Perhaps it’s time Tomos Williams stood up and be counted he won’t have better chance sorry was replying to Granmer 

Yes Tomos was poor when he came on against Fiji..took some wrong decisions.  Anyway lets back him to make the right decisions  this time  and hopefully play well to instill confidence. 

Likewise , Anscombe,  having not played for so long, its vital mins for him. We need his experience,  particularly, if somthing  happens  to Biggar, but would'nt discount our own Costelow having a big impact.

My concern for sat's selection is risking one of our post potent attacking weapons Rees -Zammit.

Anyone know who the, now retired, ref from the previous World Cup was who sold his Tudor watch for £12,000 and ignited the sponsorship row that’s led to the refs and ARs not wearing any watches whatsoever?

Tudor were upset by the sale, although there was nothing in the various agreements to have prevented this. In the ensuing huff, they said that they wouldn’t be providing the officials with any new timepieces and they could use their old ones from 2019, or Garmins as they are not regarded as competition.

While I can only think of one ref who retired post 2019 that is likely to command such a figure for the watch, I am simply staggered by the stance of the watch company. They’re bordering on WRU levels of daftness.

Derek Bevan ?

Originally selected but a slight hamstring tweak (I think).

If we lose to them, it might well mean we finish third in the group. If we win, we ought to top the group with room to spare.

Tight hamstring apparently

Quite a few who can cause total chaos...

Fair play to Portugal, they play quickly and look for space immediately, whether that’s with ball in hand or by turning the welsh by kicking for space.

No control, ridiculous  error count, and half backs poor.

Sums up the lack if depth. 

I hold my breath 

I’d happily change the halfbacks and centres at half time.

Was it, though?

He definitely didn't knock it on, but back towards the Wales line - so no 'deliberate knock on'. Maybe for playing the ball when he was on the ground? It seemed harsh to give a YC for that, if that was the reason.

I think it's too early to say about Grady - he's a young guywith plenty of time to improve.

Anscombe only looks half-fit, so I'd gladly see him swapped for Costelow.

Not played for a long time of course,  so in fairness to him , not easy. 

Tomos Williams still does not impress me I am afraid.

Just hope Cawdor can stay fit

The arrogance of Welsh rugby is quite something else. Players plodding around the field as if its their god given right to win

The huge hype surrounding some of our promising players is way, way over the top

Well done to Portugal, they played well for a nation playing in only their second World Cup.

Well lemme rephrase it. In our best interests to finish second in the group. 

Thank goodness for the 4th try at the end.

Will be glad to see the first team out on the pitch next week. More cohesion and ability. Not sure many of the fringe players put their hand up for inclusion next weekend.

Always liked Hawkwind.

What’s the benefit of finishing second?

Having said that, the ref (for once) seemed to favour the underdog rather than the tier 1 nation - I have no idea how he thought Domachowski obstructed before Cawdor's 'try' on 75min... OK, he's a big lump, but he was just standing there - the other guy pushed him in the back, and would not have had a sniff of LRZ in any case! Poor decision. 

Gatland made 13 changes   but brought in experienced players,  who have played international rugby. 

They have had a lot of time in camp, and consequently whatever Portugal did , we should have been miles better.

Complete lack of cohesion, and basic skill ,which at times was not only frustrating, but dumbfounding .

Gatland will now have to resort to his best side, every game now, with the majority of those starting today, either  warming the bench, or watching  from the stands . Some of those could have laid down a

 marker today, but failed to do so, in ah abysmal team performance. 

I am shocked none of  the "so called " ITV pundits,  including 

Sam Warburton,  called it as was was, and pulled their punches.

Not good enough on the field,  not good  enough off it sadly.

Dickson appears to be working on being less harsh, which is good to see. His dealings with players are less dictatorial/threatening. He built some empathy in that game so that’s a good step forward.

I’d rather play northern hemisphere teams than southern hemisphere. 

After today, let’s qualify for the QF one way or another.

As opposed to Wales,  Ireland efficient  and clinical in the first half.

Tonga, rather patchy,  great in parts,  but discipline sometimes  let's them down 

I agree with Will.

We all know at Scarlets what a physical dimension Jonny Willjams brings to the game. We have not got many 'heavy duty' carriers,  so he is an essential  cog in our wheel at Parc.

