Wales appreciation Thread from a Englishman

[beshocked]

To cut through all the animousity I thought it would be nice to talk about only positive things about Wales. Which players you like in Wales and the positives about Wales. Talk about Wales in a calm and productive manner.


I will start it off:

George North - quality player, I think we are fortunate to have him in the Aviva Premiership.

The Welsh national side - good team - lots of quality players and passionate fanbase.

Thoughts?

[bluestonevedder]

Good idea beshocked. 

Sam Warburton- excellent player, and I hope he stays fit for the 6N and WC. 

Faletau- most well-rounded no.8 in the NH. 

Roberts- I hate him because he's a great player but also a damn doctor

North- as beshocked's post above 

Liam Williams- abrasive, like a younger Brown

Hallem Amos- good prospect 

That'll do for now. 

Oh, Millenium stadium- heck of a place. Especially with the roof on. 

Oh, finally, Wales in general- a lovely place! I spent 4 years at university there and thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.

[Geordie]

The fact thats its far away from Newcastle is very nice!

[Biltong]

Shortly after the 1995 RWC Wales played a test at Ellispark, there was a middle aged Welsh couple just behind us in the stands, and we started chatting to them.

Although Wales were soundly beaten the Welsh couple were very friendly and complimentary of the Springboks, Bennet managed to score a try and they celebrated like crazy.

They were a very nice couple, a mate of mine and I took them for dinner the next week, our tradition was to be the first in and the last to leave, the couple agreed to our rules and we had a very pleasant but late evening out.

[LordDowlais]

To cut through all the animousity I thought it would be nice to talk about only positive things about Wales. Which players you like in Wales and the positives about Wales. Talk about Wales in a calm and productive manner.


I will start it off:

George North - quality player, I think we are fortunate to have him in the Aviva Premiership.

The Welsh national side - good team - lots of quality players and passionate fanbase.

Thoughts?

I do not like George North as a player, he cannot defend for toffee and he cost us the game out in South Africa, him and Cuthbert, for me are all that is wrong for Wales, I would put Eli Walker on one wing and Leigh Halfpenny on the other.

P.S cheers for the thread.

[lostinwales]

Oh I'd keep North. Cuthbert is a teriffic strike runner but defense wise makes Visser look almost OK. You do need some variety though

[GunsGerms]

Im not English but I like North, 1/2p and Wynn Jones.

I have also had really positive experiences in Cardiff everytime I have been there for Leinster games so the fans/locals deserve lots of credit too.

[funnyExiledScot]

For me the key for Wales between now and the World Cup is to transition some fresh faces into an extremely established side without ruining the benefits of continuity.

What you get with Gatland's teams is physicality, excellent conditioning and a simple but effective game plan. I think his team selections have been a tad conservative in the last season or so and I do think the side could use some fresh faces in the AIs.

Still, Wales have been a very strong side and difficult to beat during the Gatland era, which has brought significant trophy success. They are an experienced and battle hardened squad with 100s of caps and a group of Lions' series winners. They also have the best away fans in the 6 Nations in my opinion.

It's a horrible World Cup draw for Wales, but at the same time a thrilling one, and Gatland will have his squad in mint condition for the tournament.

[beshocked]

Lorddowlais I think you just need to utilise North more effectively.

Cuthbert caused havoc against England in that 30-3 because you used him well. He exposed Brown twice - not Brown's fault necessarily because he is not a winger.

He linked well with the flankers as well.

I have said many times that teams in general need to use wingers better. Cuthbert and North are both good wingers - use them! I would want them running good lines to make the most of their strengths.

[LordDowlais]

Lorddowlais I think you just need to utilise North more effectively.

Cuthbert caused havoc against England in that 30-3 because you used him well. He exposed Brown twice - not Brown's fault necessarily because he is not a winger.

He linked well with the flankers as well.

I have said many times that teams in general need to use wingers better. Cuthbert and North are both good wingers - use them! I would want them running good lines to make the most of their strengths.

And that there is the problem, they are big guys, but they get out jumped under the high ball against smaller wingers, they are out of position ALL THE TIME, they cannot tackle for toffee, and they are big boys, use your advantage, those two players never make the most of their strengths, it is very frustrating to watch.

[beshocked]

Surely it's part of a coaches' job to do that?

