[Closed] STW 2014/15 Rugby Thread

Wales have to utterly dominate ever facet of a game against the SH sides to scrape a win

Given how few these wins are I'm not sure how you worked this out 🙁

Wales coach Robin McBryde on the Haskell interview above.

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde has brushed off England flanker James Haskell's comments that Warren Gatland's team are training too hard ahead of the two teams' meeting in the Six Nations opener next Friday.
Haskell said on TalkSPORT that he was amazed at the amount of fitness work Wales were doing when told about it by an unnamed member of the Welsh squad and that the strategy is risky.
McBryde responded by saying the tough fitness regime was a plan designed to bring success at this autumn's World Cup - when England and Wales will again meet in the group stages at Twickenham - and that Gatland had decided to take a "different approach" to previous Six Nations tournaments.
"Warren has made everyone aware of where our focus is and that the World Cup is the bigger picture," McBryde said. "It was the approach we took into the autumn and we have plotted our course going into the Six Nations.
"The Six Nations stands alone as a tournament and we are not taking it lightly, just taking a bit of a different approach. It paid dividends in the autumn, although we had four games then back-to-back, and the Six Nations is over a longer period. Warren has experience of managing players, when and when not to train and its intensity.
"He has a big advantage over a lot of coaches and we are not far away from that balance. Time will tell, but there is deeper thinking behind our approach to the Six Nations than it seems on the surface."
McBryde insists England have plenty of strength in the forwards and says French referee Jerome Garces will have a "big role to play" in controlling the battle up front.
"All their players are used to a highly competitive set-piece game every week in the Premiership and in Europe," McBryde said. "You only have to talk to our players who are based in England and they tell you how much scrummaging driving mauls they do. They will be tough to crack at the set-piece and the man in the middle will have a big role to play.
"In the last two games we have fallen on the wrong side of one referee but not the other. We have regular contact with the head of the referees in the northern hemisphere, and looking at Jerome Garces' recent performances, he knows what he is looking for and we have clarity of what he looks for in the scrum. We have to make sure we are as legal as we can be and effective as we can."

[url= http://www.espn.co.uk/six-nations-2015/rugby/story/254525.html/url ]

Given how few these wins are I'm not sure how you worked this out 🙁

Ha ha 🙂 Good catch, lets call it what is required for a hypothetical win 😳

What I meant is that if you think back to the games from the last RWC onwards, Wales have started extremely strongly in almost all games against the SH sides and in a lot of cases have had 60-70% territory and possession for the first 30-40 minutes, i.e. been pretty dominant. In this time the scores were level or maybe Wales a few points ahead but as soon as even the slightest errors creep in or the game inevitably gets more 50-50 Wales don't look close to winning.

I guess the main point is that the big 3 are more than capable of absorbing the pressure of Gatlandball without conceding many points. I don't mean to completely discredit the recent SA victory but it was a strange one in that SA had a bit of an off day and I don't think we can keep praying for off days... or can we? 😐

Also, this could be mind games. Given all we know England will likely play a strong forward orientated game. Wales might want England to think that they are trying to match them there, when in reality they may well move the ball away as quickly as possible and test our much discussed centres / back 3.

Also the comments involving the ref my be a deliberate plot to get into his head. We all know England tend to have a poor reputation for forward infringement, Haskell - in the past - being quite a target for pings. It'd suit Wales to force the ref to Watch England hard and nullify that edge to our game.

In my mind Engalnd need to play the game in the Welsh half if not the 22 to nullify the Welsh centres penetration, which will rely on Ford/Cipriani clearing and kicking intelligently. This the ideal game to put that particurly piece into practice, so,etching which we've been weak at with Farrell IMO.

Whoever England pick they will have a strong set piece a well organized defence and a good maul. Wales will play away from the set piece but they wont just chuck it wide they will try and batter england through the centres and look to dominate the england ball carriers with their blitz defence. As said england will look to kick to the corners which is a good tactic v wales as 1/2p is usually on his own at the back as the welsh wingers defend up in the line rather than dropping back and because the welsh lineout is poor due to no real middle jumping lock or good options in the back row.

Just been overtaken on my ride in Bath a little close for my liking... by a Ferrari... and I noticed the number plate was p1rop. So it there a successful private investigator with the initials ROP or is there a Bath prop who thinks he's number 1 hooning around? 😀 Paul James? David Wilson? Can't see any of them driving a Ferrari and I like the idea of it being someone like Jason Leonard (no Bath connection) or Samson Lee (but he'd probably drive a blacked out German saloon).... yes my mind did wander a little during today's ride 😆

seem to remember Victor Ubogu had a Ferrari, or he did when I played cricket against him....

