RugbyRebels

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.

Replacements: Elias, Smith, Griffin, Carter, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Grady.

In what universe is Mann a better 7 than Reffell?

Both Carre and Hawkins are risky but I agree, give them a go. Unfortunately we're going to lose this match whatever happens so why not take a chance. Just pray that Hawkins has improved his defence and Carre isn't winded after 10 minutes.

Lake is a mistake. Elias should start. Jenkins should captain.

Not sure what Beard is bringing, although all the Welsh coaches seem to see something that I don't. Whatever it is, it isn't tackling or carrying.

Mann is in his best test position IMO although I'd rather MacLeod or Deaves (or Reffell from outside the squad). Good to see Cracknell back.

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Plumtree no. As a bench option for the selected team I'd go MacLeod or Deaves or even Botham before him. Given how much energy Deaves brought last week I don't get how he's been dropped.

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 9:05 am In what universe is Mann a better 7 than Reffell?

There’s no reason for Reffel not being in the squad, especially with Morgan out. I cont explain the omission.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:16 am Both Carre and Hawkins are risky but I agree, give them a go. Unfortunately we're going to low this match whatever happens so why not take a chance. Just pray that Hawkins has improved his defence and Carre isn't winded after 10 minutes.

Lake is a mistake. Elias should start. Jenkins should captain.

Not sure what Beard is bringing, although all the Welsh coaches seem to see something that I don't. Whatever it is, it isn't tackling or carrying.

Mann is in his best test position IMO although I'd rather MacLeod or Deaves (or Reffell from outside the squad). Good to see Cracknell back.

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Plumtree no. As a bench option for the selected team I'd go MacLeod or Deaves or even Botham before him. Given how much energy Deaves brought last week I don't get how he's been dropped.

Not sure Hawkinsis the answer to our porous defence, but Thomas didn’t work. It feels the management. Any move away from a ball playing IC.

Backrow is improved with Cracknell but I think Mann is lucky to be there. Totally anonymous last week.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:20 am

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 9:05 am In what universe is Mann a better 7 than Reffell?

There’s no reason for Reffel not being in the squad, especially with Morgan out. I cont explain the omission.

No, it's baffling why he's not even in the squad. As far as I'm aware he's not been playing poorly for Leicester, so hard to fathom.

I don't think this will make one iota of difference. Thomas was fine, given the limited opportunities he had. He's easily the best inside centre in Wales. The problem is, and always will be, the forwards aren't good enough. Anyway, we will have our arses handed to us by the French. Even good Welsh sides had problems containing average French sides.

Louis Rees-Zammit - good enough
Ellis Mee - not good enough
Eddie James - almost good enough
Joe Hawkins - almost good enough
Josh Adams - used to be good enough
Dan Edwards - failing to convince
Tomos Williams - good enough
Rhys Carre - good enough in the loose, not too hot in the set-piece
Dewi Lake (c) - not good enough
Tomas Francis - not good enough
Dafydd Jenkins - good enough
Adam Beard - used to be good enough
Aaron Wainwright - a tryer, but basically not top-level
Alex Mann - failing to convince
Olly Cracknell - a plodder who will try hard, but basically not top-level

Ryan Elias - nearly
Nicky Smith - nearly
Archie Griffin - has potential
Ben Carter - has potential
Taine Plumtree - dear god
Kieran Hardy - there or thereabouts
Jarrod Evans - curate's egg
Mason Grady - has potential

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:16 am Both Carre and Hawkins are risky but I agree, give them a go. Unfortunately we're going to lose this match whatever happens so why not take a chance. Just pray that Hawkins has improved his defence and Carre isn't winded after 10 minutes.

Lake is a mistake. Elias should start. Jenkins should captain.

Not sure what Beard is bringing, although all the Welsh coaches seem to see something that I don't. Whatever it is, it isn't tackling or carrying.

Mann is in his best test position IMO although I'd rather MacLeod or Deaves (or Reffell from outside the squad). Good to see Cracknell back.

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Plumtree no. As a bench option for the selected team I'd go MacLeod or Deaves or even Botham before him. Given how much energy Deaves brought last week I don't get how he's been dropped.

Watch Beard

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:16 am

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Apart from scoring our only try, he went looking for work, but the ball rarely reached him. He's better in the air than Rogers (who I like), and strong defensively.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:55 am

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:16 am

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Apart from scoring our only try, he went looking for work, but the ball rarely reached him. He's better in the air than Rogers (who I like), and strong defensively.

