Wales team to face Australia

First topic message reminder :

I don't think anyone put their hands up today except Hook and O Williams
Several were dismal and if i see L Williams on the bench i will be very disappointed. Glad Charteris has gone back as he is off form.


Gethin
Hibbard - player of the autumn for me
Rhodri Jones
AWJ
Ryan Jones - I think Evans will be picked but I think Ryan offers more in the loose and was one of few players who looked like he wanted to play today
Lydiate - needs to up his game as he has been quiet this autumn
Warburton - personally would like to see Tips start and Warbs at 6 but expect tho selection
Faletau - has had a fine autumn
Philipps - superb last week, could be his opportunity to get a club!
Biggar - for his kicking game and is less prone to getting isolated and turned over, i may have picked hook if available as i thought he was good today
North - A quiet autumn and ordinary v Tonga. Time to step up
S Williams - excellent footballer, his big opportunity and I am looking forward to him staking a real claim
O Williams - only real bonus from the Tonga game, looked solid
L Williams - is he fit…who else is there.
Halfpenny - involved in both tries, expect the POTY finalist to have a huge game

Owens
Lee
A Prop
Coombes - in reality i think tho swill be Ryan as i expect Gats to select Evans
Tipuric pref for him to start
R Williams
Priestland - I would def pick Hook if available
Beck - barely but who else is there

I must admit I am very nervous for the team going in to this match. I don't think we can field a stronger team than we have and a great deal relies on the set piece and how that goes for us...

I am happy with the style of our back play with Scott Williams in the side and that might just be the edge we need. Our defence has been very good.

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:So you think Wales will do worse than Scotland ?

Never! Aus always put out a mish mash of players against Scotland just to make a game of it. They've come a cropper doing that but that's what it amounts to. JD, Jamie and Adam are genuine world class players; that will make the difference for me against this dynamic and powerful Aus team.

What an absolute load of tosh and the usual standard lazy throw-a-way comment by someone who hasn't got a clue.

Australia was on the back of a 2-0 losing streak and looking at a hat-trick of losses against us, and McKenzie stated this was one match they didn't want to lose, As opposed to looking at 9-0 against Wales if they pull it off on the weekend. Which side do you think they will be seriously targeting the win?, Australia see Scotland as a team that regularly beats SH opponents and they see Wales as a side that can beat NH sides but are statistically poor against any decent SH side.

Just in case your perception of mish-mash applies to us only these are the two sides....... if they were a mish-mash against us, then with just two changes you must think they are just as poor against you guys.

Australia v Wales:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).

Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley

Australia v Scotland:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Christian Leali'ifano, Mike Harris, Chris Feauai-Sautia; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekopi Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Nic White, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley

flyhalffactory wrote:
Just in case your perception of mish-mash applies to us only these are the two sides....... if they were a mish-mash against us, then with just two changes you must think they are just as poor against you guys.

Australia v Wales:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).

Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley

Australia v Scotland:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Christian Leali'ifano, Mike Harris, Chris Feauai-Sautia; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekopi Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Nic White, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley

And that team played very well against Scotland too.

 

flyhalffactory wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:So you think Wales will do worse than Scotland ?

Never! Aus always put out a mish mash of players against Scotland just to make a game of it. They've come a cropper doing that but that's what it amounts to. JD, Jamie and Adam are genuine world class players; that will make the difference for me against this dynamic and powerful Aus team.

What an absolute load of tosh and the usual standard lazy throw-a-way comment by someone who hasn't got a clue.

Australia was on the back of a 2-0 losing streak and looking at a hat-trick of losses against us, and McKenzie stated this was one match they didn't want to lose, As opposed to looking at 9-0 against Wales if they pull it off on the weekend. Which side do you think they will be seriously targeting the win?, Australia see Scotland as a team that regularly beats SH opponents and they see Wales as a side that can beat NH sides but are statistically poor against any decent SH side.

Just in case your perception of mish-mash applies to us only these are the two sides....... if they were a mish-mash against us, then with just two changes you must think they are just as poor against you guys.

