dandannieldanok Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 Wales looked very average to be honest. Not what I expected, especially how poor Scotland were in the first half.Any news on the knock Shane Williams picked up? Nothing serious I hope. England yesterday was shocking in phases. If it wasnt for the Italians silly little mistakes then it would of been alot closer. Goode shouldnt be playing at fly half even though he scored a respectable amount of points. Cipriani needs to comeback in and form a partnership with Ellis for the remaining four games. Ireland were impressive. Thought Wales were a lot better than average personally, they got into a comfortable winning position and brought all the replacements on for the last 20 mins which was always going to disrupt their rhythm. Scotland are fading away badly under Frank Hadden and unless they pick up a few surprise wins, he has to go, they had no gameplan at all. Agree about England although I think Johnson has done the right thing by demoting Cipriani, his mistakes outweighed his flashes of brilliance in the autumn internationals. Hopefully Goode is just a stop-gap until Johnson regains faith in Cipriani.
Father Ted Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 Thought Wales were a lot better than average personally, they got into a comfortable winning position and brought all the replacements on for the last 20 mins which was always going to disrupt their rhythm. Scotland are fading away badly under Frank Hadden and unless they pick up a few surprise wins, he has to go, they had no gameplan at all.Agree about England although I think Johnson has done the right thing by demoting Cipriani, his mistakes outweighed his flashes of brilliance in the autumn internationals. Hopefully Goode is just a stop-gap until Johnson regains faith in Cipriani. Scotland were difficult to break down today, some big hits in the match though, both resulting in injury aswell How Hugo Southwell has started 45 of the last 50 games is also beyond me and another reason for Hadden to go. A shocking player. I think that when Flood is fully fit he will go into 10 and Goode will drop to the bench, even though Goode scored a try and got a couple of penalties he did miss 2/3 kicks that were definitely kickable and being Goode he is obviously liable to a bad game.
Uncle Albert Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 Thought Wales were a lot better than average personally, they got into a comfortable winning position and brought all the replacements on for the last 20 mins which was always going to disrupt their rhythm. Scotland are fading away badly under Frank Hadden and unless they pick up a few surprise wins, he has to go, they had no gameplan at all. Yea thats what I mean they were average against a lacking Scotland team. Even though they were able to bring on their replacements with 20 minutes left the teams overall performance was nothing but average. If Wales play like that against Ireland or France after their performance's yesterday then Wales will get turned over quite easily. I didnt agree with Jonathan Davies' MOTM. I thought the Welsh Second Row was the MOTM, scored a try? He was very good. Why James Hook doesnt play the full 80 is beyond me. What I would give to see him at fly half for England.
dandannieldanok Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 Why James Hook doesnt play the full 80 is beyond me. What I would give to see him at fly half for England. If Gatland has any sense Hook will start against England, Stephen Jones was shocking today.
Finnegan Posted 8 February 2009 Author Posted 8 February 2009 Every bad pass from a ruck is now being called the 'Bergamasco' I know, I noticed this. Hugely harsh, I think, a shame if that sticks because he's a fantastic forward. I thought we were average today but I also thought we were defensively sound (until we rested players late on), clinical and smart and that's what we needed to be to make sure we didn't slip up at Murrayfield. It'll be a much different show from us next week, I expect. Hopefully we'll have Henson fit and will look a little bit more creative. Will hopefully give James Hook a bit more than twenty odd minutes, too, if things are lookin good. Kicking aside Jones was good today, but if you want to really open teams up then Hook is the better option. Not trying to take pot shots, here, but you need to watch rugby probably for more than just the internationals if you want to understand all selections. Jones is one of the few Scarlets to be really flying at the moment and Hook has been really off form for the 'Spreys. You shouldn't underestimate the work Jones does, either. Even at his age and clearly past his peak, there are still few better fly halves in the world for steadying a ship. He's very, very good at keeping things strong and solid and that's what we needed today - not Hook's extravagance. Still. Four good tries and a scoreline that seriously flattered Scotland (about 15 missed points to awful kicks and a try they'd never have scored if we hadn't made about nine changes.) Can't argue too much.
Uncle Albert Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 Finners. Any news on Shane Williams knock, player?
CosbehFox Posted 8 February 2009 Posted 8 February 2009 England are going to have to improve massively if they're going to win anymore games in this tournament. Provide the self-destruct button is pressed, Scotland looked equally as woeful.
Finnegan Posted 9 February 2009 Author Posted 9 February 2009 No news on Shane. Have to wait til the morning.
dandannieldanok Posted 9 February 2009 Posted 9 February 2009 Could of told me that before i had a $100 on em @14's
Father Ted Posted 9 February 2009 Posted 9 February 2009 Finners.Any news on Shane Williams knock, player? I've heard that him, Ryan Jones and GAVIIIIIINNNN! (Henson that is) will all have to prove their fitness before Thursday so I assume it's pretty much touch and go at the minute.
