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Edinburgh beat ospreys with a bonus point. How can a team be so inconsistent? They beat the stronger sides and lose to the weaker ones
Ospreys have only won two games this season, against rubbish opposition. They have no big heavyweight ball-carriers, a terrible attacking plan and a defence which relies on better fitness than they have. Also their captains with few exceptions are thick as lumpy custard.
They made Edinburgh look good, with the ref's help. (Giving a yellow card for too many penalties conceded was deserving of a punch in the moosh - Ospreys had conceded four in 30odd minutes, Edinburgh five. That's such a pathetic decision that it's hard not to whinge.) Despite that, Ospreys were terrible - that decision didn't decide the game but was a massive factor.
The Ospreys are heading down the pan rapidly, Scarlets and Blues are heading that way slower due to much better coaches.
semi finalists last year. I hadn't realised they had only won 2 games so far this season
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/international-match/fixtures
So the Nov internationals are almost here whats everyones hopes. Wales as usual have gone for the easy option of Aus, NZ and SA with Georgia in between. I'm hopeful we will win one of the games.
France have gone even more bonkers than Wales by playing NZ twice and SA in a week!!
Ireland v SA looks like the best game of the first weekend.
We could also take bets on whi h poster will show up on the thread for the international window, blather on about Johnno and Wilko and predict a world cup win for england after they have put 50 points on Samoa.
Scotland - Samoa then NZ then Aus
I hope not too many get broken against Samoa but we should win. NZ will be far too much but I hope to score some tries against them an be within a score or two, Aus well we are approaching being their nemesis and I hope to beat them again. There is nothing finer in world sport than beating an aussie team
Yeah scotland should be looking to win 2. How they doing for injuries?
Not too bad bar front row which looks a bit thin. Dunbar back this week, Hogg back, Ickle jonny back. Not sure big Ritchie will be IIRC he is still out. Barclay hopefully fit as well - did he play this weekend?
We appear to have left private Frazer at home for now ( we're doomed) but I am sure he will resurface at some point. This season scotland really need to kick on. Last season was the first time we had beaten teams ranked above us for a while. No excuses. Everything is in place and the production line of youngsters keeps on producing.
We could do with a big ball carrier in the backrow and a clone of Russell but Horne looks to be an adequate replacement. Anyone want a scrum half? we have about 6 of international standard
Daly is back training with England which is good to hear. Our number eight selection is going to be interesting; I just want to see a back row that functions as a unit.
Australia will be interesting this year; having just beaten the All Blacks I imagine their confidence is pretty high at the mo.
Why does scotland produce so many good scrum halves and so few decent 10s?
At the moment we have Price, Pyrgos, Fowles, Hidalgo-clyne, Kennedy, George Horne has just appeared and of course Laidlaw non of whom look out of place in the scotland squad but at 10 we only have Russell who is good and Horne senior who is competent. Its been like this for decades
Wales have loads of good 7's Warburton, Ellis Jenkins, Davies all injured 🙁 but no 6 or 8.
Wales looking a bit ****ed without North, Roberts, Moriarty, Rob Evans e have no carriers
I'm hopeful we will win one of the games.
I'm still nervous with that prediction! 😯 😆
I did say"hopeful"!
😆
I wonder how the forwards away day has been going? I hope England and EJ aren't too miffed they couldn't get their first choice opposition in the form of Georgia and are coping ok with the folks from over the bridge
video from the ENGvWAL scrum match in Bristol
http://rugbylad.com/watch-footage-leaked-from-england-wales-session-shows-pack-demolished/
I think that session is a great idea for both teams! They will need to front up this Autumn and this will be great prep!
Pen to wales English 1 not driving straight.
That training session will probably be the hardest thing England will face the autumn. Argentina Tonga and Samoa for us. Anything other than 3 easy wins from that is a disaster really....and 3 easy wins isn't really going to benefit us.
English 1 not driving straight
That's a novelty! 😀
Tipuric and Webb doubts for saturday.. add Tips to the list on injured 7's!!
Balls
Allegedly Robshaw was packing down at 8 yesterday! Can't say I'd relish that tbh
Wales (probable): L Halfpenny; L Williams, J Davies, O Williams, S Evans; D Biggar, G Davies; R Evans, K Owens, T Francis; J Ball, AW Jones (c); A Shingler, J Navidi, T Faletau.Reps: H Amos, O Watkin, A Davies, L Brown, K Dacey, N Smith, S Cross, C Hill.
Holy shit!! Is there enough lube in Wales?
Sam Cross has played 2 games of professional 15 a side rugby!!! What has happend to Lee.... can we recall Charteris and Young or Boyd now and stop messing about?
Nice to see Navidi getting a game...always liked him. I was going to ask what has happened to Samson Lee...career doesn't seem to be following the upwards trajectory it once was. Have to say, whilst I wish England had better fixtures this Autumn, I'd hate to be heading into Wales' with such a depleted squad! When do you have Georgia?!
