Bronze - Match Thread - NEW ZEALAND v WALES - 1/11/19 - K/O 09:00 GMT

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Again, making these early for the sake of ease and consistency.

NZ

Team:

1. Joe Moody (44)
2. Dane Coles (68)
3. Nepo Laulala (24)
4. Brodie Retallick (80)
5. Scott Barrett (35)
6. Shannon Frizell (8)
7. Sam Cane (67)
8. Kieran Read - captain (126)
9. Aaron Smith (91)
10. Richie Mo’unga (16)
11. Rieko Ioane (28)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (56)
13. Ryan Crotty (47)
14. Ben Smith (83)
15. Beauden Barrett (82)
16. Liam Coltman (7)
17. Atu Moli (7)
18. Angus Ta'avao (13)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (29)
20. Matt Todd (24)
21. Brad Weber (4)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (41)
23. Jordie Barrett (16)


WALES

Team:

1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (34 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (72 Caps)
3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (21 Caps)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys) (19 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (133 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (71 Caps)
7. James Davies (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (40 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (15 Caps)
10. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (18 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (20 Caps)
12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (21 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (80 Caps)
14. Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)
15. Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues) (21 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (27 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Saracens) (4 Caps)
18. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (21 Caps)
19. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (41 Caps)
20. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (25 Caps)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (50 Caps)
22. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (78 Caps)
23. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (24 Caps)

Injury update (Players not considered for selection):

Tomas Francis – Subluxation of left shoulder and will require ongoing assessment
George North – Hamstring injury
Aaron Wainwright – Hamstring injury
Leigh Halfpenny – Concussion​
Liam Williams - Ankle Surgery


Venue: Tokyo
Referee:
AR1:
AR2:
TMO:

[TightHEAD]

Noooo......

[BigGee]

Yes, great try Wales

Patience rewarded

[mikey_dragon]

Is Amos forgiven now? Not quite

[TightHEAD]

Wales on the board.

[Gooseberry]

Finally! I thought theyd scored off the line out tbh honest ...13 phases off the scrum going nowhere then a mess gives them the opportunity out wide. Well taken in the end but they had to work for it.

[BigGee]

Game is really coming to life, both sides trying to play it wide

[mikey_dragon]

Good to see us playing a bit. I don't see why we don't try and play this way more often, we could still beat teams playing this way.

NZ are very solid in the contact area. England did tremendously well to keep them out.

[TightHEAD]

Wales are fighting, good luck to them.

[Geordie]

Will we see a slight change in style post Gatland?
Wales are so much more entertaining when they release the shackles...

[BigGee]

Penalty Wales for handling on the ground, an easy 3 points

14-10 NZ

[Pal Joey]

Those beautiful Welsh girls again...

[Gooseberry]

Surprised they are taking the kick tbh, it was the perfect attacking position and a chance to keep heaping teh pressure on a defence already gasping for air. Getting that try on the previous attack was huge though, I reckon if theyd let that go begging Wales' heads wouldve dropped at 14-0 down. As it is we have a game!

[BigGee]

Brilliance by Ben Smith, but more poor tackling from Wales

[BigGee]

Moanga converts

21-10 NZ

[mikey_dragon]

Wrong call as ABs lying over it preventing the clearout, and foul play there after.

[BigGee]

Neither side looking after the ball very well atm!

[mikey_dragon]

I think that's the game now, pathetic tackling again.

[BigGee]

and another one for Ben Smith, you really do wonder why he was not playing in the semi final

[SecretFly]

Was he shouting 'One more! One more!' before they scored one more?

I love targets.

[Geordie]

Was Ben smith injured for the England game or was it just a poor selection by not picking him

[BigGee]

28-10 NZ at HT

A long way back for them now. Moriarty looks hurt as well

[Pal Joey]

Loved the face-palm. Clinical finish from Smith.

[BigGee]

Was Ben smith injured for the England game or was it just a poor selection by not picking him

In hindsight, a very poor selection. He looks like he is trying to make that point!

[No 7&1/2]

Williams looks a cracking scrum half.

[RDW]

Ben Smith is such a class act - he's been one of my favourite players of the last 5 years.

No idea why he didn't play a major role this WC.

[Geordie]

Was Ben smith injured for the England game or was it just a poor selection by not picking him

In hindsight, a very poor selection. He looks like he is trying to make that point!

It does look like a selection clanger. He might not have made a difference...we were very strong...but he is a classy player.

