What will fix the lineout?

This is really serious and I still don't think the Welsh management take it seriously enough.

Why do Ireland always win their own ball? It is a miracle that Wales won considering they lost 4 or 5 of their own ball and missed so many kicks.

Surely it is always the sensible option to just throw to the first man and retain possession. One of the lost lineouts yesterday lead to an Irish try. We made the game hard for ourselves and could have won by a much healthier margin if there were not so many unforced errors. I hear people say that Charteris and AWJ are the only lineout specialists. Surely anyone who plays lock is meant to be a "lineout specialist".

It really isn't unacceptable. France or even England at Twickenham will crucify Wales if they give that many lineouts away. We are likely to lose Bradley Davies for a few matches so Ryan Jones will have to move to 2nd row and we will have no choice but to risk a tired Dan Lydiate. Lou Reed could play, but it is definitely not the time to give him his first full start. Lock is where Wales seem to be stretched the thinnest and have very little depth. Any more bans or injuries and we may then have to delve in the realms of Deniol Jones etc.. and that is where it starts to get ugly.

On a positive I thought Justin Tipuric was fantastic and whenever we lifted him the ball was easy to secure. In my eyes Tipuric would start every match if Warburton wasn't around so it's good to see that even our best players have someone biting at their heels.

If Wales can fix the lineout and get Halfpenny to take kicks then Wales really shouldn't have too many worries until the France game.

Honestly I can't see Wales improving in the lineout anytime soon.Someone gave the stats last week and if they're correct Wales only had 3 forwards over 6 foot 2 and one of those is a prop.This means you have only have 3 targets in the lineout
To improve that means you need to find at least one but preferably two back rows who are 6 foot 4 minimum and then you have to consider what qualities you lose in other areas as the Welsh backrow are excellent in all other aspects of forward play.

1 Rhys GILL (SARACENS – Cap No 1,073)
DoB: 30.10.86. 5’11” / 1.80m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)

2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 49 caps (W 23, L 25, D 1)

3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs
International record: 75 caps (W 35, L 37, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)

4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 14, L 17, D 1)

5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 6, L 10, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 58 caps (W 28, L 28, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 24 caps (W 12, L 12; 10 pts - 2T)

8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)
DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 6; 10 pts – 2T)

Targets arent the problem if you have a good lift. The problem is far too much movement in the line. They are so worried about being outjumped they try and trick the opposition all the time.

The opposition go up whilst we are still fannying about and the ball is lost. Have faith in the lift. less movement and outlift/jump the opposition. Keep it simple, challenge the oppositon throw by putting bodies in the Air. Not worrying about trying to figure who the jumper is then lifting against them, its pointless.

Agreed Tycroes.

Our smallest forward in the second half was Tipuric but he won some good ball at the lineout because of the lift and timing. There was nothing fancy about it, just straight up and down.

Time heals all wounds.

I have no doubt in time we will see Ireland with a scrum that isn't made out of papier mache and Wales able to win all their lineouts.

It comes down to practice.

It's all about timing. All of Wales lost lineouts were in the first half and after Bennett settled into his groove the lineout was fine. In fact our best try was direct from a lineout.

red_stag wrote:Time heals all wounds.

I have no doubt in time we will see Ireland with a scrum that isn't made out of papier mache and Wales able to win all their lineouts.

It comes down to practice.

It has been going on for over a decade though. Good times or bad times the lineout is still terrible.

Well you could say that it has improved because there was a time not so long ago when we couldn't buy our own lineout ball. Matthew Rees is inifinitely better thrower than Bennett but Bennett has improved massively. I expect the lineout to be much better against Scotland.

mckay1402 wrote:Well you could say that it has improved because there was a time not so long ago when we couldn't buy our own lineout ball. Matthew Rees is inifinitely better thrower than Bennett but Bennett has improved massively. I expect the lineout to be much better against Scotland.

mckay, what makes you say that out of interest? Scotland's lineout is probably stronger than Ireland's? Or could Wales simply not have another such a bad day?

I know. Its not a judgement on Scotlands lineout. I just think Wales will improve theirs and the timing will be better.

We've basically had a problem since the end of the 70s, with a couple of brief interludes where it worked well (with Bob Norster, briefly Derwyn Jones, Chris Wyatt, Gareth Llewellyn).

I think the biggest factor is the throwing in. Matthew Rees is the only reasonably consistent thrower we have. I know there is more to getting the lineout right than just the throwing in, but I think that's the main place it's going wrong.

Fowards coach Robin McBryde was poor at throwing in, which isn't a good start.

Bennett is hopeless in the lineout. You need to either teach him how to throw properly or use another hooker.

Ryan Jones played well so I wouldn't shunt him around.

What 2nd row options do you have?

I would currently keep Ryan Jones out even if Lydiate recovers. Jones in a rich vain of form and match fit.

However, Davies will get banned so Jones will move to lock.

Who coaches the lineout for Wales? Is it just McBryde? He could never hit a barn door.........

At the start of the world cup I thought we had cracked the lineout, but Sunday's showing was very poor again. We were the better team on Sunday but still needed some luck to win. We can't expect to win by giving so much ball away.

The worst thing of all is that it's a set piece. We can practise our lineouts 'til the cows come home. I don't know why we lose so many on our own throw - unless of course they don't have anyone opposing them in training, which surely can't be the case. Can it?

Bradley Davies will miss the rest of the 6 nations if his hearing is before this game ( i assume it is?)

Theres no law to stop you sticking George North in there.......

offload wrote:Who coaches the lineout for Wales? Is it just McBryde? He could never hit a barn door.........

I know this was meant in tongue and cheek but unless teams realise that a lineout is a team effort you won't improve.

When Munster/Ireland had their amazing lineout it needed the aerial ability of O'Connell, the throwing of Flannery and the lifting of Hayes. We have seen a slight drop off in our lineout since Flannery and Hayes left Irish team but we are doing fine again.