[2015 Six Nations] France vs Wales (Round 3)

[Ragey Erasmus]

Funny to think Italy have the 2nd most tries scored so far... This is becoming a rather strange 6N.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Except Wales managed to score a try. Don't let actual events remove the blinkers though @Irishkid.

My worry for Wales would be how much variety they can bring to their game. Webb made a lovely break from the base of the ruck for their try, but aside from that they were horribly predictable. It seemed as though as long as you make your tackles and drifted across you could shut them down pretty easily.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Funny to think Italy have the 2nd most tries scored so far... This is becoming a rather strange 6N.

I think the word you're searching for is 'terrible'

 

[Thingimubob]

My worry for Wales would be how much variety they can bring to their game. Webb made a lovely break from the base of the ruck for their try, but aside from that they were horribly predictable. It seemed as though as long as you make your tackles and drifted across you could shut them down pretty easily.

That's been a worry for me all 6 Nations too. We're simply not creating many chances. Admittedly, we have actually taken almost every clear cut chance we've created, but there's still not many at all being made every match.

We did have one or two chances spring up on us here, but quite a few were via bounces / kicks - notably that Liam Williams chase and Halfpenny picking off Huget's tap down - if he'd held on he had a pretty decent chance to sprint off for the line.


Anywho, great result that, one that we badly needed. What a try too - I take it back Lydiate, that offload was top drawer!

I seem to be the only one one here who really enjoyed both matches... I mean they weren't the most amazing matches, but I found them quite entertaining.

 

[dullonien]

Sometimes it's all about the win. Away in France is tough, even when they're a bit all over the place! In 2013 we beat France away in a similar fashion, and grew from there, hopefully we can do the same again.

It was encouraging to see a much improved set piece today. Charteris added a huge amount to our tight play, with the lineout looking far more settled, our defense of the rolling maul improved (Charteris once again pivotal), and our scrum solid.

Saying that, I'm still not seeing much in terms of creativity at the moment, we're still not getting our outside backs into space. Webb seems to be our only source of attack.

Still, getting the basics right was the number one priority, so I'm still happy with todays performance. Need to see more variety in the next couple of matches though.

 

[gaston le gaff]

-

there is an option for France.......... the girls beat Wales with several players from Montpellier, the under 20's beat Wales with 3 players from Montpellier, so as Galthie is still offficially tied to Montpellier give him the job that solves a problem for Montpellier and with Montpellier presence in the French team they are bound to start winning, and even Galthie could not be worse than PSA......... BRILLIANT SOLUTION just has to done now before the Italia game,
just woke up sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rich Taff]

My worry for Wales would be how much variety they can bring to their game. Webb made a lovely break from the base of the ruck for their try, but aside from that they were horribly predictable. It seemed as though as long as you make your tackles and drifted across you could shut them down pretty easily.

I agree, but, as I said before, I think a lot of it is down to 1/2p being in the team. If you know you're going to get 3pts from pretty much anywhere in the opposition half if a penalty is awarded, then the 'side to side' makes sense. The longer the ball is retained, the higher the chance of an infringement.

I imagine 1/2p will be rested for a couple of the world cup pool games, so will be interesting to see if Wales become more expansive again when that happens.

 

[TommiG88]

I agree, but, as I said before, I think a lot of it is down to 1/2p being in the team. If you know you're going to get 3pts from pretty much anywhere in the opposition half if a penalty is awarded, then the 'side to side' makes sense. The longer the ball is retained, the higher the chance of an infringement.

I imagine 1/2p will be rested for a couple of the world cup pool games, so will be interesting to see if Wales become more expansive again when that happens.

He will be rested for the Uruguay game, where expansive rugby will come naturally as they will be the whipping boys.

 

[barthelemy]

What an ugly match from France, what a sad rugby, they are just beating themselves.

So frustrating to feel that we are largely better than the welsh when it comes to impact (just look at the french try and the 10 minutes before - France woke up and the welsh could not stop them , in opposition to Wales unable to go over the french defense during the whole first half despite having 80% of possession) and that we should win by a large score..but no, it is not happening, only ugly tactical choices all along, bad kicking, no direction in the game, no game plan, no brain....

France has lost this match more than the welsh won it, this is most frustrating fact about this match from a french perspective.

I had the same impression against Ireland. The worst will be that when we will have 1 month and half of preparation for the world cup, we will win these matches quite comfortably.

Looking forward for the Ireland-england game this afternoon, it will cheer me up a bit

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I agree, but, as I said before, I think a lot of it is down to 1/2p being in the team. If you know you're going to get 3pts from pretty much anywhere in the opposition half if a penalty is awarded, then the 'side to side' makes sense. The longer the ball is retained, the higher the chance of an infringement.

I imagine 1/2p will be rested for a couple of the world cup pool games, so will be interesting to see if Wales become more expansive again when that happens.

It works against France to play structured and negative rugby, Wales, Argentina and Ireland have shown that. Beating England, Ireland and the Sanzar nations is a different task though, more variety and substance is needed Ireland have conceded 9 points from penalties in the competition thus far having scored 27 points from penalties so unless Gatland and his boys club can add a new dimension, or even a goal to score more tries, Ireland will come out on top of another snoozefest in Cardiff!