For example in training the coaches could practice kick and chase or cross field kicks? It's not something that needs to stay a weakness.

Surely the coaches could look at videos and give advice to the players?

[LordDowlais]

Surely it's part of a coaches' job to do that?

For example in training the coaches could practice kick and chase or cross field kicks? It's not something that needs to stay a weakness.

Surely the coaches could look at videos and give advice to the players?

I jus think they are both big babies, and do not like doing the rough stuff.

[funnyExiledScot]

Cuthbert has 13 tries in 27 games. North has 20 in 45. Not exactly terrible strike rates, although I agree that both are better in attack than in defence.

[LordDowlais]

Cuthbert has 13 tries in 27 games. North has 20 in 45. Not exactly terrible strike rates, although I agree that both are better in attack than in defence.

Cuthbert and North are very good finishers, and that is it, they offer feck all else. Although I suppose some people will say that wingers are there for their finishing, but they must stop the opposite wingers as well.

[beshocked]

Personally I think it's a nice luxury for Wales that they have two giant wingers.

England in comparison have really struggled producing wingers like that.

Banahan is the most comparable....not exactly a big success unfortunately..

Both North or Cuthbert could have played for England - it's a shame they picked Wales instead.

[LordDowlais]

Personally I think it's a nice luxury for Wales that they have two giant wingers.

England in comparison have really struggled producing wingers like that.

Banahan is the most comparable....not exactly a big success unfortunately..

Both North or Cuthbert could have played for England - it's a shame they picked Wales instead.

They chose Wales because that is where they have played their rugby all their life. It's not as if they were a Fijian and have come over here recently to play for Bath.

[funnyExiledScot]

Personally I think it's a nice luxury for Wales that they have two giant wingers.

England in comparison have really struggled producing wingers like that.

Banahan is the most comparable....not exactly a big success unfortunately..

Both North or Cuthbert could have played for England - it's a shame they picked Wales instead.

I think they both realised that with Chris Ashton on the scene there would be limited opportunities for England

[Guest]

Cuthbert has 13 tries in 27 games. North has 20 in 45. Not exactly terrible strike rates, although I agree that both are better in attack than in defence.

Cuthbert and North are very good finishers, and that is it, they offer feck all else. Although I suppose some people will say that wingers are there for their finishing, but they must stop the opposite wingers as well.

I'm not sure I agree with that, they're both natural finishers, but I've seen them both create a few tries for Wales with breaks, Cuthbert had a stormer in the 2nd test against the Springboks too

[Geordie]

Personally I think it's a nice luxury for Wales that they have two giant wingers.

England in comparison have really struggled producing wingers like that.

Banahan is the most comparable....not exactly a big success unfortunately..

Both North or Cuthbert could have played for England - it's a shame they picked Wales instead.

They chose Wales because that is where they have played their rugby all their life. It's not as if they were a Fijian and have come over here recently to play for Bath.

Wow you really do have a bee in your bonnet about that one dont you....

[LordDowlais]

Personally I think it's a nice luxury for Wales that they have two giant wingers.

England in comparison have really struggled producing wingers like that.

Banahan is the most comparable....not exactly a big success unfortunately..

Both North or Cuthbert could have played for England - it's a shame they picked Wales instead.

They chose Wales because that is where they have played their rugby all their life. It's not as if they were a Fijian and have come over here recently to play for Bath.

Wow you really do have a bee in your bonnet about that one dont you....

To be honest I am saying it in jest. The only thing that ruffled my feathers with that one was the fact that, just because he served in the army, it should give him more of a right to play for England. Look, for the record England are doing nothing wrong in selecting him, the rules are the rules, but I can do without people on here banging on about how good Englands strength in depth is, when you are giving caps out to any nationality as well.

[funnyExiledScot]

It is rather amusing that even a thread dedicated to English fans praising Welsh players has turned into a squabble between the Welsh and the English, with the English praising Welsh players and the Welsh now saying that they aren't very good!!

[fa0019]

Don't think Cuthbert played any rugby in Wales before he joined the blues no?

Born and raised in Gloucester no to a Welsh mum and English father. Played academy rugby in England but no one bar the blues picked him up. Surprising that. Anyhow, I don't have an issue with him playing for Wales, just a shame his mum wasn't from East Kilbride.

