Captain's Blog no 8

The tragic news this weekend about Gary Speed really puts everything into perspective, especially the foul mood I was in after the performance against Llanelli.

At the end of the day rugby is just a game and you have to take the poor defeats with the great victories. It is said you get what you deserve in rugby and that is exactly what we got last Saturday. We played poorly and as a squad we realise this. Let's not forget though the great run we were on in the league before this game. 

Since the early defeat to Aberavon we had not slipped up once, add to this impressive away wins at the Gnoll and Llandovery, and it paints a much brighter picture. Without playing our best rugby we are still winning matches and that is what is important! Most teams in the league would bite their hands off to be in the position we are now in, yet we are slightly disappointed with our current standing. All this is due to the standards we set last season and the need to reach them again. There is a huge expectance on us this year and it is up to us as a squad and coaching team to be in the mix at the end of the season. There is still a lot of rugby to play and more ups and downs to come this season!

It's not all doom and gloom and although we didn’t get the result, the performance in Nottingham shows we are a team willing to battle anyone, however big their wage bill. The way we defended that day was nothing short of heroic and after the game was analysed, the stats showed we made more than 200 tackles which is massive in a game of rugby. To still be in the game and only lose by a last minute drop goal after the sapping defensive effort shows just how determined and fit we are as a team. We also had the game of two halves against Bedwas at home, we were dead and buried but somehow managed to bag a bonus point win with a solid second half performance. Newport, Pontypool and Swansea have all come to Sardis in the last couple of months and lost - teams that on their day can beat anyone in our league. 

I often log on to terrace talk and enjoy reading the chat / banter amongst you fans. One thing though that really annoyed me was a so called fan asking for a change in the coaching set up. This idea was immediately shot down by the rest of the terrace talkers and rightly so. Chief, Langers, Johnsey and Booly put in a huge amount of time and effort behind the scenes. They work tirelessly analysing our future opponents and of course our own game. They then try to implement this but ultimately it is down to us to carry out. No one knows valleys rugby and the talent coming through like Chief and I'm sure if you were to cut him he would bleed black and White. Most importantly the coaching team has the total respect of each member of our squad. Rant over, everyone is entitled to their opinions but that one was way off the mark.

The start of October gave me the chance to leave behind the bad weather in Ponty and go to the sunnier climate of Cyprus. Now I can assure you this was not for a holiday but to play a game of rugby and to become an international rugby player which has always been my dream. Obviously the red of Wales was the jersey I wanted to wear but running out in the Cyprus kit was a hugely proud moment for me. The standard of rugby was very different to the week in week out tough nature of the Premiership and gave me a chance to really get my hands on the ball and make some runs, which is what I enjoy doing. I was also lucky enough to score with my first touch of the ball and we went on to beat Luxembourg 48 -7.

The whole trip was a massive eye opener but was a trip I thoroughly enjoyed and one hopefully I will be doing again come the end of the season. The boys are mainly from the UK and welcomed me into the squad with open arms; they were all very keen to learn about Ponty and the nature of rugby within Wales. Who knows in the future maybe a trip to Cyprus could be on the cards during pre season!!!

Back to matters on the pitch and it is a huge run into Xmas, with exciting BIC games away in Ulster and home against Leeds. All the boys are really looking forward to the trip to Ulster as it will be the next time we can put the loss to Llanelli behind us. Ideally we would've liked to have played Cross Keys this week but no arrangement could be made when to play the game, this gives us a weekend off and a chance to recuperate after a tough run of games. Then of course after the BIC games is the massive Boxing Day clash against our regional rivals Cardiff. The boys are already looking forward to this fixture and I'm sure it will be a cracker, one not to be missed.

Finally yet again the support we have had this season has been amazing especially in Nottingham. You are a credit not only to Ponty but to Wales and rugby fans in general. I look forward to seeing you out in Ulster and hopefully cheering us on to another fine victory!

“Dico”

29^th November 2011