WALES INTERNATIONAL: GAMES, SQUADS, TOURNAMENTS, CHAT - SUMMER TOUR & SEASON 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

Here it is:

Springbok team to face Wales in Cape Town:
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 19 caps 18pts, 50pts (10t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 27 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 59 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 26 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 61 caps, 613 pts (6t, 83c, 131p, 4d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 12 caps, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 59 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 64 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 99 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 49 caps, 50 pts (10t)
1 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 48 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 60 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 33 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 20 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0pts
22 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 37caps, 25pts (5t)
23 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 73 caps, 60 pts (12t)

Carre should have been there at the least. Wyn Jones shouldn’t be; Nicky Smith anyone? This team will be lucky to get within 50.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Biggar's been lippy even by his standards lately, which isn't a good look even if you're playing well, which as you say, he isn't. Likewise, Josh Adams needs to spend less time playing Billy Big B0llocks. I really don't like him.

Better to be Billy Big B0llocks like Adams, rather than trying (and failing) to be a pretty boy like Stuart Hogg.

It's a nailed on yellow if the try isn't scored. Don't think the outcome should impact.

Tompkins still can’t defend.

Such a weight difference in the pack…

Should have been a yellow I thought.

Anyone's commentary about 1 second before pics?

Nah.

Hadn't noticed but now you mention it - yes

Yes, not the first time from ITV this year.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Anyone's commentary about 1 second before pics?

Yes! Thought it was the pub I was in with their crappy system!

I have noticed it now.

Frances ball placement is excellent when they're not offloading out of the tackle.

Was there a little knock on at that last ruck?

That's a pen.

No 7&1/2 wrote:That's a pen.

North for the deliberate knock on? should have been and a yellow card cos France were away

France should have had a yellow earlier too when Wales scored ... I don't see why some refs ignore yellows just because a try is scored.

Biggar standing off DuPont

TJ wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:That's a pen.

North for the deliberate knock on?  should have been and a yellow card cos France were away

Yes. Maybe harsh yellow from that position. Was it North? The one before half time.

Good try.

Nice move. But that maul is my bug bear. Marchand disengages what 3 times at the back. That's a pen to Wales for obstruction yet is ignored by practically every ref.

That didn't look forward.

It wasn't.

7 point turnaround there.

Well done Bradley, let them know son.

That's a pen too.

Getting interesting

It took 3 dramatic losses for Gats to realise that you can only score when you generate quick ball. Clearly a bit of homework done for France too, but we were lacking personnel going into this tournament anyway, struggling along was inevitable.

Better from Wales, the French have gone to sleep.

Shocking pass from Penaud.

Thats a pen surely.

Has he just slapped that out?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Has he just slapped that out?

Is he Welsh? I’m sure he did, and I’m also fairly certain he was offside whilst being the 16th man. How do Wales do it?

mikey_dragon wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Has he just slapped that out?

Is he Welsh? I’m sure he did, and I’m also fairly certain he was offside whilst being the 16th man. How to Wales do it?

He did slap it out. Bit lucky.

Ah, Halfpenny’s contribution, rubbish. Even a National treasure has to call it time.

Try bonus point for Wales - can't be too unhappy with that?

Good to see Dyer get some reward, he's worked hard.

Up the Dragons boys

Was a bit sceptical of Wainwright, but thought he did well today.

I guess not many paying attention to our thread today, or there might’ve been a bit of attention on Penaud’s play acting?

Nobody on here called him out for it as you expect, he’s not Welsh enough to be called out.

Did wonder about that but wasn't sure what had happened ...

How many of the old guard AWJ Tiperic Ken Owes Half penny do you expect to play in the RWC?

Well, not within 10 points like I imagined. But not the thumping it could have been either. The first and last 10 mins were decent from Wales!

Not a great deal to take away. Lots we know already. Just hoping Gatland has a trick up his sleeves for the WC. Not holding my breath though.

RiscaGame wrote:I guess not many paying attention to our thread today, or there might’ve been a bit of attention on Penaud’s play acting?

Taking a leaf out off the Biggar playbook? :-) It did make him look daft tho

TJ wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:I guess not many paying attention to our thread today, or there might’ve been a bit of attention on Penaud’s play acting?

Taking a leaf out off the Biggar playbook?  :-)  It did make him look daft tho

Biggar, Penaud, Hogg…….. same, same

I think France can get figured out quite easily by the better teams at the World Cup. With Ireland and NZ it’s difficult to figure out as they don’t seem to have weaknesses. SA will be up there too, everyone knows how they’ll play but it’s difficult to stop them rolling over you.

Let me ask the obvious question because Scotland fans had to grapple with this 5 years ago - surely it is better for the senior Welsh players to leave for non-Wales clubs and free up space for the youngsters to get some game time?

It will be much less attractive for the fans to watch, at least initially, but it must be the only way for the standard of the national team squad to improve on the limited budget which the WRU (and other unions) has?

George Carlin wrote:Let me ask the obvious question because Scotland fans had to grapple with this 5 years ago - surely it is better for the senior Welsh players to leave for non-Wales clubs and free up space for the youngsters to get some game time?

It will be much less attractive for the fans to watch, at least initially, but it must be the only way for the standard of the national team squad to improve on the limited budget which the WRU (and other unions) has?

George, I think you’d be right if a) we only had 2 sides and b) if the senior players actually played a lot for their clubs! How many senior players are we talking about in reality? Maybe 10? Spread over 4 clubs? And they often only play around 10 games a season so plenty of chance to blood youngsters. So not massively blocking talent coming through.

I know this has been said before, and I know this is going to sound offensive (sorry!), but I don’t think the Scotland is a great example of success with that model. If it was then yes I’d be more inclined to want to follow it. Yes a couple of half decent years on the bounce now for the Scotland national team. But nothing really to show for it. The Scottish clubs are having a slightly better time of it than the Welsh regions. But not massively so. We’re not talking Euro champs or consistent URC/Pro league winners. Less than the Welsh even (is that right?), historically?

I’m happy to wait and see what the restructure brings. Out of necessity we’ll probably see some leaving as the funding is reducing but I still think the best thing for national success is having the best players at home. All the top nations do that.

There are a couple senior players who could do with being moved on tbh. Anscombe, Halfpenny and Foxy to name 3.