Disillusioned

Is anyone else fed up with all the injuries with the Welsh squad. I cannot for the life of me remember the last time when Matthew Rees, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins started a game together for Wales .Also we have Charteris, Alyn Wyn Jones, Rhys Preistland, Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydyate all out of contention. So that is at least seven of our first team out for starters, and without a doubt there will be probably more by the weekend. What in the hell is going on with our players, they always seem to get injured. If the Irish do not take advantage of this situation then they need to take a good look at themselves, as I think this should be a cake walk for the more experienced Irish players. It is not that these players that Wales have lost to injury are far more superior to the ones replacing them, it is the fact that we now have far less experienced players to fall back on and if Wales were going out to Ireland with a fully fit first 15 then I think we could win,but alas, we are missing half our first team and a s a result I think we will struggle to keep the score down.

We now have strength in depth unlike many previous years, chin up..!!

Getting the excuses in early!

All teams have to deal with injuries, thats part of the game.

Yeah their injuries remind me of the home nations six months after a British and Irish Lions series.

I am not making excuses I am genuinly peeved with the fav that we have half our first team out with injuries, and most of them are blydi calf injuries as well What is wrong eith our players ?

Perhaps standing in a cold chamber is not good for the muscles?

You never beat a Welsh side. They're just more injured than you are!

LordDowlais wrote:I am not making excuses I am genuinly peeved with the fav that we have half our first team out with injuries, and most of them are blydi calf injuries as well What is wrong eith our players ?

What's wrong with them? A little maths might be the answer. I've been warning about the wisdom of Gatland's hard-training minus 100 degree quick refit, bootcamp regime. I'd say his regime is a factor ...but others seem to think it has no effect. Well, if it helped in the WC (and even Welsh men [fans and players] admit that it did), then it has quantifiable effects. Effects often have counter-effects too. Perhaps this is evidence of too much hope placed in Poland and not enough placed on just showing up and being better?

You might be onto something there Fly. If just getting cold and turning up was the answer then Scotland would be world-beaters, not to mention Russia.

That's just the way it goes. Ireland's injury troubles were unbelievable in 2010. It was non-stop for the whole year. We were playing 5th choice back rowers against New Zealand. You just have to get on with it.

Like Munster this year. They always seem to have loads of injuries. They have yet another injury crisis this year. But won 6 from 6 in the HEC anyway.

it is frustrating. only a few weeks back we seemed to have all our best players available for 6N duty. now we are having to use what depth we have to field a decent side.

priestland is a big loss. lydiate too. we should still have a good back row with ryan or powell stepping up. hook had better be in the form of his life or he will get a lot of stick.

IrelandFan

As good as Lydiate is i think the only No.6 to match Ferris at the moment is Kaino (Juan Smith would be up there i imagine).

On sheer power Ireland have it in spades in the backrow. If Warburton is negated i really think Wales will struggle. Thats down to SOB but that is easier said than done. Breakdown will be king next week.

i would be delighted if Priestland started at 10. Not a criticism of the guy but i think Jones experience would be vital

Shanes Lover wrote:We now have strength in depth unlike many previous years, chin up..!!

Strength in depth will be well tested with seven possibly injured.

Same players with similar injuries..!

Poor show guys, just get on with it and stop complaining about injuries.

Get behind your team.

Come on Walesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

HERSH wrote:Poor show guys, just get on with it and stop complaining about injuries.

Get behind your team.

Hersh I would support Wales who ever was wearing the sacred red jersey. I remember supporting them when we were getting mullered in Pretoria, with the likes of Byron Haywood playing at full back/ outside half. I wounder how you English would feel if it were England who were missing seven key players to your first fifteen.

LordDowlais wrote: I wounder how you English would feel if it were England who were missing seven key players to your first fifteen.

Aren't they? I was told its a bright young side? I must get round to looking up the team sheet.

Its a physical sport and as such these things happen.

Some seem to forget that if it wasn't for injury then Gethin Jenkins might not be where he is now.

Prior to the GS in 05 Duncan Jones was 1st choice prop but got injured, Jenkins came in had some storming games scored try against Ireland and had not looked back since.

As soon as Charteris was ruled out I said then that this is a prefect opportuniy for Evans, he has, for some years been talked up as our great 2nd row hope etc and has what it takes to be the enforcer we really need but has also been injury prone himself.

Also AWJ hasn't been ruled out of the tournament has he just injured, or did I miss that.

7 key players missing is an Eng coaches dream.

England have had 15 key players missing since 2003 and we still reached a RWC Final and won a 6 Nations.

Stop your Jibber Jabber.

HERSH wrote:7 key players missing is an Eng coaches dream.

England have had 15 key players missing since 2003 and we still reached a RWC Final and won a 6 Nations.

Stop your Jibber Jabber.

yeh yeh what ever.

Always injured? Bit of an exaggeration. I thought most if not all of them played in the recent rugby world cup.

Just see it as an opportunity to increase your strength in depth.

LordDowlais wrote:

HERSH wrote:Poor show guys, just get on with it and stop complaining about injuries.

Get behind your team.

Hersh I would support Wales who ever was wearing the sacred red jersey. I remember supporting them when we were getting mullered in Pretoria, with the likes of Byron Haywood playing at full back/ outside half. I wounder how you English would feel if it were England who were missing seven key players to your first fifteen.

