EPCR Challenge Cup

[TRF_Olyy]

Wild try,
Headbutt forward pass and 80m of grubbering

 

[Rinkadink]

Scarlets fans were exceptional tonight, going to be some sore throats tomorrow.

I think the difference in intensity and collisions was the biggest decider. Losing Lloyd isn't going to help next season but immaterial until some grit is found.

 

[dirty harry]

Referee murdering Ospreys in the first 10..

Penalty advantage in their own 5m for a perfectly legal jackal, penalty against OSPREYS becaise Newcastle sealed off, and a non straight throw that was perfectly straight.

All 400 strong crowd booing lol

 

[dirty harry]

Who is the lead on coach development in Wales?!?!?!

Some of the tactical decisions I see Welsh players making is real embarrassing.

Ospreys just had pen advantage from the scrum, they passed along the line on half way before kicking deep into Newcastles 22...

Yesterday was a Peel masterclass, and now Mark Jones is showing he's about as bad.

 

[The Seeker]

Great try at the 8:00 minute mark. Alright Cherry & White!

 

[dirty harry]

Newcastle benefitting from a really one sided ref in Swansea, but my lord they are bad.

21 - 10 down, on 40 mins and the hooker didn't realise the ball needed to touch his foot while not in his hands for a quick tap penalty. Plumb just held it onto his boot and went lol.

Newcastle are going to struggle this 2nd half, they really gave a good crack at a varied kicking game, utilised the chip well, but they don't have a scrum, or enough discipline in defence.

Ospreys are capable of losing a game like this though, especially with Parry, and Keiran William's desperate for a holiday through Feb and March!

 

[dullonien]

Not sure how to judge Ospreys as Newcastle are pretty dire atm (although prob just aren't bothering with Europe). There was evidence of a much improved attacking structure, with the Ospreys generating some quick ball and getting to the edges well. Hopefully we'll see more of that under Jones, because their attack was mostly shocking under Booth.

They still seem to switch off for decent chunks of the game, with the first 10-15min. of both halves evidence of this. Better opposition would have taken better advantage.

If RMW isn't in the Welsh squad ahead of the likes of Bevan, Rhodri Williams and Hardy then I don't know what Gats is thinking. He's been the best performing 9 in Wales for a few seasons now with a good all-around game. Not sure Dan Edwards is quite ready for international rugby, but needs must atm as he's better than most our other options.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I don't get the fuss with Edwards to be honest. Or RMW either. Neither scream international standard to me but happy for RMW to get given a crack as he probably has been, arguably, the best scrum half in wales but he's not a patch on Tomos Williams.

 

[dirty harry]

Not sure how to judge Ospreys as Newcastle are pretty dire atm (although prob just aren't bothering with Europe). There was evidence of a much improved attacking structure, with the Ospreys generating some quick ball and getting to the edges well. Hopefully we'll see more of that under Jones, because their attack was mostly shocking under Booth.

They still seem to switch off for decent chunks of the game, with the first 10-15min. of both halves evidence of this. Better opposition would have taken better advantage.

If RMW isn't in the Welsh squad ahead of the likes of Bevan, Rhodri Williams and Hardy then I don't know what Gats is thinking. He's been the best performing 9 in Wales for a few seasons now with a good all-around game. Not sure Dan Edwards is quite ready for international rugby, but needs must atm as he's better than most our other options.

Ye, Ospreys did the job against a poor team.

Re RMW. I disagree, his box kicking isn't there yet, the difference of delivery from the base after he went off increased massively, he's still prone to junior errors, and sadly his physicality is lacking.

Tomos is obviously head and shoulders above, but I'd still prefer Bevans delivery and box kicking, plus his size in defence is useful. Rhodri is probably the best performing 9 in Wales currently, but he isn't the future.

Edward's I've seen enough now to be happy with his inclusion, he isn't the final article, but he has a boot. Both Costello, Lloyd, Thomas and Williams have poor kicking standards. Costello can't kick outnofbhand, or at goal these are both strengths of Edward's, he regularly went 22 to 22 yesterday, and for the first time in months a welsh team weren't dominated in the kicking game.

His problem is, as shown yesterday when defences get in his face he shovels ****, throws blind passes, or dilly dallys. International rugby will be a wake up call, bit I suspect he'll start to manage that with time.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Costelow got injured as well didn't he. If Jarrod Evans isn't selected it will be a joke but I can't see Gatland suddenly coming to his senses.

 

[dirty harry]

Costelow got injured as well didn't he. If Jarrod Evans isn't selected it will be a joke but I can't see Gatland suddenly coming to his senses.

Ye went off after 11 mins I think...

Not to worry, Ioan Lloyd stepped in at 10 to kill any scarlet attacking play... he crashed the ball so often it was crazy.to be fair I blame Peel, the stupidity of the scarlets attack to literally keep pummelling into a blitz midfield over and over can only be attributed to tactical master class

 

[Welsh Exile]

Ye went off after 11 mins I think...

Not to worry, Ioan Lloyd stepped in at 10 to kill any scarlet attacking play... he crashed the ball so often it was crazy.to be fair I blame Peel, the stupidity of the scarlets attack to literally keep pummelling into a blitz midfield over and over can only be attributed to tactical master class

Set up their only try. I know we agree on this fact, the Scarlets ruin players. I'm not going to properly judge him until he gets regular minutes at 10. I don't think it's any coincidence that, imo, the scarlets looked best for that brief period last season when Costelow was out and Lloyd got a run of games and was, hands down, the best 10 in Wales. He got the call up to be fair in that form. I'm hoping he can replicate that at Cardiff with some regular minutes. Fingers crossed.

 

[Welsh Exile]

On Scarlets ruining players. I hope Eddie James gets out of there as I think he's got great potential. Ideally he'd go to England or France or something to develop further if it wasn't for the 25 cap rule.

 

[dirty harry]

Set up their only try. I know we agree on this fact, the Scarlets ruin players. I'm not going to properly judge him until he gets regular minutes at 10. I don't think it's any coincidence that, imo, the scarlets looked best for that brief period last season when Costelow was out and Lloyd got a run of games and was, hands down, the best 10 in Wales. He got the call up to be fair in that form. I'm hoping he can replicate that at Cardiff with some regular minutes. Fingers crossed.

Ok OK I will concede that ground, he is absolute useless currently, flashy ball player who gives points away regularly, and can't structure an attack, club level kicking game...

Which should all improve at Cardiff.

I partly agree with the scarlets being a talent graveyard, but I don't think it's as simple as that. They seem to have this total rugby mentality, create wonderfully exciting (potential wise) backs, but don't seem to be able to instill the basics.

Eddie James is a perfect example, looks to be a world beater, but is about to start that 'scarlet period' where potential turns to clubman ability, because for all his positives he won't be able to execute the basics under pressure at international level. It's strange, because scarlets packs are generally 2nd best, so playing behind poor packs should instill an under pressure skillset, like the kiwis do at their weighted age grade, but it just doesn't translate...

Maybe it's just that they have had a run of poor quality 10s who have stunted the game. The last decent 10 they had was Preistland really.

I'm not sure what's going on up there, but I hope Eddie doesn't follow, Robert's, Roger's, Prydie, Davies route...

I think we can all agree, it was an idiotic decision for Lloyd to join the Scarlets, and he's finally realised it.