Welsh Team v Tonga ...what you think.

[cashead]

Well, that was a fucking grind to get through.

[Sandydragon]

Well we won. Other than that, I'm not sure that we learnt that much. Cuthbert took his try well. Anscombe looks assured with ball in hand from full back, but less solid in defence.

As a team we made far too many mistakes at key times and if anything tried to play too much rugby in the wrong parts of the field. I think the next game will be telling.

[Timmyspicyman]

Samoa just got absolutely destroyed by NZ, so they'll be looking for a bit of revenge next week.

If the error count is as high as today, then we might struggle.

Also, wtf has Giles got to do to get his cap. FFS, get him in the mix!

[Numbers]

Samoa just got absolutely destroyed by NZ, so they'll be looking for a bit of revenge next week.

If the error count is as high as today, then we might struggle.

Also, wtf has Giles got to do to get his cap. FFS, get him in the mix!

Did you see the match Tim, from the report it sounded like Cuthbert missed a couple of chances but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

[Timmyspicyman]

Samoa just got absolutely destroyed by NZ, so they'll be looking for a bit of revenge next week.

If the error count is as high as today, then we might struggle.

Also, wtf has Giles got to do to get his cap. FFS, get him in the mix!

Did you see the match Tim, from the report it sounded like Cuthbert missed a couple of chances but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

Missed the first 15 mins (as I was asleep), so didn't see the first two chances. The try he took was good, but wasn't anything magic. Would have preferred Giles to have a run out!

[Numbers]

Samoa just got absolutely destroyed by NZ, so they'll be looking for a bit of revenge next week.

If the error count is as high as today, then we might struggle.

Also, wtf has Giles got to do to get his cap. FFS, get him in the mix!

Did you see the match Tim, from the report it sounded like Cuthbert missed a couple of chances but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

Missed the first 15 mins (as I was asleep), so didn't see the first two chances. The try he took was good, but wasn't anything magic. Would have preferred Giles to have a run out!

Absolutely, sounds like we glossed the scoreline with the penalty try at the very end.

[ALunpg]

Yep...it was a win..and if that was all we set out yp do ot did it .

But still I thought it was not really anything to sing about. I agee with Timmy we will get a whole lot of shoitems dumped on us next week and have problems holding Samoa next week .
Which would not worry me a toss if we did some development .
I hoped Steff Evans would break free ...but it seems he was saddled with the plague of death that haunts Welsh internationals at this moment in time . Mind you playing at Eden Park has frozen many experienced players.

Improvement. .nil Signs of Hope....nil.
What we have learnt ...nothing as we KNEW McBryde was not up to the task.

Hopefully when I watch it again tonight after a few beers it may soften the edge...or maybe not...I will drink a few drams as well first.

[Sandydragon]

Samoa just got absolutely destroyed by NZ, so they'll be looking for a bit of revenge next week.

If the error count is as high as today, then we might struggle.

Also, wtf has Giles got to do to get his cap. FFS, get him in the mix!

Did you see the match Tim, from the report it sounded like Cuthbert missed a couple of chances but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

2 near misses, not much in it to be fair. The try he scored was pretty decent and he put in a reasonable shift before he was subbed.

I'd still have preferred Gilles to have started; we know what Cuthbert can do so why have a backline made up of players we know so much about when there are genuine contenders waiting to have a go.

[Sandydragon]

Yep...it was a win..and if that was all we set out yp do ot did it .

But still I thought it was not really anything to sing about. I agee with Timmy we will get a whole lot of shoitems dumped on us next week and have problems holding Samoa next week .
Which would not worry me a toss if we did some development .
I hoped Steff Evans would break free ...but it seems he was saddled with the plague of death that haunts Welsh internationals at this moment in time . Mind you playing at Eden Park has frozen many experienced players.

Improvement. .nil Signs of Hope....nil.
What we have learnt ...nothing as we KNEW McBryde was not up to the task.

Hopefully when I watch it again tonight after a few beers it may soften the edge...or maybe not...I will drink a few drams as well first.

It was a poor match on the whole. A few players showed glimpses of individual promise but we still kick too much and not well enough. Also far too many errors in the wrong parts of the field. Some players tried to force it a bit at times, but that is largely inexperience.

Until the last 5 minutes when we got a penalty then penalty try, that game was far too close for comfort.

Dont fancy our chances much next week.

[wayneha50]

Warrenball is alive & well!

