Comments on: Best of the Weekend: Wales fall at the final hurdle

By: SY

SY — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:18:32 +0000

I completely agree. However, I thought it was a mistake for the Welsh to take the lineout instead of the points (each time). They were the wrong call in that situation because there was plenty of time to score again. With a player up, Wales could have easily put themselves in the position for points or a try. Wales lost out on at least six points and they could have kept possession for the last ten minutes.

Wales lost because their decision making was second best.

By: John

John — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:02:44 +0000

Ospreys can hold their heads up, that scoreline flattered Glasgow.

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 11:29:45 +0000

Pablito, as for that kick at the end, I could not agree more. That really was criminal, and had all the hallmarks of a really muddled brain. Was it Priestland? I can’t imagine he will recall that with any fondness.

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 11:26:38 +0000

Pablito, if it is executed well, it doesn’t matter if the defenders know it is coming. Just ask Neil Back, and the old Leicester pack.

As for the extra man, it is far easier to negate this, when you are on your own line. Because of where your defensive line starts, you naturally push the tackle line back in your favour, and you can add to your line because the blind side winger and full back have very little space to cover. Because it is a line out, it is far easier to drift from the tail as well, so the advantage is nullified.

To take advantage you have to tie in the loosies and stretch the defense, and this is very difficult from such a position.

From a Welsh perspective, they can load the lineout, if it works they score, if they get held, then the likes of North and others can return to the line.

If they can’t secure the line ball in the first instance then it really doesn’t matter where George North is standing.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 11:25:06 +0000

Some fantastic rugby this weekend.

It continues to amaze me that people still rate Phillips. Other than the England 6N game, I honestly can not remember the last time I saw him play well. I’m genuinely thinking back years here.

Lions tour he was absolutely useless, 6N before that game he was awful as well.

Unless Wales find world class half backs form somewhere, I think they will struggle to make the step up into ‘World Class’ level.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 10:42:56 +0000

Disagree Blub. It worked once for them as a novelty. Everyone knew what was coming this time.

With Aus a man down in the backs, that ball needed to go wide quickly

By: Pablito

Pablito — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 10:38:37 +0000

Agree with all of that Andy. That was nasty by Phillips, I hope he gets banned. Perhaps he should concentrate on his game rather than trying to constantly pick fights

If he had put as much energy into tackling Folau as did into all his chat, Wales might have won…

As for the line-out call, just cannot understand what they were thinking. Likewise the decisions to kick possession away with only a couple of mins left. When the ABs needed a last minute score against Ireland, you didn’t seem them booting the ball back to the Irish.

By: Blub

Blub — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 10:37:33 +0000

Andy, in fairness, Wales have form in this move being successful, so whilst it didn’t work, it wasn’t necessarily the wrong call at the time.

They had a lineout on the 5m, which meant that the Aussie backs were only 5m back, with no space behind them to defend. Even with 14 v 15, this makes it far easier to defend wide. Its very difficult to score wide from a 5m lineout because of the space advantage that ironically benefits the defence.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 09:31:14 +0000

Villain of the Week.

Mike Phillips stamp on Cooper?

For me the biggest villain was whoever called George North to be at the tail of the line out when Wales were a man up in the backs!

Secure the ball, forward power, create the overlap and whip the ball out wide for a match winning try… Textbook surely.