Wales player ratings (85)
- 9 Sep 07, 03:52 PM
Nantes
Wales recovered from a half-time deficit to record a at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
I was at the stadium to see the match, and here's how I rated each individual player's performance. Let me know what you make of my marks and add your own thoughts.
Kevin Morgan One early bit of adventure after Shane Williams’s long spin pass, but hesitant at times both in defence and attack before being replaced by Gareth Thomas - 5
Mark Jones A quiet game in attack for the Scarlets wing and fumbled when he could have scored at the death, but sound in defence - 6
Tom Shanklin Took a while to stamp his authority on the match but became more and more of a handful for the Canadian defence as it wore on. Good pass for Shane Williams’ first try - 7
Sonny Parker The Ospreys centre was almost punished for a loose pass in the first half and looked laboured at times, but scored Wales’ first try - 6
Shane Williams Struggled to get into the game, but the Ospreys flyer became a factor as the Canadians started to wilt. A couple of glaring errors but bagged two cheap tries after the break - 6
James Hook Starting with Hook was a gamble which very nearly went disastrously wrong for coach Gareth Jenkins. Unable to get his backs going and had a pass intercepted for Canada’s second try - 5
Dwayne Peel Few examples of his trademark darting runs, but a solid enough display from the Scarlets scrum-half - 6
Gethin Jenkins The Cardiff loose-head was solid enough in the scrum but cumbersome at times in the loose and failed to make much of an impression - 5
Matthew Rees Some good bursts from the Scarlets hooker, who also provided accurate ball in the line-out and won a scrum against the head - 7
Adam Jones Like Gethin Jenkins, did not catch the eye in open play but did a decent enough job against Canada’s monster pack - 6
Ian Gough Put in some big hits, including one fine try-saving tackle, and showed some nice skills with the ball in hand. Solid in the line-out - 7
Alun Wyn Jones Scored scrappy try to see that Wales regained the lead and did the bread and butter jobs well - 7
Jonathan Thomas Wales’ back-row will have better days than this and Thomas was never able to get a handle on the game - 6
Martyn Williams A quiet outing from the Cardiff man. Wales will need him in more boisterous form against the Wallabies next Saturday - 6
Alix Popham Like some of his team-mates, hit his straps after the break with some bullocking runs and big hits. Not one of his best days, however - 6
Replacements:
Gareth Thomas Along with Stephen Jones, Thomas’ introduction was like a shot in the arm for Wales. Plenty of dog in defence and added a cutting edge in attack - 8
Stephen Jones Made sure of a starting spot against Australia next Saturday with a virtuoso performance from the bench. Sharp in attack, solid in defence and unerring with the boot - 8
Colin Charvis Latched onto Stephen Jones’ shoulder for a try and looked effective against a tiring Canadian team - 7
Duncan Jones Not much chance to make an impact.
Michael Philips Again, not much time to assert himself, but looked sharp.
Rhys Thomas Only 15 minutes to shine and put himself about as much as he could.
Ben Dirs is a Ö÷²¥´óÐã Sport journalist travelling around France in a camper van with Tom Fordyce.
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Mark Jones' fumble at the death was from a forward pass anyway, so I doubt he was concentrating on it much.
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How you haven't got Tom Shanklin as man of the match I'll never know.
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Hi Ben, A very strange critique of the game. Mark Jones?? played to a 6, Tom Shanklin only a 7 (the best player on the park) Gareth Thomas 8 ?? did you see the game live? Maybe it was different. All in all the televised version was again a very poor Wales. Having said that there again was the feeling that the team has potential, maybe.
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Agree with most of your ratings but think you underestimated Gethin Jenkins overall play, I though he got about the park well and showed glimpses of his form from Wales' more expansive style in 2005.
On the flip side I feel you over estimated Gareth Thomas performance, granted he showed good endeavour when he came on but I think the fact that he came on at the same time as the very impressive Stephen Jones made his impact seem greater.
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Dwayne Peel got a 6...? Do you have Jenks-tinted spectacles??
He's consistently been poor over the past year for Wales and today demonstrated unequivocably that Phillips should be offered a start.
Other changes required:
Colin for JT
Jones for Hook (JH looked completely out of sorts)
Alfie for Kev.
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I've rarely been so angry during a Welsh display as I was in the first 45 mins. The tactics appeared to be to rumble up the pitch slowly through the forwards, something Wales are simply unable to achieve consistently. As soon as we secured quick ball and passed it through hands - both forwards and backs - we took the game by the scruff of the neck and blitzed the Canadians. Shanklin is a line breaker and yet simply wasn't given any ball worth mentioning in those first 45 mins. As soon as he's given quick, clean ball he races almost the entire length of the pitch.
