Way too early RWC Squad

[Adder]

He is off to coach the French squad

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[Big D]

He is off to coach the French squad

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Did they not vote for no foreign coaches or is that only for head coach?

[Adder]

I believe that was only for the head coach.

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[Mikey Brown]

Doesn’t seem to be up to it anymore as a player but perhaps we can just get Dunbar yelling from the sidelines what to do in defence. There was a patch when he was good when we had a few games with genuinely impressive line-speed, aggression and cohesion in defence.

God knows where that has gone. I’m probably thinking of the BVC days though.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

We'd be twice the team we are now with Edwards coaching defence but it'll never happen. Toony is too soft. I can't see Toony putting his foot down with someone like Edwards in the way that Gatland would do when needed.

[whatisthejava]

What evidence is there that Edwards has never got his way. Wales defense over the last 11 years has allowed some pretty woeful attacking not to be dealt with

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What evidence is there that Edwards has never got his way. Wales defense over the last 11 years has allowed some pretty woeful attacking not to be dealt with

There are always going to be anomalous mistakes - his system generally works very well and consistently. Wales generally have one of the best defences in the world and you have to work for your points against them. We give away soft scores. Often in the opening minutes. ALMOST EVERY TIME.

Apples and oranges.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m not particularly questioning Edwards’s overall quality as a defence coach, though the Wales reign ending on a high has rather glossed over the previous few season of mediocrity, but the bit about Garland having to step in and prevent him from doing... what exactly?

[switchskier]

We'd be twice the team we are now with Edwards coaching defence but it'll never happen. Toony is too soft. I can't see Toony putting his foot down with someone like Edwards in the way that Gatland would do when needed.

On the same lines, why do you think that Toony is too soft? The Hogg interview the other way would suggest otherwise. Equally every coach has players that they trust, their favourites.

I do wonder if this perception is growing because he was a flamboyant flyhalf and not a hard nosed flanker.

[General Zod]

I think it’s probably an unfair view, but when you see some of the players on the pitch smiling and joking after defeats, it does create a certain perception.

I dunno myself - it is only a game after all. However, it is a perception that is at odds with all the talk of passion, etc on which they trade and breaking that fourth wall could dissuade some from parting with money to support them.

[OptimisticJock]

It's not only a game at that level though it's a profession. One partly funded by people paying to see theses players. Whilst nobody expects them to fall into despair at a defeat it's not a good look to be laughing and joking and I think people can rightly criticise them for it.

[Cameo]

It's not only a game at that level though it's a profession. One partly funded by people paying to see theses players. Whilst nobody expects them to fall into despair at a defeat it's not a good look to be laughing and joking and I think people can rightly criticise them for it.

I feel the opposite to be honest. I want them to be gutted when they lose (at least when they shouldnt have) and I think they are but I have absolutely no issue with them having a friendly chat with the opposition and a bit of a laugh. Introspection and misery can come later.

I think it is related to attitude when they play. With someone like Russell, the ability to brush off mistakes and look forward to the next chance is one of his key strengths and is infectious. For so long, we were a team who didnt enjoy rugby and just wanted to keep it tight for fear of a hammering and hope for a bit of luck. The players looked miserable and it was miserable watching them.

I'm very competitive and hate losing but doesnt mean that I need to mope as soon as I lose at anything.

[switchskier]

It's not only a game at that level though it's a profession. One partly funded by people paying to see theses players. Whilst nobody expects them to fall into despair at a defeat it's not a good look to be laughing and joking and I think people can rightly criticise them for it.

I feel the opposite to be honest. I want them to be gutted when they lose (at least when they shouldnt have) and I think they are but I have absolutely no issue with them having a friendly chat with the opposition and a bit of a laugh. Introspection and misery can come later.

I think it is related to attitude when they play. With someone like Russell, the ability to brush off mistakes and look forward to the next chance is one of his key strengths and is infectious. For so long, we were a team who didnt enjoy rugby and just wanted to keep it tight for fear of a hammering and hope for a bit of luck. The players looked miserable and it was miserable watching them.

I'm very competitive and hate losing but doesnt mean that I need to mope as soon as I lose at anything.

Yeah, I'm far more all my these lines. It was the respect for the opposition that attracted me to rugby in the first place and moping around, ala Farrell, when something goes wrong runs contrary to that.

[Big D]

I’m not particularly questioning Edwards’s overall quality as a defence coach, though the Wales reign ending on a high has rather glossed over the previous few season of mediocrity,

His defence was rarely the problem. They only once conceded more than 100 in a 6 Nations under him, very few times over 90 and 3 or 4 times in the 60s IIRC.

If we were regularly conceding 60-85 points in the championship we would win one. whether we have the defensive talent to do so is another question.

[whatisthejava]

If we were regularly conceding 60-85 points in the championship we would win one. whether we have the defensive talent to do so is another question.

Defendings a mindset. if you want to get up and tackle you will, all knowing a system where your in the right place to tackle and understnad when and when it is not your responsibility to tackle is the system.

Edinburgh have had a goodish season with tackling before they fell away so the talent is there but i think the system scotland employees means we put ourselves under alot of pressure at core times.

[AL.]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48185544

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What a fucking waste of Ritchie Gray. I'd like to see someone defend this decision.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Toony is a a hypocrite. If it's to do with not playing enough rugby or missing too much through injury as he suggests - how do you justify including Duncan Taylor?

Good fucking god man.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

It's also light on props.

Dunbar is rightfully excluded but if you'd told me a year ago that he wouldn't make the RWC squad despite being fit and well I'd have laughed. What on earth has happened to him? A bulky option in midfield is entirely dependent on Duncan Taylor not breaking.

[Cameo]

What a fucking waste of Ritchie Gray. I'd like to see someone defend this decision.

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

[Cameo]

Not sure it is light on props. Three of each side seems okay

[Adder]

What a fucking waste of Ritchie Gray. I'd like to see someone defend this decision.

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

He has the top 14 finals

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[hugh_woatmeigh]

It's either Gray vs Cummings

Or Rae vs Allan

What other forwards still have rugby to play?

No idea who the back spot could be for.

[Big D]

Starting regularly in one of the best sides in Europe, I don't get why he has been left out.

If I were Richie and don't make the world cup I think I'd chuck international rugby and maximise my earning potential in France. Still a couple of years on his deal with Toulouse but with 60odd caps, a lions tour and 4 years until the next world cup I wonder if it will cross his mind.

[whatisthejava]

Forwards

Props
Simon Berghan
Jamie Bhatti
Allan Dell
Zander Fagerson
Gordon Reid
Willem Nel

Hookers
Grant Stewart
George Turner
Fraser Brown
Stuart McInally

2nd rows
Grant Gilchrist
Jonny Gray
Ben Toolis
Sam Skinner

flankers
John Barclay
Jamie Ritchie
Gary Graham
Hamish Watson
Ryan Wilson
Matt Fagerson
8
Magnus Bradbury
Josh Strauss
Blade Thomson

Backs

9s
Greig Laidlaw
George Horne
Ali Price
Henry Pyrgos

10s
Adam Hastings
Finn Russell
Pete Horne

centres
Nick Grigg
Sam Johnson
Huw Jones
Chris Harris
Duncan Taylor
Rory Hutchinson

wings

Sean Maitland
Byron McGuigan
Tommy Seymour
Darcy Graham
FB

Stuart Hogg
Blair Kinghorn


For me very few fillers but

Grigg, Harries, Mcquigon, Pyrgos, Richie, Graham ,Stewart and Bhatti would need guys getting injured or an amazing camp to get their plane ticket