Italy next

[Sandydragon]

Well England have just done us a favour.

[normanski]

Hmm.

I guess feeling rather flat about a 41pt away win is where you'd want to be.

I hope the PD doesn't come back to bite us, because let's be honest we left 15-20 points out there. The "finishers" didn't quite do the job, it felt a bit like one of those Gatland wins where we'd do enough and then treat the rest as tackling practice.

4 from 4 and I'm moaning. Just checked; still Welsh.

Pre tournament there was talk of today’s game being a wooden spoon decider, the 4 from 4 is very nice. I know what you man though, Wales looked good for 60 points after the LRZ score, and it was disjointed after that.

A confusing set of adverts on ITV this afternoon, interspersing Guinness, and erectile dysfunction products. The circle of life.

The sentimental ad for 150 years of England rugby followed by an erectile disfunction ad was a classic.

Brewers droop or homo erectus!

[normanski]

Well no GS for France. England 23-20 winners.

[normanski]

We’ll find out if France are any good next week. Did they flatter to deceive?

[Wallpaperman]

Well no GS for France. England 23-20 winners.

England finished stronger and deserved that. France look incredible at times but ended up losing today, and were reeled back to a close finish in Dublin. Really looking forward to next weekend.

[Sandydragon]

Well England have been awarded a try which we were denied earlier. Still do not understand why Adams try was disallowed.

I think France have been the best team overall and are still the team to beat. They have some weaknesses which hopefully we can exploit. But they can be sublime too.

They don’t seem to finish games that strongly though.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Happiest I've been on an England victory. Shame France got a point but can't complain.

Also, seeing England and France playing at a similar level gives us more confidence about where we are relative to France.

Good day!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well England have been awarded a try which we were denied earlier. Still do not understand why Adams try was disallowed.

Seems like one of those unquantifiable 'home advantage' things.

[normanski]

Happiest I've been on an England victory. Shame France got a point but can't complain.

Also, seeing England and France playing at a similar level gives us more confidence about where we are relative to France.

Good day!

Did France flatter to deceive? England are certainly not the side they were and we put forty points on them.

Next week will be a step up for our boys but I have a very strong feeling we will make it.

Allez Les Rouges!

[MrK]

Positives today

Intent - the intent to play was very good to see
Defence - yes Italy arent great but Melon has turned the screw here
Lineout - I thoght the lineout was better again and we had some nice training ground moves off a few of them
Our maul - an impact from the above but Ive never seen our maul looking so effective, its nice to see
Ken - thought he had a great day today
Backrow - test animals, blah blah, big game players, blah blah, but Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau really do compliment each other very well, individually there might be better players, but I'd argue theres no finer balanced back row than these 3
Ball - honestly, he gives us such good go forward when hes on
LZR - I was unsure, im still not 100% convinced, but he seems to have composure, and incredible turn of speed and a very broad skill set

Negatives today

Scrum - didnt look that secure, bizarrely on the tight head side, usually Francis is secure
Scrum 1/2- I like Davies as a "finisher", but hes not an 80 minute player for me - fast on his feet but slow to distribute, - Id like to see Tomos back
JD2 - yes he created a try, but honestly, his inability to be able to pass accruately, consistently, has constantly baffled me
Adams - now I really rate him, but he is showing signs of chippy arrogance, yes you need that confidence to be a top international in any sport, but I just sense hes starting to tip over
Composure - that should have been 50+, they left points out on the park today

[normanski]

Positives today

Intent - the intent to play was very good to see
Defence - yes Italy arent great but Melon has turned the screw here
Lineout - I thoght the lineout was better again and we had some nice training ground moves off a few of them
Our maul - an impact from the above but Ive never seen our maul looking so effective, its nice to see
Ken - thought he had a great day today
Backrow - test animals, blah blah, big game players, blah blah, but Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau really do compliment each other very well, individually there might be better players, but I'd argue theres no finer balanced back row than these 3
Ball - honestly, he gives us such good go forward when hes on
LZR - I was unsure, im still not 100% convinced, but he seems to have composure, and incredible turn of speed and a very broad skill set

Negatives today

Scrum - didnt look that secure, bizarrely on the tight head side, usually Francis is secure
Scrum 1/2- I like Davies as a "finisher", but hes not an 80 minute player for me - fast on his feet but slow to distribute, - Id like to see Tomos back
JD2 - yes he created a try, but honestly, his inability to be able to pass accruately, consistently, has constantly baffled me
Adams - now I really rate him, but he is showing signs of chippy arrogance, yes you need that confidence to be a top international in any sport, but I just sense hes starting to tip over
Composure - that should have been 50+, they left points out on the park today

I was impressed by France in the first twenty minutes of the England game but thereafter they lost their way and went mostly sideways rather than forwards.
I have a feeling we have the beating of France next week.

