Chiefs vs Wales, June 14
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="587960" data-time="1465904830">
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<p>Haha hilarious. I only got to watch the bit after half time when Wales had a million phases, had nothing more than individual pick and go, and made -20m. How can an international team be so clueless?<br><br>
Onya Chiefs 2nds.<br><br>
So what do Wales have to do to break even on this tour now?</p>
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<p>A win v NZ is the answer. However this is looking less and less likely.</p> -
I would have thought that makes it a success. <br><br>
I thought break even was 3 credible performances and beating the Chiefs -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="587955" data-time="1465903525"><p>
Disaster for Wales , not much gained there <br><br>
with the benefit of hindsight , it almost comes across like Gatland looking after his own personal interests , but not Wales</p></blockquote>
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Playing a midweek game is fine, England did a few years ago, Aus and SA have pretty regularly on EOYT.<br><br>
Probably should have picked the Blues though in retrospect! -
I think the last time that I winced as much whilst watching a rugby match was during the '98 Tour of Hell. The big difference for me then was vs now was that I knew the quality (or lack thereof) of the England squad, so painful though the games were to watch, the results weren't that surprising.<br><br>
The scale and manner of today's defeat for the Welsh was horrible to watch, from a British perspective. I don't enjoy seeing a weak Wales, it's bad for 6N, but genuine depth just doesn't seem to be there currently.<br><br>
How long before the WRU's grassroots coaching and player pathways are planned to start bearing fruit? And will they really stick with Gatland and Co. until 2019? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="587963" data-time="1465905181">
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<p>I would have thought that makes it a success.<br><br>
I thought break even was 3 credible performances and beating the Chiefs</p>
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<p>Prior to today's result I would say you're right. But to make this tour a break even they have to do a bit more now I feel. Otherwise it's a disaster.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="587949" data-time="1465901721">
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<p>Man. Who was 22? Watched the second half on silent. Immense on defence and great on attack. If Chiefs defended like that every game we would win the Super Comp</p>
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<p>The Chiefs 22 was Sam McNicol.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="587929" data-time="1465897934">
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<p>Mike - my sincere condolences to you and the other Welsh lads in these difficult times<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Thanks. Just in from a day away. Thoughts to come :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="587893" data-time="1465892888">
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<p>Sounds like the total lack of attacking ability and imagination is Wales downfall yet again.<br>
Is this a symptom of the way rugby is played in the UK? Chiefs the complete opposite. Base their style on organised defence and lethal attacking with risk taking to create and take chances.</p>
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<p>My local team play more like the Chiefs than Wales and won their league and walked promotion to a higher standard of rugby next season.</p> -
<p>What a match, and what a result.<br><br>
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Thoroughly deserved.<br><br>
Rennie and the Chiefs did a Japan on us. Knew they were smaller so played quicker & smarter and didn't get caught in possession. Superb.<br><br>
And the Welsh gameplan played into their hands. And critically Gatland and Wales didn't cotton on that slowing the game down and playing a forward dominated match would have created space and mismatches later on.<br><br>
Saturday will be interesting.<br><br>
NZ to score +50 is a certainty. Tried to place a cumulative +150 pts across the three tests bet but noone would take it.<br><br>
Matthew Morgan our best player and only attacking threat. Charteris the only forward who put his hand up for selection.<br><br>
If Morgan doesn't make the 23 at least, then Gatland is bullshitting about wanting to play a wider, more expansive, higher tempo game.<br>
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Warburton should have been head and shoulders above the rest and wasn't. Tired? More likely covering for the other back row forwards who are not up to the task. Combine the two and fairly anonymous.<br><br>
Scott Williams was so disappointing. Second rate version of Roberts. Playing to script?<br><br>
Something drastic has to happen. Unless Wales get closer than 18pts in the next two tests, then Gatland has done his Lions chances irreparable harm.<br><br>
Wales lose both remaining tests with NZ scoring 50+ and Wales not scoring at least score 3-4 tries in defeat then you have to wonder if Team Gatland can remain. Elements may well survive, but not the unit. And rightly so.<br><br>
Too many Welsh players are not playing matches of highest intensity and tempo regularly. The biggest matches that most play outside of tests are the Pro12 Judgment Day derby games.<br><br>
They're not used to this intensity and pace of the SH game.<br><br>
But it's a Catch 22. Let them play in more competitive leagues but see our own league suffer and lose control of availability.<br><br>
This loss is a pivotal moment in Welsh rugby history. We can choose to follow and be forever in the chasing pack. Or lead. Choose to come up with innovative coaching and a style of play which suits our mentality, personality and personnel.<br><br>
Something a litle like this<br><br>
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<p>Shot of the Day :)</p>
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<p><img src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/13417501_10154268290583624_661921768029025356_n.jpg?oh=2704c66e95f0dcdb74fa84a39921bafc&oe=57D1A1E7" alt="13417501_10154268290583624_6619217680290"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="587965" data-time="1465905520">
