Welsh team vs England discussion

First topic message reminder :

Right then, a somewhat unconvincing first half performance, but came out firing in the 2nd, personally I thought Shingler did alright coming in as a late replacement, but he is no 7, if it were up to me I'd have him at 6 if anywhere.

I thought our back line played pretty well today, even Hook showing nice hands if sometimes a bit indecisive.

Hopefully North, Warburton and Tipuric will be fit for the next match, so who would you keep and who would you drop?

How many games did Scotland go without scoring a try before they played Wales?

.

You leaked two soft tries to Italy....

miteyironpaw wrote:I recall England scoring and Scotland not scoring. Not sure what your argument is. Scotland scored twice against Wales... defense, defense, defense, the modern game is all about defense.

Yes, and if the opposition make several linebreaks against you - as Scotland did at Murrayfield - your defence isn't great, whether they convert those linebreaks into tries or not.

munkian wrote:You leaked two soft tries to Italy....

Nothing to do with our defence, just two freak errors.

luckless

In principle I agree, but there was only really one of those that should have been scored. England's scramble defence was good on the others.

Wales will be another step up in quality that is true and our defence will have to improve, but I think will raise our game.

Sometimes you can only play what’s in front of you no offence to Italy or Scotland but I think most England fans knew these were going to be tough games as both would have fancied there chances against a new look inexperienced England team at home, plus the conditions in both games didn't help so we ended up with two old fashioned looking games.

Twickers on a bright sunny afternoon in Feb will bring out the best in the English players, Ashton will be itching to get his account off and running in this years 6 nations.

I doubt very much that England will play like they did against Scotland and Italy. I think the forwards are fairly even but I do think your backs might be a little green and ours are pretty much settled. With a bit of confidence behind us I do think Wales will have enough for a 10 point margin.

10pts!

Is that with or without North?

HERSH wrote:Wales will be another step up in quality that is true and our defence will have to improve, but I think will raise our game.

Sometimes you can only play what’s in front of you no offence to Italy or Scotland but I think most England fans knew these were going to be tough games as both would have fancied there chances against a new look inexperienced England team at home, plus the conditions in both games didn't help so we ended up with two old fashioned looking games.

Twickers on a bright sunny afternoon in Feb will bring out the best in the English players, Ashton will be itching to get his account off and running in this years 6 nations.

He better had, would be horrible to be known as a fluke....

HERSH wrote:10pts!

Is that with or without North?

Pretty sure we scored our tries without North agaisnt Scotland .... try again

Are you suggesting Wales lack direction without North

Not at all, I was expecting more from a team that set the rugby world a light and finished 4th at the RWC!

Munk two posts in 1 min?

Get it off your chest son.

Is that like a reverse Cleveland Steamer?

The great thing about this years fixture is that England have no pressure, all they have to do is put in a better performance than the Italian game so that progress is being made (shouldn't be too hard).

Let Wales have there gloriy in 2012 we'll have ours in 2015 when we lift the Webb Ellis Cup, again.

munkian wrote:

HERSH wrote:Wales will be another step up in quality that is true and our defence will have to improve, but I think will raise our game.

Sometimes you can only play what’s in front of you no offence to Italy or Scotland but I think most England fans knew these were going to be tough games as both would have fancied there chances against a new look inexperienced England team at home, plus the conditions in both games didn't help so we ended up with two old fashioned looking games.

Twickers on a bright sunny afternoon in Feb will bring out the best in the English players, Ashton will be itching to get his account off and running in this years 6 nations.

He better had, would be horrible to be known as a fluke....

so he's known as a fluke for following up 6N leading try scorer with RWC (joint) leading try scorer?

If thats a one off too....

Wales are NOT a step up in quality , they are a team that is of lowly rank with only a flukey, and not very classy run in the World cup.

This team will be found out, and i for one hope that England are the side to do it. Wales are not that good, but their truly biased and one eyed fans can't see it. Oh, how i'll enjoy it when those Chickens come home to roost and Welsh heartbreak happens all over again.

