Wales mindframe

First topic message reminder :

All whinging aside, and we have done a lot of it on the match thread, Wales will continually fall short when it comes to the big 3.

Why?

Because we have convinced ourselves over 80 years that they are better, we are mentally looking at these games as underdogs!

I have said it everywhere that this Wales squad is superior to this particular Aus squad, in most aspects except from mindframe. Aus are playing like a pressured champ to beat the contender, they know they could and should win.

In all 3 tests we were at a crucial point in the game where we were either ahead with 10 to go, or had such momentum only one team was in it. Yet as soon as this key moment in the game occurs we absolutely bottle it. Kick the ball away, stop playing, trying to defend leads from 20 mins out, and generally not knowing what to do to close a game out!

We can whinge about the ref, the bounce of the ball, and the top 2 inches all we like but at the end of the day we are short because we believe we are!

I will be very interested in the AI's though, and will go as far to say as if we don't beat at least 1 of the SH teams this young team will have developed a monkey on their backs big enough to hinder this generation of players and fans!

FHF

For the record he is not a particularly nice guy, from some of the stories Ive heard from his team mates he is a nightmare to travel with and a bit of a wind up merchant, and not a gent.

But thats rumours and heresay, Ive only met the guy a few times and it was in a proffessional setting so not enough to form my own opinion.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Adam or Ryan?!

I havn't worked with Shinglar or Turnbull, but unless they are extremely quick, and I would be surprised if either are, they can't compare with Ltdiate.

Also Lydiates upper body and arm strength is part of his weakness in my view, and always has been, hence why his tackle technique is so good and low, because he's had to been.

IMO Lydiate was near MOTM in the first test, single handedly saved wales try after try!!!

And just for the record, I am not a Lydiate is god poster, I think he was good but not spectacular in the 6N, but in the 1st and 2nd test he was excellent.

I am Scottish, know alot about the SRU, and not alot about the WRU but have worked with the WRU and regions (albeit on a business advice level) and I will guarantee you Shingler is very much faster than Lydiate or any of the current forwards, and all the welsh coaches on all levels know that.............. sorry Bluesman if you dont know that then something is not right here

And for the record I am a huge Lydiate fan....... but sometimes you have to say it as it is............ he was nowhere near MOM in the first test, very much was not, he was rusty for the first 25 mins, and was well off the pace.

Sorry have to end this discussion on Lydiate. The matches were on Sky if you want to review your comments

thebluesmancometh wrote:FHF

For the record he is not a particularly nice guy, from some of the stories Ive heard from his team mates he is a nightmare to travel with and a bit of a wind up merchant, and not a gent.

But thats rumours and heresay, Ive only met the guy a few times and it was in a proffessional setting so not enough to form my own opinion.

Crikey Well he comes across as a nice guy in the interviews
As you say you cant tell 100% what people are like from first impressions

cheers Bluesman

As I said I will attempt to check testing results on Shinglar.

Like I said, pre season of this year was when I got Lydiates testing results, Shinglar wasn't on the international stage, thats why I can't comment on his speed, but I can comment on Aus/Kiwi/Saffa/French and English counterparts and there are very few who compare to Lydiate over 5/10/20m.



I think you need to rewatch, and count the try saving tackles! He was Wales best player first test.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Adam or Ryan?!

I havn't worked with Shinglar or Turnbull, but unless they are extremely quick, and I would be surprised if either are, they can't compare with Ltdiate.

Also Lydiates upper body and arm strength is part of his weakness in my view, and always has been, hence why his tackle technique is so good and low, because he's had to been.

IMO Lydiate was near MOTM in the first test, single handedly saved wales try after try!!!

And just for the record, I am not a Lydiate is god poster, I think he was good but not spectacular in the 6N, but in the 1st and 2nd test he was excellent.

Bluesman where did you test lydiate? And why were you doing it if I may ask?

I only ask as saying his upper body strength is his weakness is interesting. As I have had the chance to meet and train with the welsh backrow he is clearly the biggest. Warburton also said how he benches 180kg for three which suggests to me he is quite strong!

Also tbh I am a huge fan of dans and think he has been one of our best players but I think higginbotham (sp) played better than him overall, while lydiate is a beast at tackling higgin... Was better carrier which is lydiates weakness although he makes good offloads in the tackle (one of he few welsh players to do so)

thebluesmancometh wrote:FHF

For the record he is not a particularly nice guy, from some of the stories Ive heard from his team mates he is a nightmare to travel with and a bit of a wind up merchant, and not a gent.

