The Wales vs England bickering thread, 2012 - PONIES ALLOWED!

[TycroesOsprey]

First topic message reminder :

OK, every year we see threads that actually contain really good rugby discussion derailed by the ongoing Wales vs England bickering and WUMMING! I will name no names. I guess we have all been guilty .

Since most of the general bickering comes from the respective fans of Wales and England ; I thought I would create a thread for it in an effort to keep decent rugby discussion relatively WUM free in other threads.

So I will begin, An article in the Western Mail today pointed out how England are copying Gatlands youthful approach with a squad that has an average age of 25 and 428 caps between them.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/01/12/analysis-new-look-england-follow-youthful-wales-lead-91466-30105333/

Wales probable squad (once you have taken out Shane and Wellies from the World cup squad with their probable replacements) lines up at the same average age and about 820 caps between them. England are copying Wales' approcach but are way behind. Clearly all things point to a wales victory in HQ this year.

Discuss

post script

Please may I emphasise that this is a bickering and banter thread, whilst mild wumming and banter are allowed please try not to stray over the line of decency.

[miteyironpaw]

1990 onwards we lost all our players to Rugby League and 15 years of famine set in - Instead of a midfield of Jonathan Davies, Scott Gibbs and Alan Bateman with Quinnell to feed them we had 2nd and 3rd choice players who were never international material - I think we are just about getting back to competing now but its been a long journey for us. England could always pull off the odd test win against NZ even in the 70's. I was at the Wales v NZ game when we were 12-10 up when right at the end Andy Haden and his mates jumped out of the line out - It was a great call but not at the time.

I think we can all agree it was a moral victory for Wales, and on their day, they would have won that one.

[TycroesOsprey]

Ruby, I just remember taking it for granted in the 70s. that Wales would win. As a young (English) player I remember looking up to the Welsh as great wizards of the game at that time. Until Billy Beaumont's 1980 slam. I think results evened up a little after that, tho' no doubt you can quote me the actual 80s stats. In fact tell me. I recall I watched England beat NZ in Nov '83, in the days you could still but tickets at Twickenham.

Wales beat England 7 times in the eighties, including winning a triple crown in Twickenham and a quarterfinal in the Wrold Cup.

Bill Beaumonts 1980 side were not great but we had to play England in Twickenham and after two weeks of character assasination in the press Paul Ringer was sent off for a nothing offence. We still managed to score two tries and under todays rules the 9-8 loss would have been a 10-9 win to Wales. That was my first visit to HQ. After that we beat you 7 times till 1989.

[mystiroakey]

oh tycoes trying to rewrite the scorelines. lol- go on then on my say so- you can have the win!!

[gregortree]

Ruby, both sides were 'average' in the 80s. esp contrasted with Welsh dominance in 70s. Bill's 1980 grand slam was devalued then ? I had not realised that. Well I enjoyed it at the time, butI confess it did not convince me. 1980's decade - Wales got 3 spoons and one 1st (1988). England got 2 spoons some 2nds and 4ths. Both sides pretty erratic /average. The side I did look up to in those days was definitely France, neither Wales nor England exactly inspired me. I had to wait to 2001-2003 for that.

[TycroesOsprey]

oh tycoes trying to rewrite the scorelines. lol- go on then on my say so- you can have the win!!

That would take away one of your grand slams MS and Im not trying to rewrite anything, we lost in 1980 but made up for it in subsequent years.

[RubyGuby]

And now we're all friends and pretty even again which is much better for all

[mystiroakey]

oh tycoes trying to rewrite the scorelines. lol- go on then on my say so- you can have the win!!

That would take away one of your grand slams MS and Im not trying to rewrite anything, we lost in 1980 but made up for it in subsequent years.

i will trade you for a one point win on saturday coming

[miteyironpaw]

In 20 years someone will be claiming the victory back on the basis that a charge down try is down worth 20 points.

[TycroesOsprey]

Ruby, both sides were 'average' in the 80s. esp contrasted with Welsh dominance in 70s. Bill's 1980 grand slam was devalued then ? I had not realised that. Well I enjoyed it at the time, butI confess it did not convince me. 1980's decade - Wales got 3 spoons and one 1st (1988). England got 2 spoons some 2nds and 4ths. Both sides pretty erratic /average. The side I did look up to in those days was definitely France, neither Wales nor England exactly inspired me. I had to wait to 2001-2003 for that.

coming bottom of a championship was not the wooden spoon, that was then only awarded to a team that lost every game. Just like the slam is for sombody who wins every game. Wales first wooden spoon was in 91 I think.

In the last ten years people seem to be calling the team that finishes bottom wooden spoon holders but that certainly was not the case historically. Im not really sure why this change has happened but for me the wooden spoon is still somthing only awarded to the team that loses to everyone.

[mystiroakey]

If flood doesnt start i fully expect a few charge down tries- priestland will be kicking staright into hodgsons hands

[Glas a du]

*Psst, Ref, watch that Hodgson, he's always offside on the charge downs*

[HERSH]

Has anyone got any news about my application to be a MOD?

[mystiroakey]

[TycroesOsprey]

Has anyone got any news about my application to be a MOD?

Spoiler:

[TycroesOsprey]

Spoiler:

[TycroesOsprey]

Spoiler:

[Guest]

Hersh - the role of an English mod is already covered I'm afraid my friend.

[Biltong]

Hersh - the role of an English mod is already covered I'm afraid my friend.

Good thing you don't need a South african mod, i would stand unapposed.

