The Second Test

[Numbers]

Well I'm hoping we can be a little better than the reserves were today,does anyone know that state of the injuries, I know North is out, Liam Williams limped off and had a heavily strapped leg, Anscombe also had a knock which is why he was replaced on the bench today and Jake ball limped off by all accounts.

I would imagine Tom James will be in for North due to having better defence than Walker, Charteris to replace Ball on the bench and Priestland in for Anscombe on the bench unless he is fit in time.

Hopefully they will have recovered enough to put in a decent showing.

[Sandydragon]

Im dreading this weekend. The All Blacks will have fixed their rustiness in all likelihood and we have some injured and tired players to consider.

Whilst he by all accounts didn't play well today, I'd have Charteris in the squad. He helps our set piece and his rolling maul defense is useful.
I suspect Amos will keep his place with Tom James. If Anscombe is out then definitely Priestland to the bench (probably better at full back as well). With a bit of luck, our top players will be up for this weekend and will be just as committed as last time. It won't be enough for a win but perhaps we can regain some respectability, although part of me now thinks that a big loss might prompt some changes in the coaching staff (aren't Howley and one other due to have their contracts re-signed soon?).

[Numbers]

Im dreading this weekend. The All Blacks will have fixed their rustiness in all likelihood and we have some injured and tired players to consider.

Whilst he by all accounts didn't play well today, I'd have Charteris in the squad. He helps our set piece and his rolling maul defense is useful.
I suspect Amos will keep his place with Tom James. If Anscombe is out then definitely Priestland to the bench (probably better at full back as well). With a bit of luck, our top players will be up for this weekend and will be just as committed as last time. It won't be enough for a win but perhaps we can regain some respectability, although part of me now thinks that a big loss might prompt some changes in the coaching staff (aren't Howley and one other due to have their contracts re-signed soon?).

You're right about Charteris' maul defence, we didn't see a lot of mauling from the ABs last weekend though and when they did they didn't pose us many problems, I think he may prefer Bradley for the extra grunt.

I'm not reading much into the result of this mornings game and will judge the tour on the tests I think.

[Sandydragon]

Im dreading this weekend. The All Blacks will have fixed their rustiness in all likelihood and we have some injured and tired players to consider.

Whilst he by all accounts didn't play well today, I'd have Charteris in the squad. He helps our set piece and his rolling maul defense is useful.
I suspect Amos will keep his place with Tom James. If Anscombe is out then definitely Priestland to the bench (probably better at full back as well). With a bit of luck, our top players will be up for this weekend and will be just as committed as last time. It won't be enough for a win but perhaps we can regain some respectability, although part of me now thinks that a big loss might prompt some changes in the coaching staff (aren't Howley and one other due to have their contracts re-signed soon?).

You're right about Charteris' maul defence, we didn't see a lot of mauling from the ABs last weekend though and when they did they didn't pose us many problems, I think he may prefer Bradley for the extra grunt.

I'm not reading much into the result of this mornings game and will judge the tour on the tests I think.

I think Id start with Charteris though. His defense is very good whilst he adds a lineup option. I like Bradley as an impact player.

[Numbers]

Im dreading this weekend. The All Blacks will have fixed their rustiness in all likelihood and we have some injured and tired players to consider.

Whilst he by all accounts didn't play well today, I'd have Charteris in the squad. He helps our set piece and his rolling maul defense is useful.
I suspect Amos will keep his place with Tom James. If Anscombe is out then definitely Priestland to the bench (probably better at full back as well). With a bit of luck, our top players will be up for this weekend and will be just as committed as last time. It won't be enough for a win but perhaps we can regain some respectability, although part of me now thinks that a big loss might prompt some changes in the coaching staff (aren't Howley and one other due to have their contracts re-signed soon?).

You're right about Charteris' maul defence, we didn't see a lot of mauling from the ABs last weekend though and when they did they didn't pose us many problems, I think he may prefer Bradley for the extra grunt.

I'm not reading much into the result of this mornings game and will judge the tour on the tests I think.

I think Id start with Charteris though. His defense is very good whilst he adds a lineup option. I like Bradley as an impact player.

Not sure they'd start him as I think he played the full match against the Chiefs.

[Sandydragon]

You're right about Charteris' maul defence, we didn't see a lot of mauling from the ABs last weekend though and when they did they didn't pose us many problems, I think he may prefer Bradley for the extra grunt.

I'm not reading much into the result of this mornings game and will judge the tour on the tests I think.

I think Id start with Charteris though. His defense is very good whilst he adds a lineup option. I like Bradley as an impact player.

Not sure they'd start him as I think he played the full match against the Chiefs.

Probably not. Hopefully in the future we will either avoid these mid week games, or take a larger fricking squad.

[Numbers]

It looks like Liam is a doubt and Asncombe, Ellis Jenkins and Moriarty.

[Sandydragon]

Feck me.

So, that might leave us with Turnbull or King in for Moriarty with the other on the bench.
Priestland to start at 15 with James replacing North?

I wont be able to watch this weekend due to a family event, Im actually quite pleased about that.

