Hope eternal in the valleys

By WYNNE GRAY

The overwhelming attention this week has been on the All Blacks. There has not been the same inspection of the Welsh as that which descended on England last week.

Is that a rude reaction from the New Zealand media, a sign that we do not follow Wales' progress in the Six Nations enough, a pragmatic approach or a sign of what constitutes rugby news in New Zealand?

Had the All Black captain been hurt in training it would have provoked screeds of discussion, but a similar mishap this week for Welsh skipper Martyn Williams scarcely drew any comment.

The tourists tomorrow will put out the bulk of their test side which played the All Blacks in Cardiff last November. Many were involved in the Six Nations, but Wales' troubled run without a win in that series has reduced their appeal.

They are not especially well-known outside Europe. Senior pros like Williams, Colin Charvis, Robin McBryde, Gareth Llewellyn, Stephen Jones and Mark Taylor have a profile here, but not many of the others. They are promising, but their future is well ahead of them.

When Wales practised this week at Rangitoto College on Auckland's North Shore there was a small crowd of spectators. Included in that group was a Toyota club side from Japan and more of them were recognisable than the ones out on the training paddock.

Errol Brain, Allan Pollock, Adrian Cashmore, Charles Riechelmann, Filo Tiatia and Romi Ropati were familiar faces, which may something about our tunnel-vision or the lack of Welsh impact.

Meanwhile, dissection of the All Blacks' opening loss to England, continuing debate about the welfare of fullback Leon MacDonald, goalkicking, selection styles and an injury to Carlos Spencer, have kept the men in black in the headlines.

It is probably a restful week for the Welsh, whose average record in recent years has made them an easy target for criticism.

"It is good to come away from Wales and just the attention from the press you know," seasoned hooker Robin McBryde said, "because as much as you think you can ignore it, some players can't and they struggle with it.

"Especially when you lose a lot of games on the bounce, you're going to cop some flak for it. We have not turned the corner yet, that will take some time."

McBryde played the All Blacks last year but missed the Six Nations after surgery on a damaged toe.

"I wanted to get back for this trip because I could see from the outside looking in, mind you I also know what it is like on the inside and you can't see bugger all.

"Some of the youngsters will be finding that with being under the microscope for the first time."

One in that newer grouping is halfback Gareth Cooper, someone who played five seasons for Bath but is returning to Bridgend next season as Wales prepares to launch their regional sides into competition.

Cooper's progress last year was interrupted by repeated problems with a displaced fracture in his left foot. A one-time single-figure handicapper at golf, Cooper wants to nail down the vacancy left by British Lion Rob Howley.

The loss of that sort of experience, said McBryde, was hurting. Six of his fellow Lions on the 2001 trip to Australia have retired, men like Howley, Scott Quinnell, Scott Gibbs and Neil Jenkins.

"It takes years to replace that sort of quality, but I think we now have the nucleus which has to take Wales through to the next World Cup, not just this one."

McBryde turns 33 next month but has no intention of hanging his boots up. While he started his international career in 1994 he has not yet played in a World Cup, although he has been a Lion.

"I know what the alternative is, which is working for a living ," he cackled. "I tried that two years ago when I was an overhead linesman with the electricity board climbing up poles in all sorts of weather."

If McBryde can delay a return to that work by going to rugby training, he will. He is learning new skills like the computer technology which is so central to each international rugby team's progress.

"I hope there is more," he said. "The wife hopes so because she wants a new kitchen. It is tough because the modern game does take over your life but for Wales now, these are the players they have to look to for the next few years."