Comments on: Autumn Internationals 2014: Wales vs New Zealand Player Ratings

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:41:10 +0000

Staggy
Talking up is a bit of a thing of mine (among a few?). Altho I haven’t seen much of Webb, I understand he’s a good ‘un. IMO, he just needs to let his rugger do the talking… until after a game… if he must. Likely attracts less on field flack too.

By: snewe

snewe — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:43:55 +0000

Not sure how you can rate a centre as high as 7.5 if he didn’t pass or kick all game – not even once. No wonder the wings only made 1 carry between them.
It’s the same with England – although Roberts is better than Barrett – where very good wingers just aren’t used enough.
Maybe I’m old fashioned but I still want my centres to be very effective distributors

By: Adrian Price

Adrian Price — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:42:13 +0000

Thanks, Lukov. I forgot to mention Hibbard. I take it he’ll be available too?

By: Lukov

Lukov — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:18:32 +0000

Paul James will be with Bath, the rest are available. French clubs are unrestricted to negotiate release and George North release is for the full length of his contract

By: Adrian Price

Adrian Price — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:22:55 +0000

I suspect that there may be a Welsh backlash against South Africa but won’t Paul James, George North, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, and Leigh Halfpenny all be un available because the match is outside the IRB International Window?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:14:00 +0000

Barritt, but with more power…

By: Staggy

Staggy — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 18:43:34 +0000

Have to say that I do think Rhys Webb is going to be very good, but do (miraculously) agree with Don that Austin Healey type utterances are best avoided! Not going to say this too loud given my normal view on the man but Lydiate seems to be playing much better. However a big loss at home with pretty much the starting 15 on the pitch is a worry. Amused me to read Roberts passing stats!

By: Don P

Don P — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:37:22 +0000

So, if Rhys ‘NZ are there for the taking’ Webb, had stayed on for the whole game (perhaps the knock was an unfortunate coincidence?), would Wales would have won? The try count @ the end was 5 – 1. NZ controlled the game stats, esp in meters made, which were nearly 500 – c200… for the full 80. I think I’ve quoted an Oz friend prev who opined that ‘Sealed lips gather no feet’, but I guess Webb was out taking a pee break @ the time of her utterance.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:53:51 +0000

If you’re referring to Webb, he’d taken a knock which meant he had to come off I believe. As for Smith, not sure why they took him off as he was just starting to impose himself a bit more – although it had been far from his best game all round.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:47:22 +0000

I can’t understand why international coaches take off scrum halves who are bossing the game. It seems to happen more often than not. Can someone explain to me the logic in this?