I'm generally in agreement with the ratings, but I'd give Shane a 4.
I'd also give the coaches about a 3. Yes they made decisive substitutions, but we should never have been in that position.
We do have quality ball players, in forwards and backs, so let them express themselves.
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Dwayne Peel got a 6...? Do you have Jenks-tinted spectacles??
He's consistently been poor over the past year for Wales and today demonstrated unequivocably that Phillips should be offered a start.
Other changes required:
Colin for JT
Jones for Hook (JH looked completely out of sorts)
Alfie for Kev.
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As soon as Wales started to play like 2005, it was a different game ! Too slow and laboured in 1st half, but with Jones & Alfie injecting pace and keeping the ball in hand, Canada had no chance. The whole team responded. I just hope we don't go back to kicking the ball away against the Aussies or they will murder us. Keep the ball in hand and run at them.
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again how Tom Shanklin only got a 7 is beyond me. best player on the pitch by a mile.
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Once again someone completely tainted by a couple of tries against a tiring side. When will we learn, do the basics right and the rest will come . . . shanklin in the first 20 mins of second half only decent player. Hook - a lost sole (unfortuantely), peel - why o why? Phillips to start everyone. Everyone else needs a lot more than a bloody good kick up the backside. WRU - give Ruddock what ever he wants, mind you a post box could install more passion and come up with a better game (and paln B doesn't seem to exist) plan than this management team - typical turks!!!
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Thought Gethin Jenkins has a good game in the loose - his rating should be much better than Adam Jones. Hat off to Stephen Jones - injected the control Wales needed. Phillips makes too many mistakes to be considered over Peel. Why o why do the forward insist on rumbling a yard at a time?
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ha shanklin was by far the best player on the pitch and probably the most underated welsh player.
Jenkins has to go!! the man is not suited to international rugby at all.
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lets just stuff the english,and forget all about this winning anything can we?'
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I reckon they are all about 5 marks too high.
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Ben
Well done. Excellent work. Full Marks. Give yourself a pat on the back. Have an extra pastis on me tonight.
You have finally done some work!!!
PS Where you actually at the game or just in some random pub gibbering on to some locals and missed the match completely??
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I do not agree with the 7 you gave for mathew rees he is to lightweight and could not prevent the canadian from scoring
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Neil Jenkins was great, sneaking on with the tee and coaching the half backs when the ref was ball watching. He made the difference. 10 out of 10. Well done Jenks!
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Oh Dear!
Yet again the Welsh team and management staff decide to approach the Canada game with a level of nonchalance that verges on arrogance - it cost the French their game. Let's hope everyone looks each other in the eye and they tell one and other to stand up and be counted.
Next week, Austrailia visit our home turf... All Wales is watchhing & counting.
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we need to start using the chip over the top more with a decent chase to peg back the opposition (how many times have the likes of o'gara beaten us by doing this?!) then we'll have more room to play as defences wont be rushing up as much. its just what NZ did yesterday.
all the marks are ridiculous apart from shanks & steve jones.
coaching staff - zero. an absolute joke, they just spend their time trying to defend themselves and making rubbish documentaries.
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Bring back Ruddock!
Give Phillips a go instead of Peel, drop Morgan and give Shane Williams a damn good kick up the behind!
Oh yes, and give what little ball we can get to the backs!
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we need to use the chip over the top - followed up by a decent chase - to peg back defences far more (how many times have the likes of o'gara beaten us by doing this?!). the ABs did this yesterday to great effect.
as for the ratings - the coaching staff are a joke and should be given a zero. the substitutions made a difference but they were obvious anyway. jenkins and his 'brains trust' should be shown the door the day after we go out - even if we get to the semis!
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You were unfair on Hook, he failed to get his backs going because the pack only gave the ball out when they were going backwards! And it wasn't a gamble, Hook has been the better fly half for a while!! Playing Stephen Jones would have been the gamble!
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Rather too many negative comments here for me. Wales put the Canadians away well in the second half and came out of the game with far more credit than England did yesterday. It has been shown time and again that, in tournaments, the slow starters (e.g. England and Oz in 2003) usually do better than those teams who fire on all cylinders from the word go (NZ and France). If Wales had been offered 42 points before the game they would probably have taken it. I would say theirs is the best performance by a Six Nations side so far.
