Welsh Rugby Stuff

[dirty harry]

Grady has been unlucky with injuries to be fair and it’s not like Max has been pulling up any trees for Gloucester or Wales. I like him more than Grady, though they’re different players to be fair.

Ye, i think hes misused at Gloz a bit, i really hope he can settle into 12. Had he stayed at Cardiff it would have solved so many of our backline issues, i was excited by a Llewellyn Grady partnership, with Thomas covering the backline, had they settled and developed together theyd both be far ahead in their development.

Your right Grady has been injured, butnis it bad luck, or is he made of glass like his brother? To me he is just his brother over and over, has the skillset but no heart and agression.

Bowen has been on fire this season, esprcially linking with Sheedy, 3 times against the Scarlets Sheedy tried the cross field to Gradys corner, twice he couldnt gather, and the third time he couldnt get close. Bowen scores minimum 1, but probably 2 of those IMO.

You know me, im a height supremecist in most cases, but there has to be the skillset and efrectiveness in game, and there just isnt there with Grady. I absolutely see him getting more Wales caps, which is a sad indictment of where Wales are, but hell be a bit part clubman in my opinion, and ultimately his career will mimic his brothers.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Ye, i think hes misused at Gloz a bit, i really hope he can settle into 12. Had he stayed at Cardiff it would have solved so many of our backline issues, i was excited by a Llewellyn Grady partnership, with Thomas covering the backline, had they settled and developed together theyd both be far ahead in their development.

Your right Grady has been injured, butnis it bad luck, or is he made of glass like his brother? To me he is just his brother over and over, has the skillset but no heart and agression.

Bowen has been on fire this season, esprcially linking with Sheedy, 3 times against the Scarlets Sheedy tried the cross field to Gradys corner, twice he couldnt gather, and the third time he couldnt get close. Bowen scores minimum 1, but probably 2 of those IMO.

You know me, im a height supremecist in most cases, but there has to be the skillset and efrectiveness in game, and there just isnt there with Grady. I absolutely see him getting more Wales caps, which is a sad indictment of where Wales are, but hell be a bit part clubman in my opinion, and ultimately his career will mimic his brothers.

I can’t be mad at you as, like you, I’m a big Bowen fan

In terms of 12, Eddie James is my boy. He should be first choice inside center in my humble opinion.

 

[dirty harry]

I can’t be mad at you as, like you, I’m a big Bowen fan

In terms of 12, Eddie James is my boy. He should be first choice inside center in my humble opinion.

Ye i agree, i like James a lot, but like a lot of centres at the minute he has broken through and then stagnated. Id put this down to coaching and utilisation of them over talent tbh, but we really are hamperring development in Wales!

It doesnt help that Johnny Williams is a cracking club 12 mind, Watkin the same is a very good club centre, they just dont have the ability to step up

 

[Welsh Exile]

Ye i agree, i like James a lot, but like a lot of centres at the minute he has broken through and then stagnated. Id put this down to coaching and utilisation of them over talent tbh, but we really are hamperring development in Wales!

It doesnt help that Johnny Williams is a cracking club 12 mind, Watkin the same is a very good club centre, they just dont have the ability to step up

Yeah, completely agree

It’s weird, we do have quite a few good center options. I like Hennessy who appears to be getting some solid minutes for Bath recently which is great. I always like that Ackerman kid at Dragons but he broke his leg last year and has only recently come back (and he’s still young)

Then you have Hawkins, Max, Roberts and even though he’s very raw and young (and question marks over size) but Page looks like a good option at 13 for the future at least anyway.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Fingers crossed Che Hope can solve our issues at 9 as well (no pressure Che)

Would be great if he can replace Hardy as back up 9.

 

[dirty harry]

Yeah, completely agree

It’s weird, we do have quite a few good center options. I like Hennessy who appears to be getting some solid minutes for Bath recently which is great. I always like that Ackerman kid at Dragons but he broke his leg last year and has only recently come back (and he’s still young)

Then you have Hawkins, Max, Roberts and even though he’s very raw and young (and question marks over size) but Page looks like a good option at 13 for the future at least anyway.

Hennessy looked quality at u20s, hes got huge potential (if he stays outside of Wales). Havnt seen too much of Ackerman tbh, he looked ok, but as you say injury was a *****.

I think we have a generation of overly talented centres, utilised elswhere as a James Hook scenario. Llewellyn, Grady, Roberts all playing centre / wing / cover. James pushed out to 13 whenever Williams is fit, Thomas at 10 and 13, Page utilised across the backline... there isnt a complete centre amongst them, but not being helped by being so versatile.

Id like to see James given a run at 12, Thomas currently is but i dont rate him at club level. I dont think Roberts has enough, nor does Murray IMO, theor strengths tend to exploit space and time in fractured field, and well you just dont get that in Int rugby (not to mention Murrays abject failure at test 15 last year).

