Wales v Australia

[TRF_Olyy]

Just saw that Lee Byrne is expected to be back for this weekend, so that could sort that out

 

[Draggs]

We've gotta take some positives out of the game though. For once our backrow stood up at the ruck against one of the top sides, that's a majour breakthrough imo, as we've struggled there for a long time. Lineout also went well when Rees was on the field, another archillies heel in the past. Backline obviously needs some work, and it's about time Gatland started concentrating on this aspect of our game, our fitness, strength and forward play is there, now we need the Welsh creativite back!

For next week I want this backline:

09 Richie Rees
10 Stephen Jones
11 Shane Williams
12 James Hook
13 Andrew Bishop
14 Aled Brew
15 Chris Czekaj

Agreed with everything except 14 and 15. Will has done nothing to get dropped, as the wings hardly got the ball. He arguably did more than Shane. Byrne might be back, so he would take 15.
Rees was solid, and definitely should start against Fiji, perhaps SA.

You got the WC backline 100%, IMHO, except switch Henson and Roberts (Roberts is a better 12 than 13 and Henson provides the pace needed at OC)

 

[dullonien]

Having Byrne back would be a massive boost for our chances on Sat. However we have to develop a replacement, and Hook is not that man. If Byrne is ok for sat, then by all means play him, but I think Czekaj or Prydie should be given a go at 15 against Fiji. Then I want to see further development of a replacement during the 6 nations against Italy and possibly Scotland. There are replacements for most other positions, even if it's Paul James at tight head behind Adam Jones. We have no-one to cover Byrne without destroying our midfield in the process! How is that a good idea?

Draggs, Will Harries wasn't terrible, but he wasn't all that good either. He fell off tackles at an alarming rate, and was lucky none of them led directly to a try or two. Shane Williams was worse then him yesterday, but he has experience on his side, and everyone knows he's world class on his day. I'm not atall against giving Harries another try, but Brew and North are also deserving of having a go aswell.

 

[TVH11]

Watching scrum v now, and its soooo depressing watching wales not pass any balls past the centres. Off good set piece which were mostly the srums (line outs were quite shaky per usual) the ball didn't really go past channel 1/2. Obviously the highlights don't show everything but its just so frustrating not seeing "attacking" rugby from a side thats capable of it. Wales play best when theres a creative centre (to my knowledge normally inside), so next week Hook must come into the centre. Agree with what people have said for next weeks back line. Czekaj for fullback, Hook to Centre. Just seen Byrne is possibly back, good thing but tbh (i'm an ospreys supporter) he hasn't been playing his usual lately... From what i gather Czekaj been playing well for Blues so i guess it depends if we go on form or repetition (cue arguments lol)
Richie Rees did great when he came on, and some will argue that he should start. I guess its up to what style of rugby wales will want to play..... Rees has faster distribution (doesn't take one step and then pass from scrums/rucks etc). I'm sure Gatland will make one or two changes (well we hope he does anyways)

 

[Duckdee]

Whereas when you have commentators doing a match that is a TV audience (At a guess) 70% Welsh and 30% Australian, there needs to be a relative balance.

Are there that many back-packers over here?

 

[Shaggy]

But... no-body did care? :huh:
:lol:

I think because the Australian commentators are aimed more towards an Australian market, they can afford to be more biased. They are paid as entertainers too, remember. Also, they are on a cable network, and aren't really aiming for people that pick up the feed on the net overseas or at a pub in Europe.
Whereas when you have commentators doing a match that is a TV audience (At a guess) 70% Welsh and 30% Australian, there needs to be a relative balance.

HAHA ... Really?, why aren't they aiming to cater to the overseas market that they've sold the feed to ... I'd also point out that there are a large number of ex-pat Kiwis, English etc are working in Oz, and I would suggest that those people probably make up a significant percentage of the Rugby watching public ... i don't think the free to air commentators in Oz are any less biased than the cable commentators to be honest

... As I said before, all commentators are biased to a certain degree, it's just a bit rich to point out bias from another nations commentators, when you're prepared to accept it/justify it from your own.

 

[Haysie]

HAHA ... Really?, why aren't they aiming to cater to the overseas market that they've sold the feed to ... I'd also point out that there are a large number of ex-pat Kiwis, English etc are working in Oz, and I would suggest that those people probably make up a significant percentage of the Rugby watching public ... i don't think the free to air commentators in Oz are any less biased than the cable commentators to be honest

... As I said before, all commentators are biased to a certain degree, it's just a bit rich to point out bias from another nations commentators, when you're prepared to accept it/justify it from your own.