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<p>Playing a midweek game is fine, England did a few years ago, Aus and SA have pretty regularly on EOYT.<br><br>
Probably should have picked the Blues though in retrospect!</p>
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<p>Gatland wanted to take them home to the Waikato, he was a big part of organising it apparently ...... and they ambushed him </p> -
I know it's a generation or so since they were common, but can't believe some people are commenting about "pointless" midweek matches... <br><br>
That a couple of very key players had to back up suggests the squad wasn't deep enough/thought through well enough. Again, the mug in the coaching box might have to answer to that one. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Donsteppa" data-cid="587998" data-time="1465931753">
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<p>I know it's a generation or so since they were common, but can't believe some people are commenting about "pointless" midweek matches...<br><br>
That a couple of very key players had to back up suggests the squad wasn't deep enough/thought through well enough. Again, the mug in the coaching box might have to answer to that one.</p>
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<p>Midweek games were one of the highlights of proper tours. A chance to blood players not in a test arena, and to get out to proper heartland rugby areas that don't have big stadia. I'm all for them - they can be fantastic if done well.</p>
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<p>The issue here is a short tour and small squad. Modern rugby is now a 23 man game, not 15, and this bites modern squads. 15 of 30 is so much easier than 23 of 35. And you get stuck on the back end becuase you don't have time to push the tour out and play non-tests on saturdays.</p>
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<p>This is why you should all go and buy as many midweek tickets for the Lions as you can. They are the last of the big tours. Personally, I'm planning to go to 4 provincial games and 2-3 tests</p> -
<p>I'm going to stick up for Gatland here. From the comments I've read a lot of the fringe players where asking him what they needed to do to force their way into the test team. This game was the perfect opportunity for those players to prove they were good enough - they failed.</p>
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<p>It's a long way to come to only hold tackle bags so I can fully understand the rationale behind the fixture from Wales' POV. If the tour was only going to be the 3 tests then either Wales should have reduced the squad from 35 to 26 or be prepared to give everyone a chance vs the ABs. This was a compromise.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="587984" data-time="1465919940">
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<p>Dave Rennie again proving his superiority over his peers with this comprehensive win.</p>
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<p>Well he's certainly a better coach than Gatland :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="588017" data-time="1465936610">
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<p>I'm going to stick up for Gatland here. From the comments I've read a lot of the fringe players where asking him what they needed to do to force their way into the test team. This game was the perfect opportunity for those players to prove they were good enough - they failed.</p>
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<p>Did you hear his quote? Something like <em>a lot of players have asked me personally why they aren't being selected and what they need to do to get into the test team. They should go and look in the mirror and face some hard truths.</em></p>
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<p>I can't easily find the quote online - someone please help out</p>
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<p>Edit:<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/06/14/wales-fringe-players-need-to-take-a-hard-look-at-themselves-says/'>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/06/14/wales-fringe-players-need-to-take-a-hard-look-at-themselves-says/</a></p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Austin News Text Roman', Georgia, Times, serif;font-size:17px;">Players have been asking me for an opportunity and asking me why they haven’t been selected. There are some very simple answers. They have got to be honest about looking themselves in the mirror. We’ve got to do the same as coaches.â€</span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="588017" data-time="1465936610">
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<p>I'm going to stick up for Gatland here. From the comments I've read a lot of the fringe players where asking him what they needed to do to force their way into the test team. This game was the perfect opportunity for those players to prove they were good enough - they failed.</p>
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<p>I'd stick up for him if his team had a game plan that looked like something other than a parody of Blackadder goes Forth parodying WWI - run ponderously straight into the opposition with the ball (and also without it). Some of that may be down to the plays, but by the comments of our Welsh posters, there's also a few players sitting back at home in Wales who might have been able to play differently - yet don't fit the Gats mould. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="587938" data-time="1465899035">
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<p>Brendan Gallagher ... thought this was good:</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:26px;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">Gatland criticised 4 arranging Waikato game.Bollox Midweek thumping in NZ great reality check and rites of passage for most British players!</span></p>
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<p>You're still following that troll MR, glutton for punishment aye ;).</p>
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<p>Although, you were around to show us the one time he managed to remove his head from his his arse and say something interesting.</p>
