Scotland v Wales

[danny]

Wales are a good side this year and looking quite mature but just how bad were Scotland. On this evidence the Lions will be made up of Ireland and Welsh players only.After this weekend I feel like Ive just wasted 160 minutes of my life!

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

You're basing that on... One game Prest?
I know you like to jump at any opportunity to stab at the Welsh team, but seriously...

Hopefully England will put up some challenge next week. I'd hate us to be complacent in Paris - they'll rape us. Not too worried about Ireland yet. They're a bit of an unknown quantity. I'll see how they do the rest of the tournament first...[/b]

Basing what on one game?

Byrne has always been a cheating git, he was doing it last season with subtle, cheeky and really annoyingly silly bits of cheating. His shoulder charging off the ball is part of his forte.

I don't dig at the Welsh team, I know you guys are ultra defensive about people knocking individual players but seriously...my beef is against Phillips and Byrne. Byrne is very very good and world class but he has this stupid tendency to do things which are just go against the good of the game such as yonking the ball into the crowd when its an opposition line out or what I pointed out above.

EDIT: Bottom line, I don't like players, even players on my own team, who pull stupid illiegal crap but I find one eye'ed fans who ignore what that player does even more annoying.

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Feb 8 2009, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You're basing that on... One game Prest?
I know you like to jump at any opportunity to stab at the Welsh team, but seriously...

Hopefully England will put up some challenge next week. I'd hate us to be complacent in Paris - they'll rape us. Not too worried about Ireland yet. They're a bit of an unknown quantity. I'll see how they do the rest of the tournament first...[/b]

Basing what on one game?

Byrne has always been a cheating git, he was doing it last season with subtle, cheeky and really annoyingly silly bits of cheating. His shoulder charging off the ball is part of his forte.

I don't dig at the Welsh team, I know you guys are ultra defensive about people knocking individual players but seriously...my beef is against Phillips and Byrne. Byrne is very very good and world class but he has this stupid tendency to do things which are just go against the good of the game such as yonking the ball into the crowd when its an opposition line out or what I pointed out above.
[/b][/quote]
Well, you're the first person I've seen mention Lee Byrne's 'subtle, cheeky and really annoyingly silly bits of cheating' so OK.
As for Phillips, well his passing was horrible today, and has always been a little poor, so I don't disagree with you there.
And I'm not one to avoid criticizing the players just because they're Welsh. I don't think I've hidden my recent dislike of Henson and my outright annoyance at Phillips's lack of any skill at nine...

Anyway, some positives:
Jamie Roberts was immense.
Shanklin - apart from his one balls up - was good.
The scrum. Scotland were obliterated.

Can't wait for the English game. Bragging rights to be earned before being shown up in France.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Feb 8 2009, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

EDIT: Bottom line, I don't like players, even players on my own team, who pull stupid illiegal crap but I find one eye'ed fans who ignore what that player does even more annoying.[/b]

As I said, you're the first person I've seen mention this 'illegal crap' from Byrne.
Just to add, I thought he was shocking today.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vambo @ Feb 8 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shane Williams with a try now. John Davies said it all, made it far too hard for ourselves. But not even Phillips's inept passing could **** up that.
I wonder if we'll get some replacements on now. Yar. Peel on.
Surprised Jones hasn't been replaced. Another missed conversion. <_<[/b]

I know you have a hard on for Peel mate but what exactly did Phillip's do wrong? Did he steal candy from you as a baby or something?
[/b][/quote]
You're English, you wouldn't understand the subtlety of passing the ball adequately from rucks.
[/b][/quote]

Oi! Don't judge us all by Ellis standards.

 

[danny]

Great point Prestwick. This defensive nature of the Welsh members is stifling a lot of constructive debate. Personally I like to see one of my team playing on the edge of the law that is what makes a good team great and I feel the Welsh are almost at that point but dont deny it just for the sake of defending your own players. Whats the point in that?

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Feb 8 2009, 05:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vambo @ Feb 8 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shane Williams with a try now. John Davies said it all, made it far too hard for ourselves. But not even Phillips's inept passing could **** up that.
I wonder if we'll get some replacements on now. Yar. Peel on.
Surprised Jones hasn't been replaced. Another missed conversion. <_<[/b]

I know you have a hard on for Peel mate but what exactly did Phillip's do wrong? Did he steal candy from you as a baby or something?
[/b][/quote]
You're English, you wouldn't understand the subtlety of passing the ball adequately from rucks.
[/b][/quote]

Oi! Don't jusdge us all by Ellis standards.
[/b][/quote]

well it's what's gonna happen when you've clowns who insist on picking him.

