a_a, the Ireland game was the kind that only the winners can enjoy. I can understand how anybody else would not find it compelling. It was nothing like last year's game where one side played fantastic rugby each half and the result was only decided by a narrow margin of who played the slightly better rugby in their half - or who defended more desperately in the second I guess.
a_a, the Ireland game was the kind that only the winners can enjoy
True but even as a Welsh fan I did appreciate the apparent tactical superiority. It was well planned and smartly executed I felt.
I think we are over estimating the irish tactical genius, I mean they wouldnt have planned for Wales to play like brain dead clowns!
anagallis_arvensis - Member
I think we are over estimating the irish tactical genius, I mean they wouldnt have planned for Wales to play like brain dead clowns!
Really? A lot of other people did to be fair..,,
Really? A lot of other people did to be fair..,,
like who oh mystical one?
To be fair, nobody has said "genius" regarding Ireland's tactics (at least not in this thread AFAIK) and if they did, then it would be an overstatement by some stretch.
It was all very simple. Schmidt knew he had a superior fly half and a scrum half that's an excellent tactical kicker (except when he kicks it to an AB with a minute left on the clock 😆 ). The plan was working, possibly even better than the green machine had expected. POM was lethal at the breakdown and Lydiate was gifting penalties. So they stuck with the plan. Moving it out beyond the half backs might have given us the cricket score we'd have loved, but North, Roberts, et al can run an intercept try in for seven points even on a bad day. D'Arcy and BOD while both still excellent in defence are not the game changers they were in attack. IMO, the choice was to sacrifice the high score for the lack of risk. Keeping ahead of Wales by a try and a bit was always enough on the day, 26-3 was a fair score given the dominance and tactics in the end.
Hook should have been brought on for the last twenty when it looked like the game was beyond Wales. Anything would have been better than what Priestland was doing.
Genius? Of course not. But enjoyable in its simplicity, yes. Schmidt out thought Gatland, but yesterday, there wasn't much thinking from Gatland to out-think.
Could you explain what Priestland did wrong? He may not be that good but he wasnt in a sense the reason why wales lost.
Oh and the game was won and lost upfront, my gran could have played outside half behind that dominant pack. Ireland would have expected to do well in the lineout and mauls but a top team would never plan for the other side to be unable to secure their own ball.
Could you explain what Priestland did wrong? He may not be that good but he wasnt in a sense the reason why wales lost.
I didn't say he was doing anything wrong a_a. He just wasn't doing anything particularly well. And Sexton was doing everything better. Attributing blame to him for the loss is far too simplistic, and also FWIW, not something I said either. Hook was never going to be on the field from the start but certainly he'd have been worth a shot for the last quarter? I also don't think Ireland planned on Wales not securing their own ball or being so useless at the breakdown. Who'd plan that in a 6N game? You appear to be attributing things to me that I haven't said. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your tone?
deadlydarcy - Member
According to some, the games were poor yesterday as the neutral wasn't entertained.........the Ireland game was the kind that only winners can enjoy. I can understand how anybody else would not find it compelling.
So which is it deadly?
Agree with you twice AA: (1) none of the games were "great" and (2) Ireland won it upfront. It's rare for any half backs to look good behind a pack that is being outplayed. Wales can and should turn it around. Three games at home albeit not two of the key ones was an ok draw.
Still an open championship IMO. England v Ireland will be key. The only guys who may struggle to turn this around is poor old Scotland. The coach seems at a complete loss. Perhaps the SRU could save money on all the pre-match hoo-ha and spend it on the pitch and the rugby.
The only positive note it the fact that salmond can use the Torygraph article tomorrow to wind up some anti-English sentiment.
I'll have to leave it to you to decide thm. Still, well done for leaving out the petty insult this time. 🙂
Not needed (and no evidence), your unsubtle attempted trolling was just very funny on its own. I appreciate the laughs. Almost up to Thursday's efforts.
I think there's still a little sand to wash out thm. I really have no idea what you're on about this time - I assume we can expect some football tackling metaphors next? 🙂 It seems that any attempt to discuss or disagree with you is trolling now. I really can't be indulging you on what is for the most part a civil thread.
A civil thread - yes it should be kept that way. Over and out xxx
DD you said "anything would have been better than what Priestland was doing" I asked what he did wrong and you tell me "I didnt say he was doing anything wrong". Odd. What should he have been doing?
a_a, the Ireland game was the kind that only the winners can enjoy.
No no, I really enjoyed it and I'm not Irish.
We're clearly not going to change one another's minds a_a. 🙂
*realises again why I mostly avoid this thread*
I love the fact you hang off every word of mine Zokes.
Right, sod that silly arguing! We can all, I think, agree on the following
Ireland were good, but not stunning
Wales were appalling
England were good but not stunning
Scotland made Wales look good
Italy fought hard, and will continue to cause problems for other teams
France are an enigma. Maddening tactics, but just too good. (Oh, and I reckon it's their Grand Schlem to perdre)
So, on to next round!
Wales v France in the silly Friday evening game - Two teams that should be able to play great rugby will grind out an utterly dull match. With France winning by five.
Italy v Scotland - Italy? At home? Yeah, why not. Italy by ten.
