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Hartley off, great call

Moriarty offers little in terms of carrying for me, although a decent all round 6. He made 5m last week against the worst side in the 6N from playing 8....that's awful.

He's much more of 6 playing 8, a bit like we did with Wood to such great effect in 2013!

yeh he isn't an ideal 8 and we need to try and use our physicality in the backrow to dominate the collisions

Moriarty is a huge carrier but a better 6.

Player or season for Glos at 6. Great lineout big carrier massive hitter quality player/

I would have gone 6 Moriarty 7 warbs and 8 faletau.

Tipuric is decent but for me gets outphysicalled at top top level

If Moriarty is a "huge" carrier, how would you describe a Vunipola/Stander/Isa type of carrier!

huge carrier is a bit excessive. Vunipola is a huge carrier. Moriarty is more like a Teimana Harrison type carrier. can make good yards but not regularly enough to be a class 8.

agree he is a better 6 and potentially better option than Tipuric if playing Warbs and Faletau.

ISA and Vunipola are monster carriers.

Moriarty is a massive carrier but more a 6.

Makes route one carries and does the hard yards. that's what he does for Glos and Wales at 6.

He is a specimen when you see him
In flesh.

Moriarty one of the most improved players in last 12 months, didnt rate him at all when he first started playing for Wales, seen quite a few pundits put him down as a Lion. Be a good battle between him and Hughes.

With the exception of Wyn Jones, our front five looks a fair bit stronger, so hopefully we will be able to get some front foot ball this week, their backs look blooming dangerous though.

You crack me up Matt!

Hes not a huge carrier really. 5m made from 8 against Italy would suggest otherwise, he just got bounced all game. Hes actually a pretty poor carrier but has other skills.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:You crack me up Matt!

Hes not a huge carrier really. 5m made from 8 against Italy would suggest otherwise, he just got bounced all game. Hes actually a pretty poor carrier but has other skills.

You obviously watch or understand very little about rugby if you think that.

He is known for his carrying and defence. It's the reason wales got him in to their side as they lack carrying.

If you google Ross Moriarty then almost every description will say things like powerful ball carrier, dynamic ball carrier etc.

Yes he had a poor return for metres made against Italy as did every other forward. Several players had zeros metres according to the telegraph.

Using one game to illustrate a point is Donald Trump level delusional.

The old "you obviously understand little about rugby" jibe when you have no come back....great.

I know enough about rugby to know the 8 should make the most yards in the pack as he has his hands on the ball the most........5m.....

Yes he had a poor return for metres made against Italy as did every other forward

Tips made 19m, Warburton made 35m, AWJ made 19m, Nicky Smith made 14m.

5m made from your number 8 would suggest to me he's not a "huge carrier", not that I know anything about rugby of course

And I actually quite like Moriarty, he's just in no terms a good 8. He's a good AP 6 but it shows the lack of options in Wales that he's being played in a position he struggles.

He is known for his carrying and defence

The 16 missed tackles in 3 tests in NZ would suggest otherwise (8 in one game!)

Player or season for Glos at 6

Young player of the season, Sharples won player of the season.

Anyway.....predictions for the weekend?

I fancy England and Ireland to win, and actually believe Scotland will do it in France. 

My bet last week, of Scotland, England and Italy almost came off, until the 2nd half of the Wales Italy game!

I think France will overpower Scotland.
Ireland will win in Italy, but will be quite close with Favaro back for them,
Wales v England will be incredibly close. Really tough one to call, England on paper should edge it but we need the likes of Lawes, Launch and Itoje to up their game a lot from last week.

Sounds like North has just been ruled out.

England should have the power in the front five, Youngs and Ford are a great combination with front foot ball, but struggle in games like last week when our pack doesnt front up. Can see us winning upfront but Wales could get a lot of joy at the breakdown.

Playing an open game could be really beneficial to England - surprised Wales don't put Williams at fb and Halfpenny on the wing as he's so dangerous from there.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/10/six-nations-2017-wales-vs-england-composite-xv-many-welsh/ross-moriarty/

Interesting team selection there. Highlights the big battles and Moriarty ahead of Hughes...

