Planet Rugby Forum

Few games in the prem

Ebbw Vale 24 25 Llandovery
Bridgend 31 11 Bargoed RFC
Swansea 27 5 Newport

Solid win for Bridgend and great win for Swansea.

Congrats Welshists, glad you won it in that manner not a dodgy ref call in the 83rd minute

Navidi and Tipuric, what a pair of flankers to take over from Warburton, immense today. The rest of us are dicking around poaching from the Pacific Islands while your lot were planting seeds in Iran and Croatia decades ago

Look what Scotland are up to!

Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

That's for tomorrow mate. We're GS champions

Frodder wrote:

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

That's for tomorrow mate. We're GS champions

I really hope Wales reach at least the world cup final.

bessantj wrote:

Frodder wrote:

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

That's for tomorrow mate. We're GS champions

I really hope Wales reach at least the world cup final.

Today was the first time I thought... could we?

I mean the answer is probably no... but, if we top our pool that gives us a run to the final of Argentina and Ireland/South Africa. I'd be putting money on us to beat all of those teams if the tournament was next month.

New guy wrote:

bessantj wrote:

Frodder wrote:

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

That's for tomorrow mate. We're GS champions

I really hope Wales reach at least the world cup final.

Today was the first time I thought... could we?

I mean the answer is probably no... but, if we top our pool that gives us a run to the final of Argentina and Ireland/South Africa. I'd be putting money on us to beat all of those teams if the tournament was next month.

Australia in our group, we've beaten them once in the world cup all losses since then. There's a bit more about this team though, even if they lose a game in the warm ups they'll feel like they're on a roll going into the world cup. Argentina then Ireland/South Africa, that is a big task, South Africa always seem to pick themselves up for the world cup and no doubt Schmidt already has ideas for Ireland.

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

Not only Gatland, he's Shaun Edwards less as well.

eldanielfire wrote:

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

Not only Gatland, he's Shaun Edwards less as well.

And Howley less... oh right.

bessantj wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

bessantj wrote:Where to after Gatland? Wayne Pivac has a lot to live up to.

Not only Gatland, he's Shaun Edwards less as well.

And Howley less... oh right.

Well there are some upsides after all

Paul & Ross Moriarty the first Welsh father and son combination to win a Triple Crown. Paul 1988 and Ross yesterday.

As a slight aside, we are now on 89.96 ranking points. Just 0.04 from 90, which, notwithstanding the rankings aren't great for much, is a direct signifier of a team that is A. Pretty good, and B. Very consistent.

Jeff the Bear wrote:As a slight aside, we are now on 89.96 ranking points. Just 0.04 from 90, which, notwithstanding the rankings aren't great for much, is a direct signifier of a team that is A. Pretty good, and B. Very consistent.

If I'm being honest I couldn't care less about the rankings. I want Wales to beat South Africa in South Africa or Australia in Australia or, dare I dream, New Zeland in New Zeland. That'll be the sign that Wales are a great team.

We have a far better record vs SA and Ireland recently than anyone else. Put it this way, a SA player can go into a match vs NZ with more hope than vs wales

Did you ever think that would be the case??

bessantj wrote:

Jeff the Bear wrote:As a slight aside, we are now on 89.96 ranking points. Just 0.04 from 90, which, notwithstanding the rankings aren't great for much, is a direct signifier of a team that is A. Pretty good, and B. Very consistent.

If I'm being honest I couldn't care less about the rankings. I want Wales to beat South Africa in South Africa or Australia in Australia or, dare I dream, New Zeland in New Zeland. That'll be the sign that Wales are a great team.

Slowly, slowly. There are many ways you can describe the effect that Gatland has had on Wales, but one of the (hopefully lasting) legacies he'll leave us with is the mental blocks that have been systematically removed while he's been coach. We no longer fear France, England or SA. We still get the yips over the Ozzies, but at least believe we are as good. The Kiwis are a different matter, and maybe a bridge too far, but I'd say we're in far better place to get a win of NZ than we have been for about 50 years.

Gatland, and his stunning daughter, so much so it appears genetics science is WRONG!, singing on the team bus:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-15986262

Well done on the GS guys. I reckon there's a few sore heads out there today.

Building nicely for the RWC at this stage. Best of luck in it.

Leinsterman wrote:Well done on the GS guys. I reckon there's a few sore heads out there today.

Building nicely for the RWC at this stage. Best of luck in it.

Thank you.

Anscombe's kicking was perfect yesterday, he better keep those boots on for the world cup!

Not sure any of these lot are even awake yet

Unpopular opinion, Gareth Anscombe was bang average yesterday.

That being said 11? for 11 when starting at 10 and given the teams beaten, can't argue with that, unlike Priestland, Davies and Patchell, he's shown when the pressures on, like Biggs he can execute, who could ask for 2 better 10s???

Bloody fantastic to see the Irish mystified when faced with a referee who doesn't care where his bread is buttered, cheating fuckers.

Given our relatively easy run at the RWC, the sheer amount of beer I've drunk and the general elation over an 1-hour long sexton hissy fit glory wank, I've stuck £100 on us to win, still 4th best odds.....

That moment when you realise we have Faletau, Jenkins, Halfpenny and Scott Williams to add to this team

We've all seen this?

Shaun Edwards says he has not signed contract with Wigan

Wales coach Shaun Edwards has not finalised his next move after the World Cup, with an agreed return to rugby league's Wigan appearing off the table.

