summer, he was described by head coach Dwayne Peel as a “versatile forward…able to play across the back row.”
However, due partly to Plumtree’s injury troubles, where he missed five months of rugby from mid-November to April, Scarlets fans are yet to see their man at number eight this season.
Indeed, his only start at the base of the scrum this season came during Wales’ World Cup warm up match against England at Twickenham last August.
His selection appears to reinforce the profile of an eight which Gatland prefers – both Plumtree and Wainwright are athletic, quick back rowers who are both useful lineout operators. A profile which explains the continued non-selection of in form Ospreys eight Morgan Morris.
Gatland will hope Plumtree’s athleticism can fill the void created by Wainwright who was Wales’ best individual attacking threat in the first test.
Cardiff Conundrum
In the centres Gatland has again selected Cardiff’s Grady at 12.
Having started his international career at outside centre, Grady hadn’t featured at inside until his second half performance against Italy in this years’ Six Nations where he was Wales’ most potent attacking weapon, scoring his first international try to boot.
This will be his third consecutive start at 12 as Gatland searches for the physicality in midfield which Wales have been missing.
However, this season of his 17 starts for his region, Grady has not started once at inside centre, starting five times at 13 and the rest on either the right or left wing.
He has shone on the wing for Cardiff, particularly at the start of the season where he scored a try in each of his first three starts in that position in November, while he was unfortunate not to grab a hattrick whilst playing there against Ospreys on Judgement Day.
Of course, it is not the first time Gatland has moved a Cardiff wing into inside centres, doing so to great effect when he shifted Jamie Roberts from the back three to inside centre way back in 2008, however, whether Grady will get the game time at regional level in his new position is doubtful.
Speaking on the Cardiff Central Podcast in April, Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt described his ideal 12 as “a second playmaker” who can “step in as first receiver and distribute”.
Looking ahead to next season, Cardiff will have Ben Thomas along with new signings Steffan Emmanuel and Rory Jennings to fill that role while Wales squad member Jacob Beetham has also been identified by Sherratt as someone who can fill that role.
With Rey-Lee-Lo signing another year-long contract it appears that Grady’s time will be split between outside centre and wing for his region, contrasting with the hopes of his national coach.
Sherratt’s assessment of roles will also be of concern to Gatland having named Thomas at 10 for both tests against the Wallabies.
Thomas started one match at 10 last season for Cardiff, a player of the match display against Sharks in South Africa, but in Tinus de Beer and new signing Callum Sheedy, Sherratt appears to have preferred options in the fly half spot.
It remains to be seen whether Sherratt changes his philosophy or Gatland continues with his 10 and 12 but it would appear difficult for both to coexist given the experience needed to succeed in those positions at international level.
Tshiunza Debate
Christ Tshiunza produced some great moments and some…not so great moments against the Wallabies in the first test.
His turnover, two feet from his own line was gargantuan, however he also conceded some soft penalties for offside and playing the nine.
Exeter teammates Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins are 22 and 21 respectively and it is easy to foresee this being a combination long-term in the second row for Wales alongside competition from Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Teddy Williams, Ben Carter and James Fender.
However, at club level, Tshiunza has only started one game of an injury truncated season, in the second row while every start he made last season was in the back row.
Gatland has previously stated that he is searching for a tough hard-nosed six and Tshiunza could well fit the bill.
It will be interesting to see long term whether Tshiunza features at blindside flanker for Wales once the rested Will Rowlands and the injured Adam Beard return.
Teams:
Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Flook, Paisami, Daugunu; Lolesio, Gordon; Slipper (capt), Faessler, Tupou, J. Williams, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, McReight, Cale.
Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Blyth, Gleeson, White, Donaldson, Pietsch.
Wales: Winnett; L. Williams, Watkin, Grady, Dyer; B. Thomas, Bevan; G. Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Tshiunza, Jenkins, Botham, Reffell, Plumtree.
Replacements: Lloyd, Mathias, O’Connor, Hill, Martin, Hardy, Costelow, Tompkins.
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Craig Bellamy - New Wales Boss' Charm Offensive
Carwyn Harris
When you’ve won 70 odd caps for your country, captained the side, been part of numerous press conferences and interviews from Wales to the furthest reaches of Europe, everyone thinks they know you.
That’s certainly the case with Craig Bellamy.
