Six Nations Round 2- Resurgent Scotland

[Sourdust]

I only saw one brief replay of the Sanjay incident; did we get lucky again? If so that's two weeks running. Not going to apologize for a bit of the rub going our way for once, but should still acknowledge it.

[Sandydragon]

I only saw one brief replay of the Sanjay incident; did we get lucky again? If so that's two weeks running. Not going to apologize for a bit of the rub going our way for once, but should still acknowledge it.

I feel we are riding out luck. Jonny Williams last week and Liam this week. Both questionable. This weeks red for Scotland also felt very harsh and I feel very sorry for Fagerson

We were improved this week and we played pretty well in the second half. The first half wasn’t fun to watch and you felt that Scotland could have run away with it. The 14 point turnaround early in the second half was crucial, more so than the sending off in my opinion.

Of fit, then I feel we need Navidi back at 6. I wasn’t that impressed by Wainwright today and against a pack like England’s we need more dog on the blindside. I did like the look of Botham when he came on.

I don’t like our centre partnership and I hope North is fit again. I do like the look of Halaholo and if it feels a bit early to bring him in as a starter then as an impact sub he stays. If Halfoenny isn’t fit then I suspect there will be temptation to put North back on the wing, but I’m not sure that’s the best place for him anymore

England will pose a different threat but haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire. We can make it three from three, but I also think it will be a cracking and hard fought match.

[Wallpaperman]

I only saw one brief replay of the Sanjay incident; did we get lucky again? If so that's two weeks running. Not going to apologize for a bit of the rub going our way for once, but should still acknowledge it.

I also only saw the brief replay but it looked like he led with the elbow, making contact with the tackler’s chest. There was some discussion of it post match on the BBC and the consensus was that it wasn’t a red card offence. He is very lucky though considering he is just back from a ban.

[Wallpaperman]

Anyone feel as though Biggar and Halfpenny won’t be starting again for Wales barring injury ? Or in Halfpenny’s case, until Liam Williams gets another ban ?

Halaholo went much better than I would have expected. He might start the next match even if Johnny Williams is fit.

Adam Beard has responded really well to being dropped from the squad in the Autumn.

[Sandydragon]

Anyone feel as though Biggar and Halfpenny won’t be starting again for Wales barring injury ? Or in Halfpenny’s case, until Liam Williams gets another ban ?

Halaholo went much better than I would have expected. He might start the next match even if Johnny Williams is fit.

Adam Beard has responded really well to being dropped from the squad in the Autumn.

Biggars ability to get the back like moving has been an issue for some time and if Privac wants to play wider then it’s time for change.

Halaholo and North in the centre would be interesting. Tompkins isn’t as impressive as he was last season although he has had some good touches in the last two games. Watkin was hit and miss today.

[Sandydragon]

I was trying to think of what our back three would be if Halfoenny is out and I seem to recall that Adams will be available for England.

I might be tempted to go for

Hardy
Sheedy
Adams
Watkins/Halaholo
North
LRZ
Liam Williams

Davies, Evans and Tompkins or Halaholo on the bench.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Dear god that was tough to watch in places but LRZ is special. And Geth's defence was something else (well in the 2nd half anyway). Exciting stuff, how the hell did we get a bonus point? Oh yeah LRZ, and the rolling maul!

Was slightly gutted for Tompkins that his interception didn't get us a match winning try, coz there (hopefully?) will be a lot of competition for the centres next time. I can see it being Halaholo and North soon (albeit probably not next match).

What happens with Adams?? Does he get his shirt back? I suppose Halfpenny might get dropped. LRZ is obviously nailed on now.

Gutting for the Scots but Pivac deserved a bit of luck this year. His job is safe.

[normanski]

Dear god that was tough to watch in places but LRZ is special. And Geth's defence was something else (well in the 2nd half anyway). Exciting stuff, how the hell did we get a bonus point? Oh yeah LRZ, and the rolling maul!

Was slightly gutted for Tompkins that his interception didn't get us a match winning try, coz there (hopefully?) will be a lot of competition for the centres next time. I can see it being Halaholo and North soon (albeit probably not next match).

What happens with Adams?? Does he get his shirt back? I suppose Halfpenny might get dropped. LRZ is obviously nailed on now.

