It is impossible to consistently perform at your best. Stuff just goes wrong. But Wales are now able to win when playing at 70% and that is the mark of a good team. This is in stark contrast to the Mike Ruddock squads where victories were reliant on a high-risk offloads and gamble-lines from every player on the field.

Many seem unimpressed with Wales making the Semi-Finals, but that won’t bother the coaches or the players. When you’re playing badly and winning consistently, you’re doing plenty of things right.

Dear Rugby Rule Makers, Please Change the Following

Whether or not Tomos Williams ‘stripped’ the ball forward into Justin Tipuric’s arms is now academic. But what does matter is that the law is changed. The defending player should not be punished when ‘stripping’ the ball forward, or when knocking the ball forward in the tackle.

The physics involved in the ball moving forward, in both of the above situations, are beyond the control or either player and therefore shouldn’t be punishable. Players have enough to worry about in the tackle dynamic as it is. To be held responsible for the direction of the spin of an oval ball is not part of their remit.

Whilst we’re at it, can we also award a free-kick or a scrum for a double movement as that is the harshest penalty in the game? I’ll be happy then.

What a Prize Pair of English Flankers

English rugby has always been in good shape since the game went pro. The player and financial base make them the most stable rugby economy in the world. But despite the quality of players that are available, they haven’t really been able to replace the vintage flanker options that they had in the Woodward era – replacing players like Laurence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Neil Back and Lewis Moody was never going to be easy.