The Rugby Thread

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  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Pross said:

    Terrible game between one bad side and one really bad side.

    I thought I could see some green shoots in the first half on both sides but...they've been stamped out in the second
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    There really ought to be a minimum amount of time you have to be on the pitch to earn a cap I.e. not a few seconds
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Never seen such a lack of pace. When the ball is clear at a ruck the scrum halves pull in a couple more forwards to create the stupid worm so they can kick.

    The worst thing is the players did even look disappointed to lose to England at the end.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Farrell's kicking was woeful and kept Wales in it.
    Smith would be so much more entertaining.

    Very good defence from England.
    Wales's kicking game was dire and they offered nothing in attack despite having two real quality wingers. Why are they keeping playing AWJ?

    England aren't good enough to beat Ireland but will make it difficult.
    Wales need to improve a lot to beat Italy.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,591
    Wot DB said.
    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.
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,683
    Not a single positive to take from that Wales performance, not a single one.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    Really very strange to hear swing low in Cardiff...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,738
    edited February 2023
    Scotland France are going to finish as 7s teams...

    Edit - Jaysus I'm trying to watch this whilst getting on with some other little things but it's impossible!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    edited February 2023
    Not so much of the expected try fest as a red card fest.

    In case anyone is wondering, I didn’t bother watching yesterday’s Cardiff clash.
    Totally fed up with Welsh rugby’s obsession with slow distribution and bad box kicking.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,152
    edited February 2023
    Finn Russell Good player and Grinning idiot.
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,152
    I didn’t see Wales/England either, Blaze. Decided to be kind to myself.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    gethinceri said:

    Not a single positive to take from that Wales performance, not a single one.

    LRZ managed not to drop the pass he was kindly thrown by Malins.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,734
    The latest on the debacle that is the Welsh contract negotiations.
    Last night a dozen senior Cardiff players were made an offer for next season.
    It amounted to just over 10% of their current salaries.

    Gives a whole new meaning to everybody out. Out of Wales without doubt.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,287
    secretsqirrel said:

    I didn’t see Wales/England either, Blaze. Decided to be kind to myself.

    I don't think either side had much positive to take from it apart from Steward being good at catching the ball.

    Farrell missed almost every kick, didn't he?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    edited February 2023
    blazing_saddles said:

    The latest on the debacle that is the Welsh contract negotiations.
    Last night a dozen senior Cardiff players were made an offer for next season.
    It amounted to just over 10% of their current salaries.

    Gives a whole new meaning to everybody out. Out of Wales without doubt.

    Just been reading that, as I've said many times before the relative success of the international team meant the WRU has been papering over some pretty major cracks for years. It now looks like the foundations are failing.

    That said, the regions also need to accept responsibility as they've been relying on handouts to survive pretty much since they were set up. There seems to be no commercial or financial ability anywhere within the game.

    Not sure what the answer is but we could very well see academy players or semi-pro players taking the field in Champions Cup matches for Welsh teams next season.

    If they ditched the cap rule altogether now I suspect the regions would be left with those simply not good enough to play anywhere outside of Wales. Even the English Championship would be a higher level (and, ironically, probably better for the international team).
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,591
    Has anyone heard the Marcus Smith ads on the radio?
    A perfect poster boy, ie don't let him speak. 😉
    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.
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,590
    pblakeney said:

    Has anyone heard the Marcus Smith ads on the radio?
    A perfect poster boy, ie don't let him speak. 😉

    . . . maybe that's why Borthwick has dropped him in favour of George Ford!
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,591
    laurentian said:

    pblakeney said:

    Has anyone heard the Marcus Smith ads on the radio?
    A perfect poster boy, ie don't let him speak. 😉

    . . . maybe that's why Borthwick has dropped him in favour of George Ford!
    It is a shocking ad but that's harsh! 😉
    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.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Pontypool’s unbeaten run looked in danger today when they got a man sent off after 28 minutes with a 12-0 lead. However they went on to win 45-7.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Wales looking much, much better this week, but wow, what a lucky bounce for the try.
    And why do pundits then describe a walk in as a fantastic finish? It was only a simply catch and stroll over the line, nothing fantastic about it whatsoever.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Another forunate bounce and a second try for Wales. Poor tackling by the Italians though.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Terrible Italian tackling for that try. Wales looking much better, keeping ball in hand and playing with pace then, when they do kick, the kick is good. Italy not looking as good as they have been and seem a bit shell-shocked.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Welsh scrum got smashed earlier though.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Italy butchered what looked like a certain try. Possibly just done another.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Wales got away with one there. Two tackles off the ball, the final tackle was a seat belt and from an offside position.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    They said advantage was over from the tackles off the ball. Not convinced a ruck had formed and it looked like open play but I’ve only seen it once. Considering the ref specifically asked to check the tackle he was obviously happy. Italy should really have scored though and made a bit of a mess after the initial line break.

    Webb’s box kicking is a vast improvement on Wales previous games.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,680
    Really stupid collapsing a maul in that situation. You concede 7 points anyway and lose a man.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Pross said:

    They said advantage was over from the tackles off the ball. Not convinced a ruck had formed and it looked like open play but I’ve only seen it once. Considering the ref specifically asked to check the tackle he was obviously happy. Italy should really have scored though and made a bit of a mess after the initial line break.

    Webb’s box kicking is a vast improvement on Wales previous games.

    He should have offloaded which was then a walk in, but the tackle wasn't checked, just whether the tackler was offside. Looked like 4 involved in the penulrimate tackle which would mean offside, but the official felt there were only 3.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Pross said:

    Really stupid collapsing a maul in that situation. You concede 7 points anyway and lose a man.

    Very true, or else be certain you are in goal, not in play.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,623
    Two Welsh collapse the maul and get away with it, then hands in ruck, so cross field kick and Liam willaims hit in the air to Wales end up with the penalty.
    Gatland should do the lottery tonight as literally everything is going their way at the moment.

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