3rd place playoff

[Sandydragon]

According to the Fail, many of the starting players are there because of injury. This could easily have been the team that would be starting the RWC final.

Considering we came into the competition with a smallish number of injuries, we have made up for it over the past few weeks.

Most worrying of all, Halfpenny has failed a HIA in the wake of the Bokke game. You really have to worry about his future.

Liam Williams is out for a protracted stretch, and could potentially miss some of the six nations.

[Sourdust]

I can't pretend I'm unhappy about the pleasant, relaxed week I'm having looking forward to this match.

If we lose by 40 points, everyone will have forgotten about it by teatime, if they even notice at all.

If - by some wild concatenation of lucky bounces, supercharged bench-grievance, and NZ being unable to pretend they wouldn't rather be on the beach - we win it? That's a page of history not that much shorter than winning the whole show anyway. Given everything, fourth place is an entirely satisfactory finish anyway. Third place and we beat NZ? That'd keep the flies off for years...

[Sourdust]

It seems like yesterday to me, tho I was reminded by watching "The World Cup's Greatest Tries" on ITV4, here's Ickle Shane announcing himself onto the world stage in the ABs game for some nostalgia:

I always used to say - a bit cynically perhaps, but still - that it summed up Welsh rugby that we celebrated as one of our finest moments a match in which we conceded 50 points, lost by three clear scores, and scored 4 tries against 8... :-/

[Sourdust]

According to the Fail, many of the starting players are there because of injury. This could easily have been the team that would be starting the RWC final.

Considering we came into the competition with a smallish number of injuries, we have made up for it over the past few weeks.

Most worrying of all, Halfpenny has failed a HIA in the wake of the Bokke game. You really have to worry about his future.

Liam Williams is out for a protracted stretch, and could potentially miss some of the six nations.

...and just imagine what England would do to us.

I'm incredibly disappointed for the players after Sunday, especially the ones who won't get another chance. But you can't convince me that we fans haven't dodged a bullet.

[MrK]

But you can't convince me that we fans haven't dodged a bullet.

Plus, we can always use the classic..."aah..but we would have beaten you" line to the English come whatever.

[Renniks]

But you can't convince me that we fans haven't dodged a bullet.

Plus, we can always use the classic..."aah..but we would have beaten you" line to the English come whatever.

I thought the Scots were stealing that with a “well, you haven't beaten us for 2 years, so who are world champions really”* style line?

* Premature, I know!

[Lizard]

Devalued tournament given England got a free pass against France, right?

[Nightynight]

But you can't convince me that we fans haven't dodged a bullet.

Plus, we can always use the classic..."aah..but we would have beaten you" line to the English come whatever.

You can if you beat NZ

[Sandydragon]

Devalued tournament given England got a free pass against France, right?

Real shame that game got cancelled. It could have been a cracker if France turned up like they did against us in the quarters.

[Hooky]

England are good but ita nonsense to suggest we couldnt have beaten them. They would've been favourites but we know how to beat England.

[Sandydragon]

England are good but ita nonsense to suggest we couldnt have beaten them. They would've been favourites but we know how to beat England.

With a fully fit team I absolutely agree. I would be much less confident with so many injuries.

Once again, we seem to have picked up a lot of injuries.

[Sourdust]

England are good but ita nonsense to suggest we couldnt have beaten them. They would've been favourites but we know how to beat England.

I don't suggest we couldn't have.

But we all know we wouldn't have.

With the personnel we have left standing, it would have been a slaughter they'd be able to crow about for a generation.

[Sourdust]

But you can't convince me that we fans haven't dodged a bullet.

Plus, we can always use the classic..."aah..but we would have beaten you" line to the English come whatever.

That too!

I won't bother to pretend that an England World Cup win isn't extremely irksome. Of course it is. But you're right, a good bit of the edge is taken off by the fact that they didn't beat us to get there.

Didn't need to; would have done; but didn't.

[Hooky]

England are good but ita nonsense to suggest we couldnt have beaten them. They would've been favourites but we know how to beat England.

I don't suggest we couldn't have.

But we all know we wouldn't have.

With the personnel we have left standing, it would have been a slaughter they'd be able to crow about for a generation.

