Semi Final - South Africa

[Buggaluggs]

That's bad news indeed. He's one of a small group of players who have genuinely troubled the ABs in recent times.

[bruce]

FFS just as I was on the upwards curve.

[Mikey Brown]

Id go balls to the wall then and play Patchell at 15.

That's a tough one. As a neutral I'd love to see it, and it might help balance at your... errr... stodgy midfield. Depends if you're trying to fight fire with fire really or willing to try something else at the last moment, which seems very un-Gatland. Has Halfpenny not got it in him in any more?

Shame not to see this match with Kolbe, Davies, Williams.

[Hooky]

Patchell at 15 is mental. Halfpenny has what it takes and he's a big game player

[Lizard]

That’s a bugger.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Id go balls to the wall then and play Patchell at 15.

Agreed. We don't need halfpenny's kicking with Biggar (and Patchell isn't too shabby either), and Patchell can bring a little extra spark to the attack. Also, as the France match showed us, Gatland is unlikely to sub Biggar, so this is our only chance to see much of Patchell.

(It's bad news to lose Liam but he hasn't been at his best - he's not been bad but he's had a quiet tournament.)

However, I think it's extremely unlikely that Gatland will do anything other than pick Halfpenny.

[Lizard]

Wales team named:

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Aaron Shingler, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Owen Watkin.

[normanski]

Wales team named:

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Aaron Shingler, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Owen Watkin.

Pretty much as expected.

There’s heavy rain in Yokohama and the pitch has a covering of water so the going will be heavy unless it dries up tomorrow.

We’re used to playing on wet surfaces; the Boks like dry hard pitches so that might play a little in our favour.

Lizard: how do you see Saturday’s game going? Could be a titanic battle.

[Sandydragon]

Heavy weather could make it a real slog of a game which frankly makes the presence of Bigger and Halfpenny very sensible.

If Liam were fit I would definitely be starting him, but in the circumstances, Halfpenny will do well for us.

I'm more concerned at the moment by the centres who both seem to be walking wounded.

[paddy no 11]

Did ye call someone up for Navidi?

[Sandydragon]

Did ye call someone up for Navidi?

Lane. Hes a Centre/Wing.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Heavy weather could make it a real slog of a game which frankly makes the presence of Bigger and Halfpenny very sensible.

If Liam were fit I would definitely be starting him, but in the circumstances, Halfpenny will do well for us.

I'm more concerned at the moment by the centres who both seem to be walking wounded.

Totally agree. The biggest worries now are JD staggering off after 10 minutes, or staying on and operating at 80%.

I think splitting the kicking responsibilities is a mistake (if a minor one). There's little between Biggar and Halfpenny for most kicks, so why not let 1/2p do them all so he's fully up to speed if a vital kick from halfway is needed?

[Sandydragon]

Heavy weather could make it a real slog of a game which frankly makes the presence of Bigger and Halfpenny very sensible.

If Liam were fit I would definitely be starting him, but in the circumstances, Halfpenny will do well for us.

I'm more concerned at the moment by the centres who both seem to be walking wounded.

Totally agree. The biggest worries now are JD staggering off after 10 minutes, or staying on and operating at 80%.

I think splitting the kicking responsibilities is a mistake (if a minor one). There's little between Biggar and Halfpenny for most kicks, so why not let 1/2p do them all so he's fully up to speed if a vital kick from halfway is needed?

Agreed. Halfpenny has the range and I really think that 3 point opportunities must be taken in that game.

If JD2 isn't fully fit I would be tempted to leave him out. I know how important he is to us, but if he isn't right and leaves after 30 minutes then we have Watkin on again alongside Parkes who is also carrying an injury. Not a great scenario to be fair.

[Lizard]

I think JD is fitness dependent.

[Hooky]

Heavy weather could make it a real slog of a game which frankly makes the presence of Bigger and Halfpenny very sensible.

If Liam were fit I would definitely be starting him, but in the circumstances, Halfpenny will do well for us.

I'm more concerned at the moment by the centres who both seem to be walking wounded.