Finnegan Posted 12 February 2009 Author Posted 12 February 2009 I've heard that him, Ryan Jones and GAVIIIIIINNNN! (Henson that is) will all have to prove their fitness before Thursday so I assume it's pretty much touch and go at the minute. It's Gaaa-vin. The stress is on the a. I would be surprised if Shane's out. It was only a twist, they called him off early and slapped the ice right on it. They won't want to confirm anything because it'll keep the English camp guessing but I think if he was certainly out they'd have said. Touch wood and all of that, though. Would also be surprised if Ryan Jones is out given that he only just failed fitness for Scotland a couple of hours before kick off. Henson's hit-and-miss though and even if he's not injured he probably won't be match fit. I'd expect Roberts (if fit) and Shanks to start again. Hope we see a bit of Bishop.
Head Honcho Posted 12 February 2009 Posted 12 February 2009 I have a feeling that England may just sneak this on Saturday Anyone going to Cardiff to watch the match? I haven't decided where to watch it yet but Glam or The Globe in Roath look favourites at the minute.
Finnegan Posted 12 February 2009 Author Posted 12 February 2009 I've been feeling bad about this campaign since I started reading about being favourites. Like I was saying to Sparky on MSN, in m gut I've got very, very real worries that this might well be a bigger banana skin than the Scots. In my head, though, I'm not sure. England have no penetration, no edge - they're blunt and ineffective. If England are to win they will have to put on an incredibly defensive show in the first half and frustrate Wales into giving away silly penalties and making mistakes going forward. I can't see them scoring more than one more try unless we have an abysmal day at the back. So we have to keep our discipline and stop Goode ticking over points. Logically I can see it going two ways, we'll either hand out a drubbing or it'll be a remake of 2005 - petty, low scoring, niggly and I think we'd just about edge it scoring a try. I'll never write off the English all together, that would be foolish, but I don't think they really have enough attacking power to win IF Wales come out with the right attitude. I'd also like to point out that this is arguably the first England - Wales game I can ever remember watching where the Welsh pack is better than the English - taking away the typical English advantange.
Finnegan Posted 13 February 2009 Author Posted 13 February 2009 Think I've just read that Shane's out. Balls.
welck12 Posted 13 February 2009 Posted 13 February 2009 Hate to say it, but i think wales are gonna hand us our asses on a plate
dandannieldanok Posted 13 February 2009 Posted 13 February 2009 Think I've just read that Shane's out. Balls. Boost for England, but despite this I reckon Wales will have enough, and some more in reserve, to win by a comfortable 10/15 point margin. Williams and Henson are undoubtedly big misses for Wales in the backs, but I'd still choose their selections over anything England are offering up.
Finnegan Posted 13 February 2009 Author Posted 13 February 2009 Mmmmh, I wish we'd stick Roberts on the wing and bring in Bishop for a bit of creativity. Perhaps that's too much of a baptism of fire. I just don't really rate Mark Jones. Still, Leigh Halfpenny.
Finnegan Posted 13 February 2009 Author Posted 13 February 2009 Hahaha. I believe the phrase is "desperate times calls for desperate measures."
dandannieldanok Posted 13 February 2009 Posted 13 February 2009 Hahaha. I believe the phrase is "desperate times calls for desperate measures." For crying out loud Johnno, concentrate on trying to provide some opposition for the welsh rather than bother about the bloody roof! Really not looking forward to tomorrow evening, got a feeling if Wales get a try in the first 10 minutes, England will simply buckle. Given the respective performances of both sides last week, I can't see England getting many more than 10 points if we're lucky. Please prove me wrong.
Uncle Albert Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 I am feeling a shock win later on for England, I think it's England's time to show everyone what we are made of and we are going to step into Cardiff and give the Welsh a performance they wont forget. The England forwards need a big game today, if Vickery, Borthwick and Worlsey have a massive game then I can see the rest of the England scrum having big games. England need to eliminate the Welsh backs play from the start. I'm predicting a very close game.
Finnegan Posted 14 February 2009 Author Posted 14 February 2009 I think it'll be close, n'all. I think Dan's got a point mind - an early Welsh try and it could be tears for England. Today is basically where you'll learn if Jonno's leadership as a captain can properly relay onto the field.
Finnegan Posted 14 February 2009 Author Posted 14 February 2009 Scotland NEED a coach. Hadden is weak, really. Individually, if you look at the players I think they've really developed over the last couple of years - but they really have no leadership, no focus, no tactically presence. France were hugely uninspired today, looked no better than England last week. I really hope they're that poor when we go to Paris.
Fosse Boy Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 Come on England! Not looking good. Can't see us winning this if I'm honest judging by last week's performance against Italy.
Joe. Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 9-0 down after 21 minutes. Should be a stroll for Wales.
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