Wales v Fiji

[cyRil]

Nor me.

 

[dullonien]

Wtf was that? Seriously every time be play an islander team we play the exact same ******* game!!!! Bugger up the lineout, don't contest the rucks and finally make mistakes every two second and shovell the ball back to people in worse positions.

I feel very sorry after this game for Richie Rees, Dan Biggar and Andrew Bishop as the forwards just didn't do any work today to lay them any kind of platform, and yet they're the ones that will take the cop! Can somebody please shoot Huw Bennett as Gatland obviously doesn't see his downfalls! How many bloody lineouts did he cock up today, not to mention loosing the ball from a driving maul.

The pack in general today were **** to use Cyril's language. They went ok in the scrum, and that's all, wtf is Adam Jones doing passing the ball to no-one in our own half! Lydiate was the only one who stood up to be counted, yet he played his usual blindside role which really isn't what's needed at 7. Jon Thomas had an ok game too, one of the only ones willing to make some yards.

Not gonna critisise the backs too much, as the buck stops with the pack after this rubbish performance. Where the hell was Ryan Jones' captaincy? Serious questions need to be asked about his overall gameplay and his ability to get the best out of his players. Ospreys play a similar frustrating error strewn game much of the time.

Arrrrrggggg, sometimes I wish I didn't have to support such an infuriating team! Last weeks performance was very good, even if the result didn't come, this week was a shambles, and so much for gaining the initiative for the world cup. At this rate I'll agree with some others that Wales won't make it out of the bloody group stages.

 

[Draggs]

Shite.

 

[cyRil]

I want to hear what that ******* bullshitting Kiwi prick has got to say for himself.

 

[iWin]

George North, James Hook and Dan Lydiate should come out of that with their heads high, for a given value of height. Apart from them, Wales should be ashamed of their performances.

On a not unrelated note - if Byrne starts against the All Blacks, Gatland is going to have to talk very quickly indeed to persuade me he isn't mentally deficient. You cannot butcher a try like that at international level and retain your place, especially if you don't do anything else noteworthy in a match against what should be a lower quality side.

EDIT - Oh yeah, and Thomas made less impact on his "runs" than Rees did, tackled worse than Rees and got turned over more. And Rees had a shocker. Rees for No. 8 next week anyone?

 

[Draggs]

I want to hear what that ******* bullshitting Kiwi prick has got to say for himself.

It was a ******* awful selection, but when it comes down to it, Gatland didn't play like shite like three quarters of the team.

Are we done with Ryan, Biggar, HT, Deiniol, Gough?

Adam proved what an asset he was, and Lydiate looks promising even out of position.

 

[dullonien]

The players who took the field today have also gotta appologise to Faletau for ruining his chance at getting his debut. To be fair with him, there was no-way Gatland was gonna risk giving him his first cap is such a close game, even though he would have probably played better than those on the field.

Cyril, to be fair with Gatland, you can't blame him for the performances of most on that field. The only thing I can blame him for was not chucking Bennett in front of a lorry. He made the decision early to bing Phillips, Jones, Davies and Shanklin on which helped somewhat. The players have all gotta take a good hard look at themselves and realise it's their fault we couldn't win today.

btw, Gough is officially finished on the international stage. I didn't see him do bugger all, in a game he used to excell in. He used to by the physical presence who put in the big hits, today he was nowhere. Deiniol Jones was no better, last time either of them feature in a Welsh squad hopefully.

 

[cyRil]

I get it that it wasn't Gatland on the field, but he is the one selecting the likes of Bennett and Deiniol, who are total ****.
And he is also the one who keeps coming out with this 'getting closer' and 'just the small things' crap.
It winds me up somewhat.

 

[Draggs]

I am just pleased that Faletau won't have that result to his name.
What I would give for Gareth Delve to come back here...

The players who took the field today have also gotta appologise to Faletau for ruining his chance at getting his debut. To be fair with him, there was no-way Gatland was gonna risk giving him his first cap is such a close game, even though he would have probably played better than those on the field.

Cyril, to be fair with Gatland, you can't blame him for the performances of most on that field. The only thing I can blame him for was not chucking Bennett in front of a lorry. He made the decision early to bing Phillips, Jones, Davies and Shanklin on which helped somewhat. The players have all gotta take a good hard look at themselves and realise it's their fault we couldn't win today.

btw, Gough is officially finished on the international stage. I didn't see him do bugger all, in a game he used to excell in. He used to by the physical presence who put in the big hits, today he was nowhere. Deiniol Jones was no better, last time either of them feature in a Welsh squad hopefully.

 

[dullonien]

Yeh, he has to take a bit of cop for selecting those two, but the rest of the team was decent. That team was good enough to beat that Fijian team by some distance, remembering that it wasn't even the strongest Fijian side out there tonight.

