Did you see it coming?

POWELL KICK OUT OF WELSH SQUAD


One thing I remember about the immediate aftermath of the Wales - Scotland game this weekend was Andy Powell coming off the bench to congratulate his teammates - he looked like he had some mischief in his eyes....

the rest i guess now is history...


"Powell and another man were picked up at a service station at junction 33 of the M4 motorway, less than three miles from the Wales team headquarters at the Vale Hotel and Spa, on Sunday morning. Powell had spent Saturday night celebrating Wales's Six Nations victory over Scotland.

It is understood the buggy was taken from the Vale of Glamorgan resort. The other man was released without charge. Today, following discussions with the player himself, the Welsh management has decided to suspend Powell from the squad for the duration of the tournament, for behaviour contrary to the squad's code of conduct. "

(SOURCE telegraph.co.uk)

Powell is clearly a bit of a joker - anybody who has seen the behind the scenes DVD on the recent Lions tour would pick up on that...

So when I heard the story on Sunday I was not surprised and like John Indverdale who delivered me the news (not one on one you understand) I laughed.

Funny though it was, it was not a clever thing for the man to do.

Harsh Punishment?

I don't think Gatland and co where left with much option.

The former Wales number 8 Micheal Owen had a good point today Gatland brought Powell into the squad and gave him a chance - and this was not the right way for Powell to repay him.

The future for the backrow forward?

I'm guess the Cardiff Blues player will get another chance...wont he?

He really excelled when he came on the international scene at the beginning last season - but he has rather faded with the Welsh team ever since.

He is not a natural number 6 (where he has played this Six Nations campaign) and I expect Osprey's flanker Jonathan Thomas to step into that role and Powell won't be missed...

So time could be up for the former Newport and Scarlet's man.

Powell has come back before though...

After a bright start to his career at Newport he nearly gave up the game after failing to make a impact as a youngster in France and then at Leicester.

After a brief step back from the oval game at 23 he returned to Wales to join the Scarlets. He also struggled to reach his potential at West Wales' side - where he got into trouble by missing training and the like.

A move to the Cardiff Blues in 2005 and taking his chances when Xavier Rush got injured at the Blues he broke the international scene.

He came back bigger and better - and in his own words "matured". He may need to rethink that and maybe the game that has slipped away in the past couple of months maybe reborn.

It's a balancing tip really that could go either way.

Sunday Paper Review

A quick look at what the UK Sunday papers are saying after Saturday's action.

The Sunday Times

Magic moments fail to mask Wales's failing
Stuart Barnes

Barnes fairly argues that the Welsh miss Mike Phillips and lays into the his replacement Gareth Cooper and captain Ryan Jones.

Brian O'Driscoll dethroned by Mathieu Bastareaud
David Hands

Hand's claims that the Frenchmen out played his Irish opposite number. A fair assessment? Maybe...but other factors played more of a role in the french win. The dominance of the home sides half backs and the lack of quick ball for last years grand slam winners.

Scary fact - Bastareaud was 11 when BOD scored a hat trick at the stade de france.

Non Stop Emontion as Wales Finish on Top

Six Nations Reviewed

Wales 31 Scotland 24
Millennium Stadium - 13/2/2010

This is what the Six Nations is all about. Non stop emotion from start to finish.

The BBC often launch their Six Nations TV trails with emphasis on the "passion" and the "drama" that comes with one of Rugby's oldest competitions. The Cardiff crowd and those watching at home got exactly that this afternoon - passion followed by late drama.

"gutted"

The Scots will be gutted - they fought hard and played very well for most of the game to create a platform from which they should have gone on to win the game. They clearly were hurt by the injuries in their backline - both Chris Paterson and Tom Evans going off with injuries.

When replacement hooker Scott Lawson was sin binned with just under 10 minutes remaining the Welsh just out powered a tiring Scottish team - to add more problems Phil Godman was also sent to the sidelines in the final minutes. All this meant that the Scots could not close out the match.

Key Turning Point

Has to be Scott Lawson's sin bining. Momentum was already with the Welsh and this just increased it.

Top Players

Dan Parks played a great game. It was only before the tournament some where saying he would never play in a Scotland jersey again. He commanded the number 10 jersey like it had been his for years...or should have been.

On the red side, the Welsh wizard Shane Williams had a great game. Wales looked to him a number of times to magic something up and with the final try he did. James Hook also played well at 13 - backing the Scottish defence often.

Game Rating

9/10 - superb.

Questions still remain....

The Welsh at points looked very lost...what has happened to the side of 2008...on paper they look exceptional but seem to be missed firing or misguided.

BUT

Could this be the turning point for the Welsh as lady luck shines on them...

Rugby Mad Final Thought

Some of Warren Gatland's pre match negativity against his opposition (this included slating England and Scotland) doesn't help his team's cause when they play badly. I have a lot of respect for the kiwi but he frustrated me this week.

Stats

Wales
Tries - Lee Bryne, Leigh Halfpenny, Shane Williams.
Cons - Stephen Jones (2)
Pens - Stephen Jones (4)

Scotland
Tries - John Barclay, Max Evans
Cons - Chris Paterson
Pens - Dan Parks (2)
DG - Dan Parks (2)
Sin Bin - Scott Lawson, Phil Godman.

Att: 70,000
Ref: George Clancy (Ireland)