Wales vs New Zealand. Sat 7 Nov 5:15pm Pre/During/Post match Thread

thomond2006

Match Live on RTÉ / BBC2.


Wales starting XV v New Zealand:

15. James Hook
14. Leigh Halfpenny
13. Tom Shanklin
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Shane Williams
10. Stephen Jones
9. Gareth Cooper
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Paul James
4. Alun-Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Andy Powell
7. Martyn Williams
8. Ryan Jones (capt)

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Bradley Davies, Dafydd Jones, Martin Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Tom James.

New Zealand starting XV:

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Cory Jane
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Zac Guildford
10. Dan Carter
9. Brendan Leonard
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Andrew Hore
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Brad Thorn
5. Jason Eaton
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (capt)
8. Kieran Read

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ben Smith.


Once again the mighty Tri-Nations sides come up north to test themselves against the Six Nations giants.

Wales, with many injuries in key positions, look to kickstart the engine after a disappointing Six Nations Championship.

It's hard to know where the All Blacks are at the moment. Do facile victories against a weak Australia count for much?

Suspensions for Tony Woodwock and Sitiveni Sivivatu hand Wyatt Crockett the number 1 jersey and give young Zac Guildford his first test cap for his country.

The mercurial Dan Carter is given the nod at 10 despite not being 100% fit. He as always will be a huge influence on the result. When he is on his game, he is unplayable.

Wales also have their own personnel problems, with inury ruling out Lee Byrne, Mark Jones, Mike Phillips and Adam Jones for the November Series. Dwayne Peel is also unavailable for the New Zealand match because of contractual obligations to his club Sale Sharks.

Surprisingly Osprey loosehead prop Paul James is given a start at tighthead. The excellent Gethin Jenkins remains at loosehead.

The frustrated James Hook is started at fullback as his preferred position is filled by test veteran Stephen Jones.

The key battle is between the centres. The Roberts/Shanklin and Nonu/Smith partnerships have been great successes for club and country. Roberts may become a "marked man" after his performances in the Lions jersey. Nonu had an average Tri-Nations and will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance against the men in red.

It promises to be an exciting and intriguing fixture. Hopefully rugby will be the real winner of this contest, which always delivers a great spectacle.

Judgement Day

I agree with most of your thoughts on the Wales v All Blacks game except for your comment on Nonu's form just look at this clip (starting at about 3.45) http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-blacks-end-tri-nations-on-high.html

Nonu's on fire and Wales have nothing that can stop him - I can't wait for the match. Bad and all as the All Blacks performance was in the Tri-Nations it's all relative. As an armchair enthusiast who loves the game but hasn't played it for 32 years it still seems like there is a massive gulf between Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams. While Ireland may manage to put Australia away and even the Boks these will, if they happen, be famous events as they are such rare events. But as for Wales stopping the All Blacks....lol!:D

chupacabra

Packed millenium stadium, roof closed, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. I cant wait, test rugby at its finest.

Digifriendly

chupacabra wrote: »

Packed millenium stadium, roof closed, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. I cant wait, test rugby at its finest.

Totally agree. Should be great atmosphere. Millenium stadium in my opinion is the best venue by some way of all the grounds. Hope that new Aviva stadium comes close to what this magnificent venue produces. Roll on tea time Saturday!

Stick_man

Judgement Day wrote: »

I agree with most of your thoughts on the Wales v All Blacks game except for your comment on Nonu's form just look at this clip (starting at about 3.45) http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-blacks-end-tri-nations-on-high.html

Nonu's on fire and Wales have nothing that can stop him - I can't wait for the match. Bad and all as the All Blacks performance was in the Tri-Nations it's all relative. As an armchair enthusiast who loves the game but hasn't played it for 32 years it still seems like there is a massive gulf between Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams. While Ireland may manage to put Australia away and even the Boks these will, if they happen, be famous events as they are such rare events. But as for Wales stopping the All Blacks....lol!:D

Nobody to stop Nonu? That Jamie Roberts didnt look too bad in the summer.

