Wales v Ireland

[normanski]

Sounds like one of ours, ya thieving bastards!

Interesting to me that expectations are so low. There's still a part of me that thinks all our success is some sort of mirage due to evaporate any second, but logically this shouldn't be close.

You have a very good coach who has taken a group of talented players and turned them into a good team. Certainly in the top 4 in the world, arguably top 2. Its natural for us Celts to look for the dark cloud but enjoy it whilst it lasts, these things tend to be cyclical and if this is Ireland's golden age then fair play.

We've already long surpassed what I ever thought possible back when I started following rugby in the 80s. I'm pretty good at enjoying it, but it's never really expected.

I first started watching internationals, Wales V Australia, in the 1950s in the schoolboy enclosure at the old Arms Park. Glory days come and go but I was privileged to see the great 70s sides and Gatland’s winning tenure. In between there’s been years of dross and disappointments but hope springs eternal and before every game there’s a longing for it to be a win for Wales.

I have that longing today Eugene but my head said this is going to be a long afternoon for Wales and Ireland to win by a large margin.

[normanski]

Well it’s taken Ireland 20 minutes to score the first try. Ireland look ominous and heroic defence has kept the score to ten.

[pompey-zebra]

Penalties and errors killing us at the minute. Defence is strong, but feels like just a matter of time before Ireland score.

[Sandydragon]

Not watching the match but viewing the updates on BBC website. Looking a bit grim at the moment. I sense it’s going to be a long second half unless we can get hold of the ball and throw a few shots of our own.

[bruce]

Looking ominous. Scrum getting minced. Ref likes the sound of his whistle. Desperately need some possession, sort discipline and to cut out the fuck ups.

[pompey-zebra]

That's three halves now out of five we've not scored a point. I'm hoping that the recent trend will follow and we score a hatful in the 2nd half.

[bruce]

I'm not keen on Assirati but then I look on the bench and see Dillon Lewis... Hopefully Adam Jones has done some work with and improved him.

[normanski]

You can all come out from behind the sofas! Ireland won 31-7 but it was a creditable Wales performance. We still have a long way to go but we are getting there.

[Buggaluggs]

We did better than I expected. We should have scored 10 points more than we did, but panicked when the line was in sight. Ireland just calmly took the points. Ref was very blowy and usually favored Ireland but thats the way it goes when a team is clearly on top. Winnett was probably the standout for us.

[normanski]

I'm not keen on Assirati but then I look on the bench and see Dillon Lewis... Hopefully Adam Jones has done some work with and improved him.

He did win a scrum penalty against Porter and we didn’t move backwards while he was on. It looks like Adam is fixing a few technical problems he had in his game.

[pompey-zebra]

To be fair Wales fought hard, but looked far too blunt in attack.

[normanski]

We did better than I expected. We should have scored 10 points more than we did, but panicked when the line was in sight. Ireland just calmly took the points. Ref was very blowy and usually favored Ireland but thats the way it goes when a team is clearly on top. Winnett was probably the standout for us.

Let’s hope Winnett passes his HIA OK. He looks so assured.

[pompey-zebra]

We did better than I expected. We should have scored 10 points more than we did, but panicked when the line was in sight. Ireland just calmly took the points. Ref was very blowy and usually favored Ireland but thats the way it goes when a team is clearly on top. Winnett was probably the standout for us.

Let’s hope Winnett passes his HIA OK. He looks so assured.

He's definitely taken to international rugby, certainly.

[Sandydragon]

Real shame to concede the treat the end but not the humiliation it could have been. A fair reflection of the gulf between the two sides at the moment and we have some small positives to take away from the game.

[bruce]

I'm not keen on Assirati but then I look on the bench and see Dillon Lewis... Hopefully Adam Jones has done some work with and improved him.

He did win a scrum penalty against Porter and we didn’t move backwards while he was on. It looks like Adam is fixing a few technical problems he had in his game.

Then he goes and waves the Irish lad across the line for the last try.

[bruce]

At least we made a game of it (sort of) in the second half. Another game where it was obvious we are missing an international 10.

[Son of Mathonwy]

We looked like we were in it most of the time but we weren't on the scoreboard, which is where it counts. We just don't have the grunt to get over the line (not that that is anything new). Well beaten, and a real shame to concede the bonus point try at the end. Second best in most areas.

