EOYT: Wales v Samoa, 16/11/2012

[Maxwell]

Stephen Betham needs to take some credit with a team missing Mahonri Schwalger, Seilala Mapasua, Kane Thompson, Alesana Tuilagi, Anthony Perenise. He was clever to save Tekori & Palo for the 2nd half. Well done.

 

[smartcooky]

Who the hell were those commentators. They were bloody awful and really spoiled it for me; no credit where credit was due, and everything was about how badly Wales played, and not about how Samoa deserved to win. The seven point margin flattered Wales, they actually weren't that good.

This will mean that Wales can't lose any further ranking points if they lose against the AB's next weekend. (mind you, if WE should happen to lose, we'll lose a lot of points).

 

[Draggs]

Who the hell were those commentators. They were bloody awful and really spoiled it for me; no credit where credit was due, and everything was about how badly Wales played, and not about how Samoa deserved to win. The seven point margin flattered Wales, they actually weren't that good.

This will mean that Wales can't lose any further ranking points if they lose against the AB's next weekend. (mind you, if WE should happen to lose, we'll lose a lot of points).

Funniest thing I've seen in ages, the last two weeks worth of rugby included.

We are ****, and I have no clues how it has happened so quickly.
Yes, Samoa and Argentina deserved the wins, but something is seriously wrong in our side. It's like Scott Johnson took over or something.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Funniest thing I've seen in ages, the last two weeks worth of rugby included.

We are ****, and I have no clues how it has happened so quickly.
Yes, Samoa and Argentina deserved the wins, but something is seriously wrong in our side. It's like Scott Johnson took over or something.

He's too busy up in Scotland....who are actually playing some decent rugby, ironically :lol:

 

[Tony Manx]

Congratulations Samoa, thoroughly deserved win.

What the hell has happened? We were bullied to the point of amusement today. Only Jamie Roberts got anywhere close to the physicality the Samoans displayed, and even then he fell off (read got ran over) Fotuali'i (I think) in the build up to Samoa's second try. The breakdown was an absolute mess, couple that with a shambolic scrum and struggling lineout and we had no chance of winning this game, even if Pisi tried his best to give us lifelines by missing countless kicks.

How bad was Ryan Jones? Tipuric blown away, Ian Evans anonymous once again, Jarvis and James missing tackles, Faletau knocking on. We don't have to look at the backs to understand how this game was lost. But Phillips and Priestland managed to compound matters by butchering try scoring opportunities (not that we created them!). We're not creating try scoring opportunities because were getting a pasting in the forwards and in the ruck. How many times did Roberts even touch the ball today?

We are free-fall at the moment. Howley has destroyed this team with a sizeable help from the regions. I feel for the Ospreys because their season is effectively over after losing almost all their big players to some nasty looking injuries. I feel for Hibbard, who was hit high with a shoulder to the face in the first real tackle from Samoa. The incident involving Biggar was disgusting. Rugby is about controlled aggression, and there is a reason why players aren't getting shoulders to the face in every game, even though there is someone in Biggar's position at every ruck. Flying in with a shoulder/arm to the face (even if Biggar is bending forwards) is unacceptable, because it is completely reckless. The choke hold and WWE move on Owens also deserved a yellow, there is no space for it on a rugby pitch. The high tackle on Halfpenny was more unfortunate though, and something which happened from time to time.

I really wish that Samoa would stop with the unnecessarily high shots. They are big enough and powerful enough to hit the player much lower down and still do plenty of damage. They are such a nice team to watch otherwise.

Well done to Halfpenny and Ken Owens. Apart from the slip at the end, which was unfortunate (does he need to look at his studs?) Halfpenny was magnificent. Place kicking was of the highest order (and yet he will be massively disappointed that he missed one from a tight angle) and his high ball takes were superb. He was the only Welsh player to show any kind of cutting edge as well. Ken Owens was the only player to make ground when carrying the ball. Hibbard also showed a lot of heart in his short time on the pitch, despite picking up a shoulder injury straight away he still put in a few good tackles and offered himself as a carrier. Hope his injury isn't too bad.

NZ are going to rape us. Could be a bit of a cripple fight against Aus in two weeks time, in which we'll lose more than likely.



Very well said. Don't think Hook would have made much of a difference, but much better than having Priestland on the bench to butcher opportunities. Introducing Henson now would undo all the work that Lyn Jones and Henson himself has done at LW.