Podge_irl

Wales' problem isn't in the backline. Even with their injuries I would fancy them to match the ABs there. Their weakness in the front 5 however is going to kill them.

buck65

Wales haven't beaten the All Blacks since 1376 or something... hard to see anything but a hammering here.

Noffles

Negativity aside I think this "could" be a great game, Wales have to put it up to the Blacks here, we're talking the talk with this player and that player... but we're at home, full stadium, Brains Bitter flowing and in full song...

Can't wait for it myself, I'm attending the Argentinian game so it would be sooo sweet to have a win like this behind us.

Roll on team time... snacks and beer in front of the big screen at home... tear in the eye singing Hen Wlad... gotta love it!!!

WeeBushy

I cant wait to see Jamie Roberts (aka Desperate Dan: http://www.racingdiary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/desperate-dan.jpg) against Nonu, going to be a great match up.

I have no idea why they persist with Powell, he's simply useless. He was decent on his breakthrough season untill teams figure out all he can do is run straight and hard. No intelligence or off-loading game.

Looking forward to watching Carter play again, pity we didn't see more of him for Perpignan, he's such a joy to watch.

Looking forward to this match I must say.

Webbs

I think that Gough would have been a better option than Charteris who while he may cause trouble for what has been a misfiring NZ lineout doesnt offer enough grunt and ability to make a real nuisance of himself. Gough for Wales also always puts in a fantastic amount of tackles which will be badly needed. While the NZ front five does not have the fear factor of years gone by it is still going to overpower the depleted Welsh front 5.

The backline while being Ok is really going to miss Phillip and Byrne, I worry that Hook will obviously be targeted and be pulled out of position and high balls will be raining in on Williams on the wing. and the less said about Cooper the better, my fingers are crossed that he can find his form of a few years ago but his delivery has been slow and laboured this season to say the least

handsomecake

keep an eye on jason eaton.in my opinion a world class lock who had his career interupted by knee reconstruction. he is phenomanal.ka mate


i echo the millenium stadium sentiments.its a bloody class spot.great city too for a match /night out etc

toomevara

Martyn Williams Vs Richie McCaw...I sense a 7 masterclass coming on..that alone makes this game a must see....

Noffles

toomevara wrote: »

Martyn Williams Vs Richie McCaw...I sense a 7 masterclass coming on..that alone makes this game a must see....

Oh yes!!

Colm_OReilly

Any other matches on this weekend? What stations/channels?

Risteard

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

Any other matches on this weekend? What stations/channels?

England are playing Australia tomorrow. Kick-Off 2.30 and coverage starts at 2.00 on Sky sports 2.

South Africa are playing Leicester tonight. Kick-off 7.30 coverage starts at 7.00. Also on SS2.

Digifriendly

Risteard wrote: »

England are playing Australia tomorrow. Kick-Off 2.30 and coverage starts at 2.00 on Sky sports 2.

South Africa are playing Leicester tonight. Kick-off 7.30 coverage starts at 7.00. Also on SS2.

BBC3 have highlights of England game on Saturday evening if you haven't got Sky with repeat on Sunday afternoon on BBC2. Also Dragons vs Sale tonight on S4C at 7.15pm in Anglo-Welsh Cup.

toomevara

Good arm wrestle thus far. Well impressed with the welsh intensity levels.

danthefan

Wales aren't securing their ball well enough, they're not going to win with NZ owning the breakdown.

Podge_irl

That had something of an air of inevitability about it.

chupacabra

Christ RTE are making it sound like the death of rugby as we know it. For the first time i have turned over to BBC for commentary. Nugent is just starting to get too whingey.

Podge_irl

Wales are shot. They're gonna concede another couple of tries methinks.

