Comments on: Phillips & Walker replace Webb & Halfpenny in Wales’ RWC squad

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 10:38:56 +0000

Hmmmm…for a World Cup I think I’d take Halfpenny’s almost guaranteed 3 points from any penalty within the oppposition half, over the relatively faint possibility of scoring from a line-out

World Cup games are on the whole cagey affairs, won and lost by small margins and Halfpenny would have been Wales’ best weapon.

Still no point crying over what might have been,

Biggar is indeed a good kicker but not really tested in the same way that Halfpenny has been and without the same range.

L Williams is a danger at fullback – he runs fantastic lines and personally I’d have had him there anyway with Halfpenny on the wing – but Wales need to hope he’s lost the petulance that can make him a bit of liability.

As for Phillips, well it very much depends which Mike turns up. The one that looks like he’s running through treacle and is vaguely disinterested or the one that plays to every inch and pound of his size and is a constant physical threat around the fringes. As an England fan I’d hope we get the second Mike, but fear we might get the first.

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 10:05:51 +0000

It’s not a case that we aren’t losing out, HP is amazing, but losing him puts us from having one of if not the worlds greatest kicker, to a kicker who is exceptional and still world class (bigger), it brings in Williams which is more aggressive in the position (provided his fitness isn’t an issue). So whilst we lose the magic 3pt guaranteed we gain in other aspects. It will also mean we take less of the lengthier 3pt’s and go for more lineouts which if solid could increase are winning margins (or losing margins) so although painful its still exciting.

Webb again is great, but Philips offers a slower pace but much more experience. I wanted Philips in the squad initially so although it’s not good to lose Webb I see potential in the replacement.

Again it’s a big loss to the world cup, but individual players don’t win this tournament it’s about a squad of players, I’m happy that after losing 2 great players we have a player of Philips quality to call up, and Williams is fit as well allowing us to bring in Walker too, every situation has both upside & downside. The mark of a true fan is supporting the team through it!

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:35:07 +0000

It cracks me up how quickly Welsh fans have swung from despair at loosing their two best players, to “they were never that good”, “the repalcements are far better” and “now we are going to top the pool playing exciting attacking rugby”.

Halfpenny is the best kicker in the world let alone the NH and that is backed up by stats and evidence, not conjecture or hearsay.
Webb was by far the best player in a Welsh shirt in the 6N IMO followed by AWJ who also has injury niggles

Both players are a big loss to the world cup and have weakened the Welsh 1stXV but have especially weakened the squad.

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:29:23 +0000

Williams is fit for game #1 planned to bring him to match fitness ready for England :D

By: Bert

Bert — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 18:40:32 +0000

The webb loss is unfortunate, but as a very keen pro 12 fan I can tell all you “fans” Biggar is the best kicker in the NH. He’s kicked under huge pressure(v leinster) and his accuracy is undeniable. Plus what we gain in Liam Williams is more than a fiar replacement, he makes other teams look pathetic week in week out. Its sad HP is out but I prefer the replacement. As for Webb, discarding Davies’ nightmare last season(injuries and bans) he was the superior SH in league play, Webb won’t be missed for long. Wales to top the group, an England team who lost to france and an Aus team who lose by 30 points stand very little chance.

By: stroudos

stroudos — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 08:24:16 +0000

Ha, love the last bit!

Players often need protecting from themselves. To get to this level, they must have that inbuilt “scrappy-doo” mentality. You very rarely see a concussed player, for example, leaving the pitch voluntarily.

For Halfpenny, it’s not as if he had to play to confirm his place in the squad; he’s the definition of “nailed-on” / first name on the team-sheet.

By: Taliesin

Taliesin — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:13:31 +0000

Quite so!

By: Taliesin

Taliesin — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:11:48 +0000

To all Welsh fans – PLEASE NOTE keep agreeing that Phillips is “rubbish” and always has been. Just to remind you, he’s the huge slow useless guy who was Lions first choice scrum-half for five of the last six tests. Ian McGeechan thinks he’s TERRIBLE (wink wink).

By: Taliesin

Taliesin — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 23:05:59 +0000

Teehee Prophet E – all good stuff, well done. But a load of Baloney all the say

By: Welsh patriot

Welsh patriot — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 20:58:32 +0000

Are you really a Welsh fan? Hard to believe. Your abuse is so nasty. Not in the spirit of the game. Hope non Welsh people don’t get the impression that we are all like you.

By: Blub

Blub — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 17:42:23 +0000

You’re not wrong Stroudos, but I guess some if this comes down to the player himself, on the eve of RWC, perhaps not being fully honest, or fully aware of how bad it could be.

I ruptured mine many years ago, and I remember it went from being a bit achey, to snapping.

That was during a RWC too, although it didn’t affect my involvement strangely. Just got me a better seat in the bar.

By: James

James — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:51:58 +0000

I’m English…..Sorry to hear about your 15, and 9…..very sorry….if we are rugby fans we love watching great players regardless of what colour shirt they have on..Ever time Half penny kicks at an English goal I have to leave the room in a rage over the stupidity of the (normally a prop) idiot who gives him 3 points…. Halfpenny will be a great loss to the Welsh, and world viewers I wish him a speedy recovery. Your 9 was good, far better than Phillips who I have said before is too slow at delivering the ball from set pieces./breakdown, Halfpenny is easily worth 9-12 points every match where silly penalties are punished anywhere within 50m of the goal, your replacement kicker will now have more pressure on him to produce the goods. I am sure that who ever replaces him is no mug, but if I was facing Wales now I would be less worried about the match than I was. I still think England are worthy of a banana skin…..and shudder to think of the grief you Welsh will give us if you and the Aussies get through!!!!!