The all-new, shiny '08/09 rugby thread

[bendeus]

Welsh Team to play SA:

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), James Hook (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

Pretty much as the rumours had it. Roberts at 13, Halfpenny to get his international debut on the wing. Wellies gets the nod at 10 instead of Hook and Cooper at 9 instead of Peel (who has been on very pale form at Sale).

Lots of potential in that back line. Interesting to see how a big, direct, fast lump like Roberts does in terms of being put into space by the Orange One's sublime passing. Very physical centre partnership, also. Support at the breakdown and steely tackling. Could free up Shane and Halfpenny to do some damage out wide.

*quietly applauds*

 

[el_starkos]

Welsh Team to play SA:

Lee Byrne (Ospreys);

Shit

Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues),

Shit

Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues),

Shit

Gavin Henson (Ospreys),

Gay. Shit

Shane Williams (Ospreys);

Shit

Stephen Jones (Scarlets),

Shit

Gareth Cooper (Gloucester);

Shit

Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues),

Shit

Matthew Rees (Scarlets),

Shit

Adam Jones (Ospreys),

Shit

Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),

Shit

Ian Evans (Ospreys),

Shit

Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt),

Shit

Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues),

Shit

Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).

Shit

 

[bendeus]

Shit

Shit

Shit

Gay. Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

You are Gareth Jenkins and I claim my £5

 

[The Boy]

France squad for the test against the RGs named:-

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Benoit Baby, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Romain Millo Chluski, 3 Benoit Lecouls, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Damien Traille, 22 Alexis Palisson.

If we had Parra/Trinh-Duc at 9/10 I would be more than happy with the backs, and if Chabal was at 8 instead of Picamoles the forwards wouldn't look *too* bad.

Fingers crossed.

 

[1927]

Shit

Shit

Shit

Gay. Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

Shit

I really dont see the point of that post, is it meant to be funny or something? or are you just an attention seeking twat?

 

[bendeus]

I really dont see the point of that post, is it meant to be funny or something? or are you just an attention seeking twat?

It's the result of a long-running border war. El Starkos is my (English, Wolves supporting) neighbour.

 

[travellerlife]

Wales will have a decent shot at the boks this weekend. The SA coach has been doing too many mind altering drugs of late. Some really odd choices in the squad, especially John Smit at prop. Ruan Pienaar at fly half is the one bright light of this tour, he is a really talented player, and is probably the future for the Boks at 10. Either way the boks are vulnerable in this first test, especially with the odd ball coach they are saddled with.

Springbok team

1 Beast Mtawarira (7)
2 Bismarck du Plessis (19)
3 John Smit (captain) (78)
4 Bakkies Botha (52)
5 Victor Matfield (77)
6 Schalk Burger (46)
7 Juan Smith (52)
8 Pierre Spies (16)
9 Fourie du Preez (42)
10 Ruan Pienaar (24)
11 Bryan Habana (43)
12 Jean de Villiers (43)
13 Adrian Jacobs (18)
14 JP Pietersen (21)
15 Conrad Jantjes (21)

 

[bendeus]

The Boks are awesome from 4 to 9. Suspect in the front row and undistinguished in the centres.

Wales really could beat them provided:

1) Ryan and Martyn Williams play the games of their lives
2) The above don't get injured
2) Good Cooper turns up rather than shit Cooper

Interestingly, with the likes of Duncan Jones, Hook, Tom Shanklin, Ian Gough and Peel on the bench, Wales have some strong players to bring on as impact subs. If we're still in touch into the final quarter I'd have to back us.

 

[Red Faction]

these will be interesting
at the moment, i still reckon wales are on for the slam in the '09 6Ns
lets see how these autumn tests go and if their fortunes change

 

[bendeus]

these will be interesting
at the moment, i still reckon wales are on for the slam in the '09 6Ns
lets see how these autumn tests go and if their fortunes change

Slam? Bloody hell!

I can see us taking the championship, but slams aren't two a decade, you know

 

[The Boy]

I'd have to plump for the saffers to do yas, I'm afraid. Hope they don't - NH solidarity and all that baws, until the the 6N at least.

