Things We Learned From The Tour… #1 Gavin Thomas
As part of a series studying what we learnt from the Wales tour to New Zealand, let’s call is a vain attempt at salvaging something from such a pointless trip, we are going to look at things that we ‘learnt’ from the tour.
To be honest in most cases we knew them already and things will have simply been reinforced by this tour. But we may as well get something to talk about after such an abject showing.
Gavin Thomas
The most obvious thing that we can ‘learn’ from this tour, for me anyway, is that Gavin Thomas is a long, long way from being international class. Yes we could excuse he has been out of the pace of International rugby for a long time. Yes we could excuse that he was up against the best openside flanker in the world, and many would say the best player, and the opposing 10 was a certain Mr Dan Carter.
But when it comes down to it he was not only poor compared to the opposition, he was poor end of story. When he got sin binned in the last 10 minutes, along with the New Zealander, I was more than happy to trade him for one of theirs.
Lack of Depth
The complete lack of depth in certain positions was highlighted elsewhere, and something we will cover further into the series. But this showed that our 3rd choice 7, behind the rested Martyn Williams and the injured Sam Warburton, is not only not good enough to take on the best but is in fact a liability to our play.
In contact he either went backwards or was turned over – he lacked any carrying ability like we see from Warburton. In a pack that seemed to be lacking in go forward at times we need a 7 who can match opposing players for physicality, he couldn’t.
Martyn Williams gets away with this by acting as a link man superbly, almost like another 9. He gets everywhere, turns over ball and makes a nuisance of himself. Again we see Gavin Thomas failing to do this.
I don’t like that this is a simple attack on one player, goodness knows that the problems are deeper than playing one openside flanker who is not up to it. And I don’t like laying into one player… but he was such a liability n my eyes he is one of the major things we need to take on board… we can not take on the best in the world carrying players of this level.
A number of Dragons fans tell me he has a fantastic season (and what I have seen he has improved on his showings over the last couple of years). But he isn’t above that. A good flanker for Magners League is an achievement in itself for rugby players, and that is the level Gavin is at. He is not an international level flanker, and we should never see him in a Welsh shirt again.
Please let me know about your thoughts on this in the comments below – or anything else you think we learned from the tour
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1. Mike Phillips is hampering our attacking opportunities. In both tests when he went off (or moved position in the first test) service was quicker from rucks and we looked more threatening. When Phillips plays scrum half the service is usually so slow SJ is left with 2 attacking options. Either run himself or pass to someone else who will have to try and smash through someone as they won’t have time to pass.
2. Stephen Jones needs to be used more sparingly. He’s a brilliant player, but some of his kicking has been suspect. Biggar wasn’t amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but I don’t think it was a coincidence we played our best rugby in 2008 when we were switching half backs all the time (adds variety to our play, which we are seriously lacking),
3. Bradley Davies is nailed on first choice lock – one of the only people in our pack who makes any yardage, the problem is finding a partner. AWJ hasn’t been doing enough for me this season – I’d like to see some of the scarlets locks given a chance.
4. We need to find some options at number 8 fast. I actually think we have less cover for 8 than we do at tight head at the moment, Craig Mitchell seemed to do OK and Yapp/Gethin can hold the fort there. Ryan Jones looks tired and runs into contact ready to flop to the floor. If he gets passed the ball he takes a second to look for a pass, by which time the pass is too late to make so takes contact at a stand still all the time. Either pass it straight away, or run and smash into someone. Don’t do a bit of both.
5. Will Harries should be given more game time, he looks a natural successor to Shane and now Prydie has had some experience we should trial him at full back for some backup for Lee Byrne, who hasn’t been the same since his injury.
Finally, we’ve learnt we have a bright future ahead of us – at one point our backline resembled an U20 squad with Prydie (19), Halfpenny (20?), Jon Davies (20?), Roberts (22/23?), Biggar (20).
Hard to argue with a lot of that, indeed going to cover a lot fo it in future posts – although what Turk 2nd rows could possibly give us the grunt we need?
AWJ is off form, though I think he improved a bit last game, but aside from Evans coming back to form or Gough reversing time I don’t see any of the Welsh 2nd rows giving the grunt needed
Couldn’t disagree more with a large part of what DomZ said sorry.
Mike is the best 9 in Wales, perhaps in the British Isles, he never has a problem with the rapidness of his delivery in an Ospreys shirt – when the back row is getting eaten alive, quick ball is never likely to happen. I agree it frustrates when he takes a step, but he’s head and shoulders the best we have.
I think AWJ and Bradley have the ideal mix of grunt and finesse – yes AWJ looks a bit tired, but he’s been playing rugby non-stop for two years really, Ryan also looks tired, but he’s been carrying the load for the Ospreys all year, so it’s hardly surprising.
I wish the same could be said for Stephen Jones – his goal kicking is beyond reproach these days, but he’s carried on his tendency towards brainless tactical kicking that he started in the 6N – Im starting to think he’s finally losing it.
Agree about Harries – he really looks the part, and Jon Davies gave a good account of himself, though I think Tovey might be a better option for Byrne’s understudy than Prydie. I also don’t think Byrne is a worse player since his injury, but his decision making at times is baffling – he backs himself too much and it costs us.
I can’t believe I was so agreeing. Need to go back over what was said but in teh light of day
1) Stephen jones is still far and away our best 10
2) Mike Phillips lack of speed in delivery is in part a lack of his speed in delivery, but in a big part it is a direct consequence of our tactics at the breakdown leaving him to use his own strength to fight off opponents when other 9′s get more protection
3) I can’t think of any lock in Wales I would rather be alongside Bradley than AWJ, a fit and on form Evans (possibly) aside.
@Josh – disagree about Jon Davies. Was the most clueless in attack (not just counting that awful work for the missed opportunity). Defensively held his ground, though his understanding of picking up angled runs was, imo, not there – though to be fair that is something that comes form game time with those around you.