Wales v Tonga Saturday 17th November 2018

Wales v Tonga

Date: Saturday 17th November 2018

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Kick Off: 2:30pm

14:00-16:30, Wales v Tonga, BBC One (13:55, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; 14:00-19:00, BBC Radio Wales)

15. Jonah Holmes (*Uncapped)
14. Liam Williams (49 Caps)
13. Tyler Morgan (4 Caps)
12. Owen Watkin (6 Caps)
11. Steff Evans (11 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (63 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (4 Caps)
1. Wyn Jones (9 Caps)
2. Elliot Dee (11 Caps)
3. Leon Brown (4 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (28 Caps)
5. Adam Beard (6 Caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (1 Cap)
7. Ellis Jenkins (9 Caps) (Capt)
8. Seb Davies (6 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Ryan Elias (5 Caps)
17. Rob Evans (29 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (34 Caps)
19. Cory Hill (20 Caps)
20. Ross Moriarty (25 Caps)
21. Aled Davies (11 Caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (10 Caps)
23. Josh Adams (5 Caps)?

Tonga (v Wales)
15. Vungakoto Lilo (Montauban, 42 caps)

14. Viliami Lolohea (Tasman, 3)
13. Alaska Taufa (Grenoble, 12)
12. Siale Piutau (Bristol Bears, captain, 34)
11. Daniel Kilioni (Grenoble, 12)

10. Kurt Morath (Doncaster Knights, 33)
9. Sonatane Takulua (Newcastle Falcons, 28)

1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (Stade Francais Paris, 5)
2. Paula Ngauamo (Agen, 15)
3. Ma'afu Fia (Ospreys, Uncapped)
4. Leva Fifita (Grenoble, 8)
5. Sitiveni Mafi (Castres Olympique, 27)
6. Dan Faleafa (Coventry, 17)
7. Fotu Lokotui (Counties Manukau, 5)
8. Sione Vailanu (Saracens, 2)

Replacements
16. Sefo Sakalia (Kolomotu'a, 5)
17. Latu Talakai (Waikato, 4)
18. Paea Fa'anunu (Castres Olympique, 7)
19. Onehunga Havili (Exeter Chiefs, 2)
20. Mike Faleafa (Perpignan, 5)
21. Leon Fukofuka (Auckland, 1)
22. Kali Hala (Counties Manukau, 9(
23. 'Atieli Pakalani (NSW Country Eagles, 4)

I predict a close game, a rollercoaster ride for the fans, with some dire play in general from Wales and a lot of passion and commitment from Tonga. Wales to start well and go a score or two up and will then take their foot off the gas. Tonga will come back to within a point or two, they'll smell blood and will put everything in to it and it'll become a game of attrition finishing with just a few points separating the teams (but Wales to win. Just).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N90lSdFI4ZI

French Baabaas v Tonga

Squad announcement delayed until Thursday as Gatland is pondering a much changed team.

Big mistake in my honest opinion, Tonga looked sharp on the weekend, Wales don't want another game like Georgia last year.

We have a game like Georgia EVERY year! Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Canada, Romania ..... we've been there before plenty of times when we put out our much changed team.

It is a massive sign of the times, when we look to make wholesale changes, and we could still be bringing in British & Irish Lions in instead of the players who started the other games.

Theres talk of Wales starting Cory Hill at 6 and Seb Davies at 8 for this game.

Horrific idea. Why be ridiculous with the changes? There’s a few good, experienced players that need game time and for the love of god relinquish the rule preventing Webb from playing.

Webb cant play? Isnt he your beat 9?

yappysnap wrote:Webb cant play? Isnt he your beat 9?

Have you been hibernating for a few months?! Haha.

It's been in the news a fair bit - he's caught up in the new WRU caps rule. He's overseas and has less than 60 caps.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/punches-thrown-fight-breaks-out-15408036

What has it come too?

What has that got to do with this match ?

LordDowlais wrote:What has that got to do with this match ?

Nothing, though I doubt they would be brave enough to punch a Tongan woman in the back of the head!!

Ugly scenes, but I’d hardly call it a fight. I was expecting a FIGHT!

LordDowlais wrote:What has that got to do with this match ?

Everything if you are taking women and children to the game who have the opposition teams colours on.

Punching a Woman in the back of the head is pretty shocking and by the look of it the stewarding was pretty hopeless.

Tonga to stick it up jumper for 80 minutes and against a young pack may get some traction hence expect to see Ball, Hill and possibly Davies involved

Hill at six wouldn’t be the worst thing, in a sense that Gatland likes a tackler at 6. Hull does ok with his tackling figures normally, I think? Gatland also favours jumping options in his backrow too.