[Liam]

Rugby dreamer FTW

[Guest]

ha, scary thought biltong

[Biltong]

ha, scary thought biltong

Yeah, i'll only have myself to mod.

[Guest]

ha seriously though actually you'd probably make an even better mod as you'd be much more neutral in moderating posters from Ire, Wal, Scot or Eng.

[Biltong]

I doubt it, there is a general perception I am biased against one of the home nations.

[king_carlos]

Composite England-Wales team from an Englishman;

1.Jenkins
2.Hartley (injury buys us one!)
3.Jones
4.Palmer (injury buys us two!)
5.Evans
6.Lydiate
7.Warburton
8.Faletau

9.Phillips
10.Priestland

11.North
12.Roberts
13.Davies
14.Cuthbert
15.Halfpenny

This may have backfired....

[Guest]

ha, can't possibly think which one biltong.....

[Glas a du]

4.Palmer (injury buys us two!)

Sorry, he's been released back to Stade, he's not even in your team.

[Biltong]

ha, can't possibly think which one biltong.....

............

[king_carlos]

4.Palmer (injury buys us two!)

Sorry, he's been released back to Stade, he's not even in your team.

Selection looses us one!

In that case Botha replaces Palmer.

Judging by our represention there (Botha and Hartley!) I can guess who biltongbek is supporting!

[Biltong]

4.Palmer (injury buys us two!)

Sorry, he's been released back to Stade, he's not even in your team.

Selection looses us one!

In that case Botha replaces Palmer.

Judging by our represention there (Botha and Hartley!) I can guess who biltongbek is supporting!

No comment.

[HERSH]

I'm unbiased.

I'd make a great MOD

[king_carlos]

I'm unbiased.

I'd make a great MOD

With talk like that we'll soon have Triangulation applying to be a mod!

[TycroesOsprey]

I doubt it, there is a general perception I am biased against one of the home nations.

Biased biltong? surely not, I mean you always back up your statements with statistics that suppprt your view. Your not the kind of poster who bases his view of a game on an unsubstantiated "feeling,"? That would make rainbow dash cry.

[Biltong]

I doubt it, there is a general perception I am biased against one of the home nations.

Biased biltong? surely not, I mean you always back up your statements with statistics that suppprt your view. Your not the kind of poster who bases his view of a game on an unsubstantiated "feeling,"? That would make rainbow dash cry.

That's what I keep telling them mate.

[TycroesOsprey]

Spoiler:

[Glas a du]

Hooker bottles it.

[Glas a du]

Lancaster why u look so worry?

[Glas a du]

Don't worry, overwhelming favourites sometimes come unstuck away from home.

[trebellbobaggins]

I was talking about wales on the way to work and passed a red warburtons lorry as I said it.

Surely a sign.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Was there anyone in the car with you, or do you often talk to yourself while you're driving?

[HERSH]

Wales, Wales, Bloody great fishes are Whales
They swim in the sea,
Get beat by Fiji,
Oh Bloody great fishes are Whales.

It brings a tear to the eye doesn't it.

[english warrior]

Glas a DU- 'Overwhelming favourites sometimes come unstuck away from home!!

Too true, but whywould you bring this up on an England v Wales thread, unless ??? no. you can't mean it ? Can i just say as someone with more than an inkling of knowledge (sociology A level ) That meglamania and self -deception are not the way forward, for you, or any one else in the 'Principality'.

Face facts BEFORE Saturday, and you will find that the Cruel reality that Wales and her followers are used to, is the real deal, and not some side that finagled their way to 4th place in WC.

Also let me remind you all that as you put it 'Overwhelming favourites' are not ranked below the team they are about to play at Home, and who won the 6 nations last year, while Wales came 4th. So a heavy dose of reality is what is needed, and unless i'm wrong you all might be depressed come Saturday evening.

[HERSH]

Wales will should win EW but at the end of the day they're the ones under pressure to deliver the Slam this year not England.

Pressure can be a funny thing sometimes, fingers crossed we hang in there as I think Wales might crumble in the last 10 mins if that is the case.

[RubyGuby]

english worrier "a heavy dose of reality is what is needed,"

I think you're in for more than a heavy dose worrier - Trying to hang on to history as an indicator is a bit desperate mate - must have been the Irish mauling last year instead of joining us recent Grand Slammers that did it

[miteyironpaw]

When was the last time England were really walloped at Twickenham? Despite facing some fairly terrifying teams in recent years, we've not been humilated in a good while. Even in a worst case scenario we'll be close enough on 65-70 minutes to have hope of closing out a win.

Looks like it will be mild and overcast, so it'll be a good track to play on.

[pontylad]

I know there is an ironic wink there but owning up to a sociology A level just can't think of anything more insulting .

[miteyironpaw]

english worrier "a heavy dose of reality is what is needed,"

I think you're in for more than a heavy dose worrier - Trying to hang on to history as an indicator is a bit desperate mate - must have been the Irish mauling last year instead of joining us recent Grand Slammers that did it

"Recent Grand Slammers" - hilarious. Honestly you Welsh never cease to amaze me with your glass-half-full attitude to losing things.

[mystiroakey]

i wonder when other nh teams will join us in the WC winners club

[RubyGuby]

You hanging on to the history as well Misti - You feeling that fear mate

[Biltong]

i wonder when other nh teams will join us in the WC winners club

nice one mystir.

[RubyGuby]

You got your white shirt ready for Saturday Biltong - Best go get some white hankerchiefs and a few towels to go with it

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