One good thing about Wales coming 'False dawn' is that they have lots of experience of picking thenselves up after the Bubble has been burst, mind you, what will they do with all that free Hot air, as it could impact on Global warming!!

Awww, he thinks he's people

I think the weather will have a major factor in this game, if it's wet and windy, this will play into England's favour, as it did in Scotland and Italy. England will grind Wales down and try and reap on Wales's mistake's, especially with Farrel's good kicking form. Boring as it might be, but who care's or even remembers the score? They did it in the RWC 2003, it's the win that counts.

However, if it's dry, in my opinion, Wales pace and skill will no doubt get the better of this un-experienced England side, and if England don't switch on, the margin could be quite significant!!!

english warrior wrote:Wales are NOT a step up in quality , they are a team that is of lowly rank with only a flukey, and not very classy run in the World cup.

I disagree with that Warrior.

Wales are a step up in quality but that doesn't mean they aren't beatable, as I believe they are, as last years 6 nation showed.

and the Rwc warm up games.

and the RWC itself.

and the first game of this years 6 nations against Ireland, if it wasn't for some lucky breaks from the Refs they would have lost.

They did deserve to beat Scotland, but they were at home and inside, unlike England who had to battle the weather too.

HERSH wrote:
and the Rwc warm up games.

*game.

HERSH wrote:Is Wales a race?

I would have thought they were British?

When the English do something good their English, when they do something bad their British.

When the Welsh do something good their Welsh, when the Welsh do something bad their still Welsh, but blame the English.

AlynDavies wrote:

HERSH wrote:Is Wales a race?

I would have thought they were British?

When the English do something good their English, when they do something bad their British.

When the Welsh do something good their Welsh, when the Welsh do something bad their still Welsh, but blame the English.

Both very British qualities!

ISLANDER wrote:I think the weather will have a major factor in this game, if it's wet and windy, this will play into England's favour, as it did in Scotland and Italy. England will grind Wales down and try and reap on Wales's mistake's, especially with Farrel's good kicking form. Boring as it might be, but who care's or even remembers the score? They did it in the RWC 2003, it's the win that counts.

However, if it's dry, in my opinion, Wales pace and skill will no doubt get the better of this un-experienced England side, and if England don't switch on, the margin could be quite significant!!!

Good point.Welsh players arent used to playing in bad weather!

IronMike wrote:

HERSH wrote:
and the Rwc warm up games.

*game.

** They looked beatable in all their games.

Taffineastbourne wrote:

ISLANDER wrote:I think the weather will have a major factor in this game, if it's wet and windy, this will play into England's favour, as it did in Scotland and Italy. England will grind Wales down and try and reap on Wales's mistake's, especially with Farrel's good kicking form. Boring as it might be, but who care's or even remembers the score? They did it in the RWC 2003, it's the win that counts.

However, if it's dry, in my opinion, Wales pace and skill will no doubt get the better of this un-experienced England side, and if England don't switch on, the margin could be quite significant!!!

Good point.Welsh players arent used to playing in bad weather!

It's not a question of being used to it. It's a question of how it affects the gameplans. A team that tries to be more adventurous and offload will suffer more if the ball is wet and hands are cold than a team that keeps it tight and kicks for territory.

As it happens, I don't think the weather in Scotland and Italy did play into England's hands.

Taffineastbourne wrote:

ISLANDER wrote:I think the weather will have a major factor in this game, if it's wet and windy, this will play into England's favour, as it did in Scotland and Italy. England will grind Wales down and try and reap on Wales's mistake's, especially with Farrel's good kicking form. Boring as it might be, but who care's or even remembers the score? They did it in the RWC 2003, it's the win that counts.

However, if it's dry, in my opinion, Wales pace and skill will no doubt get the better of this un-experienced England side, and if England don't switch on, the margin could be quite significant!!!

Good point.Welsh players arent used to playing in bad weather!

Yes, the weather allowed England to keep in touch in both games then hodgeson did his star turn to put them ahead.

Someone just praised Charge Down Charlie

HERSH wrote:Someone just praised Charge Down Charlie

It won't work against Wales because Mike Phillips doesn't allow our fly halves to kick, he does it all himself!