Be it the stories from his Liverpool days in the Algarve, his passion and unparalleled desire to win or the infamous interview after a home 0-2 loss to Finland, everyone has placed him in their own perceived box and decided who is Craig Bellamy.
However, the man who entered the press conference today at Hensol Castle was very measured, informative, jovial, honest but with the same passion and desire which was a staple of his playing career.
Bellamy’s appointment to the job of Wales’ top man has been a long process. Beginning his coaching career in youth set-ups at Cardiff and Anderlecht before moving with former teammate Vincent Kompany to Burnley and eventually the Premier League.
During that time, he was on a very short list for the Wales job in 2018, just missing out to former teammate Ryan Giggs a fact, journalists weren’t afraid of reminding him.
“Thank you,” joked Bellamy.
It was very much a charm offensive from Bellamy, a contrast to the in-their-faces defensive approach former teammate Joe Ledley predicted would be the style of play under the former Liverpool forward.
Why Wales? Why Now?
The Wales job marks Bellamy’s first role as head coach as well as his first in international management, seeing him step fully into the spotlight for the first time.
“I never felt the need to be a manager, there wasn’t a burning desire,” said Bellamy.
“I was really happy. I’ve spent a lot of my career in the limelight and anyone knows me knows I don’t need the limelight, I’m quite comfortable without it.
“I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to put myself through that again. I was happy in the background.
“I love football, it’s great to be still involved with football then really it comes to a stage where I believe I’d got to where I needed to with coaching and if I’ve got to do interviews, then I will, it’s not enough to stop me from becoming a manager, because I have to be true to me and my belief is that this is the next step.”
Bellamy’s passion for his nation is something no one has ever doubted, but he admits he thought time away would have dampened those feelings.
If anything, his absence has made his passion for Wales grow.
“When Rob Page left it wasn’t on my mind, I was in a different direction with Burnley and when I spoke to Dave and Noel it hit me a little bit,” said Bellamy.
“I didn’t realise how important it was to me, maybe because I’d been living in England and Belgium. I hadn’t forgotten, I’ve always followed Wales, but I hadn’t realised the emotional attachment I had to it.
“I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to do, I’m not here for financial reasons, but for me it was the emotional attachment to it, the more I got involved it became clear to me and it was something I wanted to do.
“I spoke to Vincent Kompany for about an hour yesterday, and he said something interesting, he said, ‘I knew this was the one job I could lose you to’.
“It hasn’t left me, I thought it had, but it’s come back even stronger.”
Desire to Win
Speaking to Sportin Wales, Bellamy’s ex-Wales teammates Joe Ledley and Sam Vokes both commented on their former captain’s need to win as being greater than any player they played with.
“It’s not winning, I hate losing more and there is a big difference,” said Bellamy.
“I believe if you give everything you got, not just in football but in life and you try to be the best you can, that’s winning.
“If I don’t prepare and don’t put the effort in and you lose, that’s something I really struggle with, and I don’t like that for myself as a person.
“I know everyone will say about winning, but for me sometimes you’ll win in different ways. If we play incredibly well and not get the result, I’m good.
“I see winning as longevity and we’ll get there in the end, but losing and not playing well is different, I find that difficult.”
Tactical Approach
An oft-mentioned criticism of Rob Page was the appearance that Wales appeared to have a plan B.
During today’s press conference, Bellamy broke down his tactical style for the future.
“The age, intensity of players, I’m very analytical I look at number quite a lot,” said Bellamy.
“If I was doing squad planning which I have, I can put it together. You’ve probably heard me say three or four times that it’s a puzzle and I try and find a way to put it all together. There’re young ones coming through as well which I know I can move into places.
“A full back is not just good enough to play as a full back anymore, can you play as a six? Can you play in the pocket or high and wide? You need all these qualities to be able to play the way I’m looking to play.
“Centre backs can you step in? Go into a double six? We might not use that but can you go into a three or a two, so you understand those roles.
“What is important is I have a library in my head and the game will change. During a game you’ll change maybe three or four systems, you look at the shape we’ll change shapes, three or four during a game.”
“I have a head start now with Wales I have Connor [Roberts], Connor has a library like you wouldn’t believe,” Bellamy added.
“My idea is to get every player on the same wavelength which Connor sees it, some have been exposed to it from their clubs but that’s the bit you’ll be seeing a lot more.”
What is the target?
