Wonderous Wales

First topic message reminder :

Commiserations to Ireland, wales were simply better today. Well done wales, I really didn't think you would win. I expected Warburton to be the one making the wrong decisions and never expected Ireland to be the team refusing their penalty kicks to goal.

Three major differences. Jonothan Davies finding space between four Irish defenders for his solo try.
Phillips who reminded me of Joost van der Westhuizen of old with that snipe to the tryline for his score.
The collective defensive effort from Wales.

Deserved Semifinalists.

it was a good game, i think much was made of irelands experience, but it looked like wales were the ones with hundreds of caps in the end.

its a shame we werent on opposite sides of the quarter final draw, ireland can play like a different team to that one, but i think it says a lot for the welsh defense these days, even samoa didnt like taking the hits...

well done ireland though on the displays so far in the cup against aus/italy, shows what a team they can be

Hi Comfort, what I liked about Wales today was the way they used Roberts, he was direct and got over the gainline just about everytime, that direct running rugby still works is proof of that. Their defensive system has definitely improved as well and it was an 80 minute performance, they never really alllowed Ireland into the match.

I was listening to Gary Gold the SA forwards coach and he didn't sound very confident about tomorrow, he was repeatedly praising the quality of the Australian team and I hope the boys go into the match with the right mindset, somehow I am not so sure.

Hmmm, I dunno bill, your guys never seem short of having it upstairs:

Comfort wrote:It showed why SA are world champions, typical resolute, relentless single minded attitude to win

Burger is on fire, if he gets to grips with pocock, for me, thats a massive part of aus defensive worry gone. Get the big guys on at 60 minutes and suddenly holes will appear, theres too much quality on the bench for it not to make an impact.

Aus havent been great yet for me, they can turn it on, but im not so sure....

either way, itll be a fascinating game.

Well done Wales. Better everywhere on the pitch, stuffed us up front and executed everything almost perfectly. Bad decision making especially in the first half cost us any chance...our much vaunted backrow didnt get near to take off

Yep, you can't say fairer than well played Wales, the youngsters are lighting up the competition and Wales deserve to be in the SF on entertainment value alone.

After the heartbreak of a one point loss to SA, I'm sure you wouldn't swap one for the other.

Come on Wales, you have to beat the French and make it into the Final - you're the only hope for the NH.

Yeah just want to echo the sentiments above. Beaten all ends up. Irelands players will be disappointed but the Welsh looked hungrier to my mind (which surprised me) and credit to Gatland for his tactics. The welsh style of tackle where the first guy goes low and stops the leg drive then the 2nd tackler smashes the guy up top was absolutely fantastic.

A lot has been made of Warburton at the breakdown (rightly so) but i thought the winning of the game was at half back. I havent seen Mike Phillips play that well in years and Priestland did reallywell. Halfpennys boot was a key factor too. Phillips MOTM for me.

Apologies to our Welsh stalwarts on here but i shall be cheering on the Boks now! Wish you guys the best against France though.

Well done and bon chance

Just want to contratulate the Irish fans first and foremost for their congratulations. You didn't have to or need to, so to do it while hurting from defeat is to be applauded. However, it is appreciated.

I thought Ireland were far the better team in the first half, just not on the scoreboard. It will be little consolation to you that I was very glad to hear the half time whistle, but Ireland were pounding away and could have gone in ahead if a break here or there went their way.

I think we've been looking really good from 60 mins on in recent games, and true to form, we scored around 60mins and this fitness we seen to have developed saw us home.

Anyway, comiserations Ireland. If you'd won I would have been behind you all of the way. Sorry to see you go out.

I've been in the pub since 5.20am, so now time for a break!

Games turn on a couple of finely-balanced incidents. The first try was huge for us, meant we were never behind. Then Shane holding up SOB over the line, that was also huge after all the Irish pressure. But Ireland had a strong first half, and we weren't seeing much of the ball. ROG made a few errors, but Priestlands' out of hand kicking was mediocre. When Earls got the equalizing try, it frankly looked ominous.

