Wales Have More Chance Now Than RWC Final

There is so much faux-pemissimism going on from Welsh quarters that I think the lady doth protest too much.

Here's a fact. Wales believe that they *should* have beaten France in the RWC semi-final and were robbed by the tip-tackle induced red card. They believe they were a better team than France and that had they made the final, they would have won. Now I've heard all this and bit my tongue. But now, I'm sorry is the time to back words with action...

The ABs are now playing in Cardiff, and not Eden Park.

NZ have lost their back row enforcer in Jerome Kaino and their second row powerhouse Brad Thorn and have revealed a soft fringe edge to the world that they failed to plug as recently as yesterday.

They are at the end of a long season including the first ever 4 team southern hemisphere comp, which in turn involved extra long haul flights to Argentina. They've just played one third of the six nations in 6 days and have rotated the team to accomodate.

Frankly, Wales have a better chance now than they did a year ago.

So my feeling is stop this navel gazing and snivelling, and man up and support your team. It's put up or shut up time. It's now or never. If not now, then when? and ALL that.

Seriously now, quit it with the self pity.

Are you suggesting that Wales will make the final of the next Rugby World Cup?

It might be worth a little flutter on that.

yep....it's in the stars, wales england final.....now that would be an occassion

majesticimperialman wrote: Are you suggesting that Wales will make the final of the next Rugby World Cup?

It might be worth a little flutter on that.

Interestingly enough, no he isn't. I'm not sure where you're getting that from?

GG, it's fairly obvious we won't win, but at least we will now go into this game without the usual hype of it's our best chance in years of beating NZ. I'd love to have been in the video room when the Welsh lads had to watch back that awful performance from Friday. But lowered expectancy and the fact we have nothing to lose, might make this game a bit more competitive now. I think Wales may start well next week (they certainly have to) and may put up a good fight, but won't win. I guess it depends on what team we have out as to how big the winning margin is. An 8 day turnaround with our head coach back at the helm might boost us a bit.

NZ by 20 or so still though.

The self-pity tends to vaporise on the day. I've been fuming for two days and I'll probably continue to fume until the game is upon us. End of the day any loss isn't going to stop me watching our next game. I persisted through the Fiji loss and I'll persist through this. Not much can change the fact that you just want to see a win the next game.

I can't speak for everyone of course but if we were to miraculously beat the All Blacks then I'd be more than willing to forgive the last two games. Throw in the Wallabies and that's even better, though that's not the game in focus just now. All in all a win over either or both of them is reassurance that we can beat the best which is part of the task, even if it is lacking in consistency......... and intermingled by losses to sides you shouldn't be losing to

Risca Rev wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote: Are you suggesting that Wales will make the final of the next Rugby World Cup?

It might be worth a little flutter on that.

Interestingly enough, no he isn't. I'm not sure where you're getting that from?

GG, it's fairly obvious we won't win, but at least we will now go into this game without the usual hype of it's our best chance in years of beating NZ. I'd love to have been in the video room when the Welsh lads had to watch back that awful performance from Friday. But lowered expectancy and the fact we have nothing to lose, might make this game a bit more competitive now. I think Wales may start well next week (they certainly have to) and may put up a good fight, but won't win. I guess it depends on what team we have out as to how big the winning margin is. An 8 day turnaround with our head coach back at the helm might boost us a bit.

NZ by 20 or so still though.

I kinda agree with you, Wales are at their best when they have nothing to lose, the weight of expectation is kifted, so you will see them be more expressive in their play.

I think that as well as making Argie a stronger side the RC has also made the ABs better equipped for the AI's. Given the Argies play most of their rugby in the AI's exposure against another forward/ defence oriented side has helped sharpen the AB side as well.

Unfortunately Wales dont possess many of those 'I dont give a *&&()(*' type players to force an upset in the way that Oz or France do, or how Habana (and only Habana) does for SA. Players that just have a go in the most ridiculous of circumstances and pull it off so it will be interesting how theyre going to bring that shock factor into the game.

GG talking out of the hole of excreta again. Another chance at a WUM and he takes it.

homophobic sentence removed

Taylor, you're on to something there. Where once we would try things and chance our arm, we try nothing these days. My take on it is that the players aren't given licence to try things, or they know they'll be hauled over the coals for trying things that don't come off rather than commended for trying it in the first place.

But then our attempts at spreading the ball have been so inept the last few games that we'd butcher any overlaps even if we did try to run it.

Lacking X-factor naturally? Or do you think that the coaches are to blame for perhaps selecting the non X-Factor players or coaching a robotic style?

ultra wrote:yep....it's in the stars, wales england final.....now that would be an occassion

Funny.
That would truly be the end of the world as we know it.

Personnel is an issue, AWOP. We miss Jonathan Davies, who despite being a lump has quick feet and doesn't just tuck the ball under his arm and plough into the nearest defender. Jamie Roberts can play football - he formed a cracking centre pairing with Jaques Fourie for the Barbarians a few seasons ago - but he's not being asked to do so. Leigh Halfpenny is as brave as anything but he's not a natural fullback and that's a problem. He'll run the ball back but he won't bring anyone else into play - he'll run until he's stopped, like the winger he is. I'd have Liam Williams at full back, who's a real footballer, and move Halfpenny to the wing.

Ultimately, though, whoever we select, we can't expect them to come up with an effective attacking gameplan all by themselves. Rob Howley clearly has no ideas.

The trouble for me is that Wales play as if they expect the other side to miss tackles in one-on-ones so that all George North, Alex Cuthbert and so on need to do is batter away and something will give (as opposed to when we used to expect Shane to create something out of nothing). They don't seem to have any moves to try to create a bit of space, which has got to be down to the coaching.

