Wales were missing Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Sam Warburton and Talupe Faletau from their starting line up, almost all ruled out of the entire campagin. Thatâs 8 of their best players, an injury list of unprecedented proportions.
Wales were very hard done by over the game. French referee constantly allowing England to stop the game, get away with lazy runners. The Welsh are some whingers though when they lose. Itâll make a change anyway not having an Irish referee to blame for their loss at Twickenham like in 1974 and 1980.
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They always have issues with injuries. Itâs been a constant since Gatland was there
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True to an extent. The irony with Wales though this season is theyâve been trying to move away from Warrenball to a less attritional style but have still got the injuries. Seasons post British Lions tours are very tough, particularly for Wales if theyâve had a lot of players involved as they donât have the depth in numbers. If you go back to the third test in Auckland, 6 of the starting 15 from that test were absent through injury today. Ireland were missing Sean OâBrien, England were missing Eliot Daly, Wales though were missing Jonathan Davies (player of the series), Liam Williams, Talupe Faletau and Sam Warburton (captain). Rhys Webb came off the bench for Conor Murray in the first and third tests and is out for the season as well. That is a seriously crippling injury list.
J davies- flogged in france
Liam williams- flogged into action straight from lions tour with sarries
Faletau- flogged in england straight from lions tour
Halfp is also broken most of the time after a heavy tour of duty in france.
I dont know why they would be ashamed of themselves. Some people just have an inherent bias against individuals or teams. It wouldnt be a conscious decision at all but it stops them seeing the wood from the trees. Id be that way with the Tipp hurlers tbh.