As the game went on, though, Ireland seemed to be tiring and running out of ideas. The Phillips try was a moment of individual creativity that seemed to demoralize Ireland. Then came the JD2 try, which was poor tackling and co-ordination. Ater that the points margin was comfortable, though in most areas of play it was 50/50 all the way.

Well done, Ireland. You scored a memorable victory over Oz and thereby ensured NH representation in the final. Maybe that drained away some of the intensity for this match.

Dont know about you biltong but both matches seemed to be about pure intensity and what the two winners brought to the match.
Wales always looked full of running, always up in the line, in their faces. Ireland certainly didnt.

I was watching OConnell specifically and when comparing him to the inspiration he was against oz there was just no comparison
couldnt believe i was watching the same player.
France were the same first half. England got into the intensity level they needed to finally but way too late. The wilko flood exercise will be mjs death warrant as a coach i reckon.

Wales will probably get up and beat france given frances consistency in upsetting then losing and things are looking good for sh teams given the 2 known semi finalists have between them lost to 3 SH teams, and nearly 4 already.
Early days but i think things just got easier for a SH title

Yes, I was glad to see the ref blow for halftime when he did. Evidently Gethin was too, coz it was him who pointed out to the ref that time was up.

Cheers Griff.

The welsh fitness is really quite impressive but it comes from having a complete defensive system aswell. Im not sure they will be good enough to win the whole thing but i think a final spot is yours for the taking.

Best of luck

Well done Wales!

That has to have been the most complete performance against another tier 1 team in the tournament so far!

That defence was just insane throughout the whole 80, I kept thinking you couldn't keep the intensity up but you did and what only dropped the ball 3 times as well?

I never thought i'd say it but i'm totally backing Wales for the final!

Yep - as I thought, Wales were much too good.

Congrats to the Welsh team. The semi against France should be a cracker. Great to see all the NH teams providing the good rugby. Hopefully we get something decent out of the SH teams tomorrow.

taylorman thats a completely arrogant view in my opinion, the only team who you could argue things have gotten 'easier' for is NZ...potentially, australia lost because they were outmuscled by what was shown today to be an ageing irish pack, so whose to say wales couldnt do the same? bearing in mind the way the welsh bullied the SA pack in the first game,

SA called on all of their experience and nous to beat a spirited welsh pack, they were clinical in their executions, thats why they are world champions but the dg from priestland goes over and it could of been different....

i know that is an ifs and buts argument but the reason i use it is because you cant really say that things have just gotten easier for ALL of the SH sides just because wales may get to the final,

the only exception to your argumnt is NZ who wales have not looked like beating in recent years and certainly have the psychological edge, so yes perhaps for the AB you could argue the task of beating wales could be seen as easier, however we shall see how you go tomorrow and next week,

i think you are underestimating us a little bit, im not saying wales will def win or that wales are the best team in the world blah blah blah but the way you have come off in your comments appear extremely arrogant and disrespectful

That was the best 80 minutes of rugby I've seen Wales play,ever...

On another note anyone else think we saw the two best refereeing performances of the tournament tonight.

aucklandlaurie - I thought both referee's were superb, really did.

And agree with you on Wales, I honestly can't remember the last time we played so well.

Yes the refs controlled the games very well.

aucklandlaurie wrote: That was the best 80 minutes of rugby I've seen Wales play,ever...

On another note anyone else think we saw the two best refereeing performances of the tournament tonight.

+1

wales606 wrote:

Gatts wrote:

offload wrote:Fantastic. The most complete Welsh performance that I've seen for years. I'm also going to apologise to Gatland for all the criticism I've given him. He really got it right today, as he has all through the tournament.

I'm so tense I still can't sit down!

Next AB coach?

if Wales win the WC, or run NZ close in the final then Gatland will be on the shortlist at this rate.

cant see gatland turining it down either, no matter how committed he is to wales the mans left his family back home,, good luck to him

Good on Wales. You´ve got to feel for Ireland. They bring themselves up for the game against Australia and then seemed gun shy in this match. Put that down to Wales of course but part of me can´t help but feel maybe a game against SA would´ve seen Ireland raise their performance than against a team they have played before so many times and have been capable of beating. I just get the impression Ireland played their final in the pool game.

