Time to be realistic and adult about things...

First topic message reminder :

After what seems to have been a difficult weekend for both Welsh fans and mods, I thought i'd start a thread to get everyone back on track to the reason we are all here, talking rugby!

I recognise Englands improved performance against Wales (it could hardly get worse after last year) is just what a lot of us needed, and the changing room needed it too, but lets be realistic about a few things...

The Welsh front row have not become bad players over night, it's clear we have reffing concistency issues, as we had last year. But with the new engagement laws added to a lot of analysis work they were never going to be as dominant as they had been forever, thats not to say the wheels have fallen off, just hit a bump and look shaky.

If we're being realistic Wales probably could've and should've scored at least 2 tries, pressure was the force behind some pretty glaring errors.

England were very hungry for this, and needed it way more than Wales did, going into 2015 RWC on the back of 4/5 losses on the bounce to Wales, and last 2 HQ losses too? We just had the hunger to win the game, whereas I think Wales were trying not to make mistakes first up!

If I'm being honest there were 3 key areas as to why England won;

1, the yellow card. I felt a bit for Jenkins originally, but he was warned and penalised, even after that he didn't recognise he was being watched and engaged the exact same way he had been, so he lost my sympathy.

2. Welsh half backs. Webb and Preistland just looked out of their depth, simple passes were executed poorly, timings between the backline and these 2 were way off, Webb was beating to a different drum to everyone else, and the forwards looked like they had no idea what he was doing, both kicked to a plan but did so sloppily!

3, absolutely no cahones whatsoever!!! At 72nd minute, we kicked long to half penny, outside of his 22, Wales were down by 11 points and needed something drastic, what was that something? A boot long downfield for territory with a splintered chase. How were Wales ever going to win this game if they didn't at least try? Why did no player grab the others and say 'Stuff this, we are on the verge of losing, lets try a trick play/counter attack/something different' Theres no way halfpenny gets dropped for running back a ball with both wings outside him, 11 points down with 8 minutes to go!! Even if Gatlands plan A is that rigid there has to be room for an attempt at getting something out of the game?!

I think momentum is key, but it always stops, England now have some, although we don't look like a team to worry NZ or SA yet, but at least we look like the makings of a team who potentially could next year. Wales have been stuttering, but with such a huge Lions contingent, who for a lot of guys have not played too much rugby since, their execution of the plan is the issue, players have been battered by the lions tour, then injured to return in time for international rugby, look at the players who are currently out for other nations...

Parling, Youngs, Youngs, Cole, Corbisiero, Vunipola all injured partially due to a tough lions summer, SOB, murray, Bowe, Hogg, Grant all had long spells on the sidelines too, it's not surprising that Wales forwards especially are struggling a touch, I think if someone recorded injury rates this season of the lions squad we'd all be more sympathetic to the players, even the 11 players above, who were considered 6N best are either not playing, or not playing that well at present.

In summation, France are the only team to take an actual backward step in recent years, Wales, Ireland England have little between them except circumstance, and Italy and Scotland are yet to take that next step to challenge for silverware of late.

Congrats to all winners this weekend, and to the losing teams, there is always next weekend...

Scratch wrote:

nathan wrote:

Scratch wrote:Nathan

Glad you got so much enjoyment from that, we were discussing try scoring england didn't score a try by breaking our defensive line ball in hand.

Dont play that card, your very much aware of your own posts before the game....

perhaps i should of just replied with 29 - 18

? not playing a card at all, you've used what i wrote incorrectly in this debate which was about how wales lost the game by conceding tries due to mistakes and not having their defensive line breached ball in hand, not sure why i keep needing to clarify that point as it is clear and obvious

posts before the game are irrelevant to this issue however your reference to same suggests you are just looking for a rise, you won't get one here ok

Not looking for a rise, just subjecting you to the trash we had to put up with.

I think that's enough now. I am locking this thread.