Match thread: Wales vs France

[I R Geech]

And what has Gatland's game plan actually delivered for Wales, when they play opposition that isn't bottom-of-the-barrel shit?

Beating everyone with some regularity apart from the SH three?

Exactly!

That's more a reflection on the relative quality between NH and SH. The truth is that Wales have been one of the relatively better teams in a group of not particularly great teams, rather than being in any proximity to the Rugby Championship teams.

[Buggaluggs]

"rather than being in any proximity to the Rugby Championship teams"

Pretty stupid comment. Wales are very much in the same proximity as RSA and Aus and better than Argentina. As recent results reflect.

[tigran]

Seriously guys, this french team has been assembled with uncapped players and long time banned ones, they have had three weeks of work together, you can't be surprised about their faults to play as a team..But it will be better as time passes. You can be sure the mood in France is a lot more pleased than the last four years.

As for Wales, well, they have disappointed me, I expected, like many of our compatriots a severe victory from les poireaux, but hadn't it been for a very lucky try the result could well have been similar to the game against Ireland. I think these french rookies have had more opportunities to score in the last 20 minutes than the welsh have had all game.

Your defence has been brilliant though.

[Banquo]

Seriously guys, this french team has been assembled with uncapped players and long time banned ones, they have had three weeks of work together, you can't be surprised about their faults to play as a team..But it will be better as time passes. You can be sure the mood in France is a lot more pleased than the last four years.

As for Wales, well, they have disappointed me, I expected, like many of our compatriots a severe victory from les poireaux, but hadn't it been for a very lucky try the result could well have been similar to the game against Ireland. I think these french rookies have had more opportunities to score in the last 20 minutes than the welsh have had all game.

Your defence has been brilliant though.

France played like a bunch of schoolboys, all following the ball. They were awful really, surprised Noves hasn't been able to at least get some structure.

[I R Geech]

"rather than being in any proximity to the Rugby Championship teams"

Pretty stupid comment. Wales are very much in the same proximity as RSA and Aus and better than Argentina. As recent results reflect.

Not really, think it's one win against the Sanzar teams since 2009? Might be another in there somewhere, but hardly enough to worry them. Not having a pop, just saying being one of the better NH teams in't that big a deal at the moment.

Could be worse, you could come round ours and support Scotland.

[tigran]

Seriously guys, this french team has been assembled with uncapped players and long time banned ones, they have had three weeks of work together, you can't be surprised about their faults to play as a team..But it will be better as time passes. You can be sure the mood in France is a lot more pleased than the last four years.

As for Wales, well, they have disappointed me, I expected, like many of our compatriots a severe victory from les poireaux, but hadn't it been for a very lucky try the result could well have been similar to the game against Ireland. I think these french rookies have had more opportunities to score in the last 20 minutes than the welsh have had all game.

Your defence has been brilliant though.

France played like a bunch of schoolboys, all following the ball. They were awful really, surprised Noves hasn't been able to at least get some structure.

Maybe he doesn't understand "structure" as you do

[Banquo]

Seriously guys, this french team has been assembled with uncapped players and long time banned ones, they have had three weeks of work together, you can't be surprised about their faults to play as a team..But it will be better as time passes. You can be sure the mood in France is a lot more pleased than the last four years.

As for Wales, well, they have disappointed me, I expected, like many of our compatriots a severe victory from les poireaux, but hadn't it been for a very lucky try the result could well have been similar to the game against Ireland. I think these french rookies have had more opportunities to score in the last 20 minutes than the welsh have had all game.

Your defence has been brilliant though.

France played like a bunch of schoolboys, all following the ball. They were awful really, surprised Noves hasn't been able to at least get some structure.

Maybe he doesn't understand "structure" as you do

so you think he had a plan, and they knew what they were doing? They looked pretty clueless with the ball, at least until Trinh-Duc came on.

[UKHamlet]

"rather than being in any proximity to the Rugby Championship teams"

Pretty stupid comment. Wales are very much in the same proximity as RSA and Aus and better than Argentina. As recent results reflect.

Not really, think it's one win against the Sanzar teams since 2009? Might be another in there somewhere, but hardly enough to worry them. Not having a pop, just saying being one of the better NH teams in't that big a deal at the moment.

Could be worse, you could come round ours and support Scotland.

Before Gatland we were getting thrashed every time by the top 3. Now we are getting beaten by Aus and SA in the last few minutes. NZ are still a problem, but they regularly beat the other two anyway.

We need to start getting the odd win every year and to do that we should be sharpening the point. That's something Gats has declared as an objective, a work in progress, if you like. If we haven't done so by the autumn internationals, then I would be inclined to believe it is beyond the scope of the present team and management... particularly our attack coach.

[Sandydragon]

"rather than being in any proximity to the Rugby Championship teams"

Pretty stupid comment. Wales are very much in the same proximity as RSA and Aus and better than Argentina. As recent results reflect.

Not really, think it's one win against the Sanzar teams since 2009? Might be another in there somewhere, but hardly enough to worry them. Not having a pop, just saying being one of the better NH teams in't that big a deal at the moment.

Could be worse, you could come round ours and support Scotland.

Before Gatland we were getting thrashed every time by the top 3. Now we are getting beaten by Aus and SA in the last few minutes. NZ are still a problem, but they regularly beat the other two anyway.

We need to start getting the odd win every year and to do that we should be sharpening the point. That's something Gats has declared as an objective, a work in progress, if you like. If we haven't done so by the autumn internationals, then I would be inclined to believe it is beyond the scope of the present team and management... particularly our attack coach.