Edit. To think I was looking forward to these AI's? Howley, the players and the regions need to take a good long look at themselves. If the performance isn't much improved next week (not looking for a win, just a performance were I'm not left disgusted) then I may well miss the Aus match entirely (first Wales match I will have missed in my memory). I'm stressed enough with Uni as it is, watching this sh*te isn't helping!

Said it all for me.....but just to emphasise.....Ryan Jones was a one man penalty machine as he must have given 6/7 himself.....Halfpenny was billiant......North was equally poor and like Roberts (who was not seen at all) any idea they should be on the Lions Tour is red-ick-ulous based on these internationals and, for Roberts, his last 18 months, form! In fact, after that match, only Halfpenny has kept his hand up!!

Did not think the Samoans, who were brilliant, were really as dirty as Pacific Islanders have been in the past although the one on Biggar was a little, and only a little, over the top. Barnes could not have seen the high tackle on Halfpenny, who compounded the problem by ducking into it, as his view was clearly blocked. That being said, I expect both to be cited and trust that sanity results in minimum or no punishment

Who the hell were those commentators. They were bloody awful and really spoiled it for me; no credit where credit was due, and everything was about how badly Wales played, and not about how Samoa deserved to win. The seven point margin flattered Wales, they actually weren't that good.

Jonathon Davies is always the same (but there again the one eyed Murray Mexted was too!!) but his comments are always biased and his whining voice gets up my nose!!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think the entire Samoan team should be cited and given at least one week suspension...

 

[Maxwell]

Gotta give props to the ref who was the first half decent one we've had in a while.

 

[aucklander]

I have finally logged into say Cheeeeee Huuuuuuuuuuu, still hungover from this morning's game. So proud of the men in Blue, what a performance. From the Coaches/Management Staff right through to all players on this tour a big thank you for representing your country with pride. Wales on the other hand, hard luck. I just know you guys will come out even hungrier against the AB's and Wallabies. With only a Month and a bit of preparation with limited resources, I am just delighted with what the MANU did out there today. So wonderful how all players in the team play at a competitive level - This shows in the fitness and discipline which Island teams have never had in the past. Still one present value we hold onto is our physicality which will be around for years to come.

Jamie Roberts, Halfpenny outstanding for Wales.

Can't wait for the French game. Keeping a close eye on Puma/French game tonight.

 

[j'nuh]

Big problem with Wales: a forward could take the ball into contact in the most fantastic way, getting over the gainline and setting up the next phase of play. And he'll be the one that looks like the idiot, getting turned over, because there was no one clearing out. The speed to the rucks was a big problem for Wales. A change of coaches solved it for England...

 

[aucklander]

Totally agree with you there Maxwell.

Pumas to beat the french tonight...

 

[aucklander]

Does anyone have a link to the replay? Post it up on Youtube perhaps???

 

[Ozzay]

I attended last nights match and what a dreadful display, the only time we looked like scoring. Preistland decided to run blind 2 minutes to late! I really dont know where we go from here.

the scrum was terrible!! Samoa had penalty after penalty!

But you no the welsh public, too many armchair fans who no **** all, but in their eyes if we beat NZ their heros again.

Alex Cuthbert is absolutely shocking, the amount of tackles he missed or basically '**** out' of was terrible

Mike Phillips distribution was terrible, far to slow getting the ball out.

their 10s tactial kicking was top draw, unlike ours..

Thats just to name a few!

Credit wheres its due, Samoa were the best team and deserved it, im just glas i gad a few pints in me to watch it, sober i would of walked out after the first minute

We ain't gonna beat NZ but an improvement in performance, **** the world ranking.

You want us to support the boys, charge silly money for tickets to watch that, refunds should be given for last weeks and this weeks game. Rob Howley ain't the man.. SIMPLE!

 

[Thingimubob]

Meh I tweeted them last night sayig 'Our Land. Our Way'? I'd call that false advertising...

Didnt notice Cuthbert missing that many tackles?

Also Biggar, Ian Evans and Hibbard likely to be out of the NZ game. Getting worse and worse on the injury front...
Stephen Jones call up anyone? I don't want Priestland there at all...

 

[dullonien]

Meh I tweeted them last night sayig 'Our Land. Our Way'? I'd call that false advertising...

Didnt notice Cuthbert missing that many tackles?

Also Biggar, Ian Evans and Hibbard likely to be out of the NZ game. Getting worse and worse on the injury front...
Stephen Jones call up anyone? I don't want Priestland there at all...