They huff and puff but if our defence and breakdown turnovers come to the fore we are on for a GS. I don’t want to sound overconfident but I think this going to be our year and I’ve said that since the Ireland game.

Onwards and upwards!

[MrK]

I was impressed by France in the first twenty minutes of the England game but thereafter they lost their way and went mostly sideways rather than forwards.
I have a feeling we have the beating of France next week.

They huff and puff but if our defence and breakdown turnovers come to the fore we are on for a GS. I don’t want to sound overconfident but I think this going to be our year and I’ve said that since the Ireland game.

Onwards and upwards!

It'll be a good game I think. Im sure it will be a nail biter.

I think Pivac has a pretty clear idea of what his preferred 23 is now, and whilst I dont agree with all the selections, thats a good place to be and Im happy to back that.

Of course, winning "another" (who'd have thought having lived through the 80s and 90s I'd be saying that!) Grand Slam is always good, particulary this year when its wound every f#cker up about how lucky we have been, but what I want is a team that will constantly be more of a challenge to the SH teams. Its odd given where we were in the Autumn, but we arent a million miles away from that. Im not saying we would just turn up and win, but there is something slightly different about the way we are playing that should ask more questions of the SH teams

I also like the fact that we are building depth in key positions, Im not going to say strength in depth yet, but certainly depth.

We need to nail down a 9 thats the biggest issue we have at the moment.

[Zhivago]

would be a 4th slam for AW Jones... that's gotta be a record

[normanski]

would be a 4th slam for AW Jones... that's gotta be a record

He’s come back with a vengeance this season. What a test animal.

After last year, I thought he would start to fade quite quickly but he’s proved everyone wrong. He’s ferocious and leads from the front.

If Wales are fortunate enough to win a GS and he gets his fourth, what an accolade for one of the best rugby players in the world.

Boris should make him a knight of the realm in the Birthday Honours in June.

[Sandydragon]

would be a 4th slam for AW Jones... that's gotta be a record

He’s come back with a vengeance this season. What a test animal.

After last year, I thought he would start to fade quite quickly but he’s proved everyone wrong. He’s ferocious and leads from the front.

If Wales are fortunate enough to win a GS and he gets his fourth, what an accolade for one of the best rugby players in the world.

Boris should make him a knight of the realm in the Birthday Honours in June.

Now that’s a petition to start.

[Sandydragon]

would be a 4th slam for AW Jones... that's gotta be a record

Aside from the very early days, the only team to have won four grand slams within say 10 years is France. Maybe a few of the French team from mid 90s to mid 00s might have four.

[Sourdust]

Take the win and enjoy it. Remember the times when we’ve narrowly lost after a mistake like JD2’s kick toDaly to lose to England in the last minute in 2017.

I love that you imagine I've forgotten that!

[normanski]

Take the win and enjoy it. Remember the times when we’ve narrowly lost after a mistake like JD2’s kick toDaly to lose to England in the last minute in 2017.

I love that you imagine I've forgotten that!

No, none of us forget those narrow losses. It’s what keeps Wales fans going forward with hope in our hearts.

[Sourdust]

The big difference this year is that we have "emotional insurance". Lose narrowly to France, and we'll still probably be 6N Champions. Even if we get smashed, we'll still have the Triple Crown, (probably) 2nd place and a very satisfying season. Some of our rivals will enjoy watching us lose of course, but they'll still know we've done better than they expected / hoped.

[Sandydragon]

The big difference this year is that we have "emotional insurance". Lose narrowly to France, and we'll still probably be 6N Champions. Even if we get smashed, we'll still have the Triple Crown, (probably) 2nd place and a very satisfying season. Some of our rivals will enjoy watching us lose of course, but they'll still know we've done better than they expected / hoped.

English fans can STFU about the Liam Williams try being a bit dodgy after Itojes yesterday. And the Irish got away with an iffy one today so these things even themselves out.

[Sourdust]

English fans can STFU about the Liam Williams try being a bit dodgy after Itojes yesterday. And the Irish got away with an iffy one today so these things even themselves out.

The Itoje one is weird.

Speaking as a rugby fan; It's absolutely a try. There is no way we should be disallowing tries because the ball MIGHT not have touched the grass even though there's no earthly reason to believe that it didn't.

