By Matt Reid
August 27 2003

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I wanted to cry. Not through pain or injury but seeing my beloved country destroyed on a rugby field, it wasn’t that we lost to a very good England side, it was the manner in which we lost.

Can Mr Hansen Show the “Hwyl”
Needed to Give Wales a Chance at the World Cup?

I cannot believe the lack of passion, pride & guts shown by 22 so called Welshman, where was the legendary “Hwyel”.

To compound this, the skills on display were shocking, Steve Hansen has had these guys in camp for months and their skills set seem to be plummeting through the floor, so many dropped passes I lost count, we seemed to lose possession every time we went into contact and tackling that would make a girls u10 team blush.

We cannot level all of this at Mr Hansen as was so aptly put you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear, the squad of players he has is just not good enough to play international rugby at any level. However where Mr Hansen does need to be criticised is that we do have good players not in the squad, either retired, ousted due to lack of fitness or just that they want to spend time with their families rather than hold up with 30 blokes in a hotel.

Now Steve you need to make a decision, go to the World cup with what you have and be lucky to make it out of the group stages and we would be lucky, or lead by example show some pride, guts, “Hwyel” whatever you want to call it and back down from you previous decisions.  Get the likes of the Quinell brothers, Howley, Madden, Morris and even Gibbs back in the fold, these players bring extra dimensions and skills we are currently missing plus the “ora” that proven world class performers like Scott & Rob would bring back to the squad.

I know this is a short term fix but the players coming through, the likes of Alix Popham, Gareth Cooper, will benefit and hopefully take them to the next level after working with these class players. Hopefully the regional set-up will help bleed new, fitter, stronger athletes and by the time the next world cup comes around we will not be having this same conversation, however success leads to success look at England and we need to start the ball rolling and it starts at the World Cup.

So Mr Hansen what are you going to do?  Lay down and die like your players did last Saturday or are you going to lead the way, dig deep and show true character and “Hwyel” and drag as out of the pits of hell and give us hope.