The Rugby Thread

johngti

Dorset_Boy said:

Shame if so as they've both been very, very good players.
LW's yellow was a team one mind.

Trouble is he only really seems interested in doing the right thing when he thinks he sees the try line. In defence he always seems out of place and slow to reposition himself.

Well, maybe not always but often. And that’s only my opinion of course

Pross

The inability to convert chances by Wales is the most infuriating thing. They’ve had plenty of territory but just keep making mistakes or getting turned over. It’s really basic stuff. Scotland my contrast seem to score every time they get in the Welsh 22.

kingstongraham

Dorset_Boy said:

GN back on. Was he knocked out (in which case he cannot return) or not?

He definitely had a moment just after he got hit. Very surprised he came back on.

ddraver

Where do they breed these wingers in Scotland..? 😶

Pross

Absolute shambles and hard to see how it gets better. I assume the answer will be to blame the community game and ringfence the Welsh Premiership as usual. The past decade or so had been built on sand foundations and I’m surprised it took so long to collapse.

skyblueamateur

Wales are woeful!! Tough watch.

ddraver

Reason 1257 I was never a professional rugby player is that at this point I'd have happily let the other team score the consolation try and gone to the bar...

Pross

Fitting that they win the Doddie cup.

blazing_saddles

Years of over achieving have given way to the reality of the state of rugby in Wales.

Pross

skyblueamateur said:

Wales are woeful!! Tough watch.

I genuinely don’t know where they go from here. There’s no strength in depth due to terrible regional structure. I really don’t know why Gatland agreed to come back as his reputation / legacy won’t improve.

Pross

ddraver said:

Where do they breed these wingers in Scotland..? 😶

Somewhere in the highland wilderness going by the strange accents.

Dorset_Boy

Pross said:

Absolute shambles and hard to see how it gets better. I assume the answer will be to blame the community game and ringfence the Welsh Premiership as usual. The past decade or so had been built on sand foundations and I’m surprised it took so long to collapse.

I get the impression they had a bit of a golden generation who won a number of 6 nations by fortune rather than being the best team in the tournament, and they have grown old together.
They don't have the next age group with any experience (due to the likes of AWJ playing on for years too long) and now have to rely on some youngster who will take time to grow into the shirt.

skyblueamateur

Pross said:

skyblueamateur said:

Wales are woeful!! Tough watch.

I genuinely don’t know where they go from here. There’s no strength in depth due to terrible regional structure. I really don’t know why Gatland agreed to come back as his reputation / legacy won’t improve.

As an Ireland fan there’s an absolute gulf in the way the two organisations are operating. Shows in the rugby being played.

Dorset_Boy

And as you say, the structure was built on sand due to the destructiive nature of the regions.

pblakeney

blazing_saddles said:

Dorset_Boy said:

blazing_saddles said:

Dorset_Boy said:

How was that a yellow? George North was bent in two, his head was at knee height?
Yet again Welsh medics slow to pull him for an HIA, given GN's history. Should have been away for an assessment immediately.

Going to be fun for your boys next season when the idiotic rule is introduced.
Or have they seen sense yet?

It's potentially coming everywhere post RWC Blazing.

It will make the game an absolute farce until 2 things are adopted.
The word “accidental” and the ball carrier carrying equal responsibility.
For instance, diving for the line: what is going to happen there?

Call me stupid (and I predict many will 😉) but if it's to be enforced then an arbitrary 1m maximum tackle height? Puts the responsibility on both players.

blazing_saddles

skyblueamateur said:

Pross said:

skyblueamateur said:

Wales are woeful!! Tough watch.

I genuinely don’t know where they go from here. There’s no strength in depth due to terrible regional structure. I really don’t know why Gatland agreed to come back as his reputation / legacy won’t improve.

As an Ireland fan there’s an absolute gulf in the way the two organisations are operating. Shows in the rugby being played.

You won’t find anyone in Wales who would disagree with you.
The WRU are more interested in building hotels than organising a functional plan for developing the game.

secretsqirrel

Dorset_Boy said:

Pross said:

Absolute shambles and hard to see how it gets better. I assume the answer will be to blame the community game and ringfence the Welsh Premiership as usual. The past decade or so had been built on sand foundations and I’m surprised it took so long to collapse.

I get the impression they had a bit of a golden generation who won a number of 6 nations by fortune rather than being the best team in the tournament, and they have grown old together.
They don't have the next age group with any experience (due to the likes of AWJ playing on for years too long) and now have to rely on some youngster who will take time to grow into the shirt.

Ok I’ll bite. In the 6 Nations era….
4 Grand Slams. Equally as lucky as France and luckier than England and Ireland.

Dorset_Boy

And so to part 3. Can Italy cause an upset?

Pross

Dorset_Boy said:

And so to part 3. Can Italy cause an upset?

What, by losing? 😉

blazing_saddles

After a number of Wales like handling errors, England get that all important first try.

As a side issue, I wonder what percentage of all tries scored come from the 5 metre line out and rumble?
It’s a pet hate of mine, as the laws of both physics and rugby dictate, it’s so difficult to defend against.

Dorset_Boy

Pretty dominant first half from England.

Chessum try was an example of good driving play from 5m out, rather than the dull, dull, thick as sh!t pick and go dull stuff!

Pross

Well worked try that and good composure / patience. Thought the full back should have scored a few phases earlier, he seemed surprised to find himself through the gap.

Pross

Farrell not so tough once he got rolled back after his team mate helped him get on top. Would love to have made that tackle on him.

Pross

This setting up a ruck that looks like the conga to give the kicker space gets on my nerves.

secretsqirrel

Agree. How many are allowed in the human centipede.

Dorset_Boy

Farrell stiffling all creativity.

Pross

Dorset_Boy said:

Farrell stiffling all creativity.

I really don’t get why he seems undroppable. Even when Smith comes on they push Farrell to centre. Is his kicking game considered that superior that he has to play?

Dorset_Boy

Pross said:

Dorset_Boy said:

Farrell stiffling all creativity.

I really don’t get why he seems undroppable. Even when Smith comes on they push Farrell to centre. Is his kicking game considered that superior that he has to play?

Lord knows, because most England fans don't!

veronese68

That game was disappointing all round I'd say. Being half English and half Italian I thought it might be a decent match and I couldn't lose.

blazing_saddles

It’s looking increasingly likely that England will get a bonus point win in the next round, without taking the field.
The Welsh squad walked out of a WRU sponsorship dinner, last night, which was being held at the WRU owned Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff.
Expecting contracted players to accept a 20% pay cut in the current economic climate, while splashing out on such frivolous investments is bound to create a climate of resentment, no?