2014 6 Nations: Wales vs Scotland (Round 5)

[j'nuh]

Okay so in the autumn internationals of 2012, Gatland stuck by Priestland through dire performance after dire performance. Admittedly, Biggar was injured for the final two games, but it culminated in Priestland seeing a sports psychologist. A week after the AIs, Priestland sustains a long-term injury. So Biggar took over in the 2013 Six Nations and had a pretty damn good tournament. Doesn't get taken on the Lions tour by Gatland, despite probably being the second best fly-half after Sexton at that point. Gets taken to Japan instead. Despite Biggar's good performances in the Six Nations and good form in the Pro12, he gets dropped at the start of the 2013 Autumn Internationals for Priestland. Priestland underwhelms again, Biggar takes over and puts in some good games. Come 2014 Six Nations, Priestland is back in the starting spot for Wales, as if the autumn never happened. Four more games of a load of crap from Priestland and finally when the Six Nations is beyond Wales, Gatland decides to bring in Biggar.

Same story could be written about Tipuric too really. Performs well when the others underwhelm, yet continuously is kept on the bench.

And various other things with Samson Lee, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Jake Ball, Paul James...

I'm really starting to question Gatland both as a selector and as a coach.

 

[Patchey]

Okay so in the autumn internationals of 2012, Gatland stuck by Priestland through dire performance after dire performance. Admittedly, Biggar was injured for the final two games, but it culminated in Priestland seeing a sports psychologist. A week after the AIs, Priestland sustains a long-term injury. So Biggar took over in the 2013 Six Nations and had a pretty damn good tournament. Doesn't get taken on the Lions tour by Gatland, despite probably being the second best fly-half after Sexton at that point. Gets taken to Japan instead. Despite Biggar's good performances in the Six Nations and good form in the Pro12, he gets dropped at the start of the 2013 Autumn Internationals for Priestland. Priestland underwhelms again, Biggar takes over and puts in some good games. Come 2014 Six Nations, Priestland is back in the starting spot for Wales, as if the autumn never happened. Four more games of a load of crap from Priestland and finally when the Six Nations is beyond Wales, Gatland decides to bring in Biggar.

Same story could be written about Tipuric too really. Performs well when the others underwhelm, yet continuously is kept on the bench.

And various other things with Samson Lee, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Jake Ball, Paul James...

I'm really starting to question Gatland both as a selector and as a coach.

Well every coach has their favourite player or players, but it does seem that Gatland is overly keen on his.

Biggar is going to need a sports therapist to deal with rejection issues at this rate. As it Tipuric. I'd also question why Liam Williams in being given so much lee way (see your point about Byrne) and what Patchell or Owen Williams have to do to displace Preistland.

 

[Tony Manx]

Surprised nobody has commented here!

Possibly because no one cares outside of Wales and Scotland and even they must be p***** off by their teams this year and cannot get too excited about a "nothing at stake" match?!!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

My chief problem with Gatland would be that, as Dull mentioned, he's ruled certain players out a bit early.

Lee Byrne seems like he would be a good option to come in instead of Liam Williams.
Dwayne Peel could still do a job for Wales.

Saying that, I think giving Rhodri Jones a start is sensible; best at home against Scotland than away against South Africa.

I notice Jake Ball has leapfrogged Andrew Coombs in next to no time - could the latter feel hard done by?

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Paul James is a superb scrummager and some one I highly rate, Jenkins for the past year has been put under serious pressure in the scrums. Personally think that James should have gone on the Lions tour ahead of Grant. Absolutely thrilled that Biggar has only just come back after the England game Tipuric and Walker might have been good for this game aswell, is walker fit or still injured ?

oh yeah lets just drop the player for scotland eh ? think he should off went instead off matt stevens but yeah grant isn't that great at the scrums

 

[TheSaffycen]

what Patchell or Owen Williams have to do to displace Preistland

It seems that there is literally nothing they could do now. He seems to have some serious dirt on Gatland to be selected nearly every game and form is no consideration. Preistland for me is not to an international standard, he may have the odd great game but consistency to me is what makes people international class. I have seen Patchell a couple of times in the H Cup and his kicking is AMAZING !! I genuinely feel if he can do this consistently then it would force halfpenny to add more to his game because I feel that he is a good player. But attacking wise I haven't been that impressed and I feel it's the only thing in his game that needs improving.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Jeremy Guscott has described Priestland as World Class before.

