Halfpenny: Wales down but not out
Leigh Halfpenny has said talk of a Wales "crisis" is misplaced as they attempt to end their losing streak against France in Paris this weekend.
Grand Slam champions Wales saw their hopes of a successful title defence punctured by a 30-22 opening round defeat by Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday.
One consolation is that France lost as well last weekend, going down 23-18 to Italy in Rome.
Nevertheless, there is no escaping the fact that Wales - who have enjoyed just three away wins against France since 1975 - have now lost their last eight matches and have not beaten another Test-playing nation for nearly a year.
"We are not in crisis. There is one game down and the tournament is still wide open," said Halfpenny.
"At the end of the day, we are the defending champions, and that means something. We have to go out and play like we are champions.
"We have to make sure we are putting the work in throughout the week and believe that every time we take to that pitch we are going to win. That is the attitude we have to have on Saturday."
A major problem for Wales in the Ireland game is that it was only until early in the second half at the Millennium Stadium, by which time the visitors had piled up 30 points, that they started to make any impression on the game.
Under pressure interim head coach Rob Howley, standing in now Warren Gatland has been seconded to the British and Irish Lions for this year's tour of Australia, is due to name his side to play France on Thursday.
Changes seem inveitable after the Ireland defeat, with in-form flanker Justin Tipuric pushing for a starting place in a back row where fellow openside and Wales captain Sam Warburton could move across to the blindside.
Halfpenny took heart from Wales's rally against Ireland but said they could not afford a repeat of their sluggish first-half display and defended Howley against his critics.
"I thought we reacted well in the second half (against Ireland), but it is not acceptable to be 30 points down before you react. We need to react from the start," he said.
"It is down to the players. We were prepared in the best way possible by the coaches and given everything we needed going into the game."
Comments
Celtictenor says...
ArmchairGeneral, HG_Paris, sirtidychris, melkdave, heathy, pierreledot1 and makemehappy have all made understandably downbeat comments about the present state of Wales, but in a thoroughly constructive and gentlemanly manner. What on earth is wrong with FISH that he simply seems unable to do this, and has never done so ? It's quite baffling, especially when one considers the high general level of debate on here
Posted 16:25 08th February 2013
jontheref says...
fish
opinion?
Sounds like bile from here.
Also, comments about punctuation and grammar are a wind up, or ddi you miss that part of of growing up?
Oh, forgot, haven't started that lesson yet have you?
Posted 10:31 08th February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Ah Fish, too much daphnia in your water I think.
Posted 22:15 07th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
"Fush" you're "fushing" again. What's up? Did you Parents move to the UK and dump you in a school full of kids who don't give a hoot about rugby and just talk about football all day long? Come on guys, he's just alonely kid craving attention in a place that's not even heard of his favourite flavour of ice cream. Anyone heard of Hokeypokey? Anyone know what flavour it is? "Fush" just wants to go back to NZ and play with his old friends. It's a shame really.
Posted 16:43 07th February 2013
J_HDK says...
NO CRISIS.... Isn't that what the bankers kept on saying at the start 2008?
Posted 15:43 07th February 2013
FISH says...
i feel sorry for you rugbylocos such delusions of granduer....you even think you know anything about me and you continue to hurl insults like i would really care, and yet you call yourself an adult when it is so evident that you are not, i dont get why you couldnt just ignore my OPINION, but because it was at odds with you own you had to attack me, i think you must be lacking in the genitalia department or have some severe emotional problems
Posted 14:43 07th February 2013
RugbyLocos says...
Fish......
Your endless rantings and evident lack of a primary education betray your infantile mind and intellectual frustration. Go and see a child psychiatrist and come back to the forum in about 10 years time. Until then you should not make any further postings without parental assistance.
If you promise to do this, the adults here may get together and send you some Kinder Eggs and a drawing book. Wouldn't that be nice?
Posted 14:05 07th February 2013
makemehappy says...
For once not a case of whether France turn up, but whether Wales do. They have outplayed France of late, and I don't think this is a particularly good French team (it should be, but they haven't picked the right players).
Wales played superbly for most of the second half. Reproduce that and there's only one winner. Sadly, based on form, they are just as likely to produce their first half display.
Posted 13:30 07th February 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Wales are in crisis and methinks the team protest too much. Sadly this run of defeats has concided with the temporary elevation of Howley and it just hasn't come off. I have a feeling that Howley is one of those guys who was a great player, is a great coach, is a fantastic No2 but just isn't a great No1. It takes a big man to admit that but I'm now convinced that that is the case. 8 defeats on the trot is just a non starter in this game and Howley may have to accept that he will have to pay the price. If Gatland comes back and gives it 100% then he should stay as No2, but if not, its pack your bags and go time. Very sad, but thats business. The world is littered with great, fantastic, inspiring No 2s who just couldn't handle the promotion to a level which requires far more personal skills.
