Wales v Wallabies

[Len]

And Roberts finished with ZERO meters

Hes about the most overrated player out there IMO

[wayneha50]

Short of whoesale changes to the coaches (which is long overdue) it's difficult to see where we go from here under the current setup. Very few players outside the squad who can be brought in to freshen it up & the coaches seemingly have absolutely nothing to offer. Could be the start of a very dark period.

[fivepointer]

Didnt see that coming. Aus havent been that good all year but they found another gear today and looked a very decent side.

Even allowing for the missing players I expected more from Wales. They looked pretty lifeless at times, defensively soft and lacking in attacking imagination.

Some of your leading players look over the hill to me, Jenkins, Lydiate, Roberts in particular, while I'm not sure Halfpenny or North are the players they were.

Its only the first game and you will improve.

[Buggaluggs]

Aus were poor. They left 14+ points on the table with sloppy play. Wales were truly dire.

[normanski]

Why do we play a top four team in the first game. We should have played Japan first.

Japan wanted to play a top 10 team

The way we're going we could be outside the top ten by the time the RWC draw is made.

[Spiffy]

Would like to see Wales with footballing playmakers at 10 and 12. Biggar plays far behind the gain line and Roberts' one dimensional game at 12 is entirely predictable now and he looks pedestrian. Might be worth giving Davies a run of a few games at 10, but don't really see any skillful 12s on the scene.

[stud muffin]

Scott Williams is a 12, Think he would be a better option than Roberts. At least the players outside the 12 channel may see more of the ball (Assuming our forwards aren't sh!t)!!!

[stud muffin]

Wales player ratings from ESPN - Think I was watching a different game when it comes to some of the marks!!

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... -australia

Leigh Halfpenny - 7

Kept Wales in the game almost single handedly with his first-half defensive work. Endured a rare off day from the kicking tee.

Alex Cuthbert - 6

Was put under pressure defensively but was one of Wales' main attacking threats. Should have done better with a potential late two-on-one.

Scott Williams - 6

A late inclusion and while he struggled defensively, he scored an excellent try as he gathered his own kick.

Jamie Roberts - 5

An early missed tackle set the tone for a disappointing afternoon. Looked for contact too much with ball in hand.

George North - 4

Bamboozled by Tevita Kuridrani's show-and-go as the Wallabies centre scored a try. Replaced by Hallam Amos in the second half.

Dan Biggar - 3

Not a match he will want to watch back. Rightly shown yellow for tackling Dane Haylett-Petty without the ball.

Rhys Webb - 6

Had a box kick charged down when Biggar was in the bin but did try to get Wales moving forward when they had the ball.

Gethin Jenkins - 3

Looked all of his 35 years as Wales were overwhelmed up front and found lacking in defence. His team needed calm leadership as they shipped early points, but Jenkins was unable to impose himself.

Ken Owens - 4

Part of a Welsh pack that got pushed around for Stephen Moore's opening try and never recovered.

Samson Lee - 4

Could do nothing to stop Australia gaining the upper hand up front. Replaced early in the second half.

Bradley Davies - 5

Showed good awareness to intercept Kuridrani's first-half offload, but was guilty of conceding a turnover.

Luke Charteris - 6

Put in a big shift defensively, as he had to, making 12 tackles in all.

Dan Lydiate - 5

Was required to work tirelessly defensively as Australia swarmed over Wales, but was unable to stem the tide despite making 12 tackles.

Justin Tipuric - 6

Led something of a fightback in the second half, taking the game to Australia with ball in hand. But was part of a Wales back row that was overrun at the breakdown.

Ross Moriarty - 5

Did as much as anyone else to spark the hosts into life with ball in hand but missed two tackles and conceded as many turnovers.

Replacements:

Scott Baldwin - 6

Helped to stem the tide as Wales took the fight to Australia up front.

Nicky Smith - 6

Wales put up a much better fight up front once Smith came on alongside Baldwin and Francis. Managed five tackles in less than a half.

Tomas Francis - 6

Another who came on as Wales' fortunes took a slight upward turn.

Cory Hill - 5

Came on for Bradley Davies to make his debut, hinted he could have a future at this level.

James King - 5

Came on late when the game was long gone.

Gareth Davies - 5

Another late addition, for the injured Webb, tried to keep Wales on the front foot.

Sam Davies - 5

Made his debut as a second-half replacement but found the step up hard. Mistake punished by Haylett-Petty late on.

Hallam Amos - 7

First intervention after coming on was to start the move that resulted in Wales' try. Looked dangerous every time he got the ball and could have added a score of his own.

[stud muffin]

Australia on ESPN

Australia

Israel Folau - 8

Looked dangerous from the first minute whether attacking from deep or on the right wing. His try drought goes on, but it will come.

