Scarlets Team v Connacht
Printed From: Scarlet Fever Llanelli Rugby Sport Wales Tickets
Category: RUGBY
Forum Name: SCARLETS GENERAL
Forum Description: Team News, Season Tickets, Next Match
URL: https://scarletfever.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48575
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 3:15am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Scarlets Team v Connacht
Posted By: hoppy
Subject: Scarlets Team v Connacht
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 2:39pm
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Scarlets team to face Connacht Rugby on Friday, March 13 (19:45; Premier Sports) 15 Ioan Jones; 14 Jac Davies, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Macs Page; 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Max Douglas, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Fletcher Anderson (capt). Reps: 16 Harry Thomas, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Gabe McDonald, 23 Tomi Lewis. |
Replies:
Posted By: Paul10
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 2:44pm
| That's great. Should be enough to get something in Connacht |
Posted By: Fscarlet
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 2:54pm
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Connacht side: Number/Name/Caps 16. Eoin de Buitléar (20) |
Posted By: Lincscarlet
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 3:41pm
| Our pack looks good, nice to see Williams back at 12 too - with Cawdor at 9 that gives physicality and experience on each side of CLJ to assist him. |
Posted By: Dai Guevara
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 3:50pm
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Anderson also as captain.He seems an intelligent player who always gives 100% - could be an inspired choice. |
Posted By: Legendinmybathroom
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 4:19pm
Yes, it also suggests that the club see him as a long term player who they plan on building a team around. Making him feel wanted and highly valued, probably a future club captain also makes him more likely to want to stay around for longer, a very shrewd selection as captain, they could easily have gone with Cawdor or Jonny Williams.
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Dai Guevara wrote:Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 4:32pm
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It's a key game this. Starting XV as good as we could have hoped for. |
Posted By: skyblue
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 4:41pm
How long is his contract? ------------- KRR |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 5:55pm
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Don’t think I’ve seen a worthwhile performance from Johnny at 12 in years. Good luck to any backs outside him, going to have a long night watching him lose possession.
Been a shame Price is injured, would have liked to see him at 10/12 recently. Likewise Badham or Woolley on the wing but injured too. Poor Tomi Lewis can’t buy a start. Quality hard worker.
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Posted By: Wasp
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 9:21pm
Have they made it to Ireland this time?  Friends are off on a rugby tour tomorrow and the ferry's been cancelled! ------------- We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh |
Posted By: scarletpimp
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 9:36pm
That's harsh on Johnny Tony. Yes , it's been heads down stuff art times, but he needs to be used. Lot more wisely than a battering ram. Whe n he's used well, he can be great, and defensively he's generally sound. I remember a game recently against Cardiff atcarns park, ..MOM ! He played 13 that day and thrived in wider channels. Maybe better swopping and putting Eddie at 12 ? ------------- I stood yer on tanner bank |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 12 March 2026 at 9:37pm
Weather was forecast to be VERY windy in N Wales today.
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Posted By: Mr Ian
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:28am
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As last match I like so many youngsters in the starting team. Will be not an easy match but I m confident in some bonus point..come on Scarlets... O.T...Im founding a rugby club in my town...Modica Scarlets Rugby..from 6 to 14 y.o.
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Posted By: Fscarlet
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:09am
Thats great news!! Da iawn!!
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Posted By: GPR - Rochester
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:30am
Well played that man!!!!!
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Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 11:29am
Great to read...good luck! |
Posted By: Eastern outpost
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 2:38pm
------------- In a world where you can be anything – Be Kind. |
Posted By: surfing-mtber
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 3:01pm
Eccellente Mr Ian ------------- Joshua24:15 |
Posted By: Lincscarlet
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 4:03pm
| What are we all drinking tonight whilst watching the game then? I have a temptation for rum, but I'm undecided |
Posted By: Kentexile
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 5:11pm
If in doubt I tend to default to Guinness. Despite my posts elsewhere I still struggle with drinking wine while watching rugby.
