Another reassessment

[Dai Perk]

As the droogs in A Clockwork Orange said, "Well well well well well well well."

Two new thoughts:

A. England look the team to beat at this point. They just. Don't. Make. Mistakes!

B. France needs to be right there with Italy in these discussions about relegation. I always like to root for the underdog, but man oh man, they are just depressingly bad.

Questions for y'all - in the week off, which nation is best equipped to make serious adjustments? And who will win the race downwards for the wooden spoon?

Thanks y'all- and sorry I got all foul-mouthed during the Scotland/Ireland game yesterday, I was clearly overwrought.

-Dave

 

[bushytop]

I think Ireland are well equipped to use the time well and hopefully Wales will make some greatly needed adjustments.

About the swearing, no worries... it's what the car dies to us!

 

[Dai Perk]

I'm surprised to hear Wales need to make "greatly needed adjustments," considering their record thus far... What do you think they're missing?

It's interesting, because winning can often make it harder to get better - if you win all your matches, how can the coach convince the players, "No no, you're doing it all wrong!"

 

[bushytop]

I'm surprised to hear Wales need to make "greatly needed adjustments," considering their record thus far... What do you think they're missing?

It's interesting, because winning can often make it harder to get better - if you win all your matches, how can the coach convince the players, "No no, you're doing it all wrong!"

We have shipped some soft tries in both games, our line out as not functioned in either game, our attack has looked blunt when running through the phases (& that's if we're able to recycle enough ball to run the phases), our decision making at times has been school boy level, we have knocked on or forward passed a lot of ball...

Basically, if we had been playing England, Ireland or Scotland the last two weekends we would've probably lost (& rather heavily to the first two). It doesn't mean we can't get our collective shizzle together in time for England but they have a shed-load of work ons.

 

[Scotty]

Take Wales v England,
Wales has lacked in attackinh creativity and also got pushed at times by both italy and france.

England on the other hand exploited teams with so much varity in attack, and knocked teams back in the tackles putting in 2 strong showings

So who will improve the most and who has the most to go on?

England will look at wales have been doing and how to exploit it and work on their our own game but wont make alot of changes in style, rather try to fine tune our game.

Wales however need to make big changes to how they play and their game plan so they have the advantage of changing their game plan to counter ours so they will play differently to the other 2 games where as England will be roughly the same given we wont make big changes to a winning game plan.

So wales do have the advantage in terms of making the biggest adjustments and stepping up but they would have to do alot to counter this gameplan of England that seems to be bully them in defence till they kick it, then run it to the line dragging their wingers forward, chip and chase either catching it or pinning them further back than they were and repeating the process till may gets a a footrace to the line. Simples

 

[Dai Perk]

So wales do have the advantage in terms of making the biggest adjustments and stepping up but they would have to do alot to counter this gameplan of England

I know France played miserably yesterday, so my perception is skewed, but boy oh boy, England look absolutely top-of-the-world good right now. To my admittedly inexperienced eyes, they really look like the team to beat, I see them running away with this Six Nations...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Wales have never been traditionally weak in a kicking game and will be the first team we face with a genuinely good fullback. I think they will have a proper pendulum working in the back 3 so we probably won't get much out of them with that tactic unless we can draw the wingers out of position. Wales are good against strong runners going in straight lines but the defence suffers more with a varied attack. I'd say they are similar to us in that they are weak to teams who can quickly get around the defence and isolate the wingers, who aren't really great defenders.

Wales are traditionally slow starters so I think they will improve a fair bit over these next 2 weeks and will be fired up for this whereas the previous 2 games they weren't. I believe their game plan up front will be to concede ground in the tackle and attempt to survive the clearout to get turnovers rather than attempt to stop England on the gain line. In attack I think they will utilise lots of up and unders or grubbers to try to turn the English rush defence. England have had a good attitude so far and the worst thing we can do now is think we have won it already and go into Cardiff without showing proper respect to the Welsh. It has cost us at key moments in the past.

As for Wales winning streak, it's good but a fair few of those wins have been far from convincing. England's winning streak used to get criticism for some tight games and never playing the ABs. Wales have not played the ABs, England or Ireland in their streak with the highest ranked team they have beaten being South Africa. I'm worried as recent games against Wales have been close but no side has ever made this dominant a start to the 6N in it's history.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

no side has ever made this dominant a start to the 6N in it's history.

Don't agree with that, a lot of sides have. Most recently in 2014 Ireland opened with a 28-6 win v Scotland and a 26-3 win v Wales (two year defending champs) they'd win the championship but not the slam.

Going back further:
2001, England beat Wales 44-15 in Cardiff and Italy 80-23, didn't win the slam.
2002, England beat Scotland away 29-3 and Ireland 45-11, didn't win the slam.
2003 Ireland beat Scotland 36-3 and Italy 37-13 both away, didn't win the championship.
2004, France beat Ireland 35-17 and Italy 25-0, slammed.
2008, Wales beat the Scots 30-15 and Italy 47-8 and slammed

There might be a few more. I'm sure some of these will be discredited due to the presence of Italy but I'd argue that early iterations of Italy in this tournament were as good as France have been this year if not better. (I'd argue better actually)

The good news is that reading that suggests you have the championship locked up if Wales don't slam and everyone more or less knows a win in Cardiff seals your slam but not Wales' who have a tough one on the last day.

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

Wales have never been traditionally weak in a kicking game and will be the first team we face with a genuinely good fullback. I think they will have a proper pendulum working in the back 3 so we probably won't get much out of them with that tactic unless we can draw the wingers out of position. Wales are good against strong runners going in straight lines but the defence suffers more with a varied attack. I'd say they are similar to us in that they are weak to teams who can quickly get around the defence and isolate the wingers, who aren't really great defenders.

Wales are traditionally slow starters so I think they will improve a fair bit over these next 2 weeks and will be fired up for this whereas the previous 2 games they weren't. I believe their game plan up front will be to concede ground in the tackle and attempt to survive the clearout to get turnovers rather than attempt to stop England on the gain line. In attack I think they will utilise lots of up and unders or grubbers to try to turn the English rush defence. England have had a good attitude so far and the worst thing we can do now is think we have won it already and go into Cardiff without showing proper respect to the Welsh. It has cost us at key moments in the past.

As for Wales winning streak, it's good but a fair few of those wins have been far from convincing. England's winning streak used to get criticism for some tight games and never playing the ABs. Wales have not played the ABs, England or Ireland in their streak with the highest ranked team they have beaten being South Africa. I'm worried as recent games against Wales have been close but no side has ever made this dominant a start to the 6N in it's history.

Some fair points there, especially about the grubers and kicks over the top, Wales must try this and if they can hone it they it will put doubt in the English forward defensive line, slow their attacking line and perhaps give Wales time to exploit them like no other team has yet,
But England of course will be expecting this.

 

[General Melchett]

I wouldn't be surprised if Wales and Ireland both suffer a dip after the WC with their head coaches leaving. I'm sure Farrell and Pivac are capable but Schmidt and Gatland seem to give their sides an extra something. Ireland should, in theory, be in better shape given that Farrell is already on board and will ensure some kind of continuity.

England look formidable at the moment. It's an incredible turnaround since a year ago and I would put them as WC favourites if they maintain this form.

I think Scotland will surprise a few at the World Cup. Their back row is decimated at the moment with no breakdown specialists. When the likes of Barclay, Blade Thompson, Sam Skinner and Hamish Watson come back they'll be a very different proposition and will test Ireland.