Wales v South Africa - 23/11/2024 (17.40)

[Lé Ddanno]

 

[AlRums]

View attachment 21579

Doctor who style

 

[IT157]

At the end of the day this crop of Wales players isn't that good. I don't think a coaching change will have much of an impact.

Maybe if they just pretended they were playing England all the time they could have a few more positive results...

 

[Bluemoon]

At the end of the day this crop of Wales players isn't that good. I don't think a coaching change will have much of an impact.

Maybe if they just pretended they were playing England all the time they could have a few more positive results...

Coaching can have a huge impact on any team/individual performance and there's always the ability to improve. I'm not saying they'll win a WC, but the only way to develop is through a postive environment with the best coaches and development programmes. That's before we even get to tactics and any sort of sports psychology. That group of players all have potential, particularly some of the younger players.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Good piece in the Times today focusing on Winnett.

Lost every game for Wales national team.

Lost every game in the U20s last year

Lost all bar 1 in the u20s the previous year including 3 spankings

Last URC lost 14 of 18.

Basically saying that he and those around him don't know how to win.

I don't think it's a great group of players and there's little depth. Gatland's just proving the never go back adage.

Football's getting more traction and grass roots clubs are being lost by the bucketful. For an outsider looking in the whole scene seems fairly rotten.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Good piece in the Times today focusing on Winnett.

Lost every game for Wales national team.

Lost every game in the U20s last year

Lost all bar 1 in the u20s the previous year including 3 spankings

Last URC lost 14 of 18.

Basically saying that he and those around him don't know how to win.

I don't think it's a great group of players and there's little depth. Gatland's just proving the never go back adage.

Football's getting more traction and grass roots clubs are being lost by the bucketful. For an outsider looking in the whole scene seems fairly rotten.

Crazy for a guy who is one letter off being called "Can win it"

 

[dirty harry]

Good piece in the Times today focusing on Winnett.

Lost every game for Wales national team.

Lost every game in the U20s last year

Lost all bar 1 in the u20s the previous year including 3 spankings

Last URC lost 14 of 18.

Basically saying that he and those around him don't know how to win.

I don't think it's a great group of players and there's little depth. Gatland's just proving the never go back adage.

Football's getting more traction and grass roots clubs are being lost by the bucketful. For an outsider looking in the whole scene seems fairly rotten.

Winnets stats run worse than this...

He has only ever actually won 11 games of rugby since youth, and 7 games since pro (ish).

Winnet has only ever won 3 games not against welsh opposition, 1 (u20s) Ulster and Sharks(I think).

Sadly even worse are his individual stats...

Never made a dominant tackle,
Only makes 18% of tackles post line break,
Retains ball 26% of the time he touches it 26!?!?!?!?!?!
He is the most turned over player in the URC 16!

I get it, he's 21, he's super small, he isn't particularly quick or agile, but he is technically brilliant. In 3 seasons this kid might be top class, IF he isn't ruined by then, the collisions he takes are going to take their toll on him sooner rather than later!

Now let's do Ben Thomas, about to turn 27 tomorrow I think, only played 2 full seasons of pro rugby, and that was a forced decision. He's only ever beaten non Welsh opposition 6/7 times at pro level, at 27?!?!?!

The truth is the player standard is just poor, the welsh squad today isn't that young, 1/3rd is wrong side of 30, the new boys are 23/24 barely playing club level, and the actual youngsters just aren't physically ready for international rugby.

What I will do is credit Roger's effort, I've never rated him but he has shown heart and desire at least, Lewellyn is getting better game on game, (still annoyed Cardiff let him go, he and Grady could have been the future of club and country) and Griffin actually playing rugby is showing something at least.

We desperately need some physicality up from, in every aspect, we need someone who can kick more than 30 yards, or restart because Thomas is awful, and we need some hands in midfield, some size and speed outside...

I genuinely think the potential to get a 3rd place 6N finish is there in 2-3 seasons, but it really does depend how some of these guys are nurtured.

 

[AlRums]

Good piece in the Times today focusing on Winnett.

Lost every game for Wales national team.

Lost every game in the U20s last year

Lost all bar 1 in the u20s the previous year including 3 spankings

Last URC lost 14 of 18.

Basically saying that he and those around him don't know how to win.

I don't think it's a great group of players and there's little depth. Gatland's just proving the never go back adage.

Football's getting more traction and grass roots clubs are being lost by the bucketful. For an outsider looking in the whole scene seems fairly rotten.

When you read just that, you think it quite depressing to be reduced to playing a player like him