It was not just regulars at the Principality Stadium on Saturday who felt the combined voices of fans had an effect on the outcome. Swansea City head coach Russell Martin – on his first visit – expressed the same thing. But Harri Morgan believes the contribution of Alex Cuthbert was a reminder that fans are not always a helping hand.
“Absolutely. No question”
The response of former Scotland scrum-half, Rory Lawson, when asked on the BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast, as to whether the home fans had been influential in Wales’ 20-17 victory over Scotland.
He went on to liken the Principality Stadium premium to the transformation from citizen to superhero upon switching from casuals to cape.
Talking of superheroes, let us marvel at the effort from Lawson and the peloton of riders that included ex-Welsh internationals Alex Popham, Colin Charvis, Tony Copsey and Ian Gough who completed a 48-hour cycle from Edinburgh to Cardiff in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The post-match discussion centred on the location to which those riders were headed with the match ball. It was consistent with the narrative of the build-up, but should a stadium, a crowd, an atmosphere really be that significant in modern professional rugby?
It was the reverse of Welsh ventures up in Murrayfield under the previous regime.
Could a team who shouldn’t win, muster a performance in the context of redemption and a passionately partisan audience, to see off the opponent that should.
They could.
All hail Welsh fans, a force for good.
Huge moment as Alex Cuthbert chases down the kick off the posts, and no surprises that Jac Morgan is the first man in support.
Wales go on to attack resulting in Finn Russell’s slap down and yellow card.
A testament to the mentality Toby Booth has instilled at the Ospreys. pic.twitter.com/0XFVhQvnxE
— Cardiff Rugby Life (@CardiffRugbyWeb) February 13, 2022
There were other factors at work, though.
Out there on the island, surrounded by the sea of supporters, stood the embodiment of the antithesis – a player who was once wrapped up all that was corrosive about “support” and allegiance.
Alex Cuthbert.
A player who had burst onto the scene back in the 13th edition of the Six Nations. A wing three-quarter with proper pace and Warren Gatland-arousing physique.
Cuthbert debuted as a student of an institution in transition from UWIC to Cardiff Met, whilst the likes of Alex Dombrandt, Luke Northmore and Aaron Wainwright were still in nappies – or at least the teenage equivalent.
Back then, Cuthbert was a hero at the top of the wave.
If, as expected, Josh Adams is fit to face England at Twickenham, can’t see room for Louis Rees-Zammit a year after he destroyed Scotland. And that tells you everything about Alex Cuthbert.
— Andrew Baldock (@balders2) February 13, 2022
He would later become a scapegoat at the bottom.
I don’t profess to be sitting in the signal box of virtue here.
I vented my own fury at a poor defensive read or handling error from the then Cardiff Blues player.
Such is the modern-day forum for opinion, Cuthbert would have been acutely aware of the negativity that circled his output.
The criticism compounded matters.
Where once he craved involvement, it seemed for a time that he recognised each and every moment of potentially positive participation carried a risk of error.
The risk had always existed. His awareness of it hadn’t.
When he departed Cardiff for Exeter in 2018, it seemed like the end of the story rather than a new chapter in the book of international rugby union as far as he was concerned.
Perhaps, the victory over Scotland was a new chapter for Cuthbert – or maybe an unexpected sequel.
Great to see Alex Cuthbert play 4 WALES today to all those who think their position is hopeless or are having a tough time. Put up lots of negativity in recent years and many would’ve given up but he backed himself+engaged huge mental strength #mentalhealth #anythingispossible
— Andy Parr (@imandyparr) February 12, 2022
Regardless, Cuthbert seized the opportunity afforded to him by Josh Adams’ tight calf.
It wasn’t necessarily a return to the glory days with the wing smoking opponents on the outside.
Yet, he looked comfortable on the ball and was a source of front-foot ball for a team who crave this competency.
As for his desire, well, see his role in the events that preceded Dan Biggar’s winning drop goal.
Cuthbert was first to the ball as his skipper’s place kick rebounded from on or around the stanchion.
If the ball had crept over then it would have been just another sprint on tired legs, which would never warrant acknowledgment.
Along with the effort of chasing, the Osprey nearly added to his tally of 17 Welsh tries when he had his hands on the ball.
Wales 20 Scotland 17 in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations championship in Cardiff yesterday, pictures by Andrew Orchard pic.twitter.com/PbAM3bQ26z
— Andrew Orchard (@sportsphotoAOSP) February 13, 2022
It was an on-field decision of try that was quickly over-ruled as the Scottish scramble denied Wales’ number 14 a score in the number 11’s corner.
What an ending it would have been for a player whose last memory of that corner is likely to have been Elliott Daly taking him on the outside to score a late winner for England in 2017.
I think it was the same corner.
The biggest compliment one can pay Cuthbert is that he has given Wayne Pivac a selection headache for the visit to Twickenham in round three.
On a day when the roar of the dragon was rightly framed as decisive, the presence of Cuthbert serves as a reminder of a time when we, the Welsh, could have done better.