Australia v Wales:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).

Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley

Australia v Scotland:
Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Christian Leali'ifano, Mike Harris, Chris Feauai-Sautia; Quade Cooper, Will Genia;
James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekopi Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Ben Alexander, Paddy Ryan, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Nic White, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley

Mish mash mish mash mish mash  

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:So you think Wales will do worse than Scotland ?

Never! Aus always put out a mish mash of players against Scotland just to make a game of it. They've come a cropper doing that but that's what it amounts to. JD, Jamie and Adam are genuine world class players; that will make the difference for me against this dynamic and powerful Aus team.

Can't...tell..if..taking..the..pish

I'm sure you can tell Munkian bit Im glad Ive got Fly Half on the run

 

flyhalffactory wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:So you think Wales will do worse than Scotland ?

Never! Aus always put out a mish mash of players against Scotland just to make a game of it. They've come a cropper doing that but that's what it amounts to. JD, Jamie and Adam are genuine world class players; that will make the difference for me against this dynamic and powerful Aus team.

What an absolute load of tosh and the usual standard lazy throw-a-way comment.........

In fairness, that probably applies to 90% of comments on rugby forums/(fora?).

RubyGuby wrote:I'm sure you can tell Munkian bit Im glad Ive got Fly Half on the run

 

But we dont have JD, Adam or...Roberts

 In Gats we Trust

RubyGuby wrote: In Gats we Trust

That is all we can do...! he has proved to be very trustworthy over the years and i am sure we will see a good Welsh team play a great game of rugby this weekend.

Would be awesome to smash the Ozzies by a cricket score and put all this "can't beat the SH sides nonsense behind us, can't see that happening unfortunately.

Mind you not many thought we would win the Lions series, particularly the third test.

maestegmafia wrote:

RubyGuby wrote: In Gats we Trust

Would be awesome to smash the Ozzies by a cricket score and put all this "can't beat the SH sides nonsense behind us, can't see that happening unfortunately.

I think will will either lose, or win convincingly.

I hope it is the latter so I don't have a heart attack...

I wish you'd stop mentioning the Lions series, Maes. Wales are not the Lions.

Well I am barracking for a Wallabies win on Saturday in the the Italy game proportion. We've had a terrible year, losing the Lions, not one game against the boks or ABs, losing to England, so please Wales, help us old expats to have a great weekend!!! Wallabies to win by more than 20 points!! There, I have put it on the board!!

i put down 30 -24 to Wales guess the score in work .

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I wish you'd stop mentioning the Lions series, Maes. Wales are not the Lions.

A good two thirds of both sides were involved in the series last summer, I think it is pretty relevent.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:i put down 30 -24 to Wales  guess the score in work .

That would be a superb result.

Parity at the set piece and breakdown and we could cause them plenty of problems.

maestegmafia wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I wish you'd stop mentioning the Lions series, Maes. Wales are not the Lions.

A good two thirds of both sides were involved in the series last summer, I think it is pretty relevent.

The only relevance is that it is irrelevant and if we start thinking that way we are sunk. This is Wales, half the players weren't on the tour, we have complete novices in the side and a dreadful record….we are not garland's lions by a stretch

I was confident before I saw the Australia team. That is one he'll of a side andi think we'll have earnt it if we win

OzT wrote:Well I am barracking for a Wallabies win on Saturday in the the Italy game proportion.  We've had a terrible year, losing the Lions, not one game against the boks or ABs, losing to England, so please Wales, help us old expats to have a great weekend!!! Wallabies to win by more than 20 points!! There, I have put it on the board!!

You think the Australians will win by a thirty point margin?

Italy 20 - 50 Australia

Why I want them to but in the end I shied away to just a 20 points margin......

The aussie back line looks superb, forwards are no slouches…perhaps their bench is the weak point. If we had JD2 and Roberts i would feel more confident.

Whatever else, i expect Wales to play like rhinos up front and just hope our set piece goes well.

