Will Welsh skipper's new nickname stick?
- 7 Mar 07, 03:03 PM
The Wales rugby squad has its far share of humorous player nicknames.
None of them are particularly complimentary, but a fair bit more imaginative than in football, where the tendency is simply to tweak the surname (Giggsy, Keano, Lamps etc)
Gareth Thomas is known as 鈥楢lfie鈥 because of his canny resemblance to the furry alien in the popular 80鈥檚 television series ; Brent Cockbain鈥檚 uncompromising rucking has earned him the nickname 鈥楧isaster鈥; while it doesn鈥檛 take a genius to guess why Gethin Jenkins is affectionately called 鈥楳elon Head鈥.
And now a new nickname has emerged 鈥 and it鈥檚 certainly not one the recipient hopes will stick.
It鈥檚 fair to say Stephen Jones has not set the world on fire since being named Wales captain last autumn.
The Welsh press have , and now his own team-mates have joined in by calling him 鈥楥aptain Crap鈥.
Tom Shanklin, who can count himself fortunate to have gotten away with being known simply as 鈥楽hanks鈥, let the cat out of the bag during a media conference this week.
"We do give Stephen a bit of stick for his record as captain,鈥 explained squad joker Shanklin. 鈥淏ut it is all in good spirit."
鈥 but what other choice does he have to be honest?
He鈥檚 been under intense pressure and press scrutiny since the defeat to Scotland, and who could blame him, or the players, for trying to lighten the mood with some typical dressing-room banter, turning the abuse into a joke.
But it could all prove to be very short-lived light relief.
Defeat to Italy on Saturday will bring a whole new level criticism for Jones, and 鈥楥aptain Crap鈥 could be the best he can expect from savage headline writers.
Calls for change will be loud and clear - despite the World Cup being just six months away - but who could do a better job?
Martyn Williams, Gareth Thomas and Duncan Jones were also considered when Jenkins made his choice before the November internationals.
Of those three, only Williams can be considered as a first choice, but he has indicated in the past he feels uncomfortable with the burden of captaincy.
Ryan Jones seemed to be shaping up as captaincy material, but his last three performances have been less than inspiring.
Wales 27-18 England
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Stephen Jones is crap compared to Wilko or dan carter
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Unfortunately the welsh coach named Stephen Jones Captain too hastily . It quickly became apparent that Hook should be in at fly half with his extra pace and brilliance.As soon as Gareth Thomas is fully fit he should be re-instated as Captain. In the absence of Henson, Jones can play inside centre. Wales are in for a torrid time against the rampaging Italian pack so Jones is likely to be on the back foot anyway. I can only see Wales winning if they induce Italy to give away penalties.
Nevertheless, I will be keeping my fingers crossed.
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Steve Jones to play the first half or so.Analyse the opposition - defence and attack.Hook on bench.
Brief Hook, to brings on a change of mental and physical
pace. Opposition must rethink
how to adjust immediately.
(Please correct spelling but not thinking)
Dai W
Kent.
But see S4C nd 大象传媒2W.
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That's grossly unfair. Steve Jones has been the most consistent No 10 in the northern Hemisphere taking his career as a whole. To make him scapegoat for Wales failure to win this season is ridiculous.
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If the players are getting nicknames, what about the Welsh squad as a whole?
For just about every reason I can think of, my suggestion would be: 'Albania'
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Firstly, I admire Stephen Jones. Top bloke and a decent, honest No10, but not the best and certainly not the no1 no10, if you follow me, to take us into the final stages of the RWC. Neither is Popham the best No6.
Gareth Jenkins stubbornly refuses to try anyone else in these positions, perhaps out of loyalty to his old Scarlet colleagues. He's got to put the national side first or get out.
