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E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
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Like you, I'll wait for the Wales team I guess, but right now I honestly can't call it.

All the talk is, other than Anscombe and Willian’s at 9 and 10 it’ll be Cory Hill alongside AWJ

I was convinced he’d be our impact sub. Shows how much I know. Yet another player who’s hardly played. It will be our undoing.
 

Japhet

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Aug 30, 2010
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All the talk is, other than Anscombe and Willian’s at 9 and 10 it’ll be Cory Hill alongside AWJ

I was convinced he’d be our impact sub. Shows how much I know. Yet another player who’s hardly played. It will be our undoing.

Get your excuses in early Boyo!! (y)
 

E17yid

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Jan 21, 2013
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Get your excuses in early Boyo!! (y)

Not having a settled team isn’t an excuse we can use as it’s a choice we’ve made. If we were injury ravaged or we get stitched up (like last year) then I’ll be happy to use those but I’ll have to wait for the inevitable shocking call by Pyeper for that
 

E17yid

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Jan 21, 2013
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Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (C), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Reps: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
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Not having a settled team isn’t an excuse we can use as it’s a choice we’ve made. If we were injury ravaged or we get stitched up (like last year) then I’ll be happy to use those but I’ll have to wait for the inevitable shocking call by Pyeper for that

Shocking calls from Peyper can go either way. Fingers crossed.
 

E17yid

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Jan 21, 2013
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Got to stop England’s fast starts. They’re probably the best team in the world in the first 15.

Wonder whether Eddie will change tactics or not.

Rob Evans is a bit of a **** and I hope he’ll use all his ***ty powers on Sinkler who can easily be got at and is a card waiting to happen. Francis is very experienced and will hopefully use that to his benefit against moon.

Ken Owens hasn’t been in great form but I fancy him to have a good game Saturday.

England’s second row is stronger as a pair but AWJ is AWJ and if we can win that battle in the front 5 it should give us a good platform. The back row is the only area I’m not really worried about.

All of those positives are redundant if our lineout continues as it is, though. And Kruis is solid in the lineout so don’t see us disrupting that so we have to ensure we don’t give opportunities to England on a Silver platter.

There’s a multitude of things that concern me about Anscombe but the thought of Tualagi running at him all day is worrying. Unless we leave him to Tips and drop Anscombe deep along with Davies to cover the space for Farrelks kicks which obviously invites England to run at us. Obviously we can’t do that every phase so Anscombe is going to have to be partnered up to deal with Tualagi and him and Davies will have to be able to read the plays and drop back when necessary.

It’s a tricky one but I fancy our defence against England a lot more than I’d we get in a kicking battle with England, we’ll lose if we do try and match Farrel. Even with Biggar it would be a big ask but with Anscombe it could be a long day for us.

I think Cory Hills selection is a big indication that we’re going to play a bit more expansive and dynamic. Trying to keep the ball alive but this will, as always, come down to the breakdown and speed of ball.

Both teams need to figure out how Peyper is going to officiate this one as he’s not consistent and it could come down to that as these big games are often decided by who’s more disciplined.

I’m not overly optimistic but it should be a close game against 2 evenely matched sides albeit one is a lot more settled and is in better form.
 

E17yid

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Jan 21, 2013
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Gatland not rising to it. Interesting comment about England’s travel prep

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has laughed off the suggestion from his England counterpart Eddie Jones that this is the "greatest Wales side ever".

Jones made the quip, seemingly tongue-in-cheek, before the two sides meet in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday.

Both teams have won their opening two matches, while Wales are on a record 11-match winning run.

"The only quotes I can see about this being the greatest Wales team are from Eddie Jones," said Gatland.

"It hasn't come from anyone else so I wouldn't be disrespectful enough to say this was the greatest Welsh team ever.

"It's a long way off being the greatest Welsh team ever. He's the one talking us up."

Jones has been typically provocative in the build-up to Saturday's crunch encounter at the Principality Stadium.

The Australian claimed on Thursday that Wales were the favourites to win in Cardiff, even though the common consensus is that his are the form side in the Six Nations this year.

England started their campaign with a stunning bonus-point victory over reigning champions Ireland in Dublin and they followed that with a ruthless 44-8 demolition of France.

Although Wales have also won both of their fixtures so far, they have done so in a less convincing manner, coming from behind to beat France before stuttering to victory in Italy.

'Watch out for the Newport traffic!'
Beating England would see Wales set a new national record of 12 successive wins, and Gatland believes their opponents could be in for something of a culture shock in Cardiff - and on their journey to the Welsh capital, having decided to travel to Wales the day before the match.