Gutting for the Scots but Pivac deserved a bit of luck this year. His job is safe.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Adams is with LRZ on the wings and North returns to centre. Liam Williams to Full Back with Sheedy at outside half..

We’re building momentum and Cardiff is going to be a tasty encounter. If we continue to build and England tread water, keeping the same players as today, then we’re in with a chance. Incredible to be top of the table tonight. We just want Ireland to do a number on France tomorrow.

[Sourdust]

Gutting for the Scots but Pivac deserved a bit of luck this year. His job is safe.

Yes, he did. Especially given the ridiculous injury situation.

Wales lost four 6N matches last year, three of them by a single score, and whenever anyone talked about "transition" they were shouted down with "results are everything". Now we're 2/2 and suddenly it's the performance that matters. He's got a right to roll his eyes now and then.

[Sourdust]

It wouldn’t surprise me if Adams is with LRZ on the wings and North returns to centre. Liam Williams to Full Back with Sheedy at outside half..

I know he hasn't had that long, or done that much wrong, but I'm not really seeing it with Sheedy. He was (partly) at fault for a try today, and those two regulation conversions could have cost us badly. Did he bring that much in attack? Certainly no less than Biggar, but how much more?

[Mikey Brown]

I only saw one brief replay of the Sanjay incident; did we get lucky again? If so that's two weeks running. Not going to apologize for a bit of the rub going our way for once, but should still acknowledge it.

I also only saw the brief replay but it looked like he led with the elbow, making contact with the tackler’s chest. There was some discussion of it post match on the BBC and the consensus was that it wasn’t a red card offence. He is very lucky though considering he is just back from a ban.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I only saw one brief replay of the Sanjay incident; did we get lucky again? If so that's two weeks running. Not going to apologize for a bit of the rub going our way for once, but should still acknowledge it.

I also only saw the brief replay but it looked like he led with the elbow, making contact with the tackler’s chest. There was some discussion of it post match on the BBC and the consensus was that it wasn’t a red card offence. He is very lucky though considering he is just back from a ban.

Penalty, yellow at the very most.

[Sandydragon]

It wouldn’t surprise me if Adams is with LRZ on the wings and North returns to centre. Liam Williams to Full Back with Sheedy at outside half..

I know he hasn't had that long, or done that much wrong, but I'm not really seeing it with Sheedy. He was (partly) at fault for a try today, and those two regulation conversions could have cost us badly. Did he bring that much in attack? Certainly no less than Biggar, but how much more?

His passing is better than Biggars but he is far from the finished article. The missed kicks could have proved very costly. I feel he gets the back line moving better but Biggar is a bit more reliable.

That said, Biggar is getting older and we need to give a replacement a fair opportunity. It’s between Jarrod Evans and Sheedy at the moment, unless Patchell can regain fitness and form.

[Zhivago]

I was trying to think of what our back three would be if Halfoenny is out and I seem to recall that Adams will be available for England.

I might be tempted to go for

Hardy
Sheedy
Adams
Watkins/Halaholo
North
LRZ
Liam Williams

Davies, Evans and Tompkins or Halaholo on the bench.

I think Jonathan Davies is due to return. I'd have your team but with North and Davies in the centre.

[normanski]

Our bench was pretty impressive and we haven’t had that total second half security for some time.

I thought Leon Brown held our scrum when he came on and it looks as if he’s developing into a top class TH. With WGJ coming back to Wales and with the extra conditioning from the Wales staff, we are growing some strength in depth at TH.

Sheedy had an off day with the boot but I like the cut of his jib - a little bit of swagger and cunning arrogance.

[Sandydragon]

I was trying to think of what our back three would be if Halfoenny is out and I seem to recall that Adams will be available for England.

I might be tempted to go for

Hardy
Sheedy
Adams
Watkins/Halaholo
North
LRZ
Liam Williams

Davies, Evans and Tompkins or Halaholo on the bench.

I think Jonathan Davies is due to return. I'd have your team but with North and Davies in the centre.

JD2 was badly out of form before his last injury. I wouldn’t be rushing to play him

[Sourdust]

I know he hasn't had that long, or done that much wrong, but I'm not really seeing it with Sheedy. He was (partly) at fault for a try today, and those two regulation conversions could have cost us badly. Did he bring that much in attack? Certainly no less than Biggar, but how much more?

