The Official Rygbi Cymru Thread

[penguin]

Happy with the pack, although of course disappointed not to have Navidi in there....assuming that change is enforced (if not then WTF).

Just have to hope the pack do the job up front because that backline doesn't look like it's going to tear it up.

Navidi is injured apparently. Interesting that Pivac had picked Macleod to start before he too picked up an injury - weird... Has Macleod played 6 before? - What's Aaron Wainwright done to be so far down the pecking order?

Not sure. Pivac's been unlucky with injuries (although bad performances that leave you making 200+ tackles do tend to lead to more injuries I'd imagine) but there is something of the merry-go-round about selection right now. 6, 9, and midfield seem to be drawn out of a hat.

[GogLais]

Is Jake Ball injured or has he well and truly blotted his copybook?

[penguin]

Is Jake Ball injured or has he well and truly blotted his copybook?

Perhaps it's about Pivac having one eye on his return to Oz at the end of the season?

[P in VG]

Is Jake Ball injured or has he well and truly blotted his copybook?

Lamping the Captain probably did him no favours..

[penguin]

SCOTLAND (vs Wales, Saturday)
15. Stuart Hogg CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 81 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh) – 15 caps
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 24 caps
12. James Lang (Harlequins) – 5 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh) – 6 caps
10. Finn Russell VICE CAPTAIN (Racing 92) – 52 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 12 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 35 caps
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
5. Jonny Gray VICE CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 62 caps
6. Blade Thomson (Scarlets) – 9 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh – 37 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 10 caps

Substitutes:
16. David Cherry (Edinburgh) – 1 cap
17. Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh) – 41 caps
19. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 66 caps
20. Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) – 3 caps
21. Scott Steele (Harlequins) – 2 caps
22. Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh) – 1 cap
23. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 27 caps

[penguin]

Redpath looked fantastic last week, so shame for the Scots....but not bad replacements in other positions in Blade Thomson and Darcy Graham. Can't say I've seen much of Lang, and what I did see seemed unremarkable (cue blinding game against us).

More creativity at 10 and 15 than us, good wingers that will finish chances...midfield is ok, but not up to the same calibre as the rest of the backline.

[P in VG]

Happy with the pack, although of course disappointed not to have Navidi in there....assuming that change is enforced (if not then WTF).

Just have to hope the pack do the job up front because that backline doesn't look like it's going to tear it up.

Navidi is injured apparently. Interesting that Pivac had picked Macleod to start before he too picked up an injury - weird... Has Macleod played 6 before? - What's Aaron Wainwright done to be so far down the pecking order?

Not sure. Pivac's been unlucky with injuries (although bad performances that leave you making 200+ tackles do tend to lead to more injuries I'd imagine) but there is something of the merry-go-round about selection right now. 6, 9, and midfield seem to be drawn out of a hat.

He has been unlucky with injuries - but there are also so many mixed messages coming from his scattergun selections. He says he's going to pick on form - and then just selects the same old faces. Says he wants a bruising & dominant 6 - and then apparently tries to start Macleod there? wtf?

I hope that Ireland win doesn't save his job (but i fear it might)

[GogLais]

Is Jake Ball injured or has he well and truly blotted his copybook?

Perhaps it's about Pivac having one eye on his return to Oz at the end of the season?

Fair enough but why was he in the squad at all then? Although I’m not sure when he announced that.

[frodder]

This has got pasting written all over it which Ireland would have given us if it wasn't for 1 tackle POM

[RBear]

Navidi is injured apparently. Interesting that Pivac had picked Macleod to start before he too picked up an injury - weird... Has Macleod played 6 before? - What's Aaron Wainwright done to be so far down the pecking order?

Not sure. Pivac's been unlucky with injuries (although bad performances that leave you making 200+ tackles do tend to lead to more injuries I'd imagine) but there is something of the merry-go-round about selection right now. 6, 9, and midfield seem to be drawn out of a hat.

He has been unlucky with injuries - but there are also so many mixed messages coming from his scattergun selections. He says he's going to pick on form - and then just selects the same old faces. Says he wants a bruising & dominant 6 - and then apparently tries to start Macleod there? wtf?

I hope that Ireland win doesn't save his job (but i fear it might)

There no chance he’s picking on form if he was Jarrod would be at least in the 23. I wouldn’t be opposed to trying him at 12 either if there’s an insistence on having a ‘game manager’ at 10.

