"Bring on England!" beamed Wales center and man of the match Jamie Roberts after the 26 13 dismissal of Scotland, and you could imagine the beleaguered Martin Johnson covering his cauliflower ears as he heard the words.
He's an Edinburgh afternoon so cold it froze the shivers your timbers, the manner and style of Wales 'wines warmed Their supporters' cockles as Effectively as a double glug on a hip flask.
Where a day Earlier England had served up a Six Nations Dt5FW6a9x hors d'oeuvre that was as unedifying as it was unappetising, Wales produced a main course That managed to leave you both satisfied and ready for more.
The Fact That out of England and Wales scored five tries this four was nothing but a garnish. Where England had dithered, Wales were decisive. Where Johnson's men were slow of thought and slower of action, Wales were fast to the breakdown, onto the pass, you spot the gaps that opened in the battered Scottish defense.
The thought of Saturday's England Sunday's meeting Wales in Cardiff next weekend is enough to put an England fan off his food all week.
Former England coach Clive Woodward was famously fond of Brentesque business sayings. One of his favorites went something like this: you can not improve anything 100%, but you can improve things would be 100 per cent.
Watching the opening weekend of the 2009 Six Nations, you could sort of understand cheap nfl football jerseys what he was saying.
Wales did not reinvent the way anyone plays rugby; they simply did almost all of the small things right. England, Scotland and Italy did not.
The Welsh scrum was rock solid, enough to have a coach Warren Gatland purring in his post match press conference. The support play, PARTICULARLY from Alun Wyn, was magnificent and the product of the brutal conditioning work inflicted on his charges to Shaun Edwards. China Wholesale Youth Football Jerseys And the backs almost always crossed the gain line.
If you wanted to be picky, the throwing at the line out was sometimes a touch off. And if the place kicking you off key, Scotland should be grateful for small Mercies. In last year's tournament, Wales did not miss a penalty kick or conversion until Their fourth match. If that had been the case this time, Scotland could have found themselves on the end of a spanking.
For Wales, the game was sewn up in the five minutes around the half time.
After the two early tries and Chris Paterson penalty had made it 3 13 and finally woken up the home crowd. Scotland had a scrum 10 meters out.
It should have been at least 6 13, and could have even been 10 13. Instead, the Welsh forwards shoved the denuded the Scottish pack off the ball. Andy Powell broke free, Stephen kicked the ball deep into Scottish territory, and from the Resulting breakdown, Wales won a penalty to go 16 3 ahead at the break.
From the second half kick-off, Scotland dallied. Roberts smashed a huge hole in the defense, the ball was spun wide and dived over in the corner. 21 3, game over.
Roberts 'display summed up Wales' approach. A few years ago, the loss of Gavin Henson and skipper Ryan would have destroyed the red army. Now, they have strength in depth around the park, to the extent That a man who only made his international debut as a substitute in the Corresponding fixture last season was the best player on display.
"The lines he runs are pretty special," said backs coach Rob Howley admiringly afterwards, not getting round to mentioning also his wrecking ball strength and car crusher tackle.
It was the usual dispiriting fare from Scotland. We've been here before pre championship bullish predictions, talk of a long overdue revival.
Once again, there was little of sustenance to back cheap jerseys supply it up, not until the game had disappeared out of sight.
"I'm bitterly disappointed," admitted coach Frank Hadden. "We were too passive. We were out muscled."
His scrum-half Mike never stood a chance. In the much anticipated head to head with Mike Phillips, the Lions selectors watching it, the Scot spent his time fighting fires behind a pack going backwards. Phillips, by contrast, had all the time and ball he needed to set the ravenous Welsh backs free.
The loss of stellar forwards Euan Murray and Nathan Hines was undoubtedly a major blow. Then again, Wales were without skipper and center Their talisman.
Hadden's decision to leave Paterson out of his starting XV did not, in the event, turn out to be a Mauro, as we might now call selectorial forever shockers after the Bergamasco balls up. Injury meant Scotland's record points kicker was soon on the pitch, and Ironically he produced some of the best moments Scotland had running.
Some of his other Decisions did not work out quite so smoothly. Hadden claimed to be "delighted That the guys coming off the bench made the impact we thought they would." Others would ask why Max Evans was not on the park from the off, with his brother Thom at the very least smoldering on the bench.
The sobering news for the rest of Wales's Opponents Is That Gatland and his team see considerable room for improvement.
"I told the players That it's not about us defending the Six Nations, it's about us challenging for it," said the coach afterwards.
Martyn told us how quiet the dressing room was after the foot came off the gas in the last 20 minutes "a little flat, to be honest with you." Lee, smelling salts still in his nostrils, concurred. "It's not all good," he said, soberly.
The Welsh fans streaming back to the snowy West did not quite agree. The torturous journeys many had endured getting to the match had been made worthwhile.
Watching the red jerseys rampage across Saturday's game in Dublin had.
Even in defeat, France played with verve and dash; In victory, Ireland played with passion and power both matches but also had the effect of highlighting just what a meal England and Italy made of the