[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 2: Wales vs. Scotland (13/02/2016)

[Maverick1987]

Scotland just lacked concentration at crucial times . I mean what the hell is Gray doing playing the ball straight off the top 5m from your own line ?? Then to top it off Laidlaw isn't concentrating and they turn the ball over only for Wales to score a try a few minutes later . That should be front man ball at the line out bring it to the ground and box kick clear ....

It's schoolboy stuff

And then the defence for Norths try was plain and simple a joke . North is a good stepper but he's not exactly Milner-Skudder . The defenders were unnecessarily over committing

 

[jomjom]

Laidlaw needs to go. The sad thing is he's the best scrum-half they've had in years. Who can and should fill his boots!?

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Scotland are a 60 minute side, when they have actual quality and strength in depth then they will be able to challenge Wales/Ireland/England, but for now they'll struggle in the tournament.

Although having watched Ireland yesterday, Scotland may fancy themselves there.

 

[Daifunky]

Scotland panic in pressure situations,two weeks running on breakaways players failed to notice Hogg outside them and kicked to touch.They will not win games unless they play heads up rugby.

 

[Tricky]

Laidlaw needs to go. The sad thing is he's the best scrum-half they've had in years. Who can and should fill his boots!?

Completely agree with this and the answer is SHC. He can kick goals as well as Laidlaw and is far faster both from the base of the ruck and in terms of attacking threat.

I admire Greg Laidlaw but it's become a case of the emperor has no clothes - watch him in action running three or four steps sideways from every ruck and you realise why he needs to go - captain or not. He is slowing down the entire Scottish attack and allowing defences to get in our faces before the backs have even seen the ball. It is his appointment as Captain which has had the unfortunate effect of blinding the Scottish selectors to his inadequacies. And these days, we have several other candidates for captain.

 

[Tricky]

And another thing !! Laidlaw was (a) part of the defence posted missing for North's try, and (b) was really sloppy at an earlier ruck where he was WALKING up to begin the whole tedious recycling process again when the ball had clearly popped out and was lost ! He should have been there and wasn't.

 

[Thingimubob]

Well, it says something that this game was the best of the 6 Nations so far.

Really entertaining as a contest, but the SH teams will be licking their lips for the June tours...

Strange one for Wales anyway, not the best performance, but clinical when it needed to be.
First try was a outstanding opportunistic finish from Davies, second was straight up Gatland ball at its most effective, and third was the play we've been waiting to see from North for bloody ages. As poor as the defence was for it, shows he can step when he gets the chance (has a much better step than people give him credit for)

Hoping to see more of that in the next few weeks!

 

[Saint4805]

Scotland are a 60 minute side, when they have actual quality and strength in depth then they will be able to challenge Wales/Ireland/England, but for now they'll struggle in the tournament.

Although having watched Ireland yesterday, Scotland may fancy themselves there.

I agree. Ireland did a pretty good impersonation of Scotland yesterday in that they played for 60 and then suffered that inevitable heartbreaking blow towards the end.

 

[valley commando]

Well, it says something that this game was the best of the 6 Nations so far.

Really entertaining as a contest, but the SH teams will be licking their lips for the June tours...

Strange one for Wales anyway, not the best performance, but clinical when it needed to be.
First try was a outstanding opportunistic finish from Davies, second was straight up Gatland ball at its most effective, and third was the play we've been waiting to see from North for bloody ages. As poor as the defence was for it, shows he can step when he gets the chance (has a much better step than people give him credit for)

Hoping to see more of that in the next few weeks!

We aren't good at attack and that's all down to Howley it's time to get rid and get an attack coach who knows how to attack.

 

[back2back]

Had the pleasure of watching this one at a pub full of supporters from both sides. Really enjoyed this game, some good tries were scored, Scotlands first one was a gem and George Norths try was excellent, boy he's quick. Wales vs England/France is going to be a cracker, I have a feeling Wales will win the 6N's.

