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The game between Scotland and Wales at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on 1 March attracted a World Record rugby attendance of 104,000 fans. Other players to receive recalls under Gatland include Owen Williams, Rhys Patchell, Aaron Wainwright and Leon Brown. But in the UK, Northern Hemisphere and the world, rugby is in a better place with a strong, competitive Welsh team and that means having healthy and successful teams below the international setup . The event marked the first time Prince William has visited the Welsh Guards since becoming the ceremonial Colonel of the Welsh Guards, a royal role announced in December. Played in the first Test of the 1977 Lions tour to New Zealand. Home F1; Calendar 2022; On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If you asked him where his gwladgarwch (patriotism) came from, he would look at you and tell you nobody asks why snow is white.. They travelled to Dublin a week later buoyed and in the knowledge that a draw would be enough for them to win the title outright for the first time in five years; a potentially huge achievement given their underwhelming performances in beating Scotland and losing to England. GERALD WINGS IN FOR LATE SUCCESS Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield, 1971. The Rugby Championship; IRB World Rankings; General Links. Centre Steve Fenwick opened his international career with a try after Gareth Edwards had missed with a drop-kick and tries by Terry Cobner and Gerald Davies took Wales to 17-7 at the interval. Consent Search for articles. Elgan Rees eventually bagged the try after a mesmerising move that had covered almost 75 metres. The likes of Liam Williams, Biggar and Wyn Jones return having missed the autumn through injury, while Rhys Carre is recalled after being overlooked by Wayne Pivac last year. Justin Tipuric will captain a 35-man Wales squad for their Autumn Internationals fixtures against New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia this November. He came back from injury and was absolutely outstanding during the autumn campaign. Of course, results have to be part of the equation but the way a team plays and the players and personalities in it count as well. The championship was won by Wales, the team's eighteenth title (excluding another nine shared championships).[1]. People say the present Welsh team is under pressure from losing so many . London Welsh Rugby Club Expand search. The ball went down the line and JPR Williams made space for Gerald Davies to squeeze over and cut the gap to a single point. Then Bobby Windsor rolled away from a maul, fed Gareth Edwards and Steve Fenwick gave JJ Williams the chance to race to the corner for the try that made history. His link with Allan Martin turned intoone of the great lock partnerships. He returned from South Africa in 1974 as British and Irish rugbys premier hooker and had a reputation as a hard man to go with it. Wales had not beaten Ireland in Cardiff since 1983. IRELAND have been given the chance to topple both France and Argentina to win Group D in the World Cup. After both exits the e2e squad readjusted . They didnt know when or how, but when the attack came it would often prove lethal. This parade was the first time The Prince of Wales has visited the Welsh Guards since becoming Colonel of the Regiment. Dubbed The Ripper, he had the priceless ability to tear the ball free at mauls, which would often rise up and down when he piled in. Some will insist the key consideration in making such a judgement should be the number of wins posted, and they will have a point. His try against France on debut in 1975 saw him cover 75 metres for the touchdown wow. The Princess of Wales delighted a seven-year-old girl who presented flowers to her when she visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for their St David's Day parade . SIGN UP: Get the latest rugby headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our daily newsletter. Blessed with supreme self belief, he galvanised those around him. All nine matches to date had been won by the home side and, in an unprecedented and indeed never-matched sequence, Ireland duly made it 10 out of 10 in a low scoring match at Lansdowne Road. Ireland 9, Wales 12 Lansdowne Road, 5 March, 1988. Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets are working towards squad budgets of 5.2m for the 2023-24 season and 4.5m in the following campaign. France, on the other hand, were invigorated by the return to the side of lock Elie Cester, who resumed his inspiring partnership with captain Walter Spanghero. This can also be viewed on our unique . Day one Gulfood and we're back with Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government. Won a Grand Slam in 1978 and 29 caps in all for Wales. ", Regarding the captaincy, Gatland added: Kens incredibly experienced and a passionate Welshman it means a lot to him to play for Wales. Played two games each in the 1976 Five Nations campaign, with Cobner starting and subsequently picking up an injury. Led Wales to the Triple Crown in 1988 and is the last Welshman to skipper a winning side at Twickenham. Announcing his first selection since returning to the Welsh rugby hot-seat, the. Was a huge influence with the victorious Lions in Australia in 1989 and was a key figure in the Welsh World Cup campaign in 1987 and the 1988 Triple Crown. The disgraced Duke of York stepped back from royal duties after sex abuse allegations . Here, then, are the players who hit such heights for Wales in 1976. Choose either a competition, commentator or team to see listings of matches. Injuries plagued his Lions career, prematurely ending his two tours, and he finished his career with Bradford Northern. Wales Rugby Team. Wales 16, France 7 Arms Park, 18 March, 1978. In this blog post, we will explore some of these impressive landmarks . Listen to Mervyn Davies in the brilliant book Nobody Beats Us, by David Tossell, discussing the merits of the 1971 and 1976 sides: The 1976 side probably was a better team. Ben Thomas Preview BATTLE OF THE TOP TWO AT CHURCH BANK An injury time try by Adrian Hadley gave Paul Thorburn the chance to kick for glory off the touchline, He hit the mark. Other sides up for the bauble include the 1907-1910 side who held the win record on their own for so long, plus the wonderful early 1950s brigade who banked two Grand Slams in three seasons and also defeated New Zealand, with Brylcreem boys Cliff Morgan, Bleddyn Williams, Jack Matthews and Ken Jones among the stand-out players. Mark Ring launched an audacious move from deep in his own 22, Jonathan Mason joined in and Jonathan Davies was sent racing 65 metres to the line the only high spot in an otherwise miserable tour for the European champions. But a Paul Moriarty try and a late penalty from the ever reliable Paul Thorburn clinched a first Triple Crown in nine years. 1. The 1971 team swaggered their way to a Grand Slam and the teams from 1976 to 1978 boasted power and muscle as well as flair and pace to take two clean sweeps during an era when France were formidable. Up stepped John Taylor, over went the touchline conversion and Wales marched on to the Slam. Toured twice with the Lions, most notably in 1974 when he helped destroy South Africa. Despite Billy Steele again scoring twice for the Scots, England's relentless attacking around the fringes of the breakdown meant that they held the gainline advantage for most of the match and it was largely down to the excellence of Peter Dixon who scored two tries and Andy Ripley that they were able to cross the line four times and secure what was, in the context of the championship that year, a comfortable 20-13 victory. The clenched fists salute after the try-saver still resonates. Forward Nominees Mervyn Davies, Derek Quinnell, John Taylor, Geoff Wheel, Bobby Windsor. Few knew for sure how old Faulkner was when he made his Wales debut in 1975. Ahead of this weekends RBS Six Nationsthird round matchagainst France, all this week the WRU Website looks back at some classic games between Wales and the Les Bleus. JJ WINGS IN FOR THE TRIPLE TRIPLE CROWN Ireland v Wales, Dublin, 1978. Became a world class rugby league players after leaving Wales with 32 caps. Brazils footballers pressed all those buttons in 1970 bedazzling sports enthusiasts and casual observers across the planet with artistry that also translated into wins. Scarlets hooker Ken Owens takes over the captaincy, with Dan Biggar and Justin Tipuric having led the side throughout 2022. For Wales to do so and live up to the hype they would need to win their remaining game in France but, again, they disappointed. . List of Wales national rugby union team records, "Wales - Wales News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More - ESPN", "Dan Biggar inspires Wales to dramatic late victory over England | Rugby World Cup", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Wales_national_rugby_union_team_records&oldid=1141569479, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 18:36. The Greatest Ever Welsh Players of the 1970's and 1980's The Seventies Fact File Played 46 Won 32 Drawn 3 Lost 11 72.8% success rate - second highest of any decade Grand Slams - 1971, 1976, 1978 Triple Crowns - 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 Outright championship wins - 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978,1979 Drew with South Africa in 1970 JPR Williams in action for Wales against Australia in 1978, Gerald Davies was a brilliant player for Wales, Ray Gravell in action for Wales against England, Graham Price, Bobby Windsor and Charlie Faulkner made up the legendary Pontypool front row, Allan Martin wins lineout ball against England at Twickenham. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. A side featuring JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards, Derek Quinnell and Mervyn Davies thumped England 25-9 in their opening match at Cardiff Arms Park. Merv the Swerve played 38 times for Wales and won eight caps for the Lions. The Scarlets hooker captains Warren Gatland's 37-man Wales squad which features four uncapped players, Get the latest Welsh Rugby news analysis and interviews. Part of the infamous Pontypool front row, he picked up Grand Slams in 1976 and 1978. ARCHIVE Britten, Tom Howells, Rees Bowen, Dai Howells, Joe Hill, Arthur Watson Welburn, D.J. Davies The wining try was scored by Watson Welburn. It wasn't a tournament of memorable rugby nor of any great side, but rather a statistical curio that will, with the advent of points difference as a tie-breaker in 1994 and the addition of Italy in 2000 making such an equal record impossible, forever stand alone in the record books. . Numbers of interest Youngest player : Dafydd JENKINS - 20 years old Oldest player : Alun Wyn JONES - 37 years old Average : 28 years old Lightest player : Dane BLACKER - 78 kg "Wales will be strong favourites to win their second championship match of the season," wrote David Frost in his match preview. Weve some youngsters that have come in and then weve some older very experienced players that we need to manage. Captain of the 1978 Grand Slam side, he played a huge part in that success with two tries and a conversion in the final victory over France. The master of pretty much all he surveyed in rugby in the 1970s. The attendance at Murrayfield remains the Championship's record crowd, the record attendance in Europe and the third highest rugby attendance in history. Williams, Gareth Edwards, Mervyn Davies, Phil Bennett, John J.J. Williams, Ray Gravell, Clive Burgess No7 passes the ball to Gareth Edwards in the 1977 match against England, England's Charles Kent is tackled by Derek Quinnell (right) and Graham Price, Gareth Edwards with the ball with English prop P J Wheeler (2) and P J Dixon bearing down on him, In Scotland in 1977 Phil Bennett (right) in action for Wales at Murrayfield. Ireland 9, Wales 34 Lansdowne Road, 21 February, 1976. Rugby rumours and transfers: Nigel Owens, Iain Henderson and Josh Adams Josh Adams Features Jared Wright 28 Feb 2023 Six Nations: The seven individual stat leaders after three rounds, including most defenders beaten, metres made and tackles Huw Jones Six Nations Colin Newboult 28 Feb 2023 2021 Wales Squad Signed Shirt. Wales were seeking to build on their promising World Cup and went looking for a good start to their championship at Twickenham. Kate Middleton Paired a Classic Camel Coat With Muted Navy Blue Separates For the occasion, Middleton also matched the Welsh flag in a bright red coat designed by Alexander McQueen, one of her. Results [ edit] 2 March 16 March Headingley, Leeds Up stepped Paul Thorburn to kick the winning points. This article about a rugby union competition is a stub. Berian Watkins 4. A Lion before he won his first Welsh cap, he played No 8 and flanker for Wales in 23 games and was ever-present in the 1978 Grand Slam side. Wales looked down and out until late in the game and the Triple Crown seemed lost. Third place in the inaugural World Cup seemed lost until Wales moved the ball left once again and Adrian Hadley squeezed over in the corner. France were attacking when the ball fell loose and was hacked upfield. Jonathon Hill. Wales were not to win again in Paris until 1999. Statistics include officially capped matches only. But, ultimately, the mind keeps wandering back 40 or so years to the decade of flares, bubble perms and kipper ties. John Griffiths answers questions on English players in Wales, Hugo Porta's final bow and inexperienced England squads in this week's edition of Ask John The 1975 Five Nations Championship was the forty-sixth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship. Wales had stuck to virtually the same side throughout the championship they used 16 players in four games - and were forced to come back from 5-0 down to win. During the parade, The Prince of Wales presented leeks to the Officers and Guardsmen who in turn issued it along the ranks, a traditional part of the St David's Day Parade. By 1976, we had probably the strongest pack Wales had ever put out so we could dominate for long periods, yet we still had the same quality behind the scrum.. After the match, Irvine described Ireland as "a side that clearly possessed the capacity to overwhelm [Scotland] but lacked the tactical appreciation or direction to do so". March 19, 2005 was a date which saw all the old memories fade into insignificance. It was a record win in Dublin and a record high against the Irish. Wales against France in 1970. Take your pick both Adrian Hadley tries were gems, the best probably being his link with Cardiff club mate Mark Ring. Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS. Windsor was a one-off, a larger-than-life presence in the Welsh front row alongside his Pontypool buddies Charlie Faulkner and Graham Price. Holds the record for the most drop goals by a Welsh player with 13 in 32 Tests. While Prince William. Wales Six Nations Squad 2022: Forwards (20) Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby - 16 caps) Wyn Jones (Scarlets - 38 caps) Gareth Thomas (Ospreys - 5 caps) Ryan Elias (Scarlets - 23 caps) Dewi Lake (Ospreys - uncapped) Bradley Roberts (Ulster Rugby - 1 cap) Leon Brown (Dragons - 16 caps) Tomas Francis (Ospreys - 60 caps) Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby - 34 caps) With France and England proving variable, and Wales having suffered a shock defeat to the unfancied Scots, a stylish Ireland side with Mike Gibson at inside-centre were a decent bet for the title, only to become the second side to be upset by Scotland. A tearaway flanker, he covered every blade of grass on the field and did so with an abrasive edge, clattering opponents and hitting countless rucks and mauls. Whatever, he was to stick around on the Test scene for another four years. Rugby, England, United Kingdom. Two of those came in the vital win at Twickenham a ground where he scored the only try in the Welsh win of 1984. Members of Wales' Six Nations squad made a pre-planned walkout at an event hosted by. Price was remarkably young for a prop at twenty-three years of age but Faulkner, a judo black-belt, kept his age a mystery; though he was reputed to be "around 34". Back Nominees Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams. The 1975 Wales rugby union tour of Asia was a series of matches played in September 1975 by the Wales national rugby union team. The Greatest Ever Welsh Players of the 1970's and 1980's, 72.8% success rate second highest of any decade, Triple Crowns 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, Outright championship wins - 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978,1979, Most appearances in decade JPR Williams (London Welsh/Bridgend) 44, Most tries in decade Gareth Edwards and Gerald Davies (both Cardiff) 17, Most points in decade Phil Bennett (Llanelli) 166, Most appearances as captain Gareth Edwards (Cardiff) 10, Most wins by a player in the decade JPR Williams (London Welsh/Bridgend) 32. For the first time two teams came into the last round of matches both capable of winning the Grand Slam. A try scoring machine for Cardiff, he scored more touchdowns in the eighties for Wales than anyone else with nine. One of five new caps in Paris, he crowned a five star display by Wales by following up JJ Williams' hack through from the Wales 22 to flop over in the corner after a 75 metre chase. It's extra scrummage practice for you tonight. One of the game's great line-out masters who became the mainstay of the Welsh pack throughout the eighties. Wales went on to win the match 18 - 9 retaining the Triple Crown, The Arms Park went under renovation in 1977, Gareth Davies looks to kick ahead during the game against New Zealand in 1978, Welsh scrum half Terry Holmes receives the ball from Derek Quinnell and looks for options during the game against the All Blacks, Wales on the way to another Grand Slam in 1978, Young Wales international now working on a building site after rugby's turmoil leaves him unemployed, This time last term his career in professional rugby appeared to be taking off, but fate wasn't to be kind to the lad from west Wales, The 'biggest rugby hit you will see' sparks huge brawl watched by 300 million, Five players were given their marching orders during the course of the match, Willis Halaholo's tearful tribute to Rey Lee-Lo amid his family difficulties is so special, The Cardiff team-mates are more like brothers, and it has been a difficult time, Cardiff City beat Bristol City as Kaba and Philogene score but Perry Ng ends up in goal, The Bluebirds won the Severnside derby clash in Cardiff, Today's rugby news as Wales duo wanted by same club and Warburton makes Italy favourites, The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond, Swansea City defeat at Luton ends in chaos as Russell Martin sent off and escorted from pitch, The Swans slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road, with Martin being dismissed late on, Cardiff v Ulster Live: Kick-off time, TV channel and score updates. Was a Lion in New Zealand in 1983 and again in Australia in 1989. Having left the role in 2019, Gatland returned in December to take the reins from axed Pivac following a disastrous autumn campaign which included a shock home defeat to Georgia. