With Mark Taylor injured, Alan Bateman is expected to play at outside centre, but I would pick James. As big a fan as I am of Alan I don't think his form is as good as the Llanelli man's.And outside him winger Mark Jones looks the quickest thing on the planet He is not only quick he is strong. If he has a weakness it is his kicking but if Wales have lacked anything recently it is finishing and this boy is lethal.Llanelli's display was all the more creditable because they have a major problem at full-back where Garan Evans did his best to fill in. But he's not a full-back and the absence of one causes Stephen Jones problems. A good full-back is the eyes of the team and without one there's extra pressure on the outside half.The other big boost to Llanelli is the news that Scott Quinnell has signed a new contract He was awesome on Friday.
The tight play of the Llanelli pack was also a big factor and we saw another huge contribution from second-row Craig Gillies.Where Llanelli went wrong was not thinking more about the importance of tries. Once they were sure of victory they should have concentrated all out on running the ball. There was no point in kicking for touch or even taking a conversion when James scored the fourth try.One note about the rules is worth mentioning. When Scott Quinnell scored his try he did so after being tackled short of the line and then reaching out with his arm to place the ball over the line. Referee Rob Dickson awarded a try but most pundits at the game or watching on television felt it was a double movement and, in addition, he didn't release the ball after being tackled.But Clive Norling telephoned me to point out that a player is allowed to place the ball after being tackled.
Players usually place the ball behind them but you are just as entitled to place it over the try-line if you are near enough.. It is a word that we have come to associate with weightlifting, cycling, swimming and even football. Few sports have escaped it and many have been forever tarnished by it. But European rugby has managed in the main to steer clear of doping Until now. It is a word that we have come to associate with weightlifting, cycling, swimming and even football.
Few sports have escaped it and many have been forever tarnished by it. But European rugby has managed in the main to steer clear of doping. Until now. Ten days ago, Pierre Berbizier, the former France manager, raised the issue in an interview with the French sports daily, L'Equipe. "Our [the French] championship creates ideal conditions for taking drugs," he said.
"Such are the ridiculous demands put on them that I am in no doubt some of the best players are taking substances. As far as I'm concerned, doping these days is not just about creatine; it's about products that can allow players to keep up with the overburdened schedule. This is fact, not fiction."Jacques Fouroux, who was Berbizier's predecessor at the helm of the French team, has called for an immediate meeting - "to discuss this problem and find some solutions" - between the league, which is run by Serge Blanco; the national federation, presided over by Bernard Lapasset; and Serge Simon's Professional Players' Association "Doping is not only the problem of others. Rugby would be wiser to accept the existence of this plague within its ranks, rather than appear to turn a blind eye," said Fouroux.Following his comments, Berbizier was immediately summoned to a meeting with Blanco and Lapasset. He is confused as to why his comments have caused such a stir.