The Rugby Thread

[E17yid]

I thought that after I posted it. I meant more in terms of performance levels. Previous 2 games you've been poor! But credit where it's due. Superb run of games

I don’t think we were that great tbh. Solid defence but then it usually is. We can play a lot better than that.

 

[DaiT]

I don’t think we were that great tbh. Solid defence but then it usually is. We can play a lot better than that.

I thought both teams defended very well. Both played the ref well and while he did give some offside penalties I thought both teams were offside at rucks most of the game. That does not allow much attacking play.
I thought we were the fitter team and that contributed to the 2nd half performance greatly. Our squad of players has improved immensely. Liam Williams and both wingers were outstanding in dealing with England's kicking game but Farrell was under a lot more pressure today.
I think the Chiefs might want Gats next year

 

[SugarRay]

I didn’t watch the game as I was out but perhaps ( shock horror ) some of England’s players simply aren’t as good as some think?

It’s not a particularly outstanding Welsh side, they’ve had far better sides during Gatlands reign imo.

I think Gatland has done an outstanding job at Wales and would happily see him take over at England once Jones goes. I think he could take England and improve them. To me, he’s almost a logical choice given Baxter doesn’t want it.

 

[SugarRay]

Regarding the highlights, I cannot stand Eddie Butler or the fact the BBC becomes BBC Wales during any Welsh game.

Am I too assume I’ll need to mute it?

 

[Japhet]

I didn’t watch the game as I was out but perhaps ( shock horror ) some of England’s players simply aren’t as good as some think?

It’s not a particularly outstanding Welsh side, they’ve had far better sides during Gatlands reign imo.

I think Gatland has done an outstanding job at Wales and would happily see him take over at England once Jones goes. I think he could take England and improve them. To me, he’s almost a logical choice given Baxter doesn’t want it.

It was a scrappy game and a pretty poor performance from Jako Peyper didn't help. He seemed pretty determined to penalise Kyle Sinckler, most probably due to media pressure, and did so twice in kickable range. The first was a 'no arms' tackle when he barely made contact with the player and the second was for holding AWJ up in a maul round his neck. The inconsistency was that at the start of the match he called 'maul' after a couple of seconds max, but Sinckler held AWJ up a lot longer than that which made it look worse than it wasand the penalty went the other way. The game really hinged on individual errors though.

 

[SugarRay]

It was a scrappy game and a pretty poor performance from Jako Peyper didn't help. He seemed pretty determined to penalise Kyle Sinckler, most probably due to media pressure, and did so twice in kickable range. The first was a 'no arms' tackle when he barely made contact with the player and the second was for holding AWJ up in a maul round his neck. The inconsistency was that at the start of the match he called 'maul' after a couple of seconds max, but Sinckler held AWJ up a lot longer than that which made it look worse than it wasand the penalty went the other way. The game really hinged on individual errors though.

 

[E17yid]

It was a scrappy game and a pretty poor performance from Jako Peyper didn't help. He seemed pretty determined to penalise Kyle Sinckler, most probably due to media pressure, and did so twice in kickable range. The first was a 'no arms' tackle when he barely made contact with the player and the second was for holding AWJ up in a maul round his neck. The inconsistency was that at the start of the match he called 'maul' after a couple of seconds max, but Sinckler held AWJ up a lot longer than that which made it look worse than it wasand the penalty went the other way. The game really hinged on individual errors though.

I agree Peyper didn’t have a good game (he is a terrible ref) but Sinkler was a lucky boy. Most refs would’ve sin binned him for dropping his shoulder on Anscombe which was a yellow card offence by itself and then seconds later strangling AWJ (wish I knew what AWJ said to Sinkler as Peyper blew for the pen, he seemed to find it funny) it was no surprise he got subbed after that.

Also, on another day the ref cards Tualagi for grabbing Liam Williams around the throat. Obviously Williams seemed to find it funny but Peyper was actually quite generous towards you. You were constantly offside all game to. he was bad fit both sides but worse for us

 

[E17yid]

Oh and that no arms tackle was a, well, a no arms tackle.

Not like the ridiculous pen he gave against Tipuric were he clearly wraps his arms around.

 

[E17yid]

I didn’t watch the game as I was out but perhaps ( shock horror ) some of England’s players simply aren’t as good as some think?

