Fiji

[Sandydragon]

You realise the England result means we're going to be dogshit, don't you?

Dunno. I think it means I'm hallucinating. Afraid to draw any other conclusions.

Some strange performances so far and the England game unbelievably one sided. Anything could happen later.

[normanski]

You realise the England result means we're going to be dogshit, don't you?

Dunno. I think it means I'm hallucinating. Afraid to draw any other conclusions.

Some strange performances so far and the England game unbelievably one sided. Anything could happen later.

Let’s hope Fiji have flattered to deceive like Argentina last night. There’s a weight of expectation on Fiji to do the deed that could cause them to lose some control.

We have to gain dominance in the scrum and use the attacking maul as a weapon. It ain’t going to be easy and this is a game that could go heavily either way.

For Wales it’s a must win match because Australia seem to be improving considerably.

[Lizard]

Muntz was fairly key to Fiji. If you keep your head, it should be relatively straightforward to see them off.

Either way, I’m going to be late for work.

[Sandydragon]

Dunno. I think it means I'm hallucinating. Afraid to draw any other conclusions.

Some strange performances so far and the England game unbelievably one sided. Anything could happen later.

Let’s hope Fiji have flattered to deceive like Argentina last night. There’s a weight of expectation on Fiji to do the deed that could cause them to lose some control.

We have to gain dominance in the scrum and use the attacking maul as a weapon. It ain’t going to be easy and this is a game that could go heavily either way.

For Wales it’s a must win match because Australia seem to be improving considerably.

That was a good Aussie performance, but helped hugely by Georgian mistakes which gifted excellent attacking opportunities.

[Sourdust]

That was a good Aussie performance, but helped hugely by Georgian mistakes which gifted excellent attacking opportunities.

Yes, both Aus v Geo and Eng v Arg are difficult games to judge. Both surprisingly comfortable victories for the deserving side; but both featuring suicidal opposition.

If we make half as many stupid mistakes as Arg or Geo, we'll get a spanking. BUT I can't help being hugely encouraged by the absence of Muntz, and by the epic Gatlandian look of that starting XV. Can't really pick a winner now. Five Biggar drop-goals would do nicely.

[normanski]

That was a good Aussie performance, but helped hugely by Georgian mistakes which gifted excellent attacking opportunities.

Yes, both Aus v Geo and Eng v Arg are difficult games to judge. Both surprisingly comfortable victories for the deserving side; but both featuring suicidal opposition.

If we make half as many stupid mistakes as Arg or Geo, we'll get a spanking. BUT I can't help being hugely encouraged by the absence of Muntz, and by the epic Gatlandian look of that starting XV. Can't really pick a winner now. Five Biggar drop-goals would do nicely.

Two or even five Biggar drop goals would go a great deal of the way to taking the steam out of Fiji. We need early points to really put them under pressure and cause them to play catch up rugby.

[Sourdust]

Two or even five Biggar drop goals would go a great deal of the way to taking the steam out of Fiji. We need early points to really put them under pressure and cause them to play catch up rugby.

Perhaps my biggest concern is that historically, Gatland Wales (by accident or design, but I suspect the latter) fail to put teams away when they're on top. Like the 1990s Italian soccer side, he seems to actually enjoy grimly holding on to a 1-0.

That is NOT going to work today. We MUST start well (I know we WON'T, but we MUST) and if it takes 50m drop-goals or 5m mauls to get a lead, so be it. But if we somehow get to 10-0 or 16-3 and then "do a Gatland" and shut up shop, we'll be in for a kicking, and frankly we'll deserve it.

[Lizard]

It’s just like old times around here.

[Lizard]

It’s just like old times around here.

[normanski]

It’s just like old times around here.

Could you repeat that again!

[Sandydragon]

It’s just like old times around here.

Us Welsh are happiest when considering pending doom.

[Son of Mathonwy]

That was a good Aussie performance, but helped hugely by Georgian mistakes which gifted excellent attacking opportunities.

Yes, both Aus v Geo and Eng v Arg are difficult games to judge. Both surprisingly comfortable victories for the deserving side; but both featuring suicidal opposition.

