RugbyRebels

Much that I want to sack the lot of them at this precise moment I still think we shouldn't get rid without a proper (presumably better) replacement.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 5:23 pm Our bench destroyed us. Losing AWJ, Faletau, Anscombe made a huge difference. Unbelievable capitulation.

We lose something in the second half every time. Composure maybe but it went to shyte from that Priestland interception onwards.

Has he resigned yet?

I simply couldn't believe we took Faletau and AWJ off in that game situation. I was shouting "At least bloody limp or something, boys!" at the screen.

I just can't process this. Should probably step away from the keyboard...

It's not been a good week for Welsh sport, on the whole...

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 5:28 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 5:23 pm Our bench destroyed us. Losing AWJ, Faletau, Anscombe made a huge difference. Unbelievable capitulation.

We lose something in the second half every time. Composure maybe but it went to shyte from that Priestland interception onwards.

This should be the new definition of 'turning point'.

Maybe this is the time for our players to accept - whether they're playing for club or country - that it's better to let them score that try (or at least keep the defence legal) rather than get a yellow. The yellows destroyed us. Just shipping 2 tries wouldn't have.

Cuthbert: 5m run, 0 tackles, 1 tackle missed. FFS

https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=289281

I was shocked how quickly Wales went from dominance to capitulation. One Aussie try seemed to be enough for Wales to.lose their composure, and that led to the defeat. Yes, some of the older heads were off the pitch, but how could there be such a lack of leadership to let that lead slip?

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 7:47 pm I was shocked how quickly Wales went from dominance to capitulation. One Aussie try seemed to be enough for Wales to.lose their composure, and that led to the defeat. Yes, some of the older heads were off the pitch, but how could there be such a lack of leadership to let that lead slip?

Worst of all, it was the experienced players who were losing their heads.

Priestland’s interception pass.

Tipurics trip (utter idiotic).

Elias’ yellow.

A little bit of pressure and suddenly it all went wrong. We used to be a bloody minded team, now were a laughing stock.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 6:17 pm Cuthbert: 5m run, 0 tackles, 1 tackle missed. FFS

https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=289281

Cuthbert has been poor all series. Today was bloody awful

Appalling

!

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 6:17 pm Cuthbert: 5m run, 0 tackles, 1 tackle missed. FFS

https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=289281

Yeah. He's done. Looks like he's running through treacle half the time.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 9:23 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 26, 2022 6:17 pm Cuthbert: 5m run, 0 tackles, 1 tackle missed. FFS

https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=289281

Yeah. He's done. Looks like he's running through treacle half the time.

He should be done - he should never have been in the squad. I knew Pivac would pick him for Australia though, even after Georgia.

I always felt Cuthbert got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Good player who has caused a lot of good teams a lot of problems over the years. He passed his top prime, but still a solid player who can take some stopping. He was not the ring leader of this Autumn circus. And there were plenty of clowns not called Cuthbert too.

There’s a bloke called Jones who could be looking for a job soon. Interested?

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 7:37 am There’s a bloke called Jones who could be looking for a job soon. Interested?

I’d give him a short term contract to get us to the RWC. He’s usually very successful initially with a new team, it’s when he stays longer than 2-3 years that problems emerge.

So, we're all agreed, we march on Westgate Street on the morrow and string the committee to the yardarm of the nearest passing clipper before firing the stadium, but not before incarcerating the entire coaching team in a luxury box with views of the half-way line, with only crepes for sustenance.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:39 am So, we're all agreed, we march on Westgate Street on the morrow and string the committee to the yardarm of the nearest passing clipper before firing the stadium, but not before incarcerating the entire coaching team in a luxury box with views of the half-way line, with only crepes for sustenance.

Crepes is too generous. The only thing that will get the WRU’s attention is if they can’t sell tickets, but since that won’t be felt until the six nations we are left wondering if any of them have the guts to pull the trigger.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 9:07 am

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:39 am So, we're all agreed, we march on Westgate Street on the morrow and string the committee to the yardarm of the nearest passing clipper before firing the stadium, but not before incarcerating the entire coaching team in a luxury box with views of the half-way line, with only crepes for sustenance.

