The Rugby Union Thread

lloyd

First off, the ball clearly goes forward off Dank Holes hand...

Massive point in the game at the time, but as much as it pains me to say, I don't think it has a great beating on the game. When England straighten up hit lines then spread it they are a dangerous side-too much power in the second half and blew us away.

For me the big moment was a Faletau (rare) mistake with a knock on which led to a try and bigger missing touch, which led to a try.

Like so often when one team is dominating it seems every bounce of the ball and 50/50 goes their way-certainly was the case yesterday-deservedly so.

Wales were very very poor for most of the game-fords kicking left us flattered on the scoreboard.

The error count in opposition half must be fucking huge and England exploited every time.

Not looking forward to the NZ tests....

England could do well down under, don't think they'll win the series though.

Gassage

@lloyd

There's no evidence the ball went forward off Dan's hand. And I had a very good view on the other side. It went back.

lloyd

Gassage said:

@lloyd

There's no evidence the ball went forward off Dan's hand. And I had a very good view on the other side. It went back.

@Gassage I'll look into it tomorrow, the first close up SQ showed-the super close up, looked like it went forward into Welsh player (forget who) who in turn knocked it on. Regardless, it's not hugely important apart from the fact that in this day and age, we can't get a decent angle on an incident like this in the middle of the park in open play. Which is disappointing. Weird game though, "friendlies" in rugby are a strange affair re tactics and replacements.

koneguitarist

To me, the Clifford try was down to sheer ineptitude by Welsh players doing a schoolboy error of stopping when Ref does not blow his whistle. I have said it before, for all of our improvements in size and fitness, the Welsh players are thick as two short planks when they get on the field. 

No whether this is Gatlands fault, or Howley and co as well, the players are not thinking on the pitch, if something is not working, they keep doing it, they are not reacting to the game unfolding before them. For all of the Henson detractors on here, he could read and understand the game, same as Will Greenwood or Conrad Smith, you need players who can look at the game dispassionately and react with a plan to change something that's obviously not working. 

Roberts is a wrecking ball of a centre, but too often he has been worked out, We need a playmaker who can take pressure off of the fly half, we need more speed of thought, the best teams react accordingly to what's happening, not what's happened. 

We were never gonna win a test down under, but now I don't think we will win a game, no matter what team we put out. 

I am despondent, after this game as it proves that our bubble has burst, and we really need to accept our place in the game. Which is within the top 10, with occasional forays into top 5. Which given our player base, financial clout and standard of regions mismanagement, is better than we deserve. 

Now I may upset my fellow Welshmen, but I am glad England are on the up, as they are and always have been the only NH team to have the players and attitude to smash the SH teams, so yes, we ain't much good, but if England keep improving, they will drag the rest of the NH teams with them. 

crunchman

Gassage said:

Big shout out for Matt Mullan y'day.

He's the best scrummaging LHP we have. Technically superb.

V V impressed with both locks and also thought Harrison looked a proper 7 (if at 6 though)

England have a nice selection problem at lock.  Itoje simply has to play on current form, but when one of Launchberry, Kruis and Lawes can't even make the matchday squad we are in a good position.

peteri

Clifford try would have got a junior colts team shouted at for stopping - but how fast was Clifford to streak away?

Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of Haskell - how he's got the caps he has is a mystery to me, and again on Sunday - he's like a goal hanger in football, waits around the action to try and jump on and look impressive.

And half the time gives a penalty away.

Now as an ex-flanker myself I'm all for a bit of a penalty count - but his mainly involve sitting on someone!

lloyd

peteri said:

Clifford try would have got a junior colts team shouted at for stopping - but how fast was Clifford to streak away?

Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of Haskell - how he's got the caps he has is a mystery to me, and again on Sunday - he's like a goal hanger in football, waits around the action to try and jump on and look impressive.

And half the time gives a penalty away.

Now as an ex-flanker myself I'm all for a bit of a penalty count - but his mainly involve sitting on someone!

I'm not his biggest fan but he was fantastic last season.

lloyd

Wales going well against Ireland in the U20's world champs

eSully

Thanks for the heads up. Forgot about it. You seem to have jinxed them @lloyd. Only 2 points in it now. Ireland 15 looks good. Seems very scrappy though. Lots of missed tackles and stray passes

lloyd

Ireland came back in without having to do too much in the next few minutes!

Wales missed 7points in very easy kicks too.

Wales seemed to drop concentration, silly penalty and missed tackle and there we go, game on.

Should be a good second halfz

lloyd

Falling apart a bit here, credit Ireland for the turnaround.

eSully

Missed most of the second half getting the kids to bed but caught the last 10 minutes. That was as tight as it gets, very entertaining. You'll be gutted with the result but I think poetic justice that conversion not going over. looked to me like Wales 6 intentionally blocked 14 on the way to the tackle.

lloyd

Missing gimme kicks has caught us out-7 points worth in all.

There was a dubious pen for Ireland which led directly to a try too.

But yes blocking for the last try and in fairness Ireland totally deserved the win.

Looks like the ed of the tournament for us, which is a pity after the slam earlier in the year.

eSully

As Arsene Wenger might see "I did not see dis". Just checking the results, fantastic result for Scotland U20's beating Australia. Well done them

Gassage

Gassage's June test odds:

Eng to win one test EVENS
Eng to win series 2/1

Wales to win a test 100/1 ( I think they may)
Wales to win series My 66 Tele for your AVRI

Ire to win a test HAHAHAHAHAHA
Ire to win series PMSL Not a fucking hope.

lloyd

Wales odds are well short, I'd pay 5000-1 we've no fucking chance-maybe just maybe we'd have a tiny sniff catching them first game but they've not lost at that ground for 20 years.

We're gonna get embarrassed by this tour, were on the decline-our generation of good players are being replaced by average pro's, the next few years could be bleak....

The others are about right-well find out if this England team are the real deal or not-I suspect they're good, but not there yet, expect at least one win for them.

Ireland-how many players out? They'll struggle, big time.

lloyd

Oh totally forgot about the eye-gouge by the Welsh player...

Dirty bastard, long ban please.

https://twitter.com/greub1/status/740242720288047104/photo/1

tbm

lloyd said:

Ireland-how many players out? They'll struggle, big time.

No Sexton or SOB, but the loss of both the Kearney's isn't much of a loss to be honest, Dave is in ok form, but Rob is playing like a drain. Jackson should start all 3 tests. He needs to grab his chance.

With everybody fit I'd say we'd a good chance at winning a test. With the injuries I'd say we're up against it. BUT, we've only played 7 tests in SA, and we beat them as often as lost to them the last decade or more. There's no great physiological barrier to winning there, and there's a few of the Connacht lads traveling who are in great form. Add to the mix CJ Stander who'll be out to prove a point - he was told he was too small for the Boks - and I'd say we've a much of a chance of a test win as Wales. So basically, fuck all chance.

The Boks have a lot of new players too. Of all the SH teams, I's say they're the most unknown quantity.

koneguitarist

Just saw Welsh team, no Charteris, and Jenkins starts, so not bothered about scrums then? Probably the rest picked themselves, but we have absolutely no strength in depth!

lloyd

I'm happy that Owen starts, everything else picks itself.

Can see why Jenkins is given the nod, not sure why Chatteris isn't playing.

Like you say scrum will struggle.

But, in fairness from 1-15 you'd not get any in the AB's team, and every set piece they will dominate....

It's not gonna be pretty.