Bear - Member
seem to remember Victor Ubogu had a Ferrari, or he did when I played cricket against him...

[img] &res=medium[/img]

😉

Now that is a good fit for the p1rop number plate!

Well it wasnt Adam thats for sure.

The few times I've seen Adam have been mostly when he's being dragged around John Lewis in Cardiff- not quite the same lifestyle as Ferrari man 😀

Was there a hooker alongside him in the car?

Wales team as expected, Baldwin and Jarvis on the bench are major weaknesses.

Wilson confirmed out

15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Rhys Webb; 8-Toby Faletau, 7-Sam Warburton, 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Alun-Wyn Jones, 4-Jake Ball, 3-Sampson Lee, 2-Richard Hibbard, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

16-Scott Baldwin, 17-Paul James, 18-Aaron Jarvis, 19-Luke Charteris, 20-Justin Tipuric, 21-Mike Phillips, 22-Rhys Priestland, 23-Liam Williams.

Baldwin and Jarvis on the bench are major weaknesses.

Still managed to beat SA somehow with only 2/6 front rowers you'd trust to get the job done- and Bladwin started. It makes the rare SH victory even more of a mystery. Did Ken Owens play in the end last week?

Still not sure what to think of Webb but I guess he is the best option for the moment.

England also reportedly training with loudspeakers to try and recreate the Millennium Stadium experience 😕

I have been critical of Webb in the past but he has been very good this year. I still worry that a btainfart will come soon. G Davies at scarlets is a good player but has been injured a lot. Phillips is a good bench option imo.

That is a fair assessment. It is the brainfart bit that bothers me too!

Two tackles, one kick
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/31073339

Jenkins form has been wayward the last few times that I've seen him. Webb is a bit untested at this level, Biggar meh I'm not a fan but he's better than Priestland that's for sure. Other than that, it's an incredibly talented and settled starting XV for Wales.....bench looks very weak though!! If England can stay close for 60 minutes then even with our injuries I'd hope that we'll be bringing the stronger subs....Wilson out is a huge blow imo though 🙁

Two tackles, one kick

England's midfield?

Right you are, ladies and gents, here it is!
[img] :large[/img]

A little worried that "Hartley cheats" is a 3 drink penalty. Another NHS Crisis looms, surely! 😀

Oh, and Adam coming out of retirement and Will Carling ones are ace!

Whats the likely England 23?

Brown
Watson
Joseph
Burrel
May
Ford
Care/Youngs
Marler
Hartley
Cole/Brooks
Attwood
Kruis
Haskel
Vunipola
Robshaw

Corbs
Youngs
Brooks/Cole
A N Other lock
A N Other Backrow
Youngs/Care
Cipriani
Goode

Thats not at all bad other than the locks and Tuilagi the missing players arent much better

Last I hear Burrell was injured. JJ/36? I'd like to see Slade and JJ.
I think Cole will start, not sure about 9.

I think that teams close aa, but suspect it's actually 12t being [s]creative[/s] shit in the English midfield.

I think that teams close aa, but suspect it's actually 12t being [s]creative[/s] shit in the English midfield.

My predication is that 12t becomes temporarily possessed by a combination of an angry Samoan in defense and Quade Cooper in attack to almost single handedly win the game for England. Now how many drinks is that in the 2015 drinking game? 😀

At least Wales know:

a) Their best XV
b) How they're going to play

England don't really know the answers to either question.

Lolz at 1 drink for Brian Moore speaks latin 😆

a) Their best XV
b) How they're going to play

a) All the biggest players they can find.
b) Hulk smash!

Not much of a game plan.

I'm royally pessimistic about England this year.

Prediction-

Ireland
Wales
France
England/Scotland
Italy

I think England will go well, Wales have missed their chance to kick on from a few years ago IMO. Ireland look strong, France god knows and Scotchland could improve too

I think this years tournament is the hardest to call in years. I don't see a GS or wooden spoon.

I don't see Italy winning a game this year, although I suppose there's always the chance that they beat France!

I expect a much more competitive showing from Scotchland, and whilst I'd have Ireland as favourites, it really could go any way....should be a cracking 6N's.

Telegraphs' England "probable" (they never seem to get it wrong....)
Mike Brown; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Anthony Watson; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Dave Attwood, George Kruis, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.

Not a bad side by any means. Should be a close game. Its going to be brutally physical too.

I'd like to see that team play. Put in Youngs for kiwi biter, and of course those locks are not first choice, but other than that, I'm reasonably happy. I don't even think Tuilagi should be in ahead of those centres, not until he's back playing like he did anyway.

