...as those poor Scots.
Which means we were pretty bludi awful, if truth be told. If we play that badly the Eye-tyes won’t fail to put us to the gladius.
We need to get a bit more explosive from the very outset. Then tighten and THEN go for it, AND THEN close it down and screw down the lid.
Easy.
And that is what the team that The Gatts has selected needs to do in a couple weeks. And I think they will be the team fro the job. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the sole Dragon Boy on the track. It was with bemusement that I stared at the four Welsh 'players' on the cover of the match programme from Saturday… Was it some prank, a la Scrum 4, with some burly cousin of the graphic designer being photo-shopped into the shirt and onto the cover?! Or was it the winner of some WRU competition to 'Be the face of Welsh Rugby?'
Then, and only after a good 5 minutes sat on the loo, I had a thought that it might be that Gwent prop chap…
Not that I feel in any way guilty about not recognising him – I really feel that one shouldn’t be able to recognise a prop. Especially one from the NGD. It is a prerequisite in my book that a prop should be more recognisable from his arras than his face. It will be his whole body we will want to see going forward against them burly citizens in the Azure blue, whatever he looks like.
We MUST get a nudge on in those scrums and tighten up the support in the lineouts. Something I’m sure that the Wondrous New Coaching Team (he really is impressive already, isn't he) are working on. Hopefully McBride is now learning how to coach a pack from someone who knows how…
Outside the packs, if the Italians can but find a 10 (not, bless him, a converted centre who kicks more poorly than Wilbach) who can kick and pass and tackle, they will be one hell of tidy proposition to win more than they lose in the 6N…
Be warned!
Big Col wrote...
Dunno why there's all this talk of Rhys Thomas going to struggle. 20ish stone. Regularly playing and doing alright against some of the best. Plus he can play for 80 minutes unlike his oppo. If Gethin can exert a bit of pressure on his side, and he's certainly capable of it, he'll be all right.
Peel should speed up the service and that's the way to beat the eye-ties. Keep it away from their hairy boys and tire them out in the process.
Jones will get it out to Shanks to do the business a lot quicker than Hook. Although I'd like to see him come on when they're tired, should be more effective than that Citroen bloke who plays for England.
NOW
If they'd only drop F'in Williams and bring back Arthur Emyr we'd be alright!
Wilbach recalls THAT attempted drop goal and chuckles. but then remembers some absolutely hammeringly hard and fast runs by the big Lla and smiles in a different way.
And i, like you, am a little bemused by the criticism of The Sole Dragon - but what do i know about the Grunt Merchants, eh...
Posted by: Big Col | February 15, 2008 2:26 PM