Wales Team vs Tonga

First topic message reminder :

We had a great game yesterday and we thoroughly deserved it.
Now on to next week vs the Tongan's and with our record with injuries, i'm not looking forward to it. Watched them vs Frances and they were very physical. A lot of the French ended up on their arse.
Tonga to have a threat in their backs and a good ball carrying pack. The dilemma we have it that we have Australia the week after and we want as many of out first team starters as we can. However we need to win this game next week against a descent Tongan team without risking our star players because i sense a few more injures will occur against a brutal side who show no mercy:

Here is my team for the game:
1. Paul James
2. Ken Owens
3. Samson Lee
4. Bradley Davies (C)
5. Ian Evans (if fit)
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Toby Falateu

9. Rhodri Wiliiams
10. Rhys Priestland
11. Liam Williams
12. Ashley Beck
13. Owen Williams
14. Geogre North
15. James Hook

16. Emyr Phillips, 17. Gethin Jenkins, 18. Rhodri Jones, 19. Luke Charteris, 20. Ryan Jones, 21. Mike Phillips, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Tom Prydie

The Tongan scrum is shocking and i have no worries what so ever. Paul and Samson would be our key to winning the game at scrum time, both deserve a shot.
If Ian is fit he should start and join with Bradley to have there own little battle to see who is ready for the match against Australia, Bradley can also bring that physicality to the pack as well which will be needed vs the big pacific islanders. For me Bradley has been amazing so far this Autumn and deserve a start vs Australia but if Ian can come back into form Bradley will have to fight for his spot.
Dan needs to be on the field o cut down these tree like figures and needs game time if he is set to start vs the Aussies
To me Gats is definitely going to start Dan and Sam for the Aussie game which is why Tipuric deserves another start int he form he is in.
We need Toby's edge and physicality in the pack; it's a risk but i wuld be willing to take it

Mike was exceptional on Saturday but we still need more depth at 9 because it is the are were we are weakest (depth wise) at the moment. Lloyd has been ok when he has come on but i want to see Rhodri have a shot

Priestland should start for another chance to shine, Biggar played really well on Saturday and made us play an expansive game; if Priestland is to start vs the Aussies he needs a corker.
Don't have much of a choice at Center and we can't risk Scott
George needs to start for the physicality that is set to be set upon us on Friday, again it's a risk but i would be willing to take it. However i wouldn't hesitate in staring Eli if he is fit.
James has stated he wants to play so much and this is the only chance i feel Gatland will give him to shine.

James Hook is playing really very well tonight.

Good try by Beck.

That could be a very good try by beck

Excellent finish from Beck!

For all the stick Phillips gets for having a slow pass.... Lloyd Williams' is beyond slow, not that accurate either.

Initial pass that started the move was injected forward.

good try

offload wrote:Please keep these comments coming. I'm unable to watch the game right now and the regular updates on the score are appreciated.  Thanks

Brett Gosper just stopped play in order to award Wales kicker the IRB Player of the Year Award

and Beck scored the 2nd try

Thought the TMO should have looked at that one in more detail, great work from Beck anyway.

Taylorman wrote:Initial pass that started the move was injected forward.

It wasn't.

Just watched the replay and it is parallel to the halfway line, it's what is called a flat pass. They used to be illegal but are not anymore.

wales606 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:I love how Jiffy nonchalantly fobs off Halfpennys forward pass though...

How you wish it was aye.  pathetic

Hey it was a good try, but doesntake away from the fact it was forward. Pathetic? okey dokey...

Hands went backward, doesn't matter that the ball went forwards

Hence why the ref said try stands when he saw it on the big screen

Okey dokey...

You're entitled to your opinion on Jiffy GF .

I'm pretty sure both Welsh tries have stemmed from forward passes nevertheless there's been some nice attacking phases so far

BOTH tries have had FLAT passes NOT forward ones. 2 excellent tries they have been as well. Great play by Wales

Tonga simply cannot compete with no set piece ball

I think maybe the Halfpenny pass for the first try was forward, I'd have to review it in more detail. Having seen the Beck pass in real time and slow mo I think that one was perfectly fine.

ALPanorak wrote:I'm pretty sure both Welsh tries have stemmed from forward passes nevertheless there's been some nice attacking phases so far

I disagree if you watch the replay you'll see you are wrong.

That said it is nice to see Wales get the rub of the green for a change.

ALPanorak wrote:I'm pretty sure both Welsh tries have stemmed from forward passes nevertheless there's been some nice attacking phases so far

Due to forward momentum the passed ball may go forwards as long as the movement of the hands goes backwards

GeordieFalcon wrote:

wales606 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

rainbow-warrior wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:I love how Jiffy nonchalantly fobs off Halfpennys forward pass though...

