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Alun Wyn Jones' remarkable claim about talk in Wales Six Nations camp

By PA
George North /Getty via PA

Alun Wyn Jones insists there is no Grand Slam chat in the Wales camp after his team moved ominously towards achieving another Guinness Six Nations clean sweep.

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Victories over Italy and France next month would secure Wales’ sixth Six Nations title and fifth Grand Slam.

Triple Crown silverware is already in Wales’ trophy cabinet, courtesy of a startling 40-24 victory over pre-tournament favourites England.

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Wayne Pivac on Wales win over England:

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Wayne Pivac on Wales win over England:

It was the most points Wales have scored against their fiercest rivals since fixtures began between the two countries 140 years ago.

And as England imploded during a final quarter dominated by Wales’ goalkicking super-sub Callum Sheedy, so Wayne Pivac’s team marched imperiously on.

They have dropped just one point from a possible 15 during this season’s tournament, racking up 10 tries and heading to Rome in a fortnight’s time as overwhelming favourites.

But while Pivac has stressed that Wales will not be getting ahead of themselves, so skipper Jones has mirrored his coach’s approach.

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“There is no talk of that (Grand Slam),” Jones said. “We didn’t really talk a lot about the Triple Crown this week.

“We came into this competition off the back of a disappointing Autumn Nations Cup, although it was about the strength in depth and giving players an opportunity.

“Italy historically get better as the competition goes on. They will be hurting from the defeats they’ve had, so that is our next focus.

“Momentum is important, we are pleased with the results, but anything after that is going to be muted.

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“Sometimes after you win a game you would like another straight after to keep momentum going.

“We are faced with a challenge with the fallow week before a big game against Italy, and it is about what we do, not what we’ve done.”

How 70,000 Welsh supporters would have revelled in the Principality Stadium triumph, but ongoing restrictions meant everything unfolded behind closed doors and city centre streets being largely deserted as Cardiff basked in glorious winter sunshine

Jones added: “It has been a strange competition – all the teams have felt that without the fans.

“There is a lot going on at the moment, but hopefully we’ve shown a bit of pride in our nation and what people are going through at the minute.

“We definitely felt their support – we saw the odd flag being waved on the way into the stadium, which was much appreciated. We are happy to give something back to the fans.”

Pivac, meanwhile, has masterminded an impressive title surge following a testing 2020 when Wales won just three games, beating Italy (twice) and Georgia, and including a run of six successive losses.

“We are happy for the players because they’ve put in so much work,” Pivac said.

“We get to see what is going on behind the scenes in terms of the camaraderie of everyone in the group, and I think that is shown for everyone watching.

“A lot of people may have thought that, at 24-24, England were coming pretty strong at us.

“But our guys found another gear again, and we are very pleased with that. We can keep building.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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