6N week 1: Match discussion

I don't think that there is any powerful argument to suggest Ireland will fall anywhere near Wales. Their fall to be below Fiji, Scotland, Italy in the world rankins is unprecedented. Ireland is going through a rough patch but their structures in place for clubs and country is still better than all those teams.

To a kiwi dad and South African mum. Raised in Wellington. That Taine Plumtree.

Irrespective of Wales' use of overseas players it's completely disingenuous to include the likes of Faletau, D.James and Ian Evans (who make up the bulk of caps in ths list). All moved to Wales at <10years old.

If we're using birthplace / where you lived in the first few years of your life our international contingent would include the likes of O'Gara, Heaslip and more recently Joe McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu.

Ireland have two problems.

1.Not Being unable to import quality anymore.

2.The lack of development and breakthrough of a next generation. The squad as it currently stands needs gutting and rebuilding, but the replacements don’t look any way near ready.

we are currently not competitive with Fra / SA and NZ are now a 10 point team better than us, we will see in two weeks how we stack up against England.

The issue then is trajectory.
Ours is downwards, ain’t no doubting that, the only question is where our floor is.

But Wales did go hunting for Welsh qualified foreign players. I remember the late 90s and early 00s in NZ there was a lot of discussion about the Welsh poaching players. One of the funniest things was it turned out Shane Howarth didn't have a Welsh granny 😄

That depends who you class as our competitors.

Because the way I see it for the next while is we are in a fight with Scotland, Italy and Wales for 3rd place and while might we have enough for them currently that could change

Another way of cutting that onion is how we performed against Wales last season versus what they did to Wales this season.

I think England are gonna open us a new one in two weeks

England will likely beat us, and comfortably. Doesn't really prove much other than England are an improved side from last year, and we're not as good as we were. It doesn't mean anything long term though necessarily.

Scotland are useless, granted the conditions were terrible but very static, loads of mistakes, sloppy lineout and mediocre skills. Italy were very good in the first half but succumbed to the conditions in the second. They have potential to trouble Ireland, particularly if we are lacking in intensity as they are totally committed and up for it. And loads of ball players on that team.

The only chink I can see with the current England team is that discipline still seems to be an issue for them. They gave away 12 penalties and 2 YCs against an awful Welsh team that they were beating easily.

We could make hay if we can put them through the phases and put some stress on their defence. They always seem to infringe at the ruck if they are any bit stretched. Taking them on in the air would be madness. We'd have to keep ball in hand and play a high tempo game to stand any chance.

I think alot will depend about the Scotland v England game. If they dont get a result there, England will be under a bit of pressure. Haven't won a six nations since 2020 and their last game against France away, they will be desperate for a BP win over us.