Wales v South Africa 2nd December 2017

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Wales v South Africa 2nd December 2017 - 2:30pm

Teams.....

Wales: Halfpenny; Amos, S Williams, H Parkes, S Evans; Biggar, A Davies; R Evans, Dacey, Andrews, Hill, A W Jones, Shingler, Navidi, Faletau.

Replacements: Dee, W Jones, R Jones, S Davies, Lydiate, Webb, Patchell, Watkin.

South Africa: Andries Coetzee; Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Francois Venter, Warrick Gelant; Handré Pollard, Ross Cronje; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dan du Preez.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Dreyer, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem, Louis Schreuder, Elton Jantjies, Lukhanyo Am.








Head to Head - Played 32 - SA 28 wins - Wales 3 wins - 1 Draw

Last 5 Games.

Jun 2014, Durban - SA 38–16 Wales

Jun 2014, Nelspruit -  SA 31–30 Wales

Nov 2014, Cardiff -  Wales 12–6 SA

Oct 2015, London, - SA 23–19 Wales

Nov 2016 Cardiff - Wales 27–13 SA

 

News - Tighthead prop crises.  Owen Williams and Rhys Priestland also unavailable.

Ball out, requires should surgery.

Tipuric has a thigh injury and has returned to the Ospreys.

Rhys Webb must pass concussion protocols to face the Springboks.

Where did that come from?!

That was a very nice try though.

Scott Williams and Aled Davies wouldn't get into any other international team on this form so why ours? International caps in Wales should be more sacred. Aled Davies is bloody awful, most Wales errors stem from him or something he's done a phase earlier. SA are gash.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Where did that come from?!

Laziness by Scott Williams in their 22.

Taylorman wrote:Good to see our Blues has been Hadleigh Parkes helping your side out with a couple of tries so far. No need to thank us, I mean someones gotta score them I suppose.

He's a good player. We need you to send more players and coaches.

Replays confirming faleatau was offside.

There's no excuse for the reffing team to make that kind of mistake!

Are wales missing some genuine pace in the back line? Amos is a good player but not electric. That other winger doesnt look rapid.
Parkes at 12 is slow...WIlliams...reasonable and I don't think Halfpenny has that raw pace anymore.

mikey_dragon wrote:Scott Williams and Aled Davies wouldn't get into any other international team on this form so why ours? International caps in Wales should be more sacred. Aled Davies is bloody awful, most Wales errors stem from him or something he's done a phase earlier. SA are gash.

Lack of depth Mikey, nothing else really.

I think Davies has went ok actually, he's certainly a step up on that awful SA 9.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Good to see our Blues has been Hadleigh Parkes helping your side out with a couple of tries so far. No need to thank us, I mean someones gotta score them I suppose.

He's a good player. We need you to send more players and coaches.

 He became a Welsh on Thursday. But you gotta wonder is he really up to this level?

Ooft that Rob Evans incident wasn't great - no arms shoulder charge into a ruck.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Replays confirming faleatau was offside.

There's no excuse for the reffing team to make that kind of mistake!

Everyone's talking point for the next 3 months I bet

How was that not a high tackle on the SA player? It was right in front of the ref!

Don't mean to be constantly questioning the ref's decisions against SA, but Rob Evans lazy running at the ruck on his own line, stopping SA momentum, and no yellow?

SA try nonetheless - they've had a good spell of possession. Wales need to wake up and get some ball!

OOOhhh game on now wales!

Big call taking Biggar off!

A raft of Aled Davies mistakes lead to an SA try.

Get Webb on!

Should have been a Wales penalty at the scrum, doubt RDW will be mentioning it though.

mikey_dragon wrote:Should have been a Wales penalty at the scrum, doubt RDW will be mentioning it though.

The SA scrum has been on top all game and a ref like Garces is only going to keep penalising the team going forward. SA got a good initial nudge on - whether the loosehead deliberately wheeled after that I don't know without seeing a replay from that side!

Some of SA players are really coming to the fore...that SA hooker looks a top player!

That Warrick Gelant looks a good player aswell.

For what it's worth there looked a forward pass on the build up to that try.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Should have been a Wales penalty at the scrum, doubt RDW will be mentioning it though.

The SA scrum has been on top all game and a ref like Garces is only going to keep penalising the team going forward. SA got the initial nudge on - whether the loosehead deliberately wheeled after that I don't know without seeing a replay from that side!