Any player who can catch a ball would have scored that try. I'm not saying Adams is useless or to blame for last week, just that we have better wingers at this moment. Rogers scored 3 tries against NZ. He, like Mee, goes looking for work. I'd rather see what Hamer-Webb can do than play Adams again TBH.

There will be a Wales revival this wekkend. Our final score will rise by three points to ten with a late penalty after the France bench forwards start to puff and blow.

Looking at the Fra v Irl game, I guess we will do well to keep their points in double figures.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 1:07 pm

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:55 am

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:16 am

As with Beard I don't get why Adams keeps getting picked. He didn't do anything last week. Start Rogers instead.

Apart from scoring our only try, he went looking for work, but the ball rarely reached him. He's better in the air than Rogers (who I like), and strong defensively.

Any player who can catch a ball would have scored that try. I'm not saying Adams is useless or to blame for last week, just that we have better wingers at this moment. Rogers scored 3 tries against NZ. He, like Mee, goes looking for work. I'd rather see what Hamer-Webb can do than play Adams again TBH.

In his interview n the Fail, Tandy suggests that he felt the backrow balance had to change for this week, but was fine for last week.

Did I watch a different game? I want to support our coach but I’m starting to wonder if he is very much out of his depth (yes always a risk as he has no head coach experience at international level but you hope he wouldn’t be a million miles off the pace).

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 6:10 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 1:07 pm

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Fri Feb 13, 2026 10:55 am

Apart from scoring our only try, he went looking for work, but the ball rarely reached him. He's better in the air than Rogers (who I like), and strong defensively.

Any player who can catch a ball would have scored that try. I'm not saying Adams is useless or to blame for last week, just that we have better wingers at this moment. Rogers scored 3 tries against NZ. He, like Mee, goes looking for work. I'd rather see what Hamer-Webb can do than play Adams again TBH.

In his interview n the Fail, Tandy suggests that he felt the backrow balance had to change for this week, but was fine for last week.

Did I watch a different game? I want to support our coach but I’m starting to wonder if he is very much out of his depth (yes always a risk as he has no head coach experience at international level but you hope he wouldn’t be a million miles off the pace).

It is strange. And yet Tandy has looked at this match in vastly more detail than any of us and has streams of info we don't have so he really should know what he's talking about. Different people can interpret things differently. Unless it's just spin? But Tandy strikes me as a much more of a straight-talker than, say, Gatland.

Having seen Ireland Italy, I reckon Wales will not just go winless, but also loose every game by double digits and not even get a losing bonus point.

We can forget targeting that Italy game. We're nowhere near them. We'd stand a better chance of turning over a hungover Scotland IF they somehow spawn a win today.

Which they will not.

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:35 pm We can forget targeting that Italy game. We're nowhere near them. We'd stand a better chance of turning over a hungover Scotland IF they somehow spawn a win today.

Which they will not.

Maybe England and France are a level above the others right now and Ireland aren't the force they were. Whatever happens we have to target Italy and Scotland as winnable games.

Just need to get that back row balance right . . .

Scotland are knocking the English off the rails big time, the exact opposite of the arm chair ride they had last week.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:43 pm

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:35 pm We can forget targeting that Italy game. We're nowhere near them. We'd stand a better chance of turning over a hungover Scotland IF they somehow spawn a win today.

Which they will not.

Maybe England and France are a level above the others right now and Ireland aren't the force they were. Whatever happens we have to target Italy and Scotland as winnable games.

Just need to get that back row balance right . . .

Yeah, only kidding guys

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:35 pm
Which they will not.

I must harness this power for Good, while it lasts.

Here goes...

Wales have no chance whatsoever against Scotland. Zero. It's already over. In order to avoid the whitewash Wales will need to beat Scotland WHICH THEY WILL NOT.

You're welcome.

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 6:38 pm

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:35 pm
Which they will not.

I must harness this power for Good, while it lasts.

Here goes...

Wales have no chance whatsoever against Scotland. Zero. It's already over. In order to avoid the whitewash Wales will need to beat Scotland WHICH THEY WILL NOT.

You're welcome.

Lord of the Jinx

Hey, all* we have to do is beat France and everyone will have 1 win and 1 loss.


* possibly stretching the meaning of the word here.

We need a 500% improvement on that first half just to be competitive. England looked ordinary for much of today’s game- we gave them a training run!

U20s are up 14-0 They were unlucky to lose last week to England. So there is light at the end of the colon full of shit.

Two weeks in a row Wales U20s give up a double digit lead. Still, at least they're in the game until the last 10-15 mins.

If only Wales could come out and play with the same intensity Scotland did today when we play against France. We still wouldn’t win but a solid performance would help.