happy with wales?

First topic message reminder :

i am.

it's been more of a toppsy turvey tour than we would have liked. but, weve shown glimpses, and we've fallen short. but still i feel happy with wales.

wales are setting the bar high. we went to aus with expectations of wins. i didnt give us 1 out of 3 wins, but they went with expectation of wins. it's never happened in the professional era. we expected wins! we have come a long way.

selection, coaches, tactics are always worth debating. with all that said, would you say wales have done well so far? are you happy with wales?

win or lose it'll be a long day of celebrating/sorrow-drowning.

i will be up for the challenge.

We are on the cliff, hands over our eyes one leg out shaking like children.

We have come as far as we can without beating, and breaking into the big 3. We are playing like underdogs hoping and praying that first win comes, instead of taking it with both hands.

We are the best of the NH, and from what I see that may be the case for the next few years or so (WRU please don't do anything stupid) yet for all the talk of going to Aus for a series win we have played in an attempt to stifle and nullify. Until we start beleiving that we are not just as good but better than the SH teams we are going nowhere! And I firmly believe we are better than this particular Aus team.

I said a few times that certain results were poor for English rugby, especially under MJ, the odd win against Aus and France and they thought all was hunky dory, well now it's the same for Wales, these close defeats are gradually bringing the young talented boys back into their shells, afraid to make mistakes because games are so tight, maybe if we went out and threw the kitchen sink at Australia, wether win or get smashed it would do us some good!

thebluesmancometh wrote:We are on the cliff, hands over our eyes one leg out shaking like children.

We have come as far as we can without beating, and breaking into the big 3. We are playing like underdogs hoping and praying that first win comes, instead of taking it with both hands.

We are the best of the NH, and from what I see that may be the case for the next few years or so (WRU please don't do anything stupid) yet for all the talk of going to Aus for a series win we have played in an attempt to stifle and nullify. Until we start beleiving that we are not just as good but better than the SH teams we are going nowhere! And I firmly believe we are better than this particular Aus team.

I said a few times that certain results were poor for English rugby, especially under MJ, the odd win against Aus and France and they thought all was hunky dory, well now it's the same for Wales, these close defeats are gradually bringing the young talented boys back into their shells, afraid to make mistakes because games are so tight, maybe if we went out and threw the kitchen sink at Australia, wether win or get smashed it would do us some good!

You should be, unfortunately the results will argue with that, I think Wales can count themselves unfortunate that they haven't won, but then they can also be thankful that the Ozzies haven't had Beale, O'Connor and Cooper.

Wales yes. Howley at this point in time no
1. He didnt know that Rees would have a shocker but Owens is tried and tested.
2. Where is Ian Evans? Not on his honeymoon
3. Most people think Biggar deserved to be in the mix
4. Why hasnt Hook had game time. he should regularly take over from RP at 60/75
5. He looked so stressed last week? Because he knew he'd blown it

Billtong

I'd allow the Aussies Beale, Cooper and JOC if we could have started Roberts, Evans and Biggar, or even had a pack that had played a bit of rugby in the last 3 months!!!

You are right though, we are not the better side as we are regularly beaten by them, but if we could just go for it and drop the fear of failure...

Evans benched v the Brumbies. I am sure the biggest battle he will face will be when he explains to Mrs Evans why he missed their honeymoon to polsh a bench down under. I really don't get it, he was the form 2nd row in the spring

It's baffled everyone mowgli.

The poor get has flown to Aus missing his honeymoon for absolutely diddly squat. Series gone, and on the bench for the midweek game.

Howley has really dropped ball and i genuinely hink this will make WRU very nervous about releasing Gatland

thebluesmancometh wrote:Billtong

I'd allow the Aussies Beale, Cooper and JOC if we could have started Roberts, Evans and Biggar, or even had a pack that had played a bit of rugby in the last 3 months!!!

You are right though, we are not the better side as we are regularly beaten by them, but if we could just go for it and drop the fear of failure...

Agreed bluesman.

I think had Roberts been playing Wales would have won at least 1 of the tests. He enables Wales to get over the gainline off set piece and sucks in defenders. IMO he is crucial to Wales future plans and shoudl be cloned immediately. He also has a brain.

Yeah look I don't want to speculate whether the results would have been different, my point was the danger of Cooper, Beale and O'Connor is vastly different to the backline that did play.

mowgli wrote:Howley has really dropped ball and i genuinely hink this will make WRU very nervous about releasing Gatland

I hope it does, Mowgli. His selection / tactics this series have been questionable at best and I don't want to see more of the same in the Autumn internationals and next year's Six Nations.

Gatland is back in charge in the Autumn isn't he? If that is not the case I see us heading in totally the wrong direction here just so that Gatland can fulfill his Lions ambitions. Is this more important than Welsh rugby? Lewis et al better watch out because their future will be very closely linked to how well the stand in coaches do if and when Gatland is released. I would say after this clear failure in Aus that is now not a certainty, no win tomorrow and the decision to release him becomes indefensible.

I really do not understand why Gatland has to be released for the 6 Nations; its not as if the players are! Why on earth can't the coach be released on March 14 allowing 10 weeks preparation. That's as much as he had for the RWC so it shoudl be for the Lions.