But to be fair I'm unsure how ready Owen Williams is at that level?

 

[TheSaffycen]

If Guscott described him as world class and don't think I could be anymore right !

 

[Tony Manx]

Jeremy Guscott has described Priestland as World Class before.

That sums up Guscott more that Preistland, who did, to be fair, have some world class performances in his one golden season which he has never emulated since!

 

[TheSaffycen]

I know this isn't probably on topic but Halfpenny is out for the South Africa test. So now they should definitely look at alternatives too Halfpenny and Williams.

 

[Thingimubob]

I know this isn't probably on topic but Halfpenny is out for the South Africa test. So now they should definitely look at alternatives too Halfpenny and Williams.

I have a feeling he will be the first of many 1st choice players ruled out of that tour...

 

[Maverick1987]

I've just been looking up on Jenkins he's played 6 of the last 8 wales games and has been yellow carded for scrum offences in 3 of them and still Paul James can buy a start ! What is Gatland playing at ?!

Where have the days gone when gats had no issue starting an 18 year old George North in place of a retired Shane Williams ? He's gone conservative for some reason

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I've just been looking up on Jenkins he's played 6 of the last 8 wales games and has been yellow carded for scrum offences in 3 of them and still Paul James can buy a start ! What is Gatland playing at ?!

Where have the days gone when gats had no issue starting an 18 year old George North in place of a retired Shane Williams ? He's gone conservative for some reason

That's pretty astonishing, especially coupled with his experience and that some Welsh supporters claim they were hard done by with that yellow. Mostly though it says a lot about Gatland. You have a player who has a bad reputation and when the offenses start racking up he doesn't change him. Personally I think Gatland has lost the plot.

 

[ScrummyRugby]

Think this is either going to be good game of rugby or just a bit boring. Wales to win though! Check out that full prediction and the rest of tomorrows games here http://scrummyrugbyviews.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[dullonien]

With Biggar's game management, kicking, and defence being far superior to that of Priestland's, it's difficult to understand why Gatland favours Priestland in the first place for the conservative game plan he has Wales playing at the moment. That's before factoring in Priestlands dire form since the 2011 world cup. Priestland can be a creative player, but only when he's confident, and there's been precious little evidence of any sort of confidence in recent years, for either Wales or the Scarlets. Injury might not of helped, but he was poor before his big injury too.

If Gatland wants more from his 10 than what he thinks Biggar offers (I think Biggar does offer something in attack personally), then questions should be asked about why Hook hasn't been given time playing at 10. I do think Hook has been a bit meh in his cameos off the bench at 10 over recent years, but Priestland has been worse, yet given chance after chance. There's a lot of double standards going-on, and I'm sure the likes of Hook are well and truly fed-up with it really.

The Welsh management have voiced their admiration for Patchell in the past, but he's currently out with a serious injury, so he's not currently an option. Regarding TheSaffycen's comment about his kicking, he's got quite a boot on him, great distance. But that hasn't helped Biggar's cause, who imo is a world class place kicker. With Halfpenny out though, it'll likely increase his chances of starting ahead of Priestland on the summer tour.

I've not had a chance to see Owen Williams play since his move to Leicester, but I've hears good things. Still a little early for him though I feel, as 10 is a position where a player can't be rushed imo.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Didn't realise patchell was out injured. What are the full back options like in wales at the moment ? I remeber seeing Mathew Morgan playing for the ospreys and I was just amazed by his pace and kicking, is he anywhere near the thoughts of the Welsh management ? I know he has just gone to Bristol so he probably hasn't had much game time.

 

[Jaguares]

I'm wondering, I'm not sure if I look: "Wales v Scotland" or "Sharks v Reds". Mmm... yeah I have the answer: Super Rugby, baby!!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Does anyone else think warburtons body position over the ball is far from ideal - he splays his legs quite wide and it's not often clear whether he's actually supporting his body weight.

 

[ForensicShoe]

Stuart Hogg you complete, and utter, idiot.

 

[big ginger 8]

That was really ****ing stupid.

I think I'm going to hate Scotland and Hogg by the end of this.

Don't think that was a red though.