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Posted By: SVD
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 5:32pm
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How wonderful is that? A Scarlet inspired team for 6 to 14s in Italy? It makes me very proud, lovely to hear good news at the moment. Pob lwc and please keep us posted Angelo. |
Posted By: Realwest
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 6:05pm
| Great news on the team Mr Ian if you have any Sergio Parise or Canonne Brothers come through Scarlets have first pick. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:46pm
| 33-12 to Connaught is my guess. |
Posted By: pillory
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:47pm
| Missed green forward pass, missed first green knock-on at the ruck. |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:49pm
AR’s won’t call these no matter how obvious. Hope TMO steps up.
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Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:51pm
I really hope not ! |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:52pm
Me too, but this season has been a massive disappointment, and the players really struggle to look engaged.
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Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:53pm
Hoping the score is the other way around.
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Posted By: Tov
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 7:57pm
| Not at all impressed so far. |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:00pm
Not impressed by us ?
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Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:01pm
| I like 0-0 |
Posted By: Tov
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:04pm
| Indeed. Four penalties in 15 minutes doesn't help. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:04pm
| Dragons absolutely smashed these guys. We roll over for a belly rub again. |
Posted By: Exkixu
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:06pm
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Link? ------------- 1 Xavier Rush 2 Rhys Priestland 3 David Lyons Cardiff Blues - Scarlets, 26/09/09 More carries than any of our forwards. Priestland Fan Club Proud Member |
Posted By: Scarlet Admiral
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:10pm
| We look a very poor side at the moment for whatever reasons |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:11pm
| I’m tired of the cliche “good side we’re putting out”. I appreciate backing our team, but it’s brutally apparent a large amount of our squad isn’t pro standard. I also appreciate the WRU uncertainty has contributed to this. |
Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:13pm
| We lack power, Connaught break the line we can't. Simple |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:15pm
We have one locally developed player in the starting pack. We really need to do better. Unsustainable.
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Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:16pm
| Jake off permanently ? |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:17pm
| We get held up every single week. We never learn, we still play like it’s the old laws. |
Posted By: townboy
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:23pm
| Take the 3 points |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:25pm
| We never learn. Ever. Take the sodding points. This side does the same thing every week. It’s absolutely brutal to watch. |
Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:30pm
| Writing is on the wall |
Posted By: greypower1
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:31pm
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We look like an underpowered scratch side, which is what we are. ------------- Keep the faith |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:32pm
| Take a drink every time Johnny loses the ball. |
Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:35pm
| Was not him who lost it though. |
Posted By: Redadare
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:35pm
| Piss poor again, our attack .....where is it? |
Posted By: skyblue
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:41pm
We know the pathway has been substandard.. The concern is when the imports get out powered as well. Without the financial situation being settled soon I find it difficult to see a way forward regarding recruitment. ------------- KRR |
Posted By: Dai Guevara
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:43pm
| Back to the same old pass monotonously along the line until we lose the ball. Connacht are up very quickly and there's no room to break through. Nearest we got to putting pressure on was Roberts grubber kick and follow up. If they're up so quickly there must be space behind them. They are more powerful than us so we're unlikely to punch our way through that blitz defence. There is no distortion of space-time that allows themto be in two places at once. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:46pm
Nonexistent for years. We haven’t played “scarlets rugby” for years. Dwayne has basically coached all skill out of the team.
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Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:51pm
The “-12” from me is looking generous.
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Posted By: Huwbach
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 8:52pm
| What are we doing? |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:01pm
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Try Roberts 19-7. Have we finally woken up ? Archie effect ?
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Posted By: KID A
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:02pm
| Roberts looking sharp. 19-14, cracking try by Jones too |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:02pm
| Haven’t we just scored a couple of tries to get back in to the game? |
Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:06pm
| The standard of reffing is so poor. He was not in touch |
Posted By: gnasher1975
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:06pm
| Poor call that not in contact with the ball when in touch |
Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:09pm
| Has there been a game this season when we haven't conceded 4 tries ? |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:11pm
Nilled Glasgow, Benetton, Cardiff,
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Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:13pm
| Should have taken the 3 before HT. We’d be in BP territory now. |
Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:20pm
| We need to get out of this Irish run league |
Posted By: pillory
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:20pm
| Boring game. |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:21pm
| Our chances of even a LBP now gone sadly. |
Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:21pm
| Thumped again. Pretty poor display. |
Posted By: SA14
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:23pm
Because Connacht are winning?
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Posted By: shocker
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:24pm
| Forwards are seriously underpowered. All 4 tries have been the same |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:25pm
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Sadly I think we’ll struggle in any league at the moment. 33-12 was a fair guess.
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Posted By: gnasher1975
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:26pm
| AR's could chip in with the odd obvious offside would be nice |
Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:28pm
| No because any 50/50 in Ireland goes to home team. The amount of advantage he has given them to us is like night and day. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:36pm
Hmm… Our team should be truly ashamed with themselves this season. Another match, no points. Fans put out money to support them, and they look like lazy uninterested players.
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Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:36pm
| Poor from Scarlets, we need a decent pack to give our back line a platform. |
Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:37pm
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How was that a pen to them? We are over the ball they hold on. Ref say we need to roll away. There was no player there. Their turnover. The player puts his hands on ball but then falls over within a meter of the ruck. That’s a penalty for scarlets. Don’t tell me there is not a bias for the Irish.
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Posted By: SA14
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:37pm
There’s a stats website which proves that’s not entirely true.
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Posted By: Captain
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:39pm
So you believe a stats website over your own eyes. Okay. |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:42pm
That's a very decent pack in my view, at this point in the season (within the international window) and games against teams in the bottom half, I'd be expecting wins. In reality we haven't really been competitive except in short bursts. We seem a long way from a sustained upswing in fortunes at the moment. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:47pm
I think the reality is, it isn’t a decent pack. Old locks that have had their day, an old tighthead that doesn’t offer much outside the scrum. Mathias isn’t much more than URC squad player. Douglas has looked well off the pace this season, and Taylor I struggle to see how we use him. I get we naturally up rate our players, but really none of the starting pack outside Marnus and maybe Anderson would start for the other regions. We have an atrocious record producing young tight five forwards right now. I hope some of the age grade players can step up.
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Posted By: skyblue
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:48pm
We are where we are. I'm pretty sure every one of the Connacht pack is Irish qualified... Which says it all about where Welsh rugbys Is at the moment.
------------- KRR |
Posted By: sreve19
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:48pm
| We are under powered, either it's the ability or the attitude but we don't get the gain line like Connaught did tonight. Our backs are dangerous but they need front foot ball . |
Posted By: Redadare
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:49pm
Fletcher had his quietest game(which he's entitled too) but I still fail to see what Thomas brings at Tighthead, I reckon I could beat him over 20 yards and im 70s
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Posted By: Wasp
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 9:56pm
We’re not particularly underpowered on paper, but we sure looked like it on field. Some tactical adjustments needed to. Plenty of times we should have kicked over that defensive line but carried on sideways. Also I get annoyed when we get pinged for holding on, when it’s better to let them get the turnover and tackle rather than concede 30m and defend a line out ------------- We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh |
Posted By: skyblue
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:02pm
On paper Kieran Assiratti is the same weight as Ellis Genge, but in my humble opinion there's a bit of a difference in dynamism & power. ------------- KRR |
Posted By: Wil Chips
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:09pm
Not sure I agree with all of that, what I do know is our pack (on paper) had far more going for it than the Connacht one. So I maintain we are under achieving. |
Posted By: ladram
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:14pm
Why don't we ask an ex player to ride in to save another ex player and put sound bytes out about the Scarlet Ethos 
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Posted By: skyblue
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:16pm
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Most attacks & tries came from moment's of individual skill by players. There is clearly talent in the back line. The forwards were up against it so there wasn't the best of platforms, but I'm not convinced I saw a coherent plan of attack. ------------- KRR |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:19pm
Peel has been at the helm for five seasons now. Apart from the aberration 2022/23 season with Blackett, we’ve had no semblance of attack.
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Posted By: Redadare
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:31pm
100% at what point does his position become untenable?
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Posted By: Wasp
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:32pm
Our pack against Bordeaux played like Wales did against Ireland last week. We’re just not seeing the best we can get from them, as a unit or individually. ------------- We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:33pm
2023/2024 if you ask me. Really after the 0/4 challenge cup run.
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Posted By: tannerbankboy
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:51pm
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3 of out last 4 games have been against bottom half of the table sides. Not a win to be seen. That was a great chance to move up the table, a bit at least. To come we have Zebra and 2 winnable derbies. The rest we can forget about. Tonight was same old, same old. Lots of huff and puff and nothing to show for it other than a couple of tries from breaks. Then every time they had the ball they scored. We hade enough possession to win 3 games tonight but Connacht treated that as a defensive training session, so easy to defend against one up or lateral runners. No guile or variety at all and easy to defend. Then, as soon as they are in an attacking position they score with the usual ridiculous ease. Pick and go or driving maul the result is almost a foregone conclusion. Is see no way out of this hole we're in with this current squad. Too many are either past it or never going to be good enough no matter how long they're persevered with and it's clear to see that.
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Posted By: Dai Guevara
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:53pm
| Some of our front rowers looked overweight and unfit, bulk but no power or stamina. |
Posted By: Huwbach
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 10:58pm
| Pants. I’m fed up. We are better than this. |
Posted By: Tony Clifton
Date Posted: 13 March 2026 at 11:17pm
Absolutely agree. I see no way Wales can field 4 sides with the squad depth we see. Our only chance of pushing on is waiting on the youth, and trying to survive and grab players from Ospreys. The one player I want is going to Grenoble, so there’s that.
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Posted By: ScarletBear
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 12:36am
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I still think if we put money into a better coach we would have better performances. we saw what Whiffin could do. Lets just get through surviving, who would want to join us at this point, get out the other side (hopefully) and see who can turn the ship around. I still think there will be 2 teams - one each east and west in the next few years. ------------- Scarlets before Wales |
Posted By: GPR - Rochester
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 6:47am
| Reading these last few pages I am so glad I gave that a miss last night. Only thing I smiled about was the 33-12 forecast - fair play. |
Posted By: Scarlswb
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 7:21am
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Lack of fitness, especially with the forwards, we start off slow, then fade, only playing well in patches. Our best player by a country mile was Joe Roberts and also looked the fittest. We created a number of chances early but made simple mistakes, not focused. When your really fit these errors are reduced.
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Posted By: pillory
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 8:13am
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What changes to make us decent again? Recruitment is wrecked for another season (which could still be our last). For me, our defence is dogged. It’s in attack we don’t show any creativity or cutting edge. Connacht didn’t offer much, but I thought they organised a defensive line well, forcing our one tactic of hoisting the high ball. Coaching changes coming?
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Posted By: GPR - Rochester
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 8:22am
Our defence is poor - we regularly concede 4+ tries. All season our discipline has been an achilles heel. Nigel needs to read the riot act. I agree with Wil's assessment that performance was extremely disappointing from what was, Josh apart, our strongest forward pack. Considering the availability during this 6 nations I fully expecetd a far better return than 1 point.
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Posted By: Coch
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 8:39am
| It's plain and simple that Peel has to go but another season spent propping him up just drags us further down. |
Posted By: ap sior
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 8:45am
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One big gripe of mine is that when we go through the phases our forwards regularly take the ball about 5 metres behind the gain line and do so standing still. I think we need to be more dynamic around the fringes. Take the ball on the hoof and at speed. We are too pedestrian. Opponents seem to play at a higher tempo than we do. After his try scoring performances last two games, is it time to play Joe at 13 outside Eddie? We know that Eddie has an off loading game in his locker.
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Posted By: Wasp
Date Posted: 14 March 2026 at 10:10am
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I think Eddie and Joe at 12/13 has a lot going for it. ------------- We're still still here, but I wish we were in an Anglo-Welsh |