Any article with JD2 ahead of JJ on this form is stark raving bonkers

based on this weekends teams, my combined would be

1 Marler
2 Hartley
3 Cole
4 Wyn-Jones
5 Launchbury
6 Itoje
7 Warburton (Tipuric)
8 Hughes
9 Webb
10 Ford
11 Nowell
12 Farrell
13 Joseph
14 North
15 Williams (Brown)

(cheated a bit by switching some positions, bracketed the choice if it was a straight choice)

I think I'd agree with that Nick, possibly Lawes over Launchbury who's looked a bit weak in the tight for some reason.

Launchbury had one poor game against France, but been great for Wasps, particularly against Toulouse.

Both teams aren't quite right at no8, if its an open game then Hughes could thrive - Clifford should help him with the ball carrying this week and our front five can't possibly play that badly again. Hopefully.

Extra week should get Marler and Hartley playing better too, both looked off the pace last week but more really surprising.

Launchbury has been in great form. I do sometimes think he is better for Wasps than England. Great player though. Lawes seems to step it up for England a bit.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

He is known for his carrying and defence

The 16 missed tackles in 3 tests in NZ would suggest otherwise (8 in one game!)

Player or season for Glos at 6

Young player of the season, Sharples won player of the season.

He has been player of season this year for us. It was observational.

Tackle count was higher than anyone else in Welsh side last week by nearly double.

He was one of the wales players of tests vs NZ https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-3907306/amp/Ross-Moriarty-hopes-learn-lessons-Blacks-packs-No-8-Wales-against-Australia.html?client=safari

Looking forward to Clifford playing.

Sam DAVIES should start:

Wales better with first choice props Evans and Francis.

Should be close

Farrell always better in big occasion.
May right to be dropped was poor last week and despite being imo our best wing and not advocating dropping players after bad game he has been poor for Glos since AI so obviously having a dip

Game will be lost and won on territory.

Ford needs to establish it.

Worry about our backrow as an untried unit is tough work. Understanding takes time

He was awful in defence in NZ, 16 tackles missed in 3 tests is shambolic. He has improved since then though, just isn't a good carrier so struggles at 8.

Bigger is still the best choice. Davies a running talent but not the complete package yet, I wish they would start him as it would certainly improve our chances.

dammit_chris wrote:Launchbury had one poor game against France, but been great for Wasps, particularly against Toulouse.

Both teams aren't quite right at no8, if its an open game then Hughes could thrive - Clifford should help him with the ball carrying this week and our front five can't possibly play that badly again. Hopefully.

Extra week should get Marler and Hartley playing better too, both looked off the pace last week but more really surprising.

Launchbury superb. Our options at lock incredible.

Our backrow worries me.
Clifford a talent but not a 7 or 6 long term.

Hughes unproven and lacks work rate as evidenced last week. Like all islanders he walks about pitch but massively explosive.

Itoje looked uncomfortable at 6. Backrow worries me.

dammit_chris wrote:Launchbury had one poor game against France, but been great for Wasps, particularly against Toulouse.

Both teams aren't quite right at no8, if its an open game then Hughes could thrive - Clifford should help him with the ball carrying this week and our front five can't possibly play that badly again. Hopefully.

Extra week should get Marler and Hartley playing better too, both looked off the pace last week but more really surprising.

One bad game and you are out is the moronic imbecile nonsense England cricket and rugby did for years.
The have a squad and stick with it approach has made cricket and rugby thrive

For Bristol, right now I think I need to work on a real class back 3 player, 10 since Lealiifano is still a long way from rugby, and maybe 13 with Taylor injured most of this season. Ideally another carrier in the pack. Anything else anyone has to add?

Launchbury needs a big game, he's flattered to deceive a little for a while now for England. I agree he puts in some great performances for Wasps but rarely shows this for England. I'm a big fan as he's clearly a top 5 or so NH lock, he just needs to stamp his authority on games more.

I'd agree that CJ, it's more in the backs you miss that bit of quality.

Enjoy the game.today guys. I have the joy of a uni assessment till 7.30 so blydi missing it!! I'm not massively confident about our guys especially with Cuthbert now in! Hoping the fans create the intimidating atmosphere we need.

Enjoy the assessment Prop!

Should be a good game, Warburton and Tipuric will be big players today, whilst Halfpenny is starting to get back to how he was pre-injury, do like the Welsh midfield and Liam Williams though. Looks like it could be a very close game.

Halfpenny has great boot and solid defence but offers little going forward these days. You do wonder if he'd be in the team if he didn't take the shots at goal.

