Welsh Rugby Union
Zippy's Player Ratings - Scotland vs Wales
By Zippy
February 12 2007
Player ratings for the Wales 21 - 9 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday in the second of this seasons RBS 6 nations games, for details read on.
15. K Morgan (4) - Not the game he had against Ireland but looking a more reliable last line in the tackle. Another injury but hopefully nothing serious.
14. M Jones (6) - How the team were not inspired by his bone crunching hits I'll never know, why we don't give him more of the ball is another mystery.
13. J Robinson (3) - Impressive defensive display that was completely overshadowed by his attacking performance summed up by his "pass" to Mark Jones. Going to be dropped.
12. J Hook (3) - The wonderboys performance might be due to the performance of Jones inside him but didn't spark Wales into action, some awful kicking as well. Went off at half time.
11. C Czekaj (2) - Made 5 errors which is criminal for a wing, looks like he has no confidence whatsoever so why he is in the international side is beyond me. Leave him get some confidence playing for Cardiff.
10. S Jones (2) - Has been suggested that the captains armband is putting to much pressure on this usually relaxed individual, I tend to agree after he has put in 2 shocking performances.
9. D Peel (5) - Had no platform at all to make breaks but managed to make one all the same, unfair to judge him based on the toothless forward effort.
8. R Jones (2) - Carried ineffectively and got isolated, not in the game at all and performance summed up by his run out from his 22, useless.
7. M Williams (6) - Impressive work rate and I'll join the bandwagon in asking why he was taken off. Wales are playing a brand of rugby that doesn't suit his attacking style but he still played well.
6. A Popham (6) - Carried into brick walls but why was he doing that instead of attacking space? Great defensive effort and a nuisance for the opposition.
5. R Sidoli (2) - Part of a front five that completely failed, his line out work was shocking, compare this to the hungary Sidoli of years gone by brawling with O'Connell in 2005 and inspiring the Welsh pack in the dark days of 2003, what has happened?
4. AW Jones (5) - Young gun who does not shy away from hard work and put the tackles in, will hopefully have better days in a Welsh shirt cause he deserves it.
3. A Jones (2) - After this performance combined with the performances against NZ and the 2nd test he has proved that he is not the rock in the scrum that we need. Tackled ok but just doesn't look up for the fight.
2. R Thomas (2) - Part of a scrum that was battered, line out faultered and got sin binned, not a great day at the office.
1. D Jones (2) - Gone from player of the year last year to a set piece liability this season, not sure what has happened to him?
Subs of note:
Shanklin - Had 40mins and don't think he was fully fit so not going to pass comment.
Scotland Stars:
Front row - played above themselves and paved the way for the win
Simon Taylor - showed what a player he might have been had injury not ravaged his career.
Overall Comments:
Mindless rugby.
Wales have gone from being one of the best attacking sides in the world to a side that haven't scored a try for 160minutes of rugby and not looking like scoring one.
Gareth Jenkins coached a Llanelli side that played their best rugby when the forwards played well and he seems to have forgotten that and the effort at the scrum would have caused him to be left red faced.
Essentially the Wales game plan consists of sending forwards up the middle but we don't have South African forwards so that is a non starter, we need to use the likes of Popham, R Jones and AW Jones to run at space and there is then the opportunity for Martyn Williams to get into the game.
This also means we are crossing the gain line and should give the backs opportunity to run at space and cause damage and excite the Welsh public, we can take losing if we play well and have a go, this wasn't in evidence on Saturday.
I was part of 30,000 Welsh fans in a silent Murrayfield on Saturday and was disgusted at what was the worst international rugby match I have witnessed.
Back to the drawing board Gyppo, remember we're Welsh...............
Match Summary:
Scotland (9) 21
Pens: Paterson (7)
Wales (6) 9
Pens: S Jones (3)
Scotland: Southwell, Lamont, Di Rollo, Dewey, Paterson, Godman, Cusiter, Kerr, Hall, E. Murray, Hamilton, S. Murray, Taylor, Brown, Callam.
Replacements: Walker for Lamont (69), Webster for Godman (69), Lawson for Cusiter (74), Jacobsen for Kerr (55), Ford for Hall (67), Hines for Hamilton (49), Hogg for Brown (55).
Wales: Morgan, M. Jones, Robinson, Hook, Czekaj, S. Jones, Peel, D. Jones, R. Thomas, A. Jones, Sidoli, A. Jones, Popham, Williams, R. Jones.
Replacements: Sweeney for Morgan (45), Shanklin for Hook (41), Rees for D. Jones (58), Jenkins for A. Jones (75), Gough for Sidoli (52), J. Thomas for Williams (67). Not Used: Phillips.
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