NPR

penguin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 3:22 pm The other thing that bothers me about Gareth Davies kicking the ball away (apart from the complete lack of situational awareness) was the fact he chose to kick rather than run a decent opportunity. Ignore the context (if you can, I know it's hard - painfully stupid as it was) and as he comes off the scrum he's got men outside him (Biggar and Halfpenny), Navidi inside with Faletau just behind him. The Irish have 2 players, Gibson-Park and Larmour (I think), ahead of him so already he's got options. If he runs at Gibson-Park to stick him then it should be a simple pass either way to open the Irish up, and leave them bearing down on the 22 with numbers and mainly just Keenan coming across to cover. Not a guaranteed try but a great opportunity with some simple hands.

If that was the first minute rather than the 81st, and we weren't fixated on the contextual stupidity, and the poor execution of the kick, we might have been more critical of the more general inability to play what's ahead of him.

It was Cooperesque in it's stupidity tbh.
If he had kept the ball to hand no doubt we could have recycled and then the game was over.

A simple "Gareth Davies is thick as shit" would've sufficed

A real shame Tomos is crocked again. He's head and shoulders the best 9 we have

No doubt Jarrod will now get thrown in, as Anscombe was, to play alongside a 9 who cannot pass off his left hand, and then not get selected for 2 more years.

Theflier wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:56 pm No doubt Jarrod will now get thrown in, as Anscombe was, to play alongside a 9 who cannot pass off his left hand, and then not get selected for 2 more years.

Biggar ain't getting dropped and Sheedy is the next cab off the rank which is Biggar lite.

Are we calling up anyone to replace the 4 defo lads?

Webb?
Willis?
Botham?

frodder wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:29 am

Theflier wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:56 pm No doubt Jarrod will now get thrown in, as Anscombe was, to play alongside a 9 who cannot pass off his left hand, and then not get selected for 2 more years.

Biggar ain't getting dropped and Sheedy is the next cab off the rank which is Biggar lite.

Are we calling up anyone to replace the 4 defo lads?

Webb?
Willis?
Botham?

As Tomos is out with a hamstring there will have to be another 9 called up, so I'd say pretty nailed on to be Webb. Mind you Lloyd Williams did pretty well when he got called on, so perhaps he gets another shot.

Johnny Williams, probably back after this game you'd think...Watkin and Tompkins covering 12 so I'd guess no call up to cover him.

Lydiate - looked serious, has to be a call up...Botham, Lewis-Hughes, unlikely, but Moriarty is about to be back so Pivac could bring him into the camp now with a view to playing him in later games. I'd rather see the first two rewarded for the form they showed in the Autumn for Wales, and give Moriarty time to get back up to speed.

Amos is a head knock, so assuming Sanjay is ready to go and we have Rees-Zammit (which looked like a big if based on how he was clutching that wrist) and Halfpenny at 15 then I'd have thought that was the back 3, and then wait for Adams to come back, when Amos should be fit again too. If both Amos and LRZ are out, then with no Adams perhaps Mcnicholl (most likely I'd think), Lane, Hewitt get called up.

penguin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 3:22 pm The other thing that bothers me about Gareth Davies kicking the ball away (apart from the complete lack of situational awareness) was the fact he chose to kick rather than run a decent opportunity. Ignore the context (if you can, I know it's hard - painfully stupid as it was) and as he comes off the scrum he's got men outside him (Biggar and Halfpenny), Navidi inside with Faletau just behind him. The Irish have 2 players, Gibson-Park and Larmour (I think), ahead of him so already he's got options. If he runs at Gibson-Park to stick him then it should be a simple pass either way to open the Irish up, and leave them bearing down on the 22 with numbers and mainly just Keenan coming across to cover. Not a guaranteed try but a great opportunity with some simple hands.

If that was the first minute rather than the 81st, and we weren't fixated on the contextual stupidity, and the poor execution of the kick, we might have been more critical of the more general inability to play what's ahead of him.

That's a good post and a good point. It's something we should be more worried about, a top level Welsh player making those kind of decisions shouldn't be.

bessantj wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:04 pm

penguin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 3:22 pm The other thing that bothers me about Gareth Davies kicking the ball away (apart from the complete lack of situational awareness) was the fact he chose to kick rather than run a decent opportunity. Ignore the context (if you can, I know it's hard - painfully stupid as it was) and as he comes off the scrum he's got men outside him (Biggar and Halfpenny), Navidi inside with Faletau just behind him. The Irish have 2 players, Gibson-Park and Larmour (I think), ahead of him so already he's got options. If he runs at Gibson-Park to stick him then it should be a simple pass either way to open the Irish up, and leave them bearing down on the 22 with numbers and mainly just Keenan coming across to cover. Not a guaranteed try but a great opportunity with some simple hands.

