RugbyRebels

Today was another of those "Why do I put myself through this?" days.

The W was everything so it's an automatic pass-mark from me. But it was utter agony to watch. We still don't appear to have any clue what the plan is in attack; we still can't get a remotely stable set-piece platform; and we STILL make unbelievably stupid decisions under pressure. What in the Holy Name of All Great and Glorious Phuq were we doing, playing multiple phases in our own half, while 1pt ahead, with 2 minutes to play, against 14 men? Who is calling that? Why? Was there anyone on the whole planet - not wearing red - who was surprised when we were penalised?

Great fortitude to grab the initative back and nick it at the death. Seriously, that was some effort. But it should never, ever have come to that.

I laughed out load at Tompkins's try. I scored one like that decades ago in the Civil Sevice Sevens, walked through the opposition defence then sprinted for the line. It was certainly a try.

Kurtley Beale was hard done by, but that is the way it is reffed today. The comments about unnatural arm position were however nonsense.

Gareth Thomas was firstly stupid, secondly lucky. I know the force on the head was minimal but all his actions were just plain wrong.

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Sourdust wrote: What in the Holy Name of All Great and Glorious Phuq were we doing, playing multiple phases in our own half, while 1pt ahead, with 2 minutes to play, against 14 men? Who is calling that? Why? Was there anyone on the whole planet - not wearing red - who was surprised when we were penalised?

Spot on.

...and not for the first time.

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Graigwen wrote:

Sourdust wrote: What in the Holy Name of All Great and Glorious Phuq were we doing, playing multiple phases in our own half, while 1pt ahead, with 2 minutes to play, against 14 men? Who is calling that? Why? Was there anyone on the whole planet - not wearing red - who was surprised when we were penalised?

Spot on.

...and not for the first time.

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Ours was a seriously under strength team with second, third and even fourth choice players and a number of very young starters or reserves with very few caps. Injuries forced that on us. Perhaps if players like Ken Owens, AWJ, Faletau and Navidi were fit we would have had far more leadership on the field and had better control and decision making.

Before the series started I had visions of losing all four matches. To score six tries against an exuberant Fijian side to win and then hold on and secure a win against a wounded Australian side was character building for the youngsters in the squad.

Pivac has done what he did last year and found more strength in-depth in preparation for the World Cup. Even Scotland beat us at home last year but we went on to win the 6N. The next two years will prove how good that in-depth strength is.

Graigwen wrote:

Sourdust wrote: What in the Holy Name of All Great and Glorious Phuq were we doing, playing multiple phases in our own half, while 1pt ahead, with 2 minutes to play, against 14 men? Who is calling that? Why? Was there anyone on the whole planet - not wearing red - who was surprised when we were penalised?

Spot on.

...and not for the first time.

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Actually the problem was not playing multiple phases in our own half. It was playing multiple phases without ensuring close support for the ball carrier. We needed each phase to be half a yard then hit the deck. Huw Bennett was the best practicioner of this skill I ever saw. It is boring as hell but the ball is retained and penalties not given away. Done carefully it is immune from recent law changes (I think).


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That was hell to watch at the end, really annoying to see every good thing followed by a stupid error. Saved by a lucky, but lawful, try by Tompkins. (Nice to get some luck vs Australia ... we've had far too little of that in the past). Can't really complain in the end - we won, and with a massive injury list.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:That was hell to watch at the end, really annoying to see every good thing followed by a stupid error. Saved by a lucky, but lawful, try by Tompkins. (Nice to get some luck vs Australia ... we've had far too little of that in the past). Can't really complain in the end - we won, and with a massive injury list.

Yep.

Like I said, pass mark. Given everthing, if you look at the ledger, 2/4 and pipped at the death by the best in the world - that's decent.

I just wish it was a less hellish experience.

Graigwen wrote:

Graigwen wrote:

Sourdust wrote: What in the Holy Name of All Great and Glorious Phuq were we doing, playing multiple phases in our own half, while 1pt ahead, with 2 minutes to play, against 14 men? Who is calling that? Why? Was there anyone on the whole planet - not wearing red - who was surprised when we were penalised?

Spot on.

...and not for the first time.

.

Actually the problem was not playing multiple phases in our own half. It was playing multiple phases without ensuring close support for the ball carrier. We needed each phase to be half a yard then hit the deck. Huw Bennett was the best practicioner of this skill I ever saw. It is boring as hell but the ball is retained and penalties not given away. Done carefully it is immune from recent law changes (I think).


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Fair comment.

But in all honesty, I think doing it at all is way too much of a risk. If you can't trust your defence to keep them out from 80m... for 90s... with a man spare... you shouln't be on the field.