Cuthbert was very poor. Fell off a few tackles which isn't acceptable given his size.

Could be a bit of a cripple fight against Aus in two weeks time, in which we'll lose more than likely.

Unfair on Aus sorry. They will also destroy us on current form.

 

[Draggs]

Meh I tweeted them last night sayig 'Our Land. Our Way'? I'd call that false advertising...

Didnt notice Cuthbert missing that many tackles?

Also Biggar, Ian Evans and Hibbard likely to be out of the NZ game. Getting worse and worse on the injury front...
Stephen Jones call up anyone? I don't want Priestland there at all...

4/2 according to the stats, so not awful but hardly Dan Lydiate. People target Cuthbert but North is the golden boy. North really isn't that good. He is so predictable, and teams have no issues shutting him down. I hope Eli walker is able to fill out a little more and get some good time in for the Ospreys. Likewise, maybe give Prydie a shot in February? Sod it, he is rubbish, keep him in Newport.

 

[Thingimubob]

Thing with North is, we cant expect him to be our 'big Shane Williams' and create something to win us every game. He needs space to run into, rather than 2 or 3 tacklers just waiting for him. I'm not sure that its him thats predictable, but rather our whole gameplan is.

 

[dullonien]

4/2 according to the stats, so not awful but hardly Dan Lydiate. People target Cuthbert but North is the golden boy. North really isn't that good. He is so predictable, and teams have no issues shutting him down. I hope Eli walker is able to fill out a little more and get some good time in for the Ospreys. Likewise, maybe give Prydie a shot in February? Sod it, he is rubbish, keep him in Newport.

I think it's unfair to criticise either winger for their attacking at the moment. They get barely any ball, and when they do come looking for the ball they get it on the back-foot behind the gain-line and with a full defensive line in front of them. They're not going to be able to anything without the forwards doing their jobs first, which includes getting some go forward ball in the tight, producing quality ball from rucks and produce good quality ball from the set pieces. There's no denying that North and Cuthbert are looking poor at the moment, but put the best wingers in the world behind this Welsh pack playing like they are at the moment, and they would be equally anonymous imo. The disappointing thing has been Cuthberts defense, which hasn't been as good as it should be.

Edit. I maintain that North is one of the best wingers in the world, but is simply getting no chance to shine. Shane Williams struggled plenty of times in games like these where the forwards were taking a battering. Wingers require a little space to work with, and even big wingers like North require some front-foot ball to get one-on-one with the opposition. They have had 2-3 players on them every time they've touched the ball in the last two games.

 

[Draggs]

I think it's unfair to criticise either winger for their attacking at the moment. They get barely any ball, and when they do come looking for the ball they get it on the back-foot behind the gain-line and with a full defensive line in front of them. They're not going to be able to anything without the forwards doing their jobs first, which includes getting some go forward ball in the tight, producing quality ball from rucks and produce good quality ball from the set pieces. There's no denying that North and Cuthbert are looking poor at the moment, but put the best wingers in the world behind this Welsh pack playing like they are at the moment, and they would be equally anonymous imo. The disappointing thing has been Cuthberts defense, which hasn't been as good as it should be.

North is being used midfield with no effect. They are given no ball in their proper positions, true, but messing it up otherwise. Cuthbert has been in better form than North for the past season, you just won't hear it because he is a precious Scarlet. Ashley Beck hardly had a shot, and he tends to lose the ball. Phillips wasn't great, but still our best scrum half (make what you want of that).

 

[dullonien]

Nothing about being a Scarlet, I really am impartial when it comes to the regions. Cuthbert has easily been in better form thus far this season for the Blues. But he has made more defensive errors than North in the two opening AI's. North has made mistakes, including a few knock ons which shouldn't have occurred.

It doesn't matter where the players are being used, on the wing, midfield, they are still on the back-foot with a full defensive line in front of them. None of the Welsh backs have had any change from either the Argentine or Samoan defences for one simple reason, they are trying to attack on slow, scappy, back-foot ball because the forwards aren't getting close to doing their jobs and producing front foot ball, or even going through the fazes to try to break down the defence. The backline have made errors, but the problems all stem from the forwards.

 

[Draggs]

Not you Dull, elsewhere on the internet. You must have seen on other forums how protected Priestland is. Arwel Priestland must be dropped, but Hook to outside would kill the Welsh rugby forums and Rob Howley.
I don't think it matters who plays where, it will be the same dross rugby.