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Amazing defensive performance. Kept their dicipline throughout as well, very few penalties conceded despite the one way traffic.

There are attacking players aplenty in this Welsh side, but tonight wasn't the night.
 
Lé Ddanno said:
Who's he playing for? Need to get him capped/tied in toot sweet
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Plays for Bath with Billy Sela.

Gatland asked him last year do you wanna play for wales and he said he was English so end of really.

He’s one of the best hookers for his age I’ve seen. He’s better than Mako. He’s more similar to Steve Thompson I reckon.
 
Geordie said:
Bath...but he wants to play for England
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He’s going to play for England for many years.

Very 2011 feel to this group. One of the best age grades we’ve ever had.

Pollock, Kpoku, Kepu, Sela, Sodeke.

The list goes on. There’s so many ridiculous players all over the pitch and that’s before you forget Weimann is 4th or 5th choice Scrummie and he’s still really handy. We’re in tremendous nick and a generational group here.
 
Yup - if only they had a better FH to control the game - thankfully, we've got the Smiths, and a couple of decent options in the current U18s, so aren't relying on this specific crop of U20s there.
 
Wendigo7 said:
He's going to play for England for many years.

Very 2011 feel to this group. One of the best age grades we've ever had.

Pollock, Kpoku, Kepu, Sela, Sodeke.

The list goes on. There's so many ridiculous players all over the pitch and that's before you forget Weimann is 4th or 5th choice Scrummie and he's still really handy. We're in tremendous nick and a generational group here.
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Interesting you list all forwards when only really Launchbury and Mako in that 2011 group made it to international rugby
People really need to relax with the generational run especially when this isn't really a top year for Ireland or France
 
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Didn't see the match last night, fair play Wales sounds like some effort.

Think this isn't a banner year for us especially when missing four starters in the pack who are all already academy members. But generally a step down anyway. Maybe different if Gabriel was IQ.
 
Wendigo7 said:
Plays for Bath with Billy Sela.

Gatland asked him last year do you wanna play for wales and he said he was English so end of really.

He's one of the best hookers for his age I've seen. He's better than Mako. He's more similar to Steve Thompson I reckon.
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He hasn't said he's English, just that he wants to play for England, assume because he sees a better chance of success with England. If that's the case, then you can have him tbh.

He's only qualified for England via residency, and only then because of the recent change of laws where time spent in education are now allowed to be counted. Under the old laws he's have another 2 years until he was even eligible.

Given his sister is a Welsh international, I'm kinda hoping he's just toeing the line with his current comments in order not to upset the applecart at bath/England U20 but he'll do the right thing ans represent the country of his birth/upbringing when it actually comes to picking. Not holding my breath though!
 
dullonien said:
He hasn't said he's English, just that he wants to play for England, assume because he sees a better chance of success with England. If that's the case, then you can have him tbh.

He's only qualified for England via residency, and only then because of the recent change of laws where time spent in education are now allowed to be counted. Under the old laws he's have another 2 years until he was even eligible.

Given his sister is a Welsh international, I'm kinda hoping he's just toeing the line with his current comments in order not to upset the applecart at bath/England U20 but he'll do the right thing ans represent the country of his birth/upbringing when it actually comes to picking. Not holding my breath though!
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I like your optimism, but could you blame him really, the money, the potential to win a trophy...
 
How exactly is Kepu related to Sisilia and Carwyn? Are those 2 not siblings?

I'm going to go and offer Sione a few thousand for his semen...
 
dirty harry said:
I like your optimism, but could you blame him really, the money, the potential to win a trophy...
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No, I wouldn't blame him really. Just a shame as we don't produce excessive numbers of powerful forwards.

Saying that, Harry Thomas has looked very good for Wales U20 the last couple of fixtures, Lake is still young, and Lloyd is a great prospect currently being fast tracked, so hopefully we'll be OK at hooker.
 
dullonien said:
No, I wouldn't blame him really. Just a shame as we don't produce excessive numbers of powerful forwards.

Saying that, Harry Thomas has looked very good for Wales U20 the last couple of fixtures, Lake is still young, and Lloyd is a great prospect currently being fast tracked, so hopefully we'll be OK at hooker.
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Is Henry Thomas thenhooker from last night? He had an outstanding game alongside Scott and Beddall
 
dirty harry said:
What I will say is welsh tight head is getting through an unreal amount of work, especially dominant tackles.
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Quietly buzzing about Scott at Bristol, but obviously it's still early days. We got a fair bit of representation in that game which is a refreshing change.

