Wales down Poms

Wales down Poms

Wales produced a strong defensive display which was central in their 19-9 victory over England in Cardiff.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland made a strong statement following his team’s poor showing in a 23-19 defeat to England in London last weekend. The Kiwi said he would rule out Wales’ World Cup hopes if they couldn’t beat England in their own backyard. And his players stepped up on this occasion.

England had the territorial advantage at the Millennium Stadium, but they could show nothing for it as they scored no points after 11 visits to the hosts’ red zone. What will concern Martin Johnson even more is that his team had a one-man advantage for 20 minutes in the second half after outside centre Jamie Roberts and scrumhalf Mike Phillips were sent to the sin bin for infringements at the breakdown.

While the visitors will be disappointed with a dire attacking effort, Wales must be credited for their defence. They made over 120 tackles and only missed four. The Welsh forwards also out-muscled their English counterparts up front for most parts of the match while they also forced numerous turnovers at the breakdown. England’s dominance at the scrums and lineouts created some momentum, but an errant display, especially at the death, allowed Wales to steal the ascendancy and seal the victory in the last quarter.

Pivots Toby Flood and Rhys Priestland traded penalties for a 6-6 scoreline at the break. England should’ve been ahead, but they turned down four kickable penlaties to pursue the try.

Wales had a poor start to the second half after Roberts was sin binned in the opening minutes while Flood edged his team ahead from the resulting penalty. But it was all Wales for the rest of the half, with James Hook starring for his team with a converted try and two penalties to clinch the win.


41 Comments

  • 1.Sombok: Reply to this comment

    Wales red dragons might pip boks in pool match

  • 2.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Why the hell were comments closed on the match thread! Come on you plonkers

  • 3.Michael: Reply to this comment

    ****. knock-on on the tryline

  • 4.chch: Reply to this comment

    Sore loser Keo locks the thread early?

  • 5.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Sharpe causing Matfield problems again

  • 6.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    Right, who broke it?

  • 7.Michael: Reply to this comment

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-6: Vrede dancing again ;-)

  • 8.chch: Reply to this comment

    haha, locked again as the Boks go behind

  • 9.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Italian ‘roids working big time for the Spies!

    Order of events; arrives in Italy and in lance Armstrong style gets the juice and then gets a groin injury(rumoured to be climbing the Tower), then back in SA to ‘rest’ in Rustyberg then weeks later arrives in Durban and looks like Superman.

    What an effin joke as the effects last but the traces are long go.

  • 10.chch: Reply to this comment

    These teams are going to have fun in NZ if they can not play in the rain

  • 11.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    Sorry guys. I’ll have it up and running in a moment. Just need to finnish transferring all the keo dollars to my underground bank vault.

  • 12.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Even if the ‘Boks win from here onwards there will be only HUGE concerns for the RWC.

  • 13.chch: Reply to this comment

    Keo will open the thread again if South Africa get back in front

  • 14.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    @ET.(ET.)-9: You ignorant k.nob, he’s always looked like Superman. But I guess it’s hard to see that with your head up your ******.

  • 15.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Turbo reverse scrum in 5th gear

  • 16.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Smit was playing ok but Bismark is awesome. Jannie should have stayed on and Smit taken off. This penalty is a direct result.

  • 17.ET.: Reply to this comment

    No John Smut but the Wallas run the ‘Bok scrum backwards? And the best scrumming machine awaits then next week if only at 75% effectiveness with their absentees.

  • 18.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Bring on JDJ for goodness sake.

  • 19.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Effin throw-in was not straight, ref.

  • 20.chch: Reply to this comment

    Is the the record yet for the longest ever northern hemisphere thread on Keo?

  • 21.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    @chch(chch)-20: No, there was a Saracens thread once with over 50 comments.

  • 22.Treehugger: Reply to this comment

    @chch(chch)-20: lol

  • 23.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    Fokkendanie. One for the highlights reel.

  • 24.chch: Reply to this comment

    Entertaining game that. Could have gone either way. handling needs to improve.

  • 25.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Danie you plank!

  • 26.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Total mental disintergration from this point onwards.

    The irony of it all is that the Wallabies did not even play their best type of game with all their mistakes and other errors.

  • 27.Michael: Reply to this comment

    Brussouw should have stayed on. bismark should have replaced Smit and Danie is no flank anymore.

  • 28.Michael: Reply to this comment

    We also needed JDJ in the final 15.

  • 29.Treehugger: Reply to this comment

    This is difficult, but, well done Aussies you were better that us.

    BUT we were a lot better than some expected and will get even better and peak at the right time,

  • 30.lawsy25: Reply to this comment

    My god, SA are rubbish!! Russo is the softest Bok forward i’ve ever seen.

  • 31.Treehugger: Reply to this comment

    Oh and I blame Keo for our loss, he closed the game thread and that jinxed us. :twisted:

  • 32.Hondo: Reply to this comment

    I should have listen yo my bookie,,, he said the Wallabies by 5 to 8

  • 33.Treehugger: Reply to this comment

    @lawsy25(lawsy25)-30: you are one unpleasant kiwi, its a pity because all the kiwis that blog here are nice guys with character.

  • 34.lawsy25: Reply to this comment

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-33:

    Touchey!!!

    Mate, face the facts. the Boks are very poor!
    You have no idea who I am, but I bet you’re one angry South African right now??

  • 35.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Is the ExtraTerrestrial ever wrong in how he perceives the game to unfold?

    I cannot help it as it is an alien gift.

    I told you half-time about not enough OXYGEN despite the juiced Spies thinking about Superman.

    I told you twice aboutthe burst bubbles and now I tell you all about the tears in HELL.
    Enjoy.

  • 36.ET.: Reply to this comment

    Die trane die rol vir jou ‘BOKKE!

    Maar die son en die maan moet nog lank wag om onder te gaan.

  • 37.Treehugger: Reply to this comment

    @lawsy25(lawsy25)-34: LOL why would i be angry, havent a clue who you are, does it matter, but i know more than you, you are male, but me i am no mate i am what you call a Sheila. :lol:

  • 38.chch: Reply to this comment

    @lawsy25(lawsy25)-30:

    your just trolling

  • 39.TheTackler: Reply to this comment

    Wales will beat SA at RWC. So will Samoa.

    Home, Butch James, and don’t spare the horses.

  • 40.whatever: Reply to this comment

    @TheTackler(TheTackler)-39:

    Copy and paste for 6 weeks time should we?

  • 41.cab: Reply to this comment

    this was one of the craziest games of rugby ive ever seen, no way in hell wales deserved to win this one, whatever they might say, they were camped in their 22 for 80% of the game.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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