If that was the first minute rather than the 81st, and we weren't fixated on the contextual stupidity, and the poor execution of the kick, we might have been more critical of the more general inability to play what's ahead of him.

That's a good post and a good point. It's something we should be more worried about, a top level Welsh player making those kind of decisions shouldn't be.

Practiced eye for bad decision making

It has always driven me mad - we're terrible for an unnecessary miss pass or a kick rather than trusting hands - I thought it was one problem Pivac would resolve....but we've had so little ball that decision making in attack hasn't been something we've practiced a lot or had that much of a chance to criticise.

On an unrelated note, liked this from Gethin in the press conference just now...

"If you’re playing Ireland, you end up making more tackles than usual. But I don’t see 200 tackles as a positive, it’s a negative. It means there’s things going wrong in other areas. Part of that could mean we’re not as good in the breakdown or whatever. While it’s good we’ve got the work-rate, you don’t want to rely on it."

Very Edwards like - no nonsense.

All signs are pointing to getting being a very good coach, speaks well, will have the respect of the players and you can see a marked improvement in the defence.

I’m hoping that we get a new HC after the tournament and he keeps him around.

On another note is anyone surprised that we haven’t heard of any call ups yet? Seems bizarre considering it’s almost certain lydiate and tomos will need replacing

Lydiate out for the season. Poor guy

RBear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:54 pm All signs are pointing to getting being a very good coach, speaks well, will have the respect of the players and you can see a marked improvement in the defence.

I’m hoping that we get a new HC after the tournament and he keeps him around.

While Pivac may need to go (cue theflier screaming blue murder), the most urgent position is forwards coach for me. We saw Hayward go when it was clear that the defence wasn't working...well, at the moment, the forward platform is non-existent, so at what point does Pivac have a quiet chat with Humphreys, pass him a glass of whiskey and a revolver? If Pivac is to have any chance of his more attacking gameplan working then the platform needs to be right, and it clearly isn't.

RBear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:00 pm On another note is anyone surprised that we haven’t heard of any call ups yet? Seems bizarre considering it’s almost certain lydiate and tomos will need replacing

They're waiting on the Covid test results.

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....

penguin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:29 pm 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.

Willis, Lloyd and botham called up. Cardiff, who are one point ahead of the baby eaters, despite being funded to the tune of £2million less, now contribute the most players to Team Wales of the 4 regions, no doubt to give them a good standing to maintain their lead over the miasmic, nefarious 'men' of the west.

Sack the useless fucker.

How has Willis been since injury?
Is he ready?

C69 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:03 pm How has Willis been since injury?
Is he ready?

Not close to Lee-lo, far better than every other centre that's played for Wales in the last 4 years.

Theflier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:09 pm

C69 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:03 pm How has Willis been since injury?
Is he ready?

Not close to Lee-lo, far better than every other centre that's played for Wales in the last 4 years.

Amen, best attacking centre available for Wales

Willis, Lloyd and Botham in the squad. All excellent additions and looks like Webb is finished

Willis and George in the midfield would certainly give us a very different attacking threat. I'd still like us to play a more attacking 10 but those two would at least balance out Biggar a little more.

Some stats on Welsh inside centre contenders ahead of the Scotland game...stats are per 80 minutes

https://www.cardiffrfcfans.com/analysis ... s/6008.php

Minutes Metres made Offloads Breaks Defenders beaten Tackles Made Tackles Missed
Watkin 320 33 0.5 0.5 2.75 7.25 1.75
Halaholo 398 19.9 0.2 0.6 2.81 7.44 1.41
Tompkins 376 18.94 1.7 0.21 1.49 5.74 1.49

Apart from offloads Tompkins doesn't really make a strong case on the stats (which is what we've all felt - off the pace this season), but as he was in the squad last weekend I guess he's in pole position - unless Pivac sees him more as a 13? If 12 is between the other two it's interesting (to me at least) that Watkin actually has fairly similar defenders beaten stats and breaks to Halaholo, who I thought would be well ahead there. Perhaps reflects the fact that Halaholo is coming back from a long time off? Also interesting I think that Halaholo has the best tackles missed rate. If it wasn't for the fact he's only just coming into camp I'd love to see him given a run...

