Lets talk about Wales!

First topic message reminder :

We knew Wales can win European grand slams and championships, but the monkey on the back of the players was for them to win in the Southern hemisphere. In all fairness that has now been accomplished.

So many of them have played a huge part in this series, surely now Gatland and these players can go to the next level?

15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Jamie Roberts
11 George North
10
9 Mike Phillips
8 Toby Faletau
7 Sam Warburton
6 Dan Lydiate
5
4 Alun-Wyn Jones
3 Adam Jones
2 Richard Hibbard
1

It's quite incredible that all of these players have now started a test game and won in Australia. While Gethin Jenkins probably would of played some role had he stayed fit.

This could be a massive shot in the arm to these players and maybe a new golden era dawn for us!  

It can't be sustainable though, when the rich owners get bored and want another hobby who will fund them ?

munkian wrote:It can't be sustainable though, when the rich owners get bored and want another hobby who will fund them ?

Maybe the case at some clubs but others are self sufficient, others will receive masses TV money, we won't have those options in the rabbo

Note to wales..

Start playing more cricket . Then you will make England cricket greater than it already is and your rugby will suffer so you can stop making us look stupid..

mystiroakey wrote:Note to wales..

Start playing more cricket . Then you will make England cricket greater than it already is and your rugby will suffer so you can stop making us look stupid..

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/30232

Nice. T20 with rugby players.. Classic!

mystiroakey wrote:Nice. T20 with rugby players.. Classic!

Swansea RFC shares their ground, St Helens, with Glamorgan. Many Swansea rugby players were often well respected cricketers as well.

From the BBC

Dan Lydiate ensures Wales release from Racing Metro

Flanker Dan Lydiate says he will be available to play for Wales after signing for Racing Metro in France.
He and fellow Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts have both signed to play for the Paris-based side in the Top 14.
Continue reading the main story
“
I had to make sure I was still available for Wales and I did do that
”
Dan Lydiate
Racing Metro 92 back-row
Wales coach Warren Gatland has told Welsh players to have a clause in their contract to stop them being caught up in any player-release rows.
"I had to make sure I was still available for Wales and I did do that," said Lydiate.
Welsh players based in France and England have become embroiled in player-release rows over the years and missed Wales Test matches and training camps.
Lock Luke Charteris, a former Wales Newport Gwent Dragons team-mate of Lydiate, was the first to publicly state he had secured "full release" for Wales playing and training squads when he joined French club Perpignan in 2012.
Lydiate reveals he talked to Gatland about the issue and is available for Wales, but his focus is on playing well for his new club to ensure he is selected for his country.
Leading Wales players based in France or England
Mike Phillips (Bayonne)
George North (Northampton)
Luke Charteris (Perpignan)
Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)
Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
Paul James (Bath)
James Hook (Perpignan)
Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne)
Craig Mitchell (Exeter)
Rhys Gill (Saracens)
Aled Brew (Biarritz)
"I spoke to Warren before coming out here," said Lydiate.
"I had to make sure I was still available for Wales and I did do that. Hopefully, it will work well, but I am looking forward to playing with a new set of players and with new coaches.
"They [the WRU] will work closely with the club, but obviously you are at a slight disadvantage because the coaches are not able to watch you every week.
"I just hope if I am playing well enough that they will still pick me. There is a massive onus on myself to make sure I am playing well out here, and if Racing are successful there is a big chance I will still be selected for Wales."
Lydiate, Roberts and Lions team-mate Jonathan Sexton have all been recruited by Racing Metro as they bid to become a major force in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup.
Lydiate is expected to make his competitive debut for Racing Metro in their Top 14 opener against Brive on Saturday, 18 August.

Alun-Wyn Jones eyes major autumn scalp
ESPN Staff
August 16, 2013
Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones is determined to add another major southern hemisphere scalp to his rugby CV.

Jones, a key figure in the British & Irish Lions' historic series victory over Australia earlier this year, insists Wales need to follow up their latest Six Nations success with an impressive showing later this year when they tackle South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

"We've achieved quite a bit against northern hemisphere sides, but there's still questions over our competitiveness against the SANZAR nations," Jones told the Western Mail. "We all know that and we've got to answer those questions."

Playing for his country, Jones has tasted success just once in nine games against the Springboks and has the same return from eight Test clashes with the Wallabies. "It's something I would like to change on my CV," he told the newspaper.

Right initiative from Jones to want to build further and not let the Lions be the peak of it, now to see if he and the rest can follow up words with action. Many times in the recent past we've seen Welsh players talk the talk for club and country and then flop once the occasion came about.

