General Chat

WARREN GATLAND ANNOUNCES AN UNCHANGED TEAM

THIS IS WALES' STARTING LINE-UP TO FACE IRELAND

Backs:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Liam Williams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb

Forwards:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Scott Baldwin
3. Samson Lee
4. Luke Charteris
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (Captain)
8.Taulupe Faletau

Replacements:
16. Richard Hibbard
17. Rob Evans
18. Aaron Jarvis
19. Jake Ball
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Mike Phillips
22. Rhys Priestland
23. Scott Williams


FANTASTIC TEAM <3


WALES v IRELAND
Millennium Stadium

KICK - OFF 2-30pm


LIVE ON BBC1 ...AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D :-D :-D

We'll keep a welcome in the hillside
We'll keep a welcome in the Vales
This land you knew will still be singing
When you come home again to Wales

:-D :-D :-D :-D <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

There you go Blod ..... STEREO! <3

We'll keep a welcome in the hillside
We'll keep a welcome in the Vales
This land you knew will still be singing
When you come home again to Wales

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D <3 <3

AFTER THEIR FANTASTIC WIN AGAINST FRANCE ...

..... WALES IS RIDING HIGH!

Hopefully the confidence gained from winning their last two matches will help buoy them up to face IRELAND this Saturday.

This will be no mean feat, as Ireland are the reigning Six Nations Champions, and top of the table at present, having not lost a match YET!


Ireland are a very strong team, and under the direction of Head Coach, Joe Schmidt, Ireland have learned to tailor their game to defeat the team they are playing!

NO ONE DIMENSIONAL PLAYING STYLE FOR IRELAND!
They have a PLAN A, B, C, D and E ;-)



BUT WALES CAN BEAT THEM!

We have some amazing players, and in the last two games, we have seen the game develop in many areas particularly the AERIAL PLAY.


And with our INTREPID CAPTAIN, SAM WARBURTON and our equally fearless, outstanding FLY-HALF, DAN BIGGAR pronounced FIT FOR SELECTION....
.......NOT TO MENTION THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN BOOTS... OUR VERY OWN LEIGH HALFPENNY <3

WE TOO HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM OF PLAYERS:-)


AND WE HAVE "THE EXTRA MAN"...
.......Our loyal supporters at Wales' Home Ground -The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff! :-)



WALES<3 v IRELAND
Saturday, March 14th ... KICK OFF 2.30pm

Courtesy of WalesOnline Sport....

......When Shane met Sam... Watch Wales' record try-scorer grill the nation's current captain

FORMER WALES INTERNATIONAL SHANE WILLIAMS
INTERVIEWS WALES CAPTAIN, SAM WARBURTON

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/shane-met-sam-wales-legend-8793224?ICID=FB-Wales-rugby


YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES FOR THE VIDEO TO LOAD!

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEKEND's SIX NATIONS GAMES?

Or would you just like to watch them again?

ROUND 3 MATCHES
AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ;-) ;-) :-D



SCOTLAND v ITALY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXHPT2wbSgQ



FRANCE v WALES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtw0iI_BmSU


IRELAND v ENGLAND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RstQthp9hlg


ENJOY :-) :-) :-)

JONATHAN

S4C (Channel 4 Wales)

Hosted by JONATHAN DAVIES
former Wales International Rugby Union Player, BBC Sports Commentator, TV Presenter.

Jonathan is an entertaining and funny Rugby Orientated Chat Show.

Jonathan's Co-Presenters are

NIGEL OWENS
Arguably the Best Rugby Union Referee in the world; TV Presenter, Stand-Up Comedian.

SARRA ELGAN
Actress, Singer, Sports Interviewer, TV Presenter

Sarra is married to SIMON EASTERBY.

Simon who played rugby and coached for the Scarlets (Llanelli, South Wales based club) and was a Former Ireland International Rugby Union Player.
Simon is now the Forwards Coach for Ireland.


