Interview with Ian Stephens

Following last month’s interview with JPR Williams we are lucky to gather the views of another Welsh legend, Ian Stephens. Let’s see his thoughts on Welsh rugby and the game of rugby itself.

01. When Warren Gatland’s time as coach ends, should the next coach be Welsh or Foreign?

1. “My own preference would be for a Welsh Coach, however there are some very good foreign coaches out there. We need the right man for the job and the right man for Wales. I believe that we need to encourage ‘flair’, we remember players like Shane Williams and Phil Bennett who gave us ‘something different’. At the present time we don’t have this. Whoever gets the job must develop the Welsh way of playing rugby.”

02. The ‘A’ Team, which you previously managed, no longer exists. Should it be brought back?

1. “Definitely! The simple reason being we can blood players at a level just below full international standard. This would give them and coaches invaluable experience and a natural progression into the full Welsh team.”

03. The scrum was a rough, tough place when you played. How has it evolved today?

1. “I think that the scrum has been devalued! In my day it was used as a pressure point, a battle area, nowadays it seems to be a means to restart the game. It is a difficult area for all concerned as is proved week by week as inconsistency in the interpretation of the laws is confusing for both players and spectators. It is an area that should be addressed, a forward battle should be pivotal to the game and where better than the scrum.”

04. You were picked to tour with the British Lions prior to being capped for Wales. How did this feel?

1. “Tremendous! I was very proud and extremely happy to be selected. I travelled to South Africa in 1980 and played with some wonderful rugby players and both enjoyed and learned from the experience.”

05. Television plays a huge role in today’s game, how has it changed rugby?

1. “The referee was in sole control, what he saw he gave, what he didn’t see we tried to profit from. This became a talking point for spectators and pundits. In today’s game we see replay, tries are nearly always assessed. There is regular trial by TV, citing’s are common and every aspect of the game is monitored. That’s professionalism for you!”

06. Going back to the England game, how do you think we played?

1. “It’s a game I always look forward to, as this was the fixture that I made my debut for Wales in 1981. I felt it was an exciting game and Wales played very well for 70 minutes. It was a shame that a couple of indecisions cost them the game. We were disappointed to lose but it was edge of the seat stuff right through.”

07. Following on from that, how do you think the Scotland game will go?

1. “Scotland in Edinburgh will be tough! We may struggle because of the type of game that they play, loose and fast. They are however struggling in the scrum and we could take advantage of that. I expect a narrow victory.”

We would like to thank Ian for giving us his opinions on Welsh Rugby today!