Wales v NZ

[Sandydragon]

How up for it are your props. I heard Georgia savaged them a bit last week, but that wasn't this front row was it?

First choice props were nowhere near that team. Our starting props last Saturday were Nikki smith who isn’t a renowned scrummager and a teenager. Rob Evans is a lot more competent, Francis, is well um, er....

[Sandydragon]

The Fail release their team ..it was pretty bang on last time

The probable Wales team: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Steff Evans, 13. Scott Williams, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Hallam Amos, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb, 1. Rob Evans, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Aaron Shingler, 7. Josh Navidi, 8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Gareth Davies, Jamie Roberts, Rhys Priestland, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Leon Brown, Justin Tipuric, Wyn Jones

Roberts on the bench and Williams starting...just goes to show how things change in 3 weeks .

They are forecasting for Wyn Jones to be on the bench ahead of Nicky Smith .

That would be pretty good. I'd prefer to start Priestland (especially since no kicking would be required from him), and Watkin would be better than Roberts IMO. I assume they're easing Tips back rather than preferring Navidi.

Not much gain line making ability in that back line, unless Scott Williams steps up.

[zer0]

You bastards had best not pull that uncontested scrums malarkey again, then.

[PoolerSaint]

Nice to see Leon Browns cramp has cleared up well enough for him to take a place on the bench. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Ross. S]

You bastards had best not pull that uncontested scrums malarkey again, then.

We wont cheat only if you agree to do the same

[Tre]

How up for it are your props. I heard Georgia savaged them a bit last week, but that wasn't this front row was it?

Rob Evans is the best passer in the team and Tom Francis is a waste of (a lot) of skin.

[Ross. S]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42102712

Reid is out

[ALunpg]

You bastards had best not pull that uncontested scrums malarkey again, then.

We wont cheat only if you agree to do the same

Does that mean we have free rein to jump out of the lineout when there is no one near us to get a penalty

[kk67]

How up for it are your props. I heard Georgia savaged them a bit last week, but that wasn't this front row was it?

Rob Evans is the best passer in the team and Tom Francis is a waste of (a lot) of skin.

Ken Owens is looking good. Nice hands.

[ALunpg]

How up for it are your props. I heard Georgia savaged them a bit last week, but that wasn't this front row was it?

Rob Evans is the best passer in the team and Tom Francis is a waste of (a lot) of skin.

Wales have not had a tighthead who can pass for errrr.... a while....Gethin was quite adept when he doubled up on both sides of the scrum.

It is why I really hope Brown and a few others make the step up before 2019 to give us an option.

[Lizard]

It’s been a bit of a funny tour for the All Blacks; dodging both England and Ireland and playing the Baabaas first instead of last. I suspect the intention when scheduling was that Wales would be the sternest test but after Scotland came to the party (and seeing what happened against Georgia) that’s far from certain.

Given the less than convincing displays in the tests, and the provision of a mid-week game to try the youngsters out, I think we will not see much gambling with the selection from Hansen.

Probable team:

K. S. Hames
C. J. D. Taylor
N. E. Laulala
S. K. Barrett P. T. Tuipulotu
S. L. Whitelock (C)
V. Fifita L. I. Squire
S. J. Cane
K. J. Read L. Whitelock
A. L. Smith
B. J. Barrett
S. Tamanivalu R. Ioane
S. W. Williams
R. S. Crotty
W. R. Naholo
D. S. McKenzie

N. Harris
W. W. V. Crockett
O. Tu'ungafasi
P. T. Tuipulotu S. K. Barrett
L. I. Squire M. Todd
T. T. R. Perenara
L. Z. Sopoaga
A. Lienert-Brown

So that’s S. Barrett in for the injured Romano. Tuipulotu is the other lock choice but is usually preferred off the bench. I think we will roll with him as specialist lock cover rather than force two loosies on to the bench again. Squire’s abrasive play will see him get the nod there unless Hansen really wants to have another look at A. Savea in test colours. The only change will be replacing Ioane - Tamanivalu’s relative experience sees him as the obvious choice (Havili is an outside chance).

Coles (knee), Kaino (knee), Ioane (shoulder), Romano (foot) are out from the original tour squad. Liam Coltman, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Brodie Retallick, Jordie Barrett, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ben Smith did not tour for various reasons.

So it turns out I don't know shit. I got Tuipulotu and S. Barrett round the wrong way. Fifita isn't in the 23 while Squire starts and Todd benches. Read has a bung hip so is replaced by Luke Whitelock (bit of a worry IMHO) while Luke's brother Sam gets the captaincy. My backs picks were closer, and would have been 100% but Ioane isn't injured out after all.

[cashead]

Andy Haden did nothing wrong.

[cashead]

replaced by Luke Whitelock (bit of a worry IMHO)

Nah, he's fine.

[ALunpg]

The AB still look a good team and the non playing unavailable team looks ok as well

I can't see anything but a good win for the Blacks it should be interesting to see how the Welsh new boys react to what for some will be probably their biggest challenge in their playing careers so far.

That's my excuse in and logged

[Sourdust]

I don't want to be the party-pooper, guys, but I've got a confession to make: I don't think we're going to win this one. Outrageous, I know; especially since it's only 29 games since we last did them over. But I've just got an uneasy feeling that they might be a smidge better than us. Don't shoot me!

[Lord Llandaff]

We are pretty poor atm and we are missing probably our two best backs. Fart's chance in a furnace I fear.

[wayneha50]

Scotland putting 50pts on Australia really gives us an idea of where we are currently.

[Lord Llandaff]

Our biggest problem is that we are now attempting to play a style that we should have switched to at least 2 years ago... and it shows

[Nightynight]

Wales doesn’t have the quality players at the moment. Pure and simple......

[padprop]

How does TJ Perenara always make this NZ squad? All I ever seem him do is miss a tackle or squeal at the ref.

[WaspInWales]

Wales doesn’t have the quality players at the moment. Pure and simple......

And yet, they have an excellent chance of winning this.

[morepork]

How does TJ Perenara always make this NZ squad? All I ever seem him do is miss a tackle or squeal at the ref.

Because of his support lines and link play.

[Nightynight]

Wales doesn’t have the quality players at the moment. Pure and simple......

And yet, they have an excellent chance of winning this.

Wooops
Can’t score once in the red zone......

[bruce]

Ioane seems a bit of a gobshite

[WaspInWales]

Wales doesn’t have the quality players at the moment. Pure and simple......

And yet, they have an excellent chance of winning this.

Wooops
Can’t score once in the red zone......

Wasn't a bad effort though.

The ABs are number 1 for a reason. They haven't been at their best this tour but they've won every match.