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Stick to cricket - Your rugby knowledge is very, very poor.
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Hello all, thanks for getting back to me. I can understand how some of you might be suggesting a higher ranking for Shanklin, but I didn't think he warranted an 8 when he had a pretty quiet first half, just like everybody else.
As for Peel, I thought he did OK without being spectacular.
In hindsight, maybe I got a bit carried away with Gareth Thomas' contribution, but he really seemed to inject something that Wales had been missing, along with Stephen Jones of course.
Shane Williams 4? He wasn't great, but that's a little bit harsh.
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I agree get Ruddock back even if that means Alfie has to go.
Peel has lost his edge and providing slow ball consistently. Hook can't start against Australia he is still out of his depth and Stephen Jones looks sharp. Most disaapointing though is the forward play, we haven't improved since the England game and everyone will realise that's our greatest weakness. It damn nearly paid off for Canada.
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i reckon they are are fairly accurate marks although alfie maybe slightly high. stephen jones played brilliantly more like the stephen jones of old. blaming peel for slow ball when the forwards were not performing is a tad harsh. he is still far better than philips who is at the bottom of too many rucks and makes too many mistakes. peel and jones to start against australia with hook on the bench because he is not anywhere near a good enough twelve to face the aussie back line, at 10 maybe but as an impact sub. lets just hope the pack fires off correctly like against england in the six nations.
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'It has been shown time and again that, in tournaments, the slow starters (e.g. England and Oz in 2003) usually do better than those teams who fire on all cylinders from the word go (NZ and France).
WHAT? England hammerred Georgia 84-6 in their opening game in 2003 before beating South Africa and Samoa and pumelling Uruguay 111-13. That is not what I call a slow start!
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The welsh were poor.luckily it was only Canada and we got away with it, lets hope we play better against fiji. As for australia, that game is lost already - we are well out of our depth. Must agree with most people,s call for jenkins head even if we manage to make the last 8- he has to be moved on.
As for hook, he as the rest of the welsh kicked poorly out of hand but how many of you would have complained if he had gone through the gap and scored that try instead of floating out that intercepted pass. I am really surprised he chose that option. I would not lose faith with him so quickly. Choosing Alfie and Stephen Jones is taking a step backward.
If I could make one wish for the next game it would be have much more commitment and hard work from all 15 welsh players. This means chasing hard, getting under high balls, not falling off tackles and really putting their bodies on the line for all 80 minutes - nothing less is acceptable. C'mon Wales
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Oh dear lord, we Canadians LED 17-9?! Please tell me I'm not dreaming after watching that 7th ODI match.
ANYWAY...in your opinions, gents, how did our lads do? Please be honest!
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Wales were poor in the first have and only played well for 25 minutes in the second, overall very disappointing. For me Shanklin was man of the match. Play like that against the Aussies and it could be embarrassing. We have to beat Australia so we can beat England in the quarters!
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personally i thought Parker was poor and i wish Gareth Jenkins would stop taking off Martyn Williams, take off John Thomas instead for Charvis
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As a welsh man living it Italy, i watched the worst preformance in a long time by a Welsh team! Most of you lot are taking drugs if you think that Wales will do anything this World Cup, there was no forward penetration and the backs were basic, at best. The best thing to happen was that players like Alfie anf S ones came on and sorted out a pitifull Welsh team.
Gaerth jenkins, please sign on now. Keep Alfie put hook inside center get the forwards up for a battle and then maybe we will only lose by 50 to the Aussies.
sack the COACH or if that what he calls himself!
Gutted
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The comments of the 'negatives' shows why they are not playing nor managing the Welsh team.
The only criticism I would lodge against GJ is that he has bowed to pressures at home and allowed Hook to play from the off.
But again look at the bigger picture - Jenks was satisfied to play a slightly weaker side against Canada at the start. He knew that we could win today; when things weren't going to plan he brought the big guns on (Jones, Thomas and Charvis) to get the result. The management will be more than happy to lose to Australia - but get wins against Fiji and Japan - to secure the second place, which offers a better (???) quarter final match against possibly England when the recent embarrassment can be put right !!!
The "BEST" team will be picked for the later stages; why for example pick the strongest team to get badly injured against teams who offer lesser opposition - at this point like a bag of golf clubs, GJ is only selecting the clubs that are necessary to play a positional shot.
Let all Welshman keep their heads, support the team and the management and let's enjoy our National team success for as far as they will go.