1. Seek contact at all times.
2. No offloads.
3. Kick the ball away continuously with little chance of competing for it.

[Sourdust]

Obligatory "perspective" post:

A scratch team; first hit out with several new caps; halfway around the world; in the rain; won by 18 points and never looked like conceding a try.

Certainly 24-6 is flattering, but TBH Tonga barely merited 6. It was a frustrating watch but it's a decent result. But have we learned anything? Not much, except that our much-lauded depth in the back row is a tad shallower than we thought. Only Ellis Jenkins showed up in the loose, and that was when Tonga were already spent. Cuthbert DID do well; he was forced a millimetre into touch by a heavy tackle first, then was 10cm short chasing an over-long cross-kick. When finally given space and a man to beat, he did it, and through his own creativity too. I too would have rather seen Giles there, but if Cuthbert is ever going to get back he needs games and performances like this. After the initial flurry Wales never got the ball wide again, so Evans and Allen were anonymous all night.

[PoolerSaint]

We failed to secure any meaningful front foot possession after the first 20 minutes.
Anscombe was head & shoulders our standout player & I've never been his biggest fan. He was very assured at 15.
Nicky Smith was pretty good at loosehead against their monster tighthead.
Seb Davies definitely has potential but still needs work which is understandable.
Steff Evans did OK with limited ball but tackled well.
Dissapointed with the centre combo considering they were the most high profile & experienced players on the pitch.

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[ALunpg]

We failed to secure any meaningful front foot possession after the first 20 minutes.
Anscombe was head & shoulders our standout player & I've never been his biggest fan. He was very assured at 15.
Nicky Smith was pretty good at loosehead against their monster tighthead.
Seb Davies definitely has potential but still needs work which is understandable.
Steff Evans did OK with limited ball but tackled well.
Dissapointed with the centre combo considering they were the most high profile & experienced players on the pitch.

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Can't disagree with most of that.

The only problems Smith had was in scrums where the opposition prop was driving in at an angle but the ref never pinged him so he carried on...then it got really messy when they both did it.

Outwith that I was hoping for more from Shingler and Young...but they were OK also thought Navidi did well ..
DIssapointed with Scott Williams . the Doc was what he always is. ..but Teo showed for the Lions today what the Doc should be doing ...but isn't. AND Sam Davies gave him the ball that he could feed off. ..but seemed just to snack on it !!
Anscombe took his chance well to play at 15..and looked good ...but in fairness to others his defensive qualities were not rigorously tested. That said he did step up to first reciever and make it another option.
All in all a decent hit out...but still the report card says ..should and could have done much better.

Next week will be interesting with 4 going to NZ and possibly explains why there were so many locks and 9 so for two matches.
I am sure Mr McBryde. Will find a listime of reasons not to change the back line.

[Sourdust]

Cuthbert's out apparently.

Which means Evans & Giles are the only recognized wingers in the squad.

What the betting they still won't both get picked?

[PoolerSaint]

Cuthbert's out apparently.

Which means Evans & Giles are the only recognized wingers in the squad.

What the betting they still won't both get picked?

It'll be Cory Allen out of position on one wing.
Given Cuthbert's absence & the four bonkers lions call ups, we're going to be stuffed on Friday. Thanks Gatland.

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[Sandydragon]

Aye, hopes for a decent result on Friday are pretty low. The best I can foresee is some players have a decent game in their own right.

Real shame Gatland didn't call up Jamie Roberts into the Lions Squad - that way one of our younger centres could have started.

[PoolerSaint]

Aye, hopes for a decent result on Friday are pretty low. The best I can foresee is some players have a decent game in their own right.

Real shame Gatland didn't call up Jamie Roberts into the Lions Squad - that way one of our younger centres could have started.

Very true, we could've been forced heaven forbid to have a playmaker like Owen Williams at 12 with an actual passing game.
It's little wonder we've regressed as a national side when you think the last person to play at 12 who could actually pass with vision was Henson. When was that 2008?
Nothing wrong with route one & Jamie has been hugely successful in that regard. But you must have other options.

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[Sandydragon]

Exactly. Scott Williams is seen as a bit for of a distributor than Roberts, but I wouldn't put Scott anywhere near the level of Henson in his prime.

[PoolerSaint]

Problem is they've just asked Scott to fulfil the Jamie role & bash it up. Not exactly playing to his strengths.
Maybe that says more about Howley's coaching than anything else. Or lack of it.

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[Sourdust]

Cuthbert's out apparently.

Which means Evans & Giles are the only recognized wingers in the squad.

What the betting they still won't both get picked?

It'll be Cory Allen out of position on one wing.

We're here all week, folks!