Rugby Union 2017-18
- Thread starter bendeus
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gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
Japan drew with France!
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Few things here. Scotland played better today than anything Eddie Jones has delivered under his reign for England. Making me think Scotland are the team under the radar-and with a home match against England in the 6N I can see them possibly winning the 6N. Secondly Wales are shaping up somewhat. Ive gone from feeling down and in the doldrums to feeling positive now. I actually think maybe next season they could be a formidable force. I went to see them today and for a team of relative newcomers to hold the worlds number 1 team on the defensive was quite an achievement. Navidi was simply awesome today.
gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
Navidi the 7 with dreads? He had a good game
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I'm afraid I don't share the right direction optimism of others as far as Wales go. We don't have the personnel to challenge at the moment and still lack the requisite number of hard ball carriers to trouble the top sides. We don't tend to win the gainline battle, which automatically makes things harder for us.
We're also still prone to brainfarts, poor handling and lack of execution at the critical moment. You can also guarantee that in each and every game one aspect of our play will collapse. Against Australia exits were shit and cost us dear. Against Georgia our scrum went to rack and ruin. Against the ABs our lineout was Sunday league standard.
Basically we got bummed by a tired, injury struck NZ, who decimated us on about 32% possession. Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose.
The only positive I can see is that Rennie is apparently on the shortlist of 3 to replace Gatland. That might help, but is he capable of polishing a turd, because that's what this Wales side is.
We're also still prone to brainfarts, poor handling and lack of execution at the critical moment. You can also guarantee that in each and every game one aspect of our play will collapse. Against Australia exits were shit and cost us dear. Against Georgia our scrum went to rack and ruin. Against the ABs our lineout was Sunday league standard.
Basically we got bummed by a tired, injury struck NZ, who decimated us on about 32% possession. Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose.
The only positive I can see is that Rennie is apparently on the shortlist of 3 to replace Gatland. That might help, but is he capable of polishing a turd, because that's what this Wales side is.
Without Laidlaw, Hogg and Dunbar too. When Russell fainted to kick to touch and then threw to the right for Jones to score was brilliant.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
bendeus
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Maybe, but we were miles away from NZ yesterday. Miles. Gulf in class was evident. Scotland pushed them much closer with fewer of their key players injured. I suspect England or Ireland might have done them, tbh. We, however, remain incapable of doing so. We could play that match 100 times and we'd lose every one of them.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
We had most of the territory and possession first half. And for a team some of which have little test rugby experience I thought they did pretty good. We all know the outcome when you give the ABs any chance-even a remote chance and thats enough for them to get points on the board. Give it another year and I think Wales will be formidable.
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Simon who?
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Sure. We had territory and possession and did little with it. NZ don't need either. They'll capitalise on any mistake or weakness. We won't.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
Doubtful our third quarter across the last two games was appalling. Lots for Ireland to work on.
gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
2 games in a row as well. Will be interesting to see if it continues. They have some decent players
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I think this is part of the problem. Your 'pretty good' equates to being beaten by five tries to two on home turf against a side with fewer first teamers than we had. Territory and possession mean sweet FA if they're not converted into points. For me nothing has changed - we lost to NZ by a similar margin to that by which we always lose to them and to the Aussies by the customary narrower margin, albeit one that looks worse when you consider how Eng and Sco dispatched them. We're miles off and will remain so yet people keep looking under rocks for 'positives' .
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gawkrodger
Well-Known Member
and playing Scotland first, and then England and Ireland away. Don't fancy Welsh chances much
bendeus
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Aye. Will be a battle for the spoon with France and Italy.
Naturally this will have little impact on Gatland's job security nor those of his hench/yes men
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I'll also mention that during my rants passim regarding Roger's utter defenestration of the sub international game in Wales I suggested that the hollowing out of the national side would follow soon afterwards. This is playing out before our eyes now with a team that has neither the physicality to play bosh nor the guile to play the modern game. We're a horrible hybrid of the worst of both worlds.
The last surviving members of our golden generation are old and battered. A number won't make it to the next world cup, a few more won't go beyond it. The development pathway that brings new talent through is pretty broken if you look at anyone bar the Turks, and we failed to recruit from abroad with the astuteness that Ireland and Scotland have. Far from Grandma Death ''s prediction of Wales shaping to be a formidable side I'm going to nail my colours to the mast and predict at least 6 years of mediocrity. At least.
The last surviving members of our golden generation are old and battered. A number won't make it to the next world cup, a few more won't go beyond it. The development pathway that brings new talent through is pretty broken if you look at anyone bar the Turks, and we failed to recruit from abroad with the astuteness that Ireland and Scotland have. Far from Grandma Death ''s prediction of Wales shaping to be a formidable side I'm going to nail my colours to the mast and predict at least 6 years of mediocrity. At least.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
I hear whats youre saying. But ultimately we're heading in the right direction-sure it may take a while. But there are some positives from the match for me-we're playing differently and that takes time. I certainly agree management needs changing-but we're moving away from how we played-and that style of playing hasnt won us a bean since 2013
I wasnt aware the ABs has more less experienced players in their team though.
I definitely disagree with your predictions of 6 years of mediocrity. Thats you being your normal pessimistic self.
I'll wager no more than two seasons itll take us to get back up to scratch-there's a pint on that matey
bendeus
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Done. What, for you, would indicate that we are once again up to scratch?I hear whats youre saying. But ultimately we're heading in the right direction-sure it may take a while. But there are some positives from the match for me-we're playing differently and that takes time. I certainly agree management needs changing-but we're moving away from how we played-and that style of playing hasnt won us a bean since 2013
I wasnt aware the ABs has more less experienced players in their team though.
I definitely disagree with your predictions of 6 years of mediocrity. Thats you being your normal pessimistic self.
I'll wager no more than two seasons itll take us to get back up to scratch-there's a pint on that matey
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Certainly winning the 6N and consistently beating 2 of the 3 big SH teams (at the least). I agree we'll be in a battle with France and Italy for the WS-and Ive already written off the 6N next year.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
bendeus
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Same tired old boys on the gravy train. The only one worth listening to on ScrumV is Peter Jackson, and everyone else, especially Jiffy, appears to hate himIve just managed to catch Scrum V-just finished. All the panel and talking heads described the performance as much better as Australia. Very positive. Liked the style of play. etc. Im convinced bendeus you are a bit on top when it comes to wales.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Yeah funny enough I noticed that. They had a few cross words back last year or year before on Scrum V if I remember at the time. Seriously wasnt all 'tired old boys'. I think general consensus was it wasnt enough-and with so much possession they shouldve done better-but theere was some positives. I think they did better against the ABs than the wallabies. Im more optimistic than your good self and at one point-at the stadium-I thought for a brief moment...we could do this. It was a brief moment mind ha ha
I think I share the pessimism when it comes to Wales. They are the only triple crown country that appear to be going backward. Ireland look strong and are heading in the right direction, England have maybe stood still this year but still have by far and away the strongest squad in the NH. Scotland are the most exciting team in the NH at the moment (the world?), they are poised to make a real impact on the 6N.
I just don't see where Wales are heading at the moment. I know there is a generational shift but the cupboard looks a bit bare at the moment, think England after winning the WC.
I just don't see where Wales are heading at the moment. I know there is a generational shift but the cupboard looks a bit bare at the moment, think England after winning the WC.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Yes. This. Gatland and his backroom team's coaching is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Half of our team being shit is far more of an issue. Just like England post 2003 as you rightly state (but without a W/C in the bag
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