Convenient that it's okay for SA then eh? Usual BS from everyone on here every time Wales are playing.

mikey_dragon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Should have been a Wales penalty at the scrum, doubt RDW will be mentioning it though.

The SA scrum has been on top all game and a ref like Garces is only going to keep penalising the team going forward. SA got the initial nudge on - whether the loosehead deliberately wheeled after that I don't know without seeing a replay from that side!

Convenient that it's okay for SA then eh? Usual BS from everyone on here every time Wales are playing.

Where did I say it is OK?  I just said you couldn't see from that side whether they were wheeling, and SA were going forward before it started wheeling so the ref was only ever going to go one way.

He did penalise SA for wheeling there - rightly so!

Is Stef Evans really one of the best wingers in Wales?? Really?

Patchel showing Pollard how to kick to the corner!

Better from Wales but they're needing to get more possession and territory - SA have grown in confidence this half.

SA swimming in the side and Garces lets it go. Penalty count in SA's favour throughout the game and we still get people on here claiming the ref always benefits Wales.

C'mon Mikey, stop the poor me BS.

Wales are benefits of their own downfall in this game. No way should SA be back in it, I still can't figure out how they are.

Big defence from Wales!

That SA Ginger LH has had a good game. Old school tough SA prop, but has done a huge amount of carrying aswell!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:C'mon Mikey, stop the poor me BS.

Wales are benefits of their own downfall in this game. No way should SA be back in it, I still can't figure out how they are.

I'm not the only one to think it though, that's why Welsh posters keep leaving the site.

I agree with you. The truth is we're not that good. It's been evident for years we need new backroom staff, and now we desperately need someone to replace Shaun Edwards.

Did Jantjies leave the hairdresser before they finished?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Did Jantjies leave the hairdresser before they finished?

The hairdresser must have rushed off to the Saints team then...some of the hairstyles there were interestingly.

Big clearance kick from Wales - can't see SA scoring from here now.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:C'mon Mikey, stop the poor me BS.

Wales are benefits of their own downfall in this game. No way should SA be back in it, I still can't figure out how they are.

I'm not the only one to think it though, that's why Welsh posters keep leaving the site.

I agree with you. The truth is we're not that good. It's been evident for years we need new backroom staff, and now we desperately need someone to replace Shaun Edwards.

Well I can only comment on this game, complete 2 halves.

I thought Pollard was bad, on come Jantjies!

Webb is some player, he's going to be missed, best SH in the NH for me.

Not many straight lineout throw-ins in this game.

SA 1 and 17 clearly not supporting their body weight at the ruck....

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Webb is some player, he's going to be missed, best SH in the NH for me.

Completely unfathomable that the WRU messed up his situation with him so badly - he's a class above for Wales.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:C'mon Mikey, stop the poor me BS.

Wales are benefits of their own downfall in this game. No way should SA be back in it, I still can't figure out how they are.

I'm not the only one to think it though, that's why Welsh posters keep leaving the site.

I agree with you. The truth is we're not that good. It's been evident for years we need new backroom staff, and now we desperately need someone to replace Shaun Edwards.

I'm not sure...I think selection and instructions.
The wales I fear and most England fans do is the one that opens up almost Fijian style...running it from everywhere...passing etc . I DO think you have the players...its selection that's the issue.

For one example...you have that winger Stef Evans. Woeful, slow, unimaginative.
I saw Newcastle v Dragons in the Anglo Welsh. Yes a poor cup, however Dragons had a young lad on the wing called Ashton Hewitt. Now ive only seen him once..but he looked rapid, played off the cuff and was a threat everytime he got the ball. Why is he not in there?

ANd I'm sure that goes for all other positions aswell

Surely selection is the issue and the coaches need to take the shackles off.

Well after the first 15 minutes I thought Wales were going to run up a cricket score so credit to SA for coming back into. Wales managed to do enough to get back ahead and hold onto it, and performed better in the key moments of the game where SA basic skills and execution let them down at times. Welsh defence was strong as always.

One of the Welsh tries shouldn't have been but that happens in rugby - over the course of the 80 they were deserved winners.

Another awful Wales vs SA match, but relieved to get the win. Time to shake things up now, on and off the field. Scotland, England and Ireland all much better domestically and internationally.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Webb is some player, he's going to be missed, best SH in the NH for me.

Completely unfathomable that the WRU messed up his situation with him so badly - he's a class above for Wales.