How you wish it was aye.  pathetic

Hey it was a good try, but doesntake away from the fact it was forward. Pathetic? okey dokey...

Hands went backward, doesn't matter that the ball went forwards

Hence why the ref said try stands when he saw it on the big screen

Okey dokey...

Yep, those are the laws of the game

Tongan handling really is dire

wales606 wrote:Tonga simply cannot compete with no set piece ball

Aye

And their sponsorship deal with that Teflon glove company is really biting them in the arse...

Well played Tonga...

Shaun Edwards would have challenged them not to concede - there going to get shouted at at HT.

Great try by Tonga...

Two missed tackles by Wales. A blitz defence only works if you take your man. Great strength in the off load and plenty of pace by the winger...

Well played

The Tongan pack just does not have enough quality without Mafi, Taumalol and of course Tonga'uiha.

good try Tonga

FFS Wales

You would expect this side to be trying to put hand up for next week, not defending like old ladies and letting Tonga back into the game

It's only Beck who struggles in defence to be fair, and most of us already knew that.

I wonder if Bayonne have something to do with Fonua not starting.

Welsh back row are playing well.

Welsh back row are playing well.

Amos having a pretty poor game tbh, that pass was just awful

Lucky Tongans cant throw

Scratch wrote:

ALPanorak wrote:I'm pretty sure both Welsh tries have stemmed from forward passes nevertheless there's been some nice attacking phases so far

Due to forward momentum the passed ball may go forwards as long as the movement of the hands goes backwards

I see, now you mention it I do recall hearing of that rule. Good point  
Lloyd Wills needs to reduce these pre-pass baby steps, been slowing attacks all half. I don't know how Wales are only ahead by 10....

Scratch wrote:

The Saint wrote:It's only Beck who struggles in defence to be fair, and most of us already knew that.

Well you need to tell the rest of the back line it was beck's fault because there were numerous missed tackles

Really? I counted just one from Beck. Williams did well to make the tackle, but the attacker also did well to offload.

Way to sloppy so far

Lloyd Willliams not helping

Ball not coming back very well either - Ian Evans and Chartris need to up their work rate - too many isolated players

Watch again, Hook for one.

Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

Hmmn... I don't like this experiment

I think Lloyd Williams needs a good kick up the arse at half time. If that doesn't work I'd love to see Rhodri Williams on the pitch.

Lloyd Williams is driving me mad. That delayed put in is causing all the problems at the scrum and then he's having trouble getting it away because of it. Get someone rise on for the second half.

Good games - Ryan Jones, Tipuric, Paul James, Owen Williams, James Hook

Poor games - Lloyd Williams, Luke Charteris, Hallam Amos

And Halfpenny was nowhere near him and why didn't Helu's opposite number track his run

I'd like to see both halfbacks changed, with Hook moved to 12 (just for experiments sake ). 13 jersey next week belongs to Owen Williams at the moment.

The Saint wrote:Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

I think Hook is playing well, though I see your point.

But is there really any need to play flyhalf from the pocket in a game like this...?

We are playing for tries, not for points.

1out of 1 penalty attempt at goal. The rest of the balls we have gone for the corner.

The Saint wrote:Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

I think Hook is playing well, though I see your point.

But is there really any need to play flyhalf from the pocket in a game like this...?

We are playing for tries, not for points.

1out of 1 penalty attempt at goal. The rest of the balls we have gone for the corner.

The Saint wrote:Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

I think Hook is playing well, though I see your point.

But is there really any need to play flyhalf from the pocket in a game like this...?

We are playing for tries, not for points.

1out of 1 penalty attempt at goal. The rest of the balls we have gone for the corner.

The Saint wrote:Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

I think Hook is playing well, though I see your point.

But is there really any need to play flyhalf from the pocket in a game like this...?

We are playing for tries, not for points.

1out of 1 penalty attempt at goal. The rest of the balls we have gone for the corner.

The Saint wrote:Lloyd Williams is rubbish and Hook isn't controlling the game that well. Definitely a centre.

I think Hook is playing well, though I see your point.

But is there really any need to play flyhalf from the pocket in a game like this...?

We are playing for tries, not for points.

1out of 1 penalty attempt at goal. The rest of the balls we have gone for the corner.

Scratch wrote:

ALPanorak wrote:I'm pretty sure both Welsh tries have stemmed from forward passes nevertheless there's been some nice attacking phases so far

Due to forward momentum the passed ball may go forwards as long as the movement of the hands goes backwards

will relook at it. The first short pass looked forward

A very scrappy game this.

Wales only 10 points in front at half time.

I was expecting Wales to be out of sight by now...But Tonga are still in this game, looking forward to the second half.