JONATHAN (aired February 28th)

The show started this week with a funny story about NIGEL OWENS.

Jonathan called him "Ffrind Gorau Ryanair (Ryanair's Best Friend) :-D


Nigel Owens was on his way to referee a club match in Ireland the previous weekend, when he realised that HE DID NOT HAVE HIS PASSPORT :-0 :-0

Normally, his ID CARD would suffice... BUT NOT THIS TIME!"


IN HIS HORRORS, AND PANICKING, NIGEL TWEETED THE FOLLOWING!

"Nightmare. Have to drive home from Bristol Airport to get my passport cos @Ryanair won't take ID like @Aerlingus. HOLD KICK OFF LEINSTER"! :-| :-| :-|

Nigel said "I was on my way back to get my passport. It was doubtful that I would get back in time to catch the next flight, when Aerlingus got in touch, saying that they would put me on the next return flight from CARDIFF".

I BET OUR NIGE WAS RELIEVED :-D :-D :-D


FFRIND GORAU AERLINGUS you should have said Jonathan!

:-D :-D :-D

IT'S 5 YEARS SINCE FRANCE HAVE BEATEN WALES...

.... so they needed to regain some Self-Respect !!!

Is this the reason why, despite losing 20-13 to Wales in last Saturday's Six Nations Game, that the host broadcaster chose MORGAN PARRA as Man of the Match??? :-S :-S



WHO DID SCRUM V's AUDIENCE (#RantBox) CHOOSE?

Most chose JAMIE ROBERTS
...for his "Powerful Performance both in defence and attack", said one Wales fan.
"Every time he got the ball he was getting it over the gainline" said another.

Another Wales fan chose ALUN-WYN JONES
..."for the simple reason that HE TAKES NO NONSENSE, and he's always 100%. Wales would be a much worse team without him".


BUT THE FUNNIEST PERSON INTERVIEWED WAS A FRENCHMAN :-D :-D

David (pronounced DAAVEED) is from Paris, but now lives in NEWPORT. He was in the Scrum V studio dressed in his Les Bleus strip!

This is what he had to say....

"THE MAN OF THE MATCH IS NOT FRENCH!!!! :-0" He vehemently protested!

Then addressing his French team and management he admonished...
"YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY RUGBY!.... GO BACK TO SCHOOL!...

..... SAINT-ANDRE (France's Head Coach) WE DON'T NEED YOU! GET SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THE JOB!" :-| :-| :-|


Then David announced.... "DAN BIGGAR (Wales' Fly Half) GREAT JOB!"

:-D :-D :-D

SCRUM V SIX NATION SPECIAL

SEAN'S SPOTLIGHT:

What was Sports Analyst Sean Holley's opinion of Wales' performance against France last Saturday?


"WALES HAD PLENTY OF X FACTOR!

He said " JAMIE ROBERTS was at his"THUNDEROUS BEST!"
Jamie had 11 "BARNSTORMING CARRIES", and working in harmony with Centre Partner JONATHAN DAVIES "set the tone" for the French defence.


He said that the LINE-OUT functioned a lot better.
"ALUN-WYN JONES showed UTTER CLASS and LEADERSHIP HERE"


"Wales used the Driving Maul top give the French a taste of their own medicine.
A POTENT WEAPON IN OBTAINING MODERN DAY PENALTIES ... so that DEADEYE LEIGH HALFPENNY CAN KEEP THE SCOREBOARD TICKING OVER" said Holley.


Regarding Gatland's choice of players he declared "GATLAND's SELECTION PROVED INSPIRED!"


Also coming in for Praise were RHYS WEBB and DAN BIGGAR.
The combined efforts of PAUL JAMES and RICHARD HIBBARD working "in tandem" with SAMSON LEE to pressure the French tighthead, was also commended.


