United Rugby Championship

[Sandydragon]

It’s been the mystery for years. I know it was popular to criticise the time spent in the Welsh camp for poor regional performances but I think that only takes you so far. None of the regions have looked consistently strong since the Ospreys in their pomp years, and that now seems a long time ago.

They remain the poor relations but you can’t help that nagging feeling that they could be run so much better.

[normanski]

It’s been the mystery for years. I know it was popular to criticise the time spent in the Welsh camp for poor regional performances but I think that only takes you so far. None of the regions have looked consistently strong since the Ospreys in their pomp years, and that now seems a long time ago.

They remain the poor relations but you can’t help that nagging feeling that they could be run so much better.

Our performance in the 6N this year will depend a lot on the returning players from injury and how up to speed they are.

Fair play to Pivac, he’s blooded a hell of a lot of youngsters and not so young players during the autumn internationals.

It takes time to get up to good international standards and we now have a fair pool of talented young players ready to take the next steps if the seniors are found wanting.

I would not be despondent if we only won three games this year in the 6N - Pivac will be building for the RWC and bringing on loads of young talent with very little fear of other teams.

[Sandydragon]

It’s been the mystery for years. I know it was popular to criticise the time spent in the Welsh camp for poor regional performances but I think that only takes you so far. None of the regions have looked consistently strong since the Ospreys in their pomp years, and that now seems a long time ago.

They remain the poor relations but you can’t help that nagging feeling that they could be run so much better.

Our performance in the 6N this year will depend a lot on the returning players from injury and how up to speed they are.

Fair play to Pivac, he’s blooded a hell of a lot of youngsters and not so young players during the autumn internationals.

It takes time to get up to good international standards and we now have a fair pool of talented young players ready to take the next steps if the seniors are found wanting.

I would not be despondent if we only won three games this year in the 6N - Pivac will be building for the RWC and bringing on loads of young talent with very little fear of other teams.

The fixtures this year make life harder for us. Injuries to some key players will also affect us a lot. Navidi and Tipuric are really important and we will also miss North and AWJ.

Winning in Dublin and Twickenham are big asks. France at home too will be hard going, assuming they even turn up given the covid situation. If we win against Scotland (not a given by any means) and Italy and are competitive in the other games then I will be fairly happy.


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[normanski]

Sandy- a lot will depend on whether we can keep a fit and mobile pack on the field for the whole tournament. If Wyn Jones has got back to peak fitness, along with Owens/Elias and Francis then we will have a front row who can be competitive. Beard and Rowlands seem to work well together as locks and if Tipuric, Faletau, Navidi, Wainright, Jenkins and Basham are fully fit then we have a reasonable back row.

We have a lot of talent in the backs, so barring significant injuries, I think this year we might cause a few upsets, even in Dublin and Twickenham. The Irish are so full of themselves currently that I feel they could fall at the first hurdle despite their magnificent showing against the All Blacks.

A tournament to look forward to.

[Sandydragon]

Sandy- a lot will depend on whether we can keep a fit and mobile pack on the field for the whole tournament. If Wyn Jones has got back to peak fitness, along with Owens/Elias and Francis then we will have a front row who can be competitive. Beard and Rowlands seem to work well together as locks and if Tipuric, Faletau, Navidi, Wainright, Jenkins and Basham are fully fit then we have a reasonable back row.

We have a lot of talent in the backs, so barring significant injuries, I think this year we might cause a few upsets, even in Dublin and Twickenham. The Irish are so full of themselves currently that I feel they could fall at the first hurdle despite their magnificent showing against the All Blacks.

A tournament to look forward to.

I thought Navidi and Tips had been ruled out for most of the tournament? Faletau should be available, although I have no idea what his form will be like. Front five is pretty stable, barring AWJ of course. The back row could be a bit different to what we would like. I hope we don't go to Dublin with Ellis Jenkins, Basham and Wainwright as the back row as that could be a long afternoon.

[Numbers]

Anyone think Irish ref, Frank Murphy, was terrible in the Edinburgh Cardiff game. He gave Cardiff very little with border line decisions going to the Scots.

Discuss.

He's a terible ref and yes he gives the home teams any 50/50 decisions.

[Numbers]

I'm disappointed at Botham's injury, he was the best player for Cardiff on the weekend prior to going off.

[normanski]

I'm disappointed at Botham's injury, he was the best player for Cardiff on the weekend prior to going off.

The Fail were saying this afternoon that Cherry should have been cited for leading with his head into Botham’s head.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Who'd be a Dragons fan? Dee not catching Pivac's eye in the way intended.

