HP is spent

[UKHamlet]

Leigh Halfpenny has announced his retirement from international rugby, effective from the end of the Baabaas match.

I feel a little choked at this, because we've book-ended his career at RR. He's was, in my view, for a short period, the best defensive fullback in World Rugby Union and probably the best goal kicker anywhere. No-one had his sense of positioning. But his career was interrupted by injuries that would have curtailed that of lesser men.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... l-27978804

[Son of Mathonwy]

Legend. World class and invaluable to Wales for years.

[Puja]

Agree with that assessment Hammy - he was a pain in the arse to have on the opposition, cause at his best he'd just knock over every single goddamned penalty short of halfway and made you so difficult to play against. Great competitor and hope he goes on to do something fun.

Puja

[Banquo]

Great player, under rated ball in hand as well.

[pompey-zebra]

A great servant to Wales and as Hammy says, probably only injury stopped him being even better. We remember his famous kicking and defence, but in his pomp he was bloody quick too. I remember watching a Cardiff game on TV when he made a break on the wing and it looked like one of those visual effects where everyone slows down apart from one person, given the pace he injected into the line.

Deserves to go down as one of our best.

[Banquo]

A great servant to Wales and as Hammy says, probably only injury stopped him being even better. We remember his famous kicking and defence, but in his pomp he was bloody quick too. I remember watching a Cardiff game on TV when he made a break on the wing and it looked like one of those visual effects where everyone slows down apart from one person, given the pace he injected into the line.

Deserves to go down as one of our best.

He started off as wing didn't he?

[Ross. S]

A great servant to Wales and as Hammy says, probably only injury stopped him being even better. We remember his famous kicking and defence, but in his pomp he was bloody quick too. I remember watching a Cardiff game on TV when he made a break on the wing and it looked like one of those visual effects where everyone slows down apart from one person, given the pace he injected into the line.

Deserves to go down as one of our best.

I remember one of his early internationals, against Scotland IIRC, he scored in the corner from a cross field kick, and all the comms were saying theres no way he was on side, replay said different In his early hays he had to have been one of the quickest players on any rugby field. Absolutely gutted to see him go. In 30 years he'll be revered up there with JPR, Gareth, AWJ etc

[pompey-zebra]

A great servant to Wales and as Hammy says, probably only injury stopped him being even better. We remember his famous kicking and defence, but in his pomp he was bloody quick too. I remember watching a Cardiff game on TV when he made a break on the wing and it looked like one of those visual effects where everyone slows down apart from one person, given the pace he injected into the line.

Deserves to go down as one of our best.

He started off as wing didn't he?

He did, yes.

[Spiffy]

One of my favourite players. Would die for the cause. Brave as they come, modest, a rock at the back and a deadly goal kicker. He was blazingly fast too when he was a young slim wing scoring tries for fun. What a career.

[Sourdust]

It would have been a major surprise if this HADN'T happened now, but that doesn't make it any less of a shame.

I've said my piece on ½p before. Quite possibly my favourite player of the professional era. One of the few of whom you can say, with certainty, that our history would have been markedly inferior if you removed him alone from it.

My go-to moment is still that tackle on Dave Strettle at Twickenham in 2012; even though it would probably be a yellow card (at least) and a penalty try today! At the time, it was possibly the finest, bravest try-saving tackle I had ever seen, and possibly remains so. England work the ball to the right wing quickly, and as Strettle bears down on the Wales line, the camera cuts to a wide angle showing from the posts to the corner flag, and ½p isn't even in shot. Somehow, in the time Strettle takes to make the 25m (?) to the tryline, ½p has made >40m (?) to intercept. With no time left to address tackle technique he simply hits his man any way he can, surely knowing that he's going to hurt himself; indeed, he reportedly didn't register the final whistle. Arguably dangerous and probably penalized today - even then the TMO took a while to consider it - but on the day, that one act saved Wales' Grand Slam.

[Sandydragon]

Leigh Halfpenny has announced his retirement from international rugby, effective from the end of the Baabaas match.

I feel a little choked at this, because we've book-ended his career at RR. He's was, in my view, for a short period, the best defensive fullback in World Rugby Union and probably the best goal kicker anywhere. No-one had his sense of positioning. But his career was interrupted by injuries that would have curtailed that of lesser men.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... l-27978804

Well it's not a surprise and no one can continue forever. But for so long he has been a class player. A model professional. His initial foray as a winger wasn't a resounding success but he developed himself as a full back through hard work and no small amount of bravery. Some of his tackles to deny certain tries were enough to make anyone wince.

Whatever he decides to do afterwards, I hope he is successful and thanks for being such a key part of our successes over the past 15 years or so.

[Donny osmond]

Great player, fantastic sportsman, he's earner a long and happy retirement

[UKHamlet]

[UKHamlet]

Not done yet.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-28024756

[JonnyScuba]

Confirmed to Crusaders

[oldbackrow]

Leigh Halfpenny has announced his retirement from international rugby, effective from the end of the Baabaas match.

I feel a little choked at this, because we've book-ended his career at RR. He's was, in my view, for a short period, the best defensive fullback in World Rugby Union and probably the best goal kicker anywhere. No-one had his sense of positioning. But his career was interrupted by injuries that would have curtailed that of lesser men.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... l-27978804

Absolutely agree, and I'd add he was a pivotal player for Wales both attack and defence. That last Australia Lions test really showed how creative and what an attacking threat he really was. Hope he has a great time in NZ and then back to Wales as kicking coach (or even better if he comes to England!)

