Courage not enough for Wales.
'Courageous', an adjective I hope isn't used to describe the Welsh performance, in this evening's all important Euro 2016 group match against Russia. If the nation finds itself celebrating the players' courage, we will probably be doing so in absence of the desired outcome, qualification.
Three times last week, I watched courageous Welsh efforts in the sporting arena. Each time the courage yielded nothing more than defeat. It started on the Wednesday, and the Under 20's Rugby team. A performance built on abrasive defence, backed up by tactics that were far better suited to the wet conditions than those deployed by their New Zealand counterparts, lead to Wales edging it on the scoreboard with time all but done. The teams departed the field with the Baby Blacks victorious, courtesy of a last minute penalty from Jodie Barrett.
On Thursday, and to Lens, where Wales temporarily found themselves in dreamland as they lead England at half time of the much anticipated Group B clash. Again, Wales left the field as 'brave losers'. A last minute strike from Daniel Sturridge, the undoing of a valiant Welsh defensive effort that had them on the brink of qualification.
By Saturday, it was a familiar story. Whilst it was refreshing to see that the Welsh rugby side have the 'courage' to play a more expansive and varied game, the outcome was a case of same old, same old. Fast forward three hours, and England were dragging themselves from the pitch at AAMI Park, Melbourne, not only courageous but also victorious, happy and glorious. For mine, the differentiating factor between the English Rugby team, and the efforts of the aforementioned Welsh efforts was clear, accuracy.
Sure, England were courageous. Getting up to rejoin the defensive line, time and again when body & mind would have been crying out to stay down. England looked like they had a plan, and most pleasing for Eddie Jones would be the accuracy to which this was deployed under both pressure and fatigue. Contrast this to Wales, who will be frustrated by the role of their own inaccuracies in gifting possession and opportunity to the All Blacks at pivotal moments within the game. The All Blacks are the benchmark when it comes to accuracy and ruthlessness. To defeat them you have to be perfect in the aspects of the game of which you have control, Wales weren't.
The Welsh nation will expect the performance of their Football side to be underpinned by passion and courage in Tonight's encounter. However, in order for Chris Coleman's men to be successful the performance will require accuracy and precision, in both thought and execution.
Three times last week, I watched courageous Welsh efforts in the sporting arena. Each time the courage yielded nothing more than defeat. It started on the Wednesday, and the Under 20's Rugby team. A performance built on abrasive defence, backed up by tactics that were far better suited to the wet conditions than those deployed by their New Zealand counterparts, lead to Wales edging it on the scoreboard with time all but done. The teams departed the field with the Baby Blacks victorious, courtesy of a last minute penalty from Jodie Barrett.
On Thursday, and to Lens, where Wales temporarily found themselves in dreamland as they lead England at half time of the much anticipated Group B clash. Again, Wales left the field as 'brave losers'. A last minute strike from Daniel Sturridge, the undoing of a valiant Welsh defensive effort that had them on the brink of qualification.
By Saturday, it was a familiar story. Whilst it was refreshing to see that the Welsh rugby side have the 'courage' to play a more expansive and varied game, the outcome was a case of same old, same old. Fast forward three hours, and England were dragging themselves from the pitch at AAMI Park, Melbourne, not only courageous but also victorious, happy and glorious. For mine, the differentiating factor between the English Rugby team, and the efforts of the aforementioned Welsh efforts was clear, accuracy.
Sure, England were courageous. Getting up to rejoin the defensive line, time and again when body & mind would have been crying out to stay down. England looked like they had a plan, and most pleasing for Eddie Jones would be the accuracy to which this was deployed under both pressure and fatigue. Contrast this to Wales, who will be frustrated by the role of their own inaccuracies in gifting possession and opportunity to the All Blacks at pivotal moments within the game. The All Blacks are the benchmark when it comes to accuracy and ruthlessness. To defeat them you have to be perfect in the aspects of the game of which you have control, Wales weren't.
The Welsh nation will expect the performance of their Football side to be underpinned by passion and courage in Tonight's encounter. However, in order for Chris Coleman's men to be successful the performance will require accuracy and precision, in both thought and execution.
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