STW 2014/15 Rugby Thread

Two quick tries saved irish blushes.

They perhaps put a better look on the final score, but saved our blushes, no.

While we didn’t play to our potential we dominated the game and won well. Our scrum and line out were excellent, our defence solid and the 6N debutants all stood up well. Our breakdown work however was slow and we need quicker ball to do more damage in the wider channels.

Remember that our 7,8,10, 12 and 13 were making their first 6N starts and our centres have only had one match together in the autumn. Next weekend we will have Healy, Heaslip and SOB back in the pack and Sexton as well.

Who was that France 15? He was bloody huge!

Spent most of his afternoon running in to props too!

Hardly convincing to a neutral, blind melon.
And compared to england, that irish team is hugely experienced and considering they mostly come from 2 or 3 teams, they know each other a lot better too. At present, I’d put money on England and Wales beating them.

I wouldnt put money on Wales beating an egg.

I wouldnt put money on Wales beating an egg.

Cheer up! You probably can’t play any worse…..

North’s head injuries are being investigated which is good news. It turns out Lee was also replaced due to concussion. Biggar wasn’t quite right after his smack either 😕 Day of head injuries for Wales unfortunately. All we can see is that Melon lived up to his name

AA, don’t beat yourself up, just came up against a better side !!! 😉 still all to play for and you boys know how to do it from here.

Appreciate it’s the Torygraphy but Geechs has a different view on the back row and Haskell in particular. Worth a read…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11398584/England-beat-Wales-in-Six-Nations-opener-Selfless-James-Haskell-epitomises-Red-Rose-revolution.html

His excellence wad epitomised by missing the tackle on Faletau for the wales try!! **** Telegraph…..

Yes, 😀 what does Geechs know, eh!!!!!

Good article and pretty spot on especially

It was interesting because early on Haskell should have made the tackle on Taulupe Faletau when Wales scored their try through Rhys Webb. He will have known that and he will have been very disappointed. But, crucially, he did not let it affect him. He did not go into his shell nor did he try to do something individually spectacular to atone for that error.

and the change from Brand Haskall to Brand England.

Ex Wasp Geech praising a wasp captain who would have thunk it. Haskels fine attributes came into play in the second half when the fat lads in front got even more on top.

im more armchair than any of you… but as a Welsh fan do you think Gatland is that strict on players they’re too scared to go…

“**** this theres a gap im going for it as plan A is not working”?

only liam williams and 1/2p seemed to be up for it.

Didnt see any gaps though did they. England defended well and the welsh backz got no front foot ball against a disorganised defence.

As an aside and without wanting to cause a shit storm what do people think of Attwood kicking North in the head. It was an accident for sure but shouldnt the kicker have a duty of care about where they put their boots. Bit like an accidental tip tackle or hitting a player in the air? Reminded me of this, with added comedy irish man!!

It was an accident for sure

Enough said, he is not Diego Costa 😀

Plenty of other examples of where an accidental mistake can bring a yellow or whatever. How about the Oconnel one above. Accident? Play on?

POC was dozy/naughty on that one and could have avoided it rel easily.

But the commentary was good though, thanks!

No need to nit pick on the details, handling in the scrum will be next!! 😉

From one Lions man to another, what did Wazzer think…

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatland-wales-v-england-8597890

1:29

” I thought Haskell was absolutely outstanding today….”

Was that just more WRU mind games?

I havent said Haskel wasnt good but he wasnt the reason England won.

AA good question re Atwood………Atwood went for the ball North brave dive then collision with boot, end of based mainly on the speed involved there is some delay on POC offence and he could have forseen the consequences.

For Wales though was it really 21 missed tackles and if so was that a record in the GAt years?

Edit Well done to Wales Women for their Victory

Small beer content 😆

Wales under 20’s and Wales women win

Happy we managed to win something even if we lost the main event.

AA good question re Atwood………Atwood went for the ball North brave dive then collision with boot, end of based mainly on the speed involved there is some delay on POC offence and he could have forseen the consequences.

Fair point and I havent seen a replay of the Attwood one. POC got off with nowt by the way

For Wales though was it really 21 missed tackles and if so was that a record in the GAt years?

Doubt it wales tend to miss quite a lot actually due to the high pressure blitz they employ, as long as the guy missed doesnt get outside the blitz its ok. We have also been destroyed by bigger margins by NZ etc

Soporifique.Maladroit et sans idees

L’Equipe scathing about the performance (normally a headline England might warrant !). Aside from Basteraud and Dusautoir who got 6/10 rest of side was scored 5. Criticised for lack of ball retention / basic technique in crucial attacking situations.

Too late to comment much on England v Wales other than always difficult to win there. Plenty for England to work on in terms of finishing. Dire defence for the Welsh try with Youngs trotting along behind his man.

