Wales to face SANZAR Big Three

[Big Ewis]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9057240,00.html

Yes, I know, you Welsh fans just got a cold rush rising up that spine and shrinking gonads just reading that title.
Another 3 chances before the World Cup, especially against Australia...

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

go on wales

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

More chances to lose.

 

[Draggs]

Two posts, that's how long it took this time.
Thanks for playing we'll see you next week!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Two posts, that's how long it took this time.
Thanks for playing we'll see you next week!

~
You done lost lotsa times against the Astrillians heuhuehuehue

 

[Big Ewis]

~
You done lost lotsa times against the Astrillians heuhuehuehue

but they might win when it really counts the most

 

[The Jones Boy]

F**k you Wales, you really **** me off.
You have a wealth of talent, you know how to play great running rugby, you have a rich tradition of rugby history going back decades and decades, the people of Wales have a fine understanding of the finer points of the game and yet... you play such utterly painful kaka just when you are about to snatch a famous victory.
It's painful for me to watch and I'm not even Welsh.
God knows Hurry up and win something serious like the WC, or go a full season undefeated, it's just painful watching the nearly men, painful...

 

[Draggs]

but they might win when it really counts the most

I tell myself that before every SANZAR test. Didn't work rwc2011

 

[psychic duck]

F**k you Wales, you really **** me off.
You have a wealth of talent, you know how to play great running rugby, you have a rich tradition of rugby history going back decades and decades, the people of Wales have a fine understanding of the finer points of the game and yet... you play such utterly painful kaka just when you are about to snatch a famous victory.
It's painful for me to watch and I'm not even Welsh.
God knows Hurry up and win something serious like the WC, or go a full season undefeated, it's just painful watching the nearly men, painful...

Clearly never read the Western Mail then.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Clearly never read the Western Mail then.

Or the Scum V forum

 

[Feicarsinn]

Always the same ...

Wonder when Wales are going to change the record. Getting boring now.

....

It is another chance to measure ourselves against the best. Probably won't win but will give us a good test against the best.

ftfy

 

[Draggs]

Or the Scum V forum

You mean the "give Hook a chance, again" board?

 

[Big Ewis]

I tell myself that before every SANZAR test. Didn't work rwc2011

every RWC is its own RWC...
and btw, my aim wasn't to stir that old shhit again, my aim was just to bring the news that Wales are facing the SANZAR 3 + Fiji in exactly a year...but I guess I should've seen it coming.

 

[Ospreylian]

This is great, it's been quite a while since we've had all 3 together in one Autumn. Not actually sure when the last time was. It will at least boost ticket sales and spark more public interest. I personally am really excited anyway.

I'd just like to remind all the critics of the Welsh team, the only Northern Hemisphere team to beat a Southern team this Autumn was England, and that was against a very lacklustre Australia (the Wallabies that turned up in Cardiff were a completely different side to the one at the beginning of the series). So, those who are trying to single out Wales are obviously forgetting about the other North V South results.

From where I stand, the margins are generally getting smaller, and the gap is narrowing slowly. The north now matches the south physically, it's just a case of getting our game awareness and basic ball and kicking skills up to the standards set by the south. That will be a huge challenge, and an ongoing one that will need to be set in motion in the club leagues - this brand of rugby needs to be played week-in, week-out in order to come to fruition at international level.

 

[Draggs]

@ewis. No worries, I knew what you were saying.
@Ospreylian, 2010. Lost to Aus, nearly beat SA, drew with Fiji, lost to NZ

 

[Ospreylian]

@Ospreylian, 2010. Lost to Aus, nearly beat SA, drew with Fiji, lost to NZ

Ah.... :huh: How did I forget that? It appears I have a memory span of less than 3 years...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'd just like to remind all [...] of the Welsh [...], the only Northern Hemisphere team to beat a Southern team this Autumn was England

Post of the year.

 

[Big Ewis]

I'd just like to remind all the critics of the Welsh team, the only Northern Hemisphere team to beat a Southern team this Autumn was England, and that was against a very lacklustre Australia (the Wallabies that turned up in Cardiff were a completely different side to the one at the beginning of the series). So, those who are trying to single out Wales are obviously forgetting about the other North V South results.

From where I stand, the margins are generally getting smaller, and the gap is narrowing slowly. The north now matches the south physically, it's just a case of getting our game awareness and basic ball and kicking skills up to the standards set by the south. That will be a huge challenge, and an ongoing one that will need to be set in motion in the club leagues - this brand of rugby needs to be played week-in, week-out in order to come to fruition at international level.

well I dunno about the "North matches the South physically". South Africa out-muscles everyone, and none of us from the 6N are anywhere near Aus or NZ in their athleticism and running fluidity. As for the gap, it's not because it's been narrow lately that it'll be more so in a year's time.

Last year, we put 33-6 on Australia but who knows what will go down this summer in 3 tests...and the gap hasn't narrowed with NZ, it's actually broadened, though they clearly had issues in Europe all the way this year.

It's hard to quite pinpoint what it is for Wales (since we're on the subject), most definitely a great share psychological, but then I think it's just the anatomy of each match where they simply fall short as a constant each time. I'm not even sure that the fact that it's become a pattern truly has great significance.

Earlier in the Gatland era, they didn't know how to close out games because of youth. But in recent examples, they beat France in Paris in the tightest anus of a match I'd seen in....well, ever, personally. And against England in Cardiff, they never let down the effort.

Surely there's a part of it that's psychological now, like any streak you can't just be completely oblivious to it. But then there's just mathematical probability and independent factors for each respective match.

 

[Big Ewis]

Post of the year.

no, no, you forgot the most interesting part:

...and that was against a very lacklustre Australia (the Wallabies that turned up in Cardiff were a completely different side to the one at the beginning of the series). Plus, England only won because of that disgusting, awful, abominable and perfidious screen from that English player, allowing someone with absolutely no penetrating ability on attack like Owen Farrell to get through; hence ultimately, an undeserved 7-point victory for England. My, how disgusting. Anyways, let's move on.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

no, no, you forgot the most interesting part:

#Awinisawin