[2014 EOYT] Wales vs New Zealand

[Jbobo]

I understand and respect what you're saying. I've actually long held the view that McCaw was probably at his best around 2005/2006. I remember when he ran down Mark Gerard (Australian winger) and implemented a turnover. It summed up how great the man is for me personally. He probably hasn't been at that level in awhile. I was saying the same thing before the last World Cup. That's not to say he's bad. I would still say he's the best in the world. I think he was better under the old laws where you didn't have to release the player.

I'd still have him in my "World" team or whatever. He probably could school Hooper up on a few things, and imo has a more all-round game than someone like David Pocock. At times the ball handling and ruck technique isn't quite what it use to be. But he still turns on some man of the match performances every now and then and his presence is worth everything. There was once upon a time where if NZ didn't have Dan Carter or Ricchie McCaw, we wouldn't be easy-beats, but we'd be a drastically different side. I don't think that's the case now. The fact that there are more key players in the squad than just those two is probably a great thing.

Good way of putting it, agree with all of that

Except i don't think he's quite the best in the world consistently at present. Capable of if and often shows why he was of course, but not as much as others. I won't name names, but i will point out that i don't think Warbs is the best either.


Edit - I'm sure Mccaw will have a great performance this evening anyhow, but i'[m also confident that Warbs will be up there too.

 

[ENZED-88]

Warburton is a very good as is Hooper same with Cane,Todd & Braid back in nz but his standing in the team an leadership is what separates him from the rest it is all part of the package that is Richie MCcaw..anyway Looking forward to seeing more of the welsh hooker He's got a bit of mongrel about him just the kind of player I like

 

[j'nuh]

The secret to McCaw's success: a giant arm with two hands.

Can't imagine how low your ratings for the England team are them...But each to their own. I agree about Biggar being between 7-8 and hibbard on a good day being an 8. Also agree Webb could end up higher, but maybe i should have started at 6. I actually agree with most of the ratings, but only if you downgrade all other teams also, as i think we have 2-3 players who are unmatched/barely matched in the word. Sue me. I think Wales have the best man for man team in the NH, just a severe lack of team cohesion.n Absolutely not good enough tp beat the All Blacks without a stunning performance. But the again, neither can England, Ireland or France...


Sorry for the lack of Grammar...me be drunk. Obviously, when you look at my ratings

Hmm... good question.
Brown - 7, Roko - 7, Tuilagi - 7, Barritt - 6, May - 7.5, Farrell - 6 (currently 4), Care - 7.5 (currently 4), Vunipola - 7, Robshaw - 7, Wood - 5.5, Attwood - 8, Launchbury - 9, Wilson - 7, Hartley - 7, Marler - 7.5

 

[first5eight]

. Being surrounded by the best team players in the world has helped Mccaw no bounds. A little while ago he was phenomenal, but now, i think he's overrated in general. Fantastic player, but overrated.

Big call there mate. If anything McCaw being the best player in a team full of the best players in the world adds to his legacy, especially as he has played through different eras and generations and still been the best.
His form at the moment has been outstanding as well. I expect him to be able to blunt Warburton and then dominate him. Hooper and Louw are better players and he has pretty much been able to get on top of them so I'm pretty confident. 4.30am kick off in Sydney and a over night low of 20 degrees.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Warburton is not as good as Mccaw at his best, not by a stretch. But at the moment, he is just as good. Mccaw is the best leader in rugby, that may make him extremely valuable to the all Blacks, but that doesn't make him the best in the world. If Warburton was a Kiwi, i think he would have taken over the mantle by now tbh. Being surrounded by the best team players in the world has helped Mccaw no bounds. A little while ago he was phenomenal, but now, i think he's overrated in general. Fantastic player, but overrated.

This is forgetting that, at least according to the Wales online ratings, the Welsh are also surrounded by the best players in the world yet the difference between NZ and Wales is significant.

 

[Thingimubob]

This is forgetting that, at least according to the Wales online ratings, the Welsh are also surrounded by the best players in the world yet the difference between NZ and Wales is significant.

