Wales team v SA

[Sandydragon]

Weee clueless with the ball in hand

[Sandydragon]

I think the South African coach will be a bit pissed off with this second half. All wales have got is determination, nothing else is working for us and it’s got a bit scrappy

[Sandydragon]

Just under five minutes to keep them under fifty

[pompey-zebra]

Another try. Four minutes to avoid shipping another 50 pointer.

[Sandydragon]

Over a thousand metres made by the bokke.

[Sandydragon]

Try by Botham at the last.

Pleased for him, he’s given his all in the last two games

[Sandydragon]

Totally outclassed all game. Can’t think of one area where we had any advantage.

But somehow I was expecting it to be worse.

[Wallpaperman]

Try by Botham at the last.

Pleased for him, he’s given his all in the last two games

Hasn’t he just. Not the biggest or most skilful but has earned a run in the shirt.

Can’t fault a lot of the effort there, even Griffin, but that was a complete mismatch. A ghastly Autumn.

[Wallpaperman]

Totally outclassed all game. Can’t think of one area where we had any advantage.

But somehow I was expecting it to be worse.

Would have taken that score line at half time. As you said, like the 90s.

[normanski]

Totally outclassed all game. Can’t think of one area where we had any advantage.

But somehow I was expecting it to be worse.

I was expecting far worse from our boys against the men. There are glimmers but probably not enough to save Gatland. Gooness help us in the six nations.

[pompey-zebra]

Totally outclassed all game. Can’t think of one area where we had any advantage.

But somehow I was expecting it to be worse.

Coming back to your earlier "feels like the 1990's" comment, being relieved it wasn't worse is a very 90's feeling.

[Wallpaperman]

Cheers for your company both. Back for the post mortem tomorrow. Honestly, I think with everyone fit there is a competitive 23 that could be named, and there is a decent pipeline of young players coming through. I feel like blaming Gatland (and that was a strange selection tonight) but I know it’s not all him.

Nos da.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Totally outclassed all game. Can’t think of one area where we had any advantage.

But somehow I was expecting it to be worse.

Agreed. Outclassed but it went slightly better than expected. I think our points per visit to the 22 was quite good (gotta find those positives ).

[Sandydragon]

We scored two decent tries but we just couldn’t stop their momentum. They got over the gain line with such ease that we were always defending on the back foot. Most of their tries just came through a relentless power game

[paddy no 11]

Well ye know Botham and rodgers can play international now

And the new 15 is better than winnett

Not a total loss

[Sandydragon]

Well ye know Botham and rodgers can play international now

And the new 15 is better than winnett

Not a total loss

Now sure that I agree about Murray. Otherwise I’d agree. I’d also add that Eddie James doesn’t look out of place and can get us over the gainline.

Other positives? Grady looked much better on the wing.

[Graigwen]

I agree with the general consensus that it could have been much worse. We were struggling in almost every area.

I don't think the experiment of playing without a proper full back worked. Murray is very quick, and tried hard, but was often out of position.

Griffin was well sorted out, hopefully he will learn from this. (It is always a possibility for a prop to have the odd really bad game.)

Botham was visibly giving 100% all the time. He has looked good in the last two games. James looked much stronger than Llewelyn when he came on. Costelow did not look impressive during his brief appearance. Hathaway had a few good moments, but also some dire ones. Overall there was a lack of physicality - the scrums were about equal weight.

The worst thing of all was our inability to tackle, truly appalling.

.

[Son of Mathonwy]

To be honest I think the ref took pity on us a little. 15 penalties would normally have gotten us a yellow card towards the end, and that could have made the scoreline a lot worse.

Jac Morgan completed 28 tackles, also our joint best carrier with Hathaway at 15m. Dyer got our only line break (in what was an impressive finish), vs 15 breaks from the Boks. 33% scrum wins for us. 46 missed tackles (Eddie James missed 6).

https://www.rugbypass.com/live/south-af ... /?g=941817

[Wallpaperman]

To be honest I think the ref took pity on us a little. 15 penalties would normally have gotten us a yellow card towards the end, and that could have made the scoreline a lot worse.

Jac Morgan completed 28 tackles, also our joint best carrier with Hathaway at 15m. Dyer got our only line break (in what was an impressive finish), vs 15 breaks from the Boks. 33% scrum wins for us. 46 missed tackles (Eddie James missed 6).

https://www.rugbypass.com/live/south-af ... /?g=941817

Agreed re the yellow card, thought Wales would definitely get one. SA also coughed up a few penalties in the red zone, too.

[Sandydragon]

To be honest I think the ref took pity on us a little. 15 penalties would normally have gotten us a yellow card towards the end, and that could have made the scoreline a lot worse.

Jac Morgan completed 28 tackles, also our joint best carrier with Hathaway at 15m. Dyer got our only line break (in what was an impressive finish), vs 15 breaks from the Boks. 33% scrum wins for us. 46 missed tackles (Eddie James missed 6).

https://www.rugbypass.com/live/south-af ... /?g=941817

I hadn’t realised James missed so many tackles. He needs to work on that as a priority. This is where we miss a Lydiate type player.. one big hit to take away momentum.

[Son of Mathonwy]

To be honest I think the ref took pity on us a little. 15 penalties would normally have gotten us a yellow card towards the end, and that could have made the scoreline a lot worse.

Jac Morgan completed 28 tackles, also our joint best carrier with Hathaway at 15m. Dyer got our only line break (in what was an impressive finish), vs 15 breaks from the Boks. 33% scrum wins for us. 46 missed tackles (Eddie James missed 6).

https://www.rugbypass.com/live/south-af ... /?g=941817

I hadn’t realised James missed so many tackles. He needs to work on that as a priority. This is where we miss a Lydiate type player.. one big hit to take away momentum.

Yeah, I didn't notice during the match. But then we were missing so many tackles that it was hard to pick up on anyone standing out.

Llewellyn and Smith's joint missed tackle for that try was noticeable though. Llewellyn missed 4 but he was on the pitch for the whole match, unlike James. I feel that Llewellyn doesn't bring enough but I may be being a bit harsh. He's solid enough. But with his size he ought to be a weapon like Jamie Roberts - he doesn't seem to have the acceleration.

[Sandydragon]

I had reasonable hopes for Llewelyn but not so sure now. I admit it’s hard to judge him when forwards are getting royally stuffed, but the midfield has been lacking physicality and as our token big bugger on the back line after Grady’s injury he hasn’t shown up.

Grady needs to stay on the wing. I hope James can come through as he has the ability to get over the gainline and can apparently pass as well. Macs Page could be good for us in time but we need to let him develop a bit.

[MrK]

I hadn’t realised James missed so many tackles. He needs to work on that as a priority. This is where we miss a Lydiate type player.. one big hit to take away momentum.
[/quote]

We do have those players but they arent stand out and dont get selected - SLH is 6'3 and nearly 18st, Ratti 6'5 and 18st, Woodman coming through is 6'5 and touching 17st, Martin at 8 is 6'5 and over 18st, Mcleod is another one that comes to mind.

All of those are under 26 I think - we need to get them involved, we need to develop them - we need A games

Im not a size is everything advocate, but you do need power and our pack is under powered.

[Tuco Ramirez]

And now the scrum is getting pulled. Archie Groffin getting a hard time of it

That was a humiliation for Griffin........ difficult one to come back from......

[Which Tyler]

That was a humiliation for Griffin........ difficult one to come back from......

The plus side for him is that he's got the perfect partner to help him learn the lessons of it at his club...

He is also very young and very inexperienced, these things are to be expected for such a prop, up against South Africa, whilst not having much shove to channel from his engine room.