If we don't, we'll end up sounding like ENGLISH FOOTBALL supporters !!!!!
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Hiyaa,
I pretty much agree.. even though i'd have given Stephen Jones a 10/10!
Personally I've never seen what all the buzz is around James Hook, fair play to the man, he has flashes of brilliance but he isn't by far a world class player like Stephen! It was a different game when Ste and Alfie came on and if Jenks doesn't see how much we need them.. then I'm afraid all is lost! Well done 2 all the boys!!
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Dirs, I reckon you need to get back to cricket coverage - Gethin Jenkins 5/10?! Him and Shanklin were the only two starters who performed today - how in the world you've rated him lower than Mark Jones and Dwayne Peel I'll never know.
Has that campervan of yours got a DVD player? If so I'll send you a copy of the game so that you can watch it again to see how well Jenkins played...
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Dirs, I know the camera was miles away from the pitch but some of those ratings are ridiculous (e.g Gough 7?). p.s you're not funny on the over by over thing on the cricket, a poor man's rob smyth. Phil
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Two eyes two ears and one mouth and of course what do we engage? washed down with beer and opinions the true WELSH "BOYO" selector.Morgan and Shane Williams played as idividuals.Jones and Thomas put some shape, steel,direction and spirit into the team . Phillips plays as an individual Jt should make way for CC,GJ should not start in the front row and we the Welsh should support the coaches and players.Did we win?
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Wales were shockingly poor for the first 50 minutes of that game. The forwards looked like they didn't want to be there, and played like a bunch of amateurs. When the forwards play well it makes life much easier for the backline, but they were virtually catatonic in the first half and it made Hook look like a mug, because any ball he got was terrible and he could do virtually nothing with it, except pass it along the line, waiting to get munched by the Canadians. We were so bad, we made Canada look good.
Where was the chip over the top or the dynamic forward drive? Wales look like a team in a mess. I’ve just watched the All Blacks game, and the thought of us playing those guys is scary.
The England game is the only time Gareth Jenkins has only managed to get the forwards going. If I had performed that badly in my job I would be deservedly sacked, and I hope the WRU has the bottle to sack him and his utterly clueless coaching team, and the end of what is sure to be another dire world cup for Wales.
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The welsh don't deserve anything over a 5. they were playing Canada, wales are a pro-side, who plays in the 6 nations. usually oz media sugar coats our close wins. but this is crazy...
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I disgree with a few of the players' ratings. But i agree with Jones and Thomas'. Their arrival on the pitch played a pivital role in the deafeat of Canada. a shakey and what seemed -half-hearted first half performence, radically changed with the entrance of these subs. The team become more dynamic, energetic and played with more tempo. Jones desperate to be back in the team showed; commitment, endevour and vast experience. He created confidence throughtout the team, which made them more efficent in attack. But stil need to step up for Australia. Stephen Jones to start at 10, 100%.
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Grey? ..... Grey??????
What on Earth possessed the WRU to chose grey as an away strip. I know it's football but Manchester Utd had a grey kit, it lasted about 2 matches (they lost both). The England football team tried grey - they lost a match and dropped it.
It is the most uninspiring colour going. No wonder the Canadians had such a good start - they could see where to pass to.
Great recovery though. I was favouring Hook for fly half but Steven Jones took command the moment he came on the field. Great substitutions!
Hope to be in Cardiff next weekend!
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Why is every one constantly complaining about the Players/coach/selection, can you do anything about it no. The fate of the team is in the hands of the coach now weather you like him or not. If you were true welsh supporters you would get behind the team until the world cup is over and then and only then speak out against whoever you want. I find the constant complaining and slagging off of individuals more embarrassing as a Welshman than the performance of the welsh team.
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Lets not forget the final score. A convincing win so well done the boys.
We can (on our day) compete with ALL the big boys albeit NZ I think.
Changes I would have to make. As someone has already said, I would replace Peel with Mike Phillips. He consistenty competes physically and links well with the other backs.
Keep Stephen Jones for his head and play Shanks and GT in the Centre. Shane and MJ on the wing and Morgan at FB.
How can you not give Charvis and Popham starts?
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I agree with your ratings, shanklin didnt warrant an 8 because he had such a quiet 1st 45 his fault or not. Hook looked completely lost in my opinion lucky they took him off. and agree with most other people you went a bit OTT with alfie.
