The Rugby Thread

[talkshowhost86]

Irrelevant is a tad harsh. He was competitive at the breakdown, as you'd expect.

TBH, I would not be at all surprised if Warbs starts.

I wouldn't be surprised either.

But I don't think he should. We did alright at the breakdown last week but it didn't translate into much so I'm not sure we need that particular specialism from Warburton.

I'd rather he start than be an 'impact' sub but not sure he should be near the front of the queue at the moment.

I'd like to see both Stander and Faletau in to give us a bit more attacking oomph so then I suppose Warburton would fit, although I'd rather Tipuric or SOB.

 

[E17yid]

I wouldn't be surprised either.

But I don't think he should. We did alright at the breakdown last week but it didn't translate into much so I'm not sure we need that particular specialism from Warburton.

I'd rather he start than be an 'impact' sub but not sure he should be near the front of the queue at the moment.

I'd like to see both Stander and Faletau in to give us a bit more attacking oomph so then I suppose Warburton would fit, although I'd rather Tipuric or SOB.

See, I thought we were poor at the breakdown.

 

[talkshowhost86]

See, I thought we were poor at the breakdown.

It wasn't vintage but we held our own I think. Fact is that the ABs didn't let it get into the breakdown very often so I don't think it was significant.

I though POM and SOB would slow down the play but they didn't seem able to and I'm not sure Warburton changed that.

I know I'm biased but the one person who I think would make a big difference in that department is Chris Robshaw. I think he and Tipuric would be a great combo.

 

[E17yid]

Read an interview with Graham Henry saying he wished he never took the lions job in 2001 as afterwards it fucked Wales up (due to not picking many Welsh players) we then lost every single 6N game the year after, bar Italy.

Think the team should be:

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
AWJ
Itoje
Warbs
Tips
Faletau
Webb
Biggar
North
Te'o
Davies
Williams
Halfpenny.

 

[mpickard2087]

Read an interview with Graham Henry saying he wished he never took the lions job in 2001 as afterwards it fucked Wales up (due to not picking many Welsh players) we then lost every single 6N game the year after, bar Italy.

Think the team should be:

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
AWJ
Itoje
Warbs
Tips
Faletau
Webb
Biggar
North
Te'o
Davies
Williams
Halfpenny.

I see what you're doing here- soften the All Blacks up, and then super subs Dacey, Francis and Hill to come on and wreak havoc.

 

[E17yid]

I see what you're doing here- soften the All Blacks up, and then super subs Dacey, Francis and Hill to come on and wreak havoc.

They'd shit the bed, mate.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Read an interview with Graham Henry saying he wished he never took the lions job in 2001 as afterwards it fucked Wales up (due to not picking many Welsh players) we then lost every single 6N game the year after, bar Italy.

I feel I must have missed a few steps in that particular argument...

 

[talkshowhost86]

Think the team should be:

Vunipola
Owens
Furlong
AWJ
Itoje
Warbs
Tips
Faletau
Webb
Biggar
North
Te'o
Davies
Williams
Halfpenny.

No Jamie Roberts?

 

[E17yid]

I feel I must have missed a few steps in that particular argument...

Team harmony and stuff. When he went back to Wales to prepare us for the 6N it was a bit of a hard job to get the players buying into him saying "you're better than X, Y or Z from England, Ireland etc" coz he didn't pick any of them so I guess it's a bit of a knock to players confidence. He said it felt totally different in the changing room post 01 tour.

Mind you we won our 3rd grand slam in 8 years in 2012 then retained the championship in 2013, then Gats had his first lions tour, picked 10 Welsh in the starting line up in the 3rd test, won the series, came back and we finished 3rd in the 2014 6N. So I'm not wholly convinced by Henry's statements but there's something in it, for sure. I'll find the quotes for you later as I'm paraphrasing.

 

[E17yid]

No Jamie Roberts?