Bellamy’s first game in charge will see Wales take on European quarter finalists Türkiye who Wales lost to away and drew with at home in Euros qualifying.
For the new Wales boss, preparation for their clash at the Cardiff city stadium on the 6th of September has already begun.
“As a person, I have to have control over every aspect during a game, that’s when I feel comfortable,” said Bellamy.
“In order to be able to do that, the detail you’ve got to go into becomes hard work.
“It’s starting now, the camp is in September, the work and detail going into that first game Türkiye already, I’ve already watched them eight times already.
“I’m not saying that’s going to be enough but I’m already into the detail and the players will see that, the level of what you go into and that will move them on to become the best they can be.
“It’s those details and if we can transfer that to the playing side then that gives you an opportunity of being successful.
“With the players we have as well then you have a chance to qualify and not just qualify but maybe surprise one or two like in 2016 and get to the latter stages, hopefully.”
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Carwyn Harris
If you had been looking for Wales football heroes to take over from Gareth Bale, then Nathan Broadhead would probably have been low down your list.
Yet cometh the very late hour, cometh the young man in Croatia as Broadhead grabbed the equaliser to earn his country a 1-1 draw in their first qualifier for Euro 2024.
Aaron Ramsey hadn’t scored, Kieffer Moore had hardly had a kick, but when the ball was flicked on to the far post, Broadhead – a 24-year-old, who plays League One football with Ipswich – reacted like a veteran international striker to deliver a priceless point.
The question for Wales now is can they carry on the momentum by beating Latvia at home on Tuesday night.
After all, the Latvians are considered the weakest team in the group and any point gained unexpectedly in Croatia would be handed back immediately if Wales don’t get all three points at the Cardiff City Stadium.
In Saturday night’s game, Wales could well have gone further behind after they went 1-0 down in the first-half to a goal from Andrej Kramaric.
But what will have encouraged the 2,000 members of the Red Wall who made the trip to the city of Split – as well as those watching on TV back home – was the positive nature of the Welsh response.
Manager Rob Page sent on fresh legs in the form of Broadhead, Sorba Thomas, Wes Burns and Tom Bradshaw and their energy proved decisive as the Croatians tired.
Some of the Welsh fans pictured celebrating at the end were also supporters of Barry Town United and it was a memorable weekend for them.
Earlier on Saturday, their club had hammered Pontardawe Town, 5-0, to confirm themselves champions of the JD Cymru South.
It will means a quick return to the JD Cymru Premier for Barry, who were relegated last season but will now go back up after a dominant campaign in the second tier of Welsh domestic football.
Eye-opening achievement of the weekend should go to Wrexham, whose crowd of 9,511 for their match at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads was a record for a women’s fixture in Wales.
They won 2-1 at The Racecourse in the Genero Adran North, 24 hours after their men’s team had beaten York City, 3-0, to stay top of the National League and on course for automatic promotion back to the Football League.
In the Genero Adran Premier, Cardiff City Women clinched their first title for 10 years after overcoming The New Saints, 3-1.
It was a weekend when most of the rest of Welsh football put their feet up, because of the international matches.
Cardiff City and Swansea City were able to get some extra training done ahead of their crunch Welsh derby meeting in the Championship this weekend, while Newport County’s planned League Two fixture against Harrogate was postponed due to international call-ups.
In the JD Cymru Premier, The New Saints had already sewn up the league title, but anyone thinking they might relax was proved wrong as they hammered Cardiff Met, 7-1 at the weekend.
In the only other fixture, Penybont maintained their position in third place, even though they were held, 2-2, at home to Bala Town.
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Stevie Williams Amdani Ar Gymal 11 Cyn Y Ras Fwyaf Byth
Carwyn Harris
Mae ‘di bod yn flwyddyn a hanner i Stevie Williams hyd yma.
Dechreuodd y beiciwr o Aberystwyth y flwyddyn drwy ennill cymal a chrys yr enillydd yn y Tour Down Under yn Ionawr cyn dod yn drydydd tu ôl i Tadej Pogačar yn y Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
Yna daeth y canlyniad gwefreiddiol wrth iddo greu hanes fel y Prydeiniwr cyntaf i ennill y ras undydd La Flèche Wallonne.
Daeth y fuddugoliaeth yn dywydd ofnadwy, canlyniad gorau Williams hyd at heddiw.