The defence coach, 52, claimed his 50th career winners' medal as player and coach as Warren Gatland's men sealed the Six Nations Grand Slam with a 25-7 victory over Ireland in Cardiff.

Edwards leaves his Wales post after the autumn's World Cup in Japan.

"I haven't signed a contract with anybody yet," Edwards said.

He agreed a deal with Wigan Warriors in August 2018, but said the Super League club never produced a contract for him to sign.

"I agreed with Wigan and thought we would sign a contract," he said.

"But then Wigan said, 'it's OK, we'll sign one later', and I thought that was unusual. And that was nine months ago." Wigan declined to comment at this stage.

"So as it stands, come the end of the World Cup I'm unemployed. So that's where I am."

Theflier, what's the odds that the Blues can get him?

My contact seems to think that there has been many discussions between Buttress, WRU and Shaun over the last few weeks. We will see.

This is too painful to think about. Let's assume he's touting for a top English club

Carwyn wrote:My contact seems to think that there has been many discussions between Buttress, WRU and Shaun over the last few weeks. We will see.

Oh really? What have they been talking about? Cool vampire movies and who the hottest boy is?

bessantj wrote:

Carwyn wrote:My contact seems to think that there has been many discussions between Buttress, WRU and Shaun over the last few weeks. We will see.

Oh really? What have they been talking about? Cool vampire movies and who the hottest boy is?

My source, who shall have to remain unnamed, has been spot on for me on many occasions. From the lions squad leaks, to the RWC vote, to even the recent roofgate!

eldanielfire wrote:Not sure any of these lot are even awake yet

Wancers ? ...


Totally deserved, Wales. England and Ireland torn down from their high horses ... !

It’s a great achievement ... and ... and ... it just is.

Carwyn wrote:

bessantj wrote:

Carwyn wrote:My contact seems to think that there has been many discussions between Buttress, WRU and Shaun over the last few weeks. We will see.

Oh really? What have they been talking about? Cool vampire movies and who the hottest boy is?

My source, who shall have to remain unnamed, has been spot on for me on many occasions. From the lions squad leaks, to the RWC vote, to even the recent roofgate!

Ugh

Leinsterman wrote:Well done on the GS guys. I reckon there's a few sore heads out there today.

Building nicely for the RWC at this stage. Best of luck in it.

Thanks, you too.

With the dust starting to settle, and reading the opinions of opposition fans/pundits, I'm reminded of Steve Hansen's words after he first Lions test, where, referencing the fact that many had said the Lions would pump the All Blacks up front, he responded by stating that everyone things that's a weakness, but you don't win as many they have with a shit front 5/pack.

I've mentioned that this may be our greatest strength. People savagely underrate us, and so are on the back foot from the off. It's understandable I suppose given that these player play in poor teams most of the time, but it also goes to highlight the average fans/pundits inability to strip the players performance from the team.

This will stand us in good stead for the coming battles.

Jeff the Bear wrote:With the dust starting to settle, and reading the opinions of opposition fans/pundits, I'm reminded of Steve Hansen's words after he first Lions test, where, referencing the fact that many had said the Lions would pump the All Blacks up front, he responded by stating that everyone things that's a weakness, but you don't win as many they have with a shit front 5/pack.

I've mentioned that this may be our greatest strength. People savagely underrate us, and so are on the back foot from the off. It's understandable I suppose given that these player play in poor teams most of the time, but it also goes to highlight the average fans/pundits inability to strip the players performance from the team.

This will stand us in good stead for the coming battles.

Indeed. I mean our tight 5 has held against everyone in the scrum this 6 Nations and certainly around the loose. My ongoing fear is still we can't set-up to many trys from creative play and that can lead to situations like we've often had in the past of being on top but chasing a game but with to little time left to covert late game control into the points needed. I still think a New Zealand or Australia are capable of putting Wales in this situation.

EverReady wrote:Well done lads. Utterly dominant really and played with real bite. You could have a winning formula for Japan you arseholes

Quick question, does Simon Zebo have beef with some of the Irish or something? I saw this tweet being reported as a dig at the Irish results, but don't know the story or context?

We've seen basically nothing from Wales in terms of attacking play this tournament. 10 tries scored and of those 1 was an interception, 3 were from kicks and 1 was a gift from our good friend Huget.

I'm not at all worried though. In the past we've seen Wales go through phase after phase in the opposition 22, get knocked backwards before eventually knocking on or butchering an overlap. This year didn't feel like that. More often than not we didn't need to go wide because the forwards were making yards and we were winning anyway so why risk it? Ironically if we'd been behind a bit more during the tournament we'd have probably scored more tries. The attacking talent is there, it just wasn't needed.

That's not to say I wouldn't like to see Wales show a bit more ambition with the ball in hand, but ultimately I'd rather watch us win a game where we score 6 penalties than draw a game where we scored 6 tries.

Watched Scrum V last night. Dr Gwyn looked more pissed than ever bless him

Frodder wrote:Watched Scrum V last night. Dr Gwyn looked more pissed than ever bless him

I think he'd rather Wales throw the ball around like Scotland then win anything.

eldanielfire wrote:

Frodder wrote:Watched Scrum V last night. Dr Gwyn looked more pissed than ever bless him

I think he'd rather Wales throw the ball around like Scotland then win anything.

Far better than watching this turgid, boring bunch. Whatever happened to the ‘welsh way’....?