[fa0019]

Anyhow, Welsh appreciation... umm

thanks for the coal, the + sign, Geraint Thomas, Welsh cakes and the Tudors.

In terms of rugby....they're my favourite second team. Whoever they play, I favour them second!!!!

[Geordie]

LD

I think England do have strength in depth as regards to players tested in the premiership.

Does the international team have strength in depth...im not sure. We have talented players wh have performed in the Prem and indeed in europe...but have never been tested at the International level.

For me dpeth means tried and tested players to come in to cover injury...etc, and if we're honest...theres few in the world at the moment really have huge strength in depth.

As for Roko...
1) We have had to put up with the likes of Waldrom etc...who have no affinity with our country whatsoever...they discovered an English granny etc...that type of player doesnt endear themselves to the English rugby fan.
Roko has been over here and qualifies only on residency yes (he still fulfills the criteria) but why people are backing him more is that if a guy is prepared to stand on a battlefield for this Island...then they are showing more affinity than the Waldrom type. People are warm to that kind of player.

2)
You say a lack of strength in depth means selecting Roko. Yes and no.
We have some cracking players, but one thing we have admitted we miss is a few monster wingers coming through...not even monsters...just a few powerful ones, which is quite an essential ingredient in a rugby team these days....especially the style Lancaster is playing.
Thus Roko has jumped somewhat to the top of the list as he fulfills that criteria.

[Geordie]

Anyhow, Welsh appreciation... umm

thanks for the coal, the + sign, Geraint Thomas, Welsh cakes and the Tudors.

In terms of rugby....they're my favourite second team. Whoever they play, I favour them second!!!!

[beshocked]

Lorddowlais please keep to the positive stuff. I only mention Cuthbert and North because I am envious of Wales and wish England had wingers of their size - I can understand why both picked Wales.

Let's not get into the nationality argument.

[Geordie]

Lorddowlais please keep to the positive stuff. I only mention Cuthbert and North because I am envious of Wales and wish England had wingers of their size - I can understand why both picked Wales.

Let's not get into the nationality argument.

Beshocked, you know very well its difficult for LD to do that....

[LordDowlais]

It is rather amusing that even a thread dedicated to English fans praising Welsh players has turned into a squabble between the Welsh and the English, with the English praising Welsh players and the Welsh now saying that they aren't very good!!

I never said they aren't very good, I would rather have different one's. Thats just ny opinion though, I do appreciate everyone else's oppinions though, this is a discussion forum afterall.

[LordDowlais]

Lorddowlais please keep to the positive stuff. I only mention Cuthbert and North because I am envious of Wales and wish England had wingers of their size - I can understand why both picked Wales.

Let's not get into the nationality argument.

Beshocked, you know very well its difficult for LD to do that....

Please tell me you are joking.

[LordDowlais]

Don't think Cuthbert played any rugby in Wales before he joined the blues no?

Born and raised in Gloucester no to a Welsh mum and English father. Played academy rugby in England but no one bar the blues picked him up. Surprising that. Anyhow, I don't have an issue with him playing for Wales, just a shame his mum wasn't from East Kilbride.

He was playing sevens for Wales for ages, wether that was the same time as playing for the Blues though, I do not know.

[LordDowlais]

Anyhow, Welsh appreciation... umm

thanks for the coal, the + sign, Geraint Thomas, Welsh cakes and the Tudors.

In terms of rugby....they're my favourite second team. Whoever they play, I favour them second!!!!

And the national health service, lava bread, Catherine Jenkings, the steam engine, Dylan Thomas and our Welsh lamb. It's all ok, it's on the house, go on have them.

[fa0019]

Anyhow, Welsh appreciation... umm

thanks for the coal, the + sign, Geraint Thomas, Welsh cakes and the Tudors.

In terms of rugby....they're my favourite second team. Whoever they play, I favour them second!!!!

And the national health service, lava bread, Catherine Jenkings, the steam engine, Dylan Thomas and our Welsh lamb. It's all ok, it's on the house, go on have them.

well if you're going to make wild claims why not ask us to give thanks to you chaps for inventing the wheel, the jet engine and KFC's secret recipe... I mean come on, Dylan Thomas welsh.