“Roedd hi’n ddydd prydferth,” dywedodd Williams.
“I ennill clasur fel hynny, yn y tywydd yna mae’n spesial. I ddilyn lan ar be ddigwyddodd yn Awstralia, ac ennill yn y Tour Down Under roedd yn foment balch iawn.
“Tyfais i fyny yn gwylio’r clasuron a’r arwyr cynt yn ennill ar ben y Mur de Huy sy’n gwneud e’n ras gwych i ennill.
“Rwy’n falch o gael y fuddugoliaeth ar y palmares a dim ots beth sy’n digwydd o hyn ymlaen, rwy ‘di ennill La Fleche.”
Ar y dydd, dangosodd Williams taw fe oedd y reidiwr gryfach ar ddringfa enwog y Mur de Huy, yn ymosod ar y cylchdro cyntaf gyda 30 cilomedr i fynd cyn i’r peloton ail-ymuno, gan y peloton ac yna yn gwibio i ffwrdd gyda 300 metr i fynd am fuddugoliaeth fythgofiadwy.
“Ro’n i’n gwybod fy mod i yn siâp da yn mynd mewn i’r Ardennes,” dywedodd Williams.
“I fod yn onest, unwaith aeth y ras yn llanast a wir glasur, ro’n i’n gwybod gallwn i ennill.
“Pryd es i dros y Mur de Huy am y tro cyntaf teimlais fod fy nghoesau yn gryf ac roedd hynny tua 100 cilomedr allan.”
Y Tour a Chytundeb Newydd
Rasiodd Williams y Giro d’Italia y llynedd ond eleni y prif ffocws oedd ar y Tour de France.
Mae cystadlu yn ras mwyaf y byd wedi cymryd amser hir i ddod.
Roedd Williams yn reidiwr ifanc o fry, gan ennill cymal yn y Giro d’Italia Giovani dan 23 yn 2018. Ar ôl hynny y disgwyl oedd iddo barhau i dyfu.
Ond, treuliodd Williams y ddwy flwyddyn olynol gydag anafiadau hir dymor gyda thîm Bahrain-McLaren.
Cyhoeddwyd bod Williams wedi ymuno â thîm B&B Hotels ar ddiwedd 2022 ond i weld y tîm yn cwympo gan ei adael heb dîm.
Cafodd cytundeb o un flwyddyn gydag Israel-Premier Tech, a dydy Williams heb edrych yn ôl ers hynny.
Ar ôl ei fuddugoliaeth yn yr Arctic Race of Norway, cafodd ei gytundeb ei ymestyn gan ddwy flwyddyn arall ac yna ar ddydd Sul cafodd ei gytundeb ei ymestyn eto hyd at 2028.
Yn amlwg, nid oedd hi’n dewis anodd i Williams neu IPT, oherwydd bod ei fuddugoliaethau yn y Tour Down Under a La Flèche Wallonne yn fuddugoliaethau cyntaf ei dîm yn ras cymalau a ras undydd.
Yn siarad am y cytundeb newydd dywedodd Williams: “Rwy’n teimlo fy mod i wedi darganfod lle yn nhîm lle rwy’n gallu cael y gorau o fy hun ar y beic.”
“Fel y gallwn weld, ers y Giro llynedd rwy wedi cymryd cam i fyny yn fy ngallu ac mae hynny wedi cael ei wobrwyo gyda chanlyniadau da ac er dwi’n eithaf newydd ar y tîm rwy’n teimlo fel fy mod i wedi bod yma am 10 mlynedd, nid dim ond un neu dau.
“Rwy’n 28 nawr a dylai’r pedwar mlynedd nesaf bod yn gyfnod lle dwi’n cyrraedd fy ngorau ac yn parhau i wella, felly mae’r cytundeb yma o’r tîm yn rhoi hyder i mi a wnes i ddim ail-feddwl cyn arwyddo gydag IPT.
“Rwy mor hapus gyda’r tîm, rwy wedi gwella o fewn un flwyddyn, ac rwy fethu aros am y pedwar nesaf.”
Dechreuad Anodd i’r Tour
Dechreuodd y Tour de France yn anodd i sawl reidiwr.
Collodd Geraint Thomas bron pedwar munud a hanner i’r ffefrynnau ar yr ail gymal, a wnaeth Williams gael dydd erchyll ar gymal un, yn colli bron hanner awr.
