Welsh weaknesses

First topic message reminder :

The French believe they have found them, can 606v2?

Mental toughness - have they got what it takes? few of these players have been in this position before, a knockout semi final in a major tournament, everyone is different when put under pressure the younger members of the team have done well so far but I’m sure they won’t be sleeping to well tonight.

Hooker/Lineout – this is a weak link and one that I’d make sure the ref is watching, the Welsh throw in rarely appears to be straight and if I was the French captain I’d have a little word with the refs.

Noble-Surfer wrote:From another angle... what do people think about the relationships between the team and their respective coach?

I don't really know what's happening in the French camp, but with Lievremont on the way out after the world cup, and an apparant disunity between him and his players, what affect will this have on the French performance?

In contrast, the Welsh team seem to be very much behind Gatland & co- there seems to be a unity and a bond that has deleoped throughout the whole Welsh setup recently, both between the players and coaches as well as the executive side. Surely this can only be a good thing for Wales.

This, I think is the kind of discussion Hersh wanted.

Interesting question Surfer.

if anything the French seem to be the under dog in this aspect, but with a squad of players who are every bit as good, if not better than the Welsh.

If Mad Marc gets them to the final it will be hilarious, lest face it chaps, what a story it would be if France knocked the Kiwis out the world cup AGAIN... but in the final

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu believes Wales are the best team left in the Rugby World Cup.

The 90-cap All Blacks star now wants to see a New Zealand-Wales final on 23 October in Auckland.

"I think they are the form team at the moment," said Mealamu.

"So it would be great to play against what looks like the best team in the competition at the moment. Great forward play. Great backs. They put it together really well."

"It's not such a surprise [they are in the semi-finals] because watching the games Wales have been one of the definite form teams of the World Cup.

"I guess people wouldn't have picked them to be there [in the semi-finals] but you can't deny they are there the way that they have been playing.

"The way they play is pretty similar to us. It's been awesome to watch.

"That [a Wales v New Zealand final] would be pretty cool. But we have got a job to do first to make sure we get there.

"If we take care of that then anything is possible. We have got a huge task ahead of us with Australia. We are not going to count our eggs too early."

Mealamu also warns about Wales' challenge against France in the other semi-final on Saturday.

"[France] are a totally different team when it comes to play-offs. You have seen that in the quarter-final. They were a totally different team that lost to Tonga.

"Play-offs is a whole different competition. You've got to get it right on the day.

"It will be a tough one [against France] but I would say Wales.

"But like us they have got to get there first and get the job done at the weekend."

The best France v Wales game I ever saw was in Paris in 1971, which Wales won 9-5 to clinch a Grand Slam. A try was only 3 points then, Gareth Edwards and Barry John scored one each and John kicked a penalty. Dauga scored a try for France which was converted.

Barry John's nose was broken when he tried to tackle Dauga, who was enormous. He had to leave the field but came back after 20 minutes with a cotton wool plug up each nostril. Then he scored a brilliant solo try.

Wales today may not have anyone with Barry John's talent, but if the Welsh players show the same guts and application as he did that day they'll beat France.

optimist wrote:The best France v Wales game I ever saw was in Paris in 1971, which Wales won 9-5 to clinch a Grand Slam. A try was only 3 points then, Gareth Edwards and Barry John scored one each and John kicked a penalty. Dauga scored a try for France which was converted.

Barry John's nose was broken when he tried to tackle Dauga, who was enormous. He had to leave the field but came back after 20 minutes with a cotton wool plug up each nostril. Then he scored a brilliant solo try.

Wales today may not have anyone with Barry John's talent, but if the Welsh players show the same guts and application as he did that day they'll beat France.

1994, 1999 and 2005 were pretty special also

Warburton!

Very prescient Hershey. However, the mental toughness was the one thing that (once Hook went off) was not lacking. The line outs were Poopie as you point out. The French realised that Charteris would be lifting the jumper. Well done them. Why didn't we have a plan B, or at least spot the problem sooner? Our main weakness was our Captain's discipline I'm afraid.