His passing is better than Biggars but he is far from the finished article. The missed kicks could have proved very costly. I feel he gets the back line moving better but Biggar is a bit more reliable.

That said, Biggar is getting older and we need to give a replacement a fair opportunity. It’s between Jarrod Evans and Sheedy at the moment, unless Patchell can regain fitness and form.

I can't argue with any of that.

But the time to experiment was the autumn, not in our bread-and-butter tournment 3 years out from a RWC. I'm fine with starting with Sheedy (and Hardy) but ONLY if Pivac is genuinely convinced they're his best options NOW. If he is, I'll trust his judgment, what with not being a professional international rugby coach and all. If he does pick them, it goes wrong, and he drops them again? Well... I'll have questions.

[Sandydragon]

Completely agree Sourdust. If he starts Hardy (I think he prefers Tomos Williams but of course he isn’t available) and Sheedy then they need to play the next three games.

Biggar was off colour in Scotland and didn’t set the world I fire vs Ireland.

[stevedog1980]

Well done Wales, that was a horrible watch for both sides but you guys got it over the line in the end!

I'm not convinced the officials covered themselves in glory on this one. The Liam Williams elbow was obvious in real time, Lang's head movement alone was surely enough to alert the TMO to review and bring to the referees attention at least. For the Fagerson send off, it was pretty clear from the TMO's language that they had a yellow card in mind for it. The assistant referees didn't appear to add anything to the conversation at all and when the referee was looking for confirmation there was silence. I may be misremembering but that's the way it is in my head! Same was true with the Halfpenny high tackle, there didn't seem to be much teamwork going on in reaching a decision.

Good luck in the rest of the tournament

[Numbers]

Well done Wales, that was a horrible watch for both sides but you guys got it over the line in the end!

I'm not convinced the officials covered themselves in glory on this one. The Liam Williams elbow was obvious in real time, Lang's head movement alone was surely enough to alert the TMO to review and bring to the referees attention at least. For the Fagerson send off, it was pretty clear from the TMO's language that they had a yellow card in mind for it. The assistant referees didn't appear to add anything to the conversation at all and when the referee was looking for confirmation there was silence. I may be misremembering but that's the way it is in my head! Same was true with the Halfpenny high tackle, there didn't seem to be much teamwork going on in reaching a decision.

Good luck in the rest of the tournament

The TMO was trying to say there was mitigation as he was moving upwards, this is nonsense as if he hadn't moved upwards he would either of been hit on the top of his head or missed altogether, mitigation is only if the player is falling into the tackle, this isn't helped by aged pundits in the studio saying it was harsh, the fact is it was dangerous and the whole point of this is player safety.

[stevedog1980]

We will have to agree to disagree there then. Mitigation works both ways in my mind. If the players head is above what is available to hit and drops into the line of fire is the same as the head being below what is available to hit and rising into the line of fire. Regardless, in this case I'm not convinced there was enough movement for it to be mitigating.

Also, as I have been saying elsewhere, if the point of this thing is player safety then removing the jackal so a players head is not crossing a legal tackle area when exposed is surely the way to go?

[Graigwen]

Some tardy thoughts on last Saturdays game.

Front row is fine, and Leon Brown is much to be preferred to Lewis on the bench - we could have brought him on five minutes earlier.

Beard has got his act together in the second row, his reach is very useful.

We missed Navidi in the back row. Botham did very well when he came on. Tipuric and Faletau are performing well.

At half back there is much to be said for Biggar's stolid solidity and steady place kicking, although he did miss touch badly with one penalty. Is it tactically better for him to start or be on the bench? There is no doubt though that the double replacement added a lot to our play late in the game.

Our wingers were obviously good. Halfpenny was a bit odd. I wondered if he had a bang some time before he went off? I found Tomkins a bit flakey again, sometimes good but sometimes weak. Watkins also was patchy. When Halaholo came on he was keen and committed.

We were a bit lucky to win. Fagerson was always going to be sent off for his action, under the current interpretation of the laws. It was not the worst offence by a long way, but that is the way it is at present. Next game it could be one of our players. I think 'clear out' laws need a major rewrite to remove the incentive for risky actions.

We are still a team under construction, but there are signs of hope for the future.

.