Wales v All Blacks Match thread, Poll, and Previews

[maestegmafia]

First topic message reminder :

So this week saw the fans calls for players unused the week before who are in form this season answered and we lost to Samoa, we also lost more players to injury.

So what next...?

Wales offered little in impetus yet again. Few of the form players made a difference against Samoa. Wales have to make a massive improvement in every aspect of their game for next weeks match vs the ABs but what are your suggestions...???

Wales team:
Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Aaron Jarvis, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau

Replacements:
Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, James Hook, Scott Williams


New Zealand team:
Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

[maestegmafia]

"Reminds me of JPR withe the way he plays.. They are about the same size and have a similar hair cut too..." -- Yes, they are similar. JPR was/is 6' 1" and LW is listed as 6 1 or 6 2, but JPR (even in the 70s) was 14 st + (and was a big FB/player physically for the time). If LW is only 13 and a half stone, he needs to add more muscle mass to that height.

7 pounds, the TV adds 7 pounds.

[Liam]

Hope Williams ends up 15 but obviously doesn't look like its happening. Understandable as he's only played one test match and to put a guy in at 15, 2 days before a test match against the best team in the world could have catastrophe written all over it but still, would have preferred 1/2p on the wing where I believe his best position is but I still think Williams can do a job there, and, if anything allow 1/2p to go forward knowing there's a FB there to cover him.

[bedfordwelsh]

I said earlier that I would like the players to have the confidence and nous to switch it around a bit.

[maestegmafia]

Confidence is the key to any performance, especially in this game...! Certainly something we are lacking.

[overlordofthewest]

Liam is better under the highball and Leigh is faster and better at taking a man on one to one. For me Id like to see them play to their strengths. Wales will be stronger this way than having Liam on the wing.

[maestegmafia]

They are both pretty fast and good under the highball, both good defenders, and they will need to be, that Kiwi backline is unbelievably talented.

[munkian]

Is Daaaag back or still Walking like John Wayne ?

[maestegmafia]

Is Daaaag back or still Walking like John Wayne ?

Would it make a difference...?

[Cyril]

By the way, I wasn't having a go at North (as I said). He's just not quite as good as he's sometimes made out to be. Same with the rest of the side. As shown recently.

And I was merely pointing out another one of your incorrect statements. This is all off-topic anyway. Just like it would be off the tangent if started mentioning how England are always rubbish and can't even beat Ireland in a Slam Decider. #lackingtropiesandabilitiesaswellasmorals.

A hashtag is the last refuge of a cad or a bounder.

[Morgannwg]

By the way, I wasn't having a go at North (as I said). He's just not quite as good as he's sometimes made out to be. Same with the rest of the side. As shown recently.

And I was merely pointing out another one of your incorrect statements. This is all off-topic anyway. Just like it would be off the tangent if started mentioning how England are always rubbish and can't even beat Ireland in a Slam Decider. #lackingtropiesandabilitiesaswellasmorals.

A hashtag is the last refuge of a cad or a bounder.

Yeah but I was right, you were wrong. And taking this further off topic isn't going to hide that.

[Cyril]

By the way, I wasn't having a go at North (as I said). He's just not quite as good as he's sometimes made out to be. Same with the rest of the side. As shown recently.

And I was merely pointing out another one of your incorrect statements. This is all off-topic anyway. Just like it would be off the tangent if started mentioning how England are always rubbish and can't even beat Ireland in a Slam Decider. #lackingtropiesandabilitiesaswellasmorals.

A hashtag is the last refuge of a cad or a bounder.

Yeah but I was right, you were wrong. And taking this further off topic isn't going to hide that.

Gareth thinks he's won the internet again

[Morgannwg]

By the way, I wasn't having a go at North (as I said). He's just not quite as good as he's sometimes made out to be. Same with the rest of the side. As shown recently.

And I was merely pointing out another one of your incorrect statements. This is all off-topic anyway. Just like it would be off the tangent if started mentioning how England are always rubbish and can't even beat Ireland in a Slam Decider. #lackingtropiesandabilitiesaswellasmorals.

A hashtag is the last refuge of a cad or a bounder.

