page revision date : 30th June 2010
J.T. is still playing really well for Wales
We are delighted that our special guest this month is again Jonathan Thomas, who has served the Ospreys and Wales so well since he first played for Wales in Australia in 2003. We asked him about his thoughts on the 2010 Six Nations Championships, where Wales won two out of five matches, and he started in four of the games after coming on as replacement during the first match.
Before we go on to this season’s Six Nations, can you tell us a little about your start in the game?
I started out with Pembroke as a nipper living in Hundleton, and I was honoured to be selected for Wales at under 16, 19 and 21 levels before gaining my first senior cap in Australia in the 2003 season – and I will never forget running out on the pitch before such a huge crowd of around 80,000 because I had only played with crowds of 5,000-plus before that.
I now have 55 caps and everyone of them means so much to me, especially when I played in one match in the 2005 campaign, when Wales won the ‘Grand Slam’ and again in 2008 when we repeated the ‘Grand Slam’ and I started in all five matches.
I played in the world cup in 2007 against Canada and Australia and I am also proud of the fact that I have played over 100 times for the Ospreys, which has been my only senior club.
What were your thoughts on the opening match, against England?
The first game is always a key to the season because everyone is looking for a great start – and we took on England eager to get on track straight away.
We stayed at the Richmond Gate Hotel and it was an exciting moment as we pulled into the Twickenham car park and could see all the Range Rovers and people having picnics before the start – give me Cardiff any time!
There was a crowd of over 80,000 and I was on the bench, which is harder than playing because you never know when you are going to be called upon and there is a real need to keep warmed up, just in case. It was even harder this time because we made basic errors and we were 20-3 down soon after half time.
I came on in the last quarter and James Hook scored a try just afterwards – and we suddenly realised we were still in with a chance. But playing ‘catch up’ rugby is always risky and we gave away an interception try so that although Adam Jones also scored we went down 30-17, which was very frustrating because we all felt that we had let ourselves down – and the papers agreed the next day!
Can you describe what happened in the next match, at home to Scotland?
It is almost impossible to describe the events that day! I was really delighted to be chosen as second row against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium just a week later and when we came to the ground I could feel the anticipation of the Welsh supporters in the crowd of over 74,000 as the bus took us to the ground from our usual headquarters at The Vale.
We had high hopes but played really badly in the first half and trailed 18-9 against a Scotland side which was later to prove that they were no mugs by beating Ireland. Things went from bad to worse as we found ourselves 20 points down and we could feel the disappointment of the supporters – but then we found another gear and clawed our way back to draw level at 24-all before those amazing last moments when we kept the ball alive and Shane Williams scored at the posts – and we squeezed home by 31-24.
I have never experienced so much joy on a pitch and it was comparable to the feeling when we won the ‘Grand Slam’ two years before – it was an amazing come-back!
What do you recall of the French game?
When the team against France was announced I was selected as blind-side flanker and it was like déjà-vu because we played quite well but found ourselves 20-0 adrift at half time as Alexis Pallison grabbed an interception try for them to set the ball rolling against us – and it was downhill after that!
Again we clawed our way back as the crowd of 73,000-plus cheered us on, with tries by Shane Williams and Lee Halfpenny taking us to just six points adrift – but the French were more street-wise than the Scots because they put the kick-off straight into touch and the game ended without having the chance to repeat our Scottish win.
Again we were really disappointed in defeat and I felt that our supporters must have no fingernails left by now!
Was the match in Ireland memorable?
For the Irish match we stayed in Portmarnock, about a half hour outside Dublin, and there was a huge crowd of over 81,000 in Croke Park, but it wasn’t a good game for us. We had won there two years before in our ‘Grand Slam’ season and although there is a really great atmosphere there it is not as intimidating as Lansdowne Road, where the crowd seem on top of you and make sure you know it.
It was the one game where we didn’t play well for a time in the season and it proved the point that at this level basic errors are sure to be punished. At one five-metre attacking scrum we lost control, the ball was hoofed 50 yards up field And laid the platform for an Irish score.
That just about summed up our game and we had no complaints as we lost 27-12.
A good finish was important – were you pleased with the win against Italy?
We faced Italy at the Millennium Stadium after a collective rollicking for the players from the coaches because they felt we hadn’t done ourselves justice. We resisted the early Italian charges and were 12-0 ahead at the interval before tries by James Hook (2) and Shane Williams, plus 18 points from Steve Jones, saw us win 33-10 in front of a delighted crowd of over 70,000.
It was good to finish on a high note but, if I am honest, the season hadn’t gone to our expectations and we need to be working on those areas where we made mistakes because we are approaching a vital time in World Rugby.
Moving on now, what targets are there for you in the near future?
The World Cup is only 12 months away now and, like all Welsh players, I felt we played well against South Africa but was disappointed we came so close without claiming a win. Then there is a tour to New Zealand, and I am really looking forward to that - and hopefully all three southern hemisphere teams in the autumn. Add those to matches for the Ospreys and it is a great time – and keeping fit will be vital!
Finally, how are things at the Ospreys?
We have had a great time with the Ospreys, culminating in our Magners League semi-final won by 20-5 against Glasgow at the Liberty Stadium and then beating Leinster in Ireland by 17-12 to secure the trophy – it was brilliant! But it has been immensely busy, like oneweek where we played Biarritz at the Estadio Anoeta on the Saturday, Ulster at Ravenhill on the Tuesday and Leinster at the Royal Dublin Ground on the Friday. We flew from France to Ireland and stayed there for the two games - but because of the Icelandic volcano ash we couldn’t fly back.
So we were bussed to Rosslare and then had the ferry across to Fishguard and a bus back to Swansea. Now some of the lads are used to a bit of luxury and were grumbling about this mode of travel. And me? I was delighted to be back in Pembrokeshire, albeit for a short while, and told them that at last they were in God’s own country!
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