ALL IN ALL WALES LOOKS IN GOOD SHAPE! :-) :-) :-)

WE NEED TO BE... IT'S IRELAND NEXT! :-0 :-0 :-0


Next Saturday, March 14th

WALES<3 v IRELAND
Kick-Off 2-30pm


LIVE ON BBC1 ... and RADIO JEM ;-) :-D

DRAMATIC FINISH LAST NIGHT!


CARDIFF BLUES BEAT IRISH SIDE CONNACHT BY 1 POINT...

.... ON 88.3 MINUTES!!!! :-) :-) :-)


Over 10 minutes of ball possession and relentless attack by the Blues ... the CLOCK HAD TURNED RED 8 MINUTES BEFORE....
......and Cardiff's JOAQUIN TUCULET crosses the Tryline!


The conversion by RHYS PATCHELL ....you could see the perspiration running down his face, such was the intensity of the moment...
.... TURNED DEFEAT INTO A WIN FOR CARDIFF BLUES!

CARDIFF BLUES 18 ~ CONNACHT 17

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31751359

SCRUM V's SIX NATIONS SPECIAL

Following each round of Six Nations' matches, BBC 2 Wales's Scrum V has a "Six Nations Special".

Presenter JASON MOHAMMAD and a panel of Rugby Personalities review the week's games.


On the panel following Round 3's games were

MARTYN WILLIAMS
Wales Rugby Union Flanker 1996-2012; Lions 2001, 2004,2009

GARETH THOMAS
Wales Rugby Union -1995 - 2007; Lions 2005; Wales Rugby League 2010
Celebrity Big Brother 2012; Dancing On Ice Contestant 2013

GWYN JONES
Wales Rugby Union Flanker / Captain- 1996-1997; Rugby Critic; Doctor
Gwyn suffered a serious spinal injury, which ended his playing career prematurely.



Jason Mohammad discusses Wales' performance with the Panel following Wales' win against France.
"A VERY DIFFERENT WALES!" Jason declares!

MARTYN WILLIAMS-
"Every one of the pack were OUTSTANDING, particularly the FRONT FIVE!...
They stopped the Driving French Maul.. the scrum was solid.
HATS OFF TO THEM- A FULLY DESERVED WIN!"

Martyn went on to sum up what he thought of the two teams-
"Two teams- One Well Organised, Well Drilled, Well Coached...
...The Other JUST DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THEY WERE DOING REALLY!"



Jason declares "Let's not underestimate what sort of an achievement this is! Four consecutive wins (against France)... AN HISTORIC MOMENT!"

GWYN JONES-
"ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT THE 70s DIDN'T MANAGE , put's it into context ... A VICTORY TO BE CHERISHED!"

Gwyn went on to commend Wales and Hooker Scott Baldwin's Line-Out performance, the way they chopped and changed it successfully.
The Line-Out was "....used to DRIVE, GET PENALTIES and CONTROL THE GAME"



Jason asked Gareth- "In the context of the 80 minutes- it was just a GUTSY PERFORMANCE wasn't it?!"

GARETH THOMAS-
Gareth agreed. He praised Midfielder JAMIE ROBERTS as IMMENSE. "Jamie bought Wales a lot of time to clear our lines and for us to be able to play..... Running a bit harder and gave us the edge".



PANEL DISCUSS LUKE CHARTERIS

Jason said
"HE WAS A FANTASTIC COMPONENT IN THAT PACK!.... A REAL NUISANCE!"
.... "Warren Gatland got his selection absolutely BANG ON!"

Martyn talked about Charteris' "10 FOOT ARMS" being a nuisance-
(CHARTERIS IS 6 FOOT 11 INCHES TALL! :-0 :-0)
The panel talked about his long arms giving Charteris the ability to reach over the top of players in a ruck, to catch a very high ball at line out!



THE PANEL ALSO HAD PRAISE FOR WALES' DEFENCE COACH-
SHAUN EDWARDS

Through the coaching of Shaun Edwards, the panel decided, Wales have the "BEST SCRAMBLE DEFENCE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!"
Martyn said "A lesser side would have conceded 2 or 3 Tries!"


