Team v Italy

[Wallpaperman]

7 point game, Italy down to 13. Bit of fun for the last 2 minutes

[bruce]

Interesting last minute or two

[Wallpaperman]

Not that much fun. Shuffling the ball about in their own 22 then conceding the penalty. Just horrible.

[pompey-zebra]

Interesting last minute or two

Not interesting enough sadly.

[bruce]

Well that just shows how clueless we are in attack. They've got 2 off the pitch and we lose ground. Not sure why Italy didn't go for the 3 points and deny us the bonus point but there you go.

[Wallpaperman]

Well that just shows how clueless we are in attack. They've got 2 off the pitch and we lose ground. Not sure why Italy didn't go for the 3 points and deny us the bonus point but there you go.

Quite generous of them really

[Son of Mathonwy]

Dire. Sorry, no point in doing something that doesn't work for 70 minutes then playing a bit of rugby at the end. Utter shit.

At least we should be shot of Gatland at last. Useless has-been who's been holding us back.

[bruce]

I've backed Gatland previously but feck me it's time get rid. Apart from one or two individuals there is nothing to indicate any progression or even an ideology.

[Wallpaperman]

Dire. Sorry, no point in doing something that doesn't work for 70 minutes then playing a bit of rugby at the end. Utter shit.

At least we should be shot of Gatland at last. Useless has-been who's been holding us back.

I think that Gatland will be gone at the end of the tournament now. Beating Scotland and England would probably save him but that is never going to happen.

Ireland might tear Wales a new arsehole in a couple of weeks.

[pompey-zebra]

Well that just shows how clueless we are in attack. They've got 2 off the pitch and we lose ground. Not sure why Italy didn't go for the 3 points and deny us the bonus point but there you go.

They probably think it wont affect the table in the end.

[Wallpaperman]

I've backed Gatland previously but feck me it's time get rid. Apart from one or two individuals there is nothing to indicate any progression or even an ideology.

Especially the ideology. 70 minutes of kicking the ball poorly, and it’s like the backline don’t know what they are doing.

Morgan good again, Faletau went well until he ran out of steam. Edwards and Teddy Williams looked nice off the bench.

[Wallpaperman]

Well that just shows how clueless we are in attack. They've got 2 off the pitch and we lose ground. Not sure why Italy didn't go for the 3 points and deny us the bonus point but there you go.

They probably think it wont affect the table in the end.

You can see why

[pompey-zebra]

I've backed Gatland previously but feck me it's time get rid. Apart from one or two individuals there is nothing to indicate any progression or even an ideology.

No, at the moment we dont need coaches who can turn good players into a golden generation, we need someone who can roll a turd in glitter. 18 months after the RWC, we're still dropping in competitiveness. Forget building for the next RWC finishing 5th in the 6n should be a target.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The only ball the back line saw was high ball. And of quite mixed quality. Christ, plan B needs to be put into action a bit earlier than that. Maybe it was a mistake to play a centre at 10. For the most part I don't blame the players - they worked hard (if thanklessly) (although Adams wasn't great and was lucky that wasn't red). Dragons led by donkeys.

[Buggaluggs]

Christ! Even in the misery days we had backs who could put some moves together. That was painful watching. No vision. No tactics to exploit mis matches. Which was irrelevant, because the execution was abysmal anyway. High passes; over running; crappy timing. And we have Ireland next!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Christ! Even in the misery days we had backs who could put some moves together. That was painful watching. No vision. No tactics to exploit mis matches. Which was irrelevant, because the execution was abysmal anyway. High passes; over running; crappy timing. And we have Ireland next!

Yep, reckon Ireland will be looking to put some record score against us. What better time?

[Sandydragon]

On my God, that was a new low (again).

Why are we picking injured players and hoping they receiver in time? Even if Liam had started he would probably have broken down and needed replacement before time.

Why are we picking a centre at flyhalf and just hoping that it will work? I feel very sorry for Ben Thomas. I think he’s a good player and could be very good for us, but as inside centre. There’s a perfectly good fly half at Gloucester who could have played.

Why have we gone through a year where it was all about young players having an opportunity, but have now reverted to players who have very little time left at the top? I don’t like losing games, but after the pain of last season, the only light was that we were building for the future. Older players have returned and we have gone backwards.

What the hell is our game plan? The one up runners hoping to break a tackle went out of vogue years ago. No point moaning that we don’t have the players for Warrenball any more; if that is the case try another tactic!