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was a great win and a fine start for the new captain, Mervyn Davies. Dino Dallavalle 18. The world champion All Blacks ran in 18 tries in two Tests, but had to concede the best of the lot in the series to Jonathan Davies. He gave his all every time he took the field, and expected team-mates to do the same. Their letter stated "inclusion" should be the "starting point . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Wales Rugby League's record international point scorer, the Wheelchair Rugby League player, Andrew Higgins has announced his retirement from the game after a stellar nine-year career. Formed a famed second row partnership with Allan Martin. Would have been a Lion in 1977 only to be ruled out on medical advice. 912 followers 500+ connections. There are only 50 signed shirts available worldwide. Llyr Green 19. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[3]. He had alerted coaches of his prowess. 'Principality to walk away and PRB boss to quit' if . It was tense, it was tough and, in the end, it was thrilling stuff. The 1975 Five Nations Championship was the forty-sixth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship. No doubt playing minding games, Eddie Jones triggered the debate by suggesting the current generation are worthy of that title. This most humble of men went on to become a legend in his own life-time, with a gregarious personality and immense passion for all things Welsh. ELGAN ROUNDS OFF REES CHARGE Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield, 1983. Tough as teak Terry became the world's best scrum half in the eighties and a serious contender to Gareth Edwards as one of the best of all time. A strike by Welsh Ambulance Service staff has been called off, unions have announced. Concerns have been raised over player welfare as the regions prepare to have their squads severely reduced. Ireland chose to recall Mick Molloy for the match to partner Willie-John McBride, while France moved Spanghero to the back of the scrum at number eight. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It looked as though the game as up, and the Grand Slam quest was over, with the home side leading 18-14 with two minutes to go. Which, then, is the greatest Wales rugby XV ever? He packed power in the tight, threw accurately at line-outs and worked hard around the field. The fifth Triple Crown of the seventies was already in the bag, but the Cardiff crowd were still baying for English blood. His second secured the third Grand Slam of the seventies as he took an inside pass from JJ Williams to cross in the right corner. After one of the teams greatest triumphs, Phil Bennett recalled heading into the dressing room to find the Pontypool front row subdued because they had conceded a tight-head. One of the greatest ball carrying forwards of his generation in the northern hemisphere he went on to become a selector and coach with the national side. Tonight's rugby news as 12 Wales stars try to convince Gatland and top Welsh clash cancelled amid injury crisis . . His third came from deep in his own half as he out ran the opposing defence despite suffering concussion. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Warren Gatland has named his first Wales squad since his return as coach, naming four uncapped players in his 37-man squad for the Six Nations. Then click a match to see the details. A Grand Slammer in 1971, he quit at the peak of his powers and will forever be in the running to wear the No 10 jersey in the world's greatest team of all-time. In 1976, he came up with the never-to-be-forgotten hit on Jean-Francois Gourdon that saved the Grand Slam in the final game against France. The Irish had beaten England by pummelling their forwards into submission and unleashing the backs think of it as early Gatlandball and thought a similar forward-orientated approach would be enough to beat Scotland; it seemed though they hadn't paid heed to the Scots' impressively staunch display against Wales. This record would not be broken until a Bledisloe Cup game between Australia and New Zealand attracted 107,042 