I think if Aus win by that margin then Wales would've had to play particularly badly. Wouldn't you prefer a close but well deserved win ?

Not I. We've had a pretty bad few seasons, last time there was any joy really was 2012's RC, and everytime we played a game when we think it's coming together again, we would get dismantled for the next 4.

So I know some one will be upset if we win large, but last game of a long season will be great if we do win large. And not by Wales playing badly, but by the Wallabies breaking out of their shell and play beautiful rugby. I know, every supporter dreams that of their side, but this one, at the end of the year, Xmas coming up, just one wee little wish to be granted true????

munkian wrote:I think if Aus win by that margin then Wales would've had to play particularly badly. Wouldn't you prefer a close but well deserved win ?

I guess OzT has a point that actually i think both sides fans want to see their team win very well and put a few poor results to bed. Wales have had a poor streak vs the Ozzies and we would like to see a comfortable and enthusiastic win lift our confidence going forward.

The Ozzies have faired well against Wales in the last few years, but have lacked good performances over the last 12 months. In fact the last twelve months have been some of the worst the nation has experienced in Rugby union since the sixties, and a good win for them would put some recent god performances in to context.

On paper the Ozzies are the better side, maybe only because of a few serious weaknesses in the welsh team due to injuries and club commitments Wales can't field their best side.

Realistically the Ozzies are most likely favourites by just a few points and if both nations could field their best sides, they would be very closely matched.

Not many points have separated the two sides over the last five years, though all points go to the Australians favour. It is most likely going to be a close game.

But we can, as mentioned above, want our side to blow the opposition off the park even if we do not expect them to do so.

C'mon Wales...!!!

See, I don't want Wales to do an 'England' and beat a SH side well and then presume they'll walk over everyone in the 6 Nations.

A hard fought win would do more in my opinion

Screw that Munk, I want a trouncing! The Six Nations can look after itself!

I have to agree with Mr Gatland

Warren Gatland wrote:Gatland said the "reasonable job" Scotland did in their 21-15 defeat by the Wallabies should mean Wales "go into this weekend with a lot of confidence".

As he announced his side to face Australia, Gatland also highlighted the Wallabies' changes, with star backs Berrick Barnes and Digby Ioane injured and James O'Connor dropped.

"I think we haven't spoken about Australia because we're confident," he said.

When you consider
England won 20-13 and the reality is they should have won by at least two tries more.
Scotland lost 15-20 but were without almost our entire first choice back-line of 15 Hogg, 14 Visser, 13 Dunbar, 12 Scott plus the likes of Rennie, Barclay, Richie Gray from the forwards.

Then if the European champions Wales don't win handsomely (by more than 10 points I would say), then you have to seriously consider the credentials of a side with serious aspirations of bettering their last World Cup performance.

A win is all the matters on the weekend. If its the worst game of rugby ever and Wales win 3-0 i'll take that in a heart beat. The time for playing beautiful flowing rugby and dreaming of a convincing win is for me not important. All that matters is getting a win against one of the big 3 SH sides. Its a big ask against Oz and with allot of injuries to our main players but I believe we'll do it this weekend (As I always do because i'm welsh).

I wonder if the Welsh supporters are putting too much pressure on themselves and their team to win this weekend?

For sure we like to win, me as much as the next one. But as our season has been so bad, a loss wil not mean much, just that Wales were better on the day. For the Wallabies we have the off season to look forward to, a good summer watching the Ashes, bit of beaching before starting training.

It seems to be coming across that a Welsh loss would be worse for the Welsh than a Wallabies loss for the Aussies?

Well off home now, have a good evening guys and catch ya tomorrow!

OzT wrote:I wonder if the Welsh supporters are putting too much pressure on themselves and their team to win this weekend?

For sure we like to win, me as much as the next one. But as our season has been so bad, a loss wil not mean much, just that Wales were better on the day. For the Wallabies we have the off season to look forward to, a good summer watching the Ashes, bit of beaching before starting training.

