Sports letters: Sunday, 20 January 2008

Jan 20 2008 Wales on Sunday

IT is with great concern and disappointment that I highlight the irresponsible behaviour of Justin Marshall during last weekend’s Heineken Cup match against Gloucester.

I am referring, of course, to his soccer-style dive to claim a penalty.

While some spectators may have found it amusing, ‘soccer antics’ should not be welcomed in rugby and must be discouraged and stopped at the earliest opportunity.

What has always attracted me to the sport (and I’m sure I speak for most rugby fans on this point) are the ‘honest’ values that rugby players tend to display towards the game, as opposed to those found in the game of soccerwhat the game of soccer displays.

While rugby is in no way perfect, it is far better in terms of respect towards the game, opponents and officials than most other sports and rugby’s current values must be respected and maintained.

While no one can doubt Marshall’s rugby-playing ability, his attitude must be questioned and reprimanded, especially as this is not the first occasion I have seen him attempt, in my view, to earn a penalty or a yellow card for a member of the opposition via play-acting.

Does he not realise that youngsters across the country look up to players like him and copy his style?

Does he really want to encourage youngsters to play-act and start diving at any opportunity?

Will we now see youngsters in mini-rugby diving to claim a penalty?

Rugby officials have a great responsibility in maintaining rugby’s values and ethics and must take care in this reasonability in this area and act accordingly.

A yellow card is a must for any behaviour shown like Marshall’s in the future.

Hopefully, with quick action from officials and players we can avoid going down soccer’s route.

Idris Evans
Pencoed

* I AM confused. I’m really pleased with the appointment of Warren Gatland as head coach and as equally as excited with Rob Howley and Shaun Edwards joining the team.

I feel this combination of experience could help Welsh rugby to another level.

But, why are we still picking old players that have no chance of reaching the World Cup in 2011, such as like Ian Gough, Sonny Parker and Stephen Jones.

I have nothing against these players, but feel we should get young players in straight away.

I don’t care if we lose every game for two years, but at least the experience these youngsters gain will stand them in good stead for the 18 months leading up to the World Cup, thus giving us a really good shot at the final and a chance of winning.

We’ve shown by picking the same old people for years that when the world cups come around the youngsters like James Hook, Alun Wyn Jones etc don’t have the experience of international rugby to even get us out of the group stages. Why not blood youngsters early now?

It’s ridiculous that in-form players such as Morgan Stoddart, Gavin Evans and Lee Thomas (who is in exceptional form for Sale at the moment) are not even picked in the squad.

The squad picked will get us through the next two years with mixed results – no definite winning streaks – but will then leave us with no chance of winning the World Cup when it comes around.

Gareth Robinson
Cathays, Cardiff

* ON the eve of this year’s Six Nations tournament, would someone please explain the new terminology employed by the TV commentators?

When, and why, did a ‘pass’ become an ‘offload’ and why shorten a ‘side-step’ to a ‘step’?

Also ‘ruck’ ball appears to have become ‘re-cycled’ ball.

Is this some sort of political correctness?

Finally, where is this mythical ‘pocket’ where the outside-half sits?

I used to play with someone who had short-arms and deep pockets but he was a wing forward. Sorry, that should be flanker.

Alun Watcyn Thurso
Blaenavon

* I HOPE all those Cardiff City “fans” who were calling for Dave Jones to be sacked not so long ago are ashamed by their actions.

I firmly believe the Bluebirds will make the play-offs. What happens after that? Your guess is as good as mine!

True fans stick with the team through good and bad times.

So come on all you Bluebirds fans, back the manager and team to greater times in the future.

Cliff Jones
Bristol

* REFERRING to Chris Wathan’s report (WoS, Jan 6), it is a fact of life that most football clubs at whatever level will sell their best players if the price is right.

The important thing is how the income received is used.

In recent years, Cardiff City have obviously got the balance right because progress is being made.

As a City supporter since 1946/7, I have seen so many young home-grown players sold and it does hurt when I see these players prosper elsewhere.

What City must not do is sell their young talent for unrealistically low transfer fees.

Remember, for example, that Southampton sold Gareth Bale for a reported £11m to Tottenham Hotspur after holding out for some months for the right price.

I do not want Joe Ledley to be sold, but his potential must be at least on a par with Bale.

If he is sold for around £3.5m, as reportedly offered by Wolves, it is unlikely that he could be replaced for this sum, particularly if we achieve Premiership status.

My message to the Cardiff City board is: Please do not rush to accept the first offer which comes along.

G H Evans
Penylan,Cardiff