Wales tour of SA

First topic message reminder :

Halfpenny is out and recent news (unknown to me) is stating that Warburton will now also miss out due to a dislocated shoulder. It doesn't look good for us going to SA without these two and with our recent away form being so bad. Personally I think it would be a good idea if we had a midweek game before the first test against a SA Provincial team, using the majority of our first team.

Who would you like to see on the plane?

Surely these guys will be too tired after playing a full season in the Rabo!  

Seeing as Ieuan Jones was mentioned on here (can't remember if he was being discussed elsewhere too), Cardiff Blues have made another back row signing, so his game time is possibly limited there too what with Turnbull going too.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-sign-italian-international-6856719#.Uyr60ewX4K4.twitter

gcBlues wrote:The irish wouldn't stick POC on the flank to counteract a driving maul.

AWJ is our best lock, let him influence the game from there and not shunted to the side. It's not about conditioning, it's about tactical awareness, positioning, spreading wider infield away from rucks. AWJ does not use this as his game.

AWJ & Ball with either Lydiate or Combes at 6. You have to go with someone who has played there before, not once many moons ago. It will disjoint the pack.

If Wales want to stop a driving maul then their training should reflect that with everyone in their correct positions.

Don't really see how that is relevant... But the driving maul has long been a strength of the Irish game. And how do you know anyway, it's been a while since they played SA...

Stating AWJ is our best lock is debatable given the form of the other two options. Though AWJ is actually one of pack's work horses so he does pretty much everything you said he doesn't do.

Scrumpy wrote:Surely these guys will be too tired after playing a full season in the Rabo!  

Honestly surprises me you even make it to the end of your own posts…….zzzzzzzzzzzzz

ALso if we rest Taulupe i hear Andy Powell is available.

Toby does look tired.

Would explain why his performances have been very average/poor of late.   

Quick question for the welsh fans.

If Wales leave Halfpenny, Warburton out through injury....

and then rest say AW Jones and Faletau (amongst others).

How do you think the tour will go for you guys. Thats quite possibly your 4 most important players out bar Lydiate (when playing SA).
Now given injuries will always occur, expect say another 2-3 first choice players to also be out come the tests.

Thats the sort of play which causes 30-40 point drubbings.

Will that do any benefit for the Welsh players?

I know chaps like AW Jones have played an awful lot of rugby and need a rest... but surely they should be rested for their club and not their country.

Scrumpy wrote:Toby does look tired.

Would explain why his performances have been very average/poor of late.   

WUM

Have they really played more games than the English lads?

I just don't buy that as an excuse, if Wales take this tour lightly then SA will take advantage of them and their IRB ranking will get worse.  

If they really want to rest players before 2015 then just say so, no shame in that, plus it gives new lads a go against one of the best.

Ranking means nothing until 2017 when the next RWC seeds are picked.

Their ranking will hardly be dented due to the diff SA have on them +3 points for being at home.

I read AW Jones has played nearly every club and country match. Those stress injuries always turn up around these times.

Players need to be managed.... but I think they need to prioritise the important matches.

Got to be thinking of the world cup. A result in SA has to be the goal else whats the point of even going. They need a shot in the arm to take them to 2015 and an away win in SA would be just that (as unlikely as it is).

Rankings always matter!

Scrumpy wrote:Rankings always matter!

who for.... does it make players/opposition better or worse?

It only matters when it matters... and it only matters once every 4 years.

No, it matters as the rankings system doesn't lie.   

Also to say it doesn't matter is like saying we don't want to win (or can't win) that game, that breeds a poor attitude that has effected most NH teams and why very few of us (NH) win against the top 3.

At this level you should want to win every game.

Wales lost 2 ranking points because they went to Japan and lost the match. Is thata fair reflection given they had 20 players missing?

is that at me BB???

Just asking a genuine question on whether they should be resting players?

Also the rankings... it doesn't matter given SA are so far ahead with +3 home advantage points.

fa0019 wrote:Wales lost 2 ranking points because they went to Japan and lost the match. Is thata fair reflection given they had 20 players missing?

Yes, as they shouldn't have lost even with players missing.

Bil whats that warning for?

If someone really finds two rugby fans discussing different opinions in a sensible manner upsetting, then maybe, just maybe they should grow up?   

Scrumpy wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Wales lost 2 ranking points because they went to Japan and lost the match. Is thata fair reflection given they had 20 players missing?

Yes, as they shouldn't have lost even with players missing.

Nobody cares about Japan except the Wums. Wales were busy winning a lions tour for the English, Irish and Scots.

Japan would have beaten that Aussie side.

That is the poor attitude I'm talking about, it shouldn't matter that Wales were missing players or that it was against Japan, NZ or SA wouldn't have that attitude going into a game.

You play for the shirt, end of.

Cyril wrote:Japan would have beaten that Aussie side.

Like i said, only WUMS care about Japan.

There has been some reports on this thread.

Biltong wrote:There has been some reports on this thread.

Good ones?

Scratch wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Wales lost 2 ranking points because they went to Japan and lost the match. Is thata fair reflection given they had 20 players missing?

Yes, as they shouldn't have lost even with players missing.

Nobody cares about Japan except the Wums. Wales were busy winning a lions tour for the English, Irish and Scots.

An incredibly ironic statement when read in conjunction with the preceding sentence.

Nonetheless, the loss to Japan was significant because it did cost IRB ranking points, whether Wales 'should' have won with players missing is debatable, perhaps the question should be, 'should Wales have played Japan full stop?' - it seems short sighted now.

Cyril wrote:

Biltong wrote:There has been some reports on this thread.

Good ones?

One was quite well written yeah.

Biltong wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Biltong wrote:There has been some reports on this thread.