Edit: Sorry formatting of stats makes it pretty hard to read.

North out

That's a mammoth one game injury list, North, Amos, Lydiate, Tomos, Williams.

Lane and Ellis both back in action friday, Ellis needs a season to bed in, but Lane would be a nice call up, given he's the fastest and most powerful wing in Wales atm

Theflier wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:19 pm That's a mammoth one game injury list, North, Amos, Lydiate, Tomos, Williams.

Lane and Ellis both back in action friday, Ellis needs a season to bed in, but Lane would be a nice call up, given he's the fastest and most powerful wing in Wales atm

What’s the score re LRZ? Nothing about him on the BBC.

Watkin and Willis as centre partners? Fudge it get the Golden Child in there

frodder wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:50 pm Watkin and Willis as centre partners? Fudge it get the Golden Child in there

twitter says davies, biggar, sanjay, tompkins, watkin, lrz, 1/2p

GogLais wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:47 pm

Theflier wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:19 pm That's a mammoth one game injury list, North, Amos, Lydiate, Tomos, Williams.

Lane and Ellis both back in action friday, Ellis needs a season to bed in, but Lane would be a nice call up, given he's the fastest and most powerful wing in Wales atm

What’s the score re LRZ? Nothing about him on the BBC.

fit

Theflier wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:00 pm

GogLais wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:47 pm

Theflier wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:19 pm That's a mammoth one game injury list, North, Amos, Lydiate, Tomos, Williams.

Lane and Ellis both back in action friday, Ellis needs a season to bed in, but Lane would be a nice call up, given he's the fastest and most powerful wing in Wales atm

What’s the score re LRZ? Nothing about him on the BBC.

fit

Ta.

George North out. picked up a knock in training apparently

Theflier wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:00 pm

frodder wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:50 pm Watkin and Willis as centre partners? Fudge it get the Golden Child in there

twitter says davies, biggar, sanjay, tompkins, watkin, lrz, 1/2p

Sounds about right. If Lloyd takes the bench slot then says all we need to know about Hardie

twitter says davies, biggar, sanjay, tompkins, watkin, lrz, 1/2p

That is an appalling back line Everyone of those players is either not good enough - or woefully out of form (or both!)

I'll be watching from behind the sofa

It wouldn't have been too long ago that North not being able to play at 13 would have been somewhere between relief and 'meh'...feels like a big blow the way he's playing.

I'd love to see some of our wingers have a crack at 13 - Lane is the obvious one as he's got history there, but Dean Ryan was talking about Jonah Holmes at the beginning of the season potentially playing there, and there must be a few others who could be decent in that position, given a fair run. Johnny Mcnicholl? Jared Rosser? If you want to be in a Wales squad the flexibility that playing 2 or even 3 positions gives you is invaluable.

P in VG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:27 am

twitter says davies, biggar, sanjay, tompkins, watkin, lrz, 1/2p

That is an appalling back line Everyone of those players is either not good enough - or woefully out of form (or both!)

I'll be watching from behind the sofa

Hey...what's LRZ done to deserve that tag? That's about the only one I'm going to argue on though.

penguin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:35 am

P in VG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:27 am

twitter says davies, biggar, sanjay, tompkins, watkin, lrz, 1/2p

That is an appalling back line Everyone of those players is either not good enough - or woefully out of form (or both!)

I'll be watching from behind the sofa

Hey...what's LRZ done to deserve that tag? That's about the only one I'm going to argue on though.

Fair enough - he gets a pass (even though Gloucester have been pants this year - so he must be running low on confidence)

P in VG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 11:21 am Fair enough - he gets a pass (even though Gloucester have been pants this year - so he must be running low on confidence)

Sexy finish from him last weekend. Imagine if we used him more than twice a game!

Halaholo on the bench. No Navidi (must be injured)...otherwise no massive surprises.

Wales team to face Scotland
1. Wyn Jones (31 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (78 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (53 Caps)
4. Adam Beard (22 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT) (144 Caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (27 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (81 Caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (82 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (58 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (88 Caps)
11. Liam Williams (67 Caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (9 Caps)
13. Owen Watkin (26 Caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (5 Caps)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (94 Caps)

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (33 Caps)
17. Rhodri Jones (18 Caps)
18. Leon Brown (13 Caps)
19. Will Rowlands (6 Caps)
20. James Botham (3 Caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (2 Caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (5 Caps)
23. Uilisi Halaholo (*Uncapped)

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.

penguin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 12:05 pm 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?