Wales stun France by coming from 16-0 down at half time to win 24-19. What a game, a great start to the competition.
Saw the first half and the Welsh weren’t in it. Had to go out and collect youngest from train ( big metal choo choo on metal tracks for Chippy ) and it was late so on returning home the Welsh were winning! What happened?
The French caved in, two horrendous mistakes to gift Wales two tries. Not taking anything away from the Welsh though, once they scored their first try, a well worked one at that, their confidence rose. What's this about Chippy and trains, is he the Fat Controller?
Are you suggesting that the Welsh should adopt the train as their national emblem and kick the leek into touch( every pun intended )
Well their defence was leaking in the first half and their stamina training paid dividends in the second half which then put them on the right track leaving the French stationery. Kismet my friend or as they say in the Valleys and @mustyfrog and @ValleyGraduate12 can vouch for this “kismet boyo, kismet”.
Slaughtered the Irish. Never ever in trouble even taking into account a dodgy TMO decision to disallow the try just on half time.
England were superb. Tuilagi and B Vunipola in the same team is just sheer brutality. Brilliant. Any England side that starts with Tuilagi, B Vunipola, M Vunipola, Itoje, Farrell, have a chance. It is such a high class line of players. You look at the rest of the squad and those not in, you realise we have a very very strong hand. Fitness of big 5 is huge. Form of the pack is massive. Get those two things right prior to WC and England would be a threat to all. Ireland under Schimdt are rightly no.2 in the world. They have been a class side under him. To beat them and brutalise them like we did should not be underestimated. One of the big factors was our discipline, we cut out as many penalties. If I was setting up to play against England, I'd set up to frustrate them and be physical with them. Force them into errors and frustration. You don't get that when we have such a physical side because we front up. Special mention to Mark Wilson. I've met him a few times through corporate stuff and he's a top man. The way he has grabbed him chance is fantastic. Has the physical capacity, but his mobility is great at 6.
Ireland have been superb in recent years, both country and their provincial teams. England have put a marker down for the six nations and the world Cup. We can't get ahead of ourselves but that was glorious on Saturday.