It’s not a particularly outstanding Welsh side, they’ve had far better sides during Gatlands reign imo.

I think Gatland has done an outstanding job at Wales and would happily see him take over at England once Jones goes. I think he could take England and improve them. To me, he’s almost a logical choice given Baxter doesn’t want it.

What like Billy V. He’s not even as good as Moriarty let alone Faletau.

 

[Japhet]

I agree Peyper didn’t have a good game (he is a terrible ref) but Sinkler was a lucky boy. Most refs would’ve sin binned him for dropping his shoulder on Anscombe which was a yellow card offence by itself and then seconds later strangling AWJ (wish I knew what AWJ said to Sinkler as Peyper blew for the pen, he seemed to find it funny) it was no surprise he got subbed after that.

Also, on another day the ref cards Tualagi for grabbing Liam Williams around the throat. Obviously Williams seemed to find it funny but Peyper was actually quite generous towards you. You were constantly offside all game to. he was bad fit both sides but worse for us

It's a shame Nigel Owens can't ref a Wales game simply because he'd tell AWJ to shut his gob and not try to ref the game for him.

 

[E17yid]

It's a shame Nigel Owens can't ref a Wales game simply because he'd tell AWJ to shut his gob and not try to ref the game for him.

The thing is Owens usually sees what’s in front of him. Peyper needs a good nudge even when he’s staring right at a blatant offence. AWJ is good like that. You should write him a card thanking him for keeping Peyper on the straight and narrow.

 

[mpickard2087]

Sometimes you are forced to the kick by a disciplined opposition, but England seem to do a lot of it by choice. Whichever is the case though, if you don't execute your plans well enough then it will be a struggle.

The question is why we didn't try to change tactics. The kicking game out of 9/10 wasn't good enough and in fact we started to lose territory and get in trouble as Williams et al had an easier and easier ride as the game went on and then just returned fire better as we started to lose all ground and possession of the ball.

The very few times we did put a bit more width on the ball and go through the hands I thought looked reasonably promising, including the Tuilagi break where it looked a total mismatch against Parkes, but we barely tried to look at different ways to attack. Or use the bench etc.

 

[E17yid]

Sometimes you are forced to the kick by a disciplined opposition, but England seem to do a lot of it by choice. Whichever is the case though, if you don't execute your plans well enough then it will be a struggle.

The question is why we didn't try to change tactics. The kicking game out of 9/10 wasn't good enough and in fact we started to lose territory and get in trouble as Williams et al had an easier and easier ride as the game went on and then just returned fire better as we started to lose all ground and possession of the ball.

The very few times we did put a bit more width on the ball and go through the hands I thought looked reasonably promising, including the Tuilagi break where it looked a total mismatch against Parkes, but we barely tried to look at different ways to attack. Or use the bench etc.

This is it. There was obviously a big debate about whether you would even keep the sane tactics as you did against France and Ireland after all there was no Henshaw or Huget at 15 against us but a lions capped full back.

But to not mix it up was incredible when you were clearly not executing the game plan well.

 

[Japhet]

Sometimes you are forced to the kick by a disciplined opposition, but England seem to do a lot of it by choice. Whichever is the case though, if you don't execute your plans well enough then it will be a struggle.

The question is why we didn't try to change tactics. The kicking game out of 9/10 wasn't good enough and in fact we started to lose territory and get in trouble as Williams et al had an easier and easier ride as the game went on and then just returned fire better as we started to lose all ground and possession of the ball.

The very few times we did put a bit more width on the ball and go through the hands I thought looked reasonably promising, including the Tuilagi break where it looked a total mismatch against Parkes, but we barely tried to look at different ways to attack. Or use the bench etc.

Isn't it a definition of madness to repeatedly do the same thing and expect a different result. Wales were never going to be all over the place like France were but we stuck rigidly to a gameplan that wasn't working. No point having Manu on the pitch if he doesn't get the ball in his hands, and I'm not even sure Cockanasiga got a touch.

 

[SugarRay]

What like Billy V. He’s not even as good as Moriarty let alone Faletau.

He’s not at it yet, clear to see.

His cousin is top class, I’m a big, big Toby fan. Moriaty doesn’t deserve a mention in any sentence that involves that family though. Unlesss the sentence is ‘Moriarty isn’t in the same league as the Vunipola/Faletau family’ of course! Them Moriarty’s are all mouth no trouser types

Ask Colin Jones

 

[E17yid]

He’s not at it yet, clear to see.