Dane Haylett-Petty - 7

Dropped a pass from Foley when it looked easier to score, but made up for that with Australia's fifth and final try.

Tevita Kuridrani - 8

Some lovely touches in midfield in making three clean breaks and took his try exceptionally well.

Reece Hodge - 7

Can be happy with a good afternoon's work. Denied a first-half try by a spectacular Halfpenny tackle, linked well with Folau to score soon after.

Henry Speight - 6

Another Australia back who did everything that was asked of him.

Bernard Foley - 9

A man of the match performance that was expertly crowned with a wonderful try. Wasn't at his best from the kicking tee, though.

Nick Phipps - 7

Kept the game ticking over excellently for the Wallabies and was again in tune with Foley outside of him.

Scott Sio - 6

Part of a Wallabies pack that turned the screw right from the off.

Stephen Moore - 7

Delivered his side's opening try as he punished some slack Welsh defence to burrow over.

Sekope Kepu - 6

Sound in the scrum and impressive in the loose. One second-half offload was particularly tasty.

Rory Arnold - 6

Missed a couple of tackles but contributed to an excellent pack performance.

Adam Coleman - 7

Australia's pack was considered a weakness not too long ago. As demonstrated by Coleman's 15 tackles, it isn't anymore.

David Pocock - 6

Perhaps not his most blockbusting performance, but in an unfamiliar role was an important cog in an Australian back row that suffocated Wales.

Michael Hooper - 7

An early burst hinted at things to come and Hooper was at the heart of a stunning performance from the Wallabies at the breakdown.

Lopeti Timani - 6

Ensured that Australia remained on top in what was likely to be the game's key area, the breakdown.

Replacements

Tolu Latu - 5

Didn't have much time to assert himself.

James Slipper - 5

Another late arrival.

Allan Alaalatoa - 5

Came on at a time when Wales were on the front foot but helped keep them out.

Rob Simmons - 6

Continued Coleman's fine work in the second row.

Scott Fardy - 6

Impressed having come on for Pocock early in the second half.

Nick Frisby - 6

Helped a huge defensive effort as Wales camped on the Wallabies line and picked up where Phipps left off.

Quade Cooper - 5

Given tree minutes with the game won.

Sefa Naivalu - 5

Not enough time to show what he can do.

[Buggaluggs]

Aus weren't that good. Wales often presented a defensive line with a 10 yard gap in it. Aus players without the ball were smart enough to either run a line through said hole, or realised that it wasn't their turn and run a decoy away from the hole. The Aus with the ball had mad skills to pass to the player running through the hole. They failed that twice.

Of course these are skills that are beyond Wales. The move that summed it up for me was the fancy pants move that saw ½P smacked well behind the gain line. It had nothing to do with putting ½p into space dynamically as it appeared, but putting him into an exact spot pre-detirmined in training. Well choreographed and apparently easily spotted by the Aus.

[morepork]

I'd be gutted if I was Halfpenny. No remit over and above kicking and defense. Shaun Edwards should be put out to grass. Get some new blood in the 10, 12, 15 positions that haven't been brainwashed by Wawwen's template.

[Sandydragon]

I'd be gutted if I was Halfpenny. No remit over and above kicking and defense. Shaun Edwards should be put out to grass. Get some new blood in the 10, 12, 15 positions that haven't been brainwashed by Wawwen's template.

They need the ball first, but when we have decent possession, I agree with you. Too many moves died with a Roberts taking the ball into contact and we seriously missed Liam Williams.

[Hooky]

And Ireland beat the blacks. Stick with Gats a few more years and Welsh rugby will die on its arse. I already have to force myself to watch this shit. Depressing times. On the brink of not giving a toss.

[MrK]

So
Williams, Giles, Davies , patchell, north, Davies , Webb
Smith , Parry, Lee, AWJ, Charteris, King, Tipiric, moriaty

Henson converted from a 10/15 to a 12 - time to do the same with Patchell!

Jenkins , Owens, Francis , Davies , warburton , Davies, Williams , halfpenny

[Son of Mathonwy]

North's defence was appalling yesterday. I don't think he's ever going to learn how to position himself. Does he fall for the dummy every time??

Only Biggar had the guts to compete for high ball. Liam was badly missed....

In all, we have regressed dramatically. We normally push Aus close, this is just unacceptable.

I guess we'll see over the next few weeks if this is a blip (first match as coach, er this time) for Howley, or this is how it's going to be this season. Given that Howley is (bizarrely) the heir apparent, it would be better for him to have a disastrous season now than for him to actually get the job.

As has been said over and over and over, we need to have a clearout of the coaching team.

