I know it’s not the norm for the player of the match to be from the losing side. But Alex Mann was absolutely brilliant for Wales. #IREvWAL

A better 40 minutes half than I was expecting from Wales. Really giving it a good go on both sides of the ball. The Carré score a brilliant response to conceding the second try. #IREvWAL

Bit annoyed that ITV have missed every opportunity possible to have Biggar next to O’Gara. Only to have Jamie Roberts next to Biggar.

After playing 76 minutes off the bench last weekend in the URC, Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin was full of praise for Evan Minto. The Dragons number 8 starts for a second consecutive Six Nations game at U20s level. My piece below for the Argus. www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/259100...

I really like Joe McCarthy as a rugby player. But I find it unfair that his selection on the bench has ruined the potential for one of the all time battles (battering) off the bench for second row. Ryan vs Beard. It’s there written in the stars only for Andy Farrell to spoil the fun. #IREvWAL

Wales are hoping to build from their encouraging performance against Scotland when they head to Dublin on Friday night. Quotes from Steve Tandy below on Ireland, Louie Hennessey and James Botham for @talkrugbyunion.bsky.social www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/bring-large-...

🗨️ "If we bring large parts of what we did against Scotland, then I think we'll be in the game to get the result we all want..." 🤔 Can Wales take another step in the right direction in Dublin? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿✍️ @iestyn21.bsky.social with the latest from the Welsh camp: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/bring-large-...

Axel Desperes. #GoodPlayer

Yes, Maxime Lucu is playing. But Dan Robson is the best scrum half currently on this pitch. Love the Top14 me.

Plenty of drama from Rodney Parade as the Dragons had to settle for a draw against Benetton. My on the whistle report for the South Wales Argus. #URC #DRAvBEN www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/258965...

HT: Dragons 7-10 Benetton. Onisi Ratave continuing to cause chaos against the Dragons, two tries for him in the first 40, Dragons replied through Levi Douglas but end the half with the lock and Fine Inisi in the sin-bin. #URC #DRAvBEN

At Rodney Parade for Dragons vs Benetton in the #URC. The second time the two teams have faced each other in 2026, Italian side looking for league and Challenge Cup double over the Men of Gwent. Match report and reaction to come for the South Wales Argus. #DRAvBEN

Well, that was fantastic. #BRUvBLU

James Slipper just got a try assist with a grubber kick. Absolutely fantastic. #BRUvBLU

An absolute corker of a try from the Chiefs! Wow! Well worth the 6am alarm. #CHIvCRU #SuperRugbyPacific

Somthing something Everest. Absolutely superb win for Cardiff, although I have switched over to the Scarlets conceding 2 tries in 2 minutes.

Team news ahead of Dragons vs Benetton, with Filo Tiatia's side looking for a fifth consecutive win at Rodney Parade. I hope there isn't a repeat of the Challenge Cup result from last month, my piece below for the South Wales Argus. #DRAvBEN www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/258930...

I looked at Wales' new defence coach Peter Murchie's time at Glasgow to see what could we expect when the 40-year-old comes in ahead of the Nations Championship. Piece below for @talkrugbyunion.bsky.social www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/why-murchies...

I was recording a video for TikTok and Instagram. (for those who like that type of thing.) One of my outtakes was calling former Glasgow and Australia coach Dave Rennie as Dave Reddin, this is what Welsh rugby does to you.

With the Dragons returning to #URC action this weekend, tighthead prop looks an area of concern following surgery to Rob Hunt a couple of weeks ago. Piece below for the South Wales Argus. www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/258833...

Contestable kicking has been the theme of the Guinness Six Nations and there has been plenty of talk about the tap backs that some teams have used in the tournament. I looked at why this area of the game is so important. Thoughts welcome on this. opensideblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/w...

Lost my AirPods on Thursday (I think, haven't seen them since the pre match Wales presser) Annoyingly had to buy a new pair, good start to the week.

Have throoughly enjoyed the Winter Olympics. Will miss the BBC intro of Verdi’s Requiem (my music A-Level study piece), even if it was mashed together alongside the brilliant sporting action.

That final defensive set sums France up, just class. Even if the scoreboard wasn’t a reflection on Italy’s performance in the first hour, the French ability to put added gloss on the score makes them even better. #FRAvITA

Gael Drean on Day-boo! #FRAvITA

Since the 13-all draw in Lile two years ago. France have been in revenge mode ever since when they’ve played Italy. So, so clinical in this opening 30 minutes. #FRAvITA

Ben Carter made 22 tackles in his first Six Nations start in Wales' narrow defeat to Scotland, an impressive performance from the Dragons lock who spoke to the media following the game. My piece below for the South Wales Argus. #WALvSCO www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/258761...