I don’t see the need to try it though. I think we have enough backrow players who can cover positions. I can’t imagine the need to have to play Hill or Davies in the back row at all, in a competitive game. Otherwise we are stuffed anyway.

Is Halfpenny going to be fit for this weeks game?

Or is he still in recovery?

I believe Halfpenny suffered concusssion, officially, so he’ll need to take the mandatory rest period. Can’t remember what it is but prettty sure it’s at least a week (maybe 2?) so he’ll be out.

Doubt he would have played anyway as Gats will be resting the ‘big guns’. I reckon we might see someone like Adams at 15. Maybe Amos? But he’s returning from injury so might be too soon. Patchell? Or maybe Patchell back to 10 and Anscombe at 15?

I was not sure if there was a limit on time out from concussion, that is why i asked if he would be playing this week or not.

Two of the back three are likely to be Steff Evans and Jordan Holmes, to give them a run. Depends where he wants to play Holmes really, as he might want to give Luke Morgan another start too?

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:What has that got to do with this match ?

Everything if you are taking women and children to the game who have the opposition teams colours on.

Punching a Woman in the back of the head is pretty shocking and by the look of it the stewarding was pretty hopeless.

Well start another thread for it if you feel that strongly? Because posting a whinge on 606v2 always travels far and wide right? You sure showed those nasty people.

Hill isn’t a bad option at 6 at all, and he’s quicker than Lydiate who might be our only 6 in the squad. I don’t see the requirement for Seb Davies in this form and especially in the back-row where he isn’t very good. Jenkins should hopefully start at 7 while Navidi should have been called up if someone else other than Moriarty is required to play 8. A few of our front-rowers are good breakdown players so I don’t think we lose much there. As Davies was so slow and ponderous on the weekend, Williams not much better and umm... Aled Davies being the final option it’s fair to say scrum half is a concern again.

Also, I wonder if Gats selects Evans at 10 with Anscombe at 15? Tomos Williams would then start too I guess. Some others I’d like to see start are Rob Evans, Elliot Dee, Jake Ball, Liam Williams... maybe Holmes.

majesticimperialman wrote:I was not sure if there was a limit on time out from concussion, that is why i asked if he would be playing this week or not.

There is no minimum time any more, just the Return To Play Protocols ( so I guess a fully this can be a minimum). You are not allowed to do any training till you are symptom free. Then you can start light training for a set time progressing through to contact training and then playing. I believe the shortest time is 5 days.

Google the protocols for more details.

RiscaGame wrote:Two of the back three are likely to be Steff Evans and Jordan Holmes, to give them a run. Depends where he wants to play Holmes really, as he might want to give Luke Morgan another start too?

Jonah

mikey_dragon wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:What has that got to do with this match ?

Everything if you are taking women and children to the game who have the opposition teams colours on.

Punching a Woman in the back of the head is pretty shocking and by the look of it the stewarding was pretty hopeless.

Well start another thread for it if you feel that strongly? Because posting a whinge on 606v2 always travels far and wide right? You sure showed those nasty people.

Don't cry about it.

LondonTiger wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Two of the back three are likely to be Steff Evans and Jordan Holmes, to give them a run. Depends where he wants to play Holmes really, as he might want to give Luke Morgan another start too?

Jonah

Haha. Yeah, I don’t know where that came from.

Must’ve got it confused with the footballer

Teams Up.

15. Jonah Holmes (*Uncapped)
14. Liam Williams (49 Caps)
13. Tyler Morgan (4 Caps)
12. Owen Watkin (6 Caps)
11. Steff Evans (11 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (63 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (4 Caps)
1. Wyn Jones (9 Caps)
2. Elliot Dee (11 Caps)
3. Leon Brown (4 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (28 Caps)
5. Adam Beard (6 Caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (1 Cap)
7. Ellis Jenkins (9 Caps) (Capt)
8. Seb Davies (6 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Ryan Elias (5 Caps)
17. Rob Evans (29 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (34 Caps)
19. Cory Hill (20 Caps)
20. Ross Moriarty (25 Caps)
21. Aled Davies (11 Caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (10 Caps)
23. Josh Adams (5 Caps)?

I think Tonga will give this team a hard time.

Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot when you aim is to go unbeaten in this AI series.

Not too bad a team from us. Feel for Seb a Davies a bit. There are a few players there who will feel they could/should be first choice, so will be keen to impress (2,4,5,7,10,14), then you have other players who might feel they should have been given more opportunities.

