Digby's big Wales vs Georgia thread

[Puja]

I'm actually hugely intrigued by the Wales vs Georgia game. Georgia are currently flying, have a settled team after putting away Canada last week, and have massive motivation given this is basically an interview for a 7N. Wales, on the other hand have selected a mixed 2nds/3rds, including someone playing his third ever game of pro 15s rugby on the openside, a no 8 who's never played there, and Alex Cuthbert. Their pack is inexperienced and lightweight and it's due to rain tomorrow.

Obviously it's a bit of a long-shot, but it doesn't feel like the Welsh are showing the Georgians enough respect and I suspect it could come back to bite them. Starting half an hour before ours, so that should be enough time to tell if the Georgians are going to make a game of it or not.

Puja

[Digby]

There must be threads for the Georgia game? Someone should alert a mod!

[Puja]

Your wish == My command

I thought, since we were talking about varying types of rubbish dump activities that we were doing on Saturday in the Eng vs Aus thread, that I'd mention Cardiff. Seemed cogent to me.

Puja

[Digby]

Is this how much you want to avoid the Welsh board?

[Scrumhead]

Hahaha!

I'm equally intrigued. I honestly cannot fathom how Thomas Young can't get in to the squad ahead of Sam Cross and his 2 games of professional 15 a side rugby.

If Georgia weren't already up for proving a point, that Wales lineup should give them added incentive.

[Puja]

If Georgia weren't already up for proving a point, that Wales lineup should give them added incentive.

My thoughts too. That lineup is not just saying, "We don't want you in our league," it's saying, "We think we're utterly out of your league." Whether the latter is true or not, it's a bit of a slap in the face.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Totally agree, but then let’s be honest, we’d most probably put out an experimental side against Georgia too. Ours would just look a bit better given the depth we have.

[Digby]

I'd have wanted Biggar and Williams to play to work on timings ahead of NZ and SA at the very least, probably the 9 too, and probably the 13 having lost JD

[fivepointer]

The first scrum might tell us something. Bound to be huge pressure on a pretty lightweight Welsh front 5 with a rookie tighthead. Georgia have a pack and can scrummage.

[CunningPunter]

Perhaps it's a cunning plan to make Georgia look good and get them into a 7N so that there will be at least one team Wales can beat?

[Puja]

Well, I've just guaranteed a Welsh win - I put a bet on Georgia. You're welcome Welsh fans and Ladbrokes.

Puja

[bitts]

I'm actually hugely intrigued by the Wales vs Georgia game. Georgia are currently flying, have a settled team after putting away Canada last week, and have massive motivation given this is basically an interview for a 7N. Wales, on the other hand have selected a mixed 2nds/3rds, including someone playing his third ever game of pro 15s rugby on the openside, a no 8 who's never played there, and Alex Cuthbert. Their pack is inexperienced and lightweight and it's due to rain tomorrow.

Obviously it's a bit of a long-shot, but it doesn't feel like the Welsh are showing the Georgians enough respect and I suspect it could come back to bite them. Starting half an hour before ours, so that should be enough time to tell if the Georgians are going to make a game of it or not.

Puja

Cuthbert is normally worth about 10 points to the opposition. Last time I saw him play for Wales i thought it was cruel to keep making him turn up when his form and confidence is so low.

[loudnconfident]

Well, I've just guaranteed a Welsh win - I put a bet on Georgia. You're welcome Welsh fans and Ladbrokes.
Puja

Ladbrokes are 7.5 for Georgia. SkyBet 9. ((and Betfair 11.5). I've risked a fiver on skybet, if only to gain the £5 free bet offer when you wager £25 in a week. I wont be hedging it on BF!

[Peat]

Its nice to know that Jiffy doesn't know the rules.

[Insouciant]

Didn't see this but my understanding is Wales won because of street smarts. I have no idea how Gatland has turned a a good side into such a pile of turd. It's funny but mainly because he comes across as a bit of a twunt.

[Mr Mwenda]

He's just been there far to long, rackon. I'm always surprised both him and wales keep the relationship going. Perhaps for the kids' sake?

[kk67]

Interesting game. Butler and Jiffy were moaning about it being a dirge.

[kk67]

If anyone's interested two of the other AI games are being shown on freeview tonight.

[Puja]

Interesting game. Butler and Jiffy were moaning about it being a dirge.

Jiffy was an absolute joke today. I don't mind a little bit of bias from my commentators (Hamilton losing control and shouting "GO!" as Hogg made a break at the end of the Scotland vs NZ match was a highlight), but Davies was an embarrassment.

Puja

[Digby]

Interesting game. Butler and Jiffy were moaning about it being a dirge.

Jiffy was an absolute joke today. I don't mind a little bit of bias from my commentators (Hamilton losing control and shouting "GO!" as Hogg made a break at the end of the Scotland vs NZ match was a highlight), but Davies was an embarrassment.

Puja

And it's an easy fix to have their analysts not work on games featuring their nation

[Mellsblue]

Interesting game. Butler and Jiffy were moaning about it being a dirge.

Jiffy was an absolute joke today. I don't mind a little bit of bias from my commentators (Hamilton losing control and shouting "GO!" as Hogg made a break at the end of the Scotland vs NZ match was a highlight), but Davies was an embarrassment.

Puja

And it's an easy fix to have their analysts not work on games featuring their nation

I quite like it if they hsve to the odd occasion or aside. Hamilton’s momentary loss of professionalism today sounds fun as did Moore’s line to the effect of ‘its not been a high standard game but who cares as we won’. It’s the persistent bias people like Jiffy and Lawson that gripes.

[kk67]

You miserable bunch of winkers,....when did everyone on the net turn into H...?
I clearly missed the memo'.

[Digby]

What should happen when you have a front rower sent from the field of play and the replacement sent on to make up a front row isn't a specialist and the scrum goes uncontested? Which is to say should the replacement be required to leave the field too in order for a scrum to go uncontested?

Yes the team is penalised by going down a player, but they can gain (as did Edwards and Gatland yet again) by going uncontested in the scrum?

Myself I'd let the team going down a man keep 14 on the park but tell their loose forwards if they don't keep a full bind at the scrum and don't stay bound until the scrum is over it'll be a penalty try

[Puja]

What should happen when you have a front rower sent from the field of play and the replacement sent on to make up a front row isn't a specialist and the scrum goes uncontested? Which is to say should the replacement be required to leave the field too in order for a scrum to go uncontested?

Yes the team is penalised by going down a player, but they can gain (as did Edwards and Gatland yet again) by going uncontested in the scrum?

Myself I'd let the team going down a man keep 14 on the park but tell their loose forwards if they don't keep a full bind at the scrum and don't stay bound until the scrum is over it'll be a penalty try

If a player is injured (or "injured") then that's exactly what the laws says should happen - the player leaves the field and no sub is allowed, taking them down to 14. However, if it's because of a yellow, then the team has already gone down to 14 and there is no law saying that they should lose another player. A loophole which the IRB really need to close.

Puja

[Digby]

Should they close that loophole? Is it even a loophole?

On other occasions that could see a team go down to 13 players for 10 minutes 'cause a prop slipped or the ref got the order of offences wrong