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Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:35 pm
by GWO2
eldanielfire wrote:
Fair enough I believe both are better for Wales than Biggar with the current game plan.
God help us if we are under pressure and Patchell is there. He`s too flakey, can`t handle hard runners and pressure. (IMHO)
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:57 pm
by Wyndham Upalot
GWO2 wrote:eldanielfire wrote:
Fair enough I believe both are better for Wales than Biggar with the current game plan.
God help us if we are under pressure and Patchell is there. He`s too flakey, can`t handle hard runners and pressure. (IMHO)
Biggar was the man, but unfortunately his delivery of recent has been quite frankly, abysmal. We need to move on, and as much as he's absolutely nowhere near the ideal, Patchell represents a better alternative to the default and utterly predictable (by any opposition) game of Biggar ...
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 12:10 am
by Plato'sCave
Wyndham Upalot wrote:GWO2 wrote:eldanielfire wrote:
Fair enough I believe both are better for Wales than Biggar with the current game plan.
God help us if we are under pressure and Patchell is there. He`s too flakey, can`t handle hard runners and pressure. (IMHO)
Biggar was the man, but unfortunately his delivery of recent has been quite frankly, abysmal. We need to move on, and as much as he's absolutely nowhere near the ideal, Patchell represents a better alternative to the default and utterly predictable (by any opposition) game of Biggar ...
Patch suffers from the Gatland high ball walk slowly forward defence bollocks, the game plan is inviting maximum pressure onto the ten. He will adjust because he’s good enough to, no rookie ten would thrive with that at first outings. When he does he will have no in weaknesses. He’s been playing that game in his mind continuously for the past few weeks.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 12:40 am
by LandOTurk
I don't know why but I just had this feeling that we are gong through to another RWC SF again (and quite possibly beyond). It's Gatland's swansong and it will be beautiful! Trust me, it was like a Saul on the road to Damascus moment.
I can't decide if we will beat Oz but I think we can do this time.
If we lose to Oz:
I think we will take out England in the QF
But then fall to NZ
If we beat Oz:
It's Fra in the QF - oh yeah, retribution for 2011.
Then a SF against Ire or SA
Finals time!!!!!!!
So, beating Oz is key to everything and in a one-off final game who knows, but highly unlikely unless NZ is not the opponent.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 2:13 am
by New guy
England have definitely regressed since they won the GS but I still can't see us beating them at the world cup, as things currently stand. Wouldn't be particularly worried about a QF against France or Argentina though.
Sods law dictates we'll finally beat Australia, top the group and then get England in the quarters.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 8:35 pm
by bessantj
Hoping France are still shit travelers for next week and that Wales don't mess around this week. Wales really need nine points out of the next two games.
EDIT: Also in non 6N news, Newport beat Merthyr AT MERTHYR!
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 3:58 pm
by penguin
Guirado remains in the squad, but Pierre Bourgarit has been called up and it is thought that Guirado is unlikely to feature against Wales.
Also out of the trip to Cardiff is lock Romain Taofifenua who damaged a thigh in the victory over England. His place is taken by Arthur Iturria.
Guirado would be a big loss. Great player and a leader by example.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 5:14 pm
by bessantj
penguin wrote:Guirado remains in the squad, but Pierre Bourgarit has been called up and it is thought that Guirado is unlikely to feature against Wales.
Also out of the trip to Cardiff is lock Romain Taofifenua who damaged a thigh in the victory over England. His place is taken by Arthur Iturria.
Guirado would be a big loss. Great player and a leader by example.
Good.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:15 am
by Frodder
Are we announcing our team today?
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:40 am
by penguin
Frodder wrote:Are we announcing our team today?
Warren Gatland will set about selecting his team to face France today - with the team scheduled to be announced on Thursday.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 11:04 am
by Frodder
I know I'm lazy. Here's the team anyway
Evans
Owens
Lee
AWJ
Hill
Singler
not Toby
Navidi
Cawdor
The Patch
Evans
Parkes the poach
your guess is as good as mine
North
1/2p
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 1:47 pm
by Bobcock
Frodder wrote:I know I'm lazy. Here's the team anyway
Evans
Owens
Lee
AWJ
Hill
Singler
not Toby
Navidi
Cawdor
The Patch
Evans
Parkes the poach
your guess is as good as mine
North
1/2p
Williams for Evans
13. Watkin
Tips for Navidi, harsh I know, Navidi has been excellent, but I just think that Tips is a better player.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:00 am
by penguin
I see that Joe Jones has signed with Sale for 5 years...that's quite a commitment to a 22 year old tighthead who as far as I can see hasn't played much in the two years at Perpignan, and was released by the Blues. Him and WillGriff John both there now, let's hope Sale can bring them on. From what I can see it looks like John is doing pretty well there.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:03 pm
by Frodder
penguin wrote:I see that Joe Jones has signed with Sale for 5 years...that's quite a commitment to a 22 year old tighthead who as far as I can see hasn't played much in the two years at Perpignan, and was released by the Blues. Him and WillGriff John both there now, let's hope Sale can bring them on. From what I can see it looks like John is doing pretty well there.