Then those ex-pats can suck it up, because it's an Australian game they're watching from inside Australia at an Australian venue or home. Therefore Australian commentators, again entertainers are within their rights to do whatever they want.
It's a completely different scenario in the Wales - Aust game because we're receiving free-to-air footage and commentary from outside the country. Thus a fair compromise needs to be met because as I've already said the entire viewing audience is probably consisting of 70% Wales television sets and 30% Australian telelvision sets. If Australians are getting frustrated at the commentary and cringing every time Jonathan Davies says something then it's a pretty clear indication that something's wrong. I thought the Scottish fellow was ok though.

I also said that actually, that all commentators were biased to a certain degree and that's part of the game. Don't know if you read that, but it's there.

I can't vouch for the free-to-air Channel 7/10 Commentary team (Whatever it is now) because I've only watched the last two matches of theirs. What I can say though is that the Fox Sports commentary team is fairly even with their praise of teams and players, particularly so during the Super 14, and during international matches they are fiercely nationalist.

When a game is broadcast overseas, eg. Australia vs. Ireland in England, what commentary do they receive?
Because I've watched games with Australian commentary then been shown youtube videos by the fanbase here which have the same video but with NZ commentary... it's quite funny.

 

[drewprint]

When Australian commentators say something stupid, I have a go at them too. A bit of bias is totally acceptable, but when one of them drops a horribly ignorant, one-eyed comment, I practically physically cringe. It's embarrassing.

That Welsh guy is quite clearly an absolute idiot. If I were Welsh, I'd be horrified.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

When Australian commentators say something stupid, I have a go at them too. A bit of bias is totally acceptable, but when one of them drops a horribly ignorant, one-eyed comment, I practically physically cringe. It's embarrassing.

That Welsh guy is quite clearly an absolute idiot. If I were Welsh, I'd be horrified.

Sorry your 4 post into your 'stint' here and you say you have a go at them ... you really have not.

Sorry and to call Jiffy an idiot im sorry not going to tolerate easily, he's biased yes, and I clearly remember none of the Oz commentators last week mentioning anything about Coopers cheap shot at McCaw ... personally I find it a smack of double standards and if all people can do is moan and complain about the commentary then sorry get a life and do something else. Its complete and utter rubbish to defend it because its not free to air or what you have not, thats not a reasonable excuse, game is still broadcasted world wide, I enjoy their comments but they are just as biased as Jiffy, Brian Moore and Stu Barnes are worse, Jiffy is entitled to his opinion, and yes the Oz scrum was poor, and the Welsh defence was pretty good and thats why Cooper kicked so much ball, I cant see whats wrong with that. How about putting the game on mute and offer your own commentary? How does commentary affect the game ... someone please explain (and stupid ones will be ignored!)

 

[drewprint]

Sorry your 4 post into your 'stint' here and you say you have a go at them ... you really have not.

Sorry and to call Jiffy an idiot im sorry not going to tolerate easily, he's biased yes, and I clearly remember none of the Oz commentators last week mentioning anything about Coopers cheap shot at McCaw ... personally I find it a smack of double standards and if all people can do is moan and complain about the commentary then sorry get a life and do something else. Its complete and utter rubbish to defend it because its not free to air or what you have not, thats not a reasonable excuse, game is still broadcasted world wide, I enjoy their comments but they are just as biased as Jiffy, Brian Moore and Stu Barnes are worse, Jiffy is entitled to his opinion, and yes the Oz scrum was poor, and the Welsh defence was pretty good and thats why Cooper kicked so much ball, I cant see whats wrong with that. How about putting the game on mute and offer your own commentary? How does commentary affect the game ... someone please explain (and stupid ones will be ignored!)

Perhaps I was a touch vague. I wasn't referring to my 'stint' here, but rather when watching the game in real time. If (and when) the Australian commentators say something idiotic, I'm the first to have a go at them there and then. It's something that's done with and amongst my friends and peers, not on rugby forums. Until now.

And as for the Cooper incident from last week - you surely cannot compare that to the Welsh example I provided earlier. Cooper and McCaw were having a running battle throughout the entirety of the match and, whilst I agree that Coopers actions were childish and petulant, they hardly constituted a cheap shot and thus barely warranted an attack from the commentators. They were even handed here, as they barely registered McCaws earlier petulant kick at Coopers legs either.

Cooper was able to execute an excellent kick because the previous Welsh kick was so poor. That's it. Perhaps on other occasions Cooper was forced to kick because of excellent Welsh defense, but not there. It was the direct result of poor Welsh play.

Having said that, I can and do agree with you that the Australian commentators can be extremely biased as well. I just think the example you provided was a poor one.

Of course Jiffy (I'm assuming that's the Welsh commentator I've been referring to) is entitled to his opinion. As am I, and my opinion is that he should be taking a much more professional attitude to his work. He can still keep the personable colour and humour in his delivery, but all the gleeful, one-eyed backslapping really doesn't belong in such a global environment.

