Wales V Fiji./Fri 19th/Millennium Stadium/KO 19:30/BBC2 NI&Wales.

toomevara

Wales:

15-Lee Byrne, 14-George North, 13-James Hook, 12-Andrew Bishop, 11-Aled Brew; 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Richie Rees; 1-Paul James, 2-Huw Bennett, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Ian Gough, 5-Deiniol Jones, 6-Ryan Jones (captain), 7-Dan Lydiate, 8-Jonathan Thomas.

Replacements: 16-Richard Hibbard, 17-John Yapp, 18-Bradley Davies, 19-Toby Faletau, 20-Mike Phillips, 21-Stephen Jones, 22-Tom Shanklin.

Fiji:

15-Josh Matavesi, 14-Michael Tagicakibau, 13-Albert Vulivuli, 12-Gabirieli Lovobalavu, 11-Vereniki Goneva; 10-Seremaia Bai, 9-Nemia Kenatale; 1-Campese Ma'afu, 2-Vili Veikoso, 3-Deacon Manu (captain), 4-Ifereimi Rawaqa, 5-Jone Qovu, 6-Semisi Saukawa, 7-Malakai Ravulo, 8-Sisa Koyamaibole.

Replacements: 16-Talemaitoga Taupati, 17-Graham Dewes, 18-Seko Kalou, 19-Akapusi Qera, 20-Seveci Taka, 21-Ropate Ratu, 22-Taniela Rawaqa.

Reckon this one could be highly entertaining if previous encounters are anything to go by.....

Digifriendly

BTW this is being networked by BBC i.e. it is also on BBC 2NI for those who cannot get BBC2W. Unfortunaterly it clashes with Leinster vs Dragons on RTE2 so recorder will come in handy.

JustinDee

Digifriendly wrote: »

BTW this is being networked by BBC i.e. it is also on BBC 2NI for those who cannot get BBC2W. Unfortunaterly it clashes with Leinster vs Dragons on RTE2 so recorder will come in handy.

Pity it wasn't on BBC HD (I checked).
At least there will be no interruptions mid-match by Hook as there was on Tuesday.

thomond2006

Hmm I'll probably watch this ahead of Leinster vs Dragons.

Hoping it will be a good game. The Fijians did give France a good go last week and were very unlucky with the first try they conceded.

I'm thinking Wales by 10-15 here, the Ospreys midfield should be very potent.

The spread is Fiji +20, that's a very good bet IMO. Wales under Gatland have always struggled to put away supposed inferior sides. I recall Canada two years ago and Samoa last year.

stejkenny

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hmm I'll probably watch this ahead of Leinster vs Dragons.

Hoping it will be a good game. The Fijians did give France a good go last week and were very unlucky with the first try they conceded.

I'm thinking Wales by 10-15 here, the Ospreys midfield should be very potent.

The spread is Fiji +20, that's a very good bet IMO. Wales under Gatland have always struggled to put away supposed inferior sides. I recall Canada two years ago and Samoa last year.

I expect Wales to hammer Fiji; Richie Rees is one of the best up and coming scrummies around; really quick bullet pass and fast around the fringes; fdast ball to Hook and Bishop; good night Fiji!!

yimrsg

Just read that Wales have lost 9 of their last 11 internationals. :eek:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/9206584.stm

Webbs

yimrsg wrote: »

Just read that Wales have lost 9 of their last 11 internationals. :eek:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/9206584.stm

That does include Fra, NZ (x2), SA (x2), Aus (x2) so isnt that surprising. Wales need a bit more creativity/confidence in the back division to take them over the line, the forwards are turning into a pretty good unit

Corsendonk

Should be a good pointer to the World Cup for Wales, Fiji is in Group D too.

Group D
South Africa
Wales
Fiji
Samoa
Namibia

Noffles

We also have to thank them for our game in the world cup......

We should be putting these away handy if we expect to have any sort of game against the AB's, I'm not traveling over to Cardiff to watch us get hammered!

toomevara

Nightmare fixture for Wales, especially given the recent run. Hammer 'em, yeah well its only Fiji, get run close..well you failed to put em away and lose, get your p-45 on the way out. I think Wales need to win well and in serious style to get any credit tonight. Gatland is under alot of pressure in Wales, and as we found out to our cost last weekend, the likes of Fiji, Samoa et al can be devilish difficult to put away. Wales by twenty, but they'll have to work to get it......

thomond2006

3-3, 16 minutes gone.

Fiji +20 looking good, touchwood.

thomond2006

Flip, Fiji yellow card.

Not sure if it was that dangerous, looked it but he didn't dump the player.

thomond2006

Wales 6
Fiji 13; Vulivuli try

37 minutes gone.

Edit: Jesus Fiji almost got an intercept there, player just knocked on. :eek:

toomevara

Wales are utterly, utterly appaling. As bad a 40 as I've seen from the men in red in a long time. Vulivuli MOTM thus far. if Fiji had any kind of a set piece Wales would be in serious, serious trouble.Imagine Fiji will fall away after the 60 but Wales will not be happy......

thomond2006

toomevara wrote: »

Wales are utterly, utterly appaling. As bad a 40 as I've seen from the men in red in a long time. Vulivuli MOTM thus far. if Fiji had any kind of a set piece Wales would be in serious, serious trouble.Imagine Fiji will fall away after the 60 but Wales will not be happy......

+1 to all the above.

Like I said before, Wales just seem to struggle to perform against minnows. They always sleepwalk in these sort of games. Shocking considering the calibre of Welshmen on show, this is no Wales A selection.

Fiji win is really on here if they play for 80 minutes.

Judgement Day

Jeez! 6-13 to Fiji. Wales must be playing as badly as Leinster are against Dragons. Was going to take Fiji to win @ 17/2 but didn't - fortune favours the brave.

thomond2006

6-13 at halftime. C'mon Fiji, legends.

3/1 at PP for Fiji to hold on for the win.

Judgement Day

thomond2006 wrote: »

6-13 at halftime. C'mon Fiji, legends.

3/1 at PP for Fiji to hold on for the win.

Should I go for it? Already had two losses tonight and Connacht look like their going to throw it away to with the score at 9-9.

thomond2006

I would.

Wales still making errors this half.

toomevara

Unbelievably bad from Wales, even worse in the second thus far..sending on the reinforcements to save their blushes. Compliment to fiji....

thomond2006

Gatland loses his patience on 49 minutes.

Gough, Rees, Biggar and Bishop forced to walk the walk of shame. Davies, Phillips, S Jones and Shanklin on.

thomond2006

What a tackle on Byrne to prevent the try. Fantastic stuff.

toomevara

Yep, good save, Fiji starting to visibly tire....

thomond2006

Fiji teetering on the brink, surely a Wales penalty try coming up here...

Edit: Penalty try given.

thomond2006

16-13 now.

twinytwo

thomond2006 wrote: »

Fiji teetering on the brink, surely a Wales penalty try coming up here...

Edit: Penalty try given.

tbf there was at least 2 times there where the welsh scrum did not take the hit.. stood still on engage and the ref says nothing

toomevara

Christ this is utterly dire. The Welsh look utterly clueless..The AB's are going to eat this lot alive next weekend. Definite slam in the offing for the kiwis.

jd007

Come on Fiji go for the try!

Edit: Draw.

wixfjord

Judgement is there in Enniscorthy hoping for rugbys rules to be changed to 4 for a penalty!

thomond2006

Fair play Fiji!!

16 - 16 FT!

Hope you didn't follow my advice JD.

corny

"i tell you one they're not gonna do, go for the scrum":D

They deserve the draw.

pappyodaniel

Woo hoo 16-16 Full time!

toomevara

Well done fiji, well deserved. Wales were utterly useless and seemed to me to be physically bullied and intimidated by fiji, no plan, no drive...awful, awful stuff.

Judgement Day

Lucky I stayed away from it! All five of my bets tonight failed by a point here or there but I live on for tomorrow. Sounds like Wales were woeful - whatever happened to George North?

toomevara

Judgement Day wrote: »

whatever happened to George North?