Feel a bit for Jarrod Evans not even making the 23 mind.

We need this midfield to do well on Saturday, for at least one of them to look like they could step into the proper Test side without it being significantly weakened. We've strengthened in some areas, like the second row, but midfield's a bit of a worry. Even with Scott Williams to come back, we're an injury away from having a problem there.

mikey_dragon wrote:Hill isn’t a bad option at 6 at all, and he’s quicker than Lydiate who might be our only 6 in the squad. I don’t see the requirement for Seb Davies in this form and especially in the back-row where he isn’t very good. Jenkins should hopefully start at 7 while Navidi should have been called up if someone else other than Moriarty is required to play 8. A few of our front-rowers are good breakdown players so I don’t think we lose much there. As Davies was so slow and ponderous on the weekend, Williams not much better and umm... Aled Davies being the final option it’s fair to say scrum half is a concern again.

Also, I wonder if Gats selects Evans at 10 with Anscombe at 15? Tomos Williams would then start too I guess. Some others I’d like to see start are Rob Evans, Elliot Dee, Jake Ball, Liam Williams... maybe Holmes.

Navidi is injured. That's why Wainwright is in the squad.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:We need this midfield to do well on Saturday, for at least one of them to look like they could step into the proper Test side without it being significantly weakened. We've strengthened in some areas, like the second row, but midfield's a bit of a worry. Even with Scott Williams to come back, we're an injury away from having a problem there.

I’d love Tyler Morgan to do well as a Dragons fan, but I do wonder what he’s done to get in? Been injured for ages and just returned so not had a chance to show any form, but not set the world alight before injury either. It’s a big ask for him to step up to international rugby after so little club rugby this season. Also, it’s a brand new centre partnership against a (probably) very physical opposition. It’s got train wreck written all over it.

With doubts over 1/2p for SA game, I am surprised to see Holmes at FB and Williams on the wing. Gats mentions that Sarries have been playing him on the wing, which is true, but then Holmes has just 2 games at FB in his career. I like the fact there is still room for late bloomers like Jonah even if I do not think he is good enough to be playing for Wales. I certainly don't believe he will be playing against SA so it surely would have made sense to give Williams a run out in his Lions position.

LondonTiger wrote:With doubts over 1/2p for SA game, I am surprised to see Holmes at FB and Williams on the wing. Gats mentions that Sarries have been playing him on the wing, which is true, but then Holmes has just 2 games at FB in his career. I like the fact there is still room for late bloomers like Jonah even if I do not think he is good enough to be playing for Wales. I certainly don't believe he will be playing against SA so it surely would have made sense to give Williams a run out in his Lions position.

Patchell or Anscombe might be in Gatlands mind at FB for SA. I agree though - I think I would have switched Williams and Holmes to full back and wing respectively for this one.

LondonTiger wrote:With doubts over 1/2p for SA game, I am surprised to see Holmes at FB and Williams on the wing. Gats mentions that Sarries have been playing him on the wing, which is true, but then Holmes has just 2 games at FB in his career. I like the fact there is still room for late bloomers like Jonah even if I do not think he is good enough to be playing for Wales. I certainly don't believe he will be playing against SA so it surely would have made sense to give Williams a run out in his Lions position.

I’ve just read Gatland’s Lions diary book thing and it’s clear he doesn’t really trust Liam Williams. He seemed to mention his mistakes a fair bit, more than other players.

I would play Williams at 15 as first choice, but you can never knock Halfpenny for his defensive positioning, which is what Team Wales currently aim towards.

Phil, I think Wainwright might’ve made the squad, as he seems a key squad member despite his appearances. They rave about him because of his athleticism etc.

TightHEAD wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:What has that got to do with this match ?

Everything if you are taking women and children to the game who have the opposition teams colours on.

Punching a Woman in the back of the head is pretty shocking and by the look of it the stewarding was pretty hopeless.

Well start another thread for it if you feel that strongly? Because posting a whinge on 606v2 always travels far and wide right? You sure showed those nasty people.

Don't cry about it.

How do you come out with that though when you were the one crying about it?

Say lads isn’t HERSH still a Cardiff resident and also a regular at the MS? Thankfully the security ejected him after that cowardly act .

TightHEAD wrote:I think Tonga will give this team a hard time.

Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot when you aim is to go unbeaten in this AI series.

Will have whatever you’re on please, seems a bit trippy.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:We need this midfield to do well on Saturday, for at least one of them to look like they could step into the proper Test side without it being significantly weakened. We've strengthened in some areas, like the second row, but midfield's a bit of a worry. Even with Scott Williams to come back, we're an injury away from having a problem there.

