Rugby Union: Don't expect miracles but let's regain some pride

I DON'T expect any miracles from Wales in the Six Nations - but I do expect plenty of pride.

Statistically, I anticipate two Welsh wins. We should beat Italy in Rome on Saturday and I'd like to think we are good enough to beat the Scots at Murrayfield.

But in the three other games - against England, Ireland and France - I just hope Wales make sure they are all competitive contests.

Against England, especially, it is time we at least let the old enemy know they have been in a game. I don't know how many more thrashings at the hands of Clive Woodward's men I can take - or how many the championship can take, for that matter.

We meet England in Cardiff and after three heavy defeats it is essential we restore some pride by making life more difficult for them.

The biggest problem for Wales is again going to be coping without familiar faces. This time last year Wales were learning to live without Scott Gibbs, Dai Young and Garin Jenkins. Now Rob Howley and Scott Quinnell have both quit the Test scene, while Neil Jenkins is out with a broken thumb.

That is a massive amount of experience and talent to lose in little more than a year. Not only had all those blokes seen and done it all, but Quinnell and Howley were the only true world-class players we have been able to boast about in the past year or so.

It is as if England were going into the championship without Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back, Jason Leonard, Richard Hill and Matt Dawson.

That may be a situation England find themselves in this time next year, if those guys call time on their Test careers after the World Cup. But the big difference is that England now have enormous strength in depth.

We don't have that luxury and with the scrapping of the A-team things are even worse. The A-team would have been the perfect environment to try out Ceri Sweeney at No.10 or see how Duncan Jones could convert from a prop to a hooker.

Instead, the injuries suffered to both Stephen Jones and Robin McBryde mean that those experiments may have to be done in the actual championship itself.

The loss of Stephen is a massive blow - he was just starting to come of age as an international fly-half. He was bossing games for Wales as he does for Llanelli. But his absence now provides a real chance for Iestyn Harris to prove he is worth all the hype that surrounded his arrival from rugby league.

I've felt sorry for Iestyn this season, as he has been forced to play behind a Cardiff pack which is constantly going backwards.

But this is his big chance and I hope he can take it. He has the talent, now he must prove he has the temperament to deliver on the big stage. If he can clear his head of all the advice he seems to get from every quarter, I'm sure his talent will see him through.

Leigh Davies is playing the best rugby of his life and is a must at inside centre, while Rhys Williams and Craig Morgan will supply real pace.

The big worries for me are up front. Wales have a decent pack, but it's not hard and nasty enough to worry France, England and maybe even Ireland for a full 80 minutes. I hope they prove me wrong, but I'm afraid we look a bit lightweight.

One selection I would like to see is Michael Owen of Pontypridd at No.8, with Colin Charvis moving back to blindside flanker. I felt Owen showed great potential in that slot in South Africa last summer and it's a gamble worth trying.

Interview: DAVID WILLIAMS

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