Wales v Scotland, 15 March

by **George Carlin** Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:51 am

First topic message reminder :

Walesv Scotland

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
15 March 2014, KO:14:45

Referee: Jérôme Garces (FFR)
First Assistant: Chris Pollock (NZR)
Second Assistant: Greg Garner (RFU)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

A. Squads

1. Wales

Forwards: Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton Capt (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)

Backs: Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

2. Scotland

Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Previous Form

9 March 2013, Murrayfield
18 – 28 to Wales

12 February 2012, Millennium Stadium
27 – 13 to Wales

12 February 2011, Murrayfield
6 – 24 to Wales

13 February 2010, Millennium Stadium
31 – 24 to Wales

8 February 2009, Murrayfield
13 – 26 to Wales

9 February 2008, Millennium Stadium
30 – 15 to Wales

10 February 2007, Murrayfield
21 – 9 to Scotland

12 February 2006, Millennium Stadium
28 – 18 to Wales

13 March 2005, Murrayfield
22 – 46 to Wales

14 February 2004, Millennium Stadium
23 – 10 to Wales

30 August 2003, Millennium Stadium
23 – 9 to Wales (2003 Rugby World Cup preparatory game)

8 March 2003, Murrayfield
30 – 22 to Scotland

6 April 2002, Millennium Stadium
22 – 27 to Scotland

C. Teams

1. Wales
Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 Tom-jo10

Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 Tom-jo10

15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)
13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
12 Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
11 George North (Northampton Saints)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
09 Mike Phillips (Racing Metro)

01 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
02 Ken Owens (Scarlets)
03 Rhodri Jones (Scarlets)
04 Luke Charteris (Perpignan)
05 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
06 Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)
07 Sam Warburton (CAPT – Cardiff Blues)
08 Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard (Ospreys)
17 Paul James (Bath Rugby)
18 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
19 Jake Ball (Scarlets)
20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
21 Rhodri Williams (Scarlets)
22 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
23 James Hook (Perpignan)

2. Scotland
Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 Mark11

Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 Mark11

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Dougie Fife(Edinburgh Rugby)
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 7
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Max Evans (Castres)
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) vice-cpt

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby)
4 Richie Gray (Castres)
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier)
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) captain
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby)

Substitutes
16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors)
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors)
20 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan)
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors)
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens)
23 Jack Cuthbert (Edinburgh Rugby)

by Scratch Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:55 pm

cakeordeath wrote:
Scratch wrote:
cakeordeath wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Back from the shops now. What did I miss?

The Scotland team cost me 3 packs of grass fed rib-eye steaks.

They raising cattle on murrayfield too?

Yeah they swapped the donkeys for cattle

sorry shouldn't take the mick

I have always loved scottish rugby since Calder, White, Jeffery etc

You have the dog up north and that is what you need to get back

Weir is not up to it but you have decent backs, a superb cadre of back 5 forwards, i think your front row is a bit soft.

Your problem is management - look at transformation of irish under schmidt.....things can change quickly. You have beaten Aus and i believe SA? recently....more than Wlaes have achieved.

No wis not the time to fold, i would have thought a true scot was too bl00dy stubborn to quit!

by Shifty Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:20 pm

It's hard to have any sympathy for what happened to Scotland today, the red card was very deserved and Hogg pretty much killed his team off with that silly tackle.

We flatted the opposition in our 3 home games and yet me get stuffed in our two away games, it''s been an odd season.

by Casartelli Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:12 pm

This high tempo off loading stuff is so 2005. Won't get us anywhere against teams with 15 players on the pitch.

The sooner Gets reverts to his Warrenball roots the better.

by slartibartfast Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:26 pm

Just signing in to say thanks to the scots at the stadium. Gracious in defeat and in good voice!

by Allty Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:45 pm

A positive for you Scottish fans

Scott Johnson will not coach your team again.

by Scratch Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:52 pm

Allty wrote:A positive for you Scottish fans

Scott Johnson will not coach your team again.

Plus the only way is up and up you will go.

Scotland need to start with the basics. They used to be awesome at pick and drive, too often try and go wide too early now.

Back to set piece and bit between the teeth grind out rugby.

by bedfordwelsh Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:00 pm

Injuries are sometimes a blessing in dis-guise,in 05 Jenkins wasn't first choice Duncan Jones was but he got injured and as they say Jenkins hasn't looked back.