Wales have the players there to win against anyone but their coach is handicapping them big time.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I want to want Wales to do well, but it's just not great to watch and hasn't been for a while.
On a more positive note, anyone watching Wasps vs Gloucester? Thomas Young looks like an excellent propsect at 7 for Wales in the future, not that they need any more of those!

 

[Thingimubob]

I want to want Wales to do well, but it's just not great to watch and hasn't been for a while.
On a more positive note, anyone watching Wasps vs Gloucester? Thomas Young looks like an excellent propsect at 7 for Wales in the future, not that they need any more of those!

Dai Young's boy right? Remember him starting off decently with the Blues academy. Not heard too much of him since he went over to England.

He does join in with a large group of promising young 7s - although Sam Lewis has moved to Worcester now, which will likely rule him out of any Welsh squad over the next few years.


I'm wondering what can be done about Wales. We can play expansive rugby, and a lot of these players have shown that before.

You just need to look at Roberts' first season at 12 - him and Shanklin played their part in some outstanding rugby for the Blues. Wales definitely weren't this one dimensional either!

Davies too, he learned his trade with Regan King, in a Scarlets team that produced some outstanding rugby.

Is it just down to the coaches? A lot of people put it down to Howley being the weak link, which does make sense as it is our back line play that his stifled itself...

For me, I wonder if this is all a side effect of Shane retiring. So much came through him, and the amount of games he kept us in, sometimes having to drag us along kicking and screaming (Scotland '10 - he was the difference IMO) was ridiculous.

We haven't got a "something out of nothing player" who can more or less act as our "Plan B" at the moment.

 

[bushytop]

As a few people have mentioned... yes Wales are predictable and do not make ANYWHERE near as many clear-cut opportunities for the amount of possession and territory they command but... an away win in France is always an achievement!

For the people bemoaning two such turgid teams, well Ireland struggled against the French at home and England... they struggled (in the first half at least) against Wales and we were awful that day (more awful than we were yesterday)!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Dai Young's boy right? Remember him starting off decently with the Blues academy. Not heard too much of him since he went over to England.

He does join in with a large group of promising young 7s - although Sam Lewis has moved to Worcester now, which will likely rule him out of any Welsh squad over the next few years.


I'm wondering what can be done about Wales. We can play expansive rugby, and a lot of these players have shown that before.

You just need to look at Roberts' first season at 12 - him and Shanklin played their part in some outstanding rugby for the Blues. Wales definitely weren't this one dimensional either!

Davies too, he learned his trade with Regan King, in a Scarlets team that produced some outstanding rugby.

Is it just down to the coaches? A lot of people put it down to Howley being the weak link, which does make sense as it is our back line play that his stifled itself...

For me, I wonder if this is all a side effect of Shane retiring. So much came through him, and the amount of games he kept us in, sometimes having to drag us along kicking and screaming (Scotland '10 - he was the difference IMO) was ridiculous.

We haven't got a "something out of nothing player" who can more or less act as our "Plan B" at the moment.

Thats' the one - looks a very rounded Tipuric-esque footballer - showed one hell of a step for a back-rower! He's not that big, though,

 

[Ospreylian]

Out of interest, does anyone happen to have any idea why Halfpenny looked so emotional before and after the game?

Don't know if anyone else noticed, but he was crying throughout the anthem, which initially I just put down to the emotion of playing for your country. But after the game the camera focused on him for a bit and he was by the stands sobbing into his girlfriend's shoulder while she was rubbing and patting his back. Again, could have been down to the emotion. I'm just too nosey.

 

[bushytop]

Out of interest, does anyone happen to have any idea why Halfpenny looked so emotional before and after the game?

Don't know if anyone else noticed, but he was crying throughout the anthem, which initially I just put down to the emotion of playing for your country. But after the game the camera focused on him for a bit and he was by the stands sobbing into his girlfriend's shoulder while she was rubbing and patting his back. Again, could have been down to the emotion. I'm just too nosey.

My step-daughter knows his misses & it was just missing his family 'n stuff apparently.

Obvs hasn't seen them much since pre 6N camp... & living out in France I guess.

I know that sounds minor but the guy cries inconsolably before each Wales match at the best of times.

 

[dullonien]

I'm sure one of the Welsh squad has said in the past that Halfpenny is a right mess in the changing rooms before every match with nerves and emotion.

 

[Thingimubob]

I have a feeling he just got caught up in the nerves and emotions of the occasion. Was a big big game for Wales, where we badly needed the result. As bushytop said, living in France away from his friends and family probably doesn't help.

I thought he played his socks off too, definitely more of a shout for MotM than Parra.

 

[Ospreylian]

My step-daughter knows his misses & it was just missing his family 'n stuff apparently.

Obvs hasn't seen them much since pre 6N camp... & living out in France I guess.

I know that sounds minor but the guy cries inconsolably before each Wales match at the best of times.

Thanks Bushytop, I was only interested because I thought it looked like more than just emotion of the occasion. Don't like seeing our little Leigh so upset :cray:

I cry at a lot more minor things than that, so I can relate. Poor guy, he is putting in some immense performances this Six Nations though. He, along with Faletau and AWJ, are the three players I can't remember having a bad game for Wales.

 

[Rich Taff]

Here's a macho statement....
My hairdresser is good friends with 1/2p's missus, and I'm due a shearing, so will see if she knows anything...

Move along now, nothing to see here. Move along.