France v Wales: Build-up and match thread

by Ospreydragon Sun 03 Feb 2013, 5:20 pm

First topic message reminder :

A very interesting opening weekend in the 6N. Good wins for Ireland and England, and a great one for Italy, who showed some nice touches and are devloping their play (unlike Wales).

Here's a typically hyperbolic journalist (or sub-editor's headline) in today's Express:

"Rob Howley Planning to Dump Failures"

http://www.sundayexpress.co.uk/posts/view/375256/Rob-Howley-planning-to-dump-failures

Nothing in the article to state who is going to be dumped, and no surprise there.

Will Howley have the cojones to drop some players? Jenkins, Shingler, and one of the centres? We'll see!

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:08 pm

Wales have the territory and possession, but they look a but clueless in attack and need points on the board.

by nobbled Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:08 pm

lots of intent from Wales. Great defence.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:09 pm

Scrum really in trouble

Paul James, Paul James where art though.

At least we get another chance

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:10 pm

Roberts knocks on AGAIN!

What happened to starting strongly.

Adam Jones down injured. I don't think Mitchell is a poor backup

by thebluesmancometh Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:11 pm

Biggar come on you twit!!

He looks so shaky, poor passing, kicking and he doesnt seem eager!!!

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:11 pm

Referee called release! So you should release!

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:12 pm

We could do with having PJ in the front row...hope Hairbear's all right.

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:13 pm

Sorry, but that was not a tackle Fat Bastareaud! Didn't even use his arms!

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:13 pm

I would be tempted to move Ryan to 8 in the scrums to get the ball out quicker

If that kick had stayed in the North was on it.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:14 pm

That's it, let France have the scrum....its not like they are dominant there.

by thebluesmancometh Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:14 pm

Tipuric is in at every ruck... what a great nuisance/player!!!

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:15 pm

Paul James, Paul James where art thou?

by tatterd Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:15 pm

french murdering us at scrumtime

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:15 pm

thebluesmancometh wrote:Tipuric is in at every ruck... what a great nuisance/player!!!

Yep, he has had a good start - can't say the same about many of the backs.

by thebluesmancometh Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:15 pm

Jenkins is in trouble this side of the scrum, and Jones is struggling because of it!!! Hibbards not looking like he's providing much either there.

by tatterd Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:16 pm

on the plus side, we were about 50-0 down by this time last week

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:16 pm

Wales' with all the territory, yet France have all the points.

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:16 pm

Balls. French penalty duly kicked by Michalak.

3-0 at 14.

Good grief that pitch is looking uglier than the French front row.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:17 pm

Halfpenny from long range?

Nope, its the corner

Excellent touch, first class

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:17 pm

tatterd wrote:on the plus side, we were about 50-0 down by this time last week

Love your optimism. Hmmm...Wales choose the touchline instead of a penalty. What a fab kick it is too.

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:18 pm

Good grief the French forwards are stuffing us!

Basteraud is a bully! Someone kick him in the face.

Biggar looks hurt. Crying or Very sad

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:19 pm

Ref didn't play the advantage I would like. I guess he thought Wales had lost it, but it was at Phillips hands when he called the penalty.

by tatterd Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:19 pm

Cari wrote:
tatterd wrote:on the plus side, we were about 50-0 down by this time last week

Love your optimism. Hmmm...Wales choose the touchline instead of a penalty. What a fab kick it is too.

My glass (bottle actually tonight) is half full Cari!

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:19 pm

Leighhapee kicking the penalty...I think danny needs to come off.

3-3 after 18 minutes.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:20 pm

French pack look very physical

Scrums or rolling mauls on our 5m will be serious trouble

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:21 pm

Oh schitt that was a good take by France.

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:22 pm

This is very good play by France...good tackle by Halfapee there. Thank god he's hoofed it away.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:23 pm

Very lucky by Wales then

Some serious creaks in defence out wide, France getting ground from nothing

Good kicking though, but Wales were very lucky there

by t1000advancedprototype Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:23 pm

Jamie Roberts thrown two chances away.

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:23 pm

The French keep it tight don't they? They're not going wide like we like to.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:23 pm

No one is Wales can catch!

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:24 pm

Great choke tackle R-Jo!

by t1000advancedprototype Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:25 pm

Too many missed tackles Wales are VERY lucky.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:25 pm

Excellent chock tackle - Ryan Jones gives everything

Wales lucky again, France ignoring a massive overlap

by thebluesmancometh Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:26 pm

Simplicity in the crash ball is working for France, that aside they look clueless in attack!!

Someones gotta hit and hurt Bast now, he's bullying us!!

Tipuric is something else!!

by t1000advancedprototype Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:26 pm

Lydiate
Tipuric
Jones

Our best back row

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:26 pm

Great scrum!

Clear the danger

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:27 pm

If you stick a needle in Basteraud, maybe he'd burst...

Good work Tippy!

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:27 pm

t1000advancedprototype wrote:Lydiate
Tipuric
Jones

Our best back row

Faletau's stats are very impressive, I think you need his carrying.

On the other hand, I would want the other 3 in any backrow

It will be some very difficult decisions when Lydiate is fit - and some great bench options

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:29 pm

French defence very solid, forces Biggar to kick

Poor attacking patterns so far.

by mystiroakey Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:29 pm

The first bad game maybe......

Come on Wales

by tatterd Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:29 pm

that passage of play sums up wales toothless attack. I weep when I remember how good we used to be going forward

by **George Carlin** Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:30 pm

Brutal defense from both teams - the gaps should really open up in the second half because the players will be exhausted.

Anyone else think that Huget looks like Sasha Baron Cohen? Headscratch

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:30 pm

Good take by J-Ro, but where was our FB?

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:30 pm

up and under is obviously a tactic, using Roberts height

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:31 pm

Another good attacking opportunity for Wales. They MUST get something here. It'll do them wonders psychologically.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:32 pm

Clever option by Biggar

He is settling into this game, good kicking and some sneaky runs which is making more ground than the welsh midfield

by Cari Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:32 pm

BALLS! Saved by a decent kick by JD-2.

by wales606 Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:33 pm

Another poor turnover

And a lot of poor catches

Good clearance finally

Halfpenny needs some steadier hands

Poor by Wales

by t1000advancedprototype Sat 09 Feb 2013, 5:33 pm

Pathetic. 5 metres out SPREAD THE BALL!

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