Comments on: Rate the Match: South Africa v Wales 2nd Test

By: Johan

Johan — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 06:26:32 +0000

@VaughJackson. Well said my man. To answer you if the illegal tackle was the other way round…………Their would’ve been chaos in the NH, the EU would’ve revered the issue to the UN, and they would’ve end up escalating it to the US (who quite frankly know sh*t about rugby), they would’ve sent 3 aircraft carriers and 25 F18′s to SA to threaten us not to do so again lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Johan

Johan — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 06:22:34 +0000

All the Wales sour pus*ies take a hike. Boks take a bow guys. If you can play this bad and still beat a spirited team like Wales, you’ve achieved something special.
@G & Robbie. Please don’t embarrass yourselves any further by proving to us your lack of rugby knowledge by accusing the ref of being biased and favouring their own, and the Boks apparently collapsing mauls. When it comes to physical power in the scrums, no country not even the AB’s with McCaw in charge can match us, that’s why he keeps playing on the off side line to compensate for this lack lol!!!!
We know it’s a hard pill to swallow, but that’s the way it is and with that I rest my case and I’m really looking forward to November’s clash vs England at Twickenham.

By: Vaughnjackson

Vaughnjackson — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:46:54 +0000

Cannot believe that some people are blaming the Ref for Wales not being good enough to close the game out. We’ll just ignore the rules of the game in future so Wales can get a win over the SH. Bottom line, Wales played the best they could play, Boks had their worst game in 2 years, and Boks were still good enough to get the win. I respect Wales as a rugby mad nation, and felt really bad for their fans after the game. It’s really difficult to stay sympathetic when so many of those fans commenting on these discussion groups can’t take a loss with grace. Wonder what their take on the penalty try would be had Habana shoulder charged Cuthbert into touch to deny Wales a match winning try?

By: Banastre

Banastre — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 18:00:28 +0000

Brighty

In reply to an earlier post about Wales in comparison to England. I think at the moment England are ahead of Wales in a number of areas, though I admit New zealand are certainly ahead of England in even more.

I don’t believe there is a lot to gain from comparing Wales’ second test of the series against SA to Englands third test against NZ. There are a huge amount of factors, NZ being a better side than SA, the fact that a team playing its third game of a series at the end of a season is bound to be more tired than a team playing its second etc (Wales had the extra weeks break). Perhaps it would be better to compare Engand’s second test, a score lost also by a one point margin. Though i appreciate you were probably making more of a passing comment.

The one area which i would argue England have an advantage over Wales is in strength in depth, this tour proved that when England are down to their 2nd, 3rd or even 4th they can perform well against the no.1 ranked side in the world playing away. This will be crucial going into the world cup in 2015 with so many internationals being played.

Furthermore i think Gatland’s tactics call it ‘Warrenball’ or Wales Plan A,B,C and D or whatever you want are only really effective when your first 15 is fit and firing. It doesn’t look quite as effective when Roberts, Lydiate, Adam Jones or Phillips are in and out of form regularly. All teams have players out of form at some point in time but it particularly hurts Wales with their relative lack of depth. Combine that with the fact that your best player and Captain is injured much of the time.

Wales certainly have an edge in certain depts, the centres, wings, caps, and the fact that this Welsh side have been together for a number of years more than England. but the gap is closing on those aspects despite England’s often disastrous centre experiments most recently.

It would be foolish to write of this Wales side for the world cup, and right now if both sides faced one another it would be extremely close, and could go either way. However I think momentum is with England. Time will prove me wrong!

By: brighty

brighty — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:26:22 +0000

I agree with Anarky – Wales played really well*. Physical and fast. Phillips at the fulcrum of a lot of it. Passes were quick and incisive or runs were taken immediately and yards made. Yes, it’s now a concern that this gives him another 24 month free pass to be rubbish.

*but not well enough. Lineout was a shambles, scrum was up and down (pun intended), ruck intensity not good enough in last quarter and kicking was a bit hit and miss.

By: Danaes Dad

Danaes Dad — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:11:52 +0000

This was an all round great game. Wales ran the Boks from one side to the other tiring out the big guys.
Walsh seemed to forget that your not supposed to drive in the scrums until the ball is in (boks pushed early on almost every scrum)
however neither scrum half put the ball in straight and no-one was penalised.
With Williams – he should have let the try in, the boks weren’t kicking well and wouldn’t have got a touchline conversion.

it’s a pity there is no third test it would have been very interesting.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 11:34:14 +0000

Thanks Anarky – what a pity there’s no third game.

By: Anarky

Anarky — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:43:54 +0000

I wouldn’t say SA took Wales too lightly. I think Wales definitely improved from last week, they were more accurate with a lot less mistakes. SA seemed to make a lot more mistakes than last week (dropping high balls, knock ons) part of which I think can be attributed to the pressure Wales put on them. So a bit of both I’d say.

No third game.

Phillips had his best game since v England ’13. Yes it’s a concern that Gatland will now continue to pick him.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:14:09 +0000

I didn’t see this so perhaps someone can can tell me whether the closeness was due to SA taking Wales too lightly after the last result, Wales really picking up their game or a little bit of both?

Also, is there a third game or not? Shame if there isn’t

PS – Brighty, I read that Phillips played well. Given that he only seems to do so once every year at the moment, are you a little concerned that this result will encourage Gatland to keep on selecting him?

By: brighty

brighty — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 22:02:04 +0000

Well put Eric. Enjoy the win. I look forward to our next matchup.

By: brighty

brighty — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 22:01:07 +0000

Staggy, I hope it is just tiredness for North. He seems to have become a complete liability on the field – no defensive sense or ability. I can’t understand it, he’s looked good for Northampton but for us he’s been a total letdown.

I can see what you mean about England but right now, if we played right now, I’m not sure who would win which would mean I would back Wales. From what I’ve read, and Ian Robertson was saying it all over five live as well before yesterday’s game, next years RWC group was now for Eng and Aus to fight it out. Everyone can now see we are back in the mix and I think we can get better. I expect to see Samson Lee, Davies, Morgan etc get more caps in the autumn and expect to see a tips/Warbs backrow. Looking forward to it now.

By: Staggy

Staggy — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 21:52:02 +0000

I still regard Brighty as a one eyed Welshman, and anyone who says otherwise clearly does not read this blog which is bizarre as Enoch is a fairly regular commentator.

Brighty, as to your earlier rugby related comments, I have said many times on here that you arent as good or bad as your last game. Still think England have nipped in front of Wales, but not by much. Think Gats has some minor rebuilding to do. Some players getting over the hill.

As to North, the same comment could be levelled at any number of NH players. The season is too long and the players are paying the price. Launchbury and Brown to name 2 were shadows of the players they have been for most of the season in N Z.