It's good to see that AWJ thinks Wales will beat Tonga.

I think he's probably right.

Knowsit17 wrote:Right initiative from Jones to want to build further and not let the Lions be the peak of it, now to see if he and the rest can follow up words with action. Many times in the recent past we've seen Welsh players talk the talk for club and country and then flop once the occasion came about.

These lads are getting more and more top class experiences every year. A Lions win involving 13 of the of the Wales team throughout the tests. Back to back championships, five six nations away wins, most have won two GSs, semi finals at the RWC, a few have beaten all but SA...! Many are still young too.

It all builds to being a good side for the future...!

Cyril wrote:It's good to see that AWJ thinks Wales will beat Tonga.

I think he's probably right.

Given Wales' appalling autumn record and Tonga's shaming of Scotland last autumn I wouldn't risk complacency even over that one.

On the face of it Wales have a tough schedule even without a NZ fixture. Lions form or no they need to pull it together to come away with some credibility.

Knowsit17 wrote:

Cyril wrote:It's good to see that AWJ thinks Wales will beat Tonga.

I think he's probably right.

Given Wales' appalling autumn record and Tonga's shaming of Scotland last autumn I wouldn't risk complacency even over that one.

On the face of it Wales have a tough schedule even without a NZ fixture. Lions form or no they need to pull it together to come away with some credibility.

I don't think Lions form will have any bearing on the upcoming Tests. After all that was the Lions and not Wales. None of the home nations can really draw any meaningful conclusions from the tour, especially after NZ have just shown how poor the Aussies are these days.

maestegmafia wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:Right initiative from Jones to want to build further and not let the Lions be the peak of it, now to see if he and the rest can follow up words with action. Many times in the recent past we've seen Welsh players talk the talk for club and country and then flop once the occasion came about.

These lads are getting more and more top class experiences every year. A Lions win involving 13 of the of the Wales team throughout the tests. Back to back championships, five six nations away wins, most have won two GSs, semi finals at the RWC, a few have beaten all but SA...! Many are still young too.

It all builds to being a good side for the future...!

and NZ presumably?

Most have also lost to Argentina and Samoa. I guess it depends which way you look at it and how your glasses are tinted.

Cyril wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:

Cyril wrote:It's good to see that AWJ thinks Wales will beat Tonga.

I think he's probably right.

Given Wales' appalling autumn record and Tonga's shaming of Scotland last autumn I wouldn't risk complacency even over that one.

On the face of it Wales have a tough schedule even without a NZ fixture. Lions form or no they need to pull it together to come away with some credibility.

I don't think Lions form will have any bearing on the upcoming Tests. After all that was the Lions and not Wales. None of the home nations can really draw any meaningful conclusions from the tour, especially after NZ have just shown how poor the Aussies are these days.

I disagree, I felt players like Halfpenny, North, Faletau and Alun Wyn showed up better for the Lions than they usually do for Wales and if they could convert that form to the other red jersey then Wales could well be a better side for it. By better side I mean one that could produce wins over the best of the SH. We've just seen the bulk of them contribute massively to win a series Down Under so I don't see how it's beyond reason to take some encouragement from that.

There'll probably be a few changes for the Tonga game. I doubt any of the guys playing in France and England will be involved. So long as McBryde doesn't pull the strings we should still be able to win it.

maestegmafia wrote:Alun-Wyn Jones eyes major autumn scalp
ESPN Staff
August 16, 2013
Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones is determined to add another major southern hemisphere scalp to his rugby CV.

Jones, a key figure in the British & Irish Lions' historic series victory over Australia earlier this year, insists Wales need to follow up their latest Six Nations success with an impressive showing later this year when they tackle South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

"We've achieved quite a bit against northern hemisphere sides, but there's still questions over our competitiveness against the SANZAR nations," Jones told the Western Mail. "We all know that and we've got to answer those questions."

Playing for his country, Jones has tasted success just once in nine games against the Springboks and has the same return from eight Test clashes with the Wallabies. "It's something I would like to change on my CV," he told the newspaper.

When did AW Jones beat South Africa? Or are they talking about the Lions? If so then surely he's been involved in 3 wins over Australia. Weird mix of counting/not counting Lions

HammerofThunor wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Alun-Wyn Jones eyes major autumn scalp
ESPN Staff
August 16, 2013
Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones is determined to add another major southern hemisphere scalp to his rugby CV.