But I agree that this was a complete performance by Wales and that must have pleased Gatland to see Wales not slack off in the last quarter. Lots to like about this Welsh team. Hopefully France turn up again for the semis and we have a cracker of a game. You never know with France but Wales must still be confident about their chances. Congratulations to you guys.

Well done Wales,tremendous all round performance.Yard quicker in every facet,brilliant in defence and composed when in scoring situations.Pity England couldnt have kept their heads like you kept yours.

Taylorman wrote:Dont know about you biltong but both matches seemed to be about pure intensity and what the two winners brought to the match.
Wales always looked full of running, always up in the line, in their faces. Ireland certainly didnt.

I was watching OConnell specifically and when comparing him to the inspiration he was against oz there was just no comparison
couldnt believe i was watching the same player.
France were the same first half. England got into the intensity level they needed to finally but way too late. The wilko flood exercise will be mjs death warrant as a coach i reckon.

Wales will probably get up and beat france given frances consistency in upsetting then losing and things are looking good for sh teams given the 2 known semi finalists have between them lost to 3 SH teams, and nearly 4 already.
Early days but i think things just got easier for a SH title

Taylorman not so sure mate.

Ireland did all the running in the first half, Wales rush defence was simply brilliant, and then they took the opportunities they got well.

Ireland actually ran more metres than Wales in the match, those two second half tries were individual brilliance and that was the only other real difference. Phillips' snipe down the side and Davies' run through a defence that seemed indecisive at that moment, there were four guys and nobody really tried to tackle him until it was too late.

Both teams kicked quite a bit, but Wales kicks were more usefull, the number of tackles Wales had to make shows you that Ireland were in it, just not on the score board.

For me the reason why Ireland lost was when they decided to not go for posts, they refused 3 kicks to posts in the first 20 minutes of the game, and if some of those went over it could have changed the momentum of Wales, but alas they didn't. I think Jamie Roberts was the perfect foil in midfield, his runs got Wales on the front foot every time.

Ireland also made key mistakes at crucial times.

On on side we have 2 sides with no titles. On the other 4 with 5 titles and assuming abs wins it will be 3 titles regardless of who of SA or Oz win..

But all said and done its certainly whetted appetites for tonight don't you think. The line between success and failure such a thin one.

Wales are looking exciting, passionate, creative, brutal and successful. Everything England were not today.

As a disappointed English fan I will be happily supporting the Welsh for the rest of the RWC so good luck to them in the Semi and the Final

Mr Bounce wrote:Wales are looking exciting, passionate, creative, brutal and successful. Everything England were not today.

As a disappointed English fan I will be happily supporting the Welsh for the rest of the RWC so good luck to them in the Semi and the Final

Class. I know for a fact that if it was the other way around a lot of Welsh wouldn't be supporting England. Good on ya fella.

mckay1402 wrote:

Mr Bounce wrote:Wales are looking exciting, passionate, creative, brutal and successful. Everything England were not today.

As a disappointed English fan I will be happily supporting the Welsh for the rest of the RWC so good luck to them in the Semi and the Final

Class. I know for a fact that if it was the other way around a lot of Welsh wouldn't be supporting England. Good on ya fella.

Thanks. I like to give credit where it is due. We would LOVE someone of Warburton's stature!

mckay1402 wrote:Class. I know for a fact that if it was the other way around a lot of Welsh wouldn't be supporting England. Good on ya fella.

Actually thats not true, every welsh person i knew wanted england to win in 2003.

We maintained the level of performance demonstrated agaist England in the pre-WC games.We added the odd Lion,got selection right and this got us to where we are now.
Bennett and Charteris have had their doubters.These two Welshmen can walk tall(especially Luke!)
We have been lucky,thus far,that key players have remained fit when needed.
If it is your time it is your time.

Echo!