Rugby World Cup 2015

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  • Selectorial guile? Gatland? LOL.

    There are 2 possibilities. The first is that, for 3-4 years, Gatland has had a plan. That plan has involved being narrowly or soundly beaten by poor tactics, poor selection and poor game management. But that that was the plan and that everything has led up to Saturday. And on that day you will witness the true power of Wales. Slightly less than it would have been, but still true power.

    The other possibility is that he has a one dimensional game plan that simply relies on being in touch with 20 to go and that our cryotherapy sessions will then come to the fore.

    I know which one I would put more money on...............
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  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    I dont think there is a fag paper between Ford and Farrell so, other than continuity, I don't see the fuss about the switch. Farrell has faced Wales and Warrenball more than Ford and defensively probably has a slight edge to stopping it. Likewise Burgess and Barrett. I guess the thinking is to wear out the Warrenball players for an hour and then bring on the Fords and Slades at the end when the physicality has dropped (a little)

    It's a big call but, in some ways, so would be making no changes. Arguably this is the game of games for Wales as they seem to be working against some Voodoo with the Aussies so this is make or break
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,372
    I dont think there is a fag paper between Ford and Farrell so, other than continuity, I don't see the fuss about the switch. Farrell has faced Wales and Warrenball more than Ford and defensively probably has a slight edge to stopping it. Likewise Burgess and Barrett. I guess the thinking is to wear out the Warrenball players for an hour and then bring on the Fords and Slades at the end when the physicality has dropped (a little)

    It's a big call but, in some ways, so would be making no changes. Arguably this is the game of games for Wales as they seem to be working against some Voodoo with the Aussies so this is make or break

    Farrell is undoubtedly the better defender and Ford better at getting a backline going so, I guess, if the 10 is a defensive one with less ability to create attacks, you may as well load the backs with big tacklers who can bosh it up the park.

    Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins, Sam Warburton would all be welcome in my England team
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • crispybug2
    crispybug2 Posts: 2,915
    One hour to kick off..... Nerves are seriously kicking in!!

    More beer required.
  • Hoping for a good game and that it lives up to the hype.
    Not got high hopes for Wales, so many injuries and so little strength in depth. This is our world cup I think. :cry:
  • crispybug2
    crispybug2 Posts: 2,915
    Try for May!! 16 - 6
  • Pinching myself :shock: :lol:
  • crispybug2
    crispybug2 Posts: 2,915
    F##K!!!!!
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,597
    Japan make the decision to go for the win and succeed - Brilliant!
    England make the decision to go for the win and fail - Supid!

    #Hindsight.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • crispybug2
    crispybug2 Posts: 2,915
    Paul Hayward in the Daily Telegraph...


    There are times when Sam Burgess looks as if he has won a prize to be on the pitch with the England team and is wandering around trying to be helpful.

    Couldn't have put it better myself!
  • Flâneur
    Flâneur Posts: 3,081
    Can't blame the decision, as Wilkinson implied it was the failure to play out from the lineout (or great welsh defence?)that was the real cost.
    Penalty game and a half though
    More injuries for Wales.

    Do like Wilkinson as a pundit, balanced and recent.

    SA played some top rugby today. matched the physical game and then got the basics right and the passes quick.
    Stevo 666 wrote: Come on you Scousers! 20/12/2014
    Crudder
    CX
    Toy
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,217
    :D That is all.

    Going to struggle against Fiji though with a short turnaround a the bare minimum of players available!
  • :D That is all.

    Going to struggle against Fiji though with a short turnaround a the bare minimum of players available!

    True, if they can survive Fiji on Thursday, then there is a 9 day gap before Aus, which may give time for some healing. Still a big ask to get out of the group tho'.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 12,612
    10 points. Bring on the 'Boks next Saturday.

    How are England getting on? Oh...
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    the pictures of Chris Robshaw are haunting...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,318
    Ireland are yet to be tested but they're looking strong and quick. With backs like Zebo, Earls and Bowe, they'll be a danger to anyone.
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • prb007
    prb007 Posts: 703
    the pictures of Chris Robshaw are haunting...

    ...whilst the video of Mike Brown is hilarious :D
    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/watch-moment-distraught-england-star-10145504

    gutted to have missed the game live...was busy doing this... https://www.strava.com/activities/401168085
    Watched it on catch up when I got home - and we won AGAIN :lol:
    If Wales was flattened out, it'd be bigger than England!
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  • the pictures of Chris Robshaw are haunting...

