Six Nations – CodexCaster's Contribution

Rugby Union: Six Nations 2019: Wales vs Ireland

Wales 25 – 7 Ireland

In what was to be Warren Gatland’s last Six Nations game in charge of Wales, his team utterly smashed Ireland to win their third Grand Slam in 11 years under his guidance. No other coach in five/six Nations history has won three Grand Slams. Ireland were rocked early by a Hadleigh Parkes try from an Anscombe chip over the defence and then punished by penalty after penalty. The water-tight Welsh defence only cracked after the full 80 minutes had elapsed and the game was sealed. In this victory, Wales claim their spot as the second best team in the world rankings, behind only the All Blacks.

Wales dominated Ireland so completely, that they never looked like scoring. As a fan I wasn’t really nervous, whenever Ireland did get the ball they gave away penalties or made mistakes that swung momentum back in Wales’ favour, which more often than not added just a few more points to the board through Anscombe’s boot. Not many outside of that Wales team saw this result coming. Wales have relied on a herculean defence all tournament and not really fired in attack. Surely Ireland were going to figure them out, but it never came.

With the forwards unable to win the collisions and provide Murray with quick ball so key to Ireland’s game, Sexton was unbalanced. He was forced into more kicking than he’d like and made uncharacteristic errors. On two or three occasions, huge kicks were straight into touch handing Wales amazing field position. The one attack that Ireland did make was covered brilliantly by a Hadleigh Parkes tackle and they never really threatened after. What was particularly impressive was that Wales never eased, they never looked like the game was in the bag and they played the full 80 minutes. I thought it noteworthy that with Biggar on the field, Gareth Anscombe kept the kicking duties. It will be good for his development to have had that exposure to finishing off a game.

From this, Wales are in an amazing position going in to the World Cup. They have beaten South Africa and Australia and secured the Grand Slam. They have the mentality to endure patches of opposition momentum by trusting their defence and are incredibly patient in attack. They are equally comfortable in attacking through the forwards as they are through the backs. They run the ball from 9 through their patient attack with the forwards, allowing the Fly-Half to sit back and watch for gaps to then call for the pass and attack. With Biggar/Anscombe and Liam Williams/Halfpenny they have the personnel to change the way they play. In the time before the World Cup I would love Wales to work on breaking down defences more and securing their own lineout – two weaknesses so far. As a fan I still can’t get over the potential of this team, they won a Grand Slam but playing pretty poorly for a lot of it.

Against France Wales were gifted two tries through mistakes, they limped past Italy and Scotland. They weathered the storm against an England side who refused to change tactics and kicked them possession all game, and then dominated Ireland. If they can build an attack as effective as their defence, I can see them getting deep in the World Cup. Perhaps even avenging ‘The Red Card of 2011‘ and setting up a World Cup final with the All Blacks.

Those Wales players are professionals in every sense, lead by the mesmeric, talismanic, herculean (yet humble) Alun-Wyn Jones. Huge congratulations to everyone involved. Thanks also to Warren Gatland. The man who took Welsh rugby from a pretty depressing place to where it is today, a global force.

Rugby Union: Six Nations 2019: Wales vs Scotland

Wales 18 – 11 Scotland

There is an old adage in the NFL “Offence wins games, defence wins championships”, that is certainly a good description of Wales this Six Nations. This game also. Wales scored points to be ahead and then waited to see if Scotland would score enough to force Wales to reignite their attack or just contain Scotland and press for victory.

It was clear in the second half that Wales switched off and Scotland roared to life, maybe Wales had one eye on the Grand Slam already and suffered for it. They reverted to their structure and just absorbed Scottish pressure, there was a period of Scottish attack where they lost about 20m just by being hammered backwards. The Scottish try was stunning from a lightning quick inside ball from Finn Russel, an area where Scotland attacked Wales fairly often through the game. It was my personal favourite try of the tournament thus far. It was a shame for Scotland that the damage was done in the first half and striking once wasn’t enough to put them in position to win the game.

Andy Nicol, the Scottish representative on the analyst desk was challenged by Guscott for taking the positives out of the game and I’m inclined to agree with the latter. Scotland do that too much, the bottom line is for all their positives they will finish 5^th in the Six Nations. They have a host of injuries yes, but they also created enough opportunities to beat teams and were too inaccurate to convert them into points. Even Italy managed to score two great tries against England. No one has really been on top form so far and Scotland could have been in a far stronger position heading into their match against England.

This Welsh defence needs a special mention. It’s build around players trusting each other to do their jobs so they don’t swamp the breakdown often leaving 13 players in the defensive line with only a full-back in the back field. The core of this team have been together so long that each man knows the strengths and habits of those outside him. The players get off the floor quickly and are able to get back in line so there is always a red wall. Also the ability of players like North being able to get over the ball and secure turnover means attackers have to stack the ruck to prevent the ball carrier getting isolated. Tipuric and Navidi topped the tackle charts at 24 and 23 respectively, and Wales made something like 200 tackles in the game, showing the herculean effort.

I’m glad that Wales had this defensive test against Scotland, I think it will help them far more than had they stormed to an easy victory. Looking forward to Ireland, they will probably provide the sternest test to Warren Gatland’s red wall. Their forwards are huge and unused to taking backward steps and the backline are far more clinical and effective than Scotland’s. They are a team used to winning the big game and being as strategic as their opponent. I’m fascinated to see who can implement their game plan and how the game will take shape. It really is too close to call and the home crowd demanding a Grand Slam may just be enough to sway me into predicting a Welsh win.

I’m getting excited now, come on Wales!

Rugby Union: Six Nations 2019: Wales vs England

Wales 21 – 13 England

Warren Gatland had said before the game that Wales would be a different animal compared to what we had seen for the first two games. He was correct. The contact and collisions in the game were colossal, to the point that I was genuinely wincing at times. England played well and deserved their half time lead of 10 – 3.

England had two elements to their game plan, the first was to kick early and often allowing Wales possession. The second part was the herculean defensive effort and blitz defensive structure to put pressure on Wales and force them into making mistakes. The plan worked against Ireland and after 40 minutes it appeared to be working against Wales.

Wales were expected to try and get the ball wide, beyond the blitz defence and exploit the gaps out wide, instead they kept the attack within it and with the forwards, powering through drive after drive. In the second half, the English accuracy faltered and the Welsh strategy proved to be successful. The first Welsh try came from a staggering 35 phases of play with the ball going wide only twice. This is not how anyone would expect a Welsh side to play, but they went at England’s strength and beat them at it.

What may have hampered the English kicking game was Liam Williams, the man of the match and specialist Full-Back was imperious in the air and had a tremendous game, looking dangerous all over the field. Dan Biggar, when he came on at 61 minutes also boosted Welsh dominance in that area. After Gareth Davies had a clearance kick charged down in the Welsh 22, Biggar calmly as anything smashed the ball 60m downfield and into touch. Magnificent.

As Wales crept ahead and started to look more comfortable England didn’t change. There was a single moment of danger when Manu Tuilagi sped past Hadleigh Parkes, but he was unsupported and the threat was quickly snuffed out. Aside from that I can’t remember a single other English attack in the second half. I could probably count the number of passes Tuilagi received on one hand.

Wales are becoming a very dangerous side, already they could play the expansive style, but this game showed they have the power and accuracy to dominate up front. Meaning defences can’t be too wide and risk being punished around the ruck, but then can’t overcompensate and leave the wide channels unmarked. Dan Biggar’s stunning cross-kick leading to the final Welsh try, demonstrating that threat.

Just to touch on the debate over who the Welsh Fly-Half should be, Anscombe has a different skillset to Biggar, but there were a few occasions where he wasn’t doing what he normally does. On a couple of penalty or turnover situations he chose to kick first (not as well as Biggar would have) instead of attack the line and bring in runners. If that is what he’s going to do on the field, we may as well have Biggar doing it better. I would pick Anscombe for Scotland, mainly to rest Biggar and give Anscombe more time, as it can’t be bad having two options. Scotland are tired, demoralised and wounded, there may well be a lot of success for a more aggressive 10 and allow him to build confidence.

Gatland has challenged his team to not rest on this English win and push on to do something special in the Six Nations. The Grand-Slam is on, Wales have Scotland in Murrayfield and then face Ireland in Cardiff. They will fear neither of these teams. I expect injury ravaged Scotland to be swept aside, Ireland will be tough but the Cardiff crowd demanding the Grand Slam and a confident Welsh team can’t be stopped.

I’m really looking forward to Alun Wyn Jones, the titanic, herculean captain to lift the trophy in front of the congregation of the cathedral of Welsh rugby.