Teimlodd Williams yn well ar gymal dau, ond doedd e methu cystadlu am fuddugoliaeth y cymal wrth i Kévin Vaquelin ennill o ddihangiad.
“Teimlais gymaint yn well ar gymal dau ac roedd hynny’r un mor dwym,” dywedodd Williams.
“Rwy’n credu ro’n i angen un dydd i fy nghorff deall be’ oedd yn digwydd. Enillodd y dihangiad yng nghymal dau, roedd hynny wedi bod yn darged i mi ers misoedd cyn y Tour ond wnaeth e ddim mynd i’r cynllun.
“Dyna’r ffordd mae pethau’n mynd weithiau, dyna sut mae rasio a nawr mae gen i bythefnos i ddangos fy wyneb a cheisio creu cyfleoedd.”
Yn ei Tour de France cyntaf dyw Williams heb gael ei syfrdanu gan lefel y peloton ond mae o wedi sylwi bod pawb ar eu lefelau uchaf.
“Rydym yn rasio yn erbyn yr un reidwyr trwy’r flwyddyn,” dywedodd Williams.
“Yr unig wahaniaeth yw fel arfer dim ond 60 neu 70 y cant ohonom sydd ar eu safon uchaf ond fan hyn mae pob un 100%.
“Hefyd mae’r bwlch rhwng dydd gweddol a dydd gwael yn fwy eang byth.”
Targedau Newydd
Nawr, bydd rhaid i Williams edrych am gyfleoedd yn y dihangiad, fel y gwnaeth o yng nghymal pedwar ond i dîm UAE tynnu nhw yn ôl.
Er hynny, edrychodd Williams fel bod ganddo goesau da drwy gyrraedd copa’r ddau fynydd cyntaf o flaen pawb arall a sicrhau 10 pwynt am grys y mynyddoedd.
“Doedd dim cynllun i fynd am bwyntiau mynydd,” dywedodd Williams.
“Ro’n i yn y dihangiad a dim ond dwy funud oedd ganddom ni felly meddyliais; ‘Rwy’n gadael gyda rhywbeth’.
“Cymrais y 10 pwynt a ti byth yn gwybod beth allai ddigwydd yn ras fel hon lawr yr heol.
“Os rwy’ yn y dihangiad am gwpl o ddyddiau yn y mynyddoedd uchel wedyn mae e mond yn cymryd 30 neu 40 pwynt a bydd cyfle ganddoch chi.”
Wythnos diwethaf, gwnaeth Sportin Wales rhagdybio lle y gallai Williams a Geraint Thomas ymosod yn y dyddiau sydd i ddod drwy awgrymu bod tirwedd cymal 11 yn un y gallai Williams anelu amdano.
“Mae diwedd cymal 11 gyda diwedd punchy ac mae e’n edrych fel dydd i’r dihangiad, felly rwy’n gobeithio gallai llwyddo i gael mewn i symudiad ar y dydd a cheisio i fod yno yn y diweddglo,” dywedodd Williams.
“Bydd angen i lawer o bethau i fynd yn gywir er mwyn i hynny ddigwydd ond gobeithio gallwn ni gael cwpl ohonom ni o’r tîm yn y dihangiad tua’r diwedd.
“Gwelon ni pa mor gryf oedd Derek Gee ar gymal naw a dwi ddim yn credu bod unrhyw ddydd yn anghytuno gyda fe yn dihanghiad.
“Ar ddiwedd y dydd, gallwn ni siarad am y diweddglo trwy’r dydd ond y peth pwysicaf yw cael yn y dihangiad, llwyddo trwy’r 10 i 15cilomedr cyntaf a chael dy hun yn y symudiad cywir. Gobeithio bu fi yno.”
Gobeithion y Tour a Breuddwyd y Gemau Olympaidd
Cymaint yw her cwpla’r Tour de France byddai’n hawdd i Williams bodloni â chyrraedd terfyn y Tour yn Nice ond mae ganddo gynlluniau fwy nag hynny.
“Ennill cymal, dyna fydd Tour lwyddiannus,” dywedodd Williams.
“I fod yn y symudiadau cywir a chael buddugoliaeth bydd hynny’n Tour lwyddiannus, ond os dwi’n gadael heb gymal wedyn dwi heb gyrraedd fy uchelgais yma.
