Team v Japan Second test

[pompey-zebra]

Hardy fucks up again. That was a shocking pass.

We’re letting it go again

Hardy is not normally as useless as he has been on this tour. But he had a truly horrendous second half today.

As a general point, these wild passes without checking anyone can reach them must stop.

Plumtree can kick!

.

He had a shocker of of a second half , didn't he? It's one reason why I dont trust the 6-2 split bench, Hardy could have been hooked sooner, but once Giles was on, we only had RMW as back cover. I can see reasons for having 6 forwards in the conditions, but I doubt 5 minutes of Reffell at the end compensated for being unable to take Hardy off once his head had gone.

[Sandydragon]

Thank fuck for that. We were much the better side until we started gassing and giving away soft tries.

Dan Edwards is clearly a better option than anyone else at 10, but we need to get a half decent option at 13. Apart from Williams, the backs acquitted themselves well. Half back is a problem though, once you get past Tomos.

The forwards are a bit meh. Wainright carried well, I guess. The locks looked uncomfortable, and the front row just about did a job against a weak Japanese pack..

Beard and Jenkins are our best locks. Past them and it’s not pretty. Rowlands of course was once very good but seems to be on a downward slope now. None of those on tour imposed themselves on Japan and you would fear for them against a strong forward pack.

Aside from hooker, we have some real lack of quality in the front five.

Back row there are other players to come back. Morgan obviously and Moriarty possibly. Plumtree should have been starting. Mann isn’t up to it and one has to wonder when Morgan Morse is going to get an opportunity?

[Son of Mathonwy]

My god we did our best to lose that. But yeah, it's good to get over the line, I guess get that extra bit of luck we didn't get last week.

Hardy, hero and villain - 2 tries, 2 tries gifted away.

That no-look pass from Plumtree. Let's say I'm glad it went to a Welsh hand. On another day that's another breakaway try for Japan.

Crucially, the set-piece functioned. That was easily the difference between the two matches.

The 6-2 split almost bit us at the end but I guess not since we scored a try with 2 scrum halves and 1 centre.

We'll bank this - a winning streak of 1 - and move on to the new coach and whatever philosophy that comes with him.

(Yeah, Giles got his cap at last. Not much ball to play with but he did okay.)

[Tuco Ramirez]

monkey still not gone.... next it will be 1 win in 22 etc etc

[Son of Mathonwy]

monkey still not gone.... next it will be 1 win in 22 etc etc

Yeah, good point. It would be nice if the media didn't go on about that. Still, the new coach can tell them to shut up if they do choose to bang on about it, it's nothing to do with him.

[Sandydragon]

And the AIs include South Africa and the AllBlacks, so there’s no expectation on this team to actually win- avoiding a total slaughter would be a good narrative.

We just need this new head coach in so he can target the sox nations and avoid a third wooden spoon fiasco

[pompey-zebra]

monkey still not gone.... next it will be 1 win in 22 etc etc

Yeah, good point. It would be nice if the media didn't go on about that. Still, the new coach can tell them to shut up if they do choose to bang on about it, it's nothing to do with him.

At least the win moves Wales up the rankings to the dizzying heights of 12th, just behind the might of Georgia. According the Fail this is significant as the top 12 team are seeded, and if below 12th " Wales faces a group of death" in the RWC. ( although on current form I wouldn't be confident in any group)

As Sandy says we've got NZ and SA in the autumn so the Argentina and Japan ( again) games are vital for wins. Wales need to back up that Japan result.

[UKHamlet]

Thank fuck for that. We were much the better side until we started gassing and giving away soft tries.

Dan Edwards is clearly a better option than anyone else at 10, but we need to get a half decent option at 13. Apart from Williams, the backs acquitted themselves well. Half back is a problem though, once you get past Tomos.

The forwards are a bit meh. Wainright carried well, I guess. The locks looked uncomfortable, and the front row just about did a job against a weak Japanese pack..

Beard and Jenkins are our best locks. Past them and it’s not pretty. Rowlands of course was once very good but seems to be on a downward slope now. None of those on tour imposed themselves on Japan and you would fear for them against a strong forward pack.

Aside from hooker, we have some real lack of quality in the front five.

Back row there are other players to come back. Morgan obviously and Moriarty possibly. Plumtree should have been starting. Mann isn’t up to it and one has to wonder when Morgan Morse is going to get an opportunity?

I've been flying the Morse flag for a while. He's of real quality and I'm surprised the powers that be can't see it. You're right, though; our props are dog meat. I wonder how many years Beard has left at the international level, so maybe lock will become an issue. Mann definitely isn't a first choice. He's a good club player, and that's about it.