 

[dullonien]

Wales are still far from good atm. I thought that Scotland looked a little sharper in general, and competed better at the breakdown. Silly errors and a lack of concentration really hurt them though.

There were some positives from a Welsh perspective. Seeing North back making decisive contributions was very pleasing. In general out scrum went well, a bit iffy on a couple of occasions, but overall good. The lineout was also a big plus, can't remember the last time we competed so well on the opposition throw.

Things to work on:
Breakdown. Not sure why it's not functioning, maybe the balance isn't quite right in that backrow with Warbs playing at 6. Will be interesting to see if Lyds comes back in v France.

General backline play. We look clueless when we are forced to go through the fases. Webb could help here, as he's more of a threat around the fringes, and could spark something from the base. He returned for the Ospreys this weekend.

Fielding the high ball. Other than Biggar, we need to improve. We were beaten in the air too often for my liking v Scotland. Liam Williams had a poorish game all round, with his aerial game below where it normally is.

Plenty to improve on.

 

[Hendo74]

As much as I like Tipuric, I think the time has come to get Lydiate back at 6 and move Sam back to 7, particularly against England. It seems to give the back row a better balance. Tips can still have a massive impact when he comes on.

It struck me that Wales weren't committing numbers at the breakdown so much, maybe standing off a little..?

I think L Williams still looked a little rusty; I actually thought we missed (a fit) Halfpenny, who would've provided a more reassuring presence for that kind of game. However, the fortnight's break should give him (and the others who haven't played much recently e.g. Sam, Lydiate) the chance to sharpen up.

J Davies had a quiet game by his standards, seemed to be shunted out on the left wing and not really involved much?

Good to see North (and James to some extent) getting plenty of ball. Roberts is playing like a man possessed!

The strength of the bench clearly told as well.

Finally, I felt Scotland looked a lot more up for this game than they did against England last week. I'm genuinely not trying to stir things up but if I were a Scots fan I'd be wondering why they didn't do better against England, yet competed so well for the full 80 mins in Cardiff...?

 

[Slamdunk]

We aren't good at attack and that's all down to Howley it's time to get rid and get an attack coach who knows how to attack.

Im not sure youre right. When we won the GS Howley was in charge and we looked quite decent in attack. I think its possible Howley does have the right ideas but its being able to bring them into the structure ordered by Gatland. North and James do spend far to much time marking space on their wings yet on the two occasions North came into the line he caused mayhem - and got a try. James is probably happy to be there and would probably be loathe to leave his wing, i think they are under orders.

There is definately a change on emphasis and the ball is being played a bit more, just not very well - it takes time to adapt the structures for more ball in hand and running rugby. JD2 was quiet - unusual for him. Biggar in all fairness was probably injury-aware because his kicking was woeful. Liam was not his normal confident self and the wingers rarely came looking for work. Davies has not taken a quick tap in a long time and overall those components make for a lack-lustre backline. Hopefully things will click into place, we beat Scotland, scored three tries and had an off-day, thats something to be considered, its not all bad.

Up front we were really strong again but that backrow did not function - Warburton is not a bad 6 but being asked to play in his unfavoured position in only his first and second outings is a bit much. We do miss Lydiate and id be happy to0 see his new found charging with ball in hand in the 6 nations, he is a massive bloke. Lydiate really does cut the opposition down behind the gainline and last week Stander would not have had the success he had if Dan had played. We are lucky having Warburton and Lydiate, but at 7 not 6. Sadly, unless completely fit and match fit Warburton cannot fill that role.

Again, i think what was a below par Wales performance shows that we really do have more to come. England laboured to voctory over Scotland, we crossed the whitewash 3 times.

We are evolving i think, and it cant be an overnight thing. I can see Ireland shocking England in a fortnight and Wales beating france and going top.

The attacking mindset just needs to develop i think.

 

[AzaMatt]

Im not sure youre right. When we won the GS Howley was in charge and we looked quite decent in attack. I think its possible Howley does have the right ideas but its being able to bring them into the structure ordered by Gatland. North and James do spend far to much time marking space on their wings yet on the two occasions North came into the line he caused mayhem - and got a try. James is probably happy to be there and would probably be loathe to leave his wing, i think they are under orders.

