Moderator: moderators
weak squads (comparitively) simple as thatneiliog93 wrote:Ospreys in the Pro12 aside, why are the Welsh regions still struggling massively, especially in Europe?
think youre rightJB1973 wrote:Bit of a bold statement but I expect lee to be the next lions tight head prop, I rate him that highly. If he is fit we can win the 6 nations if he isn't well struggle to finish above 3rd he is that important to the welsh team.
Hopefully felatau alun wyn jones biggar and webb follow his lead and that's pretty much all the top players still in wales tied down.
As for the regions none shone this weekend and the blues/dragons are already out of the running for next years ERC, while the Scarlets are out of the play off spaces.
Not a great year and I doubt anyone outside of wales will shed any tears for the regions especially after the way we behaved over the new erc deal last year
simonokeeffe wrote:think youre rightJB1973 wrote:Bit of a bold statement but I expect lee to be the next lions tight head prop, I rate him that highly. If he is fit we can win the 6 nations if he isn't well struggle to finish above 3rd he is that important to the welsh team.
Hopefully felatau alun wyn jones biggar and webb follow his lead and that's pretty much all the top players still in wales tied down.
As for the regions none shone this weekend and the blues/dragons are already out of the running for next years ERC, while the Scarlets are out of the play off spaces.
Not a great year and I doubt anyone outside of wales will shed any tears for the regions especially after the way we behaved over the new erc deal last year
Rumour that Alex Cuthbert is off to Clermont to replace a departing Fijian
Could be good for him, they taught Johnathan Davies how to pass
defensive positioning his achilles heel alrightJB1973 wrote:simonokeeffe wrote:think youre rightJB1973 wrote:Bit of a bold statement but I expect lee to be the next lions tight head prop, I rate him that highly. If he is fit we can win the 6 nations if he isn't well struggle to finish above 3rd he is that important to the welsh team.
Hopefully felatau alun wyn jones biggar and webb follow his lead and that's pretty much all the top players still in wales tied down.
As for the regions none shone this weekend and the blues/dragons are already out of the running for next years ERC, while the Scarlets are out of the play off spaces.
Not a great year and I doubt anyone outside of wales will shed any tears for the regions especially after the way we behaved over the new erc deal last year
Rumour that Alex Cuthbert is off to Clermont to replace a departing Fijian
Could be good for him, they taught Johnathan Davies how to pass
Yes and behind a pack that doesn't spend 99% of the game going backwards, Cuthbert is still very raw as a player , if he keeps his pace and power but develops a rugby brain he could be lethal (big if mind you!)
Standby for Judgement Day III! Welsh Regions set for third Millennium Stadium double-header
Jan 16, 2015 10:04
By Simon Thomas
We can reveal the date, fixtures and kick-off times for this season's double-header involving Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets
Judgement Day III is to go ahead in April, with agreement having been reached between the WRU and the Regions over the continuation of the showpiece event.
There had been doubt over whether the back-to-back Welsh derbies would be staged at the Millennium Stadium this season, with the existing four-year deal having been terminated in September.
But it has now received the green light and will take place at the stadium on Saturday, April 25.
The Blues will lock horns with the Ospreys in the first match with a 2.30pm kick-off, with the Dragons facing the Scarlets at 5.15pm, with the games to be televised live by BBC Wales and S4C respectively.
Judgement Day was introduced in the 2012-13 season, with the idea being to try and replicate the success of the London Double Header at Twickenham, which opens the Aviva Premiership campaign and attracts huge crowds.
Establishing a Welsh version of the big day out was widely welcomed as a concept and the initial signs were encouraging.
The inaugural event in March 2013 drew a crowd of 36,174, with the Scarlets beating the Dragons 28-20 and the Ospreys defeating the Blues 23-16.
But last season the attendance was down to 30,411, amid criticism over the scheduling, with the games being played on Easter Sunday (April 19).
Judgement Day II saw the Blues claim a 17-13 victory over the Scarlets, while the Ospreys overcame the Dragons 20-10.
In the wake of the dip in crowd figures, the event then faced an uncertain future at the start of this season.
The Union contacted the four regions to inform them the existing agreement no longer stood.
This was because the terms for it were entered into under the old Participation Agreement, which had expired, with a new Rugby Services Agreement having been signed after months of dispute.
The Union did say they wanted to carry on with the double header project and were keen to meet with the regions to agree new terms .
Now that deal has been done.
Under the original contract, the two home sides - the Blues and the Dragons - received a guaranteed fee from the WRU for switching their games to the Millennium and it’s understood a fresh agreement has been reached on that basis
everyone else in the Parker Pen hoping one team at least wants to win it so they can avoid progressingStrangeButBlue wrote:Congrats to Newport winning the group in the tin cup
Also feel Ospreys are due a decent performance at home in Europe - no reason they can't beat Northhampton.
send Zebre back an Italian scrumhalf?JB1973 wrote:saints scrum and sheer physical size and power too much for us to handle, they are a good side I see them beating racing metro.
Looks like we are signing Brendan leonard from zebra next season, always rated him , will be a good addition
Not the biggest surprise - had to come at some point.JB1973 wrote:
Adam Jones looks to be done and dusted
Agreed. But with WRUBurton and TwoPricks in the squad his particular talents are already well represented.Vamos los azules wrote:Josh Navidi very hard done by not getting a call up based on the matches I have seen him play this season.
Yea but what a great servant to Welsh rugby. Take a bow.JB1973 wrote:WALES 2015 RBS 6 NATIONS SQUAD:
Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Backs: Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon
Adam Jones looks to be done and dusted