Finally, put the game on mute? Listening to the buzz of the stadium atmosphere, yells of the players and roar of the crowd is half the fun.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I just listen to the game again on BBC iPlayer and got to admit he was biased but also was very complimentary towards Australia attacking phases. He was highly critical of the scrum which he was correct to do so, he was correct in his assessment of Cooper's kick but should also have said what a good kick it was.

 

[Shaggy]

Then those ex-pats can suck it up, because it's an Australian game they're watching from inside Australia at an Australian venue or home. Therefore Australian commentators, again entertainers are within their rights to do whatever they want.

Sure ex-pats can (and do), because they are watching a game from within Australia, at an Australia venue, and they've got very little choice, except maybe watch with the sound turn down ... I guess it could be reasonable for me to point out that they are paying the same amount as the Australians for their cable service, that they are a customer too, and that often the team that Australia are playing against, are the team that they follow, and are therefore as much a part of your "Australian game", and are therefore, might expect a bit less biased commentary

... essentially, if Wales (or any other country) call their commentators, entertainers, they are within their rights to do whatever they want too? ... that's cool, because I expect it, you'll notice that I haven't said that NZ commentators are any less biased than anyone else - i've only pointed out that all commentators are biased, and that it's a bit rich for you to be pointing out the bias of the Welsh commentary, while defending your own commentator's right to be biased

It's a completely different scenario in the Wales - Aust game because we're receiving free-to-air footage and commentary from outside the country. Thus a fair compromise needs to be met because as I've already said the entire viewing audience is probably consisting of 70% Wales television sets and 30% Australian telelvision sets. If Australians are getting frustrated at the commentary and cringing every time Jonathan Davies says something then it's a pretty clear indication that something's wrong. I thought the Scottish fellow was ok though.

It's completely irrelevant whether you're getting the feed free to air or paying for it, the point is (like the match's commentated on by Australian commentators) that the rights to these games are sold/televised/viewed by people/customers overseas, and, once again, if it's ok for Aussie (insert any nationality you like here) to be biased, it's ok for the Welch (insert any nationality you like here) to also be biased ... so, perhaps you need to take your own advice that you gave with regard to ex-pat viewers, and suck it up

I also said that actually, that all commentators were biased to a certain degree and that's part of the game. Don't know if you read that, but it's there.

Yes, I've read the whole thread, and yes I've agreed with you about all commentators being biased ... it's the double standard mentioned above that i'm pointing out

I can't vouch for the free-to-air Channel 7/10 Commentary team (Whatever it is now) because I've only watched the last two matches of theirs. What I can say though is that the Fox Sports commentary team is fairly even with their praise of teams and players, particularly so during the Super 14, and during international matches they are fiercely nationalist.

Yes, I agree that they are more nationalistic, like the NZ and SA commentators, when they are commentating on internationals, although, to a certain extent Kearnsy swaps the Wallaby fan attire for the NSW one

When a game is broadcast overseas, eg. Australia vs. Ireland in England, what commentary do they receive?

Because I've watched games with Australian commentary then been shown youtube videos by the fanbase here which have the same video but with NZ commentary... it's quite funny.

Yep, it's the same camera work/production, and you generally get the local commentators, but it varies from game to game

 

[Duckdee]

I just listen to the game again on BBC iPlayer and got to admit he was biased but also was very complimentary towards Australia attacking phases. He was highly critical of the scrum which he was correct to do so, he was correct in his assessment of Cooper's kick but should also have said what a good kick it was.

He also practically orgasmed over Beale's near-try.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

He also practically orgasmed over Beale's near-try.

Yes he did and its slightly worrying :lol:

 

[Wally]

Oh and how about James O'Connor getting booed by the Welsh fans nearly every time he went to take a goal kick. Disgraceful.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Oh and how about James O'Connor getting booed by the Welsh fans nearly every time he went to take a goal kick. Disgraceful.

Ye was crowd should have stayed silent ... but the length of time he took to kick was also pretty poor, a lad by us clocked him one or twice going over the entitled minuets!

 

[Charles]

An interesting video about the Ozzie scrum...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good find that video,
It's mad to see how much has changed (scrumwise) for Australia in just a year!

 

[Shaggy]

Good find that video,
It's mad to see how much has changed (scrumwise) for Australia in just a year!

True - I guess you'll get that when you've only got a five man shove happening ... sure the Aussie loose forwards are quick to the breakdown ... I can see why

 

[cyRil]

Oh and how about James O'Connor getting booed by the Welsh fans nearly every time he went to take a goal kick. Disgraceful.

Yeah, it's odd how Welsh fans are the only people in the world to boo the opposition kickers. Quite shocking.