Well here it is.......c'mon lads!!!!!

Pretty good start by us, lots of pressure and looking dangerous. Pack are carrying much better on a whole and using Hughes well who's taking 2 tacklers out each time. Just need to start using him a bit more as a decoy and we'll get behind them.

Certainly looking better than last week.

Great start! Ford much better this week, making some lovely little moves. Carrying all over the park giving us loads of momentum, pack is really impressive.

I must admit, as much as Moriarty doesn't carry.....his defence has been superb tonight.

How the hell did we win that????? Cracking impact from the bench again, I'm in shock.

Cracking shift from Hughes with 67m made. He got nailed numerous times but was a constant outlet and is getting better every game.

Bizarre to take Moriarty off as I must admit he was colossus in defence.

Haven't seen the game but am tamping that we threw it away and how Cuthbert still gets selected!! Well done lads, enjoy it. England-Ireland will be a hell of a game!

Player ratings https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-v-england-player-ratings-12592384.amp?client=safari


http://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/wales-v-england-player-ratings-35443074.html


https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-4215348/amp/Wales-16-21-England-ISix-Nations-2017-PLAYER-RATINGS.html?client=safari


Great game and a
Pleasure to watch live. Our locks were great but backrow anonymous.

Cole and marler were even at scrum time but both cleared rucks really well.

Itoje not a 6 and Clifford not a
7
And Hughes so
Lazy and not an int 8.

How we won when outgunned in
Backrow a mystery:

Both Clifford
And Hughes were walking at times.

We are fitter
Than them but Clifford and Hughes need to get fit.

Miss billy so
Much

prop_lyd wrote:Haven't seen the game but am tamping that we threw it away and how Cuthbert still gets selected!! Well done lads, enjoy it. England-Ireland will be a hell of a game!

Using the term tamping immediately means you are Welsh.

It's such a Welsh term. Love it

Thought ref today was awesome. Never noticed him which is sign of a good performance

Agree with you there Mat, our backrow was outplayed completely today, the Welsh were excellent there.Jacques Burger said this about Hughes on Twitter, he has gold patches in games where he looks excellent, but then disappears, no one helps him carry though.

"Nathan Hughes has been smoked more than a cuban cigar tonight but just kept coming. Good on him...#RBS6Nations #WALvENG"

Front five were all good, Marler took a huge step up but agree with Pooly that maybe George should start - but then again is it better to get him more game time for the Ireland match. Lawes, Launch great today - thought Youngs and JJ had really poor games by their standards and big change when they came off.

Teo'o looks made for this level.

Prop, have to say that was the best Welsh performance I've seen in a long time, they had a lot of intensity in that game but made a lot of errors at key times that cost them. Well worth a watch, but would stop after 75mins mate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/11/wales-vs-england-six-nations-player-ratings-fired-flopped/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/11/wales-vs-england-six-nations-player-ratings-fired-flopped/ross-moriarty/


He is average lol

To be fair.. He was called an average carrier not an average tackler!

BamBam wrote:To be fair.. He was called an average carrier not an average tackler!

He is known for his carrying and defence

To
Quote pooly "The 16 missed tackles in 3 tests in NZ would suggest otherwise

That was the best game I've seen Moriarty have today, he's really improved, didnt think he would ever get to that level. Seemed like a changing point in the game when he was subbed off for Falateau, strange call by Howley.

That's where Jones is so good, seems to make all the right calls. Would like to see Teo'o start at 13 next game, see what damage JJ can cause from the bench. Both games he's been the major difference for us.

dammit_chris wrote:That was the best game I've seen Moriarty have today, he's really improved, didnt think he would ever get to that level. Seemed like a changing point in the game when he was subbed off for Falateau, strange call by Howley.

That's where Jones is so good, seems to make all the right calls. Would like to see Teo'o start at 13 next game, see what damage JJ can cause from the bench. Both games he's been the major difference for us.

Every decision jones makes
Seems
to be right.

That Daly defence where biggar intercepted and kicked down was superb. May would have got there earlier but not kicked it out.

That said May would have scored the try Daly did easier.

Daly been so Impressive but think either Daly or Watson will be FB. Brown been good but he never passes and kills so many attacks. Time
For him to go

http://rugbylad.com/watch-england-star-could-be-in-big-trouble-for-this-eye-gouge-in-wales-game/





Personally can't see anything in it