The rugby

[Alex321]

To your final question, not that I noticed but I got bored when it was about 32-0.

Regarding "change strips". I always thought they were regarded as "away strips" and the home team could choose. I could be wrong.

Football has always been that way, but until recently, in rugby, it was always the home team which changed.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

When club understudy players are getting caps for playing against the world’s best, it’s clear for all to see that the hole you are in will take very long time to climb out from.

For years, Wales punched above their weight, thanks in no small part to the under appreciated, Warren Gatland.
All this serves for now is to make the realisation that Wales no longer has a place at the top table, even more stark.

So, with the Welsh cupboard seemingly bare, why does the WRU persist in penalising players who have the effrontery to play their rugby elsewhere?
Why force players with the desire to play for their country to become home players within a regional set up that exists between confusion and uncertainty?

As most here will know, I choose to follow the Gallagher premiership and every week I find out about exciting, young Welsh talent playing for their English clubs. Yet, when it comes to selecting, they are either overlooked or ignored, due to our ridiculous cap rule.

It’s long past time for the WRU to correct their mistake and make selection a free market.

 

[Pblakeney]

Football has always been that way, but until recently, in rugby, it was always the home team which changed.

Tbh, I've never really cared past thinking why are they wearing that kit? I never asked the question, or put two and two together. 😂

 

[winjim]

Tbh, I've never really cared past thinking why are they wearing that kit? I never asked the question, or put two and two together. 😂

I have sometimes wondered whether playing in different kit affects their game, but I figured they're professionals and play club games in whatever colours so should be able to handle it. It is a shame if they're breaking a tradition though, especially if it does help to even out a home advantage.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I have sometimes wondered whether playing in different kit affects their game, but I figured they're professionals and play club games in whatever colours so should be able to handle it. It is a shame if they're breaking a tradition though, especially if it does help to even out a home advantage.

It does if you're playing this - in a white strip!:


View: https://youtu.be/sN-vlHWA8Y0?si=XQyQGSgGXI2c-uiz

 

[Salad Dodger]

I genuinely do not understand why Wales did not vary their kickoffs more. They were all deep into the 22, which gave George Ford tons of time to pick a spot to kick it back to. Why not try a shorter kick off and pressure a forward?

 

[Pross]

When club understudy players are getting caps for playing against the world’s best, it’s clear for all to see that the hole you are in will take very long time to climb out from.

For years, Wales punched above their weight, thanks in no small part to the under appreciated, Warren Gatland.
All this serves for now is to make the realisation that Wales no longer has a place at the top table, even more stark.

So, with the Welsh cupboard seemingly bare, why does the WRU persist in penalising players who have the effrontery to play their rugby elsewhere?
Why force players with the desire to play for their country to become home players within a regional set up that exists between confusion and uncertainty?

As most here will know, I choose to follow the Gallagher premiership and every week I find out about exciting, young Welsh talent playing for their English clubs. Yet, when it comes to selecting, they are either overlooked or ignored, due to our ridiculous cap rule.

It’s long past time for the WRU to correct their mistake and make selection a free market.

Considering the uncertainty for the Regions and what is the job / livelihood of the players it is an even more bizarre rule to enforce. “We don’t know which of you will still have a team to play for next season or whether you’ll have an income but if you leave to play in a better quality, more financially stable league we’ll stop you playing for Wales and select an inferior player instead” seems a moronic approach.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Considering the uncertainty for the Regions and what is the job / livelihood of the players it is an even more bizarre rule to enforce. “We don’t know which of you will still have a team to play for next season or whether you’ll have an income but if you leave to play in a better quality, more financially stable league we’ll stop you playing for Wales and select an inferior player instead” seems a moronic approach.

Totally agree. The WRU are shooting themselves in the foot big time.

 

[biggs682]

Three good opening matches in my mind .
Watched Italy and Scotland today and I think Scotland threw it away with their lineout play .

 

[laurentian]

Regarding Wales, I just read this on the BBC website:

" . . . they have now won only two of their past 24 Tests and have not won a Six Nations match since 2023."

Not won a six nations match since 2023 . . . I'd like to think I follow rugby a bit but I honestly did not realise how poor they have been

 

[Beebo]

Regarding Wales, I just read this on the BBC website:

" . . . they have now won only two of their past 24 Tests and have not won a Six Nations match since 2023."

Not won a six nations match since 2023 . . . I'd like to think I follow rugby a bit but I honestly did not realise how poor they have been

Since the start of the 6 nations, 3 of their 4 biggest losses have been in the last 12 months. They really are in trouble.

 

[Rusty Nails]

It is difficult for people outside the Country to realise just how bad the rugby situation in Wales is. Not just the international team but also the whole structure of and support for rugby at the regional level.
Football has long taken over as the most popular sport and top level rugby is dying on its arse.
The WRU has a habit, through arrogance, of making bad decisions. For me the worst was around the time when the English premiership was beginning and there was a genuine possibility of a joint Wales/England club league but the WRU wanted a larger number of teams from Wales than England were prepared to accept.
There would have been huge gates compared to the small regional gates we have now if the old cross border rivalries had been allowed to continue, and the competition for Welsh teams would have been much stronger than in the current URC.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Regarding Wales, I just read this on the BBC website:

" . . . they have now won only two of their past 24 Tests and have not won a Six Nations match since 2023."

Not won a six nations match since 2023 . . . I'd like to think I follow rugby a bit but I honestly did not realise how poor they have been

But what gets me is they won a grand slam in 2019. And the championship in 2021. That's only 5 years ago.

Due to their small player base they've always been a bit fragile and capable of having bad seasons, but they've always bounced back. Sometimes rather annoyingly Remember the 2015 RWC. So I tend to think "ah, we've seen this before ..."

But this seems to be the real deal. They aren't pretending.

The only conclusion I can draw is that during his first stint at least, Warren Gatland was working miracles. But when he came back it was beyond even him.

 

[Beebo]

I don’t understand why schools and club rugby has died out at grass roots level.

Why have the state schools stopped playing rugby?