I pretty much agree with this. Most of our games against SH teams are far tighter than they used to be. But, we need something tweeked in attack. Given the role of the bench in the modern game, I'd go as far as to say that the starting team is fine, it's the provision of game changers on the bench that needs a change to allow for more play makers. Alternatively, we need an alternative to Biggar as our main playmaker, one player can't do it all on their own.

[hawkaye]

Good scrum, good line out, great defence - controlled the game and won well. Champagne would be nice but satisfaction in team composure and confidence. Ball carrying forward and an elusive OH who ran occasionally would be on my wish list with a few more offloads. But a really good team performance.

[joshfishkins]

Not sure about the good scrum bit - we were penalised a few times for that. Looked like ScrumWang to me, but then I was watching in a pub. North's try was bizarre/embarrassing. Gareth Davies is a really dangerous runner, so why did he kick when he was in space? Lydiate wants shooting for making the same mistake two games running - sorry, Dan, but that's just foolish. Biggar appears to have forgotten how to pass - is that playing to orders?

Our defence won that game, but Gatland called it 'brilliant' straight after. Why can't he see what we all can?

Whilst I don't think England are that great at the moment, they are hardly going to be worried about our visit.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Whilst I don't think England are that great at the moment, they are hardly going to be worried about our visit.

I think - after what we did the last time we were there - they will rightly be worried. But I see them as marginal favourites. Bit of a throw of the dice the England match - if we keep it together defensively for 80 minutes, we'll win. If we have a few lapses, we'll have no idea how to score the tries we need to win the game.

[Sandydragon]

Whilst I don't think England are that great at the moment, they are hardly going to be worried about our visit.

I think - after what we did the last time we were there - they will rightly be worried. But I see them as marginal favourites. Bit of a throw of the dice the England match - if we keep it together defensively for 80 minutes, we'll win. If we have a few lapses, we'll have no idea how to score the tries we need to win the game.

This is my concern. We aren't fashioning tries at the moment and unless we can keep ourselves infant by kicking 3 points or taking advantage of a mistake, then I worry that we could be in trouble if we fall behind and need to catch up.

[hawkaye]

We will not make the same mistake as Ireland of not taking penalty points. Keep the score board moving. Kick into space behind the defensive line to create uncertainly - draw FB forward and make English backrow run hard and backwards; start to offload later.

[Son of Mathonwy]

We will not make the same mistake as Ireland of not taking penalty points. Keep the score board moving. Kick into space behind the defensive line to create uncertainly - draw FB forward and make English backrow run hard and backwards; start to offload later.

What is this? Wasn't it made illegal* a few years back?



* Gatlawed

[Flying Scarlet]

From looking at both matches from the weekend, it is crucial that our wingers don't get sucked in too much when defending in our 22. Irelands defenders were sucked in towards the middle of the defensive line too many time, leaving possible free run ins for the wingers...

[Billyfish]

Do we know who the ref is yet?

[Flying Scarlet]

Do we know who the ref is yet?

Craig Joubert (SARU)
AR1 Jérôme Garcès (FFR)
AR2 Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
TMO Ben Skeen (NZR)

[Numbers]

From looking at both matches from the weekend, it is crucial that our wingers don't get sucked in too much when defending in our 22. Irelands defenders were sucked in towards the middle of the defensive line too many time, leaving possible free run ins for the wingers...

That's the whole reason teams pick and drive in the middle of the park, to draw in multiple defenders and create gaps, if the wingers stayed out wide the opposition would score closer to the posts.

[Billyfish]

Do we know who the ref is yet?

Craig Joubert (SARU)
AR1 Jérôme Garcès (FFR)
AR2 Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
TMO Ben Skeen (NZR)

Christ hasn't he been arrested yet.

Or at the very least banned from coming within a 2000 mile radius of Scotland.

[Billyfish]

I can't remember what he is like at scrums. We may have an advantage there (though looking at the stats we didn't do as well against the scratch French side as I thought). Marler is improving for Ingerland but still don't think he's any great shakes, Mako hasn't come on much either from what I've seen.

[Renniks]

I can't remember what he is like at scrums. We may have an advantage there (though looking at the stats we didn't do as well against the scratch French side as I thought). Marler is improving for Ingerland but still don't think he's any great shakes, Mako hasn't come on much either from what I've seen.

Marler seems to have regressed slightly from a year after the new scrums came in to play
Mako seems to be improving, but is mainly great around the park rather than in the scrum…

I think it'll be a bit of a coin flip, either team could take the scrum, and whoever does will get a bit of ascendancy in the other areas

[kk67]

I think it'll be a bit of a coin flip, either team could take the scrum, and whoever does will get a bit of ascendancy in the other areas

I've been totally unsurprised/surprised by England. Wales should Boss them off the park.....but Jones has started sprinkling his fairy dust and now I'm worried.

Nah,....Wales will control it.

[Renniks]

I think it'll be a bit of a coin flip, either team could take the scrum, and whoever does will get a bit of ascendancy in the other areas

I've been totally unsurprised/surprised by England. Wales should Boss them off the park.....but Jones has started sprinkling his fairy dust and now I'm worried.

Nah,....Wales will control it.

I think England will really struggle to score tries against that Welsh defence…

Equally, I think Wales will really struggle to score with that Welsh attack.

[kk67]

I think it'll be a bit of a coin flip, either team could take the scrum, and whoever does will get a bit of ascendancy in the other areas

I've been totally unsurprised/surprised by England. Wales should Boss them off the park.....but Jones has started sprinkling his fairy dust and now I'm worried.

Nah,....Wales will control it.

I think England will really struggle to score tries against that Welsh defence…

Equally, I think Wales will really struggle to score with that Welsh attack.

If Tuilagi comes back in......their attack looks better.
Welsh d is blydi good.