It was a bleak day for me rugbywise. I did not see the Ireland match but winning by 18 points is two points shy of my tout. I heard that Italy took their chances like Wales took theirs. In other words, the chances were there for the taking but were not taken.
Wales simply played poorly in a bizarre match that found me thinking Warren Gatland is a fool and Alun W-Jones should have been red carded and allow England to score 138 points which is something like 8 times the number of points England scored when Jones was sitting in his cubicle watching the match.
17 points, yes, 17 points is what England scored while Jones was vacationing.
It doesn't happen that often in international matches that the team up a man scores two trys and a penalty.
I am flummoxed at the thought of this Welsh side that was simply ordinary.
Cooper the scrumhalf, despite his two breaks, was a liability with his slow ball.
Luke Charteris was not even an impact player.
Tom James should be banished along with Cooper and most probably Alun W-Jones.
Those three decisions are just routine.
James Hook looked awkward at outside centre but managed to see Tim Payne opposite him and went for the glory and got it.
Hook's kicking was shameful.
And, my favorite hunchback, Stephen Jones , well, erred in his pass to Armitage. The Wales guys wear red, not white, Stephen.
Call it what you will but between bad bounces, tripping players, dropping passes, throwing passes to nobody, kicking directly to the opposition, losing lineouts in buckets, well, there is a very good reason that Wales lost.
The problem with England is that it was a close game despite the above failings.
Duly noted.
Wales will be looking down and England will be ecstatic. Who cares how they won?
rugbycan.com
http://rugbycan.com/public_html//article.php?story=20100206190109624