Could today be that moment for Liam Williams, I thought he was outstanding today and deservedly MOTM. People have been saying for sometime that Halfpenny is a winger playing at XV so do we now consider him primarily as a winger and let the best 2 out of him Cuthbert and North battle it out.

by Nematode Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:15 pm

Halfpenny for me is certainly a better player to have in your team than L Williams, not least for his goal kicking. Also he is more suited to FB I think thank wing. L Williams is a good player but he was playing against a woeful, 14-man Scotland team.

The question for me though is whether L Williams & Eli Walker are better than Alex Cuthbert. I've not been that impressed by Cuthbert, whose reputation seems to be carrying him through a relatively quiet 6N. I'd like to see Eli Walker get a go at a few games on the wing to see what he provides.

by Nematode Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:24 pm

Think I was a bit hasty in calling my end of supporting Scottish Rugby...

To be optimistic, we have Vern Cotter coming in then talent like:

Hogg mad

, Visser, Scott, Dunbar, Maitland, Cusiter, Denton, R Gray, J Gray, Hamilton, Grant, Horne ... Vernon Very Happy

and youngsters like Bennett, Farndale, Russell

Cry

by EWT Spoons Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:30 pm

We'll that was painful. We'll done wales, you deserved your win and had the red card been against you instead of us I doubt the score would have been as emphatic.

Buggered if I know what Hogg was thinking (guess he wasn't) but that really screwed us. Only positive from this tournament is that SJ is no longer coaching the side. However that is offset by him taking over as DOR and could very well coach us again if vern moves on at some point.

With the under 20s getting horsed on Friday the future's looking bleak, the presents pretty gash and the past has been poor for a while too. Got to love being a Scottish rugby fan!

SRU need to change, Scottish rugby is in a very sorry state.

by **RDW** Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:32 pm

Hogg went to apologise to Biggar and the ref after the game.

The whole Scottish nation should be added to his list too...

by Shifty Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:35 pm

I think Hogg looks very frustrated, did you notice he seemed to go into Williams with his knees when Wales scored their first try.

I wonder if it was sour grapes from the Lions tour and he wanted to dish it out a bit to Wales by being physical, either way it's back fired.

by mckay1402 Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:49 pm

Nematode wrote:Halfpenny for me is certainly a better player to have in your team than L Williams, not least for his goal kicking. Also he is more suited to FB I think thank wing. L Williams is a good player but he was playing against a woeful, 14-man Scotland team.

The question for me though is whether L Williams & Eli Walker are better than Alex Cuthbert. I've not been that impressed by Cuthbert, whose reputation seems to be carrying him through a relatively quiet 6N. I'd like to see Eli Walker get a go at a few games on the wing to see what he provides.

Don't agree with this. Liam Williams us exactly what you want in a full back. Fearless, tough and attacks the line. I obviously rate halfpenny but Williams is a potentially very good fullback

by Nematode Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:50 pm

Well, we've witnessed the last clanger by SJ in the post-match press conference.

"Asked if the sending-off was the turning point, Johnson said: "It wouldn't have been the same result, as in the scoreboard.

"I thought we were in the contest but full-back is a hell of a position to fill for that length of time. If it's a forward you can cover it but it's harder to cover a back division player, and once they were on a roll they played some pretty good rugby, too."

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SUB TAYLOR FOR WILSON TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BACK!!! mad

by glamorganalun Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:08 pm

Nematode wrote:Well, we've witnessed the last clanger by SJ in the post-match press conference.

"Asked if the sending-off was the turning point, Johnson said: "It wouldn't have been the same result, as in the scoreboard.

"I thought we were in the contest but full-back is a hell of a position to fill for that length of time. If it's a forward you can cover it but it's harder to cover a back division player, and once they were on a roll they played some pretty good rugby, too."

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SUB TAYLOR FOR WILSON TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BACK!!!

+1 spot on as the scrums were a mess throughout.

by Taffineastbourne Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:11 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Hogg went to apologise to Biggar and the ref after the game.

The whole Scottish nation should be added to his list too...