to the Sydney Olympic Stadium in 1999. The headline the following day though, read "The Mighty Mouse that roared" after Billy Steele and Colin Telfer crossed the line and Scottish defence shut out Wales' star-studded backline in a mighty display of backs-to-the-wall rugby. [1], Last updated: 25 February 2023. Autumn squad. Australia had been down to 14 men from the fourth minute and were leading 21-16 in the fourth minute of injury time. The best team of that era? Wales international rugby union team: latest news, fixtures & results - The Telegraph Wales Welsh players face stark cut to salaries amid 30,000 offer to re-sign No new financial. Few bettered Wheel at the front of the line; no-one bettered him in the mauls. Indeed, very few would have backed England to beat France, who had edged Scotland in the opening round. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1975_Wales_rugby_union_tour_of_Asia&oldid=1127744478, History of rugby union matches between Japan and Wales, Articles needing additional references from May 2013, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 December 2022, at 11:51. It's looking at the whole element for the squad and how we get the balance right, because thats definitely going to be a challenge over the next 10 months. This result, coupled with Wales' impressive return to form in a 16-12 win over the stuttering Irish a week earlier, meant that only the Welsh and France were able to win the title outright. Three Grand Slams and four Triple Crowns says it all. Wales 22, Australia 21 RWC, 3rd Place Play-off, Rotorua, 18 June, 1987. Phil Bennett was surprisingly dropped and had been replaced by Aberavon fly half John Bevan. Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ken Owens (capt), Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Rhys Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Teddy Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Justin Tipuric, Christ Tshiunza, Aaron Wainwright. The Prince and Princess of Wales have met with Australian troops currently stationed in the UK to assist in the training of Ukrainian soldiers. They called him 'The King' in New Zealand in 1971 when he steered the Lions to victory. In the 6ft 5in Martin, Wales found a line-out jumper who delivered a constant stream of ball at a time when the set-piece was a jungle and then a bit more. Scotland 18, Wales 19 Murrayfield, 6 February, 1971. Was first choice for Wales throughout the majority of his 41 cap career and played in 12 successive Tests for the Lions on three tours. With Scotland winning 12-10 it was the only loss for the Welsh during the 1975 Five Nations. Wales Six Nations 2020 squad Forwards: Rhys Carre Rob Evans Wyn Jones Elliot Dee Ryan Elias Ken Owens Leon. Played eight successive Tests for the Lions on their victorious tours to New Zealand and South Africa. An attacking genius who spearheaded Wales' surge to third place in the inaugural World Cup and the 1988 Triple Crown. Then in 1978 the Wales repeated their heroics with another Grand Slam, at the same time. Have your say in the comments section here. Phill Bennett played a captain's role with two tries and a conversion and Gareth Edwards singed off his remarkable career in style. You talk about what you see and the way they play. You had to be some player to command a place in Wales side in the mid-1970s and Trevor Evans was some player. Captain of the 1976 Grand Slam side, he won two Slams and three Triple Crowns in a career that saw him captain his country to eight wins in nine matches. BENNY BEATS THE PAIN BARRIER AND THE FRENCH Wales v France, Arms Park, 1978. There again, theres another way of looking at it. Skipper John Dawes told everyone to calm down and Delme Thomas won a crucial line-out in the Scottish 22. The squad features five uncapped players in Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins, Dragons wing Rio Dyer and a trio of Scarlets players: scrum-half Dane Blacker, fly-half Sam Costelow . Opponents knew at some point he would strike during a match. The famous Pontypool Front Row. Sport. An uncompromising character who turned into a strong leader of his country. Telephone: 02920 822 000 Some 90 players remain out of contract this summer, with careers in. Guinness Six Nations 2021 Champions Wales Team signed jersey. "The Welsh midfield attack seldom made any direct progress and the passing along the line was not slick enough to give the wings time to move in," wrote Frost in the match report; a rare occasion on which such criticism could be made of that great back division from west of the Severn. But it says everything about how well Phil Bennett did that even now there is a debate over who was the better player.