Good to see Sale increasing their contingent. The ol' days they could have up to 5 in the starting XV
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:47 pm
by New guy
I see you're all as enthused about the Welsh team for Saturday as I am.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 5:39 pm
by GWO2
Alun Wyn Jones has committed his future to the game in Wales after re-signing his National Dual Contract (NDC) to remain at his home Region, the Ospreys.
http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/51661
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:54 pm
by Plato'sCave
New guy wrote:I see you're all as enthused about the Welsh team for Saturday as I am.
Yes well. It’s got all the dynamism of PowerPoint.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:51 pm
by LandOTurk
Quite surprised about this to be honest, but delighted. I thougt he would have done a POC and gone to Toulon.
So the article does not mention for how long. I am assuming two years. I think most are that but didn't someone get a 5 year deal? Samson Lee? So he will play for Wales the year after the RWC. Not sure why, but good for us. I wonder does he see himself going into coaching (despite having a law degree) and so wants to stay here.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:00 pm
by Theflier
Pundits protecting their mates big time, if Gats had the stones of eddie, scott, biggar, tips and hill should've played their last.
Anything biggar didn't create scott williams finished it in Frances hands. Things haven't changed, not really, still no confidence in anyone new on the bench.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:01 pm
by bessantj
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:06 pm
by Clive Simms
Theflier wrote:Pundits protecting their mates big time, if Gats had the stones of eddie, scott, biggar, tips and hill should've played their last.
Anything biggar didn't create scott williams finished it in Frances hands. Things haven't changed, not really, still no confidence in anyone new on the bench.
Yes, Please god yes, maybe, Too soon to write off
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:48 pm
by Frodder
That's got to be worst 2nd placed team ever. We were awful with North the exception
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:50 pm
by New guy
What's the most phases we've strung together this tournament? 10 maybe?
Gatland needs to address our forwards inability to retain possession
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:52 pm
by Clive Simms
Please god can we move to try and develop Watkin or even Owen Lane at 13 this summer
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:53 pm
by Jeff the Bear
Clive Simms wrote:Theflier wrote:Pundits protecting their mates big time, if Gats had the stones of eddie, scott, biggar, tips and hill should've played their last.
Anything biggar didn't create scott williams finished it in Frances hands. Things haven't changed, not really, still no confidence in anyone new on the bench.
Yes, Please god yes, maybe, Too soon to write off
Face it, Hill is not only here to stay...but he's going to be our prime lock in a few years time.
I'll let that sink in for a second.
Secondly, the worst thing about this game was not the performance (which, do avoid doubt, was about as poorly as we've played for some time), but the poverty of ambition. We seemingly went in with a half arsed intention, and only France's profligacy saved us.
I'm sure a fit and firing Faletau and Warburton would make a difference, and Jiffy Jnr would have been a good physical antidote to the French power.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:56 pm
by penguin
We expected the French to fudge up and when they didn't we had no plan b. We showed nothing of the intent of the first few games. Biggar is one reason for that. Our attacking game died a death and gatland wasn't prepared to gamble on anyone else.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:00 pm
by bessantj
Some of Faletau's passing was pretty bad. Has he always been that bad? I always thought he had a reasonable pass.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:02 pm
by Clive Simms
Pivac and Jones pleeeeeeeeeease come in before WC. I'm begging you
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:04 pm
by Jeff the Bear
bessantj wrote:Some of Faletau's passing was pretty bad. Has he always been that bad? I always thought he had a reasonable pass.
It wasn't bad as much as unsympathetic. We could cut him a bit of slack because he's been off for so long...but tbf, I'm not sure his passing has ever been much cop.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:04 pm
by penguin
bessantj wrote:Some of Faletau's passing was pretty bad. Has he always been that bad? I always thought he had a reasonable pass.
You think that was the problem? Didn't see it. He threw a slightly high one that could have been taken in the first half. Otherwise, can't think of anything that was worse than some of the momentum killers thrown in the backs.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:11 pm
by bessantj
penguin wrote:bessantj wrote:Some of Faletau's passing was pretty bad. Has he always been that bad? I always thought he had a reasonable pass.
You think that was the problem? Didn't see it. He threw a slightly high one that could have been taken in the first half. Otherwise, can't think of anything that was worse than some of the momentum killers thrown in the backs.
What do you mean 'the problem'? He threw a few too high and about two or three into peoples faces rather than at their chests. Maybe Jeff's right and I should just cut him some slack because he hasn't played a lot of international rugby recently. He did some things very well, his break was very good and he tackled when needed to. I guess I had an image of him as an all round solid player so I noticed more when his passing went awry.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:15 pm
by penguin
bessantj wrote:penguin wrote:bessantj wrote:Some of Faletau's passing was pretty bad. Has he always been that bad? I always thought he had a reasonable pass.