England v Ireland - This should really be the game of the weekend, and I really hope it delivers. England by three.
In the inrests of sour grapes 😉 I have lifted these from another forum.
[img] http://forum.gwladrugby.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7741&stc=1&d=1391941347 [/img]
[img] http://forum.gwladrugby.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7742&stc=1&d=1391941347 [/img]
as you can see this is clearly illegal maul formation as the defence should have the opportunity to sack the lineout catcher..
Cant see anything AA
I think Wales v France will be a good match.
7 and the lifter on the other side have stepped forward and across the gap so when the jumper lands the defence cannot get to him. Thats clearly an illegal maul formation, refs were very hot on this a few years ago but have clearly given up on it recently.
Now that the dust - not much of that - has settled and we have had 2 games how do we now think the final table will look?
My tuppence worth
[b]
England - 8pts[/b] - win next 3 games
[b]France - 8pts[/b] - win next 2 then lose to Ireland
[b]Ireland - 8pts[/b] - lose to England and then win next 2
[b]
Wales - 4pts[/b] - lose next 2 then beat Scotland
[b]Italy - 2pts[/b] - beat Scotland then lose next 2
[b]Scotland[/b] - well you know how many! - Well you know what we will do!
As to the winner - England with 3 home games might just score more points than France and Ireland.
Do england have Ireland at home?
Where is the france ireland game?
England at home to Ireland , France at home to Ireland
Engand are AWAY to Italy - my mistake - so probably not as easy a win?
Looks good for England then but my money will be on France. The ireland pack wont bully France and France have the better backs.
The good thing is that the championship is still wide open. Four sides can still win. Still chances of an upset to two. And wales will come good at some stage - probably against us. No side looks dominant among the current top 4. Let's hope Ireland v England is a high quality, hum-dinger.
I love the fact you hang off every word of mine Zokes.
Hate to break it to you, DD wrote the line I quoted.
Cheer up, it's only a rugby match. You can't be this grumpy all the time can you?
Anyway, I still have no idea who will win this year, but I suspect it won't be a a British team
Cheer up, it's only a rugby match. You can't be this grumpy all the time can you?
You're mistaking being grumpy with thinking you're an odious character. Hopefully you will crawl back under your bridge soon. Until that happens I will try a little harder to ignore you and carry on with the friendly banter on this thread.
So much for our predictions about "it won't be France this time." Still interesting, it could be anybody yet (Well apart from us or the Italians)
I remember Ackford saying similar about Wales
AA that was the article I was referring to last night..
teamhurtmore - Member
The only positive note it the fact that salmond can use the Torygraph article tomorrow to wind up some anti-English sentiment.
Just read that, Christ what an agenda. It reminds me of the venom after the 1990 Grand Slam,and I suspect it is not unlinked to a certain vote this year. The Times one was a belter..."Scotland's tourist indusrty makes 52 million from the 6N!" Err yes, so do England,Ireland and Wales, your point?
So, although that's very likely to be empty speculation, who would replace Scotland? Or would it go back to five nations? I know there was talk about Argentina joining in basing themselves in Spain to avoid the distance issue.
Duckman, it was a bizarre article, or perhaps strictly speaking an unnecessarily inflammatory headline. This seems to be a trend even in the broadsheets these days. Very poor. I think someone needs to remind Hayward where Scotland finished last year, and you seemed to be struggling to score tries then! Ok they/you are having a cauchemare at the moment, but that was a silly headline IMO.
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I didn't even kick it down the street. Back safe and sound.
A few days off, then back to the grind.
Scotland's problem is the coach. Some very strange decisions including dropping Brown and taking Denton off early.
Just spotted this 😆
[img] http://www.uafc.co.uk/download/file.php?id=3647&sid=6ea5637cc39b30606d3d79932ca13a9d [/img]
Nice to see them finally win something important to them!!! If you get a grand slam this season how many would that be? 😆
I'm not going to get carried away AA. I don't think anyone will win a slam. Its going to go to the last weekend and 4 teams will be in the mix.
I'm not going to get carried away AA. I don't think anyone will win a slam. Its going to go to the last weekend and 4 teams will be in the mix.
France, England, Ireland and ?????????? I appreciate your sympathy but being honest Wales fans have had a good run in recent years and it appears to be coming to an end.
BlindMelon - Member
I'm not going to get carried away AA. I don't think anyone will win a slam. Its going to go to the last weekend and [s]4[/s] 3 teams will be in the mix.
I think this too FWIW. Although England / Ireland is the game to watch. If Ireland sneak a win it could set up a french GS, as usual by them not being the best team in the tournament. I can't wait to watch this England side on a firm pitch, I think they've found a balance in the team at last and IMO Lancaster should retain these these players and let them Gel.
But will Italy beat Scotland - I think they think they can, that'd be a good game as well.
If Ireland sneak a win it could set up a french GS, as usual by them not being the best team in the tournament.
its always a non-vintage year when England don't win 😆
Treviso have confirmed they intend to pull out of Pro12 at the end of this season. Likely the Italians will have their own league of 8 teams.
They have been paying a fortune to participate in the rabo,which is in no way vfm.