This game was his first game since being injured against  Glasgow .

What is apparent  however, is that he needs to impove his all-round skill set,and today's game proved it.

An awareness of others and distribution,  are qualities to work on.

In my view , this is where Tomkins has the edge, even though he may not have the physical  attributes  of Jonny.

Tompkins has his detractors on SF, but he is  really good player, who would never hold his place in the Sarries team if he was'nt !

He will start against Aussies, and thereafter. 

Wholesale changes also needed, to add to the above.

 

Joe understands the game, can pick a line, has the pace to go outside his opponent & can pass. Grady can do none of the above. The only players from that starting 15 I would consider for the 23 next week are Daf, Taulupe Jac & Dyer who impresses me with how combative he is in the air which in the modern game is pretty important.

My 23 for Australia would be -

15. Liam 14. LRZ 13. North 12. Tompkins 11. Dyer 10. Costelow 9. Cawdor

1. Thomas 2. Ryan 3. Francis 4. Rowlands 5. Beard 6. Wainwright 7. Jac 8. Taulupe

16. Dee 17. Domochowski 18. Thomas 19. Daf 20. Tschiunza 21. Tomos 22. Biggar 23. Adams

Another player, like Grady, who is living off a false reputation is Lake. Again he is always talked of as a real unit tough as teak but rugby is surely more than that. You have to be able to think and do basic skills which he seems totally incapable of. 

I am looking forward to the Australia Fiji game today. I have to say even with that team above I do not fancy our chances against the Aussies. They have some serious carrying power available which we can only dream of. Skelton, if fit, against Beard should be declared a no contest now. 

Would also bring Reffell on to the bench instead of Daf or Tschiunza.

You do have some form on the lad so pardon me for not taking your comments too seriously. 

My thinking with Biggar is that we are struggling firstly to get shape in our attacking game & we seem incapable of closing games out. Costelow should have more chance of sparking attacks & Biggar is probably our best man for controlling the end. That, of course, is not without dangers as Tomos Williams is struggling big time at the moment.

All the ideas will, of course, come to nothing if we keep being as ill disciplined as we have been to date. 

I'm no expert on centre play, but did think people were a bit too quick to write off Grady on the basis of one poor performance... surely, he will improve with experience and has significant physical attributes - but I do agree that Joe is further along the development route as far as skill is concerned, and maybe should have had the nod instead.

Also, as GPR says, we of a Scarlet tendency did think Jonny W should have started in front of Tompkins the other day, but he didn't look at his best in this game so the coaches called that one correctly. If our centres are properly fit, though, they should make for a powerful combination along with those left in Llanelli...!

Not a bad team at all...

I'd prefer to swap Adams with Dyer for his experience, though Dyer was certainly one of the better players v Portugal.

Also, I'd rather start with Jenkins and not Beard... since as you say he won't compete with Skelton in any case. Jenkins will at least get around the park, do some dog work at the breakdown, tackle etc. Beard can 'lend his weight' at scrum time and wave his arms about at the lineout...

Biggar has to start. Costelow in difficult circumstances has yet to really show up at the RWC. He's better as a back-up than Anscombe, though - he looked really rusty.

Despite some ribaldry from other quarters, you are right to include Tshiunza who was one of very few who played well v Portugal. 

One performance?

The midfield combination could not work with a slow service at 9, no off ball inside carriers and Anscombe with no pace at 10.

I wasn’t surprised by game yesterday when have Wales put away so called 2nd tier nations we always struggle for some reason.

Grady seemed like rabbit headlights every time he gets ball not a natural ball player by the looks of it. Joe streets ahead a rolls Royce compared to a reliant Robin.

Not a fan of the Aussies and would love to sees Fiji beating them, but not at the expense of Wales.

It's still, possible that these two teams  could qualify from the pool,  depending  on other results.

Fiji's discipline,  just like Tonga is an issue, and they are 3 points down allready. Got to keep those tackles lower

If Fiji lose then its curtains for them probably.

No Skelton fir the Aussies, so they will miss his presence.

What last week will have taken out them, particularly  later in the game is debatable  however.

Line out has cost them a few times , and critically,  5 metres from aussie line.