And the Welsh nation.He spoiled everyone's day.

by bedfordwelsh Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:13 pm

Cuthbert has had a quiet tournament but he has a better strike rate than North. Liam Williams' natural position is full back NOT wing and that was proved today, that said I don't automatically think we should jettison Halfpenny and competition is good so with the likes of North, Cuthbert, Halfpenny, Williams, Walker and Dirksen fighting for 3 positions can only be good.

by Scrumpy Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:14 pm

Good job they subbed Gethin I think he wasn't far away from another yellow card, what is wrong with him?

by R!skysports Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:16 pm

Scratch wrote:
cakeordeath wrote:
Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

That is a cult

by **RDW** Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:26 pm

Very selfish of him to only give Wales a 50 points win - the paying Welsh public deserved a lot more entertainment...

by mystiroakey Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:46 pm

Riskysports wrote:
Scratch wrote:
cakeordeath wrote:
Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

That is a cult

No its just being a fan

by blindsided Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:54 pm

glamorganalun wrote:
Nematode wrote:Well, we've witnessed the last clanger by SJ in the post-match press conference.

"Asked if the sending-off was the turning point, Johnson said: "It wouldn't have been the same result, as in the scoreboard.

"I thought we were in the contest but full-back is a hell of a position to fill for that length of time. If it's a forward you can cover it but it's harder to cover a back division player, and once they were on a roll they played some pretty good rugby, too."

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SUB TAYLOR FOR WILSON TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BACK!!!

+1 spot on as the scrums were a mess throughout.

THIS!! You could see after the red card wales exploited the space out wide! And what did SJ do about it? That's right, beggar all. I really don't want to say that Cotter is going to be the saviour of scottish rugby, but good gads he'll be better than SJ. Erm

by Taffineastbourne Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:11 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Very selfish of him to only give Wales a 50 points win - the paying Welsh public deserved a lot more entertainment...

Scoring a bucket load of points against 14 is not as satisfying as scoring a bucket load of points against 15.If you cannot see that.....

by **RDW** Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:19 pm

If all you've got to complain about as a Rugby fan is not being satisfied with 51 points against 14 men then you really do have an easy life.

Try having no success since 1999 -see how satisfying you find that as a rugby fan

by Taffineastbourne Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:24 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:If all you've got to complain about as a Rugby fan is not being satisfied with 51 points against 14 men then you really do have an easy life.

Try having no success since 1999 -see how satisfying you find that as a rugby fan

Where did I say that? Rolling Eyes

by blindsided Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:28 pm

Taff!! You literally just said, and I quote, "Scoring a bucket load of points against 14 is not as satisfying as scoring a bucket load of points against 15." Therefore you COMPLAINED the result was not as satisfying as if Scotland had the full 15 on the pitch. Don't get me wrong, Im sure you enjoyed the game, but there really is no need to wind us scots up today. We're too deflated to properly get involved. Sad

by **RDW** Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:29 pm

Taffineastbourne wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Very selfish of him to only give Wales a 50 points win - the paying Welsh public deserved a lot more entertainment...
Scoring a bucket load of points against 14 is not as satisfying as scoring a bucket load of points against 15.If you cannot see that.....

by Taffineastbourne Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:32 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
Taffineastbourne wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Very selfish of him to only give Wales a 50 points win - the paying Welsh public deserved a lot more entertainment...
Scoring a bucket load of points against 14 is not as satisfying as scoring a bucket load of points against 15.If you cannot see that.....

Can't see any reference to this being all that I have to complain about.

by 21st Century Schizoid Man Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:33 pm

Pse pse Johnson just feck off and die you utter pri8k

by Nematode Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:40 pm

I think some people should be sin-binned for the night to cool off... Don't let the good nature of Scottish fans be jeopardised by a nightmare.

by **RDW** Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:44 pm

Taken in context (i.e. today's match) it should be fairly obvious what I mean by 'all you've got to complain about'.

Going back to basics - to complain that a 51 point win isn't satisfying cause it was against 14 men really is a kick in the nuts to Scotland fans who have had very little to cheer about for years.

by tigertattie Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:44 pm

Don't forget lads, that's Scott Johnson away to be our director of rugby. I think his first direction should be be to walk 100 yards east or west along the forth road bridge.

I bet the idiot thinks the best thing for rugby would be to ban it in schools and only boys over 16 with long hair get to play going forward.

by Taffineastbourne Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:51 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Taken in context (i.e. today's match) it should be fairly obvious what I mean by 'all you've got to complain about'.

