best semi finalists for rugby

[bushfire]

I think that this is the best semi final line up's as they are ther teams who have played (on average and consistantly) the most "positive" rugby over the last god knows how long. Support england, but our rugby is so staid that really am not too upset to see them dumped out, the wales france game could well be a cracker jack of running rugby, can't say i would be quite as confident with england getting through. With the honourable exception iof ireland who do play some good stuff also, think eng/sa/arg in sf's could well have put a lot of (hopefull) converts round the globe off the game (wouldn't fancy another final like '07). This may well also be a blessing in disguise for ther english rfu who may well now reconsider the merits of playing rugby in the spring and summer and so not competing with football, fitting in with the SH seasons and so more competitive games against these teams, heightening interest and £££ in the game via this, and the main thing producing running rugby players who can compete. Just a thought.......

 

[RetiredRog]

Wales will be too fit and mobile for the French...my prediction....Wales..24..France..13.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Where is this perception that Wales are the only fit team around coming from?

Let's be honest, all the top teams are in ****ing good shape, regardless of how well they've played, I don't think its going to come down to that.

 

[dullonien]

Where is this perception that Wales are the only fit team around coming from?

Let's be honest, all the top teams are in ****ing good shape, regardless of how well they've played, I don't think its going to come down to that.

Well, I personally think they are the fittest team in the tourny. Ireland looked out on their feet mid way through the second half last week, whilst the Welsh players still looked fine (I think it was tiredness that led to Jon Davies' try). This was despite the Welsh defending for much of the first half, and the first 10 min of the second. There is always room to become fitter, especially in the forwards, where some of the guys are carrying 18 odd stone around with them. The work done in Poland seems to be paying off big time. I don't think any other team has worked quite so hard in the build-up to the tourny.

 

[Thingimubob]

Gotta agree with Dull there, it's not like we're saying nobody else is fit (they are professional athletes after all!) but the fitness training has certainly made us one of the fittest teams in the tournament! Wasn't just the Poland camp too (though that's been a huge part of it) from the very start Gatland has put an emphasis on it. Remember reading when he first came in that he told the likes of Adam and Duncan Jones, Richard Hibbard and so on that they need to lose the jelly rolls and improve their fitness around the park if they want to play for Wales. Can definitely see the difference with Adam Jones! He's gone from literally blacking out in scrums vs the All Blacks (said that in an interview in 06 I think) to being one of the best tight-heads in the world!

Tbf I've criticized for a hell of a lot, the dodgy selections, the silly comments to fire up the opposition, but I guess his policy on fitness has certainly started to shine through and pay off!

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Agree big time about Adam Jones.His work rate has been transformed and credit to him and the the coaching staff.Adam's improvement should make Darren Morris,who could have been world class,hang his head in shame.Also agree with the original post.The four semi finalists and Ireland have been by far the most positive of the major nations.

 

[scarlets-fan]

Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees are a lot fitter since 07 as well. Just look at that try vs namibia, awesome turn of pace for a prop.

 

[dullonien]

Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees are a lot fitter since 07 as well. Just look at that try vs namibia, awesome turn of pace for a prop.

Nah, that's just Gethin for you. He's a freak of nature. I remember a former Wales player (can't remember who now, but he was a back) commenting about when Gethin Jenkins first started training with Cardiff, doing a cross country run in the breakon beakons and a then overwight Gethin Jenkins overtaking him. Gethin Jenkins has always been one of the fittest players in Welsh squads, and it's just a natural thing for him. No doubt he's probably improved along with the rest of the squad, but even back in '05 he was extremely fit and very quick for a prop, as that chargedown try against Ireland proved.

 

[gingergenius]

not trying to burst Wales' bubble here (they have played superbly this tournament), but just ground yourselves a little. You've played one 3N opposition so far this tournament and lost. If you do reach the final, you'll 100% deserve it, but beating New Zealand or Australia will be an absolutely mammoth task.

 

[Aout]

Wales will be too fit and mobile for the French...my prediction....Wales..24..France..13.

Too fit ? Have you watched France - New Zealand ? Although we lost, it was one of the first time that we didn't struggle because of our fitness at the end of the game.

And about mobility, well our back three is fast as hell (Clerc/Medard/Palisson) and our outside center (Rougerie) is a former winger, with Cedric Heymans on the bench. Our backrow is not a heavy one, with Dusautoir being 95kg, Harinordoquy 108kg and Bonnaire 101kg, whereas Faletau is 109kg, Warburton is 106kg and Lydiate is 112kg. I know weight isn't always relevant about how mobile a player is, but it gives some information.

 

[psychic duck]

it is worth noting that Ireland went on that Poland camp before 2007 and 2003

and it didn't do them a whole lot of good

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

not trying to burst Wales' bubble here (they have played superbly this tournament), but just ground yourselves a little. You've played one 3N opposition so far this tournament and lost. If you do reach the final, you'll 100% deserve it, but beating New Zealand or Australia will be an absolutely mammoth task.

Think you have a fair point.We should have beaten South Africa but were second best for much of the game against a fine Samoa side.What I will say is that we seem to have made many friends amongst neutrals because of the attractive brand of rugby we are playing.

 

[dullonien]

it is worth noting that Ireland went on that Poland camp before 2007 and 2003

and it didn't do them a whole lot of good

They're just facilities, it doesn't mean Ireland used them to their fullest when they went. Of course it's not just the two weeks they spent in Poland, it's the work that's been put in for the past 3+ years since Gatland took charge. The players and Gatland have been commenting the whole time about how much work they put in in training etc. and it has been evident for a long time. The '08 Grand slam was based off superiour physicallity and fitness, and even in the past two years during a poor run of results, they've been finishing games extrmely strongly.

Now is the only real time since '08 (which probably came a little early) where this has been coupled with the other necassary pieces needed to make a great team, skill, belief, momentum, balance, and a core of players playing close to the best of their ability. Whether we're good enough to reach the final or even win the thing remains to be seen, but I don't think there's any reason why optimistic Welsh fans can't believe it's possible.