He can be team Dr

 

[talkshowhost86]

Team harmony and stuff. When he went back to Wales to prepare us for the 6N it was a bit of a hard job to get the players buying into him saying "you're better than X, Y or Z from England, Ireland etc" coz he didn't pick any of them so I guess it's a bit of a knock to players confidence. He said it felt totally different in the changing room post 01 tour.

Mind you we won our 3rd grand slam in 8 years in 2012 then retained the championship in 2013, then Gats had his first lions tour, picked 10 Welsh in the starting line up in the 3rd test, won the series, came back and we finished 3rd in the 2014 6N. So I'm not wholly convinced by Henry's statements but there's something in it, for sure. I'll find the quotes for you later as I'm paraphrasing.

I'd actually forgotten Henry was involved with Wales. I think that's where I was struggling!

Anyway...if Gats picks that team of yours I'm officially not watching

 

[E17yid]

I'd actually forgotten Henry was involved with Wales. I think that's where I was struggling!

Anyway...if Gats picks that team of yours I'm officially not watching

We went from Henry to Hansen to Gatland. We love a Kiwi. Going by the NZ press I don't think Gatland will be NZ coach after he's finished with Wales like Henry and Hansen.

I think there were quite a few English who said the same when Gats announced that team for the 3rd test against the Ozzies.

 

[talkshowhost86]

We went from Henry to Hansen to Gatland. We love a Kiwi. Going by the NZ press I don't think Gatland will be NZ coach after he's finished with Wales like Henry and Hansen.

I think there were quite a few English who said the same when Gats announced that team for the 3rd test against the Ozzies.

I'm not even sure New Zealand need a coach anymore. I reckon you could pick their team out of a tombola and they'd still win the World Cup.

As for 2013, as you said before at least Wales were good at that point.

 

[E17yid]

Oops, sorry Mike Ruddock.

 

[E17yid]

I'm not even sure New Zealand need a coach anymore. I reckon you could pick their team out of a tombola and they'd still win the World Cup.

As for 2013, as you said before at least Wales were good at that point.

Even though Hansen had a tough time with us I think he's top drawer. It's hard coaching players that are that good. You have to find that extra 2% which is hard.

We still are pretty good. Ok, we're not winning Grand Slams every other year but we're not getting smashed by England by 60 points.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Even though Hansen had a tough time with us I think he's top drawer. It's hard coaching players that are that good. You have to find that extra 2% which is hard.

We still are pretty good. Ok, we're not winning Grand Slams every other year but we're not getting smashed by England by 60 points.

Yeah I said that about Hansen a bit tongue in cheek. They were already a class act before him but he's made them one of the most dominant teams in World sport and you don't do that through luck.

I think Wales may be a decent coach away from being decent, but the 6Ns table doesn't lie in terms of where they are right now which is why this time it would be quite hard to stomach a team with 11 Welsh players in it.

Anyway...I don't think I've actually picked what team I'd actually go for this weekend. It's very tricky in some positions but I think we need to try something a bit different so I'd go:

1. Marler/McGrath (won't happen I know but I wonder if we need a bit more of a technician in the scrum with Mako to come on later)
2. Owens (I much prefer George but again more of an impact off the bench)
3. Furlong
4. Lawes
5. Itoje
6. Faletau
7. Tipuric
8. Stander
9. Webb
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. JJ (As I've said before, incredibly harsh on Davies and won't happen but for me we need a finisher)
14. Watson
15. Williams

Replacements: Mako, George, Sinckler, Kruis, Henderson, Murray, Biggar, North

 

[Japhet]

Yeah I said that about Hansen a bit tongue in cheek. They were already a class act before him but he's made them one of the most dominant teams in World sport and you don't do that through luck.

I think Wales may be a decent coach away from being decent, but the 6Ns table doesn't lie in terms of where they are right now which is why this time it would be quite hard to stomach a team with 11 Welsh players in it.