Jones, a key figure in the British & Irish Lions' historic series victory over Australia earlier this year, insists Wales need to follow up their latest Six Nations success with an impressive showing later this year when they tackle South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

"We've achieved quite a bit against northern hemisphere sides, but there's still questions over our competitiveness against the SANZAR nations," Jones told the Western Mail. "We all know that and we've got to answer those questions."

Playing for his country, Jones has tasted success just once in nine games against the Springboks and has the same return from eight Test clashes with the Wallabies. "It's something I would like to change on my CV," he told the newspaper.

When did AW Jones beat South Africa? Or are they talking about the Lions? If so then surely he's been involved in 3 wins over Australia. Weird mix of counting/not counting Lions

That's the Western Fail for you. Don't let the facts get in the way.......

From the WRU this morning


The RBS 6 Nations Champions, who won back-to-back titles for the first time since 1979 in March, host Rugby Championship sides South Africa, Argentina and Australia as well as Pacific Islanders Tonga in Cardiff this November.

After guiding the British and Irish Lions to their first series victory in 16 years, Gatland returns to the helm of the Welsh side and while he is looking for a big campaign from Wales, he is fully aware of the task ahead.

"It's going to be a tough autumn," said Gatland.

"We start with South Africa first up, obviously they had a huge win over Argentina at the weekend and then we face Argentina who we know will get better as the Rugby Championship goes on. We play Tonga on a Friday night and finish up with Australia again, so we know it's going to be tough.

"We have always thrived on testing ourselves against the best. We will be doing that again in November and it will be ideal preparation going into the Six Nations early next year.

"We should be really proud of what our Welsh players have achieved and we need to make sure that those players who have done well with Wales and the Lions recently kick on from that.

"We need to have a good autumn series."

Sixteen Welsh players played their part in the series success Down Under this summer and that confidence will feed back into the Welsh set-up according to Gatland.

"I think those players involved would have gained a huge amount of confidence from the tour," he added.

"They all came away with a lot of credit. They were in great shape physically and a lot of those players were key components in the test side.

"It's always a challenge post Lions, the players will be excited and motivated but we must make sure we keep them fresh.

"With Wales the last three times we played Australia it's gone right down to the wire. We have led into the last couple of minutes, only to have the heartbreak at the end but I'm a great believer in learning from those scenarios.

"The players who went through those experiences have learnt and developed from it and a prime example was the performance in the last game of the Six Nations against England where they played so well.

"It will be great for the team to be back at the Millennium Stadium in the autumn, back in front of their home fans and to return to the scene of where they clinched the RBS 6 Nations title earlier this year."

The autumn campaign will prepare Gatland and his squad for next year's title defence but it is also an opportunity to give vital international experience to younger members of the squad with the World Cup in mind.

"I'm also conscious of giving our youngsters an opportunity to perform," said Gatland.

"Keeping in mind the World Cup is just two years away we need to make sure we keep working with the younger guys and developing them as we look to increase our squad depth.

"I'm really excited about the next couple of years.

"We left New Zealand (RWC 2011) feeling unfulfilled even after what we achieved and with this Welsh squad we could do really well at the next World Cup.

"There are two or three players in their early thirties but everyone else is early and mid-twenties and they have not one but a couple of World Cups ahead of them and that's really exciting."

sounds like he committed to Wales . well for two years anyway . glad he focus on bringing youth into it . looking toward to te south Africa game but they seriously needed to start with Tonga first . playing a team who second in the world just after the playing the championship doesn't help our course much .

Its a bit of a b*gger, England have the Pumas first don't they ?

That's one way of looking at it; the other is that they'll have played a lot of rugby whereas we'll be relatively fresh.

So they'll be on form and we wont  

You never know Munk, their win over the Pumas could have been a blip.  

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You never know Munk, their win over the Pumas could have been a blip.  

Like England's over NZ ?

munkian wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You never know Munk, their win over the Pumas could have been a blip.  

Like England's over NZ ?

Or Wales' over England?

There have been a lot of blips in world rugby recently

Cyril wrote:

munkian wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You never know Munk, their win over the Pumas could have been a blip.  

Like England's over NZ ?

Or Wales' over England?

There have been a lot of blips in world rugby recently

You would have to be more specific with that blip. It could be one of many examples!

The Saint wrote:

Cyril wrote:

munkian wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You never know Munk, their win over the Pumas could have been a blip.  

Like England's over NZ ?

Or Wales' over England?

There have been a lot of blips in world rugby recently

You would have to be more specific with that blip. It could be one of many examples!

I think our blips are about even

You had a fair few blips against us in the '90s and 2000s, as I recall it!