[gthedog]

The lack of crowd told me all I needed to know
We can't fill the stadium vs Australia by massive numbers says we are charging the public too much and delivering a shoddy product
We were stagnant in attack and lethargic in defence

[Sandydragon]

The lack of crowd told me all I needed to know
We can't fill the stadium vs Australia by massive numbers says we are charging the public too much and delivering a shoddy product
We were stagnant in attack and lethargic in defence

As much as I hate to say it, games like yesterday and a half full stadium will bring change much quicker than anything else.

Something has to change, even some of our better performers looked out of interest yesterday.

[Discreet Hooker]

Sometimes very difficult to follow and read teams tactics , but I think when your No10 continually punts the ball to the opposition full back when he's possibly the best open play runner in the world, them ain't good tactics.

[Sandydragon]

Sometimes very difficult to follow and read teams tactics , but I think when your No10 continually punts the ball to the opposition full back when he's possibly the best open play runner in the world, them ain't good tactics.

That would be our intention to avoid lineout. Sometimes I'd rather we just let the opposition have the throw.

[morepork]

Sometimes very difficult to follow and read teams tactics , but I think when your No10 continually punts the ball to the opposition full back when he's possibly the best open play runner in the world, them ain't good tactics.

That would be our intention to avoid lineout. Sometimes I'd rather we just let the opposition have the throw.

Who's genius plan was that. The Oz locks are not that great.....

[loudnconfident]

Hard to watch. We dont need a poor Wales. (just a Wales that wins every game, except those against England ) Not much to add to the comments except
- Jamie Roberts needs a rest
- I'm an England supporter, and can remember the 1st test on 11th June. It was watch-through-fingers time as Oz scored 2 tries early on, same sort of play as on Saturday. Eng fought back and Foley again missed kicks. But we could have crumpled as did Wales and we looked as clueless early on. Kudos to Eddie Jones for making substitutions and stopping the rot? You need a new coaching team?
- I will be banned from RR for quoting Stephen Jones, but I liked his comment at the end of the ST match report: "Forget analysis, bin the tapes, and the team should go for a drink. Wales wont be that bad again".

[joshfishkins]

Hard to watch. We dont need a poor Wales. (just a Wales that wins every game, except those against England ) Not much to add to the comments except
- Jamie Roberts needs a rest
- I'm an England supporter, and can remember the 1st test on 11th June. It was watch-through-fingers time as Oz scored 2 tries early on, same sort of play as on Saturday. Eng fought back and Foley again missed kicks. But we could have crumpled as did Wales and we looked as clueless early on. Kudos to Eddie Jones for making substitutions and stopping the rot? You need a new coaching team?
- I will be banned from RR for quoting Stephen Jones, but I liked his comment at the end of the ST match report: "Forget analysis, bin the tapes, and the team should go for a drink. Wales wont be that bad again".

That's what we said after the England game this year.

[Sandydragon]

Sometimes very difficult to follow and read teams tactics , but I think when your No10 continually punts the ball to the opposition full back when he's possibly the best open play runner in the world, them ain't good tactics.

That would be our intention to avoid lineout. Sometimes I'd rather we just let the opposition have the throw.

Who's genius plan was that. The Oz locks are not that great.....

Indeed. But we never adapt The Plan (TM) , regardless of who we are playing.

[Sandydragon]

Hard to watch. We dont need a poor Wales. (just a Wales that wins every game, except those against England ) Not much to add to the comments except
- Jamie Roberts needs a rest
- I'm an England supporter, and can remember the 1st test on 11th June. It was watch-through-fingers time as Oz scored 2 tries early on, same sort of play as on Saturday. Eng fought back and Foley again missed kicks. But we could have crumpled as did Wales and we looked as clueless early on. Kudos to Eddie Jones for making substitutions and stopping the rot? You need a new coaching team?
- I will be banned from RR for quoting Stephen Jones, but I liked his comment at the end of the ST match report: "Forget analysis, bin the tapes, and the team should go for a drink. Wales wont be that bad again".

Some players wont be individually. Halfpenny wont miss kicks like that again. But sadly many of our issues are systemic and the time for change has long since arrived.

Ive been a Gatland supporter for a long time. He has moved us a long way forward, but we have been tactically hobbled for the last few seasons as the game changed around us. There was a real opportunity to change some of the supporting coaches and bring in fresh blood, but that was missed. As a result, I think we need a full change, but I doubt that will happen until after the next RWC. Between now and then I cant see it being pretty.

[Numbers]

[quote="stud muffin"]Wales player ratings from ESPN - Think I was watching a different game when it comes to some of the marks!!/quote]

If you look at the descriptions they give for the ratings you can tell these have been based solely on the stats.

Moriarty was our best player by a stretch I thought, Amos was good when he came on and Webb was ok when he was on the field, there is little else positive to comment on about the other performances, we were way off the pace, hopefully we'll have some of the injured players back for Saturday or we may struggle against the Arg.