RWC: Wales - Namibia (26-09-2011, 19:30)

[wlshby09]

I thought Halfpenny was outstanding, he always does the right thing and rarely makes any mistakes.
As said above, I wouldn't play Jon Davies again, when ever we make a break I always feel like he's gonna blow it for us (like he nearly did against SA). Scott Willaims's hands are miles better.
Lineout seemed poor yet again, even against poor opposition, I'm confident we wouldn't win our own ball if we were playing children.
Awseome to see Gethin play a match without limping off.

 

[wlshby09]

And he sticks his tongue out way too much

 

[scarlets-fan]

Gareth Maule was selected above of Scott Williams last season

Yea but Williams only broke into the side the last month of the season, that was still enough to get him selected for the world cup tho. Him and Davies will be first choice next season. As much as i'm enjoying the world cup, i can't wait for the Scarlets to get their players back. It's painful to watch their start to the season, 10 players in new zealand & 2 injured in warm up games.

 

[dullonien]

It's gonna be a tight call between Scott Williams and Jon Davies to start against Fiji and Ireland in the quarters (if we get there). They are both similar type of players, physical with a decent turn of speed. I disagree slightly with peoples comments about Jon Davies in this game, because I thought he put in plenty of nice little touches, with some great little take and gives to release the man outside. On some occasions in the first half, Namibia's defence was up very quickly, and I thought Jon Davies did the right thing hanging onto the ball instead of shipping the ball onto Halfpenny etc. to get smashed. He had a hand in many of the tries today, and showed good pace to finish his try off. Scott Williams was also superb, and thoroughly deserved his hat trick of try's.

I agree that Jon Davies hasn't managed to translate his excellent Scarlets form onto the international stage yet, he's shown glimpses, but he's also had some terrible games. He's steadily improving, but maybe Scott Williams is overtaking him. I don't think Regan King is the reason for Jon Davies' improved regional performances, because King has been injured for a fair chunk of Davies' rise. Davies and Maul played quite allot together, and most people agree that it was in Kings absence that Davies really matured as a player at that level.

As to who would work better with Roberts, that's an important question. Roberts is in great form, so he's gotta play. I've yet to be convinced with the Roberts, Davies partnership, no matter which way round they're played. I don't know why, because if Davies could get on the shoulder of Roberts, his finishing ability as shown at the Scarlets is very good, ditto the other way round. So in theory it could work, but in reality it has failed to gel properly. Maybe a Scott Williams, Roberts combo would work better, only game time will answer that.

Very interesting call, which could get even more interesting if/when James Hook regains fitness.

 

[Draggs]

The problem with Jonathan Davies is not his partner, but they way he plays.
AGAIN he is doing daft kicks and is a greedy player at times. He ignored supporting runners countless times and would have blown tries against more powerful opposition.
I'd like to see Scott Williams running off Jamie Roberts.

Positives:
Gethin Jenkins. Epic try, class player. Bevington has some wheels for a prop. Very much like Gethin in the loose.
Our back row. Ryan put in a great performance, as did Sam and Toby while they were on. Powell wasn't too bad either.
Lloyd Williams looked good when he came on. Quick, accurate distribution and not afraid of contact.
Scott Williams. So much power and pace, can't wait to see more of the lad.
George North and Leigh Halfpenny. Two classy wingers. Will be 2/3s of the Welsh back three for many years

Neutral:
Alun Wyn Jones had another pretty solid game. Charteris wasn't bad but showed his handling skills with the knock-on.
Stephen Jones wasn't too bad. He tried a few chip kicks at the wrong time and an intercepted pass by a second row for their only try, but made up for it with a few aggressive runs. I think I'd pick Priestland ahead of him though. Congratulations on 101 caps as well!
Lee Byrne. Looked decent under the high ball and ran some good supporting angles (which weren't always used!)

Negatives:
Lloyd Burns, Tavis Knoyle, Jonathan Davies, and Aled Brew have played themselves out out of selection. They just aren't up to it on this level.
Our lineouts looked suspect at times.
Scrums were difficult to judge, Walsh seemed to go with whatever arm he felt like.