 

[Sir Speedy]

John Inverdale: "And one last question Johnathon: is there any chance of complacency in the Welsh camp?" phrased like he was about to report any vital information back to Johnson.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 8 2009, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Feb 8 2009, 05:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vambo @ Feb 8 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 8 2009, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shane Williams with a try now. John Davies said it all, made it far too hard for ourselves. But not even Phillips's inept passing could **** up that.
I wonder if we'll get some replacements on now. Yar. Peel on.
Surprised Jones hasn't been replaced. Another missed conversion. <_<[/b]

I know you have a hard on for Peel mate but what exactly did Phillip's do wrong? Did he steal candy from you as a baby or something?
[/b][/quote]
You're English, you wouldn't understand the subtlety of passing the ball adequately from rucks.
[/b][/quote]

Oi! Don't jusdge us all by Ellis standards.
[/b][/quote]

well it's what's gonna happen when you've clowns who insist on picking him.
[/b][/quote]

 

[Incredible Schalk]

A Scot's view on Scotland.

First of all terrible team selection was awful, as soon as Evans came on he broke the gainline then scored a great try.
No consistent ball carrier, nobody was hitting the ball at pace and we went backwards half the time.
No skill, the basic skills are rubbish as they have been for like ever..
Rubbish scrum, you cant beat a big team off the sort of crappy ball the backs were getting today.
Godman standing miles behind the gainline and not having a go himself.


Where do we go..?

To tesco to buy a wooden spoon.


Well done to the Welsh, made the game look very easy and were never in danger of losing.

 

[Cymro]

Hahahaha English do what they do best and moan about Welsh dirtiness makes me smile . After years of English cheating or unsportsman like conduct as soon as the Welsh do it heavens forbid it ! England have their fair share of dirty players over time Juilan White, Martin Corry, Phil Greening, Danny Grewcock to name a few! Its quite sad Prestwick how you attack Byrne but when I watched England yesterday a fe of your players do exactly the same as what Byrne did!!

Back to the real talking point here in the rugby match between Scotland and Wales!

A good performance by Wales especially after losing Ryan Jones only 2 hours before kick off! Our pack was dominant but not in lineouts! Mathew Rees is a massive loose player but fails to do anything in the lineouts!

A massive mention should go out to Roberts, Shanklin, Williams, Halfpenny and Byrne who were simply class! What a joy to behold!

But we must not get carried away the old enemy are awaitng at the gates!

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Feb 8 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hahahaha English do what they do best and moan about Welsh dirtiness makes me smile . After years of English cheating or unsportsman like conduct as soon as the Welsh do it heavens forbid it ! England have their fair share of dirty players over time Juilan White, Martin Corry, Phil Greening, Danny Grewcock to name a few! Its quite sad Prestwick how you attack Byrne but when I watched England yesterday a fe of your players do exactly the same as what Byrne did!![/b]

What? I think I find it sad how you're just instantly jumping to his defence.

Why am I sad for calling James Haskell and Shane Geraghty stupid for doing stupid and utterly cynical things? Why am I sad for thinking Danny Grewcock would be great if he didn't cheat and give away millions of penalties? Why am I sad for being man enough to admit when my own players do something wrong? Why am I sad for calling it how it should be called and having absolutely no sympathy for those who cheat in the most utterly cynical and disheartening way?

Let me just get this out of the way again: My beef is with individual players. End of story.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Incredible Schalk @ Feb 8 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

A Scot's view on Scotland.

First of all terrible team selection was awful, as soon as Evans came on he broke the gainline then scored a great try.
No consistent ball carrier, nobody was hitting the ball at pace and we went backwards half the time.
No skill, the basic skills are rubbish as they have been for like ever..
Rubbish scrum, you cant beat a big team off the sort of crappy ball the backs were getting today.
Godman standing miles behind the gainline and not having a go himself.[/b]

that can be the problem with having a backrow in the second row, I know Ireland's scrum has improved but if France had 2 real locks there yesterday they could well have had more success with the scrum.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Like I said Prestwick, your claims are based on this one game.
If you can please point out when Byrne did this in the past, then you have a point.
Just saying 'he did it last year an' all' doesn't make it so. Repeating myself here, but you're the first person to bring his cheating to my attention. I don't condone cynical and dirty play, but I'm not going to jump on a player based on something I haven't seen/heard of. It has nothing to do with bias as much as you'd like to believe it.

 

[Prestwick]

The Scottish scrum was a real let down and I think putting Jason White at lock was a mistake. Although having Al Hogg and Graham Morrison standing around when they're a man down in the forwards while the Scrum gets chewed up didn't help.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Feb 8 2009, 05:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Feb 8 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hahahaha English do what they do best and moan about Welsh dirtiness makes me smile . After years of English cheating or unsportsman like conduct as soon as the Welsh do it heavens forbid it ! England have their fair share of dirty players over time Juilan White, Martin Corry, Phil Greening, Danny Grewcock to name a few! Its quite sad Prestwick how you attack Byrne but when I watched England yesterday a fe of your players do exactly the same as what Byrne did!![/b]

What? I think I find it sad how you're just instantly jumping to his defence.