"The big challenge for England is five of their forward pack, it's the first time they're starting at the Principality Stadium," the New Zealander said.

"I think England are making a significant mistake by travelling tomorrow, coming through Newport at about five o'clock is probably not the best thing to be doing, going through the Brynglas tunnels.

"There's a good chance there could be tractors and buses holding them up. That's going to be an experience for them."

While hyped as usual, the build-up to this fixture has been good-natured, which Gatland believes is now commonplace for the Wales-England rivalry.

"We haven't spoken too much about them. It's been a focus on us, training hard the past few weeks," he added.

"The great thing about coming to Cardiff is the atmosphere. If there was any animosity in the past, that's all gone.

"There's a huge amount respect between the players from both teams. With the Lions, the Welsh boys and English boys got on really well. Some fantastic individuals, not just as players but as men.

"I've already had a text from John Mitchell and Eddie saying they're looking forward to catching up after the game and having a drink.

"This is all fun and games now but afterwards it's about catching up with some mates and enjoying the occasion."

The roof at the Principality Stadium will be open for the match, per England's request. Both teams have to agree to a closure, which was Wales' preference
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
Gatland not rising to it. Interesting comment about England’s travel prep

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has laughed off the suggestion from his England counterpart Eddie Jones that this is the "greatest Wales side ever".

Jones made the quip, seemingly tongue-in-cheek, before the two sides meet in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday.

Both teams have won their opening two matches, while Wales are on a record 11-match winning run.

"The only quotes I can see about this being the greatest Wales team are from Eddie Jones," said Gatland.

"It hasn't come from anyone else so I wouldn't be disrespectful enough to say this was the greatest Welsh team ever.

"It's a long way off being the greatest Welsh team ever. He's the one talking us up."

Jones has been typically provocative in the build-up to Saturday's crunch encounter at the Principality Stadium.

The Australian claimed on Thursday that Wales were the favourites to win in Cardiff, even though the common consensus is that his are the form side in the Six Nations this year.

England started their campaign with a stunning bonus-point victory over reigning champions Ireland in Dublin and they followed that with a ruthless 44-8 demolition of France.

Although Wales have also won both of their fixtures so far, they have done so in a less convincing manner, coming from behind to beat France before stuttering to victory in Italy.

'Watch out for the Newport traffic!'
Beating England would see Wales set a new national record of 12 successive wins, and Gatland believes their opponents could be in for something of a culture shock in Cardiff - and on their journey to the Welsh capital, having decided to travel to Wales the day before the match.

"The big challenge for England is five of their forward pack, it's the first time they're starting at the Principality Stadium," the New Zealander said.

"I think England are making a significant mistake by travelling tomorrow, coming through Newport at about five o'clock is probably not the best thing to be doing, going through the Brynglas tunnels.

"There's a good chance there could be tractors and buses holding them up. That's going to be an experience for them."

While hyped as usual, the build-up to this fixture has been good-natured, which Gatland believes is now commonplace for the Wales-England rivalry.

"We haven't spoken too much about them. It's been a focus on us, training hard the past few weeks," he added.

"The great thing about coming to Cardiff is the atmosphere. If there was any animosity in the past, that's all gone.

"There's a huge amount respect between the players from both teams. With the Lions, the Welsh boys and English boys got on really well. Some fantastic individuals, not just as players but as men.

"I've already had a text from John Mitchell and Eddie saying they're looking forward to catching up after the game and having a drink.

"This is all fun and games now but afterwards it's about catching up with some mates and enjoying the occasion."

The roof at the Principality Stadium will be open for the match, per England's request. Both teams have to agree to a closure, which was Wales' preference


Now, if Eddie Jones had said that, you'd be saying he's sending a call out to Tractor and Bus drivers.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,837
33,607
I know Italy are still building but they really seem to have gone backwards. This year especially when I look at the fixtures it's like an immediate dead rubber. This weekend obviously wales-england is on a knife edge. Then scotland are missing a few and france are hurting so it really sets that up nicely.

I probably won't even bother with ireland and italy which is the first time for years I've thought that about a six nations game.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
I know Italy are still building but they really seem to have gone backwards. This year especially when I look at the fixtures it's like an immediate dead rubber. This weekend obviously wales-england is on a knife edge. Then scotland are missing a few and france are hurting so it really sets that up nicely.

I probably won't even bother with ireland and italy which is the first time for years I've thought that about a six nations game.


Italy have never been good enough for the 6N. Without Parisse and Bergemasco before him they would have been even worse.
 
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