I can't help thinking that we could do with Gavin Henson back in.

I've said it before, BlueNote, all the opposition need to to is make their tackles. We make that task as easy as possible for them because there's no support play and we never offload in the tackle All the need to concentrate on is the ballcarrier.

We play no football. I'm going to say it: it's un-Welsh.

This could potentially be the game of the AIs if Wales can just find the same blistering form they showed in patches in the six nations and the RWC. Lets face it with two miserable, underwhelming loses from two and the ABs once again motoring it doesnt look good for Wales.

However, we all know (possibly not some insular Kiwis) what the Welsh backs are capable of. With an exceptionally talented back three of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny they should be able to unlock any defense. Also Jamie roberts ability to make straight hard yards in the midfield adds a nice balance to be outside back line.

A lot will depend on whether Wales' forwards who were exceptional in the 6N but have been average since, show up on the day. I really hope they do.

Mike Philips and the Wales 10 will play a critical role in making clever decisions and facilitating fast ball out wide.

Wales will need to get everything right on the day but if they do it will be close and I really hope it is because if both teams let loose we could be in for a cracker.

unfortunatly 10 could be an issue for wales. I dont think anyone knows who the best 10 in Wales is at the moment. I personally think Dan Biggar deserves the jersey because he is a very good all rounder and probably a marginally better decision maker than Priestland. Is Biggar injured now?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Taylor, you're on to something there. Where once we would try things and chance our arm, we try nothing these days. My take on it is that the players aren't given licence to try things, or they know they'll be hauled over the coals for trying things that don't come off rather than commended for trying it in the first place.

But then our attempts at spreading the ball have been so inept the last few games that we'd butcher any overlaps even if we did try to run it.

Ha but be careful, chancing your arm's great if it comes off, but look at the stick SL is taking, even from ex coaches, for his side chancing their arms for a try instead of being lick kick kick for the steady points??

I think that's different, OzT. When you're only trailing by six points and there's 20 minutes left on the clock, you would have to take the points. I'm talking more about realising when it's on in open play and running the ball rather than hoofing it.

GunsGerms: yes, I think Biggar is injured.

GunsGerms wrote:
However, we all know (possibly not some insular Kiwis) what the Welsh backs are capable of. With an exceptionally talented back three of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny they should be able to unlock any defense. Also Jamie roberts ability to make straight hard yards in the midfield adds a nice balance to be outside back line.

That is why I can't for the life of me understand why Wales are struggling to open defences, they have a talented backline, yet it seems the players aren't intent on using their talent, but only their brawn.

GunsGerms wrote:This could potentially be the game of the AIs if Wales can just find the same blistering form they showed in patches in the six nations and the RWC. Lets face it with two miserable, underwhelming loses from two and the ABs once again motoring it doesnt look good for Wales.

However, we all know (possibly not some insular Kiwis) what the Welsh backs are capable of. With an exceptionally talented back three of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny they should be able to unlock any defense. Also Jamie roberts ability to make straight hard yards in the midfield adds a nice balance to be outside back line.

A lot will depend on whether Wales' forwards who were exceptional in the 6N but have been average since, show up on the day. I really hope they do.

Mike Philips and the Wales 10 will play a critical role in making clever decisions and facilitating fast ball out wide.

Wales will need to get everything right on the day but if they do it will be close and I really hope it is because if both teams let loose we could be in for a cracker.

We just don't play that way nowadays. We probably should, given that setting North and Cuthbert loose against more normal sized opposite numbers would be our most certain way of 'getting over the gainline' at least.

But we prefer to bring them down the middle, on the crash, to collide with players just as big as they are.

Biltong wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:
However, we all know (possibly not some insular Kiwis) what the Welsh backs are capable of. With an exceptionally talented back three of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny they should be able to unlock any defense. Also Jamie roberts ability to make straight hard yards in the midfield adds a nice balance to be outside back line.

That is why I can't for the life of me understand why Wales are struggling to open defences, they have a talented backline, yet it seems the players aren't intent on using their talent, but only their brawn.

Gatland teams tend to play this way. To generalise, they tend to soak up pressure and have an offensive defense, they blitz a lot and score off turn overs. They also have a hard edge all round (not a particularly Welsh trait with respect).

Casartelli wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:This could potentially be the game of the AIs if Wales can just find the same blistering form they showed in patches in the six nations and the RWC. Lets face it with two miserable, underwhelming loses from two and the ABs once again motoring it doesnt look good for Wales.

However, we all know (possibly not some insular Kiwis) what the Welsh backs are capable of. With an exceptionally talented back three of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny they should be able to unlock any defense. Also Jamie roberts ability to make straight hard yards in the midfield adds a nice balance to be outside back line.

A lot will depend on whether Wales' forwards who were exceptional in the 6N but have been average since, show up on the day. I really hope they do.

Mike Philips and the Wales 10 will play a critical role in making clever decisions and facilitating fast ball out wide.

Wales will need to get everything right on the day but if they do it will be close and I really hope it is because if both teams let loose we could be in for a cracker.

We just don't play that way nowadays. We probably should, given that setting North and Cuthbert loose against more normal sized opposite numbers would be our most certain way of 'getting over the gainline' at least.

But we prefer to bring them down the middle, on the crash, to collide with players just as big as they are.

Yes you are right and Cuthbert and North are very effective coming off their wings as they are both very big and both also have very good hands and ability to offload well. I just think you need a ten who can mix it up a bit more and choose the right option when it presents itself. Priestland on form is quite good at this but he seems to lacking confidence a bit at the moment and is making bad decisions.