 

[Welsh Exile]

So the experiment (that I actually liked and thought was worth persisting with) of playing Hawkins at 10 has been binned off now that the amazing Sam Costelow is back. I love the joined up thinking in Welsh rugby.

 

[dirty harry]

So the experiment (that I actually liked and thought was worth persisting with) of playing Hawkins at 10 has been binned off now that the amazing Sam Costelow is back. I love the joined up thinking in Welsh rugby.

Ye im not sure, i like Hawkins, it was obvious Gatland had a plan for him at 12, and saw top potential. The Exeter move proved a disaster for him, and he struggled to the point he eventually just fell out of the squad.

I dont think he has the instincts for 10, but he has every attribute for a good defencive and ball playing / kicking 12.

But his struggles so far can be put down to WRU failings again, no coherence in messaging, style or strategy, no cohesion and very little idea!

His is probably the only agent of the Scarlets backline who hasnt been instructed to tout their talents in England and France for next season, due to the fear of what happened in Exeter (well and Sam Costelow whonis just happy and amazed he has a pro contract).

 

[Welsh Exile]

Ye im not sure, i like Hawkins, it was obvious Gatland had a plan for him at 12, and saw top potential. The Exeter move proved a disaster for him, and he struggled to the point he eventually just fell out of the squad.

I dont think he has the instincts for 10, but he has every attribute for a good defencive and ball playing / kicking 12.

But his struggles so far can be put down to WRU failings again, no coherence in messaging, style or strategy, no cohesion and very little idea!

His is probably the only agent of the Scarlets backline who hasnt been instructed to tout their talents in England and France for next season, due to the fear of what happened in Exeter (well and Sam Costelow whonis just happy and amazed he has a pro contract).

Wasn’t it Gatland that first touted the idea of him playing 10? I think that was his plan for him. He actually had the audacity of mentioning him in the same sentence as Dan Carter (though if I recall correctly he was quoting one of his coaches - probably Neil Jenkins lol)

His goal kocking (which was one of the things I was sceptical about him being a successful 10) was surperb against Pau the other night. But yeah, he looks like a baby at 10 which is understandable considering he’s only just started playing there (though he has played there at age grade I believe) you have to give him 2 seasons of being a first choice 10 before making any kind of judgement in my humble opinion) and having said all that I think he’s looked pretty good all things considered.

But that’s all bye the bye now anyway. To be fair Edwards came out of the autumn in credit and should be the one we’re looking to develop next.

 

[dirty harry]

Wasn’t it Gatland that first touted the idea of him playing 10? I think that was his plan for him. He actually had the audacity of mentioning him in the same sentence as Dan Carter (though if I recall correctly he was quoting one of his coaches - probably Neil Jenkins lol)

His goal kocking (which was one of the things I was sceptical about him being a successful 10) was surperb against Pau the other night. But yeah, he looks like a baby at 10 which is understandable considering he’s only just started playing there (though he has played there at age grade I believe) you have to give him 2 seasons of being a first choice 10 before making any kind of judgement in my humble opinion) and having said all that I think he’s looked pretty good all things considered.

But that’s all bye the bye now anyway. To be fair Edwards came out of the autumn in credit and should be the one we’re looking to develop next.

Its been coming, Edwards has been the only Welsh cap in recent years whos forced selection with his club performances (hopefully followed by Bowen and Morse). Most of Hawkins performances werent bad, but he was anonymous for large periods. Gatland may well have spoke about him at 10 in the future, i think your right, he also said the same about Thomas lol

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If you needed any further confirmation about the state of Welsh rugby, 20,000 unsold tickets for the French game should do the trick.

 

[dirty harry]

If you needed any further confirmation about the state of Welsh rugby, 20,000 unsold tickets for the French game should do the trick.

Im not surprised, the WRU insist on pricing tickets like Wales are a top tier 1 nation.

They are claiming that spending habits have changed, and that last minute sales are all the rage lol.

Im amazed 50k people are paying 100 quid plus for tickets, i wasnoffered some 195 pound lol. I couldnt stop laughing.

 

[Welsh Exile]

My Italy ticket cost £75 and my boys cost £35. And that’s Italy.

 

[dirty harry]

My Italy ticket cost £75 and my boys cost £35. And that’s Italy.

Are they nose bleeds. I found some on the website right corner and they were 165 lol 55 for kids.

Behind the goals 85 kids 35

 

[Welsh Exile]

Are they nose bleeds. I found some on the website right corner and they were 165 lol 55 for kids.

Behind the goals 85 kids 35

No, they’re not too bad actually. Middle tier not quite in the corner.