Stev_o

See this is the failings of international rugby, Wales have been under pressure for 10 minutes on their try line and commit a cynical penalty to stop the pressure and take 3 points instead. Why o why the ref doesn't pick that up pick a forward and show him yellow as a team punishment is truly beyond me.

amacachi

Christ I was annoyed enough I'd be stuck watching this instead of the League tonight but it's just woeful. The amount of kick-tennis in the first half was awful and NZ just wasted 5 minutes trying to get over the welsh line while they had an overlap on the wing constantly.

EDIT: Thought you'd have better taste than to be watching this Stev_o. :pac:

Stev_o

amacachi wrote: »

Christ I was annoyed enough I'd be stuck watching this instead of the League tonight but it's just woeful. The amount of kick-tennis in the first half was awful and NZ just wasted 5 minutes trying to get over the welsh line while they had an overlap on the wing constantly.

Missed a cracker of a try by Fox aswell just now

laugh

Stev_o wrote: »

See this is the failings of international rugby, Wales have been under pressure for 10 minutes on their try line and commit a cynical penalty to stop the pressure and take 3 points instead. Why o why the ref doesn't pick that up pick a forward and show him yellow as a team punishment is truly beyond me.

Southern Hem ref?

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Missed a cracker of a try by Fox aswell just now

That'll learn you....;)

Podge_irl

Wales shot themselves in the foot there.

B0X

Poor match right up until the last 10 minutes and even then they were sloppy. Dissapointed with both sides really.

Judgement Day

Score?

chupacabra

GWAN POPEY. Absolute legend.

laugh

Gotta love popey doin the impression of Hook

thomond2006

Dan "The Villain" Carter was very good today.

Wales were shocking and they were summed up by Hook who just kicked the ball all day.

The ball from the ruck was slow, Cooper takes three steps before passing and all the momentum vanishes. He is a very poor scrum half and would be nowhere near the team had Phillips or Peel been available. Peel will certainly come in next week.

Roberts tried his best but he was a marked man is the centre and the All Blacks never allowed him to do any damage.

The only entertainment I got from that match was Brent Pope doing his George Hook impression at the end.

lol

sock puppet

chupacabra wrote: »

GWAN POPEY. Absolute legend.

That was probably the best post-match I've ever seen.:D His mimicking of Hook was hilarious.

thomond2006

sock puppet wrote: »

That was probably the best post-match I've ever seen.:D His mimicking of Hook was hilarious.

Yeah, brilliant. :pac:

Hook deserves it for wanting BOD at 12 and Paddy Wallace at 13. :rolleyes:

Aidric

thomond2006 wrote: »

The only entertainment I got from that match was Brent Pope doing his George Hook impression at the end.

It was pathetic, typical of the rubbish that seems to be coming out of the RTE rugby analysis lately. They were both on message to try and stir it up and sure enough they tried and failed. A load of hot air followed by both of them laughing, such conviction. The whole thing was an unsightly mess.

thomond2006

Aidric wrote: »

It was pathetic, typical of the rubbish that seems to be coming out of the RTE rugby analysis lately. They were both on message to try and stir it up and sure enough they tried and failed. A load of hot air followed by both of them laughing, such conviction. The whole thing was an unsightly mess.

+1

wixfjord

Hook is the Dunphy of the rugby panel and has been shown up as this numerous times. O Driscoll is dead right about him. Hes an idiot. The quip about Mike Ross was scandalous. How do guys like Corkery Francis and McDermott and this buffoon get jobs in the rugby media when they lack such an obviuos grasp of integrity and knowledge?

sock puppet

Aidric wrote: »

It was pathetic, typical of the rubbish that seems to be coming out of the RTE rugby analysis lately. They were both on message to try and stir it up and sure enough they tried and failed. A load of hot air followed by both of them laughing, such conviction. The whole thing was an unsightly mess.

