Wales vs New Zealand 25 June 2016

New Zealand v Wales, 18 June

Post by George Carlin on Wed 15 Jun 2016, 2:16 am
       
NEW ZEALAND v WALES
25 June 2016
19:35 NZST (UTC+12)
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live on [tbc]

Referee:  Jérôme Garcès
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Andrew Lees
Television match official: George Ayoub

A. Head to Head

32 Played 32
29 Won 3
0 Drawn 0
3 Lost 29
991 Points 350

B. Recent Form

18 June 2016 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington: 36-22 to New Zealand

11 June 2016 - Eden Park, Auckland: 39-21 to New Zealand

22 November 2014 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff: 16 – 34 to New Zealand

24 November 2012 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff: 10 – 33 to New Zealand

27 November 2010 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff: 25 – 37 to New Zealand

26 June 2010 - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton: 29 – 10 to New Zealand

19 June 2010 - Carisbrook, Dunedin: 42 – 9 to New Zealand

7 November 2009 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff: 12 – 19 to New Zealand

C. Teams

NEW ZEALAND

Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, George Moala, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea,  Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Elliot Dixon, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt).

Replacements: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi,  Luke Romano,  Liam Squire, Tawera Kerr-Barlow,  Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo.

WALES

Rhys Patchell, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Sam Warburton (capt), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee,  Jake Ball, Ellis Jenkins, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams.

Has everyone left the building?

Not sure about Francis coming in, unless his fitness has improved markedly in the month Wales have been in camp.

We're all on the football bandwagon. Not a big footie fan personally, but proud of the team nonetheless, and hopefully it's just the beginning of a new era.

Anyway I can't see this test being any different from the previous two tests. All Blacks still have a vastly superior bench, plus Francis is too unfit. We should do a bit better in the collisions now though, so I'd like to see us attack from a driving lineout.

mikey_dragon wrote:We're all on the football bandwagon. Not a big footie fan personally, but proud of the team nonetheless, and hopefully it's just the beginning of a new era.

Anyway I can't see this test being any different from the previous two tests. All Blacks still have a vastly superior bench, plus Francis is too unfit. We should do a bit better in the collisions now though, so I'd like to see us attack from a driving lineout.

That would require us winning our lineout first Mikey

Owens has been a lot better than Baldwin in that regard. I've noticed that we don't change our lineout calls often enough, especially when the ref asks us to retake it for whatever reason. It's stupid. No wonder the ABs keep picking them off.

I would love too see Wales beat the All Blacks. But every time you read the match stats, it reads the Welsh team lacked the fitness to keep up with New Zrealand.

So unless Wales have ben given a fitnesss boost since last week end. Then i only see New Zealand being the out right winners here.

Warburton said Wales needed to be fitter - however I think he is wrong, and the assumption that NZ pull away because they are fitter is erroneous.

My belief is that NZ are not significantly fitter than their opposition, but make better decisions and execute their skills better when they are tired than their opposition do. This is mostly due to having better skills and an inherent understanding of the game.

In the short term, there is little NH sides can do except to improve their fitness so they are less tired when trying to execute skills at the end of games, but there are limits to what that can achieve. Ultimately executing skills and making better decisions needs to become second nature - irrespective of how many minutes are on the clock.

My social team does drills based around fatigued decision making I assume the RFU aren't alone in peddling this idea to coaches in their system.

I just think this Welsh team lacks decision makers out on the pitch. There's a huge amount of pressure on the Welsh half backs to run the show. There is no real replacement for Biggar either and so either a lesser decision maker takes to the field or he is forced to operate under increasing levels of fatigue. Maybe having Pratchell at fullback will help with this.

majesticimperialman wrote:I would love too see Wales beat the All Blacks. But every time you read the match stats, it reads the Welsh team lacked the fitness to keep up with New Zrealand.

What stats are those?

I like a lot of what Shag and the coaching team have done with this team.

He has to consider the ongoing welfare of his players bearing in mind that these guys have to get through a lot more Super rugby before screaming straight into a Rugby Championship programme.

Besides the replacements for injured players Moala and Sopoaga, attempts are now being made to extend the playing group. looking really forward to see how Dixon and Squire go at this level.they have to prove themselves.

The problem as one see`s it is replacing 10,12,13,a reliable goal kicker
and a 7.
We have a situation where two players are needed to replace McCaw.
Matt Todd at some point deserves a run there on current form,with
SBW and the Ioane brothers plus injured players.
It`s a case of who to leave out long term,Ben Smith as a replacement
for Conrad would be my choice.[did a good job when Conrad was on sabbactical]
BUT a Goalkicker is a must playing teams like SA at Ellis park.

Its nearly nine months since McCaw last played for the ABs, and the void he left is being filled fast, depending on who the opposition will determine who starts as seven, whether it be the art and craft of Sam Cane or the bash and dash of Savea. the captaincy is well and truely covered with Read.

In this test Shag has deemed it not necessary to have more than one specialist number seven in the playing 23.

and only one specialist 13.

Too right Not grey etc. I don't care about replacing McCaw its replacing C Smith that's the real issue

A quick look at the record book shows that Wales has only once been beaten at Dunedin, 42 - 9.

I fear for the Welsh today. They have some real talent, but much like everyone else, not enough to overcome these All Blacks.