Whilst the whole WRU downwards is a mess, it’s equally clear that Gatland is stuck in the past. Sadly the change is likely to be Howley but that light be enough to regalvanise the team a bit.

[pompey-zebra]

On my God, that was a new low (again).

Why are we picking injured players and hoping they receiver in time? Even if Liam had started he would probably have broken down and needed replacement before time.

Why are we picking a centre at flyhalf and just hoping that it will work? I feel very sorry for Ben Thomas. I think he’s a good player and could be very good for us, but as inside centre. There’s a perfectly good fly half at Gloucester who could have played.

Why have we gone through a year where it was all about young players having an opportunity, but have now reverted to players who have very little time left at the top? I don’t like losing games, but after the pain of last season, the only light was that we were building for the future. Older players have returned and we have gone backwards.

What the hell is our game plan? The one up runners hoping to break a tackle went out of vogue years ago. No point moaning that we don’t have the players for Warrenball any more; if that is the case try another tactic!

Whilst the whole WRU downwards is a mess, it’s equally clear that Gatland is stuck in the past. Sadly the change is likely to be Howley but that light be enough to regalvanise the team a bit.

I watched the England v France game, and it showed what can happen when a team is put under pressure. France tick all the boxes yet when under pressure they go from winning 43-0 to losing a week later. Wales just don't put teams under sufficient pressure, for a multitude of reasons. How can you win if the opposition doesnt feel in jeopardy? Yes, we might not have a golden generation of players, but are they being used as well.as they can be? If they are, then things are even worse than we think.

[Son of Mathonwy]

This is the new nineties. Gatland should resign at the end of the 6N. Shame Tierney didn't accept his resignation last year - another great WRU decision.

[Sandydragon]

This is the new nineties. Gatland should resign at the end of the 6N. Shame Tierney didn't accept his resignation last year - another great WRU decision.

I’d like to think that we can find something during this six nations to make us feel a bit better, but I’m not that hopeful. Our players look deflated and I don’t think the current management have any answers.

[Graigwen]

That was a truly appalling performance.

We were poor in so many ways that it is difficult to know where to start. As we were lacking in strategic direction and tactical execution, it might be a good idea to have a stand off on the pitch in future, I rate Ben Thomas as a good centre, a passable place kicker, but he does not have the insight or flair to be a stand off. His kicking out of hand is a bit mindless. Edwards is young and inexperience and is still learning but at the moment is a better international stand off.

Tomos Williams had an off day, his kicking out of hand was awful. we were just giving possession away. I found myself longing for Gareth Davies. Rhodri Williams is not the future but he made a better job of scrum half when he came on.

The three quarter line as a whole still lacks penetration. This is tied into the stand off problem of course. Our line out was a bit ropey, although the italians also had flaws.

Rowlands has been a good player for us in the past but has looked strangely lethargic in the past two games.

Faletau was solid and took responsibility, but eventually run out of gas, not really surprising given how little rugby he has played in the past couple of years. Had Sanjay played he would also have been below par. Murray was OK as a makeshift full back.

Where now?
I have no clue.
.

[paddy no 11]

Lake, baird, wainwright starting would help

Not thomas at 10

Also there's no point to Tompkins at this point,he's not effective at club level

[Sandydragon]

Lake, baird, wainwright starting would help

Not thomas at 10

Also there's no point to Tompkins at this point,he's not effective at club level

Tompkins has been ineffective for some time. Wainwright is a decent blind side in many ways and he certainly adds energy. I like Botham, but he feels more like an open side out of position.

Lake is a loss.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Lake, baird, wainwright starting would help

Not thomas at 10

Also there's no point to Tompkins at this point,he's not effective at club level

Tompkins has been ineffective for some time. Wainwright is a decent blind side in many ways and he certainly adds energy. I like Botham, but he feels more like an open side out of position.

Lake is a loss.

Yeah, Botham is good but at this level he's more of a 6.5
Wainwright is our best 6 now.

I'd like to see Ratti in the squad - he's more substantial but still quick enough (I think). I'd like to see more of Rhys Davies but not sure if he's struggling to fully come back from injury.

Not sure we can do much different with the front 5. Lake and Elias are both missed. I think Dee should be starting now, even if he isn't as big as Lloyd.

Anscombe and Llewellyn should be called up to join Tomos. Not convinced by Adams any more - if Sanjay is fit I'd leave him out. Mee at 23.

Gatland should try something different. What's to lose now?

[Ross. S]

Gatland should try something different.

Haven't we been saying that for a decade or more now?