To be honest you look at it and does put a bit of credence to the fliers theory of scarlet bias.

You’d like to think the WRU will see the Ireland victory in context but I fear the same as you.

[RBear]

Is Jake Ball injured or has he well and truly blotted his copybook?

Perhaps it's about Pivac having one eye on his return to Oz at the end of the season?

Fair enough but why was he in the squad at all then? Although I’m not sure when he announced that.

He announced it before the squad was named so your question is a very good one. Although as someone else said lamping the captain doesn’t help but I’m not convinced he would have been playing anyway.

[GogLais]

Perhaps it's about Pivac having one eye on his return to Oz at the end of the season?

Fair enough but why was he in the squad at all then? Although I’m not sure when he announced that.

He announced it before the squad was named so your question is a very good one. Although as someone else said lamping the captain doesn’t help but I’m not convinced he would have been playing anyway.

I'd have thought he'd be ahead of WR. If he's unselectable because the relationship with AWJ has broken down then he might as well be at home.

[Yr Alban]

Redpath looked fantastic last week, so shame for the Scots....but not bad replacements in other positions in Blade Thomson and Darcy Graham. Can't say I've seen much of Lang, and what I did see seemed unremarkable (cue blinding game against us).

More creativity at 10 and 15 than us, good wingers that will finish chances...midfield is ok, but not up to the same calibre as the rest of the backline.

Lang and Thomson are major downgrades on Redpath and Ritchie. Thomson arrived with a big reputation and has done sod all since. We expected Matt Fagerson to 6 with Gary Graham at 8, but Thomson provides a lineout option (like Ritchie) which is presumably why he gets the nod. Lang is the definition of a ‘meh’ player. Darcy Graham isn’t a downgrade on Maitland, though they are different players.

[penguin]

Redpath looked fantastic last week, so shame for the Scots....but not bad replacements in other positions in Blade Thomson and Darcy Graham. Can't say I've seen much of Lang, and what I did see seemed unremarkable (cue blinding game against us).

More creativity at 10 and 15 than us, good wingers that will finish chances...midfield is ok, but not up to the same calibre as the rest of the backline.

Lang and Thomson are major downgrades on Redpath and Ritchie. Thomson arrived with a big reputation and has done sod all since. We expected Matt Fagerson to 6 with Gary Graham at 8, but Thomson provides a lineout option (like Ritchie) which is presumably why he gets the nod. Lang is the definition of a ‘meh’ player. Darcy Graham isn’t a downgrade on Maitland, though they are different players.

That's been my impression of Lang. I've noted he's been on the pitch and then it hasn't really been worth remembering anything else. Graham on the other hand gives you a nippy little fucker to balance out your big lumpy fucker on the other wing.

I think you'll miss Ritchie's abrasiveness and Graham would have matched up much more with that physical approach but Thomson's not a bad guy to call up. At the moment we're struggling to post decent possession numbers - you may find that Thomson's extra skills - the offloading and support running - might help to open us up.

[GogLais]

Wrong game but should RIP Dai Davies, 50+ caps in goal for Wales in the 70s. Seems to have been well thought of.

[Theflier]

Well that's shit for Macleod, Achilles has to be the second worst injury to come back from.

Can't see what Jarrod needs to do to play, feel for the lad, his opportunity to build himself a name is being pissed away by a kiwi trying to hang on to his pay check, useless fucker. It seems Pivacs trying to wrestle results until Anscombes back. Now I know I am fond of Anscombe, to the point of bias perhaps, but he's a 10 who's heavily based in running trying to come back from a 2 year ACL injury, there's a fucking good chance he won't have a pro contract next year let alone be able to play, idiotic.

As for sheedy, who's another stephen jones, same as Carre, Nickynacknoo, Johnny English, Faletau, Row(eng)lands. The message is clear, if you play in England, you'll play for wales, ridiculous

[penguin]

Well that's shit for Macleod, Achilles has to be the second worst injury to come back from.

Can't see what Jarrod needs to do to play, feel for the lad, his opportunity to build himself a name is being pissed away by a kiwi trying to hang on to his pay check, useless fucker. It seems Pivacs trying to wrestle results until Anscombes back. Now I know I am fond of Anscombe, to the point of bias perhaps, but he's a 10 who's heavily based in running trying to come back from a 2 year ACL injury, there's a fucking good chance he won't have a pro contract next year let alone be able to play, idiotic.