This is where exceptions should surely be made! You don't let a player like him NOT play for Wales regardless of the rules.

Webb was utterly amazing. To think he'll have nothing to do with Wales very soon must be quite alarming.

South Africa butchered a lot of chances too.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:C'mon Mikey, stop the poor me BS.

Wales are benefits of their own downfall in this game. No way should SA be back in it, I still can't figure out how they are.

I'm not the only one to think it though, that's why Welsh posters keep leaving the site.

I agree with you. The truth is we're not that good. It's been evident for years we need new backroom staff, and now we desperately need someone to replace Shaun Edwards.

I'm not sure...I think selection and instructions.
The wales I fear and most England fans do is the one that opens up almost Fijian style...running it from everywhere...passing etc . I DO think you have the players...its selection that's the issue.

For one example...you have that winger Stef Evans. Woeful, slow, unimaginative.
I saw Newcastle v Newport in the Anglo Welsh. Yes a poor cup, however Newport had a young lad on the wing called Ashton Hewitt. Now ive only seen him once..but he looked rapid, played off the cuff and was a threat everytime he got the ball. Why is he not in there?

ANd I'm sure that goes for all other positions aswell

Surely selection is the issue!?

It's a bit of everything but above all else we need fresh impetus in the coaching, I mean it seems to work for the Lions. 12 years is a long time for a single coaching time. Guys like Mcbryde and Howley have never had the capability to coach at this level.
We occasionally play Fijian style but it very much depends on a solid set piece and defence, neither of which we had in this match. Funnily enough injuries aside we're actually on the right path regarding selection, none of that same old pick the biggest players available rubbish, we're picking more footballers.

I'm not sure why you think that of Stef Evans, but I think he just had an average game today, he's still relatively new. If you watch him for Scarlets he's involved in most of their length of the field tries. Is there anyone else you think we're missing out on? Hewitt is a good player and has been playing like that ever since his debut, but unfortunately gets injured around Wales selection time. He might be there in the 6N with hopefully some more absentees back for us.

On the plus we've seen guys like Navidi ignored for too long, I've long been an advocate of his. When he gets his chance he's bloody awesome. I like Shingler too but he wasn't as good as he is for Scarlets. Patchell should be well ahead of Priestland.

Glad we won today and played well. From here we take this momentum forward and go on to with the 6 Nations with relative ease

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

munkian wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Parkes looks handy. A back line of Biggar Priestland, Parkes, JD2, North, Williams and somebody with real gas Amos on the other wing could be very interesting if only we can get everyone fit.

Fixed

i'd settle for that but Priestland needs to be consistent and better in possession; he started to get so isolated so easily and was a liability ball in hand.

I'd like to see him come good just not sure he has the confidence to deal with harder days at the office, a bit like ebop who thought Beauden Barrett wasn't up to much this year

Ands lets face it we all want a Hewitt or Giles but they aint Shane and since Cuffbert is an Eggbert  and ought never to play for Wales again, Amos seems to be the best of a bad bunch.

Other issue we have is AWJ's partner; Ball is a journeyman but i dont rate him, i'd like to see a younger player come on and clam that spot.

Back row looks superb at the moment but front row creaking once Evans Owens and Lee out of the frame.

Is gats banking on Webb leaving Toulon just before RWC otherwise WTF is the point of picking him.

Good to see our Blues has been Hadleigh Parkes helping your side out with a couple of tries so far. No need to thank us, I mean someones gotta score them I suppose.

The way you write about your own countrymen just shows you up as low quality

Not trying to be Mikey, but he kind of has a point. Nobody even mentions at least one hit on AWJ?

Wales did well to win that in the end. Think Amos will have moved up the pecking order now. Aled Davies won’t start again for a while. By the time Webb is cast aside, hopefully Rhodri will be looking good for the Drags. Even Babos at 17 looked a better 9 last night.

Hadleigh Parks sounds like a housing estate good player though. Wales were terrible but I expect them to be much better in the 6 nations.

Collapse2005 wrote:Hadleigh Parks sounds like a housing estate good player though. Wales were terrible but I expect them to be much better in the 6 nations.

We achieved our objective which was 2 wins minimum this term; and with ridiculous injuries as well. We have built strength in depth in the back row and centres.

The 6 Nations will depend on fitness as in almost every position we've been down to 2nd and 3rd picks.