It seems to be coming across that a Welsh loss would be worse for the Welsh than a Wallabies loss for the Aussies?

Well off home now, have a good evening guys and catch ya tomorrow!

I think most would agree on that

Defeat to Australia will be catastrophic to our confidence and ambitions and potentially terminal for Gatland.

Everyone knows Warrenball is a label that has arisen because of his success. But if Warrneball can't open the door to SH competitiveness then at the very least a dramatic re think is required.

After making his controversial selection for the 3rd test Gatland knew that failure could have been career ending, he has admitted as much. The fact is that although the  lions themselves bear no relevance to this one off game, the result of a defeat could be just as damaging for Gatland as losing the lions could have had.

Australia are the door in to SH competitiveness, they are now arguably not up to the standard to be in the Big 3 while NZ are cantering ahead with SA at their heels. England ,Wales France and perhaps Ireland seem poised to step into the spot Australia have previously been established in. Apart from a poor showing v England, they have won every game on tour, how ireland managed to lose to them and then push NZ is unbelievable.

But Gatland has been hammering on that door for 4 years without success. True his team have run them close on numerous occasions, so close that it is clear Wales failings are as much about their decision making as their rugby, but at the end of the day he knows our potential should hav been realized by now and if we are serious about RWC 2015, we must beat them on Saturday. Our next meeting is likely to be in the group games at Twickenham and though that venue has been kind to us recently, to not have beaten Aus once for potentially 6 years would, IMO, be too big a psychological mountain to climb.

Conversely of course asking the man who has lead us to European domination to quit would be cutting off our nose to spite our face, but all Wales fans and our detractors know that not only are we capable of more, we have not delivered on our promise and I would not be surprised if, in the event of defeat that there are calls for Gatland's dismissal and that he may even offer it to the WRU.

I sincerely hope this does not happen, personally i think he is a winner and with the resources available to him, has produced a golden era of Welsh rugby. I also think he is a head and shoulders above his domestic counterparts - his poaching of Cuthbert and North was inspired. His press management is controversial, but then the man has the results to back it up, just not against Australia and the SH.

But if we lose Saturday and he stays, there has to be a serious assessment of how we play, why we have abandoned offload completely and focussed on a power game. We know Gatland will take the tough decisions and I would expect at the very least a change of attack coach and a change of Capt.

We lost to Australia last year and the year before and we then won the six nations..!

Can't be too bad for confidence.

We all want a win but if we lose then it is proven to have little effect, if anything it's been a positive kick up the backside

maestegmafia wrote:We lost to Australia last year and the year before and we then won the six nations..!

Can't be too bad for confidence.

We all want a win but if we lose then it is proven to have little effect, if anything it's been a positive kick up the backside

It depends whether you're you're happy to see the 6Ns as the pinnacle or if you want Wales to try and achieve something England did from 2000-2003.

Surely that has to be the aim.

You won't get that by seeing a loss to the weakest of the top 3 SH sides as a boost for kicking on in the 6Ns only for it to happen again.

Wales should be looking to win this game and see a defeat as a major setback in the larger picture. The result may not affect the 6Ns but it does affect Wales' position on the major stage.

If we lose this game then it will be seen as (for me at least) as an unsuccessful AI series again though not as bad as last year .

Whilst I think most would admit this is the weakest the Aussies have been for some time its not that bad a side and their backs can be lethal.

McKenzie is already starting to stamp his mark on the forwards but I think thats there area where we do have the advantage and hopefully exploit it there.

bedfordwelsh wrote:If we lose this game then it will be seen as (for me at least) as an unsuccessful AI series again though not as bad as last year .

Whilst I think most would admit this is the weakest the Aussies have been for some time its not that bad a side and their backs can be lethal.

McKenzie is already starting to stamp his mark on the forwards but I think thats there area where we do have the advantage and hopefully exploit it there.

Agree Bedford

You have to be favourites for the game if the two teams (England and Scotland who you have to consider better based on results) have beaten or taken them to the limit, hence anything but a good win will be deemed a failure.