Moriarty was the one real positive. Given the lack of 6s he should start against Ireland.

[Sandydragon]

Who'd be a Dragons fan? Dee not catching Pivac's eye in the way intended.

Moriarty was the one real positive. Given the lack of 6s he should start against Ireland.

I sometimes wonder who I have upset in a previous life. That was fecking dire, and utterly clueless at the end. Neither side deserved to win but we looked determined to throw away a draw.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Who'd be a Dragons fan? Dee not catching Pivac's eye in the way intended.

Moriarty was the one real positive. Given the lack of 6s he should start against Ireland.

I sometimes wonder who I have upset in a previous life. That was fecking dire, and utterly clueless at the end. Neither side deserved to win but we looked determined to throw away a draw.

....
And yet after all of that, a really good weekend for Wales, only one loss, all teams competitive and a massive streak broken by Cardiff. Just in time for the 6N.

[Sandydragon]

That was a massive win for Cardiff. Hopefully they can build on this but the six nations disruption won’t help.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Damn, Cardiff v Zebre postponed. Would have been interesting to see the ball reversing direction in mid-flight.

[normanski]

Damn, Cardiff v Zebre postponed. Would have been interesting to see the ball reversing direction in mid-flight.

What’s the weather like in South Wales? Not too bad in the Midlands at the moments windy with occasional short downpours.

[Sandydragon]

Sounds like its worse down south. We had a very windy hour or so earlier but its not that bad now.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Damn, Cardiff v Zebre postponed. Would have been interesting to see the ball reversing direction in mid-flight.

What’s the weather like in South Wales? Not too bad in the Midlands at the moments windy with occasional short downpours.

No idea! Weather in London was very, very windy but not too wet. Now just very windy.

[Wallpaperman]

Ugh. Another 29-7 defeat in Dublin. This time it was Leinster vs Ospreys. Two tries scored when Ospreys had a man in the bin, all this is giving me flashbacks.

The Ospreys tackled hard (apart from Luke Morgan who was last man v James Lowe when the score was 15-0 and the game was just about still a contest) but after the first try it felt obvious who was going to win. Rhys Webb got a good individual try when it was 22-0.

Hopefully the Scarlets can do better later on.

[Wallpaperman]

Very nice first 20 or so from the Scarlets and they got a nice try when Scott Williams chipped through for Johnny Williams, to put them 10-0 up.

The scarlets got a penalty after the drop out and instead of going for touch Dan Jones went cross field, kicking straight to Yarnold, who ran it straight back and scored. Connacht have looked good since, with the Scarlets conceding a string of penalties. After another Scarlets error, Connacht scored a try right on half time and deservedly lead 18-13 at the interval.

Johnny Williams has had lengthy treatment on his right knee, not sure if he will be out for the second half.

[Wallpaperman]

Horrible first 12 minutes of the second half from the scarlets, very good Connacht. 29-13

[Wallpaperman]

Hardy and Patchell are on and have added some direction to the Scarlets play. Penalty try Scarlets and Connacht have a second row in the bin. 29-20 with about 17 minutes to go.

Johnny Williams stayed on and is playing pretty well.

[Wallpaperman]

Ooh. Hardy knocks on with the line at his mercy with 12 to go.

[Wallpaperman]

Scarlets knock on over the line. Dogged work by Connacht but the Scarlets missed a couple of golden chances. About 9 minutes to go

[Wallpaperman]

Harsh second yellow for Fifita, the Connacht second row. Penalty Scarlets with 4 minutes to go. 15 v 14 for the rest of the game.

[Wallpaperman]

Penalty kicked. 29-23 Connacht, although they are a man down.

[Wallpaperman]

Connacht concede a daft penalty for throwing the ball away. Scarlets kick into the 22. Good defence from Connacht, driving Scarlets back and Scott Williams knocks on under pressure after the clock goes red. Still time for the scrum. Connacht clear and hold on for the win.

Big win for Connacht. They dominated for about half an hour and gave the Scarlets too much to do. Big chance missed for the Scarlets, missing chances and playing against 14 men for most of the last 20. Another poor day for the Welsh regions. Don’t fancy the Dragons v Ulster tomorrow, either !

Patchell looked good, especially after an off day for Dan Jones, Johnny Williams was pretty good, Scarlets forwards looked quality for the first 20, Kalamafoni, Louis, Shingler, Morgan Jones etc, but they lost the arm wrestle for most of the match after that. Was hoping Morgan Jones would carry on his good form, but he was subbed.