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i think hes been the best flyhalf wales have had for a while, he may not be in the classes of wilko or carter, but he has talent
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It is naive to think that it is Stephen Jones' captaincy that is the problem with Wales this season. The problems run far deeper and centre around:
1)A weak front row
2)An out-of-form No.8
3)A number 10 who does not pose a direct attacking threat and is playing too far behind the gain line
Hook is undoubtedly a huge talent and a future Wales No.10 but I am fed up with those that think Hook at 10 would suddenly solve all our problems. Hook had a fantastic game against Australia in the Autumn but is not ready for a sustained run at 10 for Wales. We need to get Stephen Jones playing on the gain line again (not sure why Jenkins is asking him to play deeper??) - where (despite his lack of pace) he can keep the opposition back row guessing and can get Hook/Kevin Morgan/Shane playing off him and posing the threats we did in 2005. Despite being a Llanelli boy I'd also like to see Phillips get more game time at scrum-half.
On the captaincy issue - Jenkins has nailed his colours to the mast so it is academic but:
1) Ryan Jones is a future Wales captain but if he was the current Welsh captain he would be attracting even more criticism than Jones as his own game is well below par at the moment
2) For a player that leads by example in the mould of Martin Johnson, Alix Popham gets my vote every time
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Sadly for stephen jones as captain the results speak for themselves. Individually, he has not played that badly but as a ten with a pack that for whatever reason is getting well beaten and a lack of exprerience outside him you can only do so much. Although, the most consistent ten he may be but he is consistently average!
I think wales will struggle against the italians in a close game but might just edge it in the end.
Does anyone know what illness Jones has? It always looks like he is about to die on the pitch with his pale sickly looking face.
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i am fed up of people haveing a go at stepen jones and saying hook should be at number 10 what aload of crap hook would be lucky to get on the bench .his tackling as been poor and if you talking about pace who stopped a certain try against scotland wales playing poorly as a team .maybe shouldnt been picked as captain perhaps the pressure to much .but hes our best number 10
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Good responses to a crap article. "Captain Crap" is tabloid stuff and "gotten" is US-speak. If we are to repsond to articles, then PLEASE get a quality writer to get us thinking.
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Jones is certainly not the main reason for Wales's failure, but it's hard to convince many people that he would still be first choice #10 if he wasn't the skipper. Even if you don't think James Hook is ready - and I'd disagree - Ceri Sweeney certainly is. Either would, on current form, give opposing teams more to think about than Jones, who seems stuck in a rut. He's a quality player, who will get over it, but that process will surely be accelerated by giving him a break.
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Good responses to a crap article. "Captain Crap" is tabloid stuff and "gotten" is US-speak. If we are to repsond to articles, then PLEASE get a quality writer to get us thinking.
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i am fed up of people haveing a go at stehpen jones and saying hook should be at number 10 what aload of crap hook would be lucky to get on the bench .his tackling as been poor and if your talking about pace who stopped a certain try against scotland . wales are playing poorly as a team .maybe he shouldnt have been picked as captain perhaps the pressure is to much .but hes our best number 10 sound as pound who was the best number 10 in france last year. who played at number 10 for the lions.
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I honestly do not know what is wrong with the Lads but what I do know is that they have not been the same since the WRU pushed Mike Ruddock out of the door and brought in this lightweight. He took on the job when He simply isn't up to it. After 2005 We should have been gearing up for the World Cup, confident in the ability that We had at our disposal, with all the young talent to hand and more besides. Admittedly, injuries to crucial players haven't helped but then again, neither have poor selections ( Charvis? For crying out loud, the Man is a relic! Why don't they call up Robert Jones...He's still breathing !)
When all is said and done, Wales have to write off this Six Nations and concentrate on NOT embarrassing a proud Nation...Quarter Finals...if They are lucky...Nos Da!
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In my opinion this blog entry is bordering on the irresponsible鈥 we don鈥檛 read the 大象传媒 pages to see regurgitated tabloid nonsense. Team banter in the changing room is just that, why make out that it is newsworthy?
Let鈥檚 not forget how good a #10 Stephen Jones is, and how much better he is now after playing in France than he was in 2005 (and he was pretty good then, by the way). God forbid that Stephen should read this blog else he might actually start believing some of it!
Quality player, quality captain. I expect an improvement from the last outing for the whole Welsh team this weekend, which is surely what we are after in the build up to the WC?
Eyes on the prize, people, let鈥檚 not get carried away by minor distractions en route鈥
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I think Stephen Jones is the right man to play No10 for Wales at the moment. Hook looks a good prospect but is still in the early stages of his career and needs more experience. Ceri Sweeney is an excellent player but again does not have the experience of Stephen Jones. He is struggling due to the whole Welsh pack struggling. When he kicks to touch the lineout is not working, from Scrums he is always under pressure and only Popham and Alun Wyn Jones look like making any yards with ball in hand.
I think we will get a positive result against Italy at the weekend and then go on to beat a stuttering England in Cardiff.
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I think Stephen Jones is the right man to play No10 for Wales at the moment. Hook looks a good prospect but is still in the early stages of his career and needs more experience. Ceri Sweeney is an excellent player but again does not have the experience of Stephen Jones. He is struggling due to the whole Welsh pack struggling. When he kicks to touch the lineout is not working, from Scrums he is always under pressure and only Popham and Alun Wyn Jones look like making any yards with ball in hand.
I think we will get a positive result against Italy at the weekend and then go on to beat a stuttering England in Cardiff.
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I have never been a lover of Stephen Jones but during his time in France he was transformed.After his displays in the 2005 season he should have gone to New Zealand as first choice fly half.Is his return to his pre-French form indicative of the coaches Gareth Jenkins and Nigel Davies?It seems to be too much of a coincidence.
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fly half is always going to be an integral part of the welsh game, and although jones may not be the best in the world, try to remember who he had to replace???
he has come in and been the only consistent kicker that wales have had since the 99 world cup and jenkins retirement. his kicking has even improved since he first started, particularly his range kicking. i remember a time when he wouldnt even consider a kick from more than 35m out! but if you look at our options, who have we got to replace him? sweene, who im still not convinced about at international level, Hook who is still getting a feel for the level required from him, and henson, who is never fit. bring back Arwel thomas i say!!! haha
its unfair, but as captain it is his duty to shoulder the blame, although i dont think calling for his, or anyones, head at such an early stage in his captaincy is a good idea.
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Im Irish and I think Wales have an array of Talent in their backline and some of their forwards, but everytime I watch them their is no organisation or pattern to their play and that produces gaps and holes all over the pitch. I know wales like playin a broken game but you have to play that in moderation.
Their has to be some balance to their play which will make them more of an effective team. I do believe they have players that can easily change a game.
So i dont think you can necessarily blame one player you have to look at their entire game structure first.
Ireland simply demonstrated this against the welsh, and they still havent learned from this, I think they will beat Italy but I dont think their learning from their mistakes.
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James Hook will be captain one day in the future then the headline writers will have a field day with 'Captain Hook'
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I love how England fans say that Wilko could never have been expected to perform well at outside half against Ireland - with the pack going backwards at a rate of knots!
Isn't this what has been happening to Stephen Jones all tournament?
Truth is - if the pack goes backwards, then so does the back line!
Even our very own Dan carter couldn't be expected to perform miracles on the back foot all game, SA proved that in the final game of the tri-nations!
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Stephen Jones may not be the most outrageously naturally talented No.10 in the game, as has been pointed out, but up until this 6N he's been pretty consistent, particularly in his kicking. His solidity, both mental and physical, have stood us in good stead on a number of occasions, notably Grand Slam year France. It was on that occasion that Alfie looked like a headless chicken, and SJ righted the ship.
Blame for this year's performances have to be laid at everyone's doorstep. Poor coaching, especially for the tight five, people being out of form, Gareth Jenkins being out of his depth, Scarlets-clique (even though I am a Llanelli boy), etc. etc.
I'm not saying that SJ is the best captain we've ever had, or are ever going to have, but he's amongst the best of what we've got at the moment. Our problem is that we really want Barry John, JPR redivivus, and that ain't going to happen.
I can see, if I screw my eyes up, a future of Gavin Henson with the armband and Hook at 10. Would that make people happy?
Just to indulge a pet hate, and be pedantic - Anthony; 'gotten' isn't an 'Americanism' - it's an archaic past participle of 'got', from the Middle English 'getten'. Do some reading.
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I thought Alfie was so called as a result of him looking like Alf from "Home and Away".
Ya flamin' galah!
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isn't Stephen Jones known as "The Count"?
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Stevie Jones is quality.
It's that simple.
The Captain Crap banter is just that - banter between a few lads probably with a view to lighten the mood a bit.
10 is the usual play maker - but can only do so when given quality possession.
Get a good team performance and we will see Stephen do what he does best.
One slight issue I do agree with though, I hope the game plan does not involve Stephen playing so deep next time, it does not seem to have worked.
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I'm not sure I believe what I've just read.
You've got a team who refer to their skipper as Captain Crap on account of his record as captain.
What subliminal messages does that send out to a Captain already under pressure?
What does it tell us of the subliminal attitude of his colleagues towards him?
I thought I heard it all when the players decided that they didn't like Ruddock any more now they seem to want to ruin their captains career.
Its all very well calling your captain "crap" if you are winning when you should and losing gallantly when you shouldn't, but when you're doing neither it can only add to the pressure on him.
If Wales are to ever return to any kind of form then someone needs to get a grip.
We have now heard about the Ruddock incident. The drinking session in Edinburgh and now this.
Clive Woodward terminanted a number of English international careers early, not because the players were past it, but because they thought they were in charge and were a disruption in the dressing room.
Probably a slight step back for English rugby at the time but history recorded the longer term benefit.
Too many Welsh players think their teamsheets are preprinted with their name on it and can call the shots.
Having now heard this, Wales are Wooden Spoon for sure and probably won't get out of their WC group. This is a downward spiral.
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I've sat in enough changing rooms to know and love the banter, but do you really expose your skipper to public ridicule like this?
What is said in the changing room is fine. The spirit and determination to prove the big mouth in the group wrong is a wonderful spur to improved performance on the field.
Surely this stepped outside the line.
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Are some people watching an entirely different Six nations to the one being broadcast on 大象传媒 TV?
Wales have played well in two matches (v Ireland and v France) and Stephen Jones played well in both. Can journalists please start to get their heads round the concept that you can play well and still lose; and play badly and manage a win.
"Captain Crap" fails as an abusive nickname as it is both wrong-headed and unfunny. BUT, when Wales win with Jones to the fore "captain crap" will be a great chant with which the Welsh Fans can serenade their captain. The pointed irony will be lost on journalists, but everyone else can enjoy joke at their expense.
For the time being, though, Jones's teammates are a bit pre-mature. Its hard to see the funny side when things are going wrong.
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I can appreciate the recent criticism of stephen Jones at number ten but what alternatives do we have. I do not feel that Hook is ready for a starting birth at fly half and Ceri Sweeney is not up to the job. It is also important to remember that the tactics being employed by Gareth Jenkins are poor and we are relying too much on our kicking game (which we have never excelled at). We also need parity up front in order to give our backs the quality ball they have been crying out for. I just hope that the pack fronts up against Italy and somebody other than Popham carries the ball with any purpose. C'mon the boys!
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In all honesty, is James Hook really good enough to step up and play 10 and make more of a difference than Stephen Jones. The problem Stephen Jones has is the platform he's been given, and it would be the same for Hook. The lineout has been dreadful, scrum shaky and they rarely win fast clean ball. Ryan Jones has disappeared and after apparently having 2 of the best loose heads in the tournament, what are Gethin Jenkins and Duncan Jones offering this 6 Nations. There are lots of problems and the situation at no.10 is way down the list!!
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Stephen Jones is not going to improve the chances of Wales becoming a top rugby team. He plays in the most important position on the rugby pitch but lacks natural rugby talent. He kicks like a non footballer, no natural flow and looks awkward. Slow pass. Kicks down peoples throats all the time. How can anyone say he controls a game if he lies to deep? He immediately puts the team under pressure, he doesnt control the game. He has to stand deep because he is too slow, it gives him more time. Lacks pace, it was pure luck he caught Paterson in the Scotland game, in a 100m sprint he would stand no chance. The sooner SJ gives way to James Hook the better. Sorry Stephen we can all cheer the crowd on and jee players up but thats not enough. Good play inspires more than anything else and your not capable of it.
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In response to Jim's posting number 28 - What a ridiculous post!!! I bet you've never played a game of rugby or been in a rugby changing room in your life!! Even since professionalism, rugby at all levels remains a game with comradeship and camaraderie at its core. It is a game which allows for individual genius but which is overwhelmingly about playing for and trusting in your team mates. The fact that the Welsh team have adopted the 'Captain Crap' moniker is:
a) A way of making light of the press criticism
b) An indication that Stephen and the team have broad shoulders, hold no stock in the criticism and are close enough to share a joke
I for one would be far more worried if the team weren't addressing the issue as this would be a sign that they felt the criticism was justified.
Your posting also seems to suggest that several members of the Welsh team should be dropped for enjoying banter with their team-mates and captain - what a load of rubbish!!
As for history recording the 'longer-term' benefit of Woodward dropping a number of changing room dissenters:
a) To suggest that these actions contributed directly to England winning the World Cup in completely unfounded and idiotic. Woodward did a lot of things during his time in charge - some good/some bad and not all of these actions contributed to England winning the World Cup!
b) 'History recorded the short/medium-term benefit' may be a more accurate turn of phrase given Englands current form
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I like Stephen Jones, he's been a great servant for the team, and generally I would like him as captain. However, his current form is woeful. He missed two relatively run-of-the mill penalties against France which could have been key (admittedly Hook, the only serious replacement option besides Sweeney, missed one too), and the performance he turned in against Scotland was utterly dire.
It surprises me to hear people talking of Ryan Jones as captaincy material. He strikes me as a selfish player, and I am growing very very tired of him NEVER offloading the ball before hitting the line. Every time he receives a pass, it slows play down because he is determined to break the line himself rather than use the guys outside him. Alix Popham is a superb player and a future captain if he can maintain his place in the side.
Finally, Jenkins out. He has reduced our front row to a laughing stock, and if he can't even train a team to win their own line-outs, and can't get essentially the same squad that won the Grand Slam in 2005 to win a single game in 2007, he shouldn't be the national coach.
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In reply to Danny Davies. Hook came on at number 10 against australia and did a better job than Jones! so he has shown that he is more than capable of playing at number 10. the 6 nations is basicaly over for us, but not for Italy and England, so why not give Hook the last 2games at number 10? this would help to show if he has the ability to be consistently good at that position in fully conpetative intantioonal games (because Italy and England are going to well upfor the last two games) and would give Hook valuable experience, in preparation for a more versatile role in the world cup.
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when are we going to get off stephen jones back and put the blame for wales results. where they lie with the pack. and for all those who ask for hook at 10 come into the real world his defence has been weak to put it mildley put him at 10 would leave huge gaps in our defence. lets hope our pack start playing in italy and then perhaps we can start to win some games and i also put a lot of the blame on the press.
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I have to say, it's not very nice calling him Captain Crap. But I was in hysterics laughing when I heard it.
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i have to disagree with this. I'm an irish fan and although jones did have a bad game against us he has been performing consistenly well over the last couple of years and to be honest it was him that has kept ur welsh team in contention. It wasnt very long ago that jones was being choosen ahead of fly halfs lik ogara and patterson moody etc to play for the british lions 2 years ago... nobody was complainin then, you have to stick by him through the bad times aswell. A player cant be worldclass every match.
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Wales scored three tries from virtually no possession against France. Two of them were created by Stephen Jones: a clever chip over the top for the first and a line break and off-load for the second. It's incredible that nobody remembers this.
The only explanation I can think of for all this abuse is his appearance on the field: pale and hunched, which leads everyone to assume that he is a plodder. (And apparently he is irrepressibly cheerful in real life.) Stick him behind a pack that's going forward and he's back to his best. End of story.
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Simple facts of rugby - posession and quick ball win games. Wales have had neither in the last 2 games. The pack has to perform to give the backs the ball on the front foot, and then we will see Jones perform at 10.
