The Real Deal ?

We're now two matches into the season proper and dominant victories over Bedford and Nottingham seem to be confirming that London Welsh may actually be the real deal.

Prior to the start of the season a much changed London Welsh squad, negotiated their way through a mostly succesful series of pre-season friendlies, where the basis was laid down that would form the basic structure and tactics for the season.

Justin Burnell stated that the tactics would be an "in your face" forwards led game, with great emphasis being focused around set plays and using our superiority up front to create space for our backs.

Well so far despite a few hiccups, errors and sloppy play , the campaign seems to be running according to plan and confidence amongst the players and coaching staff must be sky high, having what you thought confirmed on the pitch against your real opposition, especially with such a convincing win as last weekend where the bookies had Welsh down as second favourites.

The forwards seem to be holding up their end of the bargain, with some dominant scrummaging, with the power and effort coming all the way from 1 to 8 instead of just the usual front row dominated effort, something that Justin and the team have clearly worked on in light of the new scrummaging laws. It appears that the time spent with the referees advisors was well spent.

The power of the scrum is obvious and first observations seem to be of a well drilled and balanced pack applying good even pressure right along the front row.

The two new locks are just two huge immense giants who are not only like peas in apod, but both seem to have the engine to go all day just like the departed Jonathon Mills and despite a rather dubious start by Rob Andrew at Allianz Park, he more than redeemed himself last weekend and it's quite possible that the performance of those two could be key to Welsh's performance this year.

Again the lineout seems to be something that needs some work at this early stage, which can be so frustrating when the pack on the ground is so dominant and winning penalty after penalty.

Rob Andrew ploughs on

The backs have been no slouches themselves, having crossed the whitewash no fewer than sixteen times since the middle of August, with some stand out performances by Captain Tom May, who is showing just why so much praise was heaped upon him by the Northampton faithful.

Once again player coach Gordon Ross has performed brilliantly, with a 100% hit rate off the tee last week and probably the best tackling display of the whole team, together with a well deserved MOTM award. Justin Burnell described him as the fittest man in the team and with the way he is performing and his commitment on the field, and it doesn't seem like retirement will be beckoning anytime soon.

Gordon Ross eyes up another, soon to be, succesful kick

Justin Burnell came to the club as head coach in the summer, with a few sceptics wondering if he was the man for a club like London Welsh, but he seems to have picked up straight away on the ethos and ambition there is within the club and has gelled  a team together much quicker than many of the older fans and longer serving players thought possible.

Despite some dubious reputation following him the players seem to like him and have taken on board his rules and overiding principals; that they are all in it together as a team and I don't think he will accept anything more than the best from the players.

Altogether the team are performing generally well and all this despite a few injuries to players who many see as key within the setup.

With af ew of the errors ironed out Welsh look like they could well be a very dominant force this season and should be there or thereabouts come the play-offs in May.

What about off the pitch?

There has been plenty of to-ing and fro-ing since the end of last season but ultimately maybe working out for the better in the long run, with Kelvin Byron and Bleddyn Phillips making considerable financial commitments for the next couple of seasons at least.

The club seems to be taking on board a more sustainable commercial attitude to how it runs itself, having learnt big lessons last season and is actively seeking out the opinions of the supporters via a supporters forum, which is just in it's fledgling stage.

The move to Oxford has obviously not been too popular, amongst the Old Deer Park faithful, but the move has now taken place and only time will tell how good the support from the local Oxford area will be and how well the club can grow that support. But it won't be for lack of trying as the club is putting itself 100% behind a group of supporters both old and new who are doing there best to keep the two sets of fans united together in everything that is London Welsh.

Some of the ODP travelling faithful

As Gwyn Williams, Chairman of the Amateurs said we are one club with two locations, the head of the club may be in Oxford but the heart is still at Old Deer Park.

The season is only two games old, but have your say below, what are your thoughts and aspirations, do we have a good enough squad, who are your standout players so far, who do you think are going to our key players, how do you think the club is being run , what do you think of the Kassam and the move to Oxford and most importantly will we have the staying power to gain promotion?

Well done and good luck to the players for next weekend, whilst I'm sure we are all hoping for a swift return to the Premiership, it's great to have a bit more to cheer about this season, even if it is a division down.

Already the success on the field seems to be inspiring fans to go to extrodinary lengths to watch London Welsh, with one supporter, Ian Birdseye, refusing to miss the away game in Nottingham despite having broken his leg , in his own game, just the day before. All this in spite of a mammoth journey on public transport and still not knowing whether he might need a further operation. Now that is dedication.

Come On The Welsh!