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Jamie Roberts names 3 Welsh Lions standouts with message for rookies

Jamie Roberts during the International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at ANZ Stadium on July 6, 2013 in Sydney, Australia.

“I’m speaking from experience.” A 21-year-old Jamie Roberts started the 2008 season with just three Wales caps to his name. He ended the season a British and Irish Lions player of the series. If anyone knows what a difference a year can make, the Welsh great does.

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So, with Warren Gatland selecting 15 players with five caps or fewer for Wales’ Autumn Nations Series, there are many that find themselves in the same position that Roberts, a two-time Lions tourist, did heading into the autumn of 2008.

The 97-cap international therefore has a message to those players with the Lions tour of Australia on the horizon: “It can all change very, very quickly.” While he returned from South Africa in 2009 recognised as one of the most destructive centres in the game, it is easy to forget that Roberts was only just establishing himself as an inside centre at the beginning of that season, let alone a Test player.

Speaking to RugbyPass recently, the 37-year-old discussed the change in atmosphere in a Lions year, while singling out which compatriots he believes are likely to make Andy Farrell’s squad come the end of the season. While Wales, without a Test win in 2024, do not appear to be in a position where swathes of players will be sporting another red jersey in 2025, Roberts has three in mind.

Flanker Jac Morgan, scrum-half Tomos Williams and hooker Dewi Lake are the three that “stand out” to the former centre, who described the Ospreys’ Morgan as “truly one of our world-class players.” But he had plenty of words of encouragement for Gatland’s rookies who may feel a Lions tour is nothing more than a pipe dream.

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10 Nov 24
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“I think Dewi Lake is in that conversation, a wonderful player who’s shown some great form” TNT Sports pundit Roberts said, adding “those are the three that stand out now.

“Dare I say it, but a couple of these two-cap lads can have a huge impact. I’m speaking from experience there. I had three caps going into the autumn of 2008 ahead of the Lions in 2009, it can all change very, very quickly.

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“Warren will make sure he makes his players aware of that to these young lads- go out there, put your hand up, keep the jersey.”

But Roberts was quick to stress that it is a collective effort which will see Wales well represented in Australia next year, so arresting their nine-match Test losing streak will be of paramount importance over the next month with visits from Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

“You don’t do this enough alone,” he added. “You do it as part of a collective, you do it as part of a good side, playing well in a good side. So it’s definitely a carrot there for the players, but they have to do it together and it’s a great motivation for the lads.

“It gets me super excited, in those Lions years there’s always an extra motivation, every session, whether in the gym or on the pitch, there’s extra motivation because you know the reward that’s potentially on offer.”

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Related

Every match of 2024 Autumn Nations Series is exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+ Watch The Autumn Nations Rugby Show, free-to-air on Quest every Thursday at 10pm

Louis Rees-Zammit joins Jim Hamilton for the latest episode of Walk the Talk to discuss his move to the NFL. Watch now on RugbyPass TV

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours 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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