The 6 nations isn't over for Wales. 2 wins are a possibility, potentially finishing 3rd with belief restored. And yes, my pint is half full.
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like comment 41 frodo jones wales pack needs to perform fro jones to play well which isnt a fault it just a fact of rugby also peel isnt playing well for same reason but he isnt gettin stick this shows it is all coz hook is here and coz jones is captain which is rubbish. wales cans till win both games and shud win both games if they play to wat we all no they can my pint is half full as well wales to come 3rd
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For all those who've chosen to criticise this blog for its 'tabloid' nature, aren't you aware it's deliberately provocative to create good, passionate and knowledgable responses? Therefore, it's well written.
It's not the author's fault you haven't got the intelligence to read between the lines and recognise it as such.
You're probably the same people who moan about paying the licence fee, whilst enjoying the six nations coverage and five live on a regular basis but happily pay 拢450 for Sky and watch a hundreth of what you pay for.
(Oh, and I have Sky, but I'm just being provocative because I'm a good writer ;O)
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Stephen Jones just has a dip in form. A good match against Italy and England will hopefully silence his critics. Is Stephen Jones the new younger version of Ray Reardon? (Sp??)
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Jones is the best out half Wales have got. Hook is learning but his tackling has been poor - especially against Ireland. Jones gives Wales鈥檚 structure & can read the game far better than Hook. Fair enough Thomas should be captain but he hasn't been available so I think Jenkins has made the best out of a far from ideal situation. Also don't know why Hook is taking some of the shots at goal - doesn't help Jones' confidence. Honest player who doesn鈥檛 deserve the stick he's getting for an underperforming Welsh team.
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Totally agree with comments from a New zealand fan who recognises that no fly half or scrum half looks good unless the forwards are presenting them with decent ball going forward.The Welsh pack are very poor,disjointed and with the exception of Martin Williams would never be considered for a world 15 selection.We should not blame Steve Jones,he is one of 15 who in my opinion have been well below par.Give Hook a chance at 10 and lets start preparing for the future.Please firstly look at the front row and and the unacceptable lineout statistics which seems to have been a problem in Wales for quite some time.
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The blame for the way players in the Welsh team are performing is not with them, its with Gareth Jenkins.
Two years ago we had almost the same squad and the players were on fire, last year injurys were to blame for lack of wins but now its hard to see past the coach and his bad tactics.
I think Lyn Howells should have got the job of national coach.
Also no matter what Jenkins thinks about some players, if they're good enough, they need to be in the team. That means Gavin Henson, Colin Charvis and James Hook starting at 10. Also bring Rhys Williams back as cover we have many many talented backs in Wales, there is no need to start Jamie Robinson at center, he should be on the bench at best!
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I'm sick and tired of this negative talk surrounding Stephen Jones. He is a quality player. As No 10. he can't be blamed for the players/team around him not taking the ball forward over the gain-line. In the win against France who executed a sublime chip for the first try? and Whose half brake and wonderfull offload created the opening for the 3rd try? 'nuff said!
sadly it's human nature to try and find blame, instead of looking at the big picture.
Lets all get behind the boys for the game tommorrow! Cymru Am Byth!
Huw Evans
N. Wales
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"Win against France"....??! oops I did it again. I'm obviously a Deluded rugby fan who needs to see a psychiatrist about my psychotic-denial of the Wales rugby team losing a match. I will shave my head and check in with Robbie and Brittney.
Lets hope Neil Jenkins gets us the kicks tommorrow! (lol)
Huw Evans
N. Wales
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Glad to see you welshies getting behind SJ...i certainly thought he got a bit overrated after the grand slam, but he's still the best number 10 you have, and he's a damn sight better than anything we Scots can muster.
I know its a bit late to make this point, but what on earth is Richard Jones talking about in post 24, snobbishly claiming that 'gotten' is not an Americanism? What? It may very well come from old english, my dear chap, but it's now firmly part of the American vocabulary, and certainly has no place in the English one. Honestly...'Do some reading' indeed...get a life, more like.