Then again, the SA coach is more mental the Lievremont (who isn't actually that mental, but still...)

 

[el_starkos]

I really dont see the point of that post, is it meant to be funny or something? or are you just an attention seeking twat?

 

[travellerlife]

The Boks are awesome from 4 to 9. Suspect in the front row and undistinguished in the centres.

Wales really could beat them provided:

1) Ryan and Martyn Williams play the games of their lives
2) The above don't get injured
2) Good Cooper turns up rather than shit Cooper

.

The centres are okay, Jean de Villiers has been having a good season this year, while Adi Jacobs has surprised everyone with how well he has done this year against the likes of Nonu, Conrad Smith and Mortlock plus Frans Steyn and Jacque Fourie are available as substitutes. Beast Mtawarira has also had a good season this year, held his own against all comers in the super14 and Tri nations, certainly has a good work rate round the park. But nothing takes away from the a coach who seems to have an affinity for serious odd ball tactics.

 

[bendeus]

I'm going to stick my neck out here, and say that whatever else comes of Saturday the Boks will get a tuning up front. Gethin Jenkins is one of the finest loose heads in world rugby at the mo, and Smit ain't no tight head. Then, when he's really fucked, Gatland will bring on a fit, fresh and in-form Duncan Jones to finish the job.

I also reckon that Jacobs and De Villiers will struggle against the physicality of Henson and Roberts, and will get little change out of either in attack.

 

[travellerlife]

I agree on the front row, Smit may have played prop in the past but he is no specialist, so that is a big weakness. Bismark Du Plessis can be a penalty magnet as well. Adi Jacobs has stopped Nonu and Mortlock, so the physicality is not a problem, and Jacobs has the nack of making space for others, with Frans Steyn on the bench there is flair and a cannon boot waiting, so back line players are not a worry..... backline tactics of trying to run everything from everywhere all the time, without any structure or supporting players, that is a different story.

 

[mattie]

Mattie: Watched the Blues vs. Bath last night. What a fine side Bath look - their back play, including offloads, angles of running and passing into space was sublime at times. Was particularly impressed by your 12 (Hape) and 11 (Higgins??). Hape particularly looks the real deal - strong, fast and clever, a perfect 12.

Cardiff lucky to win that one, TBH. 13-3 up at half time despite only having 21% territory and 32% possession. Bath let themselves down in the final quarter (eighth) of the pitch, with the final pass often being fumbled or the final ruck leading to turnover ball.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I've rarely seen such an adventurous GP side behind the scrum, and that your boys did themselves proud last night. An excellent team!

Apols, missed this somehow.

Yep, Meehan has got them going well alright, I'm amazed at the change in what is a relatively short period of time - 3 or 4 years ago we were just awful, stick-it-up-jumper rugby for 80 minutes and no attempt to run anything. Last season, Abendanon picked the ball up in our in-goal against London Irish (I think), burned three defenders and we went the whole length of the pitch to score. We still only won the game as our lock Short managed to bundle their wing into touch 5 yards shy of the line.

Well pleased with Hape, up against a very good centre pairing and came out well. He's only played the EDF games that I've seen but I'm sure he'll get more of a run now.

Getting used to silly errors now, we lost to Toulouse in France in the last minutes because we turned it over when somebody booted the ball back through the ruck! Kicking is where we're shockingly bad, Butch James is generally very good out of hand but disasterous kicking for goal. A couple have only made it halfway to the posts. We really miss Barkley.

Still, it's rarely dull, and we are (to my complete amazement) top of the league - mainly thanks to try bonus points. Long may it live.

 

[bendeus]

Henson out!

And with him goes our best chance of beating the world champions. Fuck, fuck , fuckitty fuck

Roberts to 12 and Shanks in at 13 is ok, but the Orange One is our playmaker. We're far, far blunter without him.

Ah well, more to heap on Ickle Shane's narrow shoulders

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Come on the rah-rahs!

 

[bendeus]

Come on the rah-rahs!

