NZ matchday squads

[UKHamlet]

Match day 23 (Test caps in brackets):

1. Ethan de Groot (10)
2. Codie Taylor (73)
3. Tyrel Lomax (21)
4. Samuel Whitelock (140 - captain)
5. Scott Barrett (55)
6. Shannon Frizell (22)
7. Dalton Papali'i (19)
8. Ardie Savea (67)
9. Aaron Smith (112)
10. Richie Mo'unga (42)
11. Caleb Clarke (12)
12. Jordie Barrett (45)
13. Rieko Ioane (56)
14. Sevu Reece (22)
15. Beauden Barrett (109)
16. Samisoni Taukei'aho (18)
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (49)
18. Fletcher Newell (4)
19. Tupou Vaa'i (16)
20. Akira Ioane (19)
21. Brad Weber (17)
22. David Havili (22)
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (57)

[Billyfish]

Looks weak. Wales by 7-15 pts.

[Billyfish]

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 96 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 19 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 105 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 23 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – uncapped)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 32 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 13 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 82 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 65 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 21 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 37 caps)
6. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 85 caps) captain
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 3 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 91 caps)

Replacements
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 30 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 41 caps)
18. Dillon Lews (Cardiff Rugby- 41 caps)
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 153 caps)
20. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 14 caps)
22. Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby – 52 caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 33 caps)

[Billyfish]

.....but I hear Faletau is doubtful.

Kiwis by 10 pts!

[UKHamlet]

I've given up making predictions, but NZ at the moment can turn it on when they're in the mood and be utter dogshit when they're not. The roof is closed at their request, so they've declared their intent.

[UKHamlet]

Having two sevens in the Wales starting lineup will create space for NZ runners, while simultaneously making their breakdown ball more vulnerable.

[Numbers]

Looks like a decent side to me, interested to see how Rio Dyer gets on and to see how Tshiunza goes off the bench.

[Mikey Brown]

Halfpenny is still playing?! I saw his name mentioned on here the other day and assumed it was a joke. Amazing his body is still going.

[Numbers]

Halfpenny is still playing?! I saw his name mentioned on here the other day and assumed it was a joke. Amazing his body is still going.

Last game he played for the Scarlets he was excellent.

[pompey-zebra]

Halfpenny is still playing?! I saw his name mentioned on here the other day and assumed it was a joke. Amazing his body is still going.

He hasnt long come back from a long term injury, so that might explain why you've not heard much about him recently.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Looks pretty strong. Very positive about Anscombe. No major weaknesses, just a risk that Halfpenny and Owens are undercooked. Tipuric at 6 is a slight gamble but makes sense against NZ (wouldn't do it vs SA). Hope LRZ brings his ridiculous club form. Dyer has a huge and possibly fleeting chance to make a statement, hope he brings the form he showed at the Ospreys match. Looking forward to Tshiunza coming off the bench (although he'll be stepping into the shoes of a hell of a player whoever he replaces).

We have a chance but history always says NZ are favourites.

[Sandydragon]

That's probably as strong a team as we could put out at the moment (barring O'Brian at full back and potentially Roberts at hooker in places of Elias). But minor quibbles.

I just hope we hit the ground running and don't find ourselves 14 points down in 10 minutes, otherwise it will be a long afternoon.

[Buggaluggs]

We will, no doubt, be leading 19-17 with 2 mins to go, and then...

[Sandydragon]

We will, no doubt, be leading 19-17 with 2 mins to go, and then...

…..Hold on to win a historic game?

[Graigwen]

It looks like a decent team.

[normanski]

We will, no doubt, be leading 19-17 with 2 mins to go, and then...

I hope we are leading with two minutes to go. Bugger the … and then!!

[Son of Mathonwy]

We will, no doubt, be leading 19-17 with 2 mins to go, and then...

I hope we are leading with two minutes to go. Bugger the … and then!!

Winning with 2 minutes to go? I'll take that. Much better than the kicking we usually get.

[Sandydragon]

Fail reporting that Halfpenny pulled up during the Captain's Run. Suggests that he might be out, so Priestland likely to start at 15. As much as I greatly respect Halfpenny's contribution over the years, part of me thinks this might not be a bad outcome, particularly if we want to challenge the All Black line a bit more.

[UKHamlet]

Fail reporting that Halfpenny pulled up during the Captain's Run. Suggests that he might be out, so Priestland likely to start at 15. As much as I greatly respect Halfpenny's contribution over the years, part of me thinks this might not be a bad outcome, particularly if we want to challenge the All Black line a bit more.

I just read that. It's fair to say HP has far more pace than the Priest, but the latter has a better kicking game out of hand. Not sure Priestland has anything like HP's positional sense and tackling ability. I think it's a loss.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Fail reporting that Halfpenny pulled up during the Captain's Run. Suggests that he might be out, so Priestland likely to start at 15. As much as I greatly respect Halfpenny's contribution over the years, part of me thinks this might not be a bad outcome, particularly if we want to challenge the All Black line a bit more.

I just read that. It's fair to say HP has far more pace than the Priest, but the latter has a better kicking game out of hand. Not sure Priestland has anything like HP's positional sense and tackling ability. I think it's a loss.

I think we should be starting the game with a specialist full back, not a fly half who can handle the position. McNicholl or O'Brien.

[Graigwen]

I might be inclined to move Anscombe to 15.

.

[Sandydragon]

I might be inclined to move Anscombe to 15.

.

That would be my preference.

[Puja]

I might be inclined to move Anscombe to 15.

.

That would be my preference.

If this'd happened on Monday, I'd be with you, but you surely can't be chucking out the whole week's training to change the fly-half the day before the game.

Puja

[pompey-zebra]

I might be inclined to move Anscombe to 15.

.

That would be my preference.

If this'd happened on Monday, I'd be with you, but you surely can't be chucking out the whole week's training to change the fly-half the day before the game.

Puja

Confirmed about 1/2p so anscombe 15, patchell, 10 and Costellow on the bench.

[morepork]

Ah. The comedy ABs have shown up today. Excellent.