Crepes is too generous. The only thing that will get the WRU’s attention is if they can’t sell tickets, but since that won’t be felt until the six nations we are left wondering if any of them have the guts to pull the trigger.

They have served up a lot of crepe this autumn, I know that.

Youre right about hitting the union in the pocket via 6n attendance, but even if the Welsh public decides not to attend, I'm sure the unsold tickets will be snapped up by the English and Irish supporters. I doubt the wru care who buys the tickets as long as the stadium's full of people queing at the bars and food stalls.

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:11 am I always felt Cuthbert got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Good player who has caused a lot of good teams a lot of problems over the years. He passed his top prime, but still a solid player who can take some stopping. He was not the ring leader of this Autumn circus. And there were plenty of clowns not called Cuthbert too.

He broke through some tackles in the six nations, particularly against England. I thought that he could be a weapon with the likes of Tipuric and LRZ to play off him, but Cuthbert just doesn’t look fit at the moment. Bad call by Pivac probably although we don’t see how people go in training.

Would Wales be competitive under Pivac with the return of Lake, Biggar, Rowlands, and the England based players ? Or do we think that Pivac is done ? For my part I don’t like to see coaches being fired, but there seems to be a lot of momentum (especially in the Welsh press) for change. I can see the appeal of Gatland as a short term appointment until the World Cup, but we need to look post World Cup, when there will be a changing of the guard.

Wallpaperman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 12:52 pm

Buggaluggs wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:11 am I always felt Cuthbert got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Good player who has caused a lot of good teams a lot of problems over the years. He passed his top prime, but still a solid player who can take some stopping. He was not the ring leader of this Autumn circus. And there were plenty of clowns not called Cuthbert too.

He broke through some tackles in the six nations, particularly against England. I thought that he could be a weapon with the likes of Tipuric and LRZ to play off him, but Cuthbert just doesn’t look fit at the moment. Bad call by Pivac probably although we don’t see how people go in training.

To be fair to Cuthbert, he'd had no game time prior to being selected in.the AI squad, so getting match fit and match sharp at international level can't be easy. He wasnt the only one with Anscombe and Tipuric both lacking much game time (both pivotal as fly half and captain!) And it looks like Halfpenny was struggling more with fitness than first thought. Granted other injuries might have forced Pivac's hand ( e.g. Biggar, liam Williams) at times but you could still question why so many players lacking game time were selected. At the first AI press conference when the squad was announced pivac seemed to have reservations about selecting keelan giles but did an unfit cuthbert offer more? Hindsight's a wonderful thing but it looked like fitness and form featured less than experience for some selections.

Wouldn’t argue with you there, personally I think that Conbeer also had a great start to the season, he or Giles could have been picked ahead of Cuthbert. Picking Cuhtbert has been a mistake.

Pivac has definitely made selection errors a few times for Wales, Tipuric at 6 v New Zealand and a back row of Ellis Jenkins, Aaron Wainwright and Basham v Ireland in the six nations. I think he has given a lot of players a go, but does end up going back to the tried and tested 30 somethings, who are often more injury prone. That’s probably because he’s been under pressure throughout his time at the helm.

But even considering the argument of form vs experience, how does all that square with the lack of game plan that we keep seeing? Put on some pressure and the team falls apart. If it were younger players at fault I could understand it, but many of those losing their heads have plenty of caps.

How many games did we win at the death under Gatland and co because the team believed they would win? Yet we have blown the last two games after looking decent for a spell.

There’s definitely a fragility there, losing at home from being 21 points up is bizarre. I can’t imagine that happening under Gatland and Edwards. There’s not the quality on the bench at the moment, particularly in the front 5, which at least partially explains the drop off later in the game. As well as injuries, Pivac has been unlucky to lose both Cory Hill and Jake Ball.

Picking Priestland hasn’t worked either, although I would have backed his experience yesterday to protect a lead.

I expect that Pivac will be let go on Tuesday, I’m just not certain that he has done such a bad job. I accept that there are better coaches, and coaching teams, out there.