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what is howleys adgenda?

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majesticimperialman
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what is howleys adgenda? Empty what is howleys adgenda?

Post by gavstar Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:34 pm

just returned from long stint away to hear that biggar is out of squad. unbelievable.
gone thru some back press reports to see hidden hints, which you will usually find somewhere, and came across writing on the wall from howley in the sw evening post early last week. he was quoted as saying he has told biggar not to play a free, pass running game a la ba bas, just controlled passing and kicking. no room for invention there then! little did we know that biggar was also told on tuesday you're not going with the squad.

also the guy had been stripped of his major asset goal kicking, even his detractors have to agree on that. as one press writer said 'double whammy for biggar', named and shamed by howley when he was new on the scene and now emasculated when ,as jiffy has said 'he can't do any more'

this guy is 22!! has he proved howley wrong by becoming as good as he has? never thought howley was the man for the job, always been a poor tactition as far as the welsh team are concerned, look at our predictability, smashing up the middle every game.

and as for biggar having a poor game, well lloyd williams service and decision making put biggarr under repeated pressure, hook was out of positon at 12 for most of the game , he offered nothing in support. we were not blessed with north and roberts to play the way howley has got the welsh backs playing.


so howley has said biggar is not going because hook can cover 10, 12, 13, 15.
so hook is on the bench? or is he rotating around these four positions.

to have biggar take the field on saturday , and hook take all the kicks, with no prior statement from howley was p*ss poor management. time to go howley.

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Post by Cymroglan Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:46 pm

Biggar is good when the pack is going forward and at the Ospreys that's what he has had.

I think it would have been silly for Howley to announce before the match that Biggar was not touring and then being forced to change his mind due to injuries.

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Post by gavstar Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:07 pm

there have been many occasions when the ospreys have had to handle pressure on their pack, hook has never played well behind a pack on the back foot, and priestland has been poor under pressure and his kicking has suffered. i thought players were being picked on form.

is your message cymro that if you are lucky enough to play behind a good pack, and practise your kicking for 3hours a day to become the top points scorer you 're having it too easy to join the international squad !!

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Post by tecphobe Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:32 pm

i wish he was Irish

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Post by maestegmafia Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:37 pm

Biggar hasn't been in the squad for the last six months. As a key player at ten you want the same guys around.

I have no problem with the decision and watching Biggar in interview I don't think he had any problems with the decision either.

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Post by samuraidragon Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:54 pm

I was surprised too. If there was only ever going to be Priest and Hook going, why start Biggar at all, since Hook could do with more gametime at 10 than the 15 mins he actually got.

I would have taken all three, especially as Hook may have to cover elsewhere. I also think that both Hook and Biggar are in form and capable of challenging the Priest as starter. (disagree with Gavstar on one point - Hook has been playing behind a retreating pack for most of the French season).

I'm also wondering whether the Priest is going to take over kicking duties if 1/2p is not there for some reason.

There was a clear rationale for the others left behind. With Biggar, it's mystifying.

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Post by RubyGuby Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:23 pm

Biggar needs to be given a chance in a full welsh team, his last 2 games have been with a poor side against Fiji and now this cobbled team against the Baa Baas. With players like Phillips and Jamie and JD alongside him with 2 attacking options on the wings he would be able to vary his game with a good platform to work from. In those 2 games it would have been difficult to have a stand out game IMO. He's not everyone's flavour of the month but he's not being given a fair chance IMO. As for Hooks versatility, we now have good full backs and very good centres so I dont see the need for his versatility. Alternatively, give Hook the 10 jersey and give him a fair crack in it. thumbsup

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Post by TycroesOsprey Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:46 pm

Im still completly underwhelmed by Biggar. Yes I would have taken a third ten to Aus but honestly some of the hypa around biggar at the moment is ridiculous. You dont think the fact Barry goes drinking with his dad might have influenced the kings rant in the Fail?

Biggar can kick and looks good behind a good pack. However he looks very ordinary when put under pressure, watch a couple of our Heineken defeats this year. During the babas game his distribution was still poor, two wayward passes and one forward pass is not what you want when you have the potency the welsh outside backs do.

If there is a weakness at the Ospreys at the moment it is in the outside half spot. Neither Biggar or Morgan fill me with any confidence. Maybe if Morgan learns how to tackle and can put on about 6 stone, otherwise the Os need a real quality ten.


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Post by RubyGuby Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:51 pm

Tycroes - I think the argument here is that so does Priestland look very ordinary, even poor of late yet he seems to avoid all criticism. I know Priestland has shown himself to be a great tactician and can control games but Biggar hasn't been given that opportunity in a full strength side. I'm not a Biggar fan and would prefer Hook to be given the 10 jersey and have a fair crack at it. thumbsup

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Post by Casartelli Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:00 pm

What's Howley's agenda?

Whatever Gatland tells him it is.

It's not Howley's fault - he's just the puppet on the end of the strings for the time being.