[UKHamlet]

Reportedly, HP is being lined up to play at 10 for the Crusaders.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Reportedly, HP is being lined up to play at 10 for the Crusaders.

It'll be weird - and frustrating - if he turns out to be a brilliant 10 .

Although it will not be surprising if he can do a decent job there.

[UKHamlet]

Reportedly, HP is being lined up to play at 10 for the Crusaders.

It'll be weird - and frustrating - if he turns out to be a brilliant 10 .

Although it will not be surprising if he can do a decent job there.

I've often wondered why more 9s don't convert to 10. They have most of the attributes necessary, plus they're usually very pacey. I get that 9s are in short supply, but 10 is the golden bollocks position.

[pompey-zebra]

Reportedly, HP is being lined up to play at 10 for the Crusaders.

It'll be weird - and frustrating - if he turns out to be a brilliant 10 .

Although it will not be surprising if he can do a decent job there.

I've often wondered why more 9s don't convert to 10. They have most of the attributes necessary, plus they're usually very pacey. I get that 9s are in short supply, but 10 is the golden bollocks position.

As I recall, ( and I could be wrong) this seemed to be quite common in France at one point, with players playing both 9 and 10, rather than dedicated to 9 or 10. They do seem more dedicated to one or the other these days though.

[Mikey Brown]

I thought he was retiring completely. Cool for him to get a run with the Crusaders.

It would be very strange to see him at 10 though. I can’t say distribution is the first thing that comes to mind in his skillset.

Though saying that, he’s a good footballer. My first memory of being impressed by Halfpenny was him and Martyn Williams for Cardiff seemingly passing the ball back and forth to eachother about 5 times and going most of the length of the pitch, and it didn’t feel like anyone else could read what they were doing.

[Son of Mathonwy]

It'll be weird - and frustrating - if he turns out to be a brilliant 10 .

Although it will not be surprising if he can do a decent job there.

I've often wondered why more 9s don't convert to 10. They have most of the attributes necessary, plus they're usually very pacey. I get that 9s are in short supply, but 10 is the golden bollocks position.

As I recall, ( and I could be wrong) this seemed to be quite common in France at one point, with players playing both 9 and 10, rather than dedicated to 9 or 10. They do seem more dedicated to one or the other these days though.

Will we see any more of the Tomos experiment I wonder??

[pompey-zebra]

I've often wondered why more 9s don't convert to 10. They have most of the attributes necessary, plus they're usually very pacey. I get that 9s are in short supply, but 10 is the golden bollocks position.

As I recall, ( and I could be wrong) this seemed to be quite common in France at one point, with players playing both 9 and 10, rather than dedicated to 9 or 10. They do seem more dedicated to one or the other these days though.

Will we see any more of the Tomos experiment I wonder??

Well, Gatland certainly implied as much, if it came to it. And with costellow looking like he's out until the new year, the other options seem limited. From Gatland's comments, Sheedy looks back in the running, with the alternatives being regional players with few if any caps. Other than that, could it be an emergency call to Biggar, or maybe make an exemption for Jarrod Evans despite not having 25 caps? None of the options are foolproof, so maybe it's better to bite the bullet and give one of the youngsters a chance despite the lack of experience, even if only on the bench.

[Son of Mathonwy]

As I recall, ( and I could be wrong) this seemed to be quite common in France at one point, with players playing both 9 and 10, rather than dedicated to 9 or 10. They do seem more dedicated to one or the other these days though.

Will we see any more of the Tomos experiment I wonder??

Well, Gatland certainly implied as much, if it came to it. And with costellow looking like he's out until the new year, the other options seem limited. From Gatland's comments, Sheedy looks back in the running, with the alternatives being regional players with few if any caps. Other than that, could it be an emergency call to Biggar, or maybe make an exemption for Jarrod Evans despite not having 25 caps? None of the options are foolproof, so maybe it's better to bite the bullet and give one of the youngsters a chance despite the lack of experience, even if only on the bench.

I haven't seen Sheedy for ages but he would seem to be back in the running. On current for Owen Williams might not make it. Lloyd is looking really good but it's very early days . . . although he's going to be a lot more experienced at 10 by the end of 2023.

[Sandydragon]

Will we see any more of the Tomos experiment I wonder??

Well, Gatland certainly implied as much, if it came to it. And with costellow looking like he's out until the new year, the other options seem limited. From Gatland's comments, Sheedy looks back in the running, with the alternatives being regional players with few if any caps. Other than that, could it be an emergency call to Biggar, or maybe make an exemption for Jarrod Evans despite not having 25 caps? None of the options are foolproof, so maybe it's better to bite the bullet and give one of the youngsters a chance despite the lack of experience, even if only on the bench.

I haven't seen Sheedy for ages but he would seem to be back in the running. On current for Owen Williams might not make it. Lloyd is looking really good but it's very early days . . . although he's going to be a lot more experienced at 10 by the end of 2023.

Hopefully he can hold down a position and not become the new James Hook of Welsh rugby. The kids got huge potential and whilst there are work ons, he could be superb if allowed to master one position.