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:sounds like he committed to Wales . well for two years anyway . glad he focus on bringing youth into it  . looking toward to te south Africa game but they seriously needed to start with Tonga first . playing a team who  second in the world  just after the playing the  championship doesn't help our course much .

Agreed, Gatland seems to know what is going on and what to do with what he has...! Plus after the last six nations I think a lot of people are more confident about the likely change of coaching in three years time.

Really Maes,

Not me, I still don't think Howley is right man for head job and McBryde made some bad calls in Japan to.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Really Maes,

Not me, I still don't think Howley is right man for head job and McBryde made some bad calls in Japan to.

I only said more confident Beds mate.

And even his most vehement critics applauded that he surpassed their expectations when I charge, yourself included.

Hey I am never afraid to admit if wrong Maes but I still don't think he's the top man sort of person.

I know he has ambitions of the top job and who can blame him for that, would he be happy if the WRU parachuted another big marque signing in above him after Gatland goes I doubt he will and again I wouldn't blame him.

But and its only my opinion I just don't think he's top man material.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Hey I am never afraid to admit if wrong Maes but I still don't think he's the top man sort of person.

I know he has ambitions of the top job and who can blame him for that, would he be happy if the WRU parachuted another big marque signing in above him after Gatland goes I doubt he will and again I wouldn't blame him.

But and its only my opinion I just don't think he's top man material.

Thing that we need is a consistent system, gradual change implemented. We have had far too many coaches over the last twenty five years and its been time that we had consistency. Gatlands eight years will make a huge difference, him passing on the batten to his protege Howley might keep the continuity and familiarity rolling?

Just saying that there are plus points.

If Howley takes over, will Edwards and McBride stay ? More worried about keeping the former than the latter obviously

Im so glad Edwards stopped on after the political snub for lions defence coach . you could see how much it meant to him after the England game . lets be honest how many people could celebrate like that after beating your own national team England . i hope he stops on after gatland too but  if England comes calling again he might go this time . i can see howley being our next coach . whether i want him to i just dont know   . on one hand we lost eight games under him    on the hand we won the six nations with him .  Im in limbo

My concern with Rob Howley is whether he's capable of coming up with his own tactics and strategies. While Gatland was away he was just holding the fort and that's very different to being the main man. He's completely untried in that role. What's more, the players knew he was just holding the fort.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:My concern with Rob Howley is whether he's capable of coming up with his own tactics and strategies. While Gatland was away he was just holding the fort and that's very different to being the main man. He's completely untried in that role. What's more, the players knew he was just holding the fort.

I am not as worried about him as I was. During the summer and AIs you could see the string that Gatas was using to control him, however during the 6Ns, he did seem to make a few decisions that I think, at least appeared, to be his own. Dropping Warburton, cough injured cough. And then feilding Warburton and Tips in the back row. Time will tell I guess.

It will be interesting who his team will be post Gats, maybe Dai Young (forwards), Nigel Davies (backs) and Shaun Edwards (defence)?

Christ, lets see if Gats can get us through 2 more Six Nations and a WC in England before we worry about anything else eh ?  

So the stats prove that england are twice as good as wales.

yes simple maths.

wales 6th

England 3rd

:

Heres some stats for you - 30-03  

Oh you are quoting a single game. I have quoted a system that rates and measures all games within a period.

You are going to have to admit the truth on this one dude.

I am hoping this thread is the new england v wales thread btw.,

And lets be honest how is it possible to talk about england without mentioning wales at some point and vice versa..

Speaking of all games within a period, surely the best period to consider when deciding who's best is the period from 19th February 1881 to 16th March 2013? That puts it at 124 matches played, 56 wins apiece with 12 matches drawn.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Speaking of all games within a period, surely the best period to consider when deciding who's best is the period from 19th February 1881 to 16th March 2013? That puts it at 124 matches played, 56 wins apiece with 12 matches drawn.

Boom. Fairest way to do it  

Yeah I think when you rank teams you have to forget about bygone eras and measure all opposition within a relevant time.

But yes it is a top coincidental stat dude!

mystiroakey wrote:So the stats prove that england are twice as good as wales.

yes simple maths.

wales 6th

England 3rd

:

No mysti, that isn't maths. It's statistics, which contain gaps and loopholes. Therefore we study statistics by means of Critical Path Analysis, Gantt Charts, Payoff Tables, Decision Trees, Linear Programming; all because stats aren't reliable.

Aww damm you got me

it doesn't matter anyway the world cup is drawn and the 3rd 4th and sixth team are all equal in one group . plus who ever is the other one

It's a hell of a group. Whichever two sides progress will definitely be battle-hardened for their quarter finals.