“I ennill ras rydych angen llawer o bethau i fynd yn gywir. Weithiau mae ganddoch chi’r coesau cryfaf ond dyw e ddim yn mynd o dy blaid di a gall unrhywbeth ddigwydd ar ddydd y ras.
“Edrych yn ôl ar La Fleche, aeth popeth yn gywir y dydd hynny a wnes i gredu yn fy hun sef y peth pwysicaf i wneud.”
Eleni mae’r Tour yn cwpla ar ras unigol yn erbyn y cloc ar Promenade des Anglais yn Nice yn hytrach na’r ras wib arferol drwy strydoedd Paris lawr y Champs-Élysées.
Daw hyn oherwydd y gemau Olympaidd ym Mharis. Cafodd Williams a Chymro arall, Josh Tarling, eu henwi yn y ras stryd yn y gemau Olympaidd sef bythefnos ar ôl i’r Tour orffen.
Gyda digon o ddringfeydd mae’r ras yn edrych fel ei fod yn un sy’n argoeli’n dda ar sgiliau Williams.
“Mae’n gystadleuaeth enfawr ond i fod yn onest dwi heb feddwl amdano ryw lawer oherwydd bod y Tour yn full gas pob dydd,” dywedodd Williams.
“Gyda’r gemau Olympaidd mae yna lai o reidwyr a dim ond y gorau yn y byd sydd yno, i gyd yn ceisio am y fedal aur.
“Rwy’n credu bydd y ras yn yr un anoddaf dwi erioed mynd i rasio, bydd e’n ras afreolus gyda phawb yn cystadlu.
“Gobeithio gallaf gyrraedd Paris gyda’r coesau gorau posib ar ddiwedd y Tour a bod yn gystadleuol.”
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Williams Stage Hunting Before 'Hardest Race' Of All
Carwyn Harris
It’s been a stellar 2024 for Stevie Williams so far.
The cyclist from Aberystwyth began the year winning a stage and the overall at the Tour Down Under in January before a third-place finish at stage 1 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya behind none other than Tadej Pogačar.
Then came the landmark achievement of becoming the first ever British winner of the one-day monument La Flèche Wallonne.
That result came in truly torrential conditions, a result Williams says is his best to date.
“It was a beautiful day,” said Williams
“To win a classic like that in those conditions was really special. To follow up on what happened in Australia, winning the Tour Down Under and backing it up in Europe with a victory was a really proud moment.
“I grew up watching the classics and all the heroes before me winning on top of the Mur makes it a cool race to win.
“I’m glad to have that on my palmares and whatever happens now I can always say I’ve won La Fleche.”
The result was no fluke. Williams twice proved the strongest on the infamous Mur de Huy climb, attacking on the first loop with some 30 kilometres remaining before being swept back up and then accelerating away with some 300metres to go for a memorable win.
“I knew I was in good shape heading into the Ardennes,” said Williams.
“To be honest I knew I could have a day when it became a bit of a mess and a true classic.
“It was a whitling down process and as soon as I went over the Mur de Huy the first time I knew I had the legs, from about 100k out.”
Tour Selection and New Deal
Williams raced the Giro d’Italia last year but this year the focus was on the Tour de France, racing the Tour de Suisse in preparation, finishing second on stage three.
His selection for the Tour de France is the first of his career, a career which has taken its time to fully ignite.
Williams was a promising youngster, winning a stage at the Giro d’italia Giovani U23s race or ‘Baby Giro’ back in 2018. After that he was expected to blossom.
However, he spent two years with a chronic knee injury whilst at the then Bahrain-McLaren team.
At the end of 2022, it was announced Williams would join team B&B Hotels alongside legendary sprinter Mark Cavendish, only to see the team collapse leaving Williams without a team.
He was given a contract by Israel-Premier Tech, a team he saw as a “fresh clean start” at the time and has not looked back since.
His initial year-long deal was extended by two more in the Autumn of 2023 and then on the rest day of the Tour on Sunday the 28-year-old extended again until 2028.
It can’t have been a difficult decision for either party, with Williams’ wins at the Tour Down Under and La Flèche Wallonne marking Israel-Premier Tech’s first ever World Tour stage win and one day race victory respectively.
Speaking of the announcement Williams said: “I feel like I have found my place on a team where I can get the best out of myself on the bike.”
“As we have seen with the way I have been racing, especially from last year’s Giro d’Italia onwards, I’ve taken a real step up.
