Rugby world cup

If Wales and France both turn up

If Wales turn up? It would be great to see Wales shift up a gear or two.

Very happy being a plastic Taff this weekend 🙂 Is it too much to dare to hope to win the World Cup? I think so but anything can happen so I will keep it hidden & hope for the best while listening to Max Boyce daily.

England – the RFU don’t let anything decent happen & I think the first person to go has to be Rob Andrew – very little decent has happened since he got there – well grinding out wins & lucking out has happened but rarely have I watched a match thinking England should win easily, its always too much of a hope they grind it out in the end

Robinson is a great (forwards) coach and a poor selector. He proved the former under SCW and the latter during his tenure as England coach.

Great to see the England lads still enjoying themselves despite being knocked out. Let’s hope Manu doesn’t sit next to the emergency door on the plane on the way home.

After this weekend I’m changing my name to Dai_RCL – although I will answer to the term boyo…
“Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more (I want no more)”

Well my wife’s mother is 1/2 welsh….

glitchy glitchy I want to see the missing posts

Another England player in trouble, and with the law this time. Disrespectful to MJ and the World Cup. 🙄

There again, perhaps he wanted to jump England’s sinking ship.

I want to see the missing posts

Don’t worry – there wasn’t anything good in any of them. 😉

namastebuzz – Member

Robinson is a great (forwards) coach and a poor selector. He proved the former under SCW and the latter during his tenure as England coach.

and confirmed it as Scotland coach.

We thought he might have less difficulty with selection with a much smaller pool to chose from.

he did really well with Edinburgh and I wish he had been left there. Good club coach – not up to it as an international coach

TandemJeremy – Member

glitchy glitchy I want to see the missing posts
*Waves*

TBH I don’t think his choice of forwards has been too bad. The backs on the other hand…

I would like to see Townsend replaced, possibly with someone from the southern hemisphere. Hopefully someone that can give some good advice in selections.

Forwards have been Ok but not playing Kelloch? Leaving Beattie at home?

Good set piece but the scottish back row never did what we know they can do – secure quick ball for us and turn over the opposition

Maybe the Jocks could get Martin Johnson, Brian Smith and John Wells when they become “available”?

You’re welcome to have Rob Andrew too. 😆

No thank you.

I thought this was the world cup thread? What are you Scots still doing here?

I didn’t get the chance to see much of Beattie after he came back from injury so I can’t really say much about his form. As far as Kellock goes, that may have had something to do with the fact that Murray wasn’t playing in that game. Possibly Robinson felt that more bulk was needed in the scrum to help make up for the loss of Murray, I don’t know.

I think Phil Vickery has stated Andy Robinson is the best forwards coach he has worked with, either domestically or on the international stage. High praise indeed.

As for Englands next forward’s coach, perhaps Dean Ryan is worth a punt.

Sounds like priestland, charteris and Roberts will be available by the weekend.
bbc

PMSL @ inigomontoya!

Hmm, looks like some bookies are offering 6/1 for Wales to win the cup… In response to A_A I don’t think it’s highly unlikely, just unlikely 🙂 In the past Wales have often played well against the French but that was in the past, I’m not sure previous form applies in these turbulent times.

I hope that the French implode in turmoil rather than trying to prove a point to Lievremont.

From Gwladrugby
There are currently two kinds of people in Wales; those who are already fearing a beating from France and set for a week of utter nervous torment, and those who have embraced the teachings of the Optimism Gnome and are set for a week of delirious adrenalin-fuelled over-exuberance punctuated by occasional calls to ambulance staff to administer sedatives or slaps, and some involuntary weeing.

I’m currently veering randomly between the two.

Some of you Welsh fans should get on a plane – there are still 8000 tickets on sale for the match on saturday. Once in a lifetime opportunity and all that. Although you will be sharing a stadium with some disappointed and miscalculating England fans, and some rather startled French ones !

Hels – thanks for that.. Let me see if I can remortgage my house quickly to get a plane ticket… Or perhaps I’ll buy a battered old bus and drive over 60s style.

If this were a 6N match, with given form, you’d expect Wales to pummel France.

Speaking of which.. Wales grand slam 2012 anyone? 🙂 Let’s make it three in 7 years!

hels – Member
I don’t think Wales should be so confident, the Good French team might turn up next week, you never know. Still, it would be good to see !!

Wales don’t seem to have a problem with France any more, having beaten them regularly enough over the last few years.

(and everybody called Colin in NZ is going to have a very bad day at work today – he wasn’t much was he ? Couldn’t get him off the pitch fast enough)

To be fair to him, he wasn’t on the pitch for long enough to show what he could do, but based on the form I’ve seen playing for his province he’s not good enough. Cruden did well enough I suppose, but shouldn’t scare Australia. Interesting that NZ have called up Donald.

inigomontoya – Member
I thought this was the world cup thread? What are you Scots still doing here?

