France v Wales: Build-up and match thread

[Ospreydragon]

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!

[thebluesmancometh]

Wales

Jones looks rusty, he's been caught in poor positions, and flat footed, but a rusty Jones is still far more effective than Shinglar!!!

Coombs is effecting our scrum, but he's going well enough!!

Hibbard has been anonymous but I've been impressed, he is carrying well and safely, he's making noise and arranging plays etc...

Problem is French monsters will only get more tired as the game goes on, but Parra will get on the pitch at some point!!

I can't call it but I still can't see where Wales points are coming from with a disciplined French defence!!

[nobbled]

Well, worst half of the 6 Nations so far - two well organised defences against two fairly blunt attacking sides,

[wales606]

An offload, an offload, my kingdom for an offload...................I'd like to see the stats - Wales must offload the least out of all international sides. 2005 seems a very long time ago

Yep, when North got smashed, he wasn't carrying the ball well at all - his hands were not free for the offload or even threatening a pass rather than contact.

[t1000advancedprototype]

Roberts is useless in attack and falls to ground very easily.

Agreed about the offload it's ridiculous.

[thebluesmancometh]

In fairness nobbled both teams are tense, under pressure and a bit fearsome of mistakes I think!

Similar to a WC final, they are afraid to lose rather than trying to win.

[wales606]

Havent seen much of Hibbard.

Trinh-Duc on

[wales606]

Wait, what just happened?

[Cari]

I wouldn't worry too much, Trinh-Duc is once again misplaced at FB and Michalak stays on in the same daft position. Good start from Wales.

[wales606]

Good start, easy shot to take the lead

[thebluesmancometh]

Come on then France... fall apart.

Trin duch at FB???

[HammerofThunor]

That's shocking. He's been letting go for the whole first half. Hopefully it'll be equally applied in the second

[nathan]

Great start, wish jiffy would calm down a bit. The ways he's going on you'd think Wales were 60 nil up.

[Cari]

3-6 after 42 minutes.

Come on Wales!!!

[wales606]

Oh dear, that was poor by Biggar

[tatterd]

Wales ahead in a game

[Cari]

Mikey Phillips being a pain in the arrse...good, but France in a good position now.

[mystiroakey]

6-3.

[HammerofThunor]

Every time France are passing ball back before a maul. Offside every time time. Edit: at the lineout

[wales606]

Wasted chance and poor DG attempt

Thank god.

[Cari]

Missed DG by Trinh-Duc. Surprised at that decision...I thought they'd plug for a try.

[thebluesmancometh]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

We were on the ropes and they fluff a DG?????

If we can't win now we deserve the spoon

[mystiroakey]

france drop kick and miss from there!!!!!!!!!!!

france are fked in the head

[tatterd]

booooooooooo - gotta love the french crowd

[wales606]

Wales should try to make France obstruct at a lineout by not engaging

[tatterd]

at least biggar put him into touch

[wales606]

With Trinh-Duc at FB, it means Michalak has to stay on

[Cari]

Pitch is cutting up like an old carpet.

Folds has gone off hence Trinh-Duc is playing at FB instead of ten and Mickalak staying at ten. No wonder the French are disorganised!

[HammerofThunor]

Bigger just drove round the side of the ruck, over the ball and it's welsh scrum? Ruck has been a farce

[wales606]

Good defence

Our defence looks poor out wide, but Wales are going well at slowing down French ball to stop any wide attacks.

[thebluesmancometh]

I cant wait to see Evans tackle count, he's hitting everything that moves!!!

[wales606]

Bigger just drove round the side of the ruck, over the ball and it's welsh scrum? Ruck has been a farce

He was the tackler, so can play the ball from any position. The question is whether he was on his feet.

[tatterd]

sorry we're not currently getting stuffed to please you hammer

[wales606]

Good scrum, pity it wasn't a penalty.

French front row replacements on now though

[nobbled]

Bigger just drove round the side of the ruck, over the ball and it's welsh scrum? Ruck has been a farce

He was the tackler, so can play the ball from any position. The question is whether he was on his feet.

He was on his knees, but never mind - he still did well to steal it!

[nobbled]

Bigger just drove round the side of the ruck, over the ball and it's welsh scrum? Ruck has been a farce

He was the tackler, so can play the ball from any position. The question is whether he was on his feet.

He was on his knees, but never mind - he still did well to steal it!

[wales606]

Arggg, stupid scrums

Should have just played it from the last one when the ref wouldn't give them a penalty.

[wales606]

And now it's a french penalty

[asoreleftshoulder]

Wales don't look like scoring a try at all and France look like they might score 1 at the very most,pretty disappointing game from a neutrals point of view.

[thebluesmancometh]

Jones has slipped again...

The scrums are a joke with the way the pitch is folding under their feet!!!

[HammerofThunor]

French loose head isn't even trying to bind.

[t1000advancedprototype]

Time to bring on new front row?

[Breadvan]

Poor game..

[Cari]

The pitch certainly isn't helping the scrums.

6-6 at 52 minutes.

[mystiroakey]

this game is dry..

[wales606]

Coombs showing a bit of inexperience there

[Cari]

Oh schitt! If LeeHapee hadn't lost his footing there, he'd be well away.

[wales606]

Halfpenny's stumble was unlucky, if he had got a pass it could have been a try -great line though.

And great kick by Ryan!

[Cari]

Jiffy makes a valid point there...both teams aren't playing to win, they're playing not to lose.

Oh god now we're in trouble....Para on.

[thebluesmancometh]

Uh oh here comes Parra...

[wales606]

Parra is on

Uh-oh

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