I'm no fan of Biggar, but I thought he deserved to go, given his league form and some tidy, if unspectacular, touches against the BaaBaas.

Having said that, it isn't going to make much of a difference either way. He'll never be a game changer at test level, as competent a performer as he is now becoming in the Rabo.

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Post by Smirnoffpriest Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:53 pm

I found this decision really baffling as well, our 1st choice 10 is off form and seems to be lacking confidence (though I think he can still do a job - but I'm a Priest fan), and if he has a shocker or is injured then you're left with one 10 (Hook) who Howley has already said he's taking for his versatility (even though he's a poor 15 and we have better centres).

If you're going to leave out the form 10 in Wales then why play him for 60 minutes (until he got injured) against the Baa Baas but not utilize his main strength - his kicking? Why not give Hook more game time at 10 (which he needs for Wales)?

Biggar definately deserves a shot - I have been underwelmed with him in his last 2 appearances for Wales, but both were in mixed sides and he's developed hugely since the Fiji game.

This isn't the way to develop strength in depth

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Post by majesticimperialman Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:58 pm

I was just thinking if Wales loose all their games, will that be put down to Wales not being good enough?

Or will it be down to Howely being the head coach, with Gatland not being able to go out and coach the team himself?

Think i will go out untill the storm blows over from my comments. Run

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Post by wayne Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:00 pm

TycroesOsprey wrote:Im still completly underwhelmed by Biggar. Yes I would have taken a third ten to Aus but honestly some of the hypa around biggar at the moment is ridiculous. You dont think the fact Barry goes drinking with his dad might have influenced the kings rant in the Fail?

Biggar can kick and looks good behind a good pack. However he looks very ordinary when put under pressure, watch a couple of our Heineken defeats this year. During the babas game his distribution was still poor, two wayward passes and one forward pass is not what you want when you have the potency the welsh outside backs do.

If there is a weakness at the Ospreys at the moment it is in the outside half spot. Neither Biggar or Morgan fill me with any confidence. Maybe if Morgan learns how to tackle and can put on about 6 stone, otherwise the Os need a real quality ten.

Tycroes, who was voted Ospreys player of the year by the Ospreys supporters club, beating Ryan by an extensive margin? To anyone else Howler has stated that the squad decision is entirely his, with no interference from WG, people mention the Fiji game, but forget the NZ game when we were under extreme pressure and he had a very good game.

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Post by Shifty Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:02 pm

I really don't know why people are clamouring for Biggar to be the Welsh 10, he has been poor for most of the season and just because he shows a bit of form at the very end of the season people want him in the Welsh team.

In light of the fact Priestland has been poor it was fair to give Biggar a chance, he did ok. But truth be told we need a fly half that can operate well behind a pack on the back foot, because against France, England and the big 3 we will normally be on the back foot.

I really don't expect Biggar to be the regular Welsh fly half for at least another 3 seasons. At the moment he is being brought into the squad and taught what it's all about, his development is being handled correctly, he is still only 22!

Besides all these set backs, rejections and disappointments will build strength of character and when he finally does get a run in the team he will appreciate it a lot more.
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Post by gavstar Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:10 pm

i agree with you samurai about hook behind the back foot pack he now plays for, what i meant was a back foot pack, slow ball , poor service from your 9 at international level. the only one who has ever managed to manoever wales to a win in that situation was sjones.

many 10's are not as competent at international level when your pack is going back, priests kicking goes to pieces, hook starts the miracle pass, hospital pass routine.

'biggar needs to play well behind a retreating pack to get in the squad 'seems to be the message from some, and how are we going to give him experience at international level to achieve this? , one game with no momentum building kicking duties. the life blood of his game,.

did hook need kicking practice? why? plays 10 and kicks all the time.

howley has stated it was his decision, in press and on tv.

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Post by GavinDragon Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:30 pm

i have been one of biggars biggest critics in recent seasons following his petulant behaviour both on and off the pitch and with the way his early hype went to his head...

BUT to his credit this season he has shut his mouth, got his head down and worked on his game and since Tandy took over has look revitalised.

I do agree it is easy when the pack is going forward, but for me biggar has always had this pack and up until Tandy taking over has made the wrong decisions with the ball he has had. He used to kick too much, stand too deep, and kick turnover ball away.

All this has changed now, even in the Baa Baa game i saw him take the ball flat and vary the point of attack, a element of his game I had not seen before and is good considering we all know he can play a kicking game.

As for the Baa Baa game I feel L Williams didnt have a great game and put Biggar under pressure with some bad passes, in fact I have not seen enough from Williams this season to warrant him being our number 2 scrummie. I think Webb has overtaken him.

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Post by bedfordwelsh Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:40 pm

Yeah agree Gavin that Webb should be ahead of Williams for the bench slot.

Hook was always going to go because of his versatility but it is a bit harsh on Bigger who has had a good season
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Post by GavinDragon Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:43 pm

bedford congrats on a good season for Ebbw! have you managed to keep hold of your players, i know your fly half is off to cross keys...

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