Going back to basics - to complain that a 51 point win isn't satisfying cause it was against 14 men really is a kick in the nuts to Scotland fans who have had very little to cheer about for years.

Look,the match ended as a contest after 22 minutes when Hogg had his moment of madness.That left approximately3/4 of the game to be played out.Bit like finding out whodunnit in Act One.If you think this is enjoyable I would welcome some clarification coz I certainly don't.

by Cambo Sat Mar 15, 2014 11:55 pm

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Pse pse Johnson just feck off and die you utter pri8k

Another insightful and witty post from Glasgow's top funny man. Bye the way what does 'pse' mean?

by Guest Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:10 am

What does bye the way mean? Wink

Cotter will make a difference, I think. I hope they ease the long haired Aussie out and put him back in his original welsh role of drumming up support from the stands, as he was good at that.

Shifty, I don't know if you're wumming but I doubt Hogg thought I'm going to dive on Williams and shoulder charge Biggar late to prove a point? I don't think he needed to dive on Williams for his try, but he would've maybe thought he could try dislodging the ball or something.

by Blueschief Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:11 am

There's nothing quite like the Scots in Cardiff, they create a great atmosphere, I was at the game and when Scotland kicked their pen, a couple of Scots fans in front of me stood up, shook my hand, and said, that's us done, all yours now. Funny, but strangely prophetic. They took it on the chin, and still cheered their team after Hogg went.

Fantastic atmosphere today, tho the red card ruined the game, wanted Wales to win a battle, but not like today.

Hogg should foot the team bar bill tonight.

by Nematode Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:48 am

I must say I wonder if this will slightly haunt the Welsh, wonder if any Welsh could comment.

Coming into this game we [Scotland] were reasonably confident of a performance. Maybe not a win, but a narrow game. That was from beating Italy and a 'good' display against France. Had it been off the back of Ireland and England we'd have been finding sofas to hide behind.

What I'm trying to say is that what was, on reflection, an iffy win vs Italy and a reasonable performance but against an under performing French team gave us perhaps artificial confidence. Could this be the case for Wales?

The last thought of the 6N might be the 7 great tries in the rout - could this lead some to forget the cracks forming in the Welsh game [Ireland's dissection of Wales and the England game]? Might this damage Wales by giving supporters an artificially inflated level of confidence and ease pressure for Gatland to change things?

I'm just procrastinating, but if the England game had been the concluding game I think the lasting attitude might have been for more radical change and maybe some required fresh faces?

by Scratch Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:51 am

Nematode wrote:I must say I wonder if this will slightly haunt the Welsh, wonder if any Welsh could comment.

Coming into this game we [Scotland] were reasonably confident of a performance. Maybe not a win, but a narrow game. That was from beating Italy and a 'good' display against France. Had it been off the back of Ireland and England we'd have been finding sofas to hide behind.

What I'm trying to say is that what was, on reflection, an iffy win vs Italy and a reasonable performance but against an under performing French team gave us perhaps artificial confidence. Could this be the case for Wales?

The last thought of the 6N might be the 7 great tries in the rout - could this lead some to forget the cracks forming in the Welsh game [Ireland's dissection of Wales and the England game]? Might this damage Wales by giving supporters an artificially inflated level of confidence and ease pressure for Gatland to change things?

I'm just procrastinating, but if the England game had been the concluding game I think the lasting attitude might have been for more radical change and maybe some required fresh faces?

Yes Nematode, while watching the game i felt like i was watching school rugby. The standard is lower right, Wales are great at bashing 2nd tier nations - sorry scots but true - and though i thought our performance v France was top drawer there is little to be pleased about when you get soundly beaten by England and Ireland.

We will, i hope, have perspective on our win today though. And if we don't SA will restore it fast.

by Blueschief Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:57 am

I agree too, we've flattered to deceive this year, and it doesn't bode well if we remain blinkered. Time to shake things up methinks.

by RDSguru Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:59 am

Nematode wrote:Might this damage Wales by giving supporters an artificially inflated level of confidence and ease pressure for Gatland to change things?

artificially inflated level of confidence in a Welsh fan... no never Shocked

As a 40 something fan of Wales.. I never get confident after any game.... there's always the danger of the next game....