I don't agree. No team slaughters us. Doesn't happen.

[Son of Mathonwy]

England are good but ita nonsense to suggest we couldnt have beaten them. They would've been favourites but we know how to beat England.

I don't suggest we couldn't have.

But we all know we wouldn't have.

With the personnel we have left standing, it would have been a slaughter they'd be able to crow about for a generation.

No way. We've beaten them twice this year. The way they're playing, they would have been favourites, but we would have a decent chance.

[Buggaluggs]

It is a bit sad that after 12 years with one of the best coaches in world rugby, a very supportive union, perhaps the best fitness regimen in world rugby, probably the best defensive coach - we are still thoroughly expecting a 20-point beating at the hands of the ABs

[Hooky]

It is a bit sad that after 12 years with one of the best coaches in world rugby, a very supportive union, perhaps the best fitness regimen in world rugby, probably the best defensive coach - we are still thoroughly expecting a 20-point beating at the hands of the ABs

I don't think it will be 20. It's down to player pool and strength in depth at the end of the day. I am actually looking forward to seeing how T William's and Patchell fair tomorrow.

[Sourdust]

It is a bit sad that after 12 years with one of the best coaches in world rugby, a very supportive union, perhaps the best fitness regimen in world rugby, probably the best defensive coach - we are still thoroughly expecting a 20-point beating at the hands of the ABs

True, but on the point of the "fitness regimen", it doesn't seem to stop us suffering more injuries than seemingly anyone else.

I don't have figures and am not minded to go digging for them, but - is there any other "Tier One" team who has lost as many 1st-choice players during the last 6 months? Our depth means we can afford fewer injuries, but in fact we seem to suffer MORE than any other team.

Altogether, who is missing from the England, South Africa and New Zealand starting XXIIIs who is unfit to play, and would certainly - or at least probably - do so if fit? I'm sure there must be a few but I'm genuinely struggling to name one.

For Wales:
Nailed-on starters injured: Anscombe, Liam Williams, Navidi, North, Francis, Parkes.
Possibles injured: Faletau, Jenkins, Hill.
Ruled out by previous injury: Rob Evans, Scott Williams.
(Ruled out by us just being idiots: Rhys Webb.)

Everyone seems to know the secret of keeping players fit, except us.

[Son of Mathonwy]

It is a bit sad that after 12 years with one of the best coaches in world rugby, a very supportive union, perhaps the best fitness regimen in world rugby, probably the best defensive coach - we are still thoroughly expecting a 20-point beating at the hands of the ABs

I don't think it will be 20. It's down to player pool and strength in depth at the end of the day. I am actually looking forward to seeing how T William's and Patchell fair tomorrow.

Agreed. God knows, we're not favourites but the situation's not hopeless.

[Puja]

Altogether, who is missing from the England, South Africa and New Zealand starting XXIIIs who is unfit to play, and would certainly - or at least probably - do so if fit? I'm sure there must be a few but I'm genuinely struggling to name one.

For Wales:
Nailed-on starters injured: Anscombe, Liam Williams, Navidi, North, Francis, Parkes.
Possibles injured: Faletau, Jenkins, Hill.
Ruled out by previous injury: Rob Evans, Scott Williams.
(Ruled out by us just being idiots: Rhys Webb.)

Everyone seems to know the secret of keeping players fit, except us.

There is only Willi Heinz missing from our XXIII and that's only been for one game. We've had a fit squad (bar Nowell being on and off) since Argentina. It's unbelievable and very unlike England.

Frankly, I've come to the conclusion that Eddie has been sacrificing to some demon so that our injuries affect you instead of us.

Puja

[Spiffy]

NZ fielding a back three of Barrett/Smith/Ioane - not too long ago that might have been considered the world's best (might still be if they all hit form.) Those wings will have a point to prove.

[Sandydragon]

We’ve looked mor dangerous in 90
Seconds than we managed in last weeks game already. Nice break by Wales but penalty NZ for holding on.

ABs kick hits post and Wales regather.

Both teams up for this.

[Sandydragon]

Nice offloading for AB try.

[Sandydragon]

Promising situation let down by Patchells hands.

[Lizard]

Step and an offload from a lock. Nice.