True but it was funny and the bbc were just as bad. They talked about Carter's high tackle at every oppurtunity.

thomond2006

wixfjord wrote: »

Hook is the Dunphy of the rugby panel and has been shown up as this numerous times. O Driscoll is dead right about, him hes an idiot. The quip about Mike Ross was scandalous. How do guys like Corkery Francis and McDermott and this buffoon get jobs in the rugby media when they have such an obviuos grasp of integrity and knowledge?

Well made though.

Webbs

Wales had lost this game before they started as you could tell by their mind set that they were playing a containment game and not believing in themselves.

NZ were fantastic at the breakdown they really target not hte player on the floor or even his supporting player but those that join the ruck late and blast them away. They were targetting 5metres behind the contact area and Wales just never came to terms with it.

Overall was disappointed with the game as a whole, it was a real safety first game apart from a few moments.

Carter was excellent proving yet again his worth as best OH in the world, though he could be in trouble with the citing commissioner as was a dangerous high tackle and swinging arm

wixfjord

thomond2006 wrote: »

Well made though.

What the hell are you talking about "well made". Comparing an international prop to Diana Ross is a point well made is it? Mike Ross was on the GP team of the year last season and has done ok with what limited time he has been given for ireland. Good to have you back :rolleyes:

Aidric

thomond2006 wrote: »

+1

Nice backtracking.

toomevara

Enough with the petty bitching already! Cop on. Any further feckology and one-week bannings will be doled out. Back OT, i.e the game and rugby union, not fecking RTE and bloody Brent Bleedin' Pope

thomond2006

wixfjord wrote: »

Hold on now, cool the jets for a while toomevara and at least let us get an answer to some of the comments which have been spouted. As was said in the feedback thread, one word replies and not backing up a point is pointless and only serves to ignite threads.

Okay, fair enough.

I said his point was "well made", I did not say it was correct or fair to Mike Ross, which it was not actually.

It was a typical OTT Hookism.

Sorry if I was unclear.

twinytwo

nearly fell asleep during the 2 games today all i can is wtf.. the wales/nz game was a farce... god help nz if thats the team they take to the wc. For a team that is coming to the end of their season and 2nd in the world were way too many errors.. clearly evident in the fact that if AWJ had had the legs to get him the last 15 or so meters to the line wales would have drawn the game even though they showed no real threat, take that along with a ping pong game that went on with aus/eng its no wonder SA dominated the tri nations

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

Well made though.

What did he say about Ross?

I watched it on BBC

Risteard

PhatPiggins wrote: »

What did he say about Ross?

I watched it on BBC

Something about Diana Ross being a better international player than Mike Ross.

Podge_irl

Hook is an ill-informed idiot when it comes to rugby. I don't mind controversial pundits when they have at least an inkling as to what they're talking about, but Hook knows next to nothing about Irish rugby. He admits to not matching any ML rugby and regularly comes out with complete and utter, indefensible nonsense. He's a waste of space.

As regards the Welsh game - I thought Wales were lucky to be in with a shot of the draw rather than unlucky to not capitalise on it. They were completely blown away in the second half, and if not for some very uncharacteristic white line fever by the ABs they would have been a long way behind coming up on the end. They showed some good spirit to get back into it, but their poor execution cost them. I still think Jones would have made it if he'd run to the corner and dived in.

laugh

Aidric wrote: »

It was pathetic, typical of the rubbish that seems to be coming out of the RTE rugby analysis lately. They were both on message to try and stir it up and sure enough they tried and failed. A load of hot air followed by both of them laughing, such conviction. The whole thing was an unsightly mess.

Well I respect pope and I thought it was funny he was bringing Hook to task over his past bull**** (saying France would beat all comers in lasy years 6N) was more the point rather than the fact he was doing it in Hooks voice. Not the first piece of over the top bile I have read though.

toomevara

Gatland's had a swipe at the match officials....might earn him a rap on the knuckles I reckon...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8348853.stm

merlynthewizard

Would have had to have fancied Ireland to take the All Blacks yesterday in that situation.

They were very beatable by a poor welsh side and it's the year they don't play us...go figure:mad: