The rugby

[Pross]

Adam Beard needs to retire.

 

[AndyRM]

Jiffy whining away is more irritating than anything ITV managed.

 

[Pross]

France are just superb, no matter how bad Wales are (and they aren’t as bad as last week) France are a joy to watch when they play like this.

 

[Pross]

Much, much better from Wales right up until Adams gets white line fever and loses the ball.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Wales a lot better than last week, discipline was very good.
As someone said above, they look better when they keep the ball, but need more players who can get over the gainline more often.
It does look like LRZ doesn't trust himself at the moment.

France comfortably the best side in the tournament.

 

[Pross]

Strange to say it but that was actually a much better performance by Wales than last week. Other than poor kicking it was really just that France were far too good. If Wales can have a bit more confidence to keep the ball in hand they would be better. Set piece was very good, the discipline was vastly improved (9 penalties, no cards and not even a warning). No cards by either side is unusual these days. Ref did a good job but I think the teams made it easy for him too. Ultimately France were superb and not many teams could have lived with them playing that way albeit Wales played into their hands with the kicking.

 

[Pross]

Wales a lot better than last week, discipline was very good.
As someone said above, they look better when they keep the ball, but need more players who can get over the gainline more often.
It does look like LRZ doesn't trust himself at the moment.

France comfortably the best side in the tournament.

I think LRZ is possibly wary of getting himself isolated as the back row aren’t the best at the breakdown. He’s far more confident playing for Bristol. Eddie James looked promising too.

 

[Pross]

I reckon the influence of Sean Edwards gets overlooked too much. It’s no coincidence that Wales have gone downhill since losing him and that Gatland’s second stint was nowhere near the level of his first.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Edwards is a great defence coach as shown with his work in Wales and France and, yes, he would make a great improvement on the defence play and penalties conceded by Wales, but we need someone who can do that, but more importantly turn defence into effective attack.

 

[biggs682]

Three good games this weekend with France certainly appearing as the strongest team in my mind.

 

[geocycle]

Three good games this weekend with France certainly appearing as the strongest team in my mind.

France so far have been head and shoulders above the others. Clutching at straws but historically the great French teams have never been as consistent as say the great ABs teams who always find a way to win, whereas the French can sometimes implode. The Scots still have a chance against them and possibly England.

 

[Beebo]

I am still struggling to see the purpose of Beard.

To hide your double chin?

 

[Rusty Nails]

To hide your double chin?

Luckily, not enough fat on me to have a double chin.

 

[Pross]

I am still struggling to see the purpose of Beard.

He was a decent guy later a few years back but has lost form / is past his best. Unfortunately it’s a position Wales has no strength in depth.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I watched the second half and, while France were clearly in a class above, Wales were distinctly OK, and put some good passages together.