Why am I sad for calling James Haskell and Shane Geraghty stupid for doing stupid and utterly cynical things? Why am I sad for thinking Danny Grewcock would be great if he didn't cheat and give away millions of penalties? Why am I sad for being man enough to admit when my own players do something wrong? Why am I sad for calling it how it should be called and having absolutely no sympathy for those who cheat in the most utterly cynical and disheartening way?

Let me just get this out of the way again: My beef is with individual players. End of story.
[/b][/quote]

Could call Cross and Webster for being cynical!

Cross taking Byrne out in the air! Webster lead with his head and most of his shoulder only raising his arm late to make sure it looked like a tackle

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Feb 8 2009, 05:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Feb 8 2009, 05:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Feb 8 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hahahaha English do what they do best and moan about Welsh dirtiness makes me smile . After years of English cheating or unsportsman like conduct as soon as the Welsh do it heavens forbid it ! England have their fair share of dirty players over time Juilan White, Martin Corry, Phil Greening, Danny Grewcock to name a few! Its quite sad Prestwick how you attack Byrne but when I watched England yesterday a fe of your players do exactly the same as what Byrne did!![/b]

What? I think I find it sad how you're just instantly jumping to his defence.

Why am I sad for calling James Haskell and Shane Geraghty stupid for doing stupid and utterly cynical things? Why am I sad for thinking Danny Grewcock would be great if he didn't cheat and give away millions of penalties? Why am I sad for being man enough to admit when my own players do something wrong? Why am I sad for calling it how it should be called and having absolutely no sympathy for those who cheat in the most utterly cynical and disheartening way?

Let me just get this out of the way again: My beef is with individual players. End of story.
[/b][/quote]

Could call Cross and Webster for being cynical!

Cross taking Byrne out in the air! Webster lead with his head and most of his shoulder only raising his arm late to make sure it looked like a tackle
[/b][/quote]

what Martyn Williams did was cynical, what Webster did was mistimed and Cross was just thick.

 

[durbutter]

Wow the Welsh are defenseive, aren't they?

 

[gingergenius]

Forget about the last 20 minutes because the game was basically over. Till that point, Wales looked like England used to under Woodward... as if they expect to win, not necessarily playing out of their skins but just utterly dominating and making it look easy. It looks ominous for us next week.

Very impressed with Mike Phillips today.

Lee Byrne was world class in the 1st half and sleepy in the 2nd. He should have got binned in the 1st though for shoulder charging players without the ball TWICE in 5 minutes.

For all you lot moaning about Cross, he got a deserved binning for an awful tackle. End of. Webster's hit was excellent... apart from the bit that knocked him out. And Martyn Williams was 50/50 imo, but being as he's a wiley old pro I'd put money on it being intentional... he tried to make it as subtle as possible, which he normally pulls off.

Scotland looked awful. They're very similar to England now... no attacking skill at all, great attacking players available but left out of the side, stupid errors being made... but they're headed for a wooden spoon showdown with Italy.

Their defence and scrum were absolutely shocking.

 

[Buceph]

Scotland were very poor. They had completely the wrong tactics from the very start. I heard on the BBC that someone in the camp said that they were planning on spreading it wide from the start of the game, and that looked like what they were planning, and would have done had the handling been up to scratch. But it was never going to work against the Welsh midfield. They just blitzed up the centre whenever Scotland had the ball, and there's no way to throw the ball out fast enough to counter it. When Scotland started to play through their back row it seemed to work a little better, they were tying up some of the Welsh defence and when they did throw it out wide there were little gaps appearing. But apart from that the Scottish performance was shocking, far too many simple mistakes, mainly bad hands.

Wales were somewhat impressive. If they really wanted to make a mark they wouldn't have backed off for the last twenty minutes. And I thought Shanklin had a very poor game. He always seemed to take the wrong option, especially as Wales had numbers outside for most of the match. He kept on trying to bash it up the middle rather than drawing the tackle and passing it out to the numbers they had. There were moments of great individual play from the Welsh, but they didn't seem to have the cohesion they played with in the Autumn internationals. It looked like a lot of individual play rather than a team effort. I though Stephen Jones had a poor game, not to mention his kicking. He couldn't seem to weight the pass out to the oncoming runners, and it was only a couple of mistakes from Scottish players that let them in. Although there was one great try in the first half, it again came from rescuing a Shanklin bad effort.

I think Wales are going to have to buck up a bit if they want to beat France or dare I say Ireland. But it's going to be tight in the top three, France, Ireland or Wales could win it. And it's going to be tight in the bottom three as well. England, Scotland or Italy could all get the Wooden Spoon.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Where the hell is Jason White's trademark huge hits these days, he used to have a few every game, now hes totally invisible. The intensity in defensive tackling is invisible, Wales must have had 80% gainline success. This was a big step back from the Springboks game.