The Welsh rugby forums are gearing themselves up for a huge weekend...
I'm sure they are, but I've got a feeling they are going to be disappointed!
That said, most of my feelings are completely wrong!
Good luck to Scotland for tomorrow! I will be watching, with a couple of bottles of beer close by!
Notice the similarities in the time period of the game of both the French wins against England and Scotland that hardly left enough time for the opposition to make a comeback.
The Welsh rugby forums are gearing themselves up for a huge weekend...
Do I take it that they have now geared down ?
Do I take it that they have now geared down ?
No, as always after a poor performance from Wales they have gone into 'sack the coach, chaneg the entire team' meltdown...
I think I may have been banned from the Llanelli Scarlets forum for suggesting that there may be an alternatiove fly half option.
Even at his age and level of fitness, I don't think he'd have been much worse yesterday.
In fact, I think I would have been only slightly worse.
Was Barry John ever forgiven for his move from Llanelli to Cardiff ?
The chap who took his place did quite well though.....
Some still hate him for retiring early......
There's no doubt that if a Lions tour was taking place this year, very few Welsh players would be in it.
The Rabo league doesn't produce intense, quality matches, so there is a big step up for those who are still playing in Wales when they go on international duty. That said, playing in France hasn't helped Lydiate, Roberts or Hook at international level.
The main problem is that Gatland's way of playing requires high levels of fitness and for players to be accurate in what they are doing. When it works, it is effective and difficult to stop, but it does rely on the majority of players being sharp and fit.
Once more than one or two have a dip in form, are gettin old, carrying injuries or have just not been playing (examples this season being Priestland, Lydiate, Warburton, Jonathan Davies, Mike Phillips and the two props) this style of play inevitably becomes less effective.
I don't want to take away anything from England, they were good value for their victory and I like their pattern of play.
Don't go throwing yourself in the River Taff quite yet - Scotland would have even fewer
And still they wonder why the national team has a problem at No 10.:roll:In another French move to attract British players, Toulouse have said that fly-half Toby Flood will be joining them next season.
I'm a big fan of Richie Gray and Alistair Denton. I also think Stuart Hogg would be worth taking.
As far as Wales go, I don't see anyone part from George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton being selected for a Lions Tour this year. The rest of them haven't performed well enough.
I'd like to see a few changes for the next match, just to shake it up a bit. Gatland has been loyal and some players have not repaid his faith. I suspect there may be an element of complacency in the squad, and the Welsh Lions may have started to believe they are better than they are.
To be fair, they did play a lot better in the second half.That was horrendous from Scotland.. There is a disease within Scottish Rugby and has been for ten years!
Top to bottom the whole organisation needs a clear out and I regret to say it I do agree with Some parts if the media, they currently offer nothing to tournament and could be doing with a warning shot from other Unions about future
Delighted to see an Irish win. Feeling very proud of my Irish roots, so happy the lads held on for a well deserved victory. What a close finish. What a close game.