Aye. Your boys aren't exactly bare in the cupboard right now, though, and I've a suspicion that your coach is better.
Utterly. There has to be that link player for us to flow. Martyn comes from a fantastic tradition of footballing Welsh sevens
This kid. He's played all across the backrow, but looks like he may well end up at 7. He hasn't quite got the terrier-like physique of Nugget, but has fantastic skills for his age. Ben Lewis is another prospect. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that there will be a bit of a gap in succession, though. Martyn will not be replaced by somebody nearing the height of their powers unless he can be managed through to the next WC.
You frequently shame me with your binocularity, mate, and fair dos to you, you were calling for Nugget at 7 before the Lions began even when another great openside, Wallace, was in competition for the jersey, and was one of your own. Yes, the guy is a fucking god. What he has given to Wales over the years has been phenomenal. Quite simply, without him we would not have won the slams of '05 and '08. He's a modern legend that any true fan of the game cannot help but admire. Vision, balance, tenacity, he has it all. Look at the tackle area, who's there first protecting the ruck: Martyn. Look at the half or full breaks, who's there on the shoulder of the ball carrier: Martyn, look at the opposition ball carrier, who makes the tackle, gets up, rips the ball in one motion: Martyn, who's disrupting their scrum half, who's there at first receiver when the s/h is at the base of a ruck, who's putting in a very decent, clearing box kick when under pressure, who does the deft chip, the beautifully weighted miss pass, etc, etc. He makes me go misty eyed, and then those eyes turn red with fury when I think about the last two Lions tours. Geech I can just about forgive - he played Wallace in a desparate attempt to balance Croft when he should have played Wally at 6 and Nugget at 7 - Woodward never. If they'd played Wallace, Heaslip, Nugget, we'd have won, IMO.