Can people please stop saying that conditions were bad in England's last two games? It wasn't even raining at Murrayfield! You can blame the snow in Rome for your lack of attacking threat if you want, but you can't blame bad weather for your lack of cutting edge against Scotland.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Can people please stop saying that conditions were bad in England's last two games? It wasn't even raining at Murrayfield! You can blame the snow in Rome for your lack of attacking threat if you want, but you can't blame bad weather for your lack of cutting edge against Scotland.

You're right, England's handling and all round play has tricked their own fans in to thinking it's always bad weather.

But the conditions were bad, this is what’s so great about playing the game outside and not in a false atmosphere surrounded by fake daffodils and pink cowboy hats.

This isn't real rugby

I agree with Hersh if it hadn't been cold in Scotland and snowing in Italy those english backs would have cut loose with some scintillating moves from Hodgson, Farrell and Barritt - The 3 of them look like prize olympic 100 metres specialists waiting to be let off the the leash; let's hope it's not against Wales as we will be in serious trouble, particularly with the speedy Dowson feeding off their shoulders - Wales you have been warned.

IRB WORLD RANKINGS.

1(1) NEW ZEALAND 91.43
2(2) AUSTRALIA 87.99
3(3) FRANCE 84.70
4(4) SOUTH AFRICA 84.34
5(5) ENGLAND 82.81
6(6) WALES 81.15
7(7) ARGENTINA 80.28
8(8) IRELAND 79.25
9(9) TONGA 76.63
10(10) SAMOA 75.81

Looks precipitous. How badly would Wales need to lose to England and France in order to slip out of the top 10 altogether?

Tonga and Samoa are snapping at the heels of Ireland already.

IRB WORLD RANKINGS. Feb 27th 2012

1(1) NEW ZEALAND 91.43
2(2) AUSTRALIA 87.99
3(3) WALES 85.70
4(4) SOUTH AFRICA 84.34
5(5) FRANCE 82.81
6(6) ENGLAND 80.29
7(7) ARGENTINA 80.28
8(8) IRELAND 79.25
9(9) TONGA 76.63
10(10) SAMOA 75.81

You have a great sense of humour RubyG. I love slapstick.

HERSH wrote:But the conditions were bad

Not at Murrayfield they weren't.

Conditions were bad at Murrayfield, have you seen the away teams dressing room?

Supposedly this is the best Scottish team in some time. England haven't won at Murrayfield for some time.

Ipso, this must be the best England team for some time.

Be warned Wales.

HERSH wrote:Conditions were bad at Murrayfield, have you seen the away teams dressing room?

Conditions are also Bad in Cardiff for the away teams - have you seen Wales

RubyGuby wrote:
Conditions are also Bad in Cardiff for the away teams - have you seen Wales

Yep, I agree - bad reffing conditions certainly prevailed Ruby. I'd fix that leak if I were the WRU... nobody likes a shower of reffing decisions falling on their heads when they've paid good money to be inside.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

HERSH wrote:But the conditions were bad

Not at Murrayfield they weren't.

Shane Williams quote

"England have won their first two games away from home in poor conditions."

Thank you Shane

See? Everyone's been brainwashed!

Shane who ?

HERSH wrote:

Shane Williams quote

"England have won their first two games away from home in poor conditions."

Thank you Shane

To be fair to Shane even a tiny sprinkling of snow is "poor conditions" and enough to delay his journey back home. Sometimes he has to slide back on a leaf or get a lift from a friendly robin.

I predict Shane Williams will be one of the best TV pundits/commentators of all time. It takes some skill to come out of a full game of world cup rugby dripping with disappointment and give the kind of level headed, eloquent and diplomatic post match interview that he gave. I've never heard him say a controversial or ill-considered word and his analysis of a game is invaraibly accurate and insightful. He could bring a revolution to the tired, insipid and aggravating tripe we have to put up with at the moment.

I'm sure both BBC and Sky must have a decent sized cushion he could sit on in the studio.

When was this, Mitey? After the semi final?

Was that a back handed compliment from you ?