As for sheedy, who's another stephen jones, same as Carre, Nickynacknoo, Johnny English, Faletau, Row(eng)lands. The message is clear, if you play in England, you'll play for wales, ridiculous

Why throw Toby in there? He's playing in England having met the threshold for being able to, set by the WRU...I'm not particularly agreeing with you about the others, but that seems an unnecessary name to put in there, same as Biggar, who you didn't mention. And yet Biggar has Welsh based options like Jarrod, whereas Toby has Navidi and Moriarty (just back from injury and still coming back respectively) then daylight then Aaron Wainwright who is experimenting with the position.

On Jarrod - I want to see Jarrod get a run. He's head and shoulders the most attacking 10 Wales have seen in years. That said, the way we're playing right now he could be on a hiding to nothing - get a game behind a pack in reverse, look crap, get binned for another few games in favour of the more conservative options. I'm hoping that when he gets his chance he has a really good shot at showing everyone what he could do and his inclusion becomes impossible to argue.

[Line6 HXFX]

I reckon Wales will win tomorrow. The Scots think rugby is all romantic now, middle class, and that they will be carried shoulder high by naked 26 year old virgins and deposited in the pitch onto cotton duvets and with pundits weeping on demand.. at the sheer joyfulness spectacle of it all .they will not be able to cope with our sheer fucking desperation, patheticness and willingness to die for half fucking Welsh cake.

[Theflier]

Well that's shit for Macleod, Achilles has to be the second worst injury to come back from.

Can't see what Jarrod needs to do to play, feel for the lad, his opportunity to build himself a name is being pissed away by a kiwi trying to hang on to his pay check, useless fucker. It seems Pivacs trying to wrestle results until Anscombes back. Now I know I am fond of Anscombe, to the point of bias perhaps, but he's a 10 who's heavily based in running trying to come back from a 2 year ACL injury, there's a fucking good chance he won't have a pro contract next year let alone be able to play, idiotic.

As for sheedy, who's another stephen jones, same as Carre, Nickynacknoo, Johnny English, Faletau, Row(eng)lands. The message is clear, if you play in England, you'll play for wales, ridiculous

Why throw Toby in there? He's playing in England having met the threshold for being able to, set by the WRU...I'm not particularly agreeing with you about the others, but that seems an unnecessary name to put in there, same as Biggar, who you didn't mention. And yet Biggar has Welsh based options like Jarrod, whereas Toby has Navidi and Moriarty (just back from injury and still coming back respectively) then daylight then Aaron Wainwright who is experimenting with the position.

On Jarrod - I want to see Jarrod get a run. He's head and shoulders the most attacking 10 Wales have seen in years. That said, the way we're playing right now he could be on a hiding to nothing - get a game behind a pack in reverse, look crap, get binned for another few games in favour of the more conservative options. I'm hoping that when he gets his chance he has a really good shot at showing everyone what he could do and his inclusion becomes impossible to argue.

I didn't mention biggar because I forgot about him.

Jarrod showed what he could do against the baabaas, by making the first Welsh outside shoulder break and try assist I've ever seen.

[GogLais]

I reckon Wales will win tomorrow. The Scots think rugby is all romantic now, middle class, and that they will be carried shoulder high by naked 26 year old virgins and deposited in the pitch onto cotton duvets and with pundits weeping on demand.. at the sheer joyfulness spectacke of it all .they will not be able to cope with our sheer fucking desperation, patheticness and willingness to die for half fucking Welsh cake.

I’ll have some of what you’re on.

[Ali Cadoo]

Think Simba came though his first match back today, scored a try, too. I only caught the last ten, looked rubbish as Cardiff dispatched the O's.

[frodder]

I reckon Wales will win tomorrow. The Scots think rugby is all romantic now, middle class, and that they will be carried shoulder high by naked 26 year old virgins and deposited in the pitch onto cotton duvets and with pundits weeping on demand.. at the sheer joyfulness spectacle of it all .they will not be able to cope with our sheer fucking desperation, patheticness and willingness to die for half fucking Welsh cake.