Ireland as favourites

They're still available at bigger odds , 9/4, than England at 2/1.
So England are slight favourites.

Wales third favourites for the title, but weirdly, looking at their fixtures it's almost certain that they'll start each individual game as match favourites, like this week.
TBH, they've got ideal fixtures for a Slam with home advantage against the two higher ranked teams, England and Ireland, and the theoretically "easier" games away. Slam or bust, maybe?

Wales third favourites for the title,

Its going to be brutally physical too.

That's what I thought. Reckon Dylan and Lee will manage to stay on the field?

Two most likely to get cards for sure.

Not a bad side by any means. Should be a close game. Its going to be brutally physical too.

You can see - according to the telegraph - that our forwards are going to be running at Wales. A lot. Its going to be a war of attrition, and any balls that go to the Welsh backs I hope England will get up fast with Brown, Youngs & May sweeping for the kick over from 1/2p.

I think the England game is obvious, they are going to carry into and set piece Wales to death. Burrell's there to mark Desparate Dan in defense, although actually Joseph from Ford and Burrell could be a very good pair of attacking centres*, I wonder if in attack they might revert to thier club positions.

*oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please

England squad to face Wales:

Forwards: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain), Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

So Croft or Easter to bench cover lock? Maybe croft will start? Has he played much recently. Cole has had no game time has he? Cipriani on bench with Nowell and 36?

Croft at 6 would help the lineout but doesnt have the grunt of Haskel

I wonder if in attack they might revert to thier club positions.

Goode, Kitchiner and Care not in squad.

[url= http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-bbc-promo-decided-8553745 ]6 Nations Advert[/url]

Not sure if this was posted up earlier but I enjoyed this 😀

Am I brave in feeling optimistic for a few good Scottish results? We definitely won't be winning but a finish outside the bottom 2 would be nice, maybe even top 3 if we're lucky?

Well, with Vern Cotter you've got your first decent coach in a long while.

I think he can get Scotland back on the map. A weak Scotland is bad for the championship.

Frank Hadden, Andy Robinson, Matt Williams. Scott wotsisname - you've had some bad ones.

Goode, Kitchiner and Care not in squad.

Haskell and Croft as replacement 2nd rows? Not sure about that!

Its been hinted that Easter could sub in the second row. Wrecker I have a quite hope that that centre pairing works and becomes the RWC pairing.

Good players in their natural positions who'd have thought...

[i]England:
Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Dave Attwood, George Kruis, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Tom Croft, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees

[/i]

Amazed that Kitchener isn't on the bench (or any lock for that matter) and Croft / Cole, although I rate them both massively, are very short on game time. I think Cole is simply a case of no other options, but Croft?
Back line actually looks as good as any I've seen out for England in a long time. I know Burrell didn't look good against Roberts the other week, but it's hard when the entire team is taking a kicking, and although I don't think he's a better player, he's good enough.
Really looking forward to it now, Friday night early finish and get down the pub to warm up!

[i]France:
Spedding, Huget Bastareaud, Fofana, Thomas, Lopez, Kockott, Chouly, Dusautoir (cap), Le Roux, Maestri, Pape, Slimani, Guirado, Menini

Replacements: Kayser, Atonio, Ben Arous, Taofifenua, Goujon, Parra, Tales, Lamerat

[/i]

IMO, Looks at least as strong as the other teams announced so far now they've found a good 10 in Lopez. Has the potential to make them a real top side, just in time for WC year.
Bit like Webb at 9, IMO.
Maybe not the best two players in the tournament, or even their own teams, but exactly what their teams have been crying out for to get the best of the players outside them.
Those two could turn out to be the most significant players in Europe.

I think Cole is simply a case of no other options

I know Burrell didn't look good against Roberts the other week, but it's hard when the entire team is taking a kicking

Like I said before, I think at last we have the best England centre pairing we are going to get, let's hope Lancaster sees it the same way. I guess it's up to JJ to prove himself, but it's a hard game to do it in and I hope Lancaster bears that in mind and doesn't shrug 36 back Onto the pitch should JJ have a muted game. I'm still not sure how 36 is so high up the pecking order.

It's a bit weird this wales england game I reckon

England's hopes seem to be to get some decent ball (are England's back row quick enough) and for their iddy biddy backs to give the mahoosive welsh backs the run around!

Who'd have thunk it?