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Undoubtably a few undermarked players. Tom Shanklin certainly deserved an 8 or 9. His ability to break down defences is awesome, his pace, strength and knowlegde of the game give the welsh team a strong backbone. Gareth Thomas (What he was doing on the bench, i haven't got a clue) brought strength and experience to the backline. He should stay full-back as his tackling is outstanding and his confidence in attending the back line in attack brings more attacking numbers to the back line. Martyn Williams cannot be written off for one quiet game. The first of which i have ever seen from him, the Austrilian forwards will have to be on alert next week as im sure Williams will be a threat at the breakdown. Shane Williams showed us he is on top form today with his dancing feet, his pace is exceptional. He is very agile and able to obtain a fast pace within seconds of running. Stephen Jones led from the Back and used experience to create a fast flowing game in the second half. He showed urgency, commitment and dedication, He is eager to get his place back in the starting line up. He should definately start in the Auzzie match as today James Hook showed nerves and inexperience. I think many positives were taken from the game today, and the negatives were outlined. We seen a glimer of fast moving ball throught the hands of backs and forwards. The key to the welsh sucess in the grand slam year. But next with Jones & Thomas in the starting line up Wales should play from the start instead of waking up in the second half. I wish Wales all the best for next week and i think they can do it. Rhys Jenkins 16 from Cardiff
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This Welsh squad had so much promise after the grand slam victory. It is distressing that we are not reaching our potential and that we are looking in such poor form for sometime now. We need fresh blood in the management and coaching of the squad as Jenkins isn't going to get the best out of Wales and this has been proven time and time again. Yes we won, but being 17-9 down against Canada is a joke, and not a funny one at that. I am looking for a revived squad against the Aussies. A Wales squad that look like they give a damn. Stephen jones, Shanklin - supurb. Hook was pretty poor today but I would never dismiss him like many comments on here. He is a great talent!
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Can't disagree with most of your marks, but I expected far more class and dynamism from our supposedly star players like Peel, Hook, Martyn and Shane Williams. Shanklin looked dangerous every time he had the opportunity, but we need a fifteen-man effort for 80 minutes if we are to survive the group stage.
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Shanklin was at least an 8 if not a 9 out of 10. The dominant player on the pitch I thought.
It also proves that Stephen Jones should start at 10 v Oz.
If Alfie is captain then that means Hook on the bench I guess, but maybe he'll come on and influence the game like Mike Catt did four years ago.
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Disagree with Gethin Jenkin's score. He contributed much throughout the game. He scrummaged well on both sides of the scrum (No mean feat against such a big pack) and popped up in the lose providing valuable ruck ball close to the line for the first (sonny parker's)try by wales.
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This the first time you've seen a rugby match is it boys judging by your marks and comments?
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Wow, Gareth Jenkins has done an amazing job with this squad, he really has. Only a man of his calibre could transform a squad of our quality into the stuttering pansies we saw in the first half. Tactically strangled, they might as well have been made to play with life-size Jenkins dolls tied round their ankles. Quite an achievement, don't you think!
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M. Owen....? I know he also didn't get much game time but got invovled and showed decent handeling 9his was the pass that M. Jones droped at the end.... you seem to have completely left him off
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Having watched this match,I was waiting for a comment from the players that they had a game plan and were obeying orders.
My.god what were the orders or game plan,it looked like a club side that went into the match with the idea that they would try this ,then that,then the other.The players did not seem to enjoy it or show any real enthusiasm.Something is wrong and it shows in their play,it is just stale.
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Agree with most of the comments but for me the worst was Shane Williams excessive dive for his second try. Supreme arrogance from a complete idiot. Time for him to think about his role in the team and stop messing around.
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Glad to see S Jones back - but unfair to write off Hook after just one match. How would S Jones of faired in the first half?
Were not going to progress to the latter stages of the tournament by playing the percentages. Thus we need to back our flair players even if means a few mistakes along the way - anyone got Hensons number?
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Glad to see S Jones back - but unfair to write off Hook after just one match. How would S Jones of faired in the first half?
Were not going to progress to the latter stages of the tournament by playing the percentages. Thus we need to back our flair players even if means a few mistaked along the way - anyone got Hensons number?
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IMHO, peel needs to be told to get the ball away from the rucks & scrums as soon as possible. we were so slow and laboured as a result. our strengths are our back play and having a pretty mobile pack (or at least it was in 2005).
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I am amazed by the one dimensional vision of almost everyone on this blog. Hope you have another chance to watch the game.... have a closer look at gareth thomas - especially the first move of the game... a kick charged down by the opposition, and if it hadnt been for the advantage in our favour - it would have been a try for canada for sure.
Also - did no one notice that in the first half shanklin (how had a fantastic game) couldnt break the line, but the second half he could? Do you honestly think that happened because Gareth Thomas came on? Or because Canada were tiring??
Did you also notice that all the breaks came from the centre? Maybe that is because Stephen Jones came on and had a fantastic game (and Gareth Thomas was just lucky to come on the same time)
What effect do you think Gareth Thomas had? Are you naiive enough to think that the team decided to play better because he was on the pitch??
Also watch Kevin Morgan in the first half properly, he made the ball safe, he made a break and if he had stayed on, would have been on Shanks shoulder for the first decent break he made..... where was Gareth Thomas??
Steven Jones should definatley start aagainst australia... Alfie should be on the bench - simple as that.
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Let's be honest here, the only reason S Jones looked so good was the fact the Welsh pack started to get some dominance and provide decent ball for the backs - I'm sure if Jones had started and Hook then replaced him we'd be giving Hook the same plaudits.....
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Of the home Nations Wales had the hardest opposition and we have a good win under our belts.
Alfie in his article in the Mail said that he was unhappy at not starting the game but realised that Parker needed some game time.
We need to ensure our best players are uninjured for the later stages.
Just think about the Irish 32 to 17 against Namibia. Wales did enough to win and get the bonus point. And they lost a prop with a calf injury.
The Scots scored 8 tries against Portugal but I thought the Portugeese were the weakest team in the tornament. The portugeese even had a player sinbinned for the start of the second half.
England's win over USA was a decidedly underpar performance, and they've lost their captain, cited for tripping.
Out of the home nations we had the toughest opposition and we came through with few injuries.
We need to remember we held Australia to a draw in the Autumn, I know the Ausies were playing out of position. But it was still a draw.
I think it was Gareth Edwards who said Wales could win on 40% ball. Well I think other than Aus we have met the toughest opposition in our group and the Management need to use the full squad to make sure we get through to the knock out stage.
Once we get that far anything can happen. Let's be positive.
Sorry for rambling.
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My main concern now is that Stephen Jones will play against Australia on the basis of a good 35 minutes against Canada. And considering the comments here I'm in a minority of 1!
Yes, SJ is a great player. Yes, he played very well when he came on. But a good 35 minutes against a lower ranked team who had already began to run out of steam should not be the basis for taking possession of the No.10 jersey.
IMHO, Hook is the best 10 we have and has shown excellent form and ability consistantly over numerous matches. That should be the basis of selection, and not what happened against Canada.
I would have been happy with Jones at 10 and Hook at 12, but now is not the time to be trying that out. Or maybe it is, considering the options for 12 are the one dimensional Parker or (no, no, please no) Alfie.
Well done Gareth, another fine mess you're getting us into.
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Will you all please stop bitching and back biting about this and that and start actually supporting the team?
Call yourselves supporters? Then do just that - support the boys, the management and the WRU!!!
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Shayne Williams - did as well as ever - he's always going to make some howlers but the man is a legend - smaller than me and has stood toe to toe with the all blacks - respect.
Peel - of course he must play, with Phillips coming off the bench - but surely Peel has played behind that pack for long enough to know that he can't be chatting to the ref or his backs while the ball is waiting to be played - he's no captain - poor decision jenks.
S Jones - has to start - solid and always surprisingly difficult to tackle, Hook at 12 or on the bench.
We already know how good this team is - the backs peaked 2 years ago and the forwards' limited upper body strength is always going to be exposed by the southern hemisphere monsters.
There is only one thing to pray for -a miracle occurs and we get the chance to knock the English and their red aprons out in the quarter final - I've seen it written in the stars.
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Stephan jones only looked good because the welsh pack went forward, Hook didnt have that in the first half he was playing behind a beaten pack.
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Need to give some credit to the Canadians - their pack took ours to the cleaners in the first half. It was just like watching the English push us aside. It was noticeable that as soon as Charvis came on we had more omph in the pack. So put him on from the start at No.6 which will give Popham an ally and stop him getting isolated.
I'd persevere with Peel - slow ball is down to the forwards
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Gethin Jenkins -5 are you insane. He scrummaged well and looked to carry the ball at every opportunity. Only him and Shanklin deserve any real credit from the original that started.
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Steve (post 63),
Good to see a bit of humour on this blog. Well done sir!
