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Former Wales captain and coach Clive 'Top Cat' Rowlands dies

30 Jul 2023

Jul 1989: British Lions manager Clive Rowlands during the tour to Australia. Mandatory Credit: Billy Stickland /Allsport

Former Wales captain and coach Clive Rowlands has died at the age of 85, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced

Rowlands, who played 14 times for Wales as scrum-half, also managed the British and Irish Lions and served as president of the WRU.

He captained his country on each of his international appearances and led the team as they shared the 1964 Five Nations title with Scotland.

As coach he guided the team to a first Grand Slam in 19 years in 1971, after retiring from playing at the age of 29.

The WRU said in a statement: “The Welsh Rugby Union sends the most sincere condolences from everyone connected with the game in Wales to Clive’s family and friends and thanks him for his immense contribution to our game.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

Teddy 10 minutes ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

Tighthead is obviously a concern at the moment. Especially against France it’s an area were they could get minced.

It’s forecast as a dry and cloudy day so I expect Ireland to kick plenty and try to keep the scrum out of the game as often as possible.

10 Go to comments

BC 16 minutes ago

Carol Isherwood appointed to historic Lions role

I wish her every success. A lot has been said of the number of Non-Red Rose players who would be in a Lions team and how good some of the non-English home nations players are. You can look at it player by player and make your selections and you could end up with a nationally diverse team. I would suggest that there is another way of looking at it, who of the other home nations players would get into the Red Roses team? Not many, if any? To put in my pennies worth, I would suggest that these non-English current players would likely be on the plane (35 player squad). Emma Orr, Helen Nelson, Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel, Dannah O’Brien, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood, Orla Wafer, Frances McGhie, Alissa Butchers and Keira Bevan. Maybe some others but who would be starters? What concerns me slightly is that the squad could be selected to ensure even representation from all nations and not necessarily what constitutes the best team.

1 Go to comments

PR 19 minutes ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

The physical damage against the Boks is overstated. There was a period of about 30 minutes in the first half of the second Test when Ireland did indeed outmuscle a complacent Bok side but the second half was a different story. The Boks dominated the second half physically drawing penalty after penalty from a backpeddling Irish side. Ireland were smarter in the last five minutes and found a way to win - fair play to them - by the “physical damage” was for a limited period.

I think the biggest concern for Ireland is their buckling scrum. A poor Welsh pack utterly dominated Ireland at scrumtime so goodness knows what France will do to them.

10 Go to comments

Paige Usher 22 minutes ago

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Paige Usher 23 minutes ago

Former All Black Craig Newby lands head coach role in England

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Tom 1 hour ago

English rugby pundits and fans really need to get a grip

Hard disagree. Scraping past Scotland at home with a try that should have been disallowed and Russell missing every kick is not a benchmark for success. Neither is beating France when they drop the ball over the line 4 times. England are doing ok thanks to their decent forward pack with some excellent players. The backs are non-existent in attack, the defence out wide is terrible, the gameplan is so utterly rigid and predictable. It's not an issue of not being entertained or having a problem with winning ugly, England should be better with the players and resources they have available. They are badly coached and have been extremely fortunate to win both games and had they lost them everyone would have been in agreement that Borthwick needs to go. No other side in the world is trying to play this turgid 9 man rugby, there is no precedent for it and it isn't working. They are massively unconvincing and the fact that it's awful to watch is the icing on the cake.

1 Go to comments

RedWarriors 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

We will see how much these big French lads can run. England kept fatigue pressure on France by keeping kicks infield. A lot of kick tennis will suit Ireland as these buffallo will have to run up and down the pitch. Prendergast, Lowe, Osborne, Keenan. 4 Big kickers in the starting line up. You cannot have a stop/start match allowing this big guys to be rested before every scrum and play. Need a baseline of fatigue to bring the ceiling of damage they can do down.

France are confident which is dangerous for Ireland but also dangerous for France. The confidence and standards can drop if expectations are not met.

A stat I did see was disquieting. France are converting 56% of their 22 entries to tries. They scored a lot versus Italy, but missed a lot against England.

This resembles a bit the damage Toulouse were doing after line breaks. Flament was all over this. The defence will need to be excellent and our best defender Ringrose will not be there. That said versus England we conceded 3 points in 68 mins. We conceded 11 in 75 against Scotland but we were messing for 7 of that.

It is hard to score against Ireland.

When Aki came on versus Wales we scored 19 points in half an hour which was roughly France’s scoring rate against Wales in Paris.

France will score, but Ireland with a full performance should outscore.

As rgds the 7-1 split, Ireland will inflict physical damage like versus Springboks in Durban. I think France are underestimating Ireland’s physicality and I will be surprized if that split doesnt cause problems and backfire a little.

10 Go to comments

Mitch 1 hour ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

If the ref rewarded the Canes at that last scrum, he would have been rewarding illegal dominance.

13 Go to comments

BF 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

yeah.. game on.. let’s see what happens. Suppose deep down I prefer Ireland win.. but deeper down I don’t really care ;-)

10 Go to comments

Bob Salad II 1 hour ago

Shock Premiership contender emerges for Wales head coach job

I wouldn’t be surprised if Lam was offered the job. Not many would want it, but I can see Lam’s style working for a team like Wales. As a Bristol fan, I think he’s taken Bristol as far as he can. We’ll see how this season ends, but while the style and wins when they come are great, the losses hurt and it seems only a matter of time before teams figure out how to beat them. No idea who would replace Lam if he did take the Wales job. Lancaster?

1 Go to comments

JPM 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

Obviously there is a risk even if Ramos and Dupont (not ideal) can play 10 and Ntamack play 12 or 13 and BB play 15.

I am more concerned with the unconvincing Auradou and Aldeghieri on the bench.

10 Go to comments

Crisp Story Story 1 hour ago

Does a crowd have the right to boo their team if they're not being entertained?

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17 Go to comments

Teddy 1 hour ago

Ireland change four for France, beef up their bench to a 6-2 split

As good as can be. I’d be a little worried about tighthead and the lack of usual cover at 12/13. Not sure Aki and Henshaw both have 80 min engines against France.

1 Go to comments

MT 1 hour ago

England explain why they have dropped Marcus Smith and Henry Slade

Daly covers more positions, Steward is a full-back and thats it.

Ireland are doing the same thing with Osborne on the wing, its a result of the 6-2 split.

Dalys experience could also count in his favour, in a backline that doesn’t have much of it from 9 to 14.

13 Go to comments

Teddy 1 hour ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

With the Boks those ‘7-1’ splits usually involved either (or both) Kwagga Smith and Cobus Reinach benching.

A Flanker with a 7’s background and experience to cover as a utility back? Their sole back, a replacement scrum-halve was also their 3rd choice kicker at one point?

It’s not nearly the risk it’s billed as.

10 Go to comments

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Former All Black Craig Newby lands head coach role in England

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago

France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic

I’m not sure what you mean? The 7-1s were always 7 forwards 1 back.

10 Go to comments

Elizat Douries 2 hours ago

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