NPR

KingBlairhorn wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:24 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:23 pm

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:09 pm Sensational rolling maul try by the 20s. Technically very very good.

How do we watch this and how are they doing?

IPlayer.

Liam McConnell is an absolute beast

Yes he needs pro game time soon.

Quite an enjoyable half. Defensive realignment needs work but my overarching feeling is some of these guys deserve pro game time now. Watson, McConnell and Douglas all look ready for pro minutes (granted it is only 40min of rugby).

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:41 pm Quite an enjoyable half. Defensive realignment needs work but my overarching feeling is some of these guys deserve pro game time now. Watson, McConnell and Douglas all look ready for pro minutes (granted it is only 40min of rugby).

It’s hard to read too much into this performance because Wales are utter shite at this level too, however it was notable to me that the boys weren’t overpowered which is the usual issue. England, France and to a certain extent Ireland will test that statement to the extreme.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:51 pm

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:41 pm Quite an enjoyable half. Defensive realignment needs work but my overarching feeling is some of these guys deserve pro game time now. Watson, McConnell and Douglas all look ready for pro minutes (granted it is only 40min of rugby).

It’s hard to read too much into this performance because Wales are utter shite at this level too, however it was notable to me that the boys weren’t overpowered which is the usual issue. England, France and to a certain extent Ireland will test that statement to the extreme.

I agree with that. I just think those three and maybe Yule look the part and probably wouldn't let anyone down off the bench (or v Zebre).

To be honest O'Driscoll has had 5min there that would make me drop him for next week.

Marched 10 for mouthing off after conceding a scrum pen and then binned for a cynical knock on. Awful discipline.

Scrappy ending. Shame as they deserved more than that.

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:38 pm Scrappy ending. Shame as they deserved more than that.

In didn't see the second half - presumably more good stuff undone by the lineout and daft mistakes?

Got my dander up about France next week now.

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:03 pm

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:38 pm Scrappy ending. Shame as they deserved more than that.

In didn't see the second half - presumably more good stuff undone by the lineout and daft mistakes?

Some very frustrating errors in the bits of the 2nd half I saw. Lots of decent stuff too though.

Slick wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:14 pm Got my dander up about France next week now.

They'll bin the Lucu experiment and be 10x better than they were today.

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:41 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:03 pm

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:38 pm Scrappy ending. Shame as they deserved more than that.

In didn't see the second half - presumably more good stuff undone by the lineout and daft mistakes?

Some very frustrating errors in the bits of the 2nd half I saw. Lots of decent stuff too though.

I also missed the second half but I saw enough to think this crop are better than previous years.

Apparently, and this is just a rumour, Blyth-Lafferty was withdrawn not through injury but due to tournament rules. The chat is you have to be 18 to scrum in U20 rugby for player welfare reasons. Anyone else hear the same? Poor show from the coaches to make an error like that if true.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:25 am

Big D wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:41 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:03 pm

In didn't see the second half - presumably more good stuff undone by the lineout and daft mistakes?

Some very frustrating errors in the bits of the 2nd half I saw. Lots of decent stuff too though.

I also missed the second half but I saw enough to think this crop are better than previous years.

Apparently, and this is just a rumour, Blyth-Lafferty was withdrawn not through injury but due to tournament rules. The chat is you have to be 18 to scrum in U20 rugby for player welfare reasons. Anyone else hear the same? Poor show from the coaches to make an error like that if true.

That's a stupid rule if true. Coaches aren't likely throw a 17 year old in unless he's ready.

clydecloggie wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:48 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:14 pm Got my dander up about France next week now.

They'll bin the Lucu experiment and be 10x better than they were today.

He’s a very decent player who had a bit of a shocker last night. Must be hard knowing literally everyone with a passing interest in rugby wishes you weren’t there

Slick wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 12:32 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:48 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 10:14 pm Got my dander up about France next week now.

They'll bin the Lucu experiment and be 10x better than they were today.

He’s a very decent player who had a bit of a shocker last night. Must be hard knowing literally everyone with a passing interest in rugby wishes you weren’t there

Hardly the only one that had a shocker either. Their back row seemed to think they only had to play for 20 minutes.

Eh, did we know Kyle Rowe has a monster boot?

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 4:52 pm Eh, did we know Kyle Rowe has a monster boot?