You think that was the problem? Didn't see it. He threw a slightly high one that could have been taken in the first half. Otherwise, can't think of anything that was worse than some of the momentum killers thrown in the backs.
What do you mean 'the problem'? He threw a few too high and about two or three into peoples faces rather than at their chests. Maybe Jeff's right and I should just cut him some slack because he hasn't played a lot of international rugby recently. He did some things very well, his break was very good and he tackled when needed to. I guess I had an image of him as an all round solid player so I noticed more when his passing went awry.
I'm saying that his passing was not the problem on the day. Wrong selection, limited ambition, very disappointing.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:19 pm
by bessantj
penguin wrote:I'm saying that his passing was not the problem on the day. Wrong selection, limited ambition, very disappointing.
Well yes there is no one problem and I'm not saying others weren't passing badly either. Why Wales kept throwing out miss passes I don;t know. It just allowed more French defenders to tackle the player receiving the ball. There are a few things Wales need to fix. I think they've done badly at the breakdown as well, not just in the match but in most of the tournament.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:23 am
by tjlewis13
Could Shingler start, or at worst bench, at lock given the back row depth and lack of it at second row?
Size wise similar to Itoje and Hill. Just needs to put 5kg on?
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 2:23 pm
by bessantj
Captain Jones set to be rested for Wales' summer tour
Wales coach Warren Gatland says captain Alun Wyn Jones is set to miss their summer tour Tests against South Africa and Argentina.
Gatland wants to ensure the 32-year-old is at his peak for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
They face the Springboks on Saturday, 2 June in Washington DC before games against the Pumas in Argentina on 9 and 16 June.
"I don't think he will go on tour in the summer," Gatland said.
Jones was man of the match in Wales' 14-13 win over France, which secured second place in the Six Nations.
The 32-year-old has signed a new national dual contract to keep him at Ospreys in the build-up to the 2019 tournament.
It means the Welsh Rugby Union paying 60% of Jones' wages with the region funding the rest, while Wales and Ospreys will negotiate Jones' playing and training schedule.
"It is about us managing him over the next 18 months," said Gatland.
"We have got a plan in place for him over the next year or so in terms of the amount of games he plays for the Ospreys and for us.
"He is very important for us and we need to keep him fresh."
Jones has made 116 Wales appearances and nine more on three successive British and Irish Lions tours.
Who will join Jones in resting?
He could be joined in resting over the summer by other senior players and colleagues from the Lions' drawn tour to New Zealand last summer under Gatland.
"We will look at those players who went on the Lions tour last year and whether we take them," said Gatland.
"Also we will look at some of the older players who potentially have not had much of an off-season and give them a rest.
"We will start thinking about it in the next six weeks about which players we expect to take."
Sound decision. They could do with resting a bunch of players and bringing in some players that they hope will be the stars of the future. Getting Patchel or Anscombe in the starting line up instead of Biggar. Getting players like Lane in the squad to see how well they do etc...
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 4:45 pm
by Theflier
We're not England, do we have the players to beat Argentina away and rest some? Thats bold, or a very good way to show the France selection was just.
Rob, Elias, Lee, Seb, Ball, Warburton, Shingler, Navidi, Williams, Anscombe, Lane, Parkes, JD2/Lane, North, Patchell might just do it, as for a SA with Erasmus as coach, huge ask.
Either or, its hard to see past near the same team vs France come SA in the Autumn.
At least there's some stuff to keep us interested domestically.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:20 pm
by Da iawn diolch
I was actually pretty disappointed by the pack yesterday.
Even though we sometimes tell ourselves that we have 'world class' players in the front 8, we still struggle with the basics of collective play. Our scrum was repeatedly marmalised, our maul play (both in attack and defence) remains one of the worst in the tournament, and there was just a hideous inevitability of conceding possession/penalties when we try to go through the phases.
I can't remember the last time this wasn't the case - I honestly haven't a f**king clue what McBride is doing to earn a wage at times.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:06 pm
by bessantj
Martyn Williams has got a face like a smacked arse on Scrum V.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:07 pm
by bessantj
Da iawn diolch wrote:I was actually pretty disappointed by the pack yesterday.
Even though we sometimes tell ourselves that we have 'world class' players in the front 8, we still struggle with the basics of collective play. Our scrum was repeatedly marmalised, our maul play (both in attack and defence) remains one of the worst in the tournament, and there was just a hideous inevitability of conceding possession/penalties when we try to go through the phases.
I can't remember the last time this wasn't the case - I honestly haven't a f**king clue what McBride is doing to earn a wage at times.
Yeah some of the Welsh forward play has been pretty sad, the mauls as you say has been terrible and the work at the breakdown has on times left a lot to be desired.
Re: The Official Welsh Rugby Thread
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:09 pm
by Frodder
I can't watch Scrum V yet as I gave up day time drinking many years ago.
Regarding our scrum it was getting hammered until Nicky Smith came on and stabilised it.