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Stephen Jones has taken alot of stick so far this 6N - some of it deserved as his kicking from hand has generally been poor and he appears more restrained and less likely to keep opposing back rows honest since his return from France -and whether that's the captaincy inhibiting him or the different style of rugby played over there and back here is a moot point.
He has been behind a beaten pack all season again this year which has made life difficult for him and the outside backs but he creaed a couple of tries against France to give us that good period where some self belief seemed to return.
Other than one very poor performance against Scotland Wales haven't actually performed badly against France and Ireland and a coupe of wins would do us the world of good.
If our pack can win our own set piece ball I fancy us to win it by 10 - but if we get turned over up front it will be along day.....
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why is everyone going on about Ryan Jones being out of form !!! i dont think he ever has had any form , well none of note anyway, he is vastly overated. 2 games he has lived off and the last one of those was 2 years ago.
but this is what happens in Wales, a player will have one / 2 Ok games and the media and the public are dull enough to claim that player is world class. Then we wonder why we get stuff by other teams.
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It may all seem harmless fun calling Stephen 'Captain Crap' but what does it say about his authority as a leader? Could you imagine anyone calling Martin Johnson something like that...........They certainly wouldn't risk saying it to his face!!
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I'm sure Stephen's laughing about this as much as I. Strange, how they've never called him Captain Scarlet though.
As for comments on the performance as a whole, I think it鈥檚 a mere storm in a teacup.
Apart from the Scotland game, I think we've done OK so far - not GREAT but OK.
Looking elsewhere in the Six Nations, I cannot say that any other team's performance has struck me as GREAT either, compared to the last two years.
Is it me, or does everyone seem to be reserved about the entire competition ? As if there is something bigger and more important, just over the horizon ?
I wonder what that something could be...... ????
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I must admit I am losing faith in Ryan Jones. I may have been caught up in the hype surrounding him by thinking he is our best forward and main ball carrier??! I really hope he proves me and the critics wrong tommorrow and gives a BIG performance, like leamy does for Ireland.
On another subject I have to say I was extremely annoyed and bemused that Dafydd James wasn't picked ahead of Hal Luscome and cjazk (whatever his name is??!) in the earlier games.
It really made me question Gareth Jenkins' common sense!?
Also will people STOP calling for Hook to be our "saviour" at No. 10. He's got talent but a long way to go before he's a complete player at international level!
Does anyone agree that perhaps Henson will never play again for Wales? Lets face it he just doesn't seem interested enough!
MR Rant
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Re: Comment #52
Ryan Jones has been consistently the most effective back row ball carrier for some time in Wales - Ospreys and Wales have benefited from his positional sense and ability to break the gain line for a few years now. He was missed last year whilst out with injury, and has been hugely effective for the Ospreys this season. In contrast, Popham can be too hot-headed, Michael Owen is a lightweight, and Xavier Rush ain't eligible. Not sure why Jenkins hasn't considered Charvis, but I'd rate him as more of a blindside anyway.
With regard to the blog entry, and subsequent comments about Stephen Jones' consistency, I'd suggest he's consistently been mediocre. I accept that his time in France has probably made him a better player, but he is no captain - look at who is doing the talking on the pitch, and the talk stems from Peel and Martyn.
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i m sick of everone saying hook is comparible to dan carter, he clearly is not at international level. he cannot buildup an attack like carter, he cant kick like carter and he cannot tackle like carter.
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I think the problem is that we give away far too many penalties, if we look at the France game and take away the penalties we would have won that game, i am constantly fustrated at the amount of them that we give away every game and just when we seem to score as well!!
Saying that Stephen Jones is a great kicker and consistent too, yes he missed 2 which would have helped, but with all the pressure I think he has done well to be as focused and lets not forget that he also stopped the seeming unstoppable Scotland try.
Hook is going to be a bright shining star of the future and has huge potential but hes only been in the international game for a YEAR!!!
Basically more discipline and more passion, the boys need us now more then ever. COME ON WALES!!!
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in response to martin h. (post 26) i would think his nickname is not quite "the count" but soemething very simialr.