Yeah but I was right, you were wrong. And taking this further off topic isn't going to hide that.

Gareth thinks he's won the internet again

You're still desperately at it I see. Enjoy your shortlived stay Cyril, I'm sure it won't be long until you are blocked from this site again.

[HERSH]

Morgan why don't you challenge him to a Pokemon battle?

[Cyril]

Gareth, I'm not making argument or claiming lack of morals etc. That's you.

I posted an opinion that you disagreed with. Fair enough. It's you that's taking it to the silly argumentative level again. If you've got a problem with my posting call the mods by all means. They can look at your posting too. To me, it just looks like you're all about winning arguments and scoring points. Not really discussion forum material.

[Morgannwg]

Morgan why don't you challenge him to a Pokemon battle?

[Morgannwg]

Gareth, I'm not making argument or claiming lack of morals etc. That's you.

I posted an opinion that you disagreed with. Fair enough. It's you that's taking it to the silly argumentative level again. If you've got a problem with my posting call the mods by all means. They can look at your posting too. To me, it just looks like you're all about winning arguments and scoring points. Not really discussion forum material.

This is ironic coming from you. Maybe you don't read your own posts or forget the reasons for your previous ban. I repeatedly asked you to back up a brass statement, a statement you made just to get in a sly dig. You failed. It appears it is you that lacks morals.

[gregortree]

, nothing to see here.. yaawn

[Guest]

Another decent thread ruined.

Neeeeeext.

[Cyril]

Another decent thread ruined.

Neeeeeext.

Well, I pointed out that North had been hit hard in the tackle a few times (he's bound to be targetted these days) and his injuries were catching up on him.

Then morgannwg got involved. I guess I should have ignored him.

Sorry

[gregortree]

Ok CUT !
Hersh ?you there ?
Time for you to start the Eng v AB thread.

[Cyril]

Ok CUT !
Hersh ?you there ?
Time for you to start the Eng v AB thread.

He already has!

[gregortree]

He is way too fast for me. Must be a winger

[tatterd]

He is way too fat for me. Must be a whinger

Fixed that for you Gregor

[gregortree]

hahaha

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Cyril, stop wumming.

Morg, stop reacting.

Hersh, stop fanning the flames.

All of you grow up.

This is my final word on the subject, any whining or otherwise irritating responses to this post will earn a ban.

[HERSH]

Can anyone really seeing Wales ending their 59 year wait for another victory over the All Blacks?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20434463

[HERSH]

What did I do Pete?

[Morgannwg]

And there's the ban.

[HERSH]

Why would linking a BBC article earn a ban?

[rodders]

Morgan why don't you challenge him to a Pokemon battle?

Christ! Nearly fell off my seat laughing!

[GoodinTightSpaces]

What did I do Pete?

in general you are just a wally

[Ospreydragon]

"Can anyone really seeing Wales ending their 59 year wait for another victory over the All Blacks?" - No. Too many players injured (including key players in Adam J and Lydiate), to many players out of form, low confidence from regional failure that's now inevitably seeped into the national side, poor tactics, and wrong selection from the start. Halfpenny is in the wrong position at FB.

I was at the Nov 2004 match. It was the best atomosphere I've ever witnessed and we had a chance to win (2 missed pretty easy kicks, with one of Henson's hitting the post).

For Wales to ever beat the ABs, they need a balanced side that's capable of great defence and varied attack, with strong set pieces, and all leading players available and in form. Not this year. Again.

[HERSH]

They had the team in 2011 to do the All Blacks in their own back yard IMO.

[GunsGerms]

They had the team in 2011 to do the All Blacks in their own back yard IMO.

They have the same team now, no?

[HERSH]

They had the team in 2011 to do the All Blacks in their own back yard IMO.

They have the same team now, no?

Sort of but Wales were on top form back then plus the young guns in their team were playing without fear, which isn't the case now.

Fear of failure is a powerful thing.

[HERSH]

Oh and Wales are missing a certain Mr S.Williams

[Smirnoffpriest]

Ahh but we've got Mr L Williams now (and another L Williams in reserve, but the less said about him the better...)!