It’s nice to see that most people continue to watch the games and comment on them intelligently regardless of their team being knocked out.

molgrips – Member

Speaking of which.. Wales grand slam 2012 anyone? Let’s make it three in 7 years!

😆 In the unlikely event that Wales win the RWC, I have a feeling that they’ll still be hung over in February.

Wales don’t seem to have a problem with France any more, having beaten them regularly enough over the last few years.

There’s something that commonly comes before a fall. Can’t remember what it is though…. 😉

The French have a habit of turning up when you least expect it, and whilst I accept our shambolic efforts against them this weekend may have flattered them somewhat, you’d be just as daffy as the English were to think that it’s a done deal.

zokes – Member

Wales don’t seem to have a problem with France any more, having beaten them regularly enough over the last few years.

There’s something that commonly comes before a fall. Can’t remember what it is though….

No I don’t mean it that way, more that they aren’t a bogey team for Wales in the way that NZ are.

There’s something that commonly comes before a fall. Can’t remember what it is though….

I think that you’ll find that most Welsh are quite realistic and recognise that we’re only as good as we are. Not like some teams eho believe they are as good as they were, can’t think of any examples at the moment though…

Hosea Gear and Stephen Donald called up by the ABs.

Both of them may end up featuring.

Hosea Gear

How many wingers do they need? Moving Sonny Bill to the wing was a strange decision when they have Guildford, Jane, Dagg and now Gear.
Anyway, they better get it right next weekend or they won’t be making the final!

I think that you’ll find that most Welsh are quite realistic and recognise that we’re only as good as we are.

Funny, that’s pretty much the exact opposite of the impression that I have of (most) welsh fans.

As an Englishmen I’m torn between wanting Wales to win the RWC
but then having to suffer their abusebanter for 4 years
with the gain of being able to silence any Kiwi by dramatically grabbing my throat
but mainly because I think it would be great for the Welsh and great for the game

against

the Kiwis winning (NZ has had a tough year) and all southern hemisphere types continuing to be insufferably smug.

On the whole I’d like Wales to win though as it reminds of my childhood with my Dad and his best mate Taff (I never knew his real name). If Wales beat England in the 5 nations I’d have to answer the phone:
me “Hello who’s speaking please”
Welsh voice “Hello D is your dad in?” <smug voice>
me “No ermmm he’s gone out.” My dad was usually crying into his beer
Welsh voice “Tell him I thought England played as well as they could….”
This was the 70’s so I had to answer the phone quite regularly.

Funny, that’s pretty much the exact opposite of the impression that I have of (most) welsh fans

Its funny, if you read the English centric media or believe what ITV tells us, England are constantly under achieving despite having wonderful players, sooner or later surely they have to realise.

Wales are what we always have known since 2005, if everyone is fit they usually have 15 players who can give anyone a game, we even have a few decent bench options now, but if for example Adam Jones and Jamie Roberts went down injured they would be screwed. Wales are benefitting from good coaching, good fitness and only have Matt Rees injured. Well and the man god Henson but I’m happy to discount him as he’s not played for decades.

How many wingers do they need? Moving Sonny Bill to the wing was a strange decision when they have Guildford, Jane, Dagg and now Gear.

Guildford was injured for the quarter final and Jane’s had a few knocks too. Dagg, who was also injured for the game, is now the only fullback.

is Mulinia injured then?

hey Bryce you **** this isnt legal on so many levels, going in the side and trying to rip heads off could be considered dangerous.

bootiful

and then the reverse angle with gumshield flying is even better

Schalk Burger’s fingers near eyes yet again? Surely not. 👿

Peter de Villiers resigned. Does anybody else find him incredibly irritating?

I HATE schalk burger. Nasty dirty bastard. He should have been banned from the game years ago IMO.

Todd Blackadder for Scotland coach?

Muliaaina has a fractured shoulder and is out. Slade injured, groin, must be a number 10 thing. Called up Donal and Gear who I think should have been there from the start. Donald though is a muppet. I think NZ will edge Australia and Wales will beat France.
It’s disgusting though the gouging that has been going in with hotels and stuff. Guy next to me was paying 390 a night for a bed in a crap motel. No wonder there are still tickets le, bloody IRB setting prices waaaay to high. Although at least we have Joubert refereeing our game.
Exciting times.

Loving DoC trying to stop the Doc (geddit)

There was a bit where Phillips handed off/pushed back one of the irish 2nd row for about 10m….it looked great.