He's doing well, and no but we do now!

Pretty professional half of rugby.

Worth mentioning that White has been excellent too. Half backs controlling this well.

Oh god, surely they can’t fuck this up?

This is a disaster.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:21 pm This is a disaster.

Don’t care if we got the win, that was still a disaster.

Time might change my mind but I doubt it.

What an embarrassment of a second half.

Townsend either refuses to (very unlikely) or can't reign in the significant discipline problem. He has to clamp down on it. If it means sacking Tandy and getting a new defensive system in place or dropping players then so be it. Enough is enough.

Costly match with Gray and Crosbie picking up serious looking injuries too.

How can a win be so embarrassing

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:54 pm Costly match with Gray and Crosbie picking up serious looking injuries too.

Gray yes, Crosbie less so. Dempsey will start next week and probably would have regardless IMO. Fagerson shifts to 6 to accommodate.

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:40 pm What an embarrassment of a second half.

Townsend either refuses to (very unlikely) or can't reign in the significant discipline problem. He has to clamp down on it. If it means sacking Tandy and getting a new defensive system in place or dropping players then so be it. Enough is enough.

If what Finn was saying is true that the coaches, the captains and other players were giving instructions about breakdowns and certain players will ignoring it (Turner mainly) then they have to go. This shit has been going on for too long and holding us back. Drop the penalty magnets whoever they are and bring in more discipline. I’m fucking annoyed at this

Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:58 pm

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:54 pm Costly match with Gray and Crosbie picking up serious looking injuries too.

Gray yes, Crosbie less so. Dempsey will start next week and probably would have regardless IMO. Fagerson shifts to 6 to accommodate.

I think Crosbie will be a loss. He is one of the few that stop the man in the tackle on the gainline.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:03 pm Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:03 pm Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

Wales were sealing off like fuck in the first half and we couldn't get near them, they didn't need to in the second period, they just got a penalty every time they took the ball into contact.

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:08 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:58 pm

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:54 pm Costly match with Gray and Crosbie picking up serious looking injuries too.

Gray yes, Crosbie less so. Dempsey will start next week and probably would have regardless IMO. Fagerson shifts to 6 to accommodate.

I think Crosbie will be a loss. He is one of the few that stop the man in the tackle on the gainline.

Agree on Crosbie, he's one of our best carriers as well as his defensive strengths

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:03 pm Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

I thought Ritchie had a decent game

A first win in Wales for decades, but feels a bit like another defeat, certainly not the enjoyment that I was expecting.

Maybe that's just in the immediate aftermath, but not getting a try at the end for the bonus point might hurt us, just needed a little bit more composure.

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:03 pm Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

How we didn’t get an advantage in the last play when they had a man lying on the ball in about 5 consecutive rucks I’ll never know.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:20 pm

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:03 pm Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

How we didn’t get an advantage in the last play when they had a man lying on the ball in about 5 consecutive rucks I’ll never know.

That infuriated me - it was almost as if there was a completely different set of rules applied depending on which try line was being attacked.

Just as well the welsh player scored when Turner got binned. A penalty try wouldn't need a conversion which they missed.

Didn't fancy watching us need a drop goal.

Jockaline wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:20 pm A first win in Wales for decades, but feels a bit like another defeat, certainly not the enjoyment that I was expecting.

Maybe that's just in the immediate aftermath, but not getting a try at the end for the bonus point might hurt us, just needed a little bit more composure.

I’m not that fussed about the BP. Because we aren’t winning the title unless we win in Dublin, which isn’t going to happen.

On the plus side, defending a rolling maul is something that should be fixable this week to an extent. That cost three tries.

So what changes do we expect for next week?

Hooker obviously, will Toonie have the balls to go for Matthews or will he go for Ashman?

Gray is presumably out, but it will be an easy swap for Gilchrist. Youngs makes the bench over Skinner I expect.

Crosbie again presumably out so Dempsey, Richie and Fagerson to start.

No changes in halfbacks, centres nor wings unless Darcy is back (which I don’t think he is). Kinghorn in at fullback if fit but again I don’t think he is, so no changes at all in the backs for me.

Big D wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:05 pm On the plus side, defending a rolling maul is something that should be fixable this week to an extent. That cost three tries.

We’ve been really good at this for the last couple
of years (after being crap it for ages) so dunno what has happened now.