[EWT Spoons]

Listening to the game on the radio, and from the sound of what they are saying NZ are lucky to be winning, let alone by 18pts. Is that fair, or are they a touch one eyed?

[mikey_dragon]

28-10 NZ at HT

A long way back for them now. Moriarty looks hurt as well

Probably because he got a kick to the head. He asked Barnes to look at it, but was told to get lost. Very poor.

[Scottrf]

Listening to the game on the radio, and from the sound of what they are saying NZ are lucky to be winning, let alone by 18pts.  Is that fair, or are they a touch one eyed?

Umm, Wales are playing some nice running rugby but no, definitely not.

[Geordie]

Listening to the game on the radio, and from the sound of what they are saying NZ are lucky to be winning, let alone by 18pts.  Is that fair, or are they a touch one eyed?

No they are not lucky to be winning

[BigGee]

Listening to the game on the radio, and from the sound of what they are saying NZ are lucky to be winning, let alone by 18pts.  Is that fair, or are they a touch one eyed?

Maybe just slightly one eyed!

For Wales, tackling appears optional and NZ look dangerous every time they get the ball!

[SecretFly]

Listening to field sport commentary on radio is worse than having all your teeth pulled with no anaesthetic . Tortuous.

[Gooseberry]

Listening to the game on the radio, and from the sound of what they are saying NZ are lucky to be winning, let alone by 18pts.  Is that fair, or are they a touch one eyed?

Umm, Wales are playing some nice running rugby but no, definitely not.

They had the better of early possession and territory and really should have pressed for the second try rather than taking the 3 points. 
After that New Zealand have pretty much been through them like butter. 

the real difference seems to be NZ phase play gets much more penetration and go forward. Wales had an attacking position 5m out early on that ended up with them box kicking and losing possession from near the half way line. Even the try came from 13 phases of sideways play off a 5m scrum, it looked like they were never going to break the gain line. NZ on the other hand seem to get a metre or two even when the first tackle is made. 

Wales were giving it a go, but I suspect the second half will see them ship a few more tries and a few loose passes plucked off. Theres a few players who looked pretty tired and falling off tackles from early on. New Zealand are a fitter more dynamic side and as the game progresses that should show more and more. 

Saldy I cant see any way in which wales get back to make this look interesting, and a proper spanking is the more likely scenario.

[RiscaGame]

Shows the depth really. NZ make changes and look stronger and we don’t. Hope we stay in the fight.

[TightHEAD]

Why are Wales letting them play, first up tackle has to smash them and the next tackler has to do the same, England showed Gatland how to do it.

[BigGee]

Why are Wales letting them play, first up tackle has to smash them and the next tackler has to do the same, England showed Gatland how to do it.

To be fair TH, Wales are cooked. They have had a 5 day turnaround and have been decimated by injuries. This game is no reflection on them as a team, they were always likely to struggle in a game they don't really want or need to be playing

[RDW]

This could be a long second half for Wales.

I feel for them - they've limped home his tournament injury and personnel wise and are up against a really strong ABs team intent on putting in a statement after last week.

[BigGee]

Ben Smith hattrick

Hard to begrudge him it on his last game for NZ, but the game is rapidly becoming a training exercise

Anyway, struck off for a knock on, but the hattrick will likely come

[TightHEAD]

Thats harsh.

[Guest]

We’re holding something back..... erm.... for the next World Cup perhaps?!

[mikey_dragon]

Amos doing his thing again.

[BigGee]

What a great passage from Wales and what a brilliant read and tackle from SBW

[Guest]

Amos has had a mare of a World Cup! The try earlier aside. Probably due to joining Cardiff Blues. See, if he’d stayed at the mighty Dragons he wouldn’t be making these sort of mistakes! And he’d be beating the likes of Glasgow regularly (100% record against them this season!).

[BigGee]

AWJ gets a great send off on his WC swansong

[BigGee]

Some other great players also saying their goodbyes as well now

[RDW]

Any idea how long AWJ is planning on playing?

He'll be 36 next Lions tour - can he keep going that long?

[BigGee]

Adams scores another one for Wales, he has certainly had a decent WC

[Old Man]

That try should be disallowed, clearing the defender in front of Adams.

[BigGee]

Any idea how long AWJ is planning on playing?

He'll be 36 next Lions tour - can he keep going that long?

He is not saying much on that front other than he is not done yet. I guess he has got to get back to the day job and see if the fire still burns

[Tramptastic]

Simon Shaw was 38 on the 2009 lions tour I thought?

Totally feasible for AWJ to make 2021, just whether his body holds out until then!

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