General Chat

Change in the Line-up-

Dan Lydiate replaces Andrew Coombs who failed the fitness test this morning, having been injured all week.
Elwyn Jones replaces Dan Lydiate on the bench

Jem. :-D :-D Have had 3 rr's this week. Yet I have the pleasure of contributing to your great thread. "Yma o hyd" (here still) comes to mind.

"Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen,
Does neb yn ei nabod o"

I remember him. Macsen was in my class at school :-( :-( ;-)

:-D I agree John-
I've been reading various versions of Max Boyce's Hymns and Arias! Hilarious :-D :-D

More excited by prospect of your commentary tonight than match itself, Jem.

I never understand how people seem to pronounce Llanelli as Lanelli and Llangollen as Langollen. If you can splash all over the second syllable with usually a fair degree of prowess, why not the first :-S

Only 45 minutes of sitting bored in dressing room before they emerge. Now what could they do to pass the time? Let's have a sing song, boys. Calon lan, Bread of Heaven, Engineers Song, and Hen Wlad. All of you, mind. Here are words (in phonetic English if aria is in Welsh). Quality of voices not important, but volume, enthusiasm and hwyl are :-D :-D

JUST 1 HOUR TO GO! :-D

:-)Hi John-
I've been thinking all day about your comment.
I can see where you are coming from, although I can't say that I have noticed myself. I suppose some would think it disrespectful.

As far as Toby is concerned, I wonder whether he shows his allegiance and loyalty to Wales, his adopted country, by playing his heart out on the pitch. Perhaps he has made the decision to stand respectfully, but not sing, in loyalty to his Tongan roots and family.
JUST A THOUGHT!
Sam- who knows?!:-S perhaps he is scared of looking like the ridiculous "Mr Bean"-John Redmond! :-D Or perhaps he can't sing! Or saving his wind for the match! Or quietly contemplating or praying! :-S

I suppose not everyone can manage to learn the language. I was totally shocked when my Grandchildren and other children of the area cannot say LL. Despite going to a school beginning with LL, living in an area beginning with LL, IN A TOWN BEGINNING WITH LL! I nearly went to see their headmistress! :-0 :-0 :-| :-S

ONLY 3 HOURS TO GO :-) :-)

WALES V TONGA

Counting down the hours and minutes until tonight's match- 5 hours 43 minutes go!

Warren Gatland will hope to celebrate taking charge of his 100th Test with a win as his Wales side put their recent growth to the test against Tonga at the Millennium Stadium on Friday evening.

Gatland has "rested" most of his first-choice players in preparation for next week's Wales v Australia (Wallabies) match.

Tonight's line-up for Wales-
Paul James
Ken Owens
Rhodri Jones
Luke Charteris
Ian Evans
Andrew Coombs
Ryan Jones
Justin Tipuric
Lloyd Williams
James Hook
Ashley Beck
Owen Williams
HALLAM AMOS......1st CAP
George North
Leigh Halfpenny

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Jordan Williams.

Do wish Toby would learn Hen Wlad fyn Nhadau. Is it so hard for him and Sam to learn the words and make an effort? Sam has no excuse at all, in my opinion. What Welsh did he learn in school? Surely Land of my Fathers, is there still a goat there, and little saucepan burning on the hob are three songs on curriculum these days.

Sam looks like John Redmond, erstwhile Welsh Secretary, when Welsh anthem plays. And Toby looks like Wayne Rooney does during God Save the Queen (silent and brooding). Disrespectful and unnecessay, i think.

TOBY FALATAU...........

Although Toby Falatau will not be playing in Tomorrow Night's match, it is still going to be an emotional match for the Falatau Family.

This is because Toby Falatau is the TONGAN born son of Tongan International Rugby Player KULI FALATAU.
Kuli is Tonga’s most capped Forward, representing Tonga at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Kuli moved to Wales in 1998 to join EBBW VALE, bringing his 7 year old son with him.

TOBY FALATAU-PLAYER PROFILE:
Real Name- TANGAKI TAULUPE FALATAU Position- FLANKER (number 8) Age- 23 Height- 6ft 2ins Weight- 17st 5lbs

TOBY FALATAU'S CAREER-

November 2009- Debut for Newport Gwent Dragons Seniors Team.

December 2009- Chosen for the Wales Under-20 Squad for the Under-20 Six Nations Tournament.

May 2010- Selected for the Wales Under 20 Squad for the Junior World Cup in Argentina in June 2010.

November 2010- Called up for the Wales Senior Squad.

January 2011- Included in the Wales National Rugby Union Team for the 2011 Six Nations Championship.

June 4th 2011- FULL INTERNATIONAL DEBUT FOR WALES V BARBARIANS.

2012- Appears in ALL 5 Six Nations Championship Matches with the Grand-Slam winning Team.

2013- Appears in ALL 5 matches in the Six Nations Tournament for Wales- the Championship Winners.

April 2013- Named for the British and Irish Lions Squad-Australian Tour.

Final Test Match- Impressive as the Lions beat Australia 41-16 securing their first test series win since 1997.

November 2013- Continues to represent Wales in autumn international series, scoring his third test try against Argentina in a Man-of-the-Match performance.

NEXT GAME..............WALES V TONGA

FRIDAY NIGHT November 22nd.........7.30pm

Don't worry Shaun- I know you were here in spirit! :-D

Hi Jem,
sorry I could not join in with you yesterday.
Thank you for your commentary , have you thought about getting on to the beeb and asking for a job :-) very enjoyable reading, just like a best seller.
I could hear you shouting again down in the valleys :-)
Shaun x

Thankyou John :-) :-)

I don't pretend to understand all the ins and outs of the game but I do love it :-)

And I agree!- That run by Mike Phillips was amazing. And the strength of George North too!
Thankyou for your company.
Next Week? :-)

That was just what I needed Jem. :-D :-D Think I enjoyed your commentary as much as game.

Just seen the England and the Italy results. I wonder now if the pendulum is beginning to swing to the northern hemisphere teams. And who is the best north of the equator? W-A-L-E-S :-D :-D

Man of match must have been hard. Toby deserved it, but couple of others must have been well in the frame. It was the speed of Mike P and George N that amazed me - took a good 5 yards out of the Pumas over 50 yards, and they were carrying the ball!!!

FINAL SCORE- WALES 40 ARGENTINA 6

EXACTLY DOUBLE YOUR PREDICTION JOHN :-D :-D :-D

WELL DONE WALES <3

Ryan Jones replaces Toby Falatau.
TOBY FALATAU MAN OF THE MATCH

James Hook, Luke Charteris, Lloyd Williams, Ashley Beck, Paul James are replacements that are now playing

Nasty Pasty Puma just kicked Liam Williams in the head as he was lying down!

What a Drive! TRY- KEN OWENS <3 Converted by Leigh 8 / 9 <3
Score 40-6

Brilliant play by Wales but we didn't quite make it to another try.
Who saw the "one-shoe shuffle" by George North? :-D

Richard Hibbard Off to great applause- he's had a great game! :-)
Ken Owens On

YES---TRY BY TOBY FALATAU <3 Converted by Leigh
33-6