Gregor Townsend and Sione Tuipulotu facing the media in the press conference. Tuipulotu: “They played really well. They deserve so much credit today.” Townsend: “it’s a cracking game, remove yourself from the team, it was a great game” #WALvSCO

Wales suffer a narrow defeat at home to Scotland at the Principality Stadium in a game they arguably should have won, Finn Russell and Rory Darge particularly impressive during that second 40. On the whistle report from Cardiff. #WALvSCO opensideblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/21/s...

FT: Wales 23-26 Scotland. Finn Russell with a penalty miss as the game's final act. Wales' discipline faltered in the final quarter which allowed a Scottish comeback, Steve Tandy's side will be bitterly disappointed with the scoreline. #WALvSCO

58' Chaos. Wales kick a penalty through Jarrod Evans, but they switch off as Russell takes the restart quickly as Darcy Graham wins the race to score a great try. Russell converts. #WALvSCO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 23-19 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

55' Try Scotland Finn Russell scores following 24 phases of Scottish pressure as he takes advantage of a narrow Welsh defence. The Scottish fly half converts. #WALvSCO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿20-12 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

HT: Wales 17-5 Scotland The hosts in the lead as they look for a first win in the Six Nations since March 2023. Steve Tandy's side look good, with Rhys Carré and Josh Adams scoring, the visitors making too many errors for Gregor Townsend's liking. #WALvSCO

20' Try Wales First time we've seen Wales bring constant physicality to a game in the Tandy era, they work the ball well to leave a simple finish for Josh Adams. Sam Costelow adds the conversion. #WALvSCO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿14-5 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

15' Try Scotland. Kyle Steyn finishes off a neat Scottish move for their first points of the afternoon Finn Russell's conversion goes wide. #WALvSCO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿7-5🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

5' Yellow card Wales. Wales' Joe Hawkins is shown a yellow card after a high tackle on flanker Gregor Brown, subject to review so could be red for the Scarlets centre. #WALvSCO

Kickoff at the Principality Stadium. Sam Costelow gets the game underway in Cardiff, if both teams play like their respective anthems then we're in for a cracker. #WALvSCO

At the Principality Stadium for Wales vs Scotland, the same fixture where the hosts last won a home Six Nations game in 2022. Kickoff at 4:40pm. #WALvSCO

A first Six Nations start for Ben Carter, four years after his first appearance in the tournament. Steve Tandy mentioned yesterday that it’s a “great opportunity.” Also some stats on Aaron Wainwright in my piece for the South Wales Argus. #WALvSCO www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/258712...

11 minutes into Hurricanes vs Moana Pasifika and there’s been two excellently taken tries. #HURvMOA #SuperRugbyPacific

Some interesting Wales team news earlier ahead of the Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland. My piece below for @TalkRugbyUnion, with quotes from head coach Steve Tandy. #WALvSCO www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/time-to-crea...

"There are lots of amazing memories from Scotland, but we’re ready to create memories for us in Wales now..." It'll be friends reunited on Saturday, but Steve Tandy won’t be rolling out the red carpet for his former side. www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/time-to-crea... ✍️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @iestyn21.bsky.social

My TikTok comments have started something on poor Taine Plumtree.

It was probably what we all expected, Wales well below the level needed to compete in the Six Nations as France ran in eight tries. An eighth defeat in a row to the France for Wales and the fourth time in the Tandy era they have conceded over 50 points. opensideblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/f...

At the Principality Stadium for the final match of the second round of the Guinness Six Nations with Wales hosting France. After 5 games in the tournament, the visitors are the only team in Grand Slam contention. Kickoff at 3:10pm. #WALvFRA

Good news for Welsh fans, Scotland are winning. Bad news for Welsh fans, Scotland are coming to Cardiff next weekend. #SCOvENG

Feel sorry for Italy there, Ireland will need plenty of improvement to beat England at Allianz Stadium next weekend. #IREvITA #GuinnessM6N

Good to see Monty Ioane giving it the big one to clearly rattled James Ryan at the end of the half. My moment of the tournament. #IREvITA

Charlie Cale #GoodPlayer