Lions loss latest big blow for Blues pair
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:56
Cardiff Blues stars Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins both enjoyed fantastic seasons in terms of their own personal performances but the unlucky duo have also had to endure a series of major disappointments during 2008/09 campaign.
The latest setback for the Welsh stars saw them as part of the losing Lions side on Saturday in Pretoria. More than that though the defeat came in the most dramatic of fashions, with a last minutes 55m penalty from Springbok replacement Morne Steyn, and, at the same time, ended the series as a contest - giving the home side a 2-0 lead in the best of three series.
Speaking to the South Wales Echo this week, Williams confirmed that he and Jenkins had both been hit hard by the pain of yet another big defeat following Six Nations and Heineken Cup disappointments earlier this year.
"I got a text from Gethin from the hospital, where he had to have surgery on his damaged eye socket, asking how much more we have to take this season," said the veteran flank.
"We have lost to a late drop-goal with Wales in the Six Nations decider with Ireland, and in a semifinal penalty shoot-out with the Blues in the Heineken Cup.
"And now a last-minute penalty to lose a Lions series. We haven't had much luck.”
A replacement in the first two test matches on tour, Williams said the disappointment he felt following the defeat on Saturday was certainly as big a blow as he can ever remember taking in his professional career.
"Saturday night was probably one of the worst feelings I have had as a rugby player," he said to the South Wales Echo.
"To lose the Test series a week early is devastating. It is up there with the biggest disappointments of my career.
"There is nothing worse than that ‘should have, would have, could have’ feeling. That is how we felt last week and it is exactly the same this week.
"Sometimes you come off the field and think, in all fairness, they were the better side.
"But on Saturday we felt we deserved at least a draw in the end, not just for the boys who played but all those in the squad who have worked so hard in the last five weeks.
"In the dressing room afterwards there was just silence for a good 25 minutes. There were guys just sat there still in their kit, devastated.
"Ian McGeechan spoke to us and said he was really proud of us, but, apart from that, we just didn't know what to do or what to say.
"It was just a numb feeling really, as tough as they come."
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