But the ref asked the "On-field NO / Yes or No?" question. That means you have to see grounding. I don't know what Joy Neville was watching but it must have been much higher resolution than my TV if she could clearly see grounding there. So, it's the wrong TMO call; but in response to the wrong question IMO, so the correct result.

As to the Adams try; see my second paragraph. Try all day. But that one was called as a try, and specifically overruled by the TMO, on the grounds that Adams was eventually in touch, and you can't clearly see grounding before that; even though there's no other player involved and - again - no logical reason to suppose that the ball hasn't touched a single blade of grass. So "Try Yes/No" could conceivably result in NO if you're being pedantic in the extreme. But the answer to "Any reason why not" is unequivocally NO.

Not a great day for the TMOs I'd say. France might feel annoyed but really shouldn't. We don't care too much because we scored a hatful, but the Adams rule-out did affect our scoring momentum, and if we end up losing the title by a whisker on PD..?

[normanski]

English fans can STFU about the Liam Williams try being a bit dodgy after Itojes yesterday. And the Irish got away with an iffy one today so these things even themselves out.

The Itoje one is weird.

Speaking as a rugby fan; It's absolutely a try. There is no way we should be disallowing tries because the ball MIGHT not have touched the grass even though there's no earthly reason to believe that it didn't.

But the ref asked the "On-field NO / Yes or No?" question. That means you have to see grounding. I don't know what Joy Neville was watching but it must have been much higher resolution than my TV if she could clearly see grounding there. So, it's the wrong TMO call; but in response to the wrong question IMO, so the correct result.

As to the Adams try; see my second paragraph. Try all day. But that one was called as a try, and specifically overruled by the TMO, on the grounds that Adams was eventually in touch, and you can't clearly see grounding before that; even though there's no other player involved and - again - no logical reason to suppose that the ball hasn't touched a single blade of grass. So "Try Yes/No" could conceivably result in NO if you're being pedantic in the extreme. But the answer to "Any reason why not" is unequivocally NO.

Not a great day for the TMOs I'd say. France might feel annoyed but really shouldn't. We don't care too much because we scored a hatful, but the Adams rule-out did affect our scoring momentum, and if we end up losing the title by a whisker on PD..?

We’d have to take a hammering in Paris to lose on PD. Courage dear friend, we’re going to win a Grand Slam and put the what’ifs truly to bed on Saturday.

[Sandydragon]

English fans can STFU about the Liam Williams try being a bit dodgy after Itojes yesterday. And the Irish got away with an iffy one today so these things even themselves out.

The Itoje one is weird.

Speaking as a rugby fan; It's absolutely a try. There is no way we should be disallowing tries because the ball MIGHT not have touched the grass even though there's no earthly reason to believe that it didn't.

But the ref asked the "On-field NO / Yes or No?" question. That means you have to see grounding. I don't know what Joy Neville was watching but it must have been much higher resolution than my TV if she could clearly see grounding there. So, it's the wrong TMO call; but in response to the wrong question IMO, so the correct result.

As to the Adams try; see my second paragraph. Try all day. But that one was called as a try, and specifically overruled by the TMO, on the grounds that Adams was eventually in touch, and you can't clearly see grounding before that; even though there's no other player involved and - again - no logical reason to suppose that the ball hasn't touched a single blade of grass. So "Try Yes/No" could conceivably result in NO if you're being pedantic in the extreme. But the answer to "Any reason why not" is unequivocally NO.

Not a great day for the TMOs I'd say. France might feel annoyed but really shouldn't. We don't care too much because we scored a hatful, but the Adams rule-out did affect our scoring momentum, and if we end up losing the title by a whisker on PD..?

The Adams try should have been given and I have no issue with Itojes either. The benefit of the doubt should be with the attacker unless there is clear evidence of the ball being dropped or held up.

[Sourdust]

We’d have to take a hammering in Paris to lose on PD. Courage dear friend, we’re going to win a Grand Slam and put the what’ifs truly to bed on Saturday.

13 points is hardly a hammering, is it? We've lost by a LOT more than that in Paris before.

France 27 - 14 Wales
France 32 - 21 Scotland (4 tries)
=
France win the 6N on PD.

[Sourdust]

The Adams try should have been given and I have no issue with Itojes either. The benefit of the doubt should be with the attacker unless there is clear evidence of the ball being dropped or held up.

What I said, but in two sentences, as opposed to five paragraphs.