    ...whilst the video of Mike Brown is hilarious :D
    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/watch-moment-distraught-england-star-10145504

    gutted to have missed the game live...was busy doing this... https://www.strava.com/activities/401168085
    Watched it on catch up when I got home - and we won AGAIN :lol:

    The bloke was gutted, it was hardly a "major strop" though.

    Need to see Cavendish after a lost sprint a while ago or David Millar at the top of a mountain finish for proper toys out the pram :D
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    Stupid questions get stupid answers....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • To be fair, those are standard stupid questions and not exactly something you wouldn't expect to be asked. I guess he's not the best interview choice. But there we are. I dislike the distraught part of the headline immensely as it's being used to gloat.

    As an aside Wood's unintentional but reckless kick to the head earns him a citing warning. So, that would have been a yellow card on the night. In a RWC that will depend on margins and in which the TMO has been overused it's surprising not to see the Ref ask for a replay of that. It all turned out ok in the end (if you're Welsh).
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  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    It did but he was cleared today
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • It did but he was cleared today

    I know. He had a citing warning. That's my point. He wasn't cleared. The RWC deemed it a yellow card offence.
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  • Flâneur
    Flâneur Posts: 3,081
    Stupid questions get stupid answers....

    perhaps not stupid, as mentioned above they are the norm. But when the answers are so obvious it may be better to look at other questions or ways of looking for a headline.

    Sport always so cruel. Had it worked they would have been heralded as the new life blood of world rugby blah blah.

    I would question the decision to throw to the front more than going for touch.

    Was an odd game, I found it good to watch yet I knew the rugby being played was neither particularly good nor exciting. Interesting to see how both teams do in their next games.

    SA looked good, getting the basics right can so easily make a game exciting. I appreciate the opposition may not have been the toughest but Scotland also showed how hard you can make life when you keep making unforced errors.
    Stevo 666 wrote: Come on you Scousers! 20/12/2014
    Crudder
    CX
    Toy
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    It did but he was cleared today

    I know. He had a citing warning. That's my point. He wasn't cleared. The RWC deemed it a yellow card offence.

    Well, ok. Same thing in effect though
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • It did but he was cleared today

    I know. He had a citing warning. That's my point. He wasn't cleared. The RWC deemed it a yellow card offence.

    Well, ok. Same thing in effect though

    No. That's the point. Had he been cleared, nothing to argue about. This means that someone who should have been sent off during a massive game, was not. In the end, no harm no foul. But that kind of thing is exactly what TMO's should be looking at.
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  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    unless they thought "well, he did connect so we should probably do something so lets give him the maximum we can without actually doing anything."

    It was obviously unintentional and is the sort of thing if you ve played that has happened to you (usually by a flipping team mate to me) and that you've done
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    edited September 2015
    Japan make the decision to go for the win and succeed - Brilliant!
    England make the decision to go for the win and fail - Supid!

    #Hindsight.

    Not quite.
    As Woodward pointed out after the match, we could have tied the game AND still had a chance to win it.
    (Admittedly, no guarantee we would have made the penalty, but far more likely than not.)
    Of course Wilkinson is going to back the decision (on TV), he's a player, he's not going to knock his mates.
    Draw would have been a decent result. Loss is catastrophic.
    Never mind 'Harry, England and St George', got to be clear-headed and play the percentages in a group like this, or you're out.
    (And not the first time Robshaw has made a dodgy last-minute decision under pressure.)
  • Personally I would of kicked the penalty. But once you have made the decision to go for the corner don't throw to number 2 even if it banker ball. Wales were clearly expecting and stacked out the area at least if you go to the middle or back there is less defence and it's more difficult to get pushed into touch. I also agree with Clive Woodward why does Stuart Lancaster insist in making the changes no matter what, it can just disrupt the pattern and flow of the team in a tight game unless forced into a change leave the team alone.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    There are many similarities between Lancaster and Dave Brailsford and thus England and Team Sky. Both have a habit of getting a bit too hung up on Plan A that they are occasionally not able to see when it needs to be abandoned and a new plan made.
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,244
    Moneyball man would be very disappointed with the lack of kicking.