I'm sure we all support the boys 100% come game time, but it's hard to be positive about a management team who are clearly daft as brushes. The 'Brains Trust' as I have heard them referred to are one game into the World Cup and don't seem to know who to play in key positions.
Example... they pick a captain (Alfie), then don't put him in the starting line up. What if Kevin Morgan had played a blinder. The captain may have been a bench player for the entire tournament. Insanity I tells ya.
It remains to be seen, but now Morgan and Hook may be relegated to the bench for the remainder of the World Cup purely on the basis of our forwards getting a first half pounding. Madness.
And yes, I and every other Welsh person will be shouting our lads on come Saturday, regardless of the Brains Trust's bizarre selection policy.
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Firstly these ratings are far to high, we were playing a nation who are 5 places below us in the world ranking and mostly ameteur players, If we are to be in the top 5 in the world then we should be setting our standards higher and each rating should be at least 4 points less!
The coaches aren;t going to change so let's deal with the picture that can change - the team/tactics.
I agree with the points made, Hook is class he didn't have a great game because the ball was poor, he relies on decent possetion to carryout his job. He can't be blamed, he is still class. Jones came on against a tired team and played well. Keep faith in the young lad and start with Hook against Australia and keep Jones on the bench, although Charvis has to start with Martyn.
The tactics I am perplexed by, I used to rate Jenkins at club level but I simply do not understand what he is trying to do on the international stage.
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Looked like the lads in grey forgot that Canada do have some heft in the scrums and the tackle. Once the ball was moved quickly away from contact areas, Steve Jones was better able to set his backs and supporting runners away. Loss of experience when Thiel and Snow left the field made a huge difference in the sets and loose play.
Quite possibly, with an attacking mindset, Canada might have gone into the shed at half much farther ahead than 12-9.
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Parker was not poor as someone has previously stated - the backs hardly got any game and it was his first match back - give the man a break !
Everyone loves eeing breaks made like Shanklin ans Shane does but you need a back bone to the defense and thats what sonn brings.
Parker is known in the squad to have a level head on the field no matter what the game is like and contols the defensive line better than anyone else in the squad.
We all love to see wales score tries but you have to be able to defend as well and in that department aprker is by far the best.
Stop all the negative comments about the boys and support them ! or if wales loose any of thier matches the pubic can thank themselves for contributing to thier failure.
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Come on this was a dreadful performance. The scoreline only looked so flattering because the Canadians tired so much in the last quarter.
The main problem the team has at the moment is that there is only one player who can kick well from hand, hence they are not getting the platform to play rugby in the right areas of the field. It is far too easy to pin us in our own half of the field. All the opposition has to do is boot the ball down the park, as they know that with a good chase, they'll gain possession and territory, either through the inevitable sliced clearance/missed touch from one of our back three, or by heaping pressure on Hook/Jones from any resulting lineout. We just can't clear our lines effectively. It doesn't take a genius to realise that we have to pick both Jones and Hook (at 12). Look at the other big teams in the tournament, they all have a second choice. The AB have Mauger/MacAllister, the Aussies Giteau, the French have Traille and the English Catt/Farrell. South Africa and Ireland don't have kicking 12s but they at least have Montgomery and Murphy/Hickie to slot in there to clear lines. Our second kicking option in most of the last few games has been Tom Shanklin This is a level of desparation equivalent to having to employ Scott Gibbs as a drop-kicking coach.
As for changes for the Aussie game, I would do the following:
- Play Duncan Jones at loosehead and switch Gethin across to tighthead. Means we have two game breaking props on the pitch then.
- Change the backrow. Jon Thomas is providing nothing and has to go. Would bring in Charvis to replace him. Ideally would rather have Colin at 7 (just for this game) to deal with George Smith and draft Mike Owen in at 8 with Popham moving across. However, given the latter has no form in the last two years reckon it too much of a risk.
- Replace Kevin with Alfie
- Hook at 12, Jones at 10
Those who are calling for the heads of Hook/Peel obviously must have the same short term memories as people who annually tune in to Big Brother/X-Factor. Hook has been our best player in the last year, and turned the game round against Australia last year. Peel has consistently been one of our best performers in the last three years.
There's no reason why we cannot beat Australia next weekend. Not going to be able to do it though unless we play the percentages in the right areas of the park. Also need the tempo to be kept really high, which means quick ruck ball and better linking between backs and forwards.
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bring back ruddock and drop jenkinsthat guy is passed his time find hima retirement home.
shanks man of match by far! charvis to start jt to start on bench
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i'd give hook a 1, he was dreadful, here was his chance to grab the 10 shirt AND HE FAILED!!!
