Wales team ratings - First and second half

Such a different two halves for Wales, so I will break down the ratings accordingly

First Half

1. Gethin Jenkins - 4 - Some good handling, awful at being a prop
2. Matthew Rees 6 - Wales' second best forward, should be clearly ahead of Owens now
3. Adam Jones - 4 - Gave away a penalty at the scrum, poor around the park
4. Andrew Coombes - 4 - Lost possession in contact several times, gave away penalties
5. Ian Evans - 7 - Controlled the lineout well, must have carried more than anyone
6. Aaron Shingler - 3 - Anonymous, no physicallity, no weight in the scrum, didn't even help in the lineout
7. Sam Warburton - 4 - 1 turnover, that's about it.
8. Toby Faletau - 5 - Decent
9. Mike Phillips - 5 - Starved of possession, defence was ok, but should have hit Healy better
10. Dan Biggar 4 - Few chances, charged down
11. George North - 4 - Not in the game
12. Jamie Roberts 4 - Offered little, solid in midfield at least
13. Jonathan Davies - 2 - His worst game in international rugby
14. Alex Cuthbert - 4 - Caught out of position for Ireland's first try, poor defence
15. Leigh Halfpenny - 7 - Defended fairly well at the back, excellent in the air.

Second Half

1. Gethin Jenkins - 4 - Still poor, subbed
2. Matthew Rees - 6 - Seemed to tire a bit, subbed off
3. Adam Jones - 5 - Stronger around the breakdown, subbed off
4. Andrew Coombes - 6 - Better second half, some good hands and decent carries.
5. Ian Evans 6 - Bit tired no doubt, most of the play came from the backs, did well clearing out. Subbed
6. Aaron Shingler - 3 - Subbed early on
7. Sam Warburton 4 - Showed up ok in parts
8. Toby Faletau - 8 - Good carries, vital part of the Welsh backrow now
9. Mike Phillips - 7 - Pick up the game a bit, threatening at the fringes
10. Dan Biggar - 7 - Good passing in midfield, some clever use of the boot when needed including restarts
11. George North - 8 - More involved and lead the welsh comeback when he started getting the ball
12. Jamie Roberts - 7 - Some good handling and dummy running for 2 of the Welsh tries, more carries
13. Jonathan Davies 4 - Slightly better second half, but butchered an overlap for Halfpenny which would have given Wales more time for a comeback
14. Alex Cuthbert 7 - Took his try very well, ran well ball in hand, threatened in midfield and outwide
15. Leigh Halfpenny 7 - Good with the boot, good try, some nice catches and cuts

16. Ken Owens - 4 - Shocking lineouts of the bench, cost Wales' with his overthrow on the Irish 5Ms
17. Paul James - 6 - Good around the field and solid in the scrum
18. Craig Mitchell - 6 - Held up the scrum well, powered over for a try - he might well threaten Adam if given more gametime
19. Olly Kohn - 4 - Didn't see much of his to be honest, only on for 8 minutes.
20. Justin Tipuric - 9 - Made an immediate impact, brilliant link play and support.
21. Lloyd Williams - 8 - I WAS WRONG, THE MAN IS COMPETENT!
22. James Hoook - 4 - Not on for long, didn't pass when he should have, perhaps a bit of showboating.
23. Scott Williams - not used.

Kohn did clear heaslip for the Mitchell try. The subs made a big difference hence demonstrates Howley is not capable of picking his best team, many of the subs should have been brought on earlier i.e., half time or sooner. Our back row was lightweight, if R Jones is fit next week which is likely Coombes should go to 6, Jones to 4 and Tps to 7. Coombes did very well for his first game and lasted the pace.

Glam,

I wouldn't mess Coombs about, leave him in the 2nd row we all know Warburton will start so no point saying otherwise, just a case of 6 or 7.

On Tipurics performance then Warburton should be shifted to 6.

Faletau 5 - decent? Genius.

I agree with most of these ratings - I have to say I think Gethin Jenkins is a spent force. He's a weak scrummager, not that he was ever a strong one and no longer makes up for it in the loose.

Love the way we bring on Hook with 8 mins to play and then he gets a 4 for "showboating".

This team could do with a lot more showboating.

Let's not go down the "we won the seciond half" road. The game was over after the first 30 mins. Wales lacked creativity and dynamism and were overwhelmed at home by the Irish movement in the backs.

And Ireland aren't that good! Make no mistake - we are going to be stuffed by France and England.

Howley must go, surely.

Continuing abject failure - but as this is Wales and he's probably a nice guy, let's take him on the Lions instead!

hook got a 4 because he showboats !!!!!! why isnt he the 10? because hes had the chances and hasnt made the grade, end of.

biggar including today, 12 caps, 7 starts, hardly enough to write the guy off

first 6ns. did ok. hook has charge downs (2 from o'gara and more ) biggar edged out hook so his supporters are slamming biggar, petty.

biggar.... DIDNT kick ball away DIDNT run down blind alleys, 5th best tackle count.....what does that tell you about the rest!!!!!

he gave ball to the centres, you must have recorded the game, watch it again!!!!!

a centre should have been in for the great inside which cuthbert took.

10 was not the problem and 10 is not the solution.

Gavstar - show me the clips where Hook showboated in the 8 mins he was on the pitch yesterday. Or in the last two years at Perpignan.

But I agree with you that 10 was not the problem. It was a relief to see Biggar putting in solid line-kicks, whereas the heart is in the mouth every time Priestland kicks.

We have many, many problems. The dearth of creativity across the backline is one of them. The movement of the Irish backs in the first half was a level above the boshing we have served up for the past 9 months.

And Ireland aren't that good!

hook should have passed out on one occasion, sillly bambi step instead, usual, predictable, watch recording. as for perpignan, who cares?

we could say show me this that the other about biggar at club level and it would be far better than anything hook has done at perps. give the guy a break!!!!

7 starts for wales without the best welsh sides on show, none in the 6 ns.
hook has had his chances samurai, biggar hasnt.

the ball he had to do anything with today was dire. when things got better 2nd half biggar was still on the park. if this had happened after hook had come on , everyone would have been saying it was down to hook.
bo*****s this welsh brain freeze of jinky 10 has to stop.

quality of ball dictates play , and dan biggar had little quality ball, what he did have he did the right thing with it. watch your recording.

he played what was in front of him and we need better centres and wings.

I don't have much of a problem with Biggar's performance. He kicked and passed well, especially in the second half - and as you say, the serious failings were outside him.

But he WAS charged down at a crucial time in the match and that DID cost 7 points. A much more SERIOUS ERROR than the "Bambi step" you are harping on about.

Also I'm at a loss to see why Biggar's good club form is relevant, but Hook's isn't. Unless you think the French league is of lower quality than the regional game in Wales.

everyone has been charged down, even hook( o'gara). biggar had no

option but to kick, took a lay back, too slow execution. 7 starts at 10

is not enough to take the 10 shirt off him.

he is 23, we should be hoping he can grow into this role, be given a REAL CHANCE.

WHO ELSE IS THERE FOR THE FUTURE WHO IS ALREADY AT HIS PERFORMANCE LEVEL?