You don't believe that
We don't believe that

Scotland by 20

[bessantj]

Dragons down to 2 fit backrowers; Ben Fry and Huw Taylor. Wainwright on international duty, Keddie head injury, Lewis Evans calf strain, Griffiths ankle, Moriarty ankle, Basham forearm, Benjamin leg, Greggains shoulder...they're suggesting they might play academy player George Young, or maybe use a lock there. I can imagine Screech or Carter are mobile enough to play 6, but it's not great. Can't find any info on when Max Williams is back from injury, but he doesn't get a mention so I'm guessing he's still well off a return.

Dean Ryan looking to make a signing - someone's got to have a backrower somewhere desperate for some game time....

Jesus and it's not as if the cupboard was full to begin with.

Well done star of the game, frozen pitch!

[frodder]

We got a BP

Despite Biggar, Cawdor, Tomkins and Wainwright being shite

[clive]

I said a welsh win despite all the fucking doubters, give Wales a fucking chance and we are scoring and LWZ is fucking deadly, so fuck off.

[Theflier]

we may have seen the last of Biggar, Davies, 1/2p and other Davies today

[frodder]

we may have seen the last of Biggar, Davies, 1/2p and other Davies today

Sheedy improved us no end and even Hardie looked better than Cawdor. With North and Adams back they'll slot in.

Botham was outstanding. Brown did an excellent job in the scrum

[penguin]

I watched the scrums when Leon came on expecting the worst... Pleasant surprise.

[Theflier]

we may have seen the last of Biggar, Davies, 1/2p and other Davies today

Sheedy improved us no end and even Hardie looked better than Cawdor. With North and Adams back they'll slot in.

Botham was outstanding. Brown did an excellent job in the scrum

I must confess, afte advocating his selection for so long, I'm afraid he's a stephen Jones 10, brings those around him into the game rather than doing anything himself. We looked best with Halaholo at first receiver. Plus he's a shit kicker

[RBear]

we may have seen the last of Biggar, Davies, 1/2p and other Davies today

Sheedy improved us no end and even Hardie looked better than Cawdor. With North and Adams back they'll slot in.

Botham was outstanding. Brown did an excellent job in the scrum

I must confess, afte advocating his selection for so long, I'm afraid he's a stephen Jones 10, brings those around him into the game rather than doing anything himself. We looked best with Halaholo at first receiver. Plus he's a shit kicker

But I don’t think that’s a negative in today’s game, it’s why I want to see Sheedy at 10 Jarrod at 12 because that’ll give us all sorts of options in attack.

Agree about his kicking if you are talking about place kicking but the only reason he was on that today was a lack of options. I didn’t think his kicking out of hand was bad at all, especially compared to Biggar.

Btw surely that is Biggar done at least as a starter now? I don’t recall him doing anything well!

[RBear]

Also, and not letting pivac off the hook here just a thought, is the reason we’ve looked so bad the fact that our more senior players are now well past it and dragging the team down?

1/2p
Cawdor
Biggar
J Davies to an extent have been shocking and that’s over half of our backs

[Theflier]

Sheedy improved us no end and even Hardie looked better than Cawdor. With North and Adams back they'll slot in.

Botham was outstanding. Brown did an excellent job in the scrum

I must confess, afte advocating his selection for so long, I'm afraid he's a stephen Jones 10, brings those around him into the game rather than doing anything himself. We looked best with Halaholo at first receiver. Plus he's a shit kicker

But I don’t think that’s a negative in today’s game, it’s why I want to see Sheedy at 10 Jarrod at 12 because that’ll give us all sorts of options in attack.

Agree about his kicking if you are talking about place kicking but the only reason he was on that today was a lack of options. I didn’t think his kicking out of hand was bad at all, especially compared to Biggar.

Btw surely that is Biggar done at least as a starter now? I don’t recall him doing anything well!

Not just the place kicking, there were notable times we turned over ball in the last 10 and he couldn't get more than 40m on an infield kick, I'd expect any 10 to get the ball over the chasing back defence. I think we would've won by far more hard Jarrod played

[Theflier]

Also, and not letting pivac off the hook here just a thought, is the reason we’ve looked so bad the fact that our more senior players are now well past it and dragging the team down?

1/2p
Cawdor
Biggar
J Davies to an extent have been shocking and that’s over half of our backs

Yes, but his main job is selection

[clive]

we may have seen the last of Biggar, Davies, 1/2p and other Davies today

Sheedy improved us no end and even Hardie looked better than Cawdor. With North and Adams back they'll slot in.

Botham was outstanding. Brown did an excellent job in the scrum

Scotland by 20, what a two faced cunt you are.

