Wales v England

[TRF_Cymro]

Good to see people already writing Wales off here ...

 

[cyRil]

Who have writed us off? 0_o

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was there really any need?

What's the bet Hartley gets targeted throughout the game to try and rile him up?
Certainly didn't work last year when Wyn-Jones legged him up and we got two tries for it
Disclaimer: I'm not saying Alyn Wyn-Jones specifically targeted Hartley, just saying what happened

 

[cyRil]

Was there really any need?

What's the bet Hartley gets targeted throughout the game to try and rile him up?
Certainly didn't work last year when Wyn-Jones legged him up and we got two tries for it
Disclaimer: I'm not saying Alyn Wyn-Jones specifically targeted Hartley, just saying what happened

Ooooh, yew *****!

 

[munstermuffin]

No Bullitt in build up it will be all about Gatland and Hartley. No player on Welsh is being subjected on Welsh side and i don't think anyone called English nobodies

 

[gingergenius]

hartley will behave like a prick if and when he wants to, regardless of what gatland says. it's not like he needs winding up.

 

[veux]

Should get fined as Venter did by bringing the sport into disrepute. Not really proper to suggest that Hartley should have stepped outside the stadium with Gareth Williams.

 

[coonor]

To be honest as much as I want players and coaches to speak their mind I find it quite sad that Gatland would prefer to speak about his opponents problems then his own team and there situation.

 

[Peat]

Gatland is a second rate wum.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

At Wednesday's launch of the championship, Gatland commented: "I hope the words are going to be used as motivation.

"Do I regret making the comments? No, not at all. We needed to sell a couple of thousand tickets and I am on a basic from the BBC.

"There's always a bit of spice between England and Wales. We will see how Dylan responds."

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6702524,00.html


Nice one Gatters...

 

[Teh Mite]

Good God, for once he's realised he's made a complete *** of himself...

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Ben Kay is backing Worsely to be in the back row for the Wales game, at 6 or 7 depending on whether Fourie is fit. I have nothing against him, and Kay does make a good point that he has never had a really poor game for England, but I had hoped we had got past the days of making selections just to control their threats rather than a player like Haskell, Wood, Dowson who offers more in attack:
http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011/rugby/story/133074.html

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Gah, if Worsely starts he'll just pick and drive and pick and drive and pick and drive
Some of the old heads just can't get their heads around the idea that maybe the ball should be passed out to the backs once in a while

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Johnson responds:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9376817.stm

"Dylan Hartley has been down to Wales in a tough European game, taken what they have thrown at him on the field, produced a winning performance as captain and taken a team into the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup," stated Johnson.

 

[Draggs]

Its just a bit of banter, who cares?

Gatland has hinted at a Jamie Roberts/Jonathan Davies centre pairing. Not much creativity, but certainly a heavy combination.

 

[Conal]

Its just a bit of banter, who cares?

Gatland has hinted at a Jamie Roberts/Jonathan Davies centre pairing. Not much creativity, but certainly a heavy combination.

hook at ten then mabey?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hook'll probably be 21, can't see him having Jones' shirt off of him right off the bat

 

[Draggs]

hook at ten then mabey?

It really wouldn't surprise me if he was.
While he hasn't started at 10 for a while, he is still arguably the best choice.
Stephen Jones' age has been showing and defensively he is getting to be more of a liability, as seen v USAP on Sunday.
At least it won't be Dan Biggar!

 

[dullonien]

The Jon Davies - Jamie Roberts partership showed some very promising signs in the second test v NZ in the Summer. I think it's a bit of a myth that neither are creative, it's just the way they are used when paired alongside the likes of Laulala, King or Hook. Just look at the Scarlets recently, with a midfield of Stephen Jones, Jon Davies and Maul, that doesn't appear very creative, but the Scarlets have been one of the most creative teams in Europe when the backs are supplied decent ball. If Roberts and Davies are told to play what's in front of them, I can't see why they cannot create opportunities with the likes of Shane, Halfpenny and Byrne coming into the midfield to spice things up. Being creative isn't necessarily down to individuals, it's about running lines of three or four players holding defenders and creating space for a specific runner, this is what Wales and the Ospreys need to learn, otherwise we'll continue to rely on Shane Williams to create everything for us.

I'm not sure if Hook will be used as a centre or o/h. I wouldn't be surprised to see a return to the role Jones and Hook played in '08, one starts with the other coming off the bench to change the game. I think Jones will almost certainly start v England with Hook on the bench, with him coming on to replace Jones in the second half when the game will hopefully open up a bit, or coming on to replace Roberts / Davies depending on where he's needed.

 

[Draggs]

The Jon Davies - Jamie Roberts partership showed some very promising signs in the second test v NZ in the Summer. I think it's a bit of a myth that neither are creative, it's just the way they are used when paired alongside the likes of Laulala, King or Hook. Just look at the Scarlets recently, with a midfield of Stephen Jones, Jon Davies and Maul, that doesn't appear very creative, but the Scarlets have been one of the most creative teams in Europe when the backs are supplied decent ball. If Roberts and Davies are told to play what's in front of them, I can't see why they cannot create opportunities with the likes of Shane, Halfpenny and Byrne coming into the midfield to spice things up. Being creative isn't necessarily down to individuals, it's about running lines of three or four players holding defenders and creating space for a specific runner, this is what Wales and the Ospreys need to learn, otherwise we'll continue to rely on Shane Williams to create everything for us.

I'm not sure if Hook will be used as a centre or o/h. I wouldn't be surprised to see a return to the role Jones and Hook played in '08, one starts with the other coming off the bench to change the game. I think Jones will almost certainly start v England with Hook on the bench, with him coming on to replace Jones in the second half when the game will hopefully open up a bit, or coming on to replace Roberts / Davies depending on where he's needed.

Great points about JD/JR. I think someone like Hook would work well with them. Jamie at 12 and Jonathan at 13, I'd imagine. I just hope Foxy has stopped with his grubbers. I can see it now, Roberts and Davies blasting through midfield before putting George North over, leaving half a dozen players on the ground.