I just have a gut feeling  that a Fiji lack of discipline or mistakes,  let's the aussies in.

They have such talent , artistry & physicality  do the Fiijans, but you always feel , with the new rules there a car crash waiting to happen .

I real hope I am wrong. 

Would love to send Eddie Jones packing( & packing his bags to go home)

So happy  for them. Many of tye team are in their final years of playing career, so last chance saloon.

John Barclay just talking about the Aussies being hammered at the breakdown.Eighteen pens given by aussies, several  at breakdown.

Gatland would have noted that

Despite yesterday's  fiasco, Wales could still beat this Australian  side,

then hopefully,  it will get Wales and Fiji in the QF.

For me - changes in bold. Need to be pragmatic and no brainfarts for as long as possible (big ask I Know). Oz are poor we should be confident. It's all in the head.

Aussies should never have had a LBP - their first 'try' followed a tap-back from a tacker who was on the ground - Adams got a YC for that yesterday. Plus, the 50:22 kick bounced off the hoardings which should have made a quick throw-in a no-no, unless that law's been changed. 

Never heard that one before, I thought it just couldn’t touch anyone on the sidelines - ie spectator, coach, ball boy, assistant referee etc.

Fiji put away Australia no sweat.

Good  post WHY, sums things up neatly and succinctly .

Regarding  centres, it's a shame that Joe Roberts had knee issues, which could have coloured Gatland's  thinking. Warren  gas a thing about physical size,  which of course is important , but not at the expense of pace, elusiveness and vision.

If Joe had continued  to contribute  at the WC, which would have been great, but not at the expense of a long term injury. 

I do'nt want to write Grady off  he is a young man ,with a lot to learn, and hopefully  will come good.

Gatland has made some poor decisions namely  two scrum halves, madness.With Tomos Williams performing  so appallingly, we have to pray that Cawdor remains fit. Anscombe looked like a man who has not played for ages( which he has'nt),so apart from other failings we has no leadership. This is no direct criticism of Jac Morgan, who has been one of the stand out performers, but its asking a hell of a lot of an emerging  player to lead a side which is spluttering. 

Biggar returning to the fray is a key component, not just for his control, but for the demands he makes of himself, and of others.

That passion can be divisive  but in raw heat of tat WC an essential  requirement,  as well as a cool head. 

Moving on to the team for the  Aussies, the team GPR  Rochester  selected  is probably  near the mark.

For me I would start with  the lads who started against Fiji ( sorry  about Beard WHY) LOL.

I reckon seeing the Aussies today,  without Skelton,  we can beat them definitely. Unfortunately,  as  WHY indicates , if have injuries we are going to struggle  as the Portugal  game proved.

Barclay continues to make the point that sides who give away 18 penalties to 8 rarely come out on top. That, of course, is Wales' achilles heel also. Australia were hammered at the breakdown which makes the omission of Hooper even more surprising. 

Wales will play 10 man rugby, may well play Morgan & Reffell together & pray that they can keep Cawdor on the pitch for 65/70 minutes. 

We can certainly beat this Australia, but I don't like to count any chickens - there won't be much in it.

What surprised me about the Aussies was the lack of leadership in the absence of Skelton - I'm pretty sure Slipper has been captain in the past, not sure who it was yesterday but it didn't show! Morgan (not captain on Saturday) will show more, as will Biggar. Jac had done a full morning of weights and physical work, BTW, since Reffell was supposed to play... and still lasted 80 minutes!

Not a sport exercise expert by any means, but that seems to me to be a daft idea. Had Jac suffered a slight strain, then we would have been in a lot of trouble. I suspect from now on, that those players not involved in the match day squad will not be doing extra conditioning work on the day of a match. They can always do that post match surely ????

I noticed last season that Dwayne and our coaching team learned from the defeat out in Treviso. we were in that game, and coming back, and I had hopes that we could go on and win. JBW was leading the charge second half and causing all sorts of problems. However it all fell apart when JBR went off injured, and we had no one to bring on as we'd made our substitutions too early. Short on numbers. Benetton spread it wide with the last play and scored a try, taking away a losing BP from us. I noticed in later games last season, there were times when we only used 7 subs, where we did use all 8, the last man came on with 5 mins to go.

Good analysis ....sloppy use of the bench