[RBear]

Also, and not letting pivac off the hook here just a thought, is the reason we’ve looked so bad the fact that our more senior players are now well past it and dragging the team down?

1/2p
Cawdor
Biggar
J Davies to an extent have been shocking and that’s over half of our backs

Yes, but his main job is selection

Agreed, and he should be held accountable for that but I am interested in seeing a Pivac team that doesn’t have them in. Not saying it would necessarily be any good but would be interesting.

[RBear]

I must confess, afte advocating his selection for so long, I'm afraid he's a stephen Jones 10, brings those around him into the game rather than doing anything himself. We looked best with Halaholo at first receiver. Plus he's a shit kicker

But I don’t think that’s a negative in today’s game, it’s why I want to see Sheedy at 10 Jarrod at 12 because that’ll give us all sorts of options in attack.

Agree about his kicking if you are talking about place kicking but the only reason he was on that today was a lack of options. I didn’t think his kicking out of hand was bad at all, especially compared to Biggar.

Btw surely that is Biggar done at least as a starter now? I don’t recall him doing anything well!

Not just the place kicking, there were notable times we turned over ball in the last 10 and he couldn't get more than 40m on an infield kick, I'd expect any 10 to get the ball over the chasing back defence. I think we would've won by far more hard Jarrod played

Fair point I think the fact that it was 10x better than Biggar made it seem better that it was. To be fair whenever I’ve seen him for Bristol that side of his game has been pretty decent.

I will say compared to the other nations we do seem to lack a massive boot. Scotland have Hogg, France Bouthier, England Daly (albeit that’s all he seems to be good for), Ireland normally have stockdale don’t they?

We don’t seem to have anyone? Maybe LRZ, that kick from just outside the 22 with about 5 left was great. Possible future fullback with Lane and Adams on the wings?

[Theflier]

But I don’t think that’s a negative in today’s game, it’s why I want to see Sheedy at 10 Jarrod at 12 because that’ll give us all sorts of options in attack.

Agree about his kicking if you are talking about place kicking but the only reason he was on that today was a lack of options. I didn’t think his kicking out of hand was bad at all, especially compared to Biggar.

Btw surely that is Biggar done at least as a starter now? I don’t recall him doing anything well!

Not just the place kicking, there were notable times we turned over ball in the last 10 and he couldn't get more than 40m on an infield kick, I'd expect any 10 to get the ball over the chasing back defence. I think we would've won by far more hard Jarrod played

Fair point I think the fact that it was 10x better than Biggar made it seem better that it was. To be fair whenever I’ve seen him for Bristol that side of his game has been pretty decent.

I will say compared to the other nations we do seem to lack a massive boot. Scotland have Hogg, France Bouthier, England Daly (albeit that’s all he seems to be good for), Ireland normally have stockdale don’t they?

We don’t seem to have anyone? Maybe LRZ, that kick from just outside the 22 with about 5 left was great. Possible future fullback with Lane and Adams on the wings?

We've got the biggest boot of all, he's just injured and won't admit he's not a 10.

[bessantj]

Great in work yesterday, the English lads giving us shit when Wales were losing but we got to turn it around when they won. Nice to see that Halaholo and Sheedy got some game time, Wales need to find a full time replacement for Halfpenny and Biggar. 1 out of 4 conversions though, ouch.

[P in VG]

Not just the place kicking, there were notable times we turned over ball in the last 10 and he couldn't get more than 40m on an infield kick, I'd expect any 10 to get the ball over the chasing back defence. I think we would've won by far more hard Jarrod played

Fair point I think the fact that it was 10x better than Biggar made it seem better that it was. To be fair whenever I’ve seen him for Bristol that side of his game has been pretty decent.

I will say compared to the other nations we do seem to lack a massive boot. Scotland have Hogg, France Bouthier, England Daly (albeit that’s all he seems to be good for), Ireland normally have stockdale don’t they?

We don’t seem to have anyone? Maybe LRZ, that kick from just outside the 22 with about 5 left was great. Possible future fullback with Lane and Adams on the wings?

We've got the biggest boot of all, he's just injured and won't admit he's not a 10.

Assume you’re talking about Patchell? Always been impressed with him at fullback . Deceptive pace

[frodder]

Our selection at centre will be interesting. Pick 2 from

Willis
Watkin
Foxy
North
Tomkins
Johnny English