Anyway...I don't think I've actually picked what team I'd actually go for this weekend. It's very tricky in some positions but I think we need to try something a bit different so I'd go:

1. Marler/McGrath (won't happen I know but I wonder if we need a bit more of a technician in the scrum with Mako to come on later)
2. Owens (I much prefer George but again more of an impact off the bench)
3. Furlong
4. Lawes
5. Itoje
6. Faletau
7. Tipuric
8. Stander
9. Webb
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. JJ (As I've said before, incredibly harsh on Davies and won't happen but for me we need a finisher)
14. Watson
15. Williams

Replacements: Mako, George, Sinckler, Kruis, Henderson, Murray, Biggar, North

I don't think Henderson did his chances any harm. His yellow card was a bit harsh IMO since the AB player went over Joseph's shoulder and Henderson did his best to bring him down safely. Other than that he had a terrific game and brought a load more physicality than AWJ could have done.

 

[E17yid]

Yeah I said that about Hansen a bit tongue in cheek. They were already a class act before him but he's made them one of the most dominant teams in World sport and you don't do that through luck.

I think Wales may be a decent coach away from being decent, but the 6Ns table doesn't lie in terms of where they are right now which is why this time it would be quite hard to stomach a team with 11 Welsh players in it.

Anyway...I don't think I've actually picked what team I'd actually go for this weekend. It's very tricky in some positions but I think we need to try something a bit different so I'd go:

1. Marler/McGrath (won't happen I know but I wonder if we need a bit more of a technician in the scrum with Mako to come on later)
2. Owens (I much prefer George but again more of an impact off the bench)
3. Furlong
4. Lawes
5. Itoje
6. Faletau
7. Tipuric
8. Stander
9. Webb
10. Farrell
11. Daly
12. Te'o
13. JJ (As I've said before, incredibly harsh on Davies and won't happen but for me we need a finisher)
14. Watson
15. Williams

Replacements: Mako, George, Sinckler, Kruis, Henderson, Murray, Biggar, North

Wait a minute, Gatland isn't a decent coach? Fucking hell.

I remember people on here clamouring for Gatland when we knocked you out of the WC calling him an elite level coach and how England would be lucky with someone half as good but I guess he's shit now.

I'm not saying he should be immune from criticism, far from it, but come on, man, what he's done for Wales is nothing short of incredible.

The table never normally lies but that was the first 6N with bonus points brought in, no doubt it was poor but we still comfortably beat Ireland who pulled your pants down.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Wait a minute, Gatland isn't a decent coach? Fucking hell.

I remember people on here clamouring for Gatland when we knocked you out of the WC calling him an elite level coach and how England would be lucky with someone half as good but I guess he's shit now.

I'm not saying he should be immune from criticism, far from it, but come on, man, what he's done for Wales is nothing short of incredible.

The table never normally lies but that was the first 6N with bonus points brought in, no doubt it was poor but we still comfortably beat Ireland who pulled your pants down.

Blimey you really do get chippy about England don't you...even when I didn't mention them

How has anything I've said indicated Gatland isn't a good coach?

My personal view is that he's a bit one dimensional, but he certainly got the job done for Wales and has been far better than any coaches England have had since Woodward.

But his successor-apparent seems to have made them go backwards completely. That's who I was talking about.

Wales were pap in the 6Ns. There's no two ways about it. One reasonable performance against Ireland doesn't change that.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I don't think Henderson did his chances any harm. His yellow card was a bit harsh IMO since the AB player went over Joseph's shoulder and Henderson did his best to bring him down safely. Other than that he had a terrific game and brought a load more physicality than AWJ could have done.

Yup I think he did all he could to get into that team, but Lawes probably just has the edge as he's been excellent all tour.

Personally I'd persist with Kruis and Itoje normally, but Kruis did have a poor game by his high standards (as did AWJ) and when you've got such a good selection of alternatives, you have to use them.