If you like rugby, and in are enjoying The Six Nations Championship, look out for SCRUM V SPECIAL'S on BBC2! :-) :-)

WALES DID A FANTASTIC JOB LAST WEEKEND!

WELL DONE MY WALES BOYS <3 ON BEATING THE FRENCH! :-) :-) :-)


So.. How did the Wales Team Management and Players feel after their victory?


WALES HEAD COACH - WARREN GATLAND...

"I thought the boys were OUTSTANDING! The forwards SENSATIONAL! They were under a bit of pressure, but they went out in front! ... They scrummaged and mauled well.
We deserved to win, we played some great rugby!"


DAN BIGGAR
Wales' Fly-Half Dan Biggar, despite having to go off injured, had this to say after the match-

"The boys gave everything! - Sam (Warburton) Toby (Taulupe Falatau)- People just PUTTING THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE - AWESOME TO WATCH!.... Even offensively, our driving maul- Superb... they set the foundation for us to play a little bit!"


SAM WARBURTON
Wales' Captain, also injured during the Wales v France Match said this-

"This French side overturns the Southern Hemisphere teams quite regularly. .. but we have had 4 WINS AGAINST FRANCE IN SUCCESSION!
For us to string four wins together, two in Paris, is VERY SPECIAL!...
....THE HARD WORK PAYED OFF!"


LEIGH HALFPENNY <3
Wales' Full Back and phenomenal Kicker, Leigh Halfpenny, was very emotional before and after the match!

Leigh had tears in his eyes as he belted out the Welsh National Anthem "Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".

Leigh is so proud of being able to play for his country. Despite being little by rugby player standards, he has said that he would "Play in the front line ( of the scrum) IF IT MEANT HE COULD WEAR A WALES SHIRT!"

After the match, he could be seen sobbing in the arms of his girlfriend, so proud he was of his team!

These were his post match words-

"They (France) made it tough for us, but the boys DUG DEEP, especially that last couple of minutes when we had a Line-Out on our line. The character the boys showed to keep them out....

...Just that DESPERATION and the WILL TO WORK FOR EACH OTHER was IMMENSE!... and that's WHAT WE KNEW WE HAD TO BRING!"



BBC TV COMMENTATOR, Former Wales Fly- Half JONATHAN (JIFFY) DAVIES-

"It was a great performance by Wales. A tough place to go and win!
Wales dominated most of the game.... One Try (by Dan Biggar) took them away!
LEIGH HALFPENNY- ONCE AGAIN BRILLIANT!..
..Just deserved to win!"


JONATHAN'S CO-PRESENTER,
Former Ireland and Lions Hooker KEITH WOOD-

"AFRAID TO THINK ABOUT THE WALES GAMES (v Ireland)- Wales were fantastic!

Keith did warn however... " IRELAND are SHARP, ACCURATE- they know their job at the moment!"



SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT GAME! :-) :-) :-)


WALES v IRELAND
Saturday, March 14th ... Kick-Off 2.30pm


LIVE ON BBC1 ... and RADIO JEM ;-) :-D :-D :-D

SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE POSITIONS

Wales beat France 20 ~ 13 last Saturday in an exciting game which moved Wales up the table to third place.

Ireland are now the only team in the Six Nations Championship that have not lost a game so far. This puts them on top with 6 points.


HERE AGAIN IS THE SIX NATIONS TABLE:


IRELAND: .... Played 3; Won 3; Points Difference +40; POINTS 6

ENGLAND: .. Played 3; Won 2; Points Difference +25; POINTS 4

WALES: ....... Played 3; Won 2; Points Difference +5 ; POINTS 4

FRANCE: ...... Played 3; Won 2; Points Difference -7; POINTS 2

ITALY: ........... Played 3; Won 1; Points Difference -50; POINTS 2

SCOTLAND: ...Played 3; Won 0; Points Difference -13; POINTS 0


England and Wales take second and third place respectively.