Posted 13:05 07th February 2013
sirjona says...
Its actualy quite funny to see the misery vampires on here condemning Wales to the abyss for all of eternity. If you would all like to cast your minds back just over 12 months to when all were condemning England to a possible wooden spoon for the 6n. Where are they now thats right ranked 4th in the world with talk of the WC in the bag. Wales have the similiar skill set as we have proved time and time again we are simply going through a rough patch, get over it.
Posted 12:54 07th February 2013
heathy says...
Not in crisis?? Er, I would have a look at the bigger picture Leigh as Wales are, in many an opinion, in the deep doo doo. Crisis? Yes!!!!! This time last year they were 6th in the World rankings. Now they are 10th behind Ireland, Argentina, Samoa and Italy (they were above all these nations before). The truth is they do have talent but there are very few of the senior players that have been playing well domestically. Their form is a shadow of past achievements. From World Cup contenders to losing 8 games on the bounce is a huge worry. More so for the fact that they haven't looked like winning any of them. It hasn't been the rub of the green or unlucky decisions that have tipped the balance and fine tuning is all that's needed. They have been comprehensively beaten fair and square. They don't look like winning more than 1 game in this 6 Nations and that prediction is against Scotland (who could well turn things around). This to me and anybody else looking on with their eyes open (and not biased clearly) will call this nothing but a crisis. Leigh, come out from the little Welsh bubble. There's trouble at t'Mill. Big time!!
Posted 11:19 07th February 2013
melkdave says...
I have to say,i dont think Wales where sluggish in the 1st half against Ireland.I think Ireland just didnt let them have any ball to play with at al.Ireland where just that dominent in ball retension full stop.That Wales came back un the 2nd half ,maybe down to Ireland being so far ahead they relaxed ,and eased off the gas.,rather than better welsh play.The only ones who know for sure are the players.As for Wales not being in crisis ,i dont believe that for one second,if there wasnt a crisis ,the players wouldnt be consistently talking about it,and talking about backing the coach ect.The most ironic thing is Wales collaspse has coincided with Halfpenny playing the best rugby of his career so far imo.So far his nailed the 15 jersey for the Lions imo.atm.
Posted 11:13 07th February 2013
andyb says...
sirtidychris says...I think you are pretty much spot on there.
FISH says..You on the other hand are a moron, go and play in the sand with the other children and leave mature debates to the grown ups.
Posted 10:57 07th February 2013
FISH says...
wow rugby locos this is an internet forum.....grow up please i am not going out of my way to prove anything to a pathetic 'man' that feels it necessary to point something as insignificant as grammar on a rugby site, what exactly are you trying to prove i wonder? its a pity that you call yourself an adult when clearly you are not, what a loser
Posted 10:34 07th February 2013
sirtidychris says...
As an Englishman I want all to see all NH teams as strong as possible and as much as all other teams dislike me and my team because of my nationality i don't like seeing teams in decline and will always cheer wales/ireland/scotland against the SH giants. Wales are a class team and their record of 3 grandslams in recent years is an amazing feat. They have a team littered with genuine quality but something has gone wrong in the last 12 months. The solution....tell Warren Gatland after the Lions its Wales 100% or nothing...letting him coach wales as a part timer has undermined all the success of recent years and Howley has been put in an awful position and done an awful job from that position. Next the exodus abroad is a cancer on the welsh game with world beaters like Jenkins, Phillips and Hook just shadows of thier former selves, go abroad if you must but wave goodbye to your welsh career. Last of all its time for new backs coach, the performance against Ireland epitomised that the backline have had the quality coached out of them with Jamie Roberts and JD2 looking like strangers on the field. As a bath lad the Steeve Meehan style of play would suit wales down to the ground.
Posted 10:24 07th February 2013
HG_Paris says...
A little harsh Fish. Wales will lose on Saturday & on current form will lose in Rome on the 23rd. Both France & Italy have something to prove & Wales are totally rudderless.
Posted 10:16 07th February 2013
RugbyLocos says...
Fish...............
We start a sentence with a capital letter, and we end it with a full stop.
Go back to school and then come back and talk with the adults.
Posted 09:58 07th February 2013
FISH says...
wales are what they have always been and always will be...useless and weak
Posted 09:38 07th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
The winner will be decided on whether France show up or not. If they do Welsh best efforts will still make them second. Not a nice situation for Wales. Trying to take control of their destiny vs France in Paris. Welsh best efforts may actually be the trigger for a great French display.
Posted 09:33 07th February 2013