By Andrew Collins
March 19 2006

A year ago to the day (of writting) Wales were celebrating a magnificent Grand Slam, so where are we now? Well, in a very simular position. With our 19's squad completing a magnificent Grand Slam of their own, maybe this year hasn't been all bad news.

Before the first ball was kicked against England almost 2 months ago, Wales' hopes were being written off due to a huge injury list that contained key players aswell as 4 British Lions. The squad has been crippled with loss, ball carriers in Ryan Jones and Brent Cockbain aswell inpact men Tom Shanklin and gavin Henson all missing from action.

Add to that the new injuries, Gareth Cooper, Dwain Peel, Gareth Thomas and Gareth Delve, and its no wonder the Welsh were such underdogs.

Then of course, things got worse, as if players dropping like flies was bad enough, our Grand Slam winning coach makes a dramatic mid-season decsion to step down with immediate effect.

Hense the WRU and Welsh public are thrust into media spot-light once again for all the wrong reasons. Jumped before he was pushed, or just pushed by player power? No one really knows, as Gareth Thomas sort of said in an emotionally charged interveiw on Scrum V.

Once agin, the Welsh game was in dis-array, and the on-feild performances matched the mood.

Drubbings in England and Ireland followed by a home draw with Italy left fans in no mans land as that wonderful day last year seemed so very far away.

However, even after a unlucky loss to 6 Nations Champions France, you can't help feel some pleasure in how this years tournament went.

Yes the coaching problem is a mess, but better now that in 18 montsh before the cruical World Cup. And infact my other point links directly to that 2007 date. Having had so many injuries, there have been chances for people to show what they can do and put their hand up for France 07.

The Blues very own Mike Phillips is a great example of this, 3rd choice scrum half going into the tournament, but a stunning display against France on Saturday have earnt him great credentials and rightly a man or the match award.

Another example is Matthew Watkins. With our first choice 12 and 13 out, it's meant he and Hal Luscumbe have been given plenty of game time and are mcuh more experienced come next year. Watkins impressed many pundits, and he has to be a conder to wear 13 alongside Henson with or without Shanklin.

Yes, we have gone from 1st to 5th in a year, but we're alot stronger for it. Our player base has dramatically improved, and our backup players have shown they can compete at the highest level.

If we can get all our players back firing come next year, the 6 Nations title is certainly back on, and so is the World Cup.

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Meanwhile...

Our under 19 side have completed an incredible Grand Slam with a 32-12 win over the French on Friday night, once again showing the great resources becoming available to the Welsh selectors.

Channelling that success has always been Wales' biggest down-fall, but with teh new tiered structure of regional rugby, making the step up wont be so hard for these clearly talented players.

They fly to the World Cup in Dubai over the coming months, and now a crown in that seams increasingly possible. Things are looking good in Wales, future development is going well, and we could be reaping the rewards sooner than we think.

As for the Under 21's...

So no Grand Slam this year for the 21's, but a solid display and mid-table finish will have to do for Dunane Goodfeilds side.

Losses to England away and France at home were Wales' only set backs, but other good results included a thumping of Italy a one-point win in Ireland.

3 our of 5 aint bad, and now those boys will be looking to the World Cup in 18th months. Soem of the names that will be hopefull of getting to France include James Hook, Chris Czekaj and Duane Goodfeild, while others, Dai Flannagan, Jamie Roberts, Wayne Evans, Rhys Shellard and Powell will be looking more hopefully towards places with regional side, The Blues.

It's not been all bad news, but hopefull this time next year, will more more like this time last year.

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