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The nepotism shown towards Steven Jones does make my stomach turn. Just because you are an ex-Scarlets coach does not automatically mean that a Scarlet player is the man for the job.
Steven Jones is an ok No. 10 and when on form is an excellent No. 10. Didn't Mr. Jenkins learn from his experience down under with Sir Clive that picking players on reputation rather than current form only leads to disaster? Why am I asking this when we know that he obviously hasn't.
We need a national coach who has backbone and isn't afraid to upset the players. Oops sorry we had one didn't we but player power prevailed, well that was a success wasn't it.
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Stephen Jones is a first class club outside half. He kicks well and tackles well. Unfortunately at International level we need something more. We need someone who can pose questions for the oposition defence. We need someone with a greater repertoire than Stephen has shown.Hook appears to have something special about him, and if we want to use him in the World Cup then we need to see what he can bring to Wales at number 10. Whether Gareth Jenkins as a Llanelli man who has close links with Stephen Jones can look objectively at the situation is a different matter.
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I'm not sure if anyone's still reading this Blog but given Jinking James response #34 I feel I ought to record some sort of response.
Did you know that a significant proportion of bullies don't consider their behaviour to be bullying.
Anyway bullying, banter or whatever they call it in Wales, calling a captain under pressure "Crap" is not sharing any burdens its adding to them.
Re Clive Woodward, if you can take your blinkers off for a moment. I was referring to the culture change that he instilled not the personal decision to remove players who he didn't like. (I apologise if that's deeper than you can cope with).
I'm sure that by now that you have seen what happens to Wales when their Captain and Vice-Captain are off the park "its ok, we're all captain, go on James kick it to touch we'll win then!"
Banter is when your poor run of results is against teams you are not expected to beat.
When your performances are just poor the banter acquires undertones, the sort of undertones that give the victim sleepless nights - regardless of how much they laugh it off in the changing rooms.
For the record, I have played rugby and hockey to a reasonable level and have been given nick-names for a variety of reasons ranging from my choice of girlfriends to the size of my feet.
The only time a nick-name was given to me that criticized my ability was by a player who was dropped in favour of me.
But never to my face.
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we must beef up our pack.concentrate on the set pieces, our backs showed that they can score we need a bigger front five
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ok time for me to make my observations. Jones as captain...... not convinced however cannot see any other candidates who can guarantee their place (maybe Shanklin?).
As for Jones at Fly half, i would have to agree for the here and now he is the man for the job. He has not hit the highs a lot of people would expect but then look at Wales possesion count this year and the basic problem can be seen. You cant play rugby without the ball.
Now where is the problem then..... I have to look very heavily at 1-5 for wales. Rees has impressed me and i think he has to be first choice hooker. Horsman is a worry, he puts in the effort but is he good enough. Jenkins... I know he has the potential but needs to unlock those last few % on the field. Wyn Jones, has been a breath of fresh air this year, however he needs to do more off the ball (making hard yards and pulling in the defence). finally Ian Gough..... for me he is not a better player than Cockbain and Sidoli, he should return to 4th choice selection and let us get an older wiser head in the pack.
For the rest of the side..... 6,7,8 i think are right, i wasn't a popham fan but have been impressed by him this year, charvis would be on the bench for me but never a starter.
Peel is my favourite scrum half his inventiveness when we have the ball is essential, but i think we need to utilise Phillips for 20 minutes a game let him get stuck in at the end of a match(closing the game off, Phillips is the man.
10 should be Jones, for now at least but he is a man who should be feeling nervous with hook's breath on his back.
Hook can stay 12 for now (though would prefer to see Henson there as i feel he has a bit more meat about him than Hook, then hook could play the second half either for Henson of Jones depending on game situation.)
13 is Shanklin all the way for me, he was the spark we missed so much last year.
11 and 14 S.Williams and M.Jones though i am concerned M.Jones has been so quiet (but then we havent had the ball for him).
And lastly 15 Morgan with Alfie on the bench covering 11,14 and 15
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I think wales are playing really rubbish and they should wake up a bit cause the italy game they should have wan and they will have to wake up in the england game come on wales do it for your country
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