But really, you're question should be aimed at the players (or rather about the players)... is there a danger of complacency? yes... there is

by slartibartfast Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:12 am

The cracks look just fine to me.

by TJ Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:53 am

Hogg - what was he thinking? He had already had a petulant late hit on the first try scorer.

Scotland barely looked in it before the red - never going to be in the contest thereafter. Vern Cotter - can't come soon enough. Scott Johnson is a muppet and so are the SRU for employing him

by bedfordwelsh Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:05 am

I said straight after the game that I hope this result doesn't now paper over the cracks, it was a good win and some good play by the backs which proves we can do it but against a poor 14 man side.

We have come up short against the two best teams this year who had worked out our style and we didn't have another plan to turn to.

We need to be able to adapt our gamestyle if plan A doesn't work and there are a few positions we now really need to start developing in.

by TJ Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:10 am

In that first 25 mins I saw Phillips was caught in possession once and charged down twice by Jim"glacier" Hamiliton. A better team will punish you more for that.

by bedfordwelsh Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:11 am

Phillips is one of those areas we need to develop in.

by Nematode Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:26 am

Heard Phillips is investing in some new accessories to help him get around the pitch...

Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 1f3000_domestic_zimmer_frame_001_1

Wales v Scotland, 15 March - Page 11 1f3000_domestic_zimmer_frame_001_1

by Knowsit17 Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:12 pm

bedfordwelsh wrote:Phillips is one of those areas we need to develop in.

Bit of an understatement imo. Yesterday's game just confirmed in my mind that Phillips and Priestland shouldn't be anywhere near the starting XV. If it hadn't have been for other developments I get the feeling the scoreline would have been much closer as Phillips would have butchered so many moves, he was getting scragged left, right and centre before the card. In the past his slow service might have been forgivable to an extent given the other things he did well but now he's past his best and is looking more like a consistent liability from game to game. I no longer feel we can be taken seriously as an attacking threat with him at 9.

I know Scotland had a lot going against them but looking beyond that, yesterday was the first game in maybe a year I've seen Wales so eager and confident running the ball. The positioning and offloading bordered on sublime at times and, what do you know, we were actually clinical from start to finish as a result. The inner awareness and coordination between players was brilliant, the supporting lines were fantastic and players seemed to be looking up out of every tackle and checking for support.

I just have to ask, what would it possibly take to get Wales producing even a fraction of that performance on a regular basis (regardless of whether the opposition have had a man sent off)?

by glamorganalun Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:46 pm

The scrums during this game and others were a complete mess and worse than last year going down , up, wheeling and feeding into the second row.

The Scottish line out always a strength was rubbish but looking at the coaches it is no shock.

The only poor player for Wales was Priestland followed by Phillips but at least he did improve as the game went on. I just hope he does not go to SA but that is wishfull thinking.

I thought Hook looked good the vision for his left footed kick and the rear flick pass!

by Jhamer25 Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:29 pm

The only think i can suggest for Scotland is to drop Ford, Weir and Rhudir Jackson from the teams and just start again. Start to develop some youngsters like the 10 at Edinburgh.
Duncan Weir has awful vision and is a terrible finisher
Ford is the worst Hooker i have seen not only at international level but club level in years (it's fair to say his Lions days are over). I have never seen a hooker cost his team so much points.

Cotters presence will be a big impact though. Scotland aren't a bad team and have some great players but i mean leaving players like Barclay, Strokosch and Gray for the first few games is an absolute joke.

by TJ Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:16 am

blindsided wrote:
glamorganalun wrote:
Nematode wrote:Well, we've witnessed the last clanger by SJ in the post-match press conference.

"Asked if the sending-off was the turning point, Johnson said: "It wouldn't have been the same result, as in the scoreboard.

"I thought we were in the contest but full-back is a hell of a position to fill for that length of time. If it's a forward you can cover it but it's harder to cover a back division player, and once they were on a roll they played some pretty good rugby, too."

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SUB TAYLOR FOR WILSON TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BACK!!!

+1 spot on as the scrums were a mess throughout.

THIS!! You could see after the red card wales exploited the space out wide! And what did SJ do about it? That's right, beggar all. I really don't want to say that Cotter is going to be the saviour of scottish rugby, but good gads he'll be better than SJ.

Surely a situation made for the Ritchie the Vernonator!
#

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