He went south, with the rest of his team.....

thomond2006

Judgement Day wrote: »

Lucky I stayed away from it! All five of my bets tonight failed by a point here or there but I live on for tomorrow. Sounds like Wales were woeful - whatever happened to George North?

He (sometimes) looked dangerous when he got the ball, shame about his teammates.

toomevara

Gatland's got to be getting seriously worried for his position at the minute...

stevie_b

why did the ref blow up at the end and go back for the penalty? Fiji were still making good ground and were about 2 meters from the line...... did i miss something?

corny

Judgement Day wrote: »

whatever happened to George North?

Was run into touch far too often and butchered a good chance for a try. Not ready for international rugby yet.

corny

stevie_b wrote: »

why did the ref blow up at the end and go back for the penalty? Fiji were still making good ground and were about 2 meters from the line...... did i miss something?

The Fiji player thought he wasn't held in the tackle when he got back to his feet. Think the referee thought he was.

Digifriendly

Judgement Day wrote: »

Jeez! 6-13 to Fiji. Wales must be playing as badly as Leinster are against Dragons.

Cannot for the life of me understand this comment as Leinster played very well and won well against the Dragons. Can you please explain?

wixfjord

Digifriendly wrote: »

Cannot for the life of me understand this comment as Leinster played very well and won well against the Dragons. Can you please explain?

Aye Im the same. Leinster were immaculate tonight. What you talkin about JD?

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hmm I'll probably watch this ahead of Leinster vs Dragons.

Hoping it will be a good game. The Fijians did give France a good go last week and were very unlucky with the first try they conceded.

I'm thinking Wales by 10-15 here, the Ospreys midfield should be very potent.

The spread is Fiji +20, that's a very good bet IMO. Wales under Gatland have always struggled to put away supposed inferior sides. I recall Canada two years ago and Samoa last year.

Good work young man, I owe you beers.

wixfjord

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Good work young man, I owe you beers.

Rugby Beers....

PhatPiggins

toomevara wrote: »

Gatland's got to be getting seriously worried for his position at the minute...

Seeing as the Welsh did an Eddy O Sullivan and gave him a contract extension before the World Cup he be rolling in the money if they sack him.

thomond2006

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Good work young man, I owe you beers.

I got a €2 free bet (randomly showed up on my account) from PaddyPower today and I stuck it on Ireland to win tommorrow at 8/1.

So if they win, I'll owe you the beer. :cool:

Back to the game, IIRC there is a get-out clause in Gatty's contract, it can be used by both parties apparently. I don't know the details.

Wales were so bad, ffs they had a quality lineup out there and couldn't put away a team that have been pretty much thrown together. That's not taking away from Fiji, they were superb.

I thought Wales were on an upward graft (unlike Ireland) as they were performing well and scoring good tries, just not getting the results. Tonight was a huge setback for them. New Zealand will kill them next week, unless they are sick of scoring tries after they play Ireland.

Judgement Day

Digifriendly wrote: »

Cannot for the life of me understand this comment as Leinster played very well and won well against the Dragons. Can you please explain?

At the time of my comment it was just after half time and the first half was very poor. In the second half Leinster played with with determination and finished well IMO. I didn't watch the game through blue tinted spectacles!

toomevara

Gatland's stripped Ryan Jones of the captaincy this morning. Bit harsh no?

thomond2006

toomevara wrote: »

Gatland's stripped Ryan Jones of the captaincy this morning. Bit harsh no?

He's been pedestrian for years now. Really overrated player and doesn't seem to be a vocal captain on the field IMO. Having said that, it's a big call to drop him after one poor performance in the autumn.

Gatty probably feels he has to do something drastic to shake up the squad. Otherwise they may as well wave the white flag during the haka next week.

Cosmo Kramer

toomevara wrote: »

Gatland's stripped Ryan Jones of the captaincy this morning. Bit harsh no?

Yes, but Gatland needs to take the heat off himself, so Jones is the fall guy.

Although to be fair to him, Wales overrate themselves so much that he's on a loser whatever he does.

sock puppet

I suppose Jones isn't guarenteed his starting spot anymore either. Who's gonna replace him?