Team for Fiji
15 Lee Byrne
14 Leigh Halfpenny
13 Scott Williams
12 Jamie Roberts
11 George North
10 Rhys Priestland
09 Mike Phillips

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Huw Bennett
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Luke Charteris
06 Ryan Jones
07 Sam Warburton
08 Toby Faletau

16 Ken Owens
17 Paul James
18 Bradley Davies
19 Andy Powell
20 Lloyd Williams
21 Stephen Jones
22 Jonathan Davies

Not considered due to injury:
Dan Lydiate
James Hook
Shane Williams

 

[dullonien]

Team for Fiji
15 Lee Byrne
14 Leigh Halfpenny
13 Scott Williams
12 Jamie Roberts
11 George North
10 Rhys Priestland
09 Mike Phillips

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Huw Bennett
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Luke Charteris
06 Ryan Jones
07 Sam Warburton
08 Toby Faletau

16 Ken Owens
17 Paul James
18 Bradley Davies
19 Andy Powell
20 Lloyd Williams
21 Stephen Jones
22 Jonathan Davies

Not considered due to injury:
Dan Lydiate
James Hook
Shane Williams

I wouldn't mind seeing that team in the slightest. I really hope Gatland realises that Burns is a pretty poor player before it's too late and Bennett get's injured and Burns costs us a match at some point. Owens had a big impact, and despite one not straight throw at the lineout, his open field game was a huge improvement over Burns. I'm still a little annoyed at Gatland for not giving Ken Owens his chance a long time ago when he was arguably the best hooker in Wales, before getting injured. Was 20min against Namibia enough for Gatland to realise that Owens is simply better than Burns, I kinda doubt it somehow.

It's great to hear that Lydiate is recovering well, and should be back for the Ireland game, if not the game vs Fiji. Apparently he's already jogging, but I probably wouldn't risk him against Fiji. I think he'll be needed against the physical backrow of Ireland, although Ryan Jones isn't a bad player to have instead.

 

[psychic duck]

Negatives:
Lloyd Burns, Tavis Knoyle, Jonathan Davies, and Aled Brew have played themselves out out of selection. They just aren't up to it on this level.
Our lineouts looked suspect at times.
Scrums were difficult to judge, Walsh seemed to go with whatever arm he felt like.

I agree with most of this but, Tavis Knoyle? I thought he looked sharp, and is a big improvement in terms of speed at rucks than Phillips

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Good good, well done, 81 points, not bad at all.

I felt Jonathan Davies was my personal Man of the Match. He seemed able to break the line at will, or at least give others the chance to do so, as we saw with the first try. Scott Williams was also very good, though, leaving a bit of an issue when it comes to selection for next week's game. I think we've got to try including both of them and the back-to-his-best Roberts, probably with Williams or Roberts shifted out to the wing, where both have played before, seeing as Brew and Byrne both had 'Meh' games. However, seeing a different S Williams lineing up in the Welsh 11 shirt would be very odd indeed.

Tav was pretty average, where as Lloyd Williams impressed me. I'd still keep Tavis on the bench for Fiji, and make sure he comes on when the Fijians start to tire. Ken was pretty impressive, too- Could/Should find himself wearing 16 again next week.

 

[dullonien]

I agree with most of this but, Tavis Knoyle? I thought he looked sharp, and is a big improvement in terms of speed at rucks than Phillips

Well I thought he was very ordinary. He got caught in a million minds on occasion, not knowing which way to pass the ball. He barely made any breaks around the fringes, which is one of his strengths usually. His distribution was ok, although the step up in speed and accuracy in the pass from Lloyd Williams was noticeable. I also thought during the second quarter, where Wales' forwards were getting knocked back in the tackle, Knoyle needed to realise that and pass behind them to the backs who looked dangerous all game. This was probably Knoyles worst performance in a Welsh shirt imo, and in a game where he should have been able to assert himself on.

I'd probably still have him on the bench against Fiji, because I feel we're gonna beat Fiji by out muscling them, and Knoyle has the edge over Lloyd Williams in that regard. Williams is probably the best technical scrum half we've produced in a while, or at least comparable to Dwayne Peel at his best. I feel Williams will be the future first choice, not Knoyle (although Webb could have something to say about that).

 

[Draggs]

If there was every a match for a scrumhalf to impress, it was this one.
Knoyle just looked rushed and confused as he has done. I feel that quick ball from Lloyd will be a more valuable asset for the last twenty after Phillips' physical approach.

Davies ignored too many supporting runners and went alone for it too many times. He could do it today but not against Fiji. Scott Williams isn't the largest player but he uses his bulk pretty well around the field.

 

[SelimNiai]

Knoyle looked to me like he expected this game to be easier for him and couldnt adjust when he realised that it wouldnt be. He did settle down but his overall performance wasn't up to it.

In the whole I was impressed. I wan't expecting the scoreline we got. We looked comfy going forward and at times were quite silky where as normally we tend to look a bit sketchy in attack.