There is definately a change on emphasis and the ball is being played a bit more, just not very well - it takes time to adapt the structures for more ball in hand and running rugby. JD2 was quiet - unusual for him. Biggar in all fairness was probably injury-aware because his kicking was woeful. Liam was not his normal confident self and the wingers rarely came looking for work. Davies has not taken a quick tap in a long time and overall those components make for a lack-lustre backline. Hopefully things will click into place, we beat Scotland, scored three tries and had an off-day, thats something to be considered, its not all bad.

Up front we were really strong again but that backrow did not function - Warburton is not a bad 6 but being asked to play in his unfavoured position in only his first and second outings is a bit much. We do miss Lydiate and id be happy to0 see his new found charging with ball in hand in the 6 nations, he is a massive bloke. Lydiate really does cut the opposition down behind the gainline and last week Stander would not have had the success he had if Dan had played. We are lucky having Warburton and Lydiate, but at 7 not 6. Sadly, unless completely fit and match fit Warburton cannot fill that role.

Again, i think what was a below par Wales performance shows that we really do have more to come. England laboured to voctory over Scotland, we crossed the whitewash 3 times.

We are evolving i think, and it cant be an overnight thing. I can see Ireland shocking England in a fortnight and Wales beating france and going top.

The attacking mindset just needs to develop i think.

i loved the set play for north's try, it makes perfect sense to have north and roberts running lines as they know one of them is going to charge at them, but which, and how the hell do you stop either of them. i dont see why we do not do this more often, it totally baffled scotland, they were all waiting for roberts to receive the crash ball again. even he is evolving his game though as his lines are not just straight as they are normally, he run in at a crazy angle for his try. our tactics are evolving but very slowly. its looking promising though

 

[YoungScud]

I think it's simpler than crazy angles. Roberts took the ball at speed and that made the difference. Too many players take the ball standing still. Typical of this was a pass from Laidlaw to Ford at one point in the second half. For a second or so, he didn't know what to do. Coming in from 10 meteres away would have made his mind up for him.

 

[Thingimubob]

I think it's simpler than crazy angles. Roberts took the ball at speed and that made the difference. Too many players take the ball standing still. Typical of this was a pass from Laidlaw to Ford at one point in the second half. For a second or so, he didn't know what to do. Coming in from 10 meteres away would have made his mind up for him.

Very true. Think it was a bit of both though, Roberts hits an excellent angle, at speed, at the weak shoulder of the Scottish player (Hardie I think?) who's trying to drift out when Roberts runs at him. Nigh on impossible to stop when its executed at that well.

Still Gatlandball though, and hoping that it will end up just being one tool in the box rather than our main plan.

 

[johnmac99]

If the ref had disallowed the first Wales try, as he should have done, then Scotland would have won.

They need to sort out the TMO system, esp. when its misuse can lead to game changing decisions being incorrectly made.

 

[Saint4805]

If the ref had disallowed the first Wales try, as he should have done, then Scotland would have won.

They need to sort out the TMO system, esp. when its misuse can lead to game changing decisions being incorrectly made.

Agree with the second part but not necessarily the first. Scotland may have won the game had that try had been disallowed in the closing stages but as it happened relatively early on, Wales would have had ample opportunity to adapt their play accordingly in response to the scoreboard.

Hope I didn't disappoint anyone by not blaming the ref.

 

[johnmac99]

Agree with the second part but not necessarily the first. Scotland may have won the game had that try had been disallowed in the closing stages but as it happened relatively early on, Wales would have had ample opportunity to adapt their play accordingly in response to the scoreboard.

Hope I didn't disappoint anyone by not blaming the ref.

So would Scotland who wouldn't have been 7 pts. down.

 

[Saint4805]

So would Scotland who wouldn't have been 7 pts. down.

No because we're a 60 minute side who can't get over the line against the top sides.