Owen Watkin looks ready. Morgan is probably another injury waiting to happen, in previous seasons he did look almost ready though.

RiscaGame wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:With doubts over 1/2p for SA game, I am surprised to see Holmes at FB and Williams on the wing. Gats mentions that Sarries have been playing him on the wing, which is true, but then Holmes has just 2 games at FB in his career. I like the fact there is still room for late bloomers like Jonah even if I do not think he is good enough to be playing for Wales. I certainly don't believe he will be playing against SA so it surely would have made sense to give Williams a run out in his Lions position.

I’ve just read Gatland’s Lions diary book thing and it’s clear he doesn’t really trust Liam Williams. He seemed to mention his mistakes a fair bit, more than other players.

I would play Williams at 15 as first choice, but you can never knock Halfpenny for his defensive positioning, which is what Team Wales currently aim towards.

Phil, I think Wainwright might’ve made the squad, as he seems a key squad member despite his appearances. They rave about him because of his athleticism etc.

That’s nice. Did he also talk about how much of a complete letdown Kruis was, and how AWJ had to teach Itoje how to play?

Good to see you're just as obsessed when school finishes in your time zone mikey

Tonga (v Wales)
15. Vungakoto Lilo (Montauban, 42 caps)

14. Viliami Lolohea (Tasman, 3)
13. Alaska Taufa (Grenoble, 12)
12. Siale Piutau (Bristol Bears, captain, 34)
11. Daniel Kilioni (Grenoble, 12)

10. Kurt Morath (Doncaster Knights, 33)
9. Sonatane Takulua (Newcastle Falcons, 28)

1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (Stade Francais Paris, 5)
2. Paula Ngauamo (Agen, 15)
3. Ma'afu Fia (Ospreys, Uncapped)
4. Leva Fifita (Grenoble, 8)
5. Sitiveni Mafi (Castres Olympique, 27)
6. Dan Faleafa (Coventry, 17)
7. Fotu Lokotui (Counties Manukau, 5)
8. Sione Vailanu (Saracens, 2)

Replacements
16. Sefo Sakalia (Kolomotu'a, 5) 17. Latu Talakai (Waikato, 4) 18. Paea Fa'anunu (Castres Olympique, 7) 19. Onehunga Havili (Exeter Chiefs, 2) 20. Mike Faleafa (Perpignan, 5) 21. Leon Fukofuka (Auckland, 1) 22. Kali Hala (Counties Manukau, 9( 23. 'Atieli Pakalani (NSW Country Eagles, 4)

TightHEAD wrote:Tonga (v Wales)

1. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi (Stade Francais Paris, 5)2. Paula Ngauamo (Agen, 15)3. Ma'afu Fia (Ospreys, Uncapped)4. Leva Fifita (Grenoble, 8)5. Sitiveni Mafi (Castres Olympique, 27)6. Dan Faleafa (Coventry, 17)7. Fotu Lokotui (Counties Manukau, 5)8. Sione Vailanu (Saracens, 2)

Replacements
16. Sefo Sakalia (Kolomotu'a, 5)17. Latu Talakai (Waikato, 4)18. Paea Fa'anunu (Castres Olympique, 7)19. Onehunga Havili (Exeter Chiefs, 2)20. Mike Faleafa (Perpignan, 5)21. Leon Fukofuka (Auckland, 1)22. Kali Hala (Counties Manukau, 9(23. 'Atieli Pakalani (NSW Country Eagles, 4)

Tonga so confident they are not bothering with backs?

Tonga don't do Backs!

They just field props and backrowers who can run a bit.

I think Wales will struggle to control the game, can only see them scrapping home in the last 10mins, which will be good enough on the day but will leave the fans a little frustrated with the performance.

BamBam wrote:Good to see you're just as obsessed when school finishes in your time zone mikey

Eh?

Honest question, did you catch that passage in Gatland’s book?

TightHEAD wrote:I think Wales will struggle to control the game, can only see them scrapping home in the last 10mins, which will be good enough on the day but will leave the fans a little frustrated with the performance.

I think it will go how the Italy game went, or how the Argentina game went; Wales in complete control in both btw.

TightHEAD wrote:I think Wales will struggle to control the game, can only see them scrapping home in the last 10mins, which will be good enough on the day but will leave the fans a little frustrated with the performance.

I imagine they will struggle as much as you do to find your twig and berries

Should be a comfortable win for Wales.

Moral victory for Tonga though due to Wales being offside the whole game