But thats rumours and heresay, Ive only met the guy a few times and it was in a proffessional setting so not enough to form my own opinion.

What????? You are talking rubbish now sorry pal. As I said previously I met the backrow and lydiate was a nice guy, Toby was quite and sam had this aura about him, they all had a great relationship and were all very friendly and genuine, they said lydiate was the joker of the team and always happy and they were all modest, especially when talking abou their strength, rugby skill and other things.
Lydiate was also the only to reply to my thanks on twitter! Although tbh Sam probably has so many he can't reply and Toby had only set it up that weekend!

But lyds is a really nice guy so don't know what you are on about??

I agree that Higgin was very good, but to say he well and truly spanked Lydiate is ludicrous don't you think.

Lydiate was tested at the high school they train at, I don't want to name where they train etc..

Don't get me wrong he is immensely strong as a person, not sure about the 180kg, I have seen some non sportsman bench that, but technique can fall apart and it isn't a true tester. Anyway the welsh backrow IMO lacks 'muscle' for want of a better word, we are very quick and dynamic but that 'wrestle' ability of the likes of the saffas, kiwis, and a few more attritional 6's around.

IMO his tackle technique is derived from his weakness's, and his tackle technique is one of the best around!!!

So don't get me wrong, he is strong, but when compared to a lot of 6's he is a little 7ish, does that make sense?!

welshy

Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling him anything, on meeting him of course he's a nice guy, but from what I've heard from guys like his room mates and team mates, well I won't go into it.

I never said I dislike him, only met him a few times, seemed ok, heard a few stories... so get off your high horse!

thebluesmancometh wrote:I agree that Higgin was very good, but to say he well and truly spanked Lydiate is ludicrous don't you think.

Lydiate was tested at the high school they train at, I don't want to name where they train etc..

Don't get me wrong he is immensely strong as a person, not sure about the 180kg, I have seen some non sportsman bench that, but technique can fall apart and it isn't a true tester. Anyway the welsh backrow IMO lacks 'muscle' for want of a better word, we are very quick and dynamic but that 'wrestle' ability of the likes of the saffas, kiwis, and a few more attritional 6's around.

IMO his tackle technique is derived from his weakness's, and his tackle technique is one of the best around!!!

So don't get me wrong, he is strong, but when compared to a lot of 6's he is a little 7ish, does that make sense?!

Oh no higgin didn't spank lydiate I agree.
Ah fair enough. I thought they trained at the vale especially with all the facilities they have there!
It wasn't lyds who said 180 it was Sam who said lydiate benched that weight the day before we trained with them, as lyd was being modest.

And fair enough but I think thats the aspect lydiate brings along with the from five supposedly. And yes I understand but he is more 6ish than 7 as generally 6's are bigger, e.g elsom and pocock, kaino and mccaw,zani and bergamasco...

I am not on a high horse just meant you seemed a little harsh saying he isint a nice guy and stuff. Yeh well I kind of guessed he could be an interesting room mate when warns says he is more of a joker than andy Powell who's golf buggy incident they found funny but not so surprsing! Which says slot about lydiate if he is more of a joker than Powell!!

rugbydreamer wrote:Ryan and 1/2p were our best players for me but Lydiate was well up there. Higginbotham edged it in the battle of the 6's for me but I thought he was exceptional. Doesn't mean Lydiate played badly at all.

I agree Higgy edged it and I really thought Lydiate was quiet, what did the stats say about him? Agree Ryan starts 8 for me at the moment. I think AWJ and Brad need a rest and i would really like to know why Evans didn't get a sniff.

thebluesmancometh wrote:As I said I will attempt to check testing results on Shinglar.

Like I said, pre season of this year was when I got Lydiates testing results, Shinglar wasn't on the international stage, thats why I can't comment on his speed, but I can comment on Aus/Kiwi/Saffa/French and English counterparts and there are very few who compare to Lydiate over 5/10/20m.



I think you need to rewatch, and count the try saving tackles! He was Wales best player first test.

Bluesman

Is it ethical to be disclosing this stuff if you have inside knowledge? i would advise caution

THis thread is degenerate into the most delusional carp pond I ever skimmed.

I have said for some time now that I think Evans and Charteris is our best 2nd row combination.

I was disappointed in Davies this series and can anyone explain why they bothered going through all the hassle of allowing Evans to join up late then not even use him.