LLLLLLLLL

Australia return to the Millennium stadium this weekend to collect the last few pieces of furniture they have left behind while beating us in the last eight tests.

Jenkins
Hibbard
Jones
Jones
Evans
Lydiate
Warburton
Faletau
Philips
Biggar
North
Williams
Williams
Cuthbert
Halfpenny

The fixture falls out of the IRB window and has caused controversy, but if we lose Wales may find the controversy even greater and the landing pretty rough (especially on this forum). Sir Warren's New year's gong may look a little tarnished.

Shaun Edwards says a loss is not fatal on the one hand, really? What would be fatal for a nation's rugby team? But also that he would not exchange a win this weekend for another 6 Nations championship or a win in the RWC. That is a huge statement of intent. I believe this may be the last time we face Australia pre RWC, especially if we lose. I think the ARFU may think better of giving us another opportunity pre RWC next autumn.

If we do not win this weekend, with 2 years until RWC, we cannot possibly hope to kick on at RWC and be in serious contention for a win. We have to target winning every game to top our group as the route is significantly better and would likely mean facing Samoa and then France or Ireland. Even if we do, so much more is required. Our display versus Tonga was dismal and though it was 2nd string if that is what we have to give us strength in depth, we are in poor shape. We will forever be the team that has a glass celling and just cannot break it.

We have a Jones back at 3, perhaps that is enough in itself,  and the welcome return of Cuthbert, a prodigious try scorer, gives me some comfort but our centre pairing is untested and I rate the Aussie backs as potentially the best in the world. If Roberts and Foxy were fit i would feel confident that behind that pack we have a comparable back division but without them we look much less impressive. Our pack though is outstanding and must produce a high intensity game while also being accurate at the set piece. I expect Hibbard and Lydiate to hammer the fringes and for Tipuric to be given another opportunity late on. Australia were not totally convincing v Scotland and have had their own controversies but this will be a great way to end their tour and season.

In my view the game will be won or lost at 9 and Philips must ensure his service is quicker than ever. Biggar, finally and deservedly given the nod, should pin Australia back in their 22. I expect our defense to be a thin red line designed to prevent the Wallabies getting wide. So often the top 2 inches have been missing v Aus, we have literally given the game away.

NZ just celebrated a clean sweep in 2014 and I am sure every Welsh player and fan will feel something like that sense of achievement if we can just get 1 little W this weekend.

I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

While I don't think it's a matter of lose and all is lost I fear the Welsh team and supporters are seeing it as such. It had no bearing on RWC 2015. This added pressure will be the difference as well as the fact that Wales are missing key components in the centres and Cuthbert I don't think will be as sharp as normal. AUS are building nicely and playing with less pressure than Wales. Wales has a lot more to lose than AUS who have written 2013
off as a rebuilding year.

Good luck to both and looking forward to seeing North and Israel picking up where they left off in the summer.

i do think we a lot better team this year then last even with the injuries . we was on an eight game losing streak and it was still close . now we had Welsh players experience the lions tour a miles better Autumn Internationals not to mention the hard fought six nations championship . i dont care what the coachs telling the media . gatland , Edwards and howley want this big time

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I always feel optimistic when Wales play rugby against any team except the Big Three SH teams. I can't help but think that our poor record is a millstone that just gets heavier and heavier. Whatever the players and coaches say in the media (and I'm fed up with players and coaches being quoted before games) I'm sure they too feel under enormous pressure and this pressure affects the players' confidence which cramps our style and makes these games even harder to win for us. England and France seem to overcome this and perform better against SH teams but Wales always look worried.

You realise Rhodri Jones is at 3? Not Adam. So the same as the last 2 games....

Ian Evans has to put in a huge shift.

Lets hope Ryan Jones/Tupiric get on early in the 2nd half and get some gametime.

Still worried about the defense between 13-14. The Aus attack outwide is where they're most dangerous and we've got a rookie and a returning Cuthbert....

I also think our backline has looked decent considering we've missed 3/4 of our main strike runners. We've changed tact and we are attacking from deep when its on. They're playing with their 'heads up' so to speak and with that 10/12/13 axis I imagine they'll continue to do so. Both of those centres are linebreakers and know their way to the tryline. Halfpenny has been running outside the 13 and creating overlaps. We're varying our attack which is something we havent done in years. We may not have ben as impressive as with the 'stars' in the backline, but I've been a lot happier, this evolution will stand us in goodstead should it continue and with the players we have to return....

munkian wrote:

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I've watched every one. Ireland were Poor with a capital P and scotland were by far the more physical team. Had they had a back line like the one Wales will put out - they would have won. Wales will have the same physicality up front and a bit of bosh and guile behind them......Toothless England were better up front. Scotland were better up front. Wales will be better up front AND have the most lauded backs in the British Isles. Wales MUST win. (And will, I'm sure of it!)

You've noted their opposition but no the Aussies themselves. Despite whats infront of them they clearly have started to click and improve

ultra wrote:

munkian wrote:

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I've watched every one. Ireland were Poor with a capital P and scotland were by far the more physical team. Had they had a back line like the one Wales will put out - they would have won. Wales will have the same physicality up front and a bit of bosh and guile behind them......Toothless England were better up front. Scotland were better up front. Wales will be better up front AND have the most lauded backs in the British Isles. Wales MUST win. (And will, I'm sure of it!)

I'll remember this post on Sunday morning  . Discount the Aussies at your own peril. We all know how well that turns out . 

Maybe you're right Munkian. They seemed determined against Ireland but were given too much space and allowed to play the game at pace. They looked, ermmm, average against Scotland, the Scots bullied them to a degree. I'm not so sure they've started to click at all they just won a couple of close games. Anyhoo, this Wales team will have too much for this Oz team. I honestly believe that......also, looking at the world cup draw, the rest of us need you to get the monkey off your back and do us a favour along the way

They haven't played any quality oppostition yet so its hard to tell I guess  

munkian wrote:They haven't played any quality oppostition yet so its hard to tell I guess  

Hahaha....many a true word said in jest - they haven't played a team that had the complete package yet, in other words there hasn't been a backline out there that could worry them, so I'll give you that one

ultra wrote:

munkian wrote:They haven't played any quality oppostition yet so its hard to tell I guess  

Hahaha....many a true word said in jest - they haven't played a team that had the complete package yet, in other words there hasn't been a backline out there that could worry them, so I'll give you that one

England's forwards are serverely let down by their backs at the moment

Maybe it's just the time of the month..... but that LLLLLLLL? Code? Wot do it be meanin', please. If I should know and is bein' a bloody fool, my apologies in advance.

SF, if the All blacks changed their website to show WWWWWWWWWWWWWW in relation to their year.

If we're talking abou Wales and their recod agains Australia.....


still, at last its not as bad as if we did it for our record against SA or NZ.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

ultra wrote:

munkian wrote:

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I've watched every one. Ireland were Poor with a capital P and scotland were by far the more physical team. Had they had a back line like the one Wales will put out - they would have won. Wales will have the same physicality up front and a bit of bosh and guile behind them......Toothless England were better up front. Scotland were better up front. Wales will be better up front AND have the most lauded backs in the British Isles. Wales MUST win. (And will, I'm sure of it!)

Not int he centres ultra, not by far and the Aussies will defend from the outside in in order to shut our possession down in the 12 13 channel. But if Howley has his smarts on then i expect us to use dummy runners and let 1/2 get it wide.

You're right, the centers aren't 1st choice but they're ball players. I honestly don't think Oz want it to become a forward battle by squeezing it back in defence, (specially after the lions and england and scotland), and will try and live off counter attack ball.......I don't like pi..in' up your back here, but Wales are too smart for this these days, despite injuries and supposed 'depth' problems, they'll kick well and run hard and straight with their big boys.....and they're all big boys......even lil' halfpenny is a bit of a unit these days

Not sure ultra…so much of pour game plan is kicking away possession and defending on half/10m

That's every team's game plan.....dress it up how you will, just some teams do it better. At the minute, you guys do it well. Gatland ball has become a bit of a p.ss take but its effective with the players at your disposal. Anyway, like I've said before, if Wales are in the right frame of mind for 80, they'll win.....no need for crossed fingers, Aus ain't that good and Wales should be. Simples

Not just fingers crossed on this one, irrespective of all the chat this is the single most important game psychologically since the semi in 2011.

Bullsbok wrote:

ultra wrote:

munkian wrote:

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I've watched every one. Ireland were Poor with a capital P and scotland were by far the more physical team. Had they had a back line like the one Wales will put out - they would have won. Wales will have the same physicality up front and a bit of bosh and guile behind them......Toothless England were better up front. Scotland were better up front. Wales will be better up front AND have the most lauded backs in the British Isles. Wales MUST win. (And will, I'm sure of it!)

I'll remember this post on Sunday morning   . Discount the Aussies at your own peril. We all know how well that turns out . 

Can it also be noted that Ultra is an Englishman?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Bullsbok wrote:

ultra wrote:

munkian wrote:

ultra wrote:I genuinely think, (and hope), Wales will win. Oz look plain poor and Wales have the players. It will be a dent in your guys psyche building to nest year and of course Gatland knows this. So enough of the gallant loser, we did well shoite......play like you believe and you'll win. a loss will be disastrous for many reasons - Wales have better players, home advantage, NH reffing, the RWC isn't that far away anymore!

Have you watched any of the Aus matches since a toothless England beat them ? They have continued to improve with each game

I've watched every one. Ireland were Poor with a capital P and scotland were by far the more physical team. Had they had a back line like the one Wales will put out - they would have won. Wales will have the same physicality up front and a bit of bosh and guile behind them......Toothless England were better up front. Scotland were better up front. Wales will be better up front AND have the most lauded backs in the British Isles. Wales MUST win. (And will, I'm sure of it!)

I'll remember this post on Sunday morning   . Discount the Aussies at your own peril. We all know how well that turns out . 

Can it also be noted that Ultra is an Englishman?

exactly i dont think many a Welsh man would dare say that in public but privately perhaps under a blanket

Updated title  

Well......I was wrong but in deference to Aus, they did seem to be that little bit more intense than they have been for a while. They just seemed 'quicker' to a man than Wales, Such a shame. Haven't seen the full game tho'

l is for LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR

Well - I've just watched the whole game with a clear head and I've got to admit I'm confused. Wales ALLOWED Oz to play like they did. Why did they give Quade and his pals as much time as they did? I really don't understand it. They've seen Oz playing poorly when under pressure and forced to play on the back foot - against Eng and Sco - but still stood back??!?!?!  I wish Wales would play like this against us but of course they won't. They'll attack the breakdowns and push and rush in defense as the situation dictates and give all the 6n teams a headache. That's all they needed to do yesterday but they didn't turn up and I really don't know why. I hate this 'fear factor' nonsense but that's all it can be. I honestly think the scoreline flattered Wales with the way the game went and it must be in the collective minds of the Welsh that the game was lost. I'm not buying this plucky losers BS at all, Wales are a better team than Aus, they just forget that fact each autumn than kindly remember how good they are in the winter!!!