[ScarletSpiderman]

Oh and Wales are missing a certain Mr S.Williams

I thought Scott was on the bench.

[Smirnoffpriest]

They had the team in 2011 to do the All Blacks in their own back yard IMO.

They have the same team now, no?

Sort of but Wales were on top form back then plus the young guns in their team were playing without fear, which isn't the case now.

Fear of failure is a powerful thing.

So true Hersh - I still (for some reason) see us playing much better tomorrow and coming to a heroic defeat with NZ edging away right at the end for a 10 point win. But equally, as we're a much poorer side than we were at the WC, we could get tonked by 20-30 points easily.

[Ospreydragon]

Hersh, Wales do miss S Williams. But there are some young players coming through with running skills (such as Harry R) and there are players with strong running ability back after career-threatening injury (such as Stoddart, who was in top form before he was injured). The players available to Wales could be very different in te next 6N -- theer are too many inured or not considered for various reasons to list here, but if they are playing well, should make a huge difference. Lee Byrne should also have been in the Wales squad -- he's a better FB than Halfpenny. So is Liam W, who will get better with experience. Wales are too predictable in their attack and they need players who are capable of changing running lines and being unpredictable -- like S Williams!

[Ospreydragon]

"we could get tonked by 20-30 points easily." -- if the performance is not much improved, it will be a 40+ win.

[HERSH]

There is only one true Shane Williams.

[Guest]

Shane had his many negatives as a player, but the one thing he did for us was keep the opposition defence 'honest' (as Jiffy would say!). You couldn't always just drift across to double tackle or load the defence on the wing because he could change direction, strighten up, cut in field, turn up in midfield, whatever, which created gaps and developed some overlaps. That would put enough doubt in a defenders mind just to hold the line, and then gaps would appear. We've replaced his sort largely with big plodders so the defences know what's coming. Even when Roberts, for example, strightens up he hasn't got the agility and change of direction speed to catch anyone by surprise so he rarely finds a gap.

There is still room in the game for 'jinkers', as long as they can tackle. We need them to keep the game interesting and the defences thinking!

[BlueNote]

"I was at the Nov 2004 match. It was the best atmosphere I've ever witnessed "

I was there too - still remember Mefin Davies' hit on the ABs winger who took the kick-off- you could see it lifted the side.

But the best atmosphere, apart maybe from the Slams, was the game when we beat SA. Only part of the stadium was open, but the atmosphere was extraordinary.

[MRW]

Its amazing how we (Wales) get so hiked up about our performance against the All Blacks. Yep, not beat them in my lifetime, last time 59 years ago and only ever beat them 3 times in our playing history.

But, our record against the Boks is even worse, We have only beaten the Boks 1 out of 26 games (with 1 draw), and we never seem to get as worked up about beating them.

Heres the stats...

WALES v SPRINGBOKS

Summary Total Home Away Neutral
Played 26 100.00% 17 65.40% 8 30.80% 1 3.80%
Wins 1 3.80% 1 5.90% 0 - 0 -
Losses 24 92.30% 15 88.20% 8 100.00% 1 100.00%
Draws 1 3.80% 1 5.90% 0 - 0 -



WALES v ALL BLACKS

Summary Total Home Away Neutral
Played 28 100.00% 18 64.30% 7 25.00% 3 10.70%
Wins 3 10.70% 3 16.70% 0 - 0 -
Losses 25 89.30% 15 83.30% 7 100.00% 3 100.00%
Draws 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -



Appologies, cant get the columns to line up in the stats...

[HERSH]

The author of this article has deleted this comment.

[HERSH]

Booo, how dare you.

[maestegmafia]

They had the team in 2011 to do the All Blacks in their own back yard IMO.

They have the same team now, no?

Actually HERSH stated that he didn't expect Wales to get out of their group at the RWC in 2011, not that they had the ability to win the WWE cup by beating the ABs.

[Cyril]

To be fair to Hersh, Wales only just got out of their group by squeaking past Samoa.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

England on the other hand looked against France like their gruelling games against Scotland, Argentina and Georgia had taken too much out of them...

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