Just wish the WRU would do a deal with Bristol like they have with the Women's team so the players can stay at the club without needing to sign for a region to (potentially) get caps. Seems short sighted given the large crossover places like Bristol and Gloucester traditionally have.
 
Rinkadink said:
Quietly buzzing about Scott at Bristol, but obviously it's still early days. We got a fair bit of representation in that game which is a refreshing change.

Just wish the WRU would do a deal with Bristol like they have with the Women's team so the players can stay at the club without needing to sign for a region to (potentially) get caps. Seems short sighted given the large crossover places like Bristol and Gloucester traditionally have.
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He's still 19 too. Played at U20 level last year at 18, and looked OK; and he'll be available next year too.

At his age, his scrummaging is hugely promising, and should only get better as he matures. He clearly has an excellent engine on him too, so definitely one to watch over the next few years.

Edit. on the deal part, I wouldn't be adverse to something like that due to the proximity of Bristol/Gloucester. Question would be, what would the PRL expect as compensation for release, quite a bit I'd expect (in-line with what RFU pay per player?). Then the WRU would essentially be part funding English rugby, which doesn't sit right given the financial issues in Welsh rugby.

Assume it works in the women's game as there's not so much money involved, and England are happy cementing their league as the no.1 league in the world for women's rugby, so player release is likely still controlled by the individual clubs, and can be negotiated in players' contracts.
 
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dullonien said:
He's still 19 too. Played at U20 level last year at 18, and looked OK; and he'll be available next year too.

At his age, his scrummaging is hugely promising, and should only get better as he matures. He clearly has an excellent engine on him too, so definitely one to watch over the next few years.
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He went about 70 mins last night didn't he.

It's not often Wales produce teenagers who love the physical contact, and who hit as technically well as he does, plus has a well rounded game.

He reminds me of a young Sam Warburton, the timing and dominance of his hits were superb, and he seemed to roam around the edges looking to hurt
 
Yeh
Rinkadink said:
Quietly buzzing about Scott at Bristol, but obviously it's still early days. We got a fair bit of representation in that game which is a refreshing change.

Just wish the WRU would do a deal with Bristol like they have with the Women's team so the players can stay at the club without needing to sign for a region to (potentially) get caps. Seems short sighted given the large crossover places like Bristol and Gloucester traditionally have.
Click to expand...

I suspect if they want any decent head coach the rules will be changed anyway
 
Ireland U20s:
15. Daniel Green (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
14. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
13. Gene O'Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
11. Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)

1. Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
2. Mikey Yarr (UCD RFC/Leinster)
3. Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
4. Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
5. Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
6. Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster)
7. Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
8. Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Henry Walker (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
17. Paddy Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
18. Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
19. Conor Kennelly (Highfield RFC/Munster)
20. David Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
21. Clark Logan (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
22. Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
23. Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster).
 
Interesting watching Scot v wales...

Wales have given away a few pens early, ref seems to have decided they're cheating at every opportunity, strange not straight lineout that was completely straight, then within a few minutes 10 goes off injured and 9 gets red carded for a crock roll that was laughably not lol.

Rugby is in danger of alienating the fan base with these types of decisions
 
Wales were pathetic tonight. Imo both reds were justified. 1 clear crock roll, and the most clumsy challenge which reserved a red for pure stupidity.

Lineout was appalling.

And we were somehow still in the game up until the last 20min, but butchered kicks to touch etc.

After such a corrageous, disciplined showing last time out v Ireland, that was disapointing vs probably the weakest side in the tournament.
 
dullonien said:
Wales were pathetic tonight. Imo both reds were justified. 1 clear crock roll, and the most clumsy challenge which reserved a red for pure stupidity.

Lineout was appalling.

And we were somehow still in the game up until the last 20min, but butchered kicks to touch etc.

After such a corrageous, disciplined showing last time out v Ireland, that was disapointing vs probably the weakest side in the tournament.
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Indeed, just as I thought the U20s had some real promise after a number of barren years, Wales don't fail to disappoint.
 

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