Every player played poorly, hell even Lydiate made some mistakes, such as a couple of knock ons etc. Gatland wouldn't have prepared a gameplan that included sendign isolated runners towards them, knocking the ball on constantly, players running across the pitch instead of straight, and Lee Byrne just handing them possetion every time he got the ball. Last week, we showed how we can play with a performance that included few mistakes, aggression up front and skills behind. None of that was on show today, and I will blame the players for most of it.

However, Gatland has got to wake up and realise that 3-5 of the squad simply aren't good enough! I wouldn't have Bennett, Gough, Deiniol Jones or Biggar in my squad for the 6 nations. Also, please come back soon Jamie Roberts, we really are missing the physicallity you offer, neither Bishop or Shanklin could stand up to the physicallity the Fijian centres bought, I would have no boubt Roberts would have. Not looking forward to Sonny Bill Williams next week.

 

[cyRil]

Vulivuli was easily the MOTM for me.
Dull, you say Gatland wouldn't have prepared a gameplan that sent isolated runners towards them - that's how Wales have played for aslong as I've been watching rugby...

 

[dullonien]

Good point Cyril......

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wasn't expecting that result!
Will watch this on the old iPlayer tomorrow morning, but sounds like I made the right choice in going to see Harry Potter tonight :lol:

(Yeah, i went to see harry potter, big whoop, wanna fight about it?

)

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Wasn't expecting that result!
Will watch this on the old iPlayer tomorrow morning, but sounds like I made the right choice in going to see Harry Potter tonight :lol:

(Yeah, i went to see harry potter, big whoop, wanna fight about it?

)

What was it like?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What was it like?

Quality, even my girlfriend liked it and she hates Harry Potter

 

[cyRil]

Quality, even my girlfriend liked it and she hates Harry Potter

Yeah but you made her go with the promise of numerous sexual favours in recompense, so of course she liked it!!

 

[TrueSlawter]

Wales starting team was poor, subs made a difference.. but still a bad result overall. as for rating them with England, Ireland and france did you not rate england a few years back then? you know when they had a poor patch back in 05 and 06 and then the first AI's Martin johnson managed?

Teams go through good and bad stages, hopefully we'll break the bad form in the 6 nations ready for the world cup.. this time hopefully getting in the quaters oh and really the past 2 games Wales haven't preformed too bad, just poor finishing. Aus was a close game, SA was even closer with a dodgy ref, this game was close but shouldn't have been to be honest.. Next week hopefully will be another close one, but with the ammount of injuries now our squad wont be full strength personally, what we have is good but its not the best we have lets face it.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Yeah but you made her go with the promise of numerous sexual favours in recompense, so of course she liked it!!

He's online now. She mustn't have liked it that much.

 

[dullonien]

Right, calmed down a little, just wanted to give some player ratings:

01 Paul James. 5. Scrummaged well, and put in two big tackles in the second half. Nothing else of note, he's a mile behind Gethin.
02 Huw Bennett. 1. He picks up a one for trying to carry some ball. Lineout terrible as always. Gatland, there is Hibbard, Owens and T. Rhys Thomas waiting for some chances!
03 Adam Jones. 7. Excellent scrummaging again today. But he was poor in most other aspects. Don't offload the bloody ball no no-one!
04 Ian Gough. 0. Seriously, I don't think I can even give him a point. Nowhere to be seen, past it!
05 Deiniol Jones. 0. Rubbish! Everyone knew it but the Welsh management it seems.
06 Ryan Jones. 5. Made a few decent carries, but gave away the final penalty and passed on an impossible ball to North. Where was his leadership?
07 Dan Lydiate. 8. How many big tackles did he put in? Great in open play aswell. Made a couple of errors though.
08 Jonathan Thomas. 5. Not an 8. We were lucky to get the penalty try in the end, considering I thought he'd lost control of the ball! What the hell was that pass down from the lineout to Rees in the lead up to Fiji's try? Did put himself forward to carry ball, although wasn't all that effective at it.

09 Richie Rees. 4. Had to deal with poor ball, and had no protection. However ran across field on numerous occasions, and passed on poor ball to outside backs instead of going back to the forwards. Should feel a little hard done by though.
10 Dan Biggar. 4. Similar to Rees, was constantly handed poor ball and expected to get his backline moving. Stood to deep all night though, looked scared of the Fijians!
11 Aled Brew. 5. Not much chance in space to be fair. One of the few backs who stood up physically, but still came off second best most of the time.
12 Andrew Bishop. 4. Again, similar to Rees and Biggar, backfoot fall to deal with. Struggled physically for one of the first times I've seen. Lucky not to give away an interception.
13 James Hook. 6. Showed his good and bad aspects today. Some nice little breaks, and a couple of nice rips. At least two offloads just thrown anywhere though, just handing possetion back to Fiji. Missed tackle for Fiji try not good.
14 George North. 8. Did very little wrong. Started strongly and showed his physical side throughout. Needs to learn to stay in-field if he's not gonna make it on the outside, he's got the physicallity to do so.
15 Lee Byrne. 3. His kicking today was again attrocious, but it seems to be the first thing he thinks of doing! Missed touch once from a penalty, and was lucky his miss-que made it to touch. ran across field all night cutting out space for North. Probably should have passed it before the Welsh penalty try came. Also, wtf was he doing when he just jumped into touch from a Fiji kick?