[stud muffin]

I'm expecting a reaction from wales. The Tackling will be better, breakdown more effective, the scrums will be tighter, We'll probably revert to type in attack, and end up competing for 60 mins before being overrun. You heard it here first

[Sandydragon]

I'm expecting a reaction from wales. The Tackling will be better, breakdown more effective, the scrums will be tighter, We'll probably revert to type in attack, and end up competing for 60 mins before being overrun. You heard it here first

Given that our fitness appears to be shyte at the moment, apparently our fitness trainer isn't on tour?, then being royally screwed at the 60 minute point is highly likely.

[Son of Mathonwy]

It looks like Liam is a doubt and Asncombe, Ellis Jenkins and Moriarty.

If that's true we are screwed.

After the Chiefs game I'm deeply undewhelmed by the alternatives to North. I think I'd actually go for Nipper to take North's place.

It's easy for me to say this, it'll never happen so I can't be proved wrong.

[zer0]

All Blacks team has been named.

1. Joe Moody (12 caps)
2. Dane Coles (37)
3. Owen Franks (79)
4. Brodie Retallick (48)
5. Sam Whitelock (73)
6. Jerome Kaino (68)
7. Sam Cane (32)
8. Kieran Read (C) (85)
9. Aaron Smith (48)
10. Aaron Cruden (38)
11. Waisake Naholo(4)
12. Ryan Crotty (16)
13. Malakai Fekitoa (14)
14. Ben Smith (49)
15. Israel Dagg (49)

16. Nathan Harris (3)
17. Wyatt Crockett (46)
18. Charlie Faumuina (34)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (8)
20. Ardie Savea (1)
21. TJ Perenara (17)
22. Beauden Barrett (36)
23. Seta Tamanivalu (1)

[Lizard]

That's a better balanced back three. Dagg's older head will help overcome Naholo's inexperience which really showed last week. J Savea simply didn't look in form enough to be the starting power-winger.

Another 73 caps into the 2nd row also cannot hurt.

I'm still not convinced by our mid-field pairing. There's definitely an air of stop-gappiness around Crotty's presence in the XV.

[Ross. S]

Wales

15) Rhys Patchell
14) Liam Williams
13) Jonathan Davies
12) Jamie Roberts
11) Hallam Amos
10) Dan Biggar
9) Rhys Webb

1) Gethin Jenkins
2) Ken Owens
3) Samson Lee
4) Luke Charteris
5) Alun Wyn Jones
6) Ross Moriarty
7) Sam Warburton
8) Taulupe Faletau

16) Scott Baldwin
17) Rob Evans
18) Tomas Francis
19) Bradley Davies
20) Ellis Jenkins
21) Gareth Davies
22) Rhys Priestland
23) Scott Williams

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Well Patchell is a genuine surprise. He is a big lad though, so very Gatland. Nipper may as well give up.

[Buggaluggs]

Have Wales ever lost four games to New Zealanders in 7 days before?

[Sandydragon]

Wales

15) Rhys Patchell
14) Liam Williams
13) Jonathan Davies
12) Jamie Roberts
11) Hallam Amos
10) Dan Biggar
9) Rhys Webb

1) Gethin Jenkins
2) Ken Owens
3) Samson Lee
4) Luke Charteris
5) Alun Wyn Jones
6) Ross Moriarty
7) Sam Warburton
8) Taulupe Faletau

16) Scott Baldwin
17) Rob Evans
18) Tomas Francis
19) Bradley Davies
20) Ellis Jenkins
21) Gareth Davies
22) Rhys Priestland
23) Scott Williams

Shame to move Liam after how well he played last week. That's probably more defensively solid than bringing in one of the other wingers, but we lose something in attack. Good opportunity for patch though, and I'd prefer him at full back to Anscombe..

[stud muffin]

Other than Liam Williams, it's very uninspiring. We should be relatively strong in defense, but it looks like Howleys attack plan is to keep the ball phase after phase and then hope the AB's miss a couple of tackles!

Looking for the right word to describe our attack?? think I'm going for "Mechanical" - unfortunately not the well oiled type!

[Mikey Brown]

That's aright isn't it? With that 3/4 line you'd think Patchell could really offer something as a ball player.

That's assuming he settles and you manage to use him in any logical sort of way. It wouldn't surprise me if Gatland just wants him to run crash balls straight at Kaino.

[Billyfish]

Big opportunity for Patchell. Hopefully a big kick off point for him.

NZ will be better than week, we won't. Sounds a bit defeatist, but Id be happy with something of the order of last week's performance. Praps staying in the game 5-10 mins longer. And with a slightly improved Amos.

[Ross. S]

Have Wales ever lost four games to New Zealanders in 7 days before?

We've pulled them in the U20's 5th place semis too so it could well be 5 times in a week

[Buggaluggs]

Have Wales ever lost four games to New Zealanders in 7 days before?

We've pulled them in the U20's 5th place semis too so it could well be 5 times in a week

Bono's going to record a fucking record for us.

[Lord Llandaff]

It won't be pretty...

[Son of Mathonwy]

NZ are unlikely to be so sloppy this week, so we'll probably be more than a score behind by half time (with worse to come). Only Liam Williams and Webb give me any hope that we could give them another fright.

[Graigwen]

I am glad to see Patchell given a go at full back, but experimenting in NZ against the All Blacks is high risk. In North we lost the only player who looked as if he could penetrate the Al Black's defence.

Gloomy again I am.