Planet Rugby Forum

P in VG wrote:Our scrum is pants as soon as Lewis / Dee / Smith come on - it's going to cost us sooner or later

I'm wondering whether we should start with Nicky & save Wyn Jones for the scrums late on - that's the only change we have in our locker I reckon

Beard coming back onto the bench (instead of Shingler) will help as well

Derwyn wrote:It was a rather daft decision to go for a scrum when we got a weak front five. Shingler is not going to offer any significant weight behind Nicky Smuth. A tap and go would have sufficed.

bessantj wrote:

P in VG wrote:Our scrum is pants as soon as Lewis / Dee / Smith come on - it's going to cost us sooner or later

I'm wondering whether we should start with Nicky & save Wyn Jones for the scrums late on - that's the only change we have in our locker I reckon

Beard coming back onto the bench (instead of Shingler) will help as well

Start the dross and get the better stiff on to shore it up later in the game? Could work.

P in VG wrote:

bessantj wrote:

P in VG wrote:Our scrum is pants as soon as Lewis / Dee / Smith come on - it's going to cost us sooner or later

I'm wondering whether we should start with Nicky & save Wyn Jones for the scrums late on - that's the only change we have in our locker I reckon

Beard coming back onto the bench (instead of Shingler) will help as well

Start the dross and get the better stiff on to shore it up later in the game? Could work.

Bit harsh - Smith is a good player & probably better around the park - but W Jones is the better scrumager

Leinsterman wrote:Well done guys! In a great position now.

Theflier wrote:Our starting front row was equally shit, if not worse.

If anythings going to lose us a game, its the centres defence

P in VG wrote:

Derwyn wrote:It was a rather daft decision to go for a scrum when we got a weak front five. Shingler is not going to offer any significant weight behind Nicky Smuth. A tap and go would have sufficed.

Think that was more of a time wasting exercise

Clive wrote:This Wales side will give it their all, it showed today in the heat and humidity, you can't ask for any more, Oz had 2 days more rest in these conditions count for a lot, really proud of this team.

Theflier wrote:Thought Patchell did well, he did what he needed to do to convince me he can play international rugby i.e not shit the bed, we didn't have many opportunities to relieve pressure and he was thrown howlers from both SHs, which is a shame, because his siege gun can clear into their half from our try line.

Given the wings at the blues this season, I hope lane moves into 13, and Halaholo becomes the new Parkes and we'll be reasonably okay in 4 years time

c69 wrote:How far off from fitness is Beard?

penguin wrote:I felt sorry for Dillon Lewis, tough job at the best of times and then to be underpowered in the second row with shingler there, was always going to be trouble. Takes me back to the days when we had the likes of Scott Andrews with Jonathan Thomas behind him... Or Ryan Jones. Hopefully the last time we see that needed in the tournament and Lewis is able to reach the heady heights of mediocre in the scrum. He certainly works hard in the loose, couple of times he looked close to winning some steals at the breakdown.

henry wrote:

Theflier wrote:Our starting front row was equally shit, if not worse.

If anythings going to lose us a game, its the centres defence

Have been quite happy with them starting frontrow. Have thought they’ve done a good job in both games.

Agree on the centres - Davies really needs to find some form and I’m increasingly eager to see what Watkin can do from the start.

So far, however, so good.

Kudos to Patchell today too - an assured 45 minutes or so.

Jeff the Bear wrote:As noted in my ratings thread, I think the tactic of going hard with our best team and defending is an easier one than our usual building for a big last 20, given the conditions.

Although I also agree that our pants front row bench will ultimately cost us a game.

Theflier wrote:Also, thought Seb has grown gigantic, and destroyed mauls against the kings, even if the line out was shit.

Should've been brought in.

penguin wrote:I felt sorry for Dillon Lewis, tough job at the best of times and then to be underpowered in the second row with shingler there, was always going to be trouble. Takes me back to the days when we had the likes of Scott Andrews with Jonathan Thomas behind him... Or Ryan Jones. Hopefully the last time we see that needed in the tournament and Lewis is able to reach the heady heights of mediocre in the scrum. He certainly works hard in the loose, couple of times he looked close to winning some steals at the breakdown.

henry wrote:

Clive wrote:This Wales side will give it their all, it showed today in the heat and humidity, you can't ask for any more, Oz had 2 days more rest in these conditions count for a lot, really proud of this team.

There’s a lot to be said of that.

We’ll lose at some point but it wouldn’t be for the lack of effort. Credit to their country, these lads.

Gatland deserves enormous credit. Remember the shite we were delivering prior to him taking over.

paynie wrote:

penguin wrote:I felt sorry for Dillon Lewis, tough job at the best of times and then to be underpowered in the second row with shingler there, was always going to be trouble. Takes me back to the days when we had the likes of Scott Andrews with Jonathan Thomas behind him... Or Ryan Jones. Hopefully the last time we see that needed in the tournament and Lewis is able to reach the heady heights of mediocre in the scrum. He certainly works hard in the loose, couple of times he looked close to winning some steals at the breakdown.

Jonathan Thomas. How did he get 67 caps? The pens he used to give away.

henry wrote:

paynie wrote:

penguin wrote:I felt sorry for Dillon Lewis, tough job at the best of times and then to be underpowered in the second row with shingler there, was always going to be trouble. Takes me back to the days when we had the likes of Scott Andrews with Jonathan Thomas behind him... Or Ryan Jones. Hopefully the last time we see that needed in the tournament and Lewis is able to reach the heady heights of mediocre in the scrum. He certainly works hard in the loose, couple of times he looked close to winning some steals at the breakdown.

Jonathan Thomas. How did he get 67 caps? The pens he used to give away.

Baffling player. World class one minute, utter dogshit the next 79.

Theflier wrote:Also, thought Seb has grown gigantic, and destroyed mauls against the kings, even if the line out was shit.

Should've been brought in.

ticketlessinseattle wrote:Cracking match Taffs, well done

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

New guy wrote:

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

If I was English a part of me would want to finish runners up in their pool. As it stands, one side of the draw contains New Zealand, Australia and Ireland while the other will have Wales, South Africa and Japan.

If they win their pool they wont make the final. No way.

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

Willie Falloon wrote:Jon Davies and Alun Wyn must surely be contenders to be selected in the All time Welsh XV?

Frodder wrote:There's no way England are losing to Argentina or France. They'll top their group so no fudge ups from us now - please!

c69 wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

If it's coming to the top 2 inches then Argentina and France aren't exactly the sides that will exploit that right now. Of course France is France but there is fair expectation England will win these games.

I think the best way for teams to beat England especially physical teams is to wind them up and have a bit of niggle.
Players like Genge or Lawes or Farrell are at times a bit hot headed at least Mr Angry Mike Brown is't there now. He is one serious hot head.

henry wrote:

c69 wrote:So lads it looks like we will avoid England if we top the group.

Really? Is this a given? Are we sure that they will beat France and the Argies?
Not so sure myself, yes they have a good team physical and skillful. But by Christ they lack something in the top 2 inches and they could easily crumble under press and the weight of expectation and dripping arrogance. I would prefer if they lost to France and Argentina.
Their smug self serving arrogance and the media hype is vomit inducing.
Their fans make the Irish look like UN peace keepers and their coach makes Cheika look positively balanced. There I said what everyone else is thinking.

That escalated quickly. And nicely.