[Six Nations 2018] Round 2: England vs Wales (10/02/2018)

[Fuzzy du Plessis]

But the conversion attempt would've only taken them to 10 points, not 12. And that's before you consider basic butterfly effect stuff where the rest of the game would've been entirely unpredictable.

 

[TommiG88]

But the conversion attempt would've only taken them to 10 points, not 12. And that's before you consider basic butterfly effect stuff where the rest of the game would've been entirely unpredictable.

8, as they went back for the penalty.

 

[Which Tyler]

8, as they went back for the penalty.

7, dear

 

[bushytop]

Would Wales fancy their chances in Dublin?

Well we wouldn't be going there too lose. Ireland looked good today but it's difficult to judge due to it being Italy. Wales may actually be getting some players back for the Irish game so whether their in the 15 or the 23, it's only a positive.

Obviously Ireland will be favourites due to both them being the higher ranked side and playing at home but this Welsh side continues to impress me regardless of today's result.

 

[Fuzzy du Plessis]

8, as they went back for the penalty.

10 points total for the match, which is what Bushytop's (great name if it's also a reference to the Wire) post was originally getting at.

 

[TommiG88]

7, dear

I meant 10 (in addition to the pen in the 2nd half)

My bad.

 

[TommiG88]

10 points total for the match, which is what Bushytop's (great name if it's also a reference to the Wire) post was originally getting at.

Apologies, my maths failed me.

 

[ncurd]

Lets be honest England should of capitalised far more in the first 65, I think most of that problem was Graces refusing to call anything else. I agree he didn't call stuff against England as well but I think it likely effected England more as so much of the game was played in wales' half.

Wales played far better in the last 15 and deserved the close scoreline in the end but I don't think they every looked like the team that deserved to win the match.

The game didn't go as I expected at all but the end result is pretty much what I thought it would be.

 

[ncurd]

Until the Patchell change Wales looked utterly clueless.

 

[bushytop]

10 points total for the match, which is what Bushytop's (great name if it's also a reference to the Wire) post was originally getting at.

It is sir... good catch

 

[HenryChinaski]

So I still don't know what to make of the Scarlets game at international level. It was very effective later in the game when things broke up and with chaos from a poorly refereed breakdown, some good stuff was played.

But, in the first half under pressure from a well drilled defensive structure, some key players looked exceedingly average. At this level I don't think you can rely on those parts of the game when fatigue sets in to be getting your points. Ireland will offer an extremely well set defense and with a two week turnaround will not tire as early. I'm certainly not writing wales off but I don't think the miracle game is enough against top international sides.

Still to get as close as they did today is a big achievement. Well done Wales.

 

[MarkyH]

Hey you guys!!

That lad in an England shirt is 21 years old ?!?!?!?!?!

 

[brynboy]

As a Wales supporter I must say that whilst hopefully most agree the Wales try should have been allowed, I agree that if all other things had been unchanged, Wales would still have lost. No-one can have any idea whether the try would have raised the game of either team so it is pointless to speculate on what if. I thought before kick off that England would be too strong for us, especially without Halfpenny's kicking (which did not appear to actually have any effect as it happens). Honestly, our tight five forwards did far better than I thought they would, and the only place the England forwards seemed better, especially in that first 20 minutes or so was in their driving play. Generally, I thought England seemed more dangerous when they attacked, and stretched our defence more than we did theirs. Would congratulate Wales on never giving up, and performing well given our injuries. I know England to have injuries as well, but thought we would struggle more given we had lost some of our better players and have always had a smaller squad of potential players than England. Hopefully, having to use new players will be helpful for the future. I think that England probably deserved the victory because they took their chances in that first period, and defended well. We could have won, but England overall were the better team. Some England fans seem to be saying Wales were only close because England were playing badly, but any team can only play as well as the other team allows: Wales made many mistakes, but most were because of the pressure put on them by the England defence.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Hey you guys!!

That lad in an England shirt is 21 years old ?!?!?!?!?!

As good as the tackle was, Underhill’s going to want that photo removed from the Internet; very unflattering.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If fit, for Scotland, I want

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Launch
Lawes
Underhill
Simmonds
Hughes
Care
Ford
May
Faz
JJ
Watson
Brown

Marler, George, Williams, Itoje, Mercer, Robson, Teo, Nowell.

If Hughes isn’t fit, Mercer starts. If Watson isn’t, Earle comes straight in. If Simmonds isn’t it’s back to Robshaw.

Bit inexperienced in the back row, but there are loads of caps all around them and I think they all have something a bit special to offer.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Cole needs to get subbed earlier, he is SO slow getting off the floor by half time and is just lumbering baggage by the 60th minute.

 

[MarkyH]

Cole needs to get subbed earlier, he is SO slow getting off the floor by half time and is just lumbering baggage by the 60th minute.

True dat. And I'd say the same about Mako. He was hiding in his last 5/10 on the pitch, he was battered!

 

[McTallshort]

If fit, for Scotland, I want

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Launch
Lawes
Underhill
Simmonds
Hughes
Care
Ford
May
Faz
JJ
Watson
Brown

Marler, George, Williams, Itoje, Mercer, Robson, Teo, Nowell.

If Hughes isn’t fit, Mercer starts. If Watson isn’t, Earle comes straight in. If Simmonds isn’t it’s back to Robshaw.

Bit inexperienced in the back row, but there are loads of caps all around them and I think they all have something a bit special to offer.

No Robshaw? What planet are you on

 

[MarkyH]

I watch a lot of National League 1 Rugby (ELITE LEVEL ), and as soon as the props start hiding from the game you know the other team is going to score a try or two. When you're at the game you can see it happening. Luckily for the team I support it works for us, but I totally get subbing the props on 50/60 minutes no matter how they are playing.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

No Robshaw? What planet are you on

Well he’s quite good at quite a lot of facets, but not excellent at any. He’s a bit one paced, doesn’t really do turnovers and is an ordinary carrier. He tackles a lot, but so do Simmonds and Underhill, the latter more impactfully.

He may score higher at the line out, but at the moment his real point of difference is experience. He’s good, but I think both the pups have the potential to be better if given the chance. He’s understated in the way he plays, but I don’t think he’s a Richard Hill in terms of influence. He’s a safe option, that we could always come back to, but I think his continued selection is holding back others.