Is it enough?
Nope.
At least, not in the positions we need.
We (will) need 2 second-rows, a tight-head and 2 centres. No-one in the provinces has really stood out as a realistic alternative to what we have.
Is it enough?
Snoop I agree and when I called for new faces etc I meant over the 4 years as in let's now start a new cycle and gradually work through it but like we need to rotate our teams frequently and well build a squad. We did it to a certain extent here but I'd like us to take it another step.Something must be said about the leadership in the Wales team. When Ireland pulled level at 10-10, I thought the game would turn in Ireland's favour. The bulk of the Irish team have shared 4 of the last 6 Heineken Cups and regularly win Celtic League/Pro 12 ***les. They're well versed in cup rugby. I thought that experience would pull Ireland through to a comfortable victory. That it didn't and Wales dominated the rest of the game says a lot about the leadership in the Wales team. Sam Warburton is to be applauded for lifting his team at that moment.
I also think we need to be careful about knee jerk reactions. Some are calling for a new broom of 20 and 21 year olds like Nevin Spence, Dominic Ryan and Peter O'Mahony to be swept in. None of those guys are ready. While I think some should have played their last game in green (Jerry Flannery, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Ronan O'Gara, Gordon D'arcy, Paddy Wallace and Geordan Murphy spring to mind), you can't merely bring in new players for the sake of it if they aren't good enough. By all means call up Jamie Hagan, Dan Tuohy, Felix Jones, Darren Cave and Ian Keatley but there aren't a huge amount more who are good enough come the 6 Nations.
What?
I think I can recall most if not all fans saying this would be a close/great game. Most people said it could go either way, Wales were far from 'written off'.
It's a little early to be drinking anyway.
Wait, how come you get Quinlan and the ITV crew, but I've got Mark Jones et al.?
This. Ever since South Africa-Wales, it's looked fairly clear to me that Wales are (far?) ahead of any NH team. The most remarkable thing is that since then (the SA game), Wales has seemed to improve. Form comes and goes, but in the moment the only team that I think has played better than Wales is New Zealand. Wales are firmly amongst the tri-nations teams in strength, with Ireland, France and England following afterwards. Although I think there's a fairly large gap between New Zealand and every other country.Don't drink sunshine so don't stick your nose in.
Wales were written off by majority of the media and fans. A lot of people said and here's one for you, in this thread that Ireland would win. Wales were therefore written off, just look at the people saying Ferris and O'Brien were going to dominate the Welsh backrow or that the HEC experience would show.
France will be a tough task next week.
I think your bring a bit critical form what I saw Ireland were slight favorites, anybody who knew sh*t about rugby said it was 50/50.
Wales were written off by majority of the media and fans. A lot of people said and here's one for you, in this thread that Ireland would win. Wales were therefore written off
How can a prop which can dummy and sidestep like a winger possibly get any better!?while Gethin Jenkins is still returning from a hugely disrupted year of rugby, and will continue to get better imo.
What's great from a Welsh perspective is that I think there's alot more to come from this team if a few more players can up their game like they're capable of doing.
Anyway, looking a little closer. The French are going to bring something very different to the Irish. They have a pack that can compete with anyone, and a set of backs that can rip teams to pieces on their day. I'm confident, but at the same time a little weary of a French team which may well be written off by many people.
How can a prop which can dummy and sidestep like a winger possibly get any better!?
Do you understand the difference between tipping a team to win and writing someone off?
You write someone off if they have no chance of winning. That clearly was not the case for 95+% (probably 99+%) of posters on here, pundits in the media and fans in general.