[Son of Mathonwy]

At least we made a game of it (sort of) in the second half. Another game where it was obvious we are missing an international 10.

I don't think our problem was with our fly half, either of them. Our forwards didn't have the physicality to get over the line. They weren't terrible but they were second best.

[pompey-zebra]

At least we made a game of it (sort of) in the second half. Another game where it was obvious we are missing an international 10.

To be fair though, its not just 10. We just dont look as powerful across the park.

[Sandydragon]

Not exactly a new problem for us, who was the last welsh player who had that raw power? We get the occasional player who does have good power but rarely do we have that many on our team.

Either we need to do some scouting or find another way to generate momentum.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Sure, effective physicality isn't just an individual power thing, it's also technique and tactics, the group using their power to make a quick and relentless attack.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Stats:

WALES Tackles, Missed Tackles, Passes, Runs, Metres Run
C WinnettFB 1 0 4 13 107
J AdamsW 2 3 1 3 1
G NorthC 13 1 1 9 13
N TompkinsC 16 2 14 5 2
R DyerW 15 5 3 4 30
S CostelowFH 17 2 14 6 17
T WilliamsSH 8 2 65 3 13
G ThomasP 9 3 0 5 5
E DeeH 11 0 3 11 18
K AssirattiP 4 0 3 2 1
D JenkinsL 17 3 5 8 4
A BeardL 13 0 2 1 0
A MannFL 12 1 1 5 7
T ReffellFL 21 2 1 8 2
A WainwrightN8 8 2 6 14 31
R EliasR 4 0 0 7 4
C DomachowskiR 2 0 0 0 0
D LewisR 5 2 0 4 3
W RowlandsR 6 1 0 5 1
M MartinR 4 3 1 6 2
K HardyR 0 1 21 2 25
I LloydR 0 0 0 2 0
M GradyR 4 0 0 1 0

Overall stats not completely awful - except for the 33 missed tackles.
The backs were having to make far too many - Costelow, Dyer, North and Tompkins all well into double figures. Dyer missed 5 but then you don't expect a winger to have to make 15 tackles in a match. Again, Adams was missing in action, unlike Winnett and Dyer. Beard was probably the best tackler (considering time on pitch) at 13 made, none missed.

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstat ... gue=180659

[Sandydragon]

Stats:

WALES Tackles, Missed Tackles, Passes, Runs, Metres Run
C WinnettFB 1 0 4 13 107
J AdamsW 2 3 1 3 1
G NorthC 13 1 1 9 13
N TompkinsC 16 2 14 5 2
R DyerW 15 5 3 4 30
S CostelowFH 17 2 14 6 17
T WilliamsSH 8 2 65 3 13
G ThomasP 9 3 0 5 5
E DeeH 11 0 3 11 18
K AssirattiP 4 0 3 2 1
D JenkinsL 17 3 5 8 4
A BeardL 13 0 2 1 0
A MannFL 12 1 1 5 7
T ReffellFL 21 2 1 8 2
A WainwrightN8 8 2 6 14 31
R EliasR 4 0 0 7 4
C DomachowskiR 2 0 0 0 0
D LewisR 5 2 0 4 3
W RowlandsR 6 1 0 5 1
M MartinR 4 3 1 6 2
K HardyR 0 1 21 2 25
I LloydR 0 0 0 2 0
M GradyR 4 0 0 1 0

Overall stats not completely awful - except for the 33 missed tackles.
The backs were having to make far too many - Costelow, Dyer, North and Tompkins all well into double figures. Dyer missed 5 but then you don't expect a winger to have to make 15 tackles in a match. Again, Adams was missing in action, unlike Winnett and Dyer. Beard was probably the best tackler (considering time on pitch) at 13 made, none missed.

https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstat ... gue=180659

Dyers stats often include,issued tackles when he chases kickoffs. Adam’s really isn’t in form right now. Since the alternative seems to be Grady it might not be changing any time soon.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Anyone feeling that O'Mahony was lucky no one looked too closely when his boot hit Winnett in the head (about a minute into the 2nd half)? Looking at it again, he can see that Winnett's head is very close to his foot when he moves in, then moving away he makes a strange backward swipe with his boot. At the very least I'd say it was reckless.

[Sandydragon]

Always the cleanest of players.