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i disagree with all the player scores. It`s not the players at fault, it is the way they are being asked to play.
Being a Scarlets support, i am a huge fan of Gareth Jenkins, as a club\regional coach. But his insistance on changing the way we played in 2005 is costing us dearly. Too much kicking, too lateral in attack and not enough pace.
The players look lost, where as two years ago, they showed nothing but confidence.
The spirit is still there, but the vision has gone.
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These ratings are a disgrace - and obviously from someone who watched the game on the radio! Or who has their own favourites for the Oz game.
Gethin Jenkins 5 - He murdered the Canadian scrum and was great in the loose - and was all over the park. He must play on Saturday.
Dwayne Peel 6 ???? unless this includes a bonus of 5 for winning the toss! Hopeless.
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We really need to get away from this fantasy that Mike Ruddock won Wales the Grandslam. That team was built by Steve Hansen, Scott Johnson and Andrew Hore the fitness coach. Mike Ruddock came in at just the right time to benefit from their work. Granted, this coaching team has a lot of work to do and I'm sure they know it, but MR is not the answer.
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Spent the first half explaining to my 2 yr old son daddy isn't really angry, he's just shouting at the telly. Momentum and confidence creates success, man for man wales are creative and baffle other sides who don't know how to mark them. Get the basics right, get the fire and passion going from the off and mainatin a clear head.
Jones has earned his place back, shanks is a handful, alfie's inspirational. Shane needs to make his mark, could be the genius of the tournamemt? Good solid pack with good impact subs= success (semi's a good result).
What's missing!!!!! Inspirational coaches, get a grip boys you have faces like a bull dog licking pee off a nettle.
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I'm sorry but I just don't buy this 'we only won because Canada started to tire' rubbish. We started to play well when SJ came on and his kicks started to find touch...simple!!!!
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5 for Gethin Jenkins, who was great in the scrum (as usual), made several breaks and looked dangerous with the ball in hand, and 7 for Rees who did nothing all game??
Were you watching the same game?
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Hi Ben and Tom,
Just come back from Clisson to the South of Nantes with the Cowbridge Under 13's, what a tour! Reading your blogs is bringing back the memories of the hot days and hospitable evenings we received from our excellent hosts at the camp site. People in work wonder why I keep quietly sniggering as some of the hilarious images from the last 5 days flash across my mind, the games of boules, the characters in the bars, and the wins for us and Wales.
Player ratings? Not sure, at the time I didn't recognise any of the boys playing in red so I'm afraid I can't contribute.
Keep up the good work, you've really caught a unique moment in time.
Tim G
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Hi Ben and Tom,
Just come back from Clisson to the South of Nantes with the Cowbridge Under 13's, what a tour! Reading your blogs is bringing back the memories of the hot days and hospitable evenings we received from our excellent hosts at the camp site. People in work wonder why I keep quietly sniggering as some of the hilarious images from the last 5 days flash across my mind, the games of boules, the characters in the bars, and the wins for us and Wales.
Player ratings? Not sure, at the time I didn't recognise any of the boys playing in red so I'm afraid I can't contribute.
Keep up the good work, you've really caught a unique moment in time.
Tim G
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What seems missing from the comments is the effect of taking the 3 point penalties in the first half. I believe it would have been much better to forego the points and have kept possession and also kept the game in the Canadian half. Its also fair to say that if we had scored, as the move deserved, rather than given away the interception, the game would have been over there and then.
My main criticism of the performance was the lack of dynamism up front. We had it against England at the end of the 6N but have still to show it this season. If that dynamism reappears against Australia, as it suddenly did in RWC2003 against NZ and then England, then we are in with a chance. Our kicking out of hand also needs to improve, hopefully Stephen will sort that.
Strange really, if we beat Australia then we are likely to have an easier QF but a tough SF, conversely if we lose we have a tough QF and then a much easier SF. You take your choice.
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quarterfinal is all we can expect. our players are not good enough, and coaching staff are well below par. our regions are suffering because cardiff and llanelly insisted on going it alone depriving the valleys of two class rugby clubs. moffit bottled out and left us with two regions and two clubs with such high opinions of themselves welsh rugby is now suffering .
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I agree with the Comments on Gethin Jenkins. Thought his contribution was pretty good.
The fact that the usually outstanding Williams and Popham had little impact in the game shows that our forwards have a lot more to give.
Be nice to upset the Aussies hey!
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