[2024 Six Nations] Wales vs Italy - 16/03/24

[dirty harry]

Concur - I'd be looking at the contribution of Tompkins first.

Someone else on here put it very well in a prior game - Tompkins introduces chaos and confusion to his own team. It really stood out for me today.

I agree with this 100%, as anyone on here will tell you I believe Tompkins is chaotic and he is a wild presence!!!!

However, today, when you consider Costello missed 80% of his tackles, and went missing in attack Tompkins had to attack AND defend at both 10 and 12... I feel for him!

 

[Welsh Exile]

But was I wrong? Beard had a decent 30 mins, but after that looked poor...

Not really, he was poor.

Beard was pretty bad. That neck roll not only killed our momentum but they scored straight from it as well. He's just a waste of a squad place at the minute.

Not that it will ever happen but I'd get rid of Gatland but I never wanted him on a long term deal anyway.

 

[Which Tyler]

'Berating'?

Are you sure?

Yes.

I'd suggest listening again when you're less emotional.

 

[dirty harry]

Not really, he was poor.

Beard was pretty bad. That neck roll not only killed our momentum but they scored straight from it as well. He's just a waste of a squad place at the minute.

Not that it will ever happen but I'd get rid of Gatland but I never wanted him on a long term deal anyway.

Maybe you know what...

I agree with you, Gatland has to go! There is no point playing a tactical game without the players, Costelow was embarrassing, and played 70 mins.

As I said before, our kicking game is a problem, who TF taught Tomos to box kick long up the middle without a chaser?!?!?!
Costelow missed touch, kicked poorly, and vanished off the face of the planet under pressure, yet somehow stayed on the park.

Beardade 2 mistakes but at least was taken off, and Rowlands came on and made 2 mistakes also lol

 

[spursindevon]

Can Wales be replaced by Georgia ?

 

[dirty harry]

Can Wales be replaced by Georgia ?

As a welshman I would argue for that based on this years performance

 

[Verde-Rubro]

Imagine if the six nations had relegation that would've been something

 

[AlRums]

Maybe you know what...

I agree with you, Gatland has to go! There is no point playing a tactical game without the players, Costelow was embarrassing, and played 70 mins.

As I said before, our kicking game is a problem, who TF taught Tomos to box kick long up the middle without a chaser?!?!?!
Costelow missed touch, kicked poorly, and vanished off the face of the planet under pressure, yet somehow stayed on the park.

Beardade 2 mistakes but at least was taken off, and Rowlands came on and made 2 mistakes also lol

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68585149

Gatland has already offered to resign and has been turned down

 

[Jimbo]

I'm always wrong lol, can you say the same?

I can happily agree your always wrong

 

[AlRums]

Italy now deservedly up to 8th in the world rankings for their last two matches

 

[spursindevon]

As a welshman I would argue for that based on this years performance

I was only joking, more a dig at those who said Italy should be thrown out. Rugby is a minority sport in Italy, but they are growing sustainable foundations. I look forward to them beating England soon.

 

[Reiser99]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68585149

Gatland has already offered to resign and has been turned down

Warburton saying in the analysis that Wales need to find athletes, Jiffy saying they need more power. Issue is, where is it going to come from? Reality is that Gatland was scraping the barrel this time and Welsh rugby isn't exactly in a great state to produce better players.

 

[Which Tyler]

Italy now deservedly up to 8th in the world rankings for their last two matches

Proof that Lynagh took the hardest international route available to him (once he's given up on England)

 

[dirty harry]

Warburton saying in the analysis that Wales need to find athletes, Jiffy saying they need more power. Issue is, where is it going to come from? Reality is that Gatland was scraping the barrel this time and Welsh rugby isn't exactly in a great state to produce better players.

We dont scout and employ foreign born players like Scotland and Ireland do, but we also arent as underpowered as people say.

What we are is lacking a few specialists, especially at 10.

 

[dullonien]

That was your full backs fault. Always let the man running on to the ball to take it

A little late replying, but this is what's supposed to happen in that situation, learn't this in school ffs:

Player coming onto the ball needs to communicate (Costellow) as they have the best view. Guy retreating (Winnett) isn't always aa aware of those around him, so can't by the one expected to make the call.

 

[dirty harry]

A little late replying, but this is what's supposed to happen in that situation, learn't this in school ffs:

Player coming onto the ball needs to communicate (Costellow) as they have the best view. Guy retreating (Winnett) isn't always aa aware of those around him, so can't by the one expected to make the call.

Especially when it's a deep ball in your 22, and it's youryoung FB

 

[dullonien]

Srum didnt do terribly against the monster French pack, whats hapenned?

We got reffed properly. Last week Dickson decided not to ref the scrum for some reason. Make no bones about it though, we were onliterated at almoat every scrum v France

 

[Amiga500]

We dont scout and employ foreign born players like Scotland and Ireland do, but we also arent as underpowered as people say.

What we are is lacking a few specialists, especially at 10.

It's just the quality of project player you can attract for an annual wage of 4 mars bars, a multipack of space raiders and a 2nd hand tom jones cd isn't very good.

 

[dullonien]

Grady for Tompkins has been the right call. Finally Mason getting a run at centre and not the wing.

After his initial 2 mistakes, Grady had a big impact on the game. Carried well, fot on the outside and put his body on the line. Tompkins was gash this tournament, we need a 12 who can kick and distribute to assist our rather poor options at 10 - so a change in the 25 cap rule and Hawkins.

 

[dullonien]

So. Deserved wooden spoon, and honestly, but for a few decent 20min. spells in a few games, we could have easily been smashed in every game. We barely deserved a point v Italy, let alone making the scoreboard look close at the end.

It was obvious that Gats didn't trust most of his bench, so why pick them then? The game was over as a contest before the front row and Costelow got subbed!

Gats was the right choice to take over from Pivac at short notice before the WC. Is he the right choice to take us forward? Not imo. His CV since ending his first stint (if you can call his long reign a stint) with Wales has been bloody terrible. The Lions played a similar slow paced, one dimensional gameplan v SA under him, and he can't blame inexperience there. Chiefs couldn't win a game with him in charge. 2 terrible 6N campaigns. But he beat the worst Aus side in living memory and was prob lucky to beat Fiji, so he's still the messia? Nah.

Bin him and most of the coaches, except the WRU prob can't afford to after handing him a long contract!

I accept that we are lacking quality players as well, and it can't all be pinned on Gats to be fair. But his selections and substitutions are baffling, and we look so rudderless and lacking in shape - and for me that's on Gats and the rest of the coaches.

Enough from me. I'll let @Welsh Exile post his multi-paragraph rant he promised us all!