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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 3: Scotland vs Wales (25/02/2017)
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<blockquote data-quote="Ospreylian" data-source="post: 840667" data-attributes="member: 59055"><p>I know I'm late, but I thought I'd have my say on the game and the state of Wales right now. </p><p></p><p>Huge congratulations to Scotland, the victory was thoroughly deserved and to be quite honest left me at a loss for words towards the end of the game. To go from a team that hasn't been taken seriously since the inception of the 6 Nations to beating Ireland and putting 20 unanswered second-half points on Wales to back that up is fantastic, not just for Scotland but for the sport in general. I think future Six Nations will hugely benefit from all of this. Scotland finally have some real star players, and I'd say (aside from Hogg who is an obvious starter) they have some serious Lions contenders in Seymour, Jones, Russell, Laidlaw, Strauss, Jonny Gray and Barclay (among others). </p><p></p><p>I don't know what to make of Wales anymore. Although the final 10 minutes against England were utterly deflating, I felt like things were finally piecing together again. The Scotland game just sent Wales spiralling down again and reverting to old form, old tactics and old attitudes. It's a pattern that seems to be repeating itself far too often these days. Our attack is yet again far too predictable, the substitutions are forced and don't make sense within the context of the game, we have players who just aren't holding up in defence and we have no set piece to speak of. </p><p></p><p>It's a frustrating place to be right now as a Wales fan. I look at the team on paper and think that this group of players are capable of so much more. Sure, there are players who just aren't on form right now, but the core of the squad has so much potential that just isn't being reached right now. </p><p></p><p>At this point, I couldn't give a damn where Wales end up in the table nor do I care where they end up in the world rankings by the end. All I want to see is some rugby. I want to see at the very least an attempt to rectify the problems that have blighted us for a good few years now. The Ireland and France games are a shot to nothing, so why can't we use them as a means to give the unlucky ignored players a chance? Howley and the rest of the coaches will want to play for pride now and to save face. I can understand that to some degree. But if we are to have any chance at competing in the 2019 World Cup change needs to set in motion from the next kick-off. </p><p></p><p>So, here is the team I would love to see against Ireland (but has not a chance of becoming reality):</p><p></p><p>1. Rob Evans</p><p>2. Kristian Dacey</p><p>3. Tomas Francis</p><p>4. Rory Thornton/James King</p><p>5. AWJ</p><p>6. Olly Cracknell</p><p>7. Justin Tipuric</p><p>8. Ross Moriarty</p><p></p><p>9. Rhys Webb</p><p>10. Sam Davies</p><p>11. Steff Evans</p><p>12. Ashley Beck</p><p>13. Scott Williams/ J Davies</p><p>14. Leigh Halfpenny/Ashton Hewitt</p><p>15. Liam Williams</p><p></p><p>Bench: N Smith, Owens, S Lee, Ball, Warburton/Faletau, Aled Davies, O Williams, North</p><p></p><p>I know Beck isn't in the squad, but I feel he desperately needs to be brought in. I was perplexed we wasn't included in the first place, as he is arguably the form centre in Wales right now. He is one of those players who just seems to be constantly overlooked regardless of form. I would have Owen Williams on the bench; there is no point in having players like him in the squad if they are never going to get a chance with Wales. We know what Biggar is capable of, but we need to show that we have the depth in every position that is vital to competing with the best teams in the world. The core of the team is fairly familiar, but newer and more in-form players desperately need to be integrated. What better moment to try it out than in two matches in which we have nothing to lose?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ospreylian, post: 840667, member: 59055"] I know I'm late, but I thought I'd have my say on the game and the state of Wales right now. Huge congratulations to Scotland, the victory was thoroughly deserved and to be quite honest left me at a loss for words towards the end of the game. To go from a team that hasn't been taken seriously since the inception of the 6 Nations to beating Ireland and putting 20 unanswered second-half points on Wales to back that up is fantastic, not just for Scotland but for the sport in general. I think future Six Nations will hugely benefit from all of this. Scotland finally have some real star players, and I'd say (aside from Hogg who is an obvious starter) they have some serious Lions contenders in Seymour, Jones, Russell, Laidlaw, Strauss, Jonny Gray and Barclay (among others). I don't know what to make of Wales anymore. Although the final 10 minutes against England were utterly deflating, I felt like things were finally piecing together again. The Scotland game just sent Wales spiralling down again and reverting to old form, old tactics and old attitudes. It's a pattern that seems to be repeating itself far too often these days. Our attack is yet again far too predictable, the substitutions are forced and don't make sense within the context of the game, we have players who just aren't holding up in defence and we have no set piece to speak of. It's a frustrating place to be right now as a Wales fan. I look at the team on paper and think that this group of players are capable of so much more. Sure, there are players who just aren't on form right now, but the core of the squad has so much potential that just isn't being reached right now. At this point, I couldn't give a damn where Wales end up in the table nor do I care where they end up in the world rankings by the end. All I want to see is some rugby. I want to see at the very least an attempt to rectify the problems that have blighted us for a good few years now. The Ireland and France games are a shot to nothing, so why can't we use them as a means to give the unlucky ignored players a chance? Howley and the rest of the coaches will want to play for pride now and to save face. I can understand that to some degree. But if we are to have any chance at competing in the 2019 World Cup change needs to set in motion from the next kick-off. So, here is the team I would love to see against Ireland (but has not a chance of becoming reality): 1. Rob Evans 2. Kristian Dacey 3. Tomas Francis 4. Rory Thornton/James King 5. AWJ 6. Olly Cracknell 7. Justin Tipuric 8. Ross Moriarty 9. Rhys Webb 10. Sam Davies 11. Steff Evans 12. Ashley Beck 13. Scott Williams/ J Davies 14. Leigh Halfpenny/Ashton Hewitt 15. Liam Williams Bench: N Smith, Owens, S Lee, Ball, Warburton/Faletau, Aled Davies, O Williams, North I know Beck isn't in the squad, but I feel he desperately needs to be brought in. I was perplexed we wasn't included in the first place, as he is arguably the form centre in Wales right now. He is one of those players who just seems to be constantly overlooked regardless of form. I would have Owen Williams on the bench; there is no point in having players like him in the squad if they are never going to get a chance with Wales. We know what Biggar is capable of, but we need to show that we have the depth in every position that is vital to competing with the best teams in the world. The core of the team is fairly familiar, but newer and more in-form players desperately need to be integrated. What better moment to try it out than in two matches in which we have nothing to lose? [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 3: Scotland vs Wales (25/02/2017)
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