Good ones?

One was quite well written yeah.

Good to hear  If you're going to complain, do it eloquently.

Reports? Do you mean the clear attempt by Scrumpy to derail the thread with his constant relentless WUMS about Wales?!! YAWN

Can't we just set up a Scrumpy visits Wales thread and he can play with himself on it.

You can but I doubt he will play by himself.

Hard not to talk about Wales on a 'Wales tour of SA' thread!

Also where is the WUM?

The next guy that says wum goes for 48 hours.

Like i said by PM to you Biltong, why don't you just publish a list of words we can and cannot use because it seems somewhat odd that you will threaten posters for complaining about obvious attempts to provoke on this thread, yet ignore that provocation itself.

No need scratch, you know what is on topic and what is not.

Come on Bil don't be taken in!

No one here is doing what was mentioned 'in your previous post', this is a sensible rugby discussion being interupted by a fellow member with an agenda.


fa0019, I find the attitude towards the IRB rankings system really shocking, surely every team that takes the field wants to win therefore improving their ranking?

Scrumpy wrote:Come on Bil don't be taken in!

No one here is doing what was mentioned 'in your previous post', this is a sensible rugby discussion being interupted by a fellow member with an agenda.


I find the attitude towards the IRB rankings system really shocking, surely every team that takes the field wants to win therefore improving their ranking?

Thanks for admitting you have an agenda at last.    

Bil this is getting silly?
please feel free to read what I have posted and make your own mind up.


I'm really looking forward to the summer tours this year always a great occasion for all involved.

Scratch that is enough, scrumpy don't respond.

  Thanks Bil for keeping a level head.

Biltong wrote:Scratch that is enough, scrumpy don't respond.

Wow, you don't even attempt to be impartial. Good to know.

Scrumpy wrote:

fa0019, I find the attitude towards the IRB rankings system really shocking, surely every team that takes the field wants to win therefore improving their ranking?

Just want to say, I pay little attention to the rankings. They are flawed in their design, firstly, teams don't play the same opponents, they don't play in the same conditions, they don't play in the same venues, they don't have the same matchday 22's

I measure the Springboks on wins against each opponent, i know who is better than we are and who isn't

Scratch wrote:

Biltong wrote:Scratch that is enough, scrumpy don't respond.

Wow, you don't even attempt to be impartial. Good to know.

Impartiality is a perception, each person has their own perception of what impartiality is.

Biltong wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Biltong wrote:Scratch that is enough, scrumpy don't respond.

Wow, you don't even attempt to be impartial. Good to know.

Impartiality is a perception, each oerson has their own oerception of what impartiality is.

Quite, and it is patently clear what yours is. Like i said, it's good to know where we stand on this board. We can't expect the mods to be impartial by their own admission, thanks for clearing that up.   

Scratch wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Scratch wrote:

Biltong wrote:Scratch that is enough, scrumpy don't respond.

Wow, you don't even attempt to be impartial. Good to know.

Impartiality is a perception, each oerson has their own oerception of what impartiality is.

Quite, and it is patently clear what yours is. Like i said, it's good to know where we stand on this board. We can't expect the mods to be impartial by their own admission, thanks for clearing that up.   

No problem.

Biltong wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

fa0019, I find the attitude towards the IRB rankings system really shocking, surely every team that takes the field wants to win therefore improving their ranking?

Just want to say, I pay little attention to the rankings. They are flawed in their design, firstly, teams don't play the same opponents, they don't play in the same conditions, they don't play in the same venues, they don't have the same matchday 22's

I measure the Springboks on wins against each opponent, i know who is better than we are and who isn't

The rankings isn't perfect but it's not totally useless, as I think the rankings are spot on in terms of how good or not teams are at the moment.  

And there the thread gets derailed like I said it would in my report...

  

Has the extra mid-week provincial game actually been confirmed yet? I know Gatland has said he is looking to take a lrger squad than normal and would like to see them all get a run out.

It got derailed some time ago unfortunately when some one got a bee in their bonnet!

Anyway back on topic, good to see Adam wants to go on tour and make the 2015 RWC that's the spirit, everyone feels tired now and then but you have to battle on through the pain. Really hope he gets his wish to play in four world cups.

He obviously will go to the World Cup (if fit). The trouble is that Ospreys (or Dragons if the central contract story comes true) will protect him and then we'll keep getting Gatland saying he's unfit.

fa0019 wrote:Quick question for the welsh fans.

If Wales leave Halfpenny, Warburton out through injury....

and then rest say AW Jones and Faletau (amongst others).

How do you think the tour will go for you guys. Thats quite possibly your 4 most important players out bar Lydiate (when playing SA).
Now given injuries will always occur, expect say another 2-3 first choice players to also be out come the tests.

Thats the sort of play which causes 30-40 point drubbings.

Will that do any benefit for the Welsh players?

I know chaps like AW Jones have played an awful lot of rugby and need a rest... but surely they should be rested for their club and not their country.

FA where we are right now i would rather us go down with a ssecond xv and lose by 50-60 in the hope that at least one or two press their claims for starting berths than us go down with a full strength xv and lose by 20 which IMO would hurt the team far more psychologically

Not sure what to think if Wales brings a second string team to SA, one the one hand I am disappointed to hear Wales might bring a second string team as it would not be very good preparation for going into the Rugby Championship.

It will really just be warm up games, which might be good for working on our attack and develop that a bit more whilst honing our breakdown skills etc.

It could also be an opportunity for Meyer to find the other five guys he beleives he still requires for the RWC next year. Also give a few youngsters a go.

But what do we need more?

A strong contest to prepare against high quality or just a warmup?

Either way, I hope Wales give us a good series.