Navidi is bang average. Lee is a puzzle he has looked back to normal this season for Scarlets took him a long time to recover from his snapped achilies. I think he was rushed back for the world cup too soon. I guess they want to try out Brown. Francis is shit too though.
Never mind the forwards, that must be the least bulky backline Gatland has ever put together. It almost looks like they might start playing some rugby *
* academic point behind that pack
Glaws tigers. Feeling that some of those boys either have way too much testosterone or they're cheating in movember.
Navidi to me deserves his chance and is one of those players who have made the best of their talent. He might just shine.
He's been around a while hasn't he? How old is he..... always thought he was a great player when I used to regularly watch what was the Pro12....talking a few years back now! He certainly not one for the future. Whom have Scotland got this Autumn Teej? Can't remember if it's already been posted
Tom - Scotland play Samoa, NZ thenAus. a good set really. One tough game we should win, one to test us against the best and one we have a good chance of winning.
He's been around a while hasn't he? How old is he.....
26
Shingler is 30, both flankers are below international standard really. Good job we have a bloke on the bench who has played twice for the ospreys!!!
When you go into a home RWC with Sam Burgess at centre I'll start feeling sorry for you! Thought Navidi would have been a bit older than that.
Samoan Rugby Union has gone bankrupt.....wonder if the rfu will do the decent thing and give them a bit of cash from the Twickenham game?!
England pack looking like they could push Twickers stadium around. Enormous.
I'm very interested to see how Slade plays at 12 as well.
have we reached the one tonne scrum yet?
Any Tiggers watchers with an opinion on Williams at 12. Doesnt look like the answer to me. Also if he was the answer I would rather see Priestland at 10. He'll just be shovelled shit ball from Biggar all day.
I fear we are in for a proper kicking on Saturday. Still at least options are being looked at but christ only knows why cross is on the bench over Young or Boyd.
Do you want to borrow the scots greatest fan - Private Fraser?[img] 
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Are you doomed?
Williams is a great player, but not at 12 IMHO.
Williams is a great player, but not at 12 IMHO
Why not any "great" 10 should make a decent 12 surely?
I supposecwe should be greatful cement head is trying out new players and options but everyone else does this straight after the world cup not 2 years out from it.
That 23 would look much better with Charteris in it and Ball on the bench and a backrow of Shingler, Faletau and Young with Navidi on the bench would make things look a lot stronger as would Lee as a starter or on the bench but I can understand the need to blood another 3.
But but,,,, I watch a ****ing load of of welsh pro14 games and have never seen Cross play. He played 7 v Saffercens and one other Pro14 game and thats the sum total of his pro rugby 15's experience. Meanwhile Thomas Young is available..wt actual **** is that all about?
Why not any "great" 10 should make a decent 12 surely?
Depends. I'd hate to see Russell playing 12. gawd alone knows what he would do. Peter Horne is competent if not great in both positions. Owen Farrell again is similar standard in both positions I guess.
sometimes its about getting your best players on the field that means you have to compromise somewhere
Quote from Gatland AA - what your view?
“I believe this team is capable of winning the World Cup given its experience and age-profile in two years’ time,” Gatland added. “That is why we are exposing some younger players now. I hope they’ve got confidence in their own ability and our whole focus this week has been about the next two years and how important Saturday is in terms of starting well.”
Depends. I'd hate to see Russell playing 12
Not sure Russell and certainly Williams are "great" 10's.
Dan Carter at 12...reckon he'd be pretty ****ing good
I believe this team is capable of winning the World Cup given its experience and age-profile in two years’ time,” Gatland
We if he doesnt no one else will.
“That is why we are exposing some younger players now. I hope they’ve got confidence in their own ability and our whole focus this week has been about the next two years and how important Saturday is in terms of starting well.”
Should have started 2 years ago
I guess Young being in the AP meant that Gatland won't pick him. Shame because he's pretty good.
Daly back for us. Itoje and Farrel are the only Lions to be rested.
I guess Young being in the AP meant that Gatland won't pick him
But he picked Williams 1, Williams 2, Faletau, Priestland, Francis and he would have picked Moriarty and North too I'm sure
Should have started 2 years ago
Yup - I think Wales have been storing up issues for the future not giving youngsters enough game time both pro 14 and international. Scotland were there 10 years ago
Scotland perhaps partly from necessity have done the opposite recently. We have a 21 yr old prop on his 3rd season of internationals for example and loads of young players being blooded. some of our key experienced internationals are under 23!
Not sure Russell and certainly Williams are "great" 10's.
This is the year for Russell to prove it . Lets see if he does
Outplaying Dan Carter as he did last year in the european cup looks good on the CV tho. If he can get the brainfarts / inconsistency down a bit it would help