All the subs played quite well. So I'll give them all a 7. Phillips showed more physicallity in the 30mins he was on the pitch than all the forwards combined!

 

[Melhor Time]

Right, calmed down a little, just wanted to give some player ratings:

01 Paul James. 5. Scrummaged well, and put in two big tackles in the second half. Nothing else of note, he's a mile behind Gethin.
02 Huw Bennett. 1. He picks up a one for trying to carry some ball. Lineout terrible as always. Gatland, there is Hibbard, Owens and T. Rhys Thomas waiting for some chances!
03 Adam Jones. 7. Excellent scrummaging again today. But he was poor in most other aspects. Don't offload the bloody ball no no-one!
04 Ian Gough. 0. Seriously, I don't think I can even give him a point. Nowhere to be seen, past it!
05 Deiniol Jones. 0. Rubbish! Everyone knew it but the Welsh management it seems.
06 Ryan Jones. 5. Made a few decent carries, but gave away the final penalty and passed on an impossible ball to North. Where was his leadership?
07 Dan Lydiate. 8. How many big tackles did he put in? Great in open play aswell. Made a couple of errors though.
08 Jonathan Thomas. 5. Not an 8. We were lucky to get the penalty try in the end, considering I thought he'd lost control of the ball! What the hell was that pass down from the lineout to Rees in the lead up to Fiji's try? Did put himself forward to carry ball, although wasn't all that effective at it.

09 Richie Rees. 4. Had to deal with poor ball, and had no protection. However ran across field on numerous occasions, and passed on poor ball to outside backs instead of going back to the forwards. Should feel a little hard done by though.
10 Dan Biggar. 4. Similar to Rees, was constantly handed poor ball and expected to get his backline moving. Stood to deep all night though, looked scared of the Fijians!
11 Aled Brew. 5. Not much chance in space to be fair. One of the few backs who stood up physically, but still came off second best most of the time.
12 Andrew Bishop. 4. Again, similar to Rees and Biggar, backfoot fall to deal with. Struggled physically for one of the first times I've seen. Lucky not to give away an interception.
13 James Hook. 6. Showed his good and bad aspects today. Some nice little breaks, and a couple of nice rips. At least two offloads just thrown anywhere though, just handing possetion back to Fiji. Missed tackle for Fiji try not good.
14 George North. 8. Did very little wrong. Started strongly and showed his physical side throughout. Needs to learn to stay in-field if he's not gonna make it on the outside, he's got the physicallity to do so.
15 Lee Byrne. 3. His kicking today was again attrocious, but it seems to be the first thing he thinks of doing! Missed touch once from a penalty, and was lucky his miss-que made it to touch. ran across field all night cutting out space for North. Probably should have passed it before the Welsh penalty try came. Also, wtf was he doing when he just jumped into touch from a Fiji kick?

All the subs played quite well. So I'll give them all a 7. Phillips showed more physicallity in the 30mins he was on the pitch than all the forwards combined!

Thanks for the detailed breakdown. My analysis is: amazing. Time for Wales to stop playing around a pick a consistant team. If Fiji defeat Italy they may overtake Wales in World Rankings! Really, these games are not practice runs. It is a rehearsal ahead of New Zealand 2011. Wales cannot field weakend teams. Now Wales face a winless november - their first ever unless they can defeat New Zealand.

Wales are victims of their own arrogance. Fiji fielded a team of elite backs with all playing in France and England and Goneva being the only one not for a top club. Wales put out their second choice guys and they couldnt score a try.

15 Josh Matavesi (Exeter, England)
14 Michael Tagicakibau (Saracens, England)
13 Albert Vulivuli (Racing Metro, France)
12 Gabirieli Lovobalavu (Toulon, France)
11 Vereniki Goneva (Colomiers, France)
10 Seremaia Bai (Castres, France)

If Wales want to try players then go play Portugal, Romania or the USA not Fiji.
Poor coaching. Rotating players or whatever if not clever vs good opponents. New Zealand can do so, Wales cant and when will they learn? Was the 1 point win last time around vs Fiji in 2006 not sufficient warning? What about the loss at in Nantes in a certain tournament in 2007?

No tries for Wales today, just a penalty try. Enlighten me, please. How on earth could it have come to this in Cardiff with a closed roof?

Wales were lucky the ref was poor. No clue what constitutes off side at rucks with Wales never behind the last feet. Fair game to the Welsh. They were losing and felt the pressure. But, thats what referees exist for!

- Dan Lydiate?
- Aled Brew?
- Andrew Bishop?
- Deiniol Jones?
- Ian Gough? - still there? Wow!
- Paul James?