Chiefs vs Wales, June 14
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<p>Not long home from the game.</p>
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<p>Wow. Wales were so fucking bad it was a bit hard to watch at times. All they did was crab left and right, lose ground, then crab left and right a whole lot more. With the exception of the Welsh 14 who zipped everywhere, and the 16 who scored from the one decent move they made all game, the rest were crap. The scrum was a shambles, the backs looked slow and ponderous, and the Chiefs had their number on defence all night.</p>
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<p>As for the Chiefs, it was obvious from the haka that they were VERY fired up. And it showed. Superb defence, especially on the line, great running rugby and some fucking awesome tries. They just kept splitting the Welsh backline. And that last snatched pick up by MacNicol to score, just iced the cake really. Beaver was everywhere and led from the front, charging around like someone 15 years younger. Weber was zippy, Lowe showed some great stepping, but really, the Chiefs were excellent across the park.</p>
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<p>I sweat to god that ref was blowing the whistle out of sympathy for the Welsh, cos there were some retarded calls made. But at the end of the day, they were creamed. Most of those dudes spat on the Welsh jersey tonight. Terrible, terrible performance.</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>Bollocks to rite of passage.</p>
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<p>Even Hansen queried as to why Wales would choose to play a midweek game in a 3-test series.</p>
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<p>Demoralising for squad. No doubt a great feather in cap for the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>Garland had a response for his players though: <span style="color:rgb(73,73,73);font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;font-size:16px;"> “A number of players have been asking me personally about what they needed to do, wanting an opportunity and why they have not been selected for the Test team.</span></p>
<p style="font-size:16px;font-family:'PT Sans', sans-serif;color:rgb(73,73,73);">After this performance there’s some fairly simple answers that can be said. The players have got to be honest, go away, look in the mirrior and learn from what happened tonight.â€</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="587929" data-time="1465897934"><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></blockquote>Sad part is we're pretty much used to shite like that. Doesn't shock anymore.<br>
Don't know why the game was arranged but pretty pointless from a Welsh perspective. Starting someone like Warburton & bringing on Faletau - these guys must've been out on their feet after Saturday. Seems like an accident waiting to happen with injury etc. -
<p>Disaster for Wales , not much gained there </p>
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<p> with the benefit of hindsight , it almost comes across like Gatland looking after his own personal interests , but not Wales </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? -
<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? -
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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> -
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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> -
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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>