If we make half as many stupid mistakes as Arg or Geo, we'll get a spanking. BUT I can't help being hugely encouraged by the absence of Muntz, and by the epic Gatlandian look of that starting XV. Can't really pick a winner now. Five Biggar drop-goals would do nicely.

Two or even five Biggar drop goals would go a great deal of the way to taking the steam out of Fiji. We need early points to really put them under pressure and cause them to play catch up rugby.

Successful drop goals would be great but it's not worth the risk (unless other tactics are failing). Missed drop goals are a fantastic way of wasting a lot of hard work. We need control and to keep the pressure on.

Yeah, I know it worked for England but that was a freak game.

[Sourdust]

Yeah, I know it worked for England but that was a freak game.

Every time someone wins with DGs it gets labelled a freak, and no-one tries it again for a decade.

TBF I don't think (?!) anyone is seriously suggesting it as a "Plan A" vs Fiji; but IMO we need to be pragmatic to the point of cynicism about taking points, especially early on.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Yeah, I know it worked for England but that was a freak game.

Every time someone wins with DGs it gets labelled a freak, and no-one tries it again for a decade.

TBF I don't think (?!) anyone is seriously suggesting it as a "Plan A" vs Fiji; but IMO we need to be pragmatic to the point of cynicism about taking points, especially early on.

When you see a match like last night's it does seem weird that it doesn't get tried more often. But I guess it's just not the percentage play. Also, if it started to become commonly used, I think they'd change the laws to discourage it.

Agreed, we have to be 100% pragmatic tonight. This must be the opposite of a barbarians game. We can crack open the champagne rugby for Georgia and Portugal. Or maybe just Portugal .

[Sourdust]

When you see a match like last night's it does seem weird that it doesn't get tried more often. But I guess it's just not the percentage play. Also, if it started to become commonly used, I think they'd change the laws to discourage it.

You may be right there.

I love a droppie myself, it's an underrated rugby skill and can be a thing of beauty. As to the "cheap 3 points" argument, I don't think that holds water when you can get 3 points just for being able to cheat better in the scrum. I'm not saying I want to see half-a-dozen per game, but I would always oppose discouraging / devaluing them.

[Graigwen]

As a kid I got slung out of a school team (in England) for trying dropped goals when I was a full back. The first two went over but the third missed and I was told "We don't do that sort of thing".

Years later when I had become a fat, slow, tight head prop I decided I really wanted that third dropped goal. I reckon I had two chances in ten seasons. The first chance I thought too slowly and did nothing. The second chance, so good it was obvious to others, I threw an unexpected very long two handed overhead pass that put a winger in for an unopposed try. I decided that indicated I should give up on dropped goals.

I only write this nonsense because I am so nervous about tonight.

.

[Graigwen]

As a kid I got slung out of a school team (in England) for trying dropped goals when I was a full back. The first two went over but the third missed and I was told "We don't do that sort of thing".

Years later when I had become a fat, slow, tight head prop I decided I really wanted that third dropped goal. I reckon I had two chances in ten seasons. The first chance I thought too slowly and did nothing. The second chance, so good it was obvious to others, I threw an unexpected very long two handed overhead pass that put a winger in for an unopposed try. I decided that indicated I should give up on dropped goals.

I only write this nonsense because I am so nervous about tonight.

.

[normanski]

And so it begins…

[bruce]

Another awful anthem rendition

[Danno]

When you see a match like last night's it does seem weird that it doesn't get tried more often. But I guess it's just not the percentage play. Also, if it started to become commonly used, I think they'd change the laws to discourage it.

You may be right there.

I love a droppie myself, it's an underrated rugby skill and can be a thing of beauty. As to the "cheap 3 points" argument, I don't think that holds water when you can get 3 points just for being able to cheat better in the scrum. I'm not saying I want to see half-a-dozen per game, but I would always oppose discouraging / devaluing them.

If Ford's 50 metre banger didn't convert you then you're dead inside

[bruce]

Good start Wales been a while since I've seen a George North break

[bruce]

Wainwrights tackling being exposed so far. Fiji back in it

[Donny osmond]

I hope North gives Biggar absolute pelters for missing that tackle.

[bruce]

Not looking so good now. Fiji running rings round the Welsh defence.

[pompey-zebra]

Cant get out of our half now. Need to put some pressure back on Fiji.