Saying that Australia are definitely not the same squad they were this time last year...... Israel Folau, Quade Cooper, Michael Hooper at this moment are arguably the worlds best in their positions and the most inventive as well.

Could be one of the games of 2013

maestegmafia wrote:We lost to Australia last year and the year before and we then won the six nations..!

Can't be too bad for confidence.

We all want a win but if we lose then it is proven to have little effect, if anything it's been a positive kick up the backside

I find this parochial attitude stunning and naive.

I am as proud a Welsh fan as they come but i am fed up with this approach that as long as the 6 Nations is going well then everything else is a bonus. We all want to win but if we lose it is proven to have little effect. Have you seen the rankings? Our record v the SH?

On what? Our ability to kick on to the next level and head up the rankings. We have done the 6 Nations, are 9/10 in European competition, 4 Championships and 3 Slams since 2003. But that is no longer enough because unless we move up none of it matters any more.

It worries me that this sort of attitude is endemic in the Welsh public and to some extent in the management themselves, perhaps when Gats said he regards the Autumn as pre season he really mean't it. How many times can he bring home the 6 Nations and not progress the side before we start asking , what is the point?

Tbh I would consider a loss vs Aus to be exactly what it appears to be: a loss, on both a physical and moral scale. Scrap the 6N for now, that has no bearing on this game nor, ultimately, will this game have any bearing on the 6N. A win however would represent some form of solid progress in that it's not something Wales has managed in years. We have won the 6N last two years running and while a record third would undoubtedly be nice, it'd be nothing new.

Really knowsit,

God help us Welshmen, where has the passion gone?

I will worry about the 6 Nations when its 6 Nations time now is about Saturday and winning, nothing else matters.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I will worry about the 6 Nations when its 6 Nations time now is about Saturday and winning, nothing else matters.

Aye

I couldn't agree more. As I said before I want to see a big win for Wales. Any less is a big shame.

But I don't think a loss will prevent us from being very realistic winners of this years six nations championship or will it damage our future chances at the next RWC.

gatland will want this and so will the players . its whether Australia play ball is another thing . Im fed up of losing to these

Whose most likely to be our centre cover on the weekend if anyone goes down, I guess it will be case of moving North, there or either Priestland or Biggar with the other playing 10.

Or there is Tipuric I guess

And we are fielding a good few players who know how to give the Ozzies a good beating.

If we can hold our own at the set piece and breakdown we will do well. If we can win both we could do really well.

North will slot in at OS with L Williams onto the wing. You do not want Priestland in the centers

bedfordwelsh wrote:Whose most likely to be our centre cover on the weekend if anyone goes down, I guess it will be case of moving North, there or either Priestland or Biggar with the other playing 10.

Or there is Tipuric I guess

Or Phillips.

I think we would all like to see North have a go in midfield..!!!

bedfordwelsh wrote:Whose most likely to be our centre cover on the weekend if anyone goes down, I guess it will be case of moving North, there or either Priestland or Biggar with the other playing 10.

Or there is Tipuric I guess

Rhodri on as 9, Spikey Phillips to centre

Gats said in interview a while ago that they wanted to give George a run in the centre when the opportunity arose.

Looks like possible injury to our third centre this Autumn might be that chance.

that's gotta be one of the biggest backlines if Phillips goes to centre

10 Biggar 6 2
11 Cuthbert 6 6
12 Phillips 6 3
13 O Williams 6 3
14 North 6 4

ahem and holding them together
9 R Williams 5 9
15 Halfpenny 5 10 (and that's not small really!)

Scratch wrote:North will slot in at OS with L Williams onto the wing. You do not want Priestland in the centers

Not at all but Biggar has played there with Morgan at 10 before so would him and Priestland be an option if need arose.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Scratch wrote:North will slot in at OS with L Williams onto the wing. You do not want Priestland in the centers

Not at all but Biggar has played there with Morgan at 10 before so would him and Priestland be an option if need arose.

Aye.. Biggar has had a few runs at centre when Morgan has been brought on.