It’s pretty much 50 years ago to the day that the Pontypool front row became a thing, well sort of.
Before January 4, 1975 Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price were “just” the three blokes who played in the front row for Pontypool and were no more infamous than any other front row in Wales whether it be Newport, Cross Keys, Tredegar, Neath or anybody else.
And I suspect their names don’t readily come to mind.
They were well regarded of course. Bobby was a Lions legend, Charlie had moved to Pooler from Cross Keys and made his “debut” for Wales just over a month earlier in an uncapped match against New Zealand – how can a match against New Zealand be uncapped? – and local youngster Graham Price was considered very promising.
It was as a collective, however, they grew famous together and the first time they mustered together in a representative game was 50 years ago yesterday at the Arms Park where they anchored the Welsh Probables to a crushing 44-6 over the Possibles, outscoring their opponents eight tries to nil.
Welsh Legends
Considering the Possibles boasted Derek Quinnell, Tommy David, John Taylor, Mike Roberts, Phil Bennett, Roger Blyth, Clive Rees and Jim Shanklin to name but a few it wasn’t a victory and performance to be underplayed or ignored.
With the Pooler boys dominating the scrum, the Probables were able to make hay and it strongly suggested a successful Five Nations campaign ahead.
Things happened very quickly after the trial match.
All three were named as starters for the Test against France at the Parc des Princes on January 18, the first time in Wales’ history one club had provided the entire front row, well certainly since prop and hooker became specialist positions.
Additionally, Terry Cobner was selected at flanker making it four Pooler forwards in the pack. With three more forwards from Swansea, including new skipper Mervyn Davies, the only forward from outside those two clubs was Aberavon lock Allan Martin.
After their eight tries in the trial match, Wales maintained that fluency by sticking five on France in their own backyard including Price’s famous long range kick and change effort from 70 yards.
In doing that he mimicked Windsor and Cobner who both scored on their Wales debuts.
1975 Team
Looking back, ’75 was probably the Slam that got away for Wales who at times played as well as at any time during this golden period in the 70s.
Next up they beat England 20-4 at the Arms Park but then came the banana skin, losing 12-10 to Scotland in front of 104,000 fans at Murrayfield, missed kicks at goal on the day costing them dear although Scotland also had one of those days when the force was with them and their pack played like dervishes.
Normal service was resumed two weeks later when Wales stuffed Ireland 32-4, helping themselves to another five tries and securing the Championship.
It all augured very well for Wales and the Pontypool front row who contributed massively to the Slams of 1976 and 78.