Youngs trotting along behind his man.

Yeah – good point. A mate of mine (who was a scrum half) pointed that out too.

So Haskell went too high on Faleteau, May came in off his wing and Youngs did naff all. If any one of them had done their job there would have been no try. Not ignoring the fact that it was a brilliant bit of play from the back of a retreating scrum.

L’Equipe scathing about the performance

It promises to be a vintage year for watchers of French rugby. The great thing about watching France is they could be brilliant or they could be awful but it’s fascinating either way.

Changes for the next Wales game?

I like to see Liam Williams replace North (may be forced anyway), Tipuric replace Lydiate and maybe even Scott Williams (or someone with even half form) replace mini Jiffy. Or, alternatively give the big names a kick up the arse 😆

From the other point of view, what team would Scotland least like to face? As a Welsh fan, as it stands, I don’t think it will take much for the Scottish backs to outsmart the red meat as the Aussies called them 😳

 like to see Liam Williams replace North (may be forced anyway), Tipuric replace Lydiate and maybe even Scott Williams (or someone with even half form) replace mini Jiffy. Or, alternatively give the big names a kick up the arse 

See, Wales get a thorough beating in the forwards and welsh fans want to replace the backs!

Hopefully Lee will be OK as Jarvis is a poor tighthead at Pro 12 level.
I’d bring in Charteris for Ball and maybe Tips to 7 with Warburton to 6. Hopefully Owens can get more game time for Llanelli and be in contention to replace Hibbard for later games. Other than that we have very few options.

Not sure what Samson Lee (Cole was very good) and Johnny May are doing here, rest seems fair, Talupe a bit of an odd one too

Whose team is that A_A?
I agree with all of your points; Lee, May and Faletau don’t merit being in that side.

I wonder how they come up with those teams. The recent Telegraph world xv had Robshaw as skipper and May in it as well.

The recent Telegraph world xv had Robshaw as skipper and May in it as well.

And Sexton and Heaslip! In the world XV!!!! 😆

Its Gussets team.

May not sure, I hardly remember noticing he was playing. He scored a try against New Zealand recently, plus this weekend everyone else was worse ?

Wasn’t a great weekend’s rugby for wingers to be fair. Don’t think May did enough to warrant making Guscotts home nations squad though, maybe Bowe instead?

15 Hogg…most metres made on the weekend
14 Watson
13 Joesph
12 Bastareaud
11 Terry Thomas
10 Finn Russell
9 Ben Youngs
8 ? Dusatoir ? no real standout No 8 performance of the weekend
7 Robshaw
6 Haskell
5 Atwood
4 Gray
3 Marler
2 Ford
1 Dan Cole

15 Spedding
14 Watson
13 Henshaw (wrong pos…but…)
12 Bastareaud
11 Ben Youngs
10 George Ford
9 Ben Youngs
8 Le Roux
7 Robshaw
6 Haskell
5 Attwood
4 Gray
3 Marler
2 Ghiraldini
1 Dan Cole

Ben Youngs so good you picked him twice! I didnt really see the scotland or ireland games. I thought LeRoux was a full back?

I thought the Ben Youngs twins were outstanding, and they both thoroughly deserve their place in the northern hemisphere super-squad 😀

😳
Damn it. I was struggling with the other wing. Nobody left a lasting ipression. If I could have my pick it would be hogg but he was playing full back.

I thought LeRoux was a full back?

Willie the saffa is, Bernard the french saffa is a back row who plays for Racing Metro.

I agree about Hogg, he looked superb in attack, I reckon he could slot in on the wing no problem. Certainly a better option than Ben Youngs covering two positions 😉

I can also see a fair argument for Ashton coming back with a decent FH now playing.

Please no – of all the wingers pushing for a place, not him. He is still ripe for giving away silly penalties and his defence is woeful. His time on the international stage is done, it’s time to move on.

Haskell was the big surprise for me, but then again his form has been good all season. Was surpised that Billy V lasted the full 80, but I guess having another carrier next to him reduced his workloard somewhat. Taking off Marler and Hartley when the scrum was so far on top seemed like an odd move.

I was quite surprised by England’s performance but Wales were surprisingly bad. Their much vaunted centre combination was pretty quiet and North / Cuthbert may have well been sat in the stand watching the game. North has been good for the Saints though but is struggling for Wales. I wonder if it is the game plan / players around him,

The barnd of rugby played by the french these days is awful – it its based on nothing but power and big lumps. Their isn’t much behind the fat lads in terms of trying to create things.

Their much vaunted centre combination was pretty quiet

To be fair, England neutrlised them by coming up very quickly all game. No head of speed for desparate dan and nowhere for Jiffy Jnr to run. Brown did a great job of fielding all the kicks over, which left Wales a bit clueless about what to do next.