Rather! I'm going to watch the games tomorrow, and then I'm going to go and scoff at some oiks!

 

[The Boy]

Not the best start from the taffs....

 

[The Boy]

And in other news, Scotland are already in trouble - down to 14 men after 3 min.

edit: and as I typed that NZ score a try.

 

[1927]

You gotta love Hastings(?) tho.

As they are coming down the tunnel he said Scotland had a great chance to make history. He said that there were LOTS of players in the Scottish team who would get in the NZ team!!!WTF.

Name one!

I didnt see a single Scottish player who would get in the Welsh team right now.

 

[bendeus]

 

[The Boy]

Count yourself lucky. You got to see your team put in a proper good performance and nearly beat the world champions.

I'm watching the most turgid, unimaginative two teams in the world farting about in the mud in Marseille.

And it's reffed by Kaplan who doesn't seem to even know which rules the game is being played by.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Can someone please explain to me what in the name of sweet baby jesus is England's new top all about?

It looksl ike a football top (specifically, arsenal).

 

[remedial_gash]

Can someone please explain to me what in the name of sweet baby jesus is England's new top all about?

It looksl ike a football top (specifically, arsenal).

It probably is an arsenal top, if they're made by the same people... Rugby seems to get a lot of football cast offs, specially now that they're wearing that plasticcy shit rather than proper tidy cotton jerseys.

Gash
x

 

[remedial_gash]

You gotta love Hastings(?) tho.

As they are coming down the tunnel he said Scotland had a great chance to make history. He said that there were LOTS of players in the Scottish team who would get in the NZ team!!!WTF.

Name one!

I didnt see a single Scottish player who would get in the Welsh team right now.

It wasn't Hastings was it?

I thought it was Lord buffoon of christendom, Mr Andy Nichol!

Pointless cunt of the first water.

Gash
x

 

[remedial_gash]

Not the best start from the taffs....

Well, we could have, and should have won that one.

Cooper is shit, and wellies was living up to his nickname... and even though we gifted them a try and missed 9 points off the boot, our midfield lacked a playmaker and we didn't look lile scoring.

I'm just glad that Gatland was pissed off with the way we chucked our chances away.

Gash
x

 

[1927]

Well, we could have, and should have won that one.

Cooper is shit, and wellies was living up to his nickname... and even though we gifted them a try and missed 9 points off the boot, our midfield lacked a playmaker and we didn't look lile scoring.

I'm just glad that Gatland was pissed off with the way we chucked our chances away.

Gash
x

We played shit and just got beat by the World Champs, that's gotta be a sign of good things to come, gatland will have roasted them after, and boy did we miss Gav!

 

[bendeus]

Well, we could have, and should have won that one.

Cooper is shit, and wellies was living up to his nickname... and even though we gifted them a try and missed 9 points off the boot, our midfield lacked a playmaker and we didn't look lile scoring.

I'm just glad that Gatland was pissed off with the way we chucked our chances away.

Gash
x

I love you, Remedial Gash.

Exactly as I read it. If Henson had played we'd have won that game. Saffas were dreadful; about 15 minutes of endeavour for full return. They were shit and we bottled it. Rolland was an absolute cunt in reffing the breakdown, and should be fucking ashamed of himself: every single ruck had Saffa hands and bodies interfering with play and the negative cunts should have been reffed out of the game within the first 20.

Bottom line though was that we bottled it. My thoughts:

- We missed Henson. I could write that 100 times and couldn't begin to convey what that player means to us. No spark in midfield - if he was on the pitch we'd have won. Simple as.

- Cooper is not an international 9

- Halfpenny is an international 14. Bye bye, Mark Jones.

- Ryan Jones is woeful at the moment, both for the Ospreys and Wales.

- Saffa front 3 better than we thought, though still pretty shit. We should have done them

- I think this is the third time I've said it, but Matthew Rees should never wear a Welsh jersey again.

- Andy Powell has a future in a Wales shirt, but probably off the bench

- Save for the dodgy catch at the end, Lee Byrne is a fucking quality 15, and Earls is going to have to work very, very hard to steal his jersey for the Lions