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<blockquote data-quote="RugbyChump" data-source="post: 146622"><p>Hi dude</p><p></p><p>As often with "or" questions a bit of both. Gareth Jenkins has been playing too much of a forward dominated game, like sticking a square peg in a circular hole. We haven't got forwards the size nor power of the SH to bash over and batter other teams. The backs are Wales' ace in the hole but they're not utilised properly with the tactics he's using. We also suffer from a lack of depth. Where if we lose key players we suffer heavily. Such positions as lock forward and flanker. We're doing ok with props since we have Gethin Jenkins, Chris Horsman, Adam and Duncan Jones. We also do not have a decent inside centre, Henson on form would be on fire. Parker's flat and one dimensional, James Hook is creative but hasn't got the bulk. Ceri Sweeney has come in there and he has some power but he's hardly played there, plus he's more of an outside half. There's Gavin Evans and David Bishop, but as far as I know they've never played for Wales there, especially since they only play club rugby thus far. Would be a step up, plus changing another combination could throw us off balance. Full back tends to be another headache, Gareth Thomas can't play there and Lee Byrne seems to be awol. Who on his day can be a potent attacker.</p><p></p><p>Eddie O'Sullivan. Earlier this year and last year Ireland were doing very well, they seemed to have a nice equilibrium. Whilst an aging squad they could compete with South Africa and Australia. However if you took out a few key players like Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara (always 'O!) they'd be in 'O trouble :lol:. However all those three have been present in the recent games and I can't explain what's happened to their form. Although cracks started to appear when they narrowly beat Scotland in the 2007 6N. They do not have depth either and although new talent has come in, such as Eoin Reddan (scrum half) and Andrew Trimble (wing) it isn't enough. They'll probably need a new generation of players to lift them up again. I heard somewhere that a fitness coach for Ireland had increased their bulk but at the expense of speed and fitness somehow lol.</p><p></p><p>Frank Hadden had struggled with Scotland in the past, because of the severe lack in depth of quality players and good skills. Although they'r always gifted with good scrum halves and fly halves which is always a good thing. However he has honed this team and they certainly seem to have been physically conditioned for the RWC; and it shows in the recent games. Their forwards are sharp and work well in the loose, I expect them to give New Zealand a rubbing at least.</p><p></p><p>Brian Ashton was given a very shitty plate by Andy Robinson who stuck with the 2003 RWC squad, bad mistake. That team should have been binned after the RWC, the following summer England were hammered down in Austrlaia heh. Andy Robinson didn't bring that many new players to the squad and England lost any cutting edge it had in the backs. There are glimmers of hope in the form of Jason Robinson (touch wood), Strettle, Tait, Cueto, Wilkinson, Sackey (class) but they need to operate and function as a team. Their forwards are capable of competing with the big guns but something has gone drastically wrong. I think severe lack of confidence has infiltrated the team and it shows. Things are so bad that one coach/physio said they didn't have world class players anymore heh. Apparently disagreements between players and the coaches. Possibly a breakdown somewhere. You'll note in the England v South Africa game England had an opportunity at scoring. However the attacking line was far too deep and when the support players came up, they were a little flat or shallow. So they got their tactics wrong. I'd say the 'blame' for this lays at the foot of the coaches who clearly haven't instilled anything good in the guys.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RugbyChump, post: 146622"] Hi dude As often with "or" questions a bit of both. Gareth Jenkins has been playing too much of a forward dominated game, like sticking a square peg in a circular hole. We haven't got forwards the size nor power of the SH to bash over and batter other teams. The backs are Wales' ace in the hole but they're not utilised properly with the tactics he's using. We also suffer from a lack of depth. Where if we lose key players we suffer heavily. Such positions as lock forward and flanker. We're doing ok with props since we have Gethin Jenkins, Chris Horsman, Adam and Duncan Jones. We also do not have a decent inside centre, Henson on form would be on fire. Parker's flat and one dimensional, James Hook is creative but hasn't got the bulk. Ceri Sweeney has come in there and he has some power but he's hardly played there, plus he's more of an outside half. There's Gavin Evans and David Bishop, but as far as I know they've never played for Wales there, especially since they only play club rugby thus far. Would be a step up, plus changing another combination could throw us off balance. Full back tends to be another headache, Gareth Thomas can't play there and Lee Byrne seems to be awol. Who on his day can be a potent attacker. Eddie O'Sullivan. Earlier this year and last year Ireland were doing very well, they seemed to have a nice equilibrium. Whilst an aging squad they could compete with South Africa and Australia. However if you took out a few key players like Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara (always 'O!) they'd be in 'O trouble :lol:. However all those three have been present in the recent games and I can't explain what's happened to their form. Although cracks started to appear when they narrowly beat Scotland in the 2007 6N. They do not have depth either and although new talent has come in, such as Eoin Reddan (scrum half) and Andrew Trimble (wing) it isn't enough. They'll probably need a new generation of players to lift them up again. I heard somewhere that a fitness coach for Ireland had increased their bulk but at the expense of speed and fitness somehow lol. Frank Hadden had struggled with Scotland in the past, because of the severe lack in depth of quality players and good skills. Although they'r always gifted with good scrum halves and fly halves which is always a good thing. However he has honed this team and they certainly seem to have been physically conditioned for the RWC; and it shows in the recent games. Their forwards are sharp and work well in the loose, I expect them to give New Zealand a rubbing at least. Brian Ashton was given a very shitty plate by Andy Robinson who stuck with the 2003 RWC squad, bad mistake. That team should have been binned after the RWC, the following summer England were hammered down in Austrlaia heh. Andy Robinson didn't bring that many new players to the squad and England lost any cutting edge it had in the backs. There are glimmers of hope in the form of Jason Robinson (touch wood), Strettle, Tait, Cueto, Wilkinson, Sackey (class) but they need to operate and function as a team. Their forwards are capable of competing with the big guns but something has gone drastically wrong. I think severe lack of confidence has infiltrated the team and it shows. Things are so bad that one coach/physio said they didn't have world class players anymore heh. Apparently disagreements between players and the coaches. Possibly a breakdown somewhere. You'll note in the England v South Africa game England had an opportunity at scoring. However the attacking line was far too deep and when the support players came up, they were a little flat or shallow. So they got their tactics wrong. I'd say the 'blame' for this lays at the foot of the coaches who clearly haven't instilled anything good in the guys. [/QUOTE]
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