[2021 Six Nations] France vs Wales (20/03/2021)

[Redman7]

My issue with AWJ is he needs to commit to a character
He tries to be a hardman on the pitch with his off the ball ****le - then next phase he's crying to the ref like a footballer - then after the match he's putting on this facade of being magnanimous in victory/defeat, regardless of the previous 80mins performance

Just commit to something ffs - I never liked POC as a player but I respected him because he wasn't fake

I would say POC was very magnanimous after games. I'm a big fan of of AWJ. Being a pain in the arse on the pitch and level headed off it is a virture I'd say. As for moaning at the ref, to a degree that's the captins job. To moan on behalf of his team, e.g. sexton, farrell etc.. obviously there is a balance that needs to be made

 

[MattGaff]

My issue with AWJ is he needs to commit to a character
He tries to be a hardman on the pitch with his off the ball ****le - then next phase he's crying to the ref like a footballer - then after the match he's putting on this facade of being magnanimous in victory/defeat, regardless of the previous 80mins performance

Just commit to something ffs - I never liked POC as a(n opposition) player but I respected him because he wasn't fake

So, in summary he tries to play rugby as a hard man... it's a hard mans game!
He's the captain and one of the only players allowed to talk to the ref - which you say is crying?
Then after the match doing the media speak which they are trained at (also, pretty sure he studied law so is quite able in this area).
Sorry, but seems like you are reaching to dislike the guy.

 

[Brandon2k]

I would say POC was very magnanimous after games. I'm a big fan of of AWJ. Being a pain in the arse on the pitch and level headed off it is a virture I'd say. As for moaning at the ref, to a degree that's the captins job. To moan on behalf of his team, e.g. sexton, farrell etc.. obviously there is a balance that needs to be made

Captains job? A captain can ask a question like 'what was that for sir?' Not his job to moan and whinge.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Adams, Scott Williams, Odd to single them out. The rest of those you named are no worse than what's out there in every single side. At least AWJ, Biggar and Sanjay are decent humble people off the pitch. Their post match interviews etc. are always spot on. They aren't arrogant.

I hate Biggar's moaning at the ref as much as anyone else, but he's not the only one who does it.

Never said it's unique to Wales but do feel that on balance they have some of the worst in terms of their on-field gamesmanship. Most players are decent off the pitch too. Maybe harsh on Scott Williams but I've seen Adams being a bellend on the pitch a fair few times. Shoving players after the end of play, pushing players heads into the ground, gobbing off etc.

 

[Welsh Exile]

So, in summary he tries to play rugby as a hard man... it's a hard mans game!
He's the captain and one of the only players allowed to talk to the ref - which you say is crying?
Then after the match doing the media speak which they are trained at (also, pretty sure he studied law so is quite able in this area).
Sorry, but seems like you are reaching to dislike the guy.

It's the Sinkler stuff from our game a couple of years ago that they're still butt hurt about.

 

[Redman7]

Captains job? A captain can ask a question like 'what was that for sir?' Not his job to moan and whinge.

'What's was that for sir' could be considered a moan imo

 

[bushytop]

I would say POC was very magnanimous after games. I'm a big fan of of AWJ. Being a pain in the arse on the pitch and level headed off it is a virture I'd say. As for moaning at the ref, to a degree that's the captins job. To moan on behalf of his team, e.g. sexton, farrell etc.. obviously there is a balance that needs to be made

Was a big fan of POC too... and Richie McCaw for that matter! its a 'skill'!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So, in summary he tries to play rugby as a hard man... it's a hard mans game!
He's the captain and one of the only players allowed to talk to the ref - which you say is crying?
Then after the match doing the media speak which they are trained at (also, pretty sure he studied law so is quite able in this area).
Sorry, but seems like you are reaching to dislike the guy.

Not at all - there's a difference between complaining to the ref and whining like a footballer - I think you're deliberately ignoring negatives

A lot of people dislike Farrell and English fans are fully accepting of why
A lot of people dislike Hogg and Scottish fans are fully accepting of why
People HATED McCaw but kiwis laughed it off
AWJ is the only player you're not allowed to question, it seems

 

[Brandon2k]

'What's was that for sir' could be considered a moan imo

Legitimate question. Asking what the whistle was blown for if he didn't already know.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

See, I look at this differently. Humble, to me, has got nothing to do with on the pitch stuff. That's a personal thing. Whenever I listen to Itoje speak I often think he comes across as a decent, humble bloke. Do I think and expect that to translate onto the pitch? Not at all. Itoje being a great example. I don't look at him being a pen machine (cheat) and think what a scum bag (personal) play the ball not the man is all I say.

I'd imagine a lot of it comes from the the Sinkler stuff in 2019 maybe?

Most players are decent off the pitch but he asked why Wales are disliked as a team and I said it's because of their on-field antics. On field they are not humble at all and are frequently right up there attempting to wind up their opponents and getting away with extremely cynical play. Is it a winning tactic that all teams try to do? Of course. Is it likeable? No.

 

[dullonien]

He was asking for a penalty try today. That's not good sporting behaviour from a captain.

That's literally in the captain's job description, especially when it should have been a penalty try!

 

[Welsh Exile]

Most players are decent off the pitch but he asked why Wales are disliked as a team and I said it's because of their on-field antics. On field they are not humble at all and are frequently right up there attempting to wind up their opponents and getting away with extremely cynical play. Is it a winning tactic that all teams try to do? Of course. Is it likeable? No.

Yeah all teams and all players do it.

 

[bushytop]

Not at all - there's a difference between complaining to the ref and whining like a footballer - I think you're deliberately ignoring negatives

A lot of people dislike Farrell and English fans are fully accepting of why
A lot of people dislike Hogg and Scottish fans are fully accepting of why
People HATED McCaw but kiwis laughed it off
AWJ is the only player you're not allowed to question, it seems

Wrong! He gets more **** than any other player on here.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wrong! He gets more **** than any other player on here.

Yet Wales still claim he's an angel
That's the difference

 

[Brandon2k]

That's literally in the captain's job description, especially when it should have been a penalty try!

Doing the refs job is in the captains JD?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Yet Wales still claim he's an angel
That's the difference

An angel? Really?

 

[Brandon2k]

Doing the refs job is in the captains JD?

Or rather telling the ref how to do his job?

 

[bushytop]

Yet Wales still claim he's an angel
That's the difference

We don't claim he's an angel, we just 'appreciate' what it is he does... he's effective, it helps the team, he's done it for days! If England had an AWJ equivalent, you guys would worship him... and us guys would 'understand'.

 

[MattGaff]

Not at all - there's a difference between complaining to the ref and whining like a footballer - I think you're deliberately ignoring negatives

A lot of people dislike Farrell and English fans are fully accepting of why
A lot of people dislike Hogg and Scottish fans are fully accepting of why
People HATED McCaw but kiwis laughed it off
AWJ is the only player you're not allowed to question, it seems

Nah, not buying it. I hated Will Carling growing up but because he was a great player. Then when I found out he got it in with Diana, the jealousy was strong.

I agree what you always about other players that are disliked but it always comes down to - they are good and we wish we had them. We all want to have a McCaw, Farrell, Odriscoll, Hogg etc etc ad nauseum.
You know, it's ok to say you hate him because you wish you had him

 

[Welsh Exile]

I've literally never heard anyone refer to AWJ as an angel. Lol.