Totally agree. The biggest worries now are JD staggering off after 10 minutes, or staying on and operating at 80%.

I think splitting the kicking responsibilities is a mistake (if a minor one). There's little between Biggar and Halfpenny for most kicks, so why not let 1/2p do them all so he's fully up to speed if a vital kick from halfway is needed?

That would be a huge error. Biggar has been very successful. Halfpenny's radar was off.

[Lizard]

We simply cannot let England or SA win another World Cup. We didn’t want to leave you on your own here but you’re now the only hope.

You’ve got every Kiwi and Aussie behind you, and probably the Irish and maybe the French as well.

[francoisfou]

We simply cannot let England or SA win another World Cup. We didn’t want to leave you on your own here but you’re now the only hope.

You’ve got every Kiwi and Aussie behind you, and probably the Irish and maybe the French as well.

Feck off y'aul hoooore!!

[Spiffy]

I fancy Wales to nick this. SA have a big powerful pack, a dynamic SH and a couple of fliers on the wing. But their big centres are predidcable, plodding and non inventive in attack and I don't think they will be effective against the Wales midfield.
If Wales can hold on up front, and I think they can, they are in with a good shout.

[normanski]

Thanks for that. We will take inspiration from the England game plan. Commiserations but as Hansen said the better team won.

Hopefully, if we can get to the final, then the south/north balance may be tilting.

It’s going to be hard but if we are still in contention with 20 to go then we might just squeeze it.

[francoisfou]

I fancy Wales to nick this. SA have a big powerful pack, a dynamic SH and a couple of fliers on the wing. But their big centres are predidcable, plodding and non inventive in attack and I don't think they will be effective against the Wales midfield.
If Wales can hold on up front, and I think they can, they are in with a good shout.

Few would have predicted a Black/Bokke 3rd place match !!

[normanski]

We simply cannot let England or SA win another World Cup. We didn’t want to leave you on your own here but you’re now the only hope.

You’ve got every Kiwi and Aussie behind you, and probably the Irish and maybe the French as well.

Feck off y'aul hoooore!!

Bad language does not become you.

[francoisfou]

We simply cannot let England or SA win another World Cup. We didn’t want to leave you on your own here but you’re now the only hope.

You’ve got every Kiwi and Aussie behind you, and probably the Irish and maybe the French as well.

Feck off y'aul hoooore!!

Bad language does not become you.

Apologies, Norm y'aul hoooore! The excitement of the moment got the better of me!!

[Sourdust]

This is the nightmare that I feared all along.

Win, and we get to play patsy for the England victory parade and face 25 years (that's the rest of my life) of "yeah but who won the RWC?" chanted at us even when we beat them.

Lose, and we get a genuine crack at ending 60 years of misery by going after a NZ team who look completely lost.

I have never wanted Wales to lose. I can't possibly countenance it. But I can't escape the conclusion that we'd be much better off if we did. You'll come at me with charges of defeatism of course, but look back on this morning, and get real.

[normanski]

Feck off y'aul hoooore!!

Bad language does not become you.

Apologies, Norm y'aul hoooore! The excitement of the moment got the better of me!!

I sure Lizard will accept your apology. Very easy to get carried away in the ecstasy of the moment!

[normanski]

This is the nightmare that I feared all along.

Win, and we get to play patsy for the England victory parade and face 25 years (that's the rest of my life) of "yeah but who won the RWC?" chanted at us even when we beat them.

Lose, and we get a genuine crack at ending 60 years of misery by going after a NZ team who look completely lost.

I have never wanted Wales to lose. I can't possibly countenance it. But I can't escape the conclusion that we'd be much better off if we did. You'll come at me with charges of defeatism of course, but look back on this morning, and get real.

If we win tomorrow then I’m certain we can give England a good game. After all we won the one that mattered in February.

My only issue is that the blacks and England have both played one less game and had a far easier route through to the semis.

We were leaden-footed against France and I know we pride ourselves on our fitness and conditioning but I wonder what we’ve got left in the tank.

Cmon Wales.