His cousin is top class, I’m a big, big Toby fan. Moriaty doesn’t deserve a mention in any sentence that involves that family though. Unlesss the sentence is ‘Moriarty isn’t in the same league as the Vunipola/Faletau family’ of course! Them Moriarty’s are all mouth no trouser types

Ask Colin Jones

I heard about this. Didn’t Jones Spark Richard out back in the day?

I agree Moriarty isn’t in the same league as Faletau but then I think Faletau is the best 8 in the world.

He’s an incredibly good back up 8, though. Can do a good job at 6 too.

 

[SugarRay]

I heard about this. Didn’t Jones Spark Richard out back in the day?

I agree Moriarty isn’t in the same league as Faletau but then I think Faletau is the best 8 in the world.

He’s an incredibly good back up 8, though. Can do a good job at 6 too.

Toby is up there no doubt. Moriarty is more of a 6 for me long term. He’s nowhere near as physical as his reputation seems to suggest. He’s a good back up as you say, not a patch on Toby though.

There’s rumours he sparked Richard and rumours he sparked both brothers too. Either way, he did alright imo!

 

[mpickard2087]

This is it. There was obviously a big debate about whether you would even keep the sane tactics as you did against France and Ireland after all there was no Henshaw or Huget at 15 against us but a lions capped full back.

But to not mix it up was incredible when you were clearly not executing the game plan well.

Isn't it a definition of madness to repeatedly do the same thing and expect a different result. Wales were never going to be all over the place like France were but we stuck rigidly to a gameplan that wasn't working. No point having Manu on the pitch if he doesn't get the ball in his hands, and I'm not even sure Cockanasiga got a touch.

To be honest it didn't start off that badly. Youngs was underhitting a lot of his boxkicks but May was competing well and often tapping the ball back on our side, and there were quite a few where we kicked in behind and found grass and turned Wales round, but then the kicks started to become aimless and overcooked in the second half and achieved nothing but allowing comfortable and damaging returns that put pressure on us.

Playing this way and kicking so much you are always at the mercy of your halfbacks being on their game, and with Ben Youngs especially that is always a big if.

Obviously still question marks about tactics and the composition of the side. I don't think just kicking the ball deep and then trying to 'high press' teams and force mistakes will win you a world cup, but if this is the plan then you wouldn't change the team really. I think we've got to show a bit more in attack though and be able to sustain it over multiple phases and have variation, and would still lean towards Ford 10 Farrell 12 as having been the best combination to allow this in recent years.

 

[teok]

Well done to the welsh. Deserved win. I thought eddie completely messed up with the subs and we were beaten in the last quarter. Moon was out on his feet at 60 mins both cowan dickie and genge are brilliant impact players.

Annoyingly we had chances but fluffed them.

I feel like england sort of are playing in reverse (if that makes sense) due to the fixtures. It's like the ire game was our cup final and every single bit of planning was invested in that. Then the france game we were still riding high from the previous week.

We really missed mako and maro as well. Our whole game plan revolves around having multiple carriers so the opposition gets stretched.

Any way again well done to the welsh lads, 6 nations is great because (apart from italy) it's like any one can beat any one on their day. For instance france are starting to look dangerous again. That fixture with ire should be tasty.

 

[Japhet]

Well done to the welsh. Deserved win. I thought eddie completely messed up with the subs and we were beaten in the last quarter. Moon was out on his feet at 60 mins both cowan dickie and genge are brilliant impact players.

Annoyingly we had chances but fluffed them.

I feel like england sort of are playing in reverse (if that makes sense) due to the fixtures. It's like the ire game was our cup final and every single bit of planning was invested in that. Then the france game we were still riding high from the previous week.

We really missed mako and maro as well. Our whole game plan revolves around having multiple carriers so the opposition gets stretched.

Any way again well done to the welsh lads, 6 nations is great because (apart from italy) it's like any one can beat any one on their day. For instance france are starting to look dangerous again. That fixture with ire should be tasty.

There were 2 subs that really gave Wales the upper hand. Biggar made a huge difference (no idea why he didn't start), but also Courtney Lawes coming off. He had really led the team in terms of physicality and will be a big loss.