Anthony Watson 6'2 - 14st
Luther Burrell 6'3 - 17 st
JJ 5'11 14st
Mike Brown 6ft 14st
May 6ft 1 - 14st

Oh yes they are quite tiny. 😐

14st for 6 foot plus is also pretty iddy biddy in elite rugby (if you believe the stats). That is 1/2p weight for a shorter guy, and not far off Shane Williams's quoted weights 😆

Also, I'm sure we've had this discussion before, but don't believe the quoted height and weight stats in rugby 😉

don't believe the quoted height and weight stats in rugby

Mike Phillips
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 104 kg

Phillips is a big lad, bigger than most opensides

Taller by a couple of cm perhaps but he isn't the same build as any decent ones. He's never just shy of 17 stone.
That puts him 2cm taller and 2 kgs heavier than dusautoir. No chance.
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Mike Phillips, just being rolled out of a cryogenic chamber in time for a match ^^

Some things are just not surprising.

Not sure where that pic is from but he looks much smaller than when I last saw him a few years ago- it isn't height as such, just that he was massively barrel chested!

Henson is allegedly 100kg and 1.83m according to Wikipedia but he was barely taller than me at 1.75m and no way anywhere near 100kg. I think my wife said something along the lines of "look there is a teenager that looks like Gavin" when we saw him wandering around town with his beautifully shaved legs out 😆

No doubt the stats are lies but I wouldnt argue with any of them!!

Quick gif for no reason whatsoever.[img] [/img]

IRELAND team to play Italy - Saturday 7th February, 2015

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

Team looks to be coming together nicely. Decent bench too. 🙂

France playing in red, apparently.

Scotland team looks good too. Cant wait!!!

Rugby related beer PSA - Waitrose were doing Rev James for £1.50 a bottle.

I ordered plenty!

Any news yet on if the roof will be open or closed tomorrow? Lancaster seemed keen to keep it open unless there was a massive downpour

Open.

Telegraph sports pages were claiming that as "first blood" to Lancaster. Comical. Then again, same sports page was of the opinion that the English back row is better than Lyds, Faletau and Hovis.

Telegraph sports page was of the opinion that the English back row is better than Lyds, Faletau and Hovis.

Someone has been at the crack pipe.

Not a lot between the backrows. Englands carries better. Warburton is better on the floor and as a unit they defends better. Faletau hasnt played well for a while though

^

I'd agree a_a, the posters before seem to be suggesting that the Wales backline is the clear better one. Now I'd say that on the floor the are yes, but Haskell is in the form of his life, Robshaw never has a bad game for England and Billy V is a wrecking ball when on form. In terms of experience then I'd say that the Welshies obviously edge it, by Lydiate and Hovis in particular can be prone to going awol on occasion.....usually against the SH teams rather than England sadly.

Am I right in thinking that the Wales England match is on Sky?

Just checked, bbc1.

This has all the hallmarks of the best game for years, I hope it doesn't disappoint. Lots of pundits are talking up JJ and the Burrell partnership as the potential RWC pairing - form players in position etc.

England, Haskell, Billy V, Burrell, May Ford, Watson and even Brown have a point to prove in this game. I can't help thinking at Club level England are the form players, but at international level Wales are more the cohesive. I think England have the best attacking potential they've had for a while, but wales could smother the ball.

Its going to be on full on, that's for sure.

And if England win, England v Ireland will be electric.

I'd agree a_a, the posters before seem to be suggesting that the Wales backline is the clear better one.

Backrow = 6,7,8, Backline = (generally) 11, 12, 13, 14,15

The general opinion here is that there isn't much between the backrows which sounds fair but the England backline is very untested but exciting, again sounds fair.

There aren't many caps between the English backs!

Haskell is in the form of his life, Robshaw never has a bad game for England and Billy V is a wrecking ball when on form.

I've always really liked Haskell and in form means playing the same as normal but not giving away penalties 😀 Really happy to see him playing for England again as he is definitely quality. Robshaw is always solid as you say and Billy will be great for 30 minutes before he gets exhausted 😆

Faletau hasnt played well for a while though

He always seems to go in to hibernation for club rugby but deliver for Wales. He looked alright in November although that was a long time ago!

Looking forward to tomorrow so much!

...

...

...

* unless Wales lose in which case I'll quickly erase the entire game from my conscious

unless Wales lose in which case I'll quickly erase the entire game from my conscious

If that happens it'll be the refs fault or Englands cheating or the welsh players got cold cause the roof was open........dont worry lads these are just the intro's I have plenty more ready if the worst happens.

I'll never hear it, but you could a.ways admit how mighty England were...

Then again, same sports page was of the opinion that the English back row is better than Lyds, Faletau and Hovis.

Haha

Ok the day has arrived, hate living in england on this day. I work with two numpties who will dish it out for 6 months if Wales lose.

So come on Wales smash the saes 😆