Is it really 7 form the Welsh first XV or are you counting swilliams in there? ]

Deacon (maybe), Lawes, Wood (captain), Flood, Tuilagi ( plus Trinder the possible number 2), arguably Sheridan ( ok pushing it, but he probably would still be with England if he hadnt had the ongoing injury issues), Care suspended, Haskell unavailable. England arent that far behind.

The world cup was teh first time England went into a torunament or series without a large number of withdrawls since 2003. They were pretty rubbish anyway. Dont get too stressed over it although I can underdstand the frustration.

The worst is when these injuries come from the training ( something England were very bad for under Johnson), and very annoying for club supporters. Understanbly the players need to be pushed and need some replication of real match conditions but the number of players who get hurt is high.

HERSH wrote:7 key players missing is an Eng coaches dream.

England have had 15 key players missing since 2003 and we still reached a RWC Final and won a 6 Nations.

Stop your Jibber Jabber.

And you almost won a GS last year Hersh

Until the team is announced we are only missing 4 in Jenkins, Rees, Charteris and AWJ.

James is a better scrummager than Jenkins and played his part in the WC.

Rees didn't play any part in the WC and we done pretty well.

If Davies and Evans can lift their games then its not a drop in standard IMO.

Roberts would be our biggest loss IMO

Correct but we did win the 6 nations.

Maybe Gattls is pushing the players to hard, it wouldn't be the first time he has caused players to pick up injuries during training.

It's one of his many faults which have been forgotten about because Wales had a successful RWC by finishing 4th

LordDowlais wrote:...Rhys Preistland, Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydyate all out of contention.

They haven't been ruled out yet have they? I'll be very surprised if Rhys Preistland and Jamie Roberts don't play. I suspect even Lydiate will make it.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

HERSH wrote:Poor show guys, just get on with it and stop complaining about injuries.

Get behind your team.

Hersh I would support Wales who ever was wearing the sacred red jersey. I remember supporting them when we were getting mullered in Pretoria, with the likes of Byron Haywood playing at full back/ outside half. I wounder how you English would feel if it were England who were missing seven key players to your first fifteen.

Is it really 7 form the Welsh first XV or are you counting swilliams in there? ]

Deacon (maybe), Lawes, Wood (captain), Flood, Tuilagi ( plus Trinder the possible number 2), arguably Sheridan ( ok pushing it, but he probably would still be with England if he hadnt had the ongoing injury issues), Care suspended, Haskell unavailable. England arent that far behind.

The world cup was teh first time England went into a torunament or series without a large number of withdrawls since 2003. They were pretty rubbish anyway. Dont get too stressed over it although I can underdstand the frustration.

The worst is when these injuries come from the training ( something England were very bad for under Johnson), and very annoying for club supporters. Understanbly the players need to be pushed and need some replication of real match conditions but the number of players who get hurt is high.

Gethin Jenkins
Mathew Rees
Alyn Wyn Jones
Luke Charteris
Dan Lydyate
Rhys Preistland
Jamie Roberts

Yep that is seven players. Also they are all key to Wales. They bring a lot of ability and experience to the table and will be sorely missed.

But they are not all ruled out and Rees didn't play any part in the WC.

Crikey OK Id not really thought about that, yeah OK you have an excuse for losing this game now other than that its Ireland at home and it was on the cards regardless.

It isfrustrating taht just when a sides building momentum it gets its heart ripped out.

Sorry boys but I am not buying this injury malarkey, call it blinkered or whatever you want.

OK if all 7 are rules out, which as yet they are not then ofcourse it will affect the team but with the exception of Evans in the 2nd row and Beck in the centre then the likely replacements are all experienced players with a good numbers of caps under the belt.

Feckless Rogue wrote:That's just the way it goes. Ireland's injury troubles were unbelievable in 2010. It was non-stop for the whole year. We were playing 5th choice back rowers against New Zealand. You just have to get on with it.

And England's in Autumn 2009 were absurd. Wales didn't seem to have such bad injury problems in New Zealand last year, so it's probably too quick to suggest that Gatland's training is at fault. It's just one of those horrible runs of luck a team go on.

England have missing

Thompson - retired (was first choice)
Deacon - first choice
Lawes - first choice
Wood - tipped to be new captain
Haskell - first choice
Flood - first choice
Manu - first choice

not counting Sheridan and Easter who are now seen as past it and the suspended duo of Armitage and Care.

injuries happen unfortunately.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Sorry boys but I am not buying this injury malarkey, call it blinkered or whatever you want.

OK if all 7 are rules out, which as yet they are not then ofcourse it will affect the team but with the exception of Evans in the 2nd row and Beck in the centre then the likely replacements are all experienced players with a good numbers of caps under the belt.

Yeah but theres a reason why the 50 cap cavalry got the boot in the first pace, and its in the wins collumn.

All sides do have to suck it up though.


The French looking pretty much full strength mind...gits

PSW,

I agree and they are on the bench so to speak cos other players have come through and took their place etc but its not as if we are throwing 7 new caps into the Lions den.

Id say priestland and Roberts will play too. Still think Ireland will win though.

leinster,

If I am going with my head then yeah I think you will, that said I though you would anyway even if all 7 were fit, home advantage and all that etc etc.

I think these injuries does through the balance back your way but I can guarantee that the Irish lads will not be underestimating the likes of James, Bennett, R Jones and Hook etc etc.

No definitely not of course. It will be a tough match either way and it will probably be pretty cold so bring your thermals.