“It has been rewarded with some nice results and even though I am fairly new on the team, it feels like I have been here for ten years not one year.
“I’m 28 years old now and the next four years are probably in that window when I become my best and keep improving, so to have this offer from the team gave me huge confidence and I didn’t hesitate to extend with IPT.
“I am so happy in the team, and I see the way I have stepped up in just one year here so I can’t wait for the next four.”
Tough Start To Tour
The beginning of the Tour de France was difficult for several riders.
Williams’ compatriot Geraint Thomas lost nearly four and a half minutes to the favourites in the heat of stage two, while Williams had a “horrible day” on stage one losing nearly half an hour.
However, Williams recovered on stage two, however he was unable to compete for the stage victory as it was won by Kévin Vaquelin from a breakaway.
“I felt so much better on stage two and it was equally as warm,” said Williams.
“I think I needed that one day for my body to know what was going. Stage two, a breakaway ultimately won out and it was always a target for me for a long way out ahead of the tour and it didn’t go to plan.
“That’s the way it goes, that’s bike racing and I’ve got a couple of weeks now to try and show my face and create some nice chances.”
While Williams says he hasn’t been blown away by the standard of having all of the world’s top riders in one peloton, he has noticed how everyone appears to be at the top of their game.
“We race against the same guys all year round,” said Williams.
“The only difference is normally it’s 60 or 70% of the field on top form whereas here you have 100% who are flying.
“The depth is a lot bigger and the gap between a bad and mediocre day is a bit more.”
New Targets Acquired
Williams now must look for opportunities from the breakaway and went away in stage four only to be kept on a tight leash by a UAE led onslaught on the peloton.
However, Williams looked in good shape, the first to crest both second category climbs of the day, putting himself in the frame for mountains jersey classification.
“There was no plan about going for mountain points,” said Williams
“I was in the break, and we only had two minutes and thought, ‘I’m leaving here with something’.
“I just took the 10 points, and you never know what can happen in the race like this down the road.
“If I’m in a situation where I’m in the break for a couple of days in the high mountains, it only takes 30 or 40 points and you’re back in the picture.”
Last week, Sportin Wales speculated what Williams and Thomas could target in the remaining race, identifying stage 11 as one which Williams could attack in a race dominated so far by long flat stages.
“Stage 11 has got a punchy finish and seems to be a breakaway day so hopefully I can slot myself into a move on that day and try and be there at the finish,” said Williams
“A lot will have to go right for that to happen. If we can get a couple of us heading to what is a really cool finish to the stage then that’ll be nice.
“We saw how strong Derek Gee was in the gravel stage and I don’t think there’s a day that isn’t suited to him when it comes to a breakaway.
“We can speak about the final as much as we want but the most important thing is getting into the break if it’s their day, because if you get a gap it’ll be a good day.
“It’s about getting through the first 10 or 15k and getting yourself into the right moves and hopefully I’ll be there.”
Tour Hopes and Then Olympic Dream
You could be forgiven for thinking on his first ever Tour de France that Williams would be content with simply finishing the race, however that could not be further from the truth.
“Stage win, that’ll be a successful tour,” said Williams.
“To be in the right moves and get the win will be successful but if I leave here without a stage win, I won’t have reached my ambition here.
“To win bike races a lot of things have to go right. You can have the best legs but sometimes it doesn’t go your way and a lot of things can happen on race day.
“Looking at La Fleche everything came together and went right and I just backed myself and that’s the best way to do it.”
This year the Tour finishes with an individual time trial alongside Nice’s Promenade des Anglais instead of the normal procession along Paris’ Champs-Élysées having been displaced by the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Williams has been named alongside compatriot Josh Tarling in Great Britain’s team for the Olympic Road Race, which is on the 3rd of August, not two weeks after the culmination of the Tour.
With a lumpy parkour which appears to suit Williams’ punchy nature, he will be going with an outside chance of a medal.
“It’s a massive event but it’s difficult to think of the Olympics when you’re in the tour because it’s full gas,” said Williams.
“With the Olympics, you have a small field and the very best of the best going for the same thing.
“I’ll say it now, it’ll probably be the hardest race of my life, it’s going to be a small team, uncontrolled and a dog fight.
“I just want to arrive in Paris with the best legs possible on the back of the tour and do a good ride there.”