Its obviously very difficult to tell, however my thoughts are that Wales have improved and will take real positives from this tour. I've always thought Ozy and now to a lesser degree Argentina have benefited from their AB exposure and so I think it will be the same for Wales, even if its 3 zip on the card.

Anyway, lets fight the good fight and win (I'm a 16th Welsh to an immigrant by the name of Owen Owens!)

2 knock ons by NZ in the first 2 minutes. These guys need to work on their handling skills.

Looks like Richie didn't pass on his invisibility cloak either

What a finish.

Ohh that was close ... looks like he got the ball down a billi-second before knee in touch - well taken.

ABs starting to look dangerous now - just a slight lack of precision slowing them down.  Think Wales need to keep hold of the ball for a bit.

Another close call - after Wales kick the ball away and nearly get punished.

Good effort by Williams though to prevent the try.  Been impressed with him throughout this series.

Wales kicking game is killing them

Terrible from Wales, really terrible. Just not clinical enough. I still firmly believe that the Welsh set up needed a fresh set of coaches under Gatland to take them forward, they are in limbo.

Yes - they have good players but they are not playing to the sum of their parts IMO.

18 - 6 to ABs at half time.

Well taken tries by Smith (B) and George of the Jungle Moala, Wales have been ruthless in defense lets see them score a try.

Heaf wrote:Yes - they have good players but they are not playing to the sum of their parts IMO.

Unlike New Zealand where they have both

nathan wrote:Wales kicking game is killing them

Agree, its not really wise to kick deep to Dagg and Smith without pressuring them. Give them space to counter and they will welcome it. The tactics are very poor from Wales.

Missed chance at the end there for Wales - although I'd like to see more YCs by refs when players are cynically killing the ball/slowing down on the line even if it's the first offence - if a player is warned repeatedly to get away and ignores the ref he should go for a rest.

eirebilly wrote:

nathan wrote:Wales kicking game is killing them

Agree, its not really wise to kick deep to Dagg and Smith without pressuring them. Give them space to counter and they will welcome it. The tactics are very poor from Wales.

Yes if they don't sort this out it could get ugly for Wales.

Bit of a weird call to bin him then, thought it should of happened on their own line at the end of the second half

nathan wrote:Wales kicking game is killing them

Again? Surely not.

offload wrote:

nathan wrote:Wales kicking game is killing them

Again? Surely not.  

Do you think this tactics or poor form in that aspect from the 9 and 10

Heaf wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

nathan wrote:Wales kicking game is killing them

Agree, its not really wise to kick deep to Dagg and Smith without pressuring them. Give them space to counter and they will welcome it. The tactics are very poor from Wales.

Yes if they don't sort this out it could get ugly for Wales.

Its the main reason why I feel they required a new set of coaches under Gatland. Just far too static.

Not taking anything away from the All Blacks who are a great side but Wales are shooting themselves in the foot time and time again by being far too predictable and not clinical enough when they attack.

I know the AB counter attack is brilliant, but if you miss so many tackles and kick like amateurs, any team can look brilliant.  The AB back three must think all their Christmases have come at once playing this lot.

Wales not learning kick the ball out

Wtf Frak biggar , don't even wait for your team to get in position and then kick it straight back to NZ

nathan wrote:Bit of a weird call to bin him then, thought it should of happened on their own line at the end of the second half

Indeed ...  the cloak was definitely not passed down from the master ...

Why's he got a bin liner to hold his hair up

Poor from biggar again

Can't wait to watch the football tonight.

Amos and Prat have been poor defence poor

Late tackle missed before after JD? kicked through and was then tackled?

offload wrote:I know the AB counter attack is brilliant, but if you miss so many tackles and kick like amateurs, any team can look brilliant.  The AB back three must think all their Christmases have come at once playing this lot.

I know our execution isn't good enough and we're second best in the collisions by some margin, but Wales look like they're under old orders. Their ball-play and energy that was evident from the first two tests just isn't there.

mikey_dragon wrote:

offload wrote:I know the AB counter attack is brilliant, but if you miss so many tackles and kick like amateurs, any team can look brilliant.  The AB back three must think all their Christmases have come at once playing this lot.

I know our execution isn't good enough and we're second best in the collisions by some margin, but Wales look like they're under old orders. Their ball-play and energy that was evident from the first two tests just isn't there.

I agree. They have offered nothing in attack. Overall they are as poor as I've seen in a while.

mikey_dragon wrote:

offload wrote:I know the AB counter attack is brilliant, but if you miss so many tackles and kick like amateurs, any team can look brilliant.  The AB back three must think all their Christmases have come at once playing this lot.

I know our execution isn't good enough and we're second best in the collisions by some margin, but Wales look like they're under old orders. Their ball-play and energy that was evident from the first two tests just isn't there.

That's not an excuse for their poor kicking though which is what is putting themselves under more pressure. They need to make touch and slow the game down

Hmmm, New Zealand straight of their feet

Wales are just dreadful. Kicking game is hopeless. No plan B - not even sure there is a plan A.
Wales badly need new coaches. Gatland has to go and please don't let him coach the Lions - this series is proves he has nothing of substance to offer.

It's frustrating as you know they can be better than this - in reality the ABs have counter attacked well but they've also been making plenty of uncharacteristic mistakes but Wales haven't been able to take advantage of this.

Wales are out of their depth defence poor, slow, not challenging in line outs, kicking dire and no attack the look like missing the plane home.