[lostinwales]

Steam engines come from Devon. Keep up the research please

[jimmyinthewell68]

How about the good looking gene

[lostinwales]

How about the good looking gene

Or the overweight gene. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[LordDowlais]

Steam engines come from Devon. Keep up the research please

Wrong, wrong, wrong, perhaps you should do some research, the steam engine came from my very own town, it was invented by Richard Trevithick, he is from Cornwall, but the steam engine is from South Wales it was invented to carry the coal and iron ore, there is even a street in my town named after the man and the first ever rails that the engine travelled on are mounted on a plinth in our town centre. I cannot post a link on this damn I pad, but if you check Wikipedia you will see the first use of the steam engine was from Penydarren iron works in Merthyr Tydfil.

[funnyExiledScot]

For the first time ever I find myself having to say that LordDowlais is indeed correct.

My in-laws are an engineering family from Cornwall with a picture of Trevithick on the wall!

[LordDowlais]

For the first time ever I find myself having to say that LordDowlais is indeed correct.

My in-laws are an engineering family from Cornwall with a picture of Trevithick on the wall!

Of course, I am correct, it is a part of my heritage from being born and raised in Merthyr Tydfil, it is one of the main things we are educated with in school, it is a big and very proud bit of history from my town.

P.s thanks for your support FES.

[lostinwales]

Thats a locomotive. Steam engines have an ancient history (e.g the hero engine) but before Trevithick you have people like Newcomen and Savery.

All the best developments were driven by conditions in Cornwall, because you had a huge need (copper mines) and no readily available fuel after you have cut the trees down.

Of course the copper ore was then shipped over to Swansea for processing because you had coal on the doorstep, so Swansea got all the slag heaps while Cornwall got left with bare hills and ruined mine buildings

[LordDowlais]

Ok then I will edit my post to locomotive engine instead of steam engine, but I meant the choo choo train.

[Guest]

It has all gone a bit spotter now

[lostinwales]

Slightly related but the original Rocket is preserved at the Science Museum in London.

[LordDowlais]

Slightly related but the original Rocket is preserved at the Science Museum in London.

Stephensons Rocket, the chimney on it was so big they had to take it off every time they came to a bridge, they used that in Merthyr as well, it is the one on a five pound note, I think, or it might be on a tenner.

[DeludedOptimistorjustDave]

Thank you master Sir ,thank you sir, to climb down from your mighty English throne and pat the principality on the back must have been exhausting for you.
Thank you again sir please don't horse whip me.

What a tool of an article the last thing we need to hear is what we already know.

[No9]

Thats a locomotive. Steam engines have an ancient history (e.g the hero engine) but before Trevithick you have people like Newcomen and Savery.

All the best developments were driven by conditions in Cornwall, because you had a huge need (copper mines) and no readily available fuel after you have cut the trees down.

Of course the copper ore was then shipped over to Swansea for processing because you had coal on the doorstep, so Swansea got all the slag heaps while Cornwall got left with bare hills and ruined mine buildings

WHAT was that.... Swansea got all the SLAG

If you think that you want to look further up the valleys... LOADS of SLAG up there....

Only Joking...:

[lostinwales]

Valley commandos

[bedfordwelsh]

Valley commandos

Ex RAF by any chance lost?

[lostinwales]

Valley commandos

Ex RAF by any chance lost?

Me no. Career academic until I finally escaped. Its just any time I had cause to be travelling through Swansea late at night (or on late trains in that area) you did get to see some scary sights. Its a complete mystery as to why womens rugby in Wales isnt stronger.

[LordDowlais]

Valley commandos, from what I can gather, was the names given to the idiots from around the valleys who used to like to pump themselves up with steroids, and then put on a small t-shirts so that their arms and chest were bulging out of them, and they were covered in fake tan, the most common type, were the ones to be found in Merthyr who would also love wearing the pink Cardiff Blues top, they would frequently go down to the big city prowling their Savannah for their pray.

[bedfordwelsh]

Well if your Ex RAF of a certain trade and a certain era Valley Commandos take on a whole new meaning.

At RAF St Athan in the 70s, 80s and early 90s they were the names given to the females that were bused onto camp for Bop (Disco) night on a Wednesday.

Buses would go out Barry and Penarth way and then out Bridgend, Measteg way and bring women onto camp.

Some of the stories told and witnessed would make your hair curl and you took your life in your own hands if you were ever 'lucky' enough to get picked up by one

Oh they were the days lol

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