Although England and Wales have both lost 1 match each, England is ahead of Wales due to "Points Difference".



HOW DOES POINTS DIFFERENCE AFFECT THE POSITIONING?

Each time a team wins a game, they get 2 POINTS.

However, when teams have won and / or lost the same amount of games as each other, and therefore have the same amount of Overall Points, then POINTS DIFFERENCE comes into play.

Points Difference will decide the positioning on the championship table and the eventual winner, when there is a tie.



SO HOW DOES POINTS DIFFERENCE WORK?

When you add up the amount of points each team has accumulated from Tries, Goals etc., and then deduct the amount points that opposing teams have amassed against a particular team, that gives you a Points Difference score.


USING WALES AS AN EXAMPLE...

Wales overall has 4 Points.

Wales has a POINTS DIFFERENCE of ..+(plus)5

This is because Wales scored a total of 62 Points in the three matches Wales have played to date-
16 points against England; 26 points against Scotland; 20 points against France = 62

However England scored 21 points against Wales; Scotland scored 23 points against Wales, and France scored 13 points against Wales.

That makes a total points scored against Wales of 57.

When you take the 57 points scored against Wales away from the 62 points Wales has scored, THAT GIVES WALES A POINTS DIFFERENCE OF + 5


I HOPE THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN WALES PLAY ITALY! ;-) ;-) ;-)



BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO BEAT IRELAND:-0 :-0 :-0


Sat 14 March

WALES v IRELAND 2.30pm ...BBC1 & RADIO JEM ;-) :-D

BREAKING WALES NEWS:

SAM WARBURTON & DAN BIGGAR

HAVE NOW BOTH BEEN PASSED AS FIT FOR SELECTION v IRELAND


:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

THERE ARE NO GAMES THIS WEEKEND

Here are the next fixtures in the 2015 Six Nations Championship

Sat 14 March

WALES v IRELAND 2.30pm
Millennium Stadium

ENGLAND v SCOTLAND 5pm
Twickenham



Sun 15 March

ITALY v FRANCE 3pm
Stadio Olimpico



All Games Live on BBC1 and Radio Jem ;-)

OUR INJURED WALES PLAYERS

Information from WRU Website

WALES MEDICAL UPDATE

2 March 2015
Medical Update:


PAUL JAMES
Paul suffered a fractured thumb and has been ruled out of action for between 4-6 weeks, he has subsequently been released to Bath rugby for ongoing management.


SAM WARBURTON
Sam suffered a contusion to his knee. He will be continued to be monitored by the medical team and will return to training later this week.


DAN BIGGAR
Dan suffered a contusion to his hip. He will be continued to be monitored by the medical team and will also return to training later this week.



ALL ON RADIO JEM WISH OUR INJURED RUGBY PLAYERS A SPEEDY RECOVERY
(whatever national team they may play for) :-) :-) :-)

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015


ROUND 3 RESULTS


IRELAND U20s, 14 ~ ENGLAND U20s, 19

SCOTLAND U20s, 45 ~ ITALY U20s, 0

FRANCE U20s, 27 ~ WALES U20s, 5



UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE


ENGLAND U20s: ..... Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +60; POINTS 4

FRANCE U20s: ........ Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +46; POINTS 4

IRELAND U20s: ....... Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +44; POINTS 4

SCOTLAND U20s: .... Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +6; POINTS 4

WALES U20s: ........... Played 3; Won 1; Lost 2; Points Difference -18; POINTS 2

ITALY U20s:.............. Played 3; Won 0; Lost 3; Points Difference -138; POINTS O

PART 2

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

FRANCE Under 20s v WALES Under 20s

SECOND HALF:

Wales do not start the second half very well. Just a couple of minutes in, France are pushing and pushing forward until they are right under the post. Wales’ defence is sorely tested! France fail to pass through and so go left.

And then they go to the right!

LUCAS BLANC touches the ball down, but the whistle has already gone.
There was a forward pass and so NO TRY! Although actually, I think it came off a players foot!


A Penalty is awarded to France for Wales being OFFSIDE, and RAMOS gets 3/3: FRANCE U20s 13 ~ WALES U20s 5


FRANCE REPLACES
MARTIN DEVERGIE with JEROME JELONCH; JULIAN MARCHAND with CAMILLE CHAT; MICHAEL SIMUTOGA with QUENTIN BETHUNE. INJURED LUCAS MERET with FRANCOIS FONTAIN.

WALES REPLACES JAMES WHITTINGHAM with JOE GAGE; OWEN WATKIN with BARNIE NIGHTINGALE.


At 59 minutes, France’s MACALOU is yet again instrumental in making ground for France.

FRANCE ARE AGAIN ATTACKING THE Wales Tryline.
This time Right Wing ARTHUR BONNEVAL gets it over the Tryline.

The try is converted by RAMOS: FRANCE U20s 20 ~ WALES U20s 5


WALES REPLACES JORDAN VIGGERS with JON FOX; LIAM BELCHER with TORIN MYHILL.


A NASTY FIGHT BREAKS OUT AT 64 MINUTES, INVOLVING MANY PLAYERS.

The ref consults with the TMO.
WALES’ EIGHTMAN HARRI KEDDIE and FRANCE’S 4, TRISTAN LABOUTELEY are called to the ref and it’s a YELLOW CARD APIECE!


FRANCE REPLACES ANTHONY MERIC with GAUTHIER DOUBRERE

WALES REPLACES JOE DAVIES with ADAM BEARD


France nearly get another Try at 66 minutes, and would have had ARTHUR BONNEVAL not slipped!


FRANCE REPLACES LUCAS BLANC with VALENTIN SAURS;
TRIBAULT ESTORGE with RODRIGUE NETI


FRANCE’S ARTHUR BONNEVAL SCORES ANOTHER TRY AT 69 MINUTES.

Sadly, he hits his head badly when he lands the Try, and is being held up by his unaware teammates who are congratulating him. He is looking as if he is drunk!

In line with the HIA PROTOCOL (Head Injury Assessment) he must go off. He is replaced by FABIEN SANCONNIE.


YET ANOTHER CONVERSION BY RAMOS TAKES THE SCORE TO: FRANCE U20s, 27 ~ WALES U20s 5.
THIS EXCELLENT KICKER HAS HAD 100% SUCCESS – 5/5


WALES REPLACES DILLON LEWIS with ALEX JEFFRIES.

THE YELLOW CARDED PLAYERS COME BACK ON, MAKING THE TEAMS 15 PLAYERS AGAIN!


WALES ARE NOW PLAYING WELL, BUT IT’S TOO LATE NOW SADLY!
They are pushing for a CONSOLATION TRY.

A great run by ALEX JEFFRIES, who makes good ground but passes badly to BARNIE NIGHTINGALE and this opportunity has passed.

Wales fight on in the dying minutes of this game. They are pushing forward and are nearing the France Tryline. But France gain possession and kick to safety, to a watching Mark Taylor’s dismay!


THE CLOCK GOES RED ... THE BALL IS KNOCKED-ON ... AND IT’S ALL OVER!

FINAL SCORE:
FRANCE U20s 27 ~ WALES U20s 5

PART 1

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

FRANCE Under 20s v WALES Under 20s

The defending Grand Slam Champions - France Under 20s, have beaten Wales Under 20s at Stade Jules Ribert, St. Gaudens, France, 27-5!


THE TEAMS:

WALES U20s
Backs:
15. James Whittingham; 14. Joshua Adam; 13. Owen Watkin;12.Garyn Smith;
11. Joe Thomas; 10. Jarrod Evans; 9. Tom Williams

Forwards:
1. Luke Garrett; 2. Liam Belcher; 3. Dillon Lewis; 4. Joe Davies; 5. Rory Thornton (Captain);
6. Jordan Viggers ; 7.Ollie Griffiths; 8.Harrison Keddie

Replacements:
16. Torin Myhill; 17. Keagan Bale; 18. Alex Jeffries; 19. Adam Beard; 20. Jon Fox;
21. Kieran Hardy; 22. Joe Gage; 23. Barney Nightingale


FRANCE Under 20s
Backs:
15. Thomas Ramos; 14. Arthur Bonneval; 13. Elliot Roudil; 12. Damien Penaud;
11. Lucas Blanc; 10. Lucas Meret; 9. Anthony Meric

Forwards:
1. Thibault Estorge; 2. Julian Marchand; Michael Simutoga; 4. Tristan Labouteley;
5. Julien Delannoy; 6. Sekou Macalou; 7. Lucas Bachelier; 8. Martin Devergie

Replacements:
16. Camille Chat; 17. Rodigue Neti; 18. Quentin Bethune; 19. Fabien Sanconnie;
20. Jerome Jelonch; 21. Gauthier Doubrere; 22. Francois Fontaine; 23. Valentin Saurs



WALES U20s FIRST MATCHES:

After a very promising start to their Six Nations Tournament, when The Wales U20s team beat England Under 20s by 21 to 15, in a tremendously exciting game, Wales Under 20s have not played nearly so well.

Beating England U20s was no mean feat, as they (England) have won four Six Nations titles (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013) and two Junior World Championship titles (2013, 2014).

In the Round 2 match against Scotland, despite out-scoring the Scottish team 5 Tries to 3,Wales' young players gave away penalty after penalty, eventually losing 36-34.

Wales U20s needed to beat France to keep their Six Nations Championship dream alive this year. Sadly, this did not happen.


THE MATCH:

It was good to see WALES U20s FORMER CAPTAIN, STEFFAN HUGHES, being interviewed pitchside, and then assisting with the Welsh Commentary throughout the match.


The Teams emerged on the pitch, and stood ready for the singing of the anthems.
Wales voices were thin on the ground, but the French, being in their own stadium full of fans did not have the same problem. There was no music to help the Welsh out either BUT ....
....behind the teams stood a group of Frenchmen dressed some kind of ANCIENT WHITE COSTUMES, with bright RED WAIST SASHES and NECKTIES. Completing their outfits were BROWN CAPES and BERETS. :-S :-S :-S :-S ....

...... THEY WERE THE BACKING GROUP!:-D :-D :-D :-D

They sang both the Welsh Anthem (hard for us Welsh if we are not Welsh Speaking) and then their own French Anthems. It did tickle me! :-D :-D



RORY THORNTON, missing from the teams last game, returned this weekend as Captain.


Wales U20s Full Back, JAMES WHITTINGHAM, kicked off to start the match.
No DAFYDD HOWELLS in the 15 shirt today!!:-S
Dafydd is one of my favourites in the Young Wales Squad.


From the beginning France U20s were very strong, but it was relatively even for much of the first half.

It was not long before the soaking wet pitch was like a mud bath, and the ball soon became as slippery as the ground. Many scrums had to be moved because of this problem.


Ten minutes into the game and a Try was averted by Wales-
France break loose following a scrum. They are on the attack and gaining ground.
France’s 12, DAMIEN PENAUD, passes to Full Back THOMAS RAMOS, who kicks forward. Penaud is chasing it and almost on the Tryline.
Wales’ Wingers, JOSH ADAMS and JOE THOMAS are in hot pursuit. It’s a battle for who gets there first.
But Joe Thomas gets there a split second before Penaud and saves an early Try for France.


18 minutes, France U20s get their first TRY.

This begins with a turnover ball by France, leading eventually to a great run by France’s Flanker SEKOU MACALOU (6).
WATCH OUT FOR THIS YOUNG MAN IN FUTURE FRANCE SENIOR RUGBY UNION!
Macalou dummies and makes his way to Wales’ 5m Line, by-passing at least 4 Wales players. He is eventually brought down when more Wales players arrive!.

Macalou gets the ball away to his Scrum Half ANTHONY MERIC, who passes to Fly Half LUCAS MERET. He kicks forward left...
.......STRAIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF LEFT WING LUCAS BLANC, who is waiting on the Tryline, and DOWN IT GOES.

A WIDE ANGLED CONVERSION BY FULL BACK (15)THOMAS RAMOS.

FRANCE U20s 7 ~ WALES U20s 0


Toward the end of the first half, the Pitchside Interviewer speaks to Wales Team Manager MARK TAYLOR about his team’s performance.

Mark said “It’s tough. We are struggling to get out of our territory...we need to get a FOOT IN THE GAME , get POSSESSION, go through the PHASES and get our EXIT STRATEGY working..... at the moment we can’t seem to relieve the pressure”



28 minutes sees the start of some hope for Wales.

Wales have possession and are pushing their way forward.
Wales’ Hooker, LIAM BELCHER passes to Right Wing JOSH ADAMS.
Josh is pushed out by Macalou, but manages to kick the ball forward toward the 5m line first.

Four French players are chasing the ball... and behind them runs Wales’ Scrum Half (9) TOM WILLIAMS
The French fumble to get the ball and as it bounces up over the line, TOM WILLIAMS IS THERE AND KNOCKS IT DOWN. It happens so fast, that if he hadn’t put his hand up, you would not know he had done this.

It goes to the TMO.... and a TRY IS AWARDED TO WALES!


JARROD EVANS takes the conversion, but unfortunately it goes right. The bad ground conditions certainly does not help!
AGAIN WE SEEM TO BE MISSING A KEY PLAYER.. WHERE WAS DAN JONES, Wales Unders usual Fly-Half Kicker?:-S :-S :-S


Nearing the end of the first half and Wales concede a penalty for NOT DRIVING STRAIGHT.

This gives the French another 3 points as the expert boot of France’s THOMAS RAMOS kicks the ball through the post!


HALF TIME SCORE: FRANCE U20s 10~ WALES U20s 5

WOMEN'S RUGBY UNION SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

Alongside the Six Nations Championship, run two other Championships-
The Under 20s Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship.


THE WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS

WALES WOMEN have lost their 100% record, when they lost against FRANCE WOMEN 28 - 7 in Round 3 of their Championship at the weekend!

Despite coming away with earlier big victories - beating England Women 13 - 0 in Round 1, and Scotland Women 39-3 in Round 2, Wales Women were outplayed by France Women last Friday!

They only points on Wales' Scoreboard were from a PENALTY TRY awarded to them by the Referee which was converted by LAURIE HARRIES.

Wales Women now slip into 2nd place in the Championship, with unbeaten France Women on the top of the table.



WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 3 Results:

IRELAND WOMEN 11 ~ENGLAND WOMEN 8

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/27/england-women-ireland-six-nations-match-report



FRANCE WOMEN 28 ~ WALES WOMEN 7

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31628800



SCOTLAND WOMEN 8 ~ ITALY WOMEN 31

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31674060




WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS TABLE

FRANCE: ...... Played 3; Won 3; Lost 0; Points Difference +68; POINTS 6

WALES: ........ Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +28; POINTS 4

IRELAND: ..... Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Points Difference +23; POINTS 4

ENGLAND: ... Played 3; Won 1; Lost 2; Points Difference +16; POINTS 2

ITALY: ........... Played 3; Won 1; Lost 2; Points Difference -34; POINTS 2

SCOTLAND:.. Played 3; Won 0; Lost 3; Points Difference -101; POINTS 0