Yeah it has been established by everyone on here, including the Welsh posters themselves, that no one should ever pay attention to Andy Howells and the Wales Online "journalism"...
Really no need to go on about it.

 

[Mikel92]

Just noticed that Wales is really in the "pool of death" for next year's World Cup with England and Australia joining them. Gonna be honest, can't really see Wales beating either of those teams. But a huge upset today will do them the world of confidence. Autumn Internationals don't count for much when the WC rolls around I know, but it'd be nice to have some belief and precedent that you can do it if you're in a pool like that.

However, don't think that will happen, and Wales will probably miss out on the quarters next year. Which surely will lead to calls for Gatland to move on, even if he has signed beyond the WC (dunno if that's the case or not). They have mountains of talent in Wales (mainly in that backline imo), but it's about time that translated to results. The last coach who started limping against Fiji didn't end well.

 

[Thingimubob]

How do I get this Scrum V you speak of??!

I am a bit confused by his comment, though. Is he rooting for Wales or NZ? I mean... nekked Marshall could be a reward - or a penalty - for Wales winning...all depending on how you look at it. And by 'it' I mean the situation...and not, ya know...it.



das

Haha if Wales win I'll make sure you get a link to BBC iPlayer to watch it :lol: haha nah he's that confident of a NZ win that he'll rock up to the studio on Sunday in the nude if they don't.

He did do this during the 2007 RWC, ended up wearing a All Blacks dog collar on Scrum V after saying he would if France beat NZ in the quarters

Just noticed that Wales is really in the "pool of death" for next year's World Cup with England and Australia joining them. Gonna be honest, can't really see Wales beating either of those teams. But a huge upset today will do them the world of confidence. Autumn Internationals don't count for much when the WC rolls around I know, but it'd be nice to have some belief and precedent that you can do it if you're in a pool like that.

However, don't think that will happen, and Wales will probably miss out on the quarters next year. Which surely will lead to calls for Gatland to move on, even if he has signed beyond the WC (dunno if that's the case or not). They have mountains of talent in Wales (mainly in that backline imo), but it's about time that translated to results. The last coach who started limping against Fiji didn't end well.

Who, Gatland? you're forgetting that we had a 16 - 16 draw with Fiji in the 2010 November Internationals, I seem to recall RWC 2011 not going too badly for us!
And yes, Gatland has a contract through until after the 2019 RWC

I don't mind that Wales have been written off already, plenty of time to come good before it all kicks off nxt year! Not like we haven't picked up some decent wins against England in the previous season or two.

 

[Mikel92]

Jury is still out on how Australia are under their new coach Chekia. There's always a possibility you could tip them up next year. You weren't far off it a couple of weeks back. But if they pull their finger out, and with England at home, I just don't know.

Anyway, best of luck for today (though not too much!)

 

[Jaguares]

Proven at Fullback at international level? Yes, easily the better player.

Halfpenny the best fullback at international level?

According that ranking, Wales is the second best team :lol:

 

[Jbobo]

Halfpenny the best fullback at international level?

According that ranking, Wales is the second best team :lol:

What ranking? mine, or the article?

If mine, you're wrong. If the Wales online article, then i disagree with it anyway so i'm not sure what your point is?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Preparing myself for some big Gwlads!

 

[TommiG88]

Barnes wanting to be centre stage as usual.

 

[Tony Manx]

Oh good.....Barnes reffing the AB's................... that should make it interesting!!!! Will watch that one later!!

 

[Darwin]

All Blacks showing some good signs on attack, but we aren't clinical enough at the moment.

EDIT: Barrett hasn't impressed so far. If we wanted to play a short kicking game why didn't we play someone who could actually execute short kicks (Cruden)?

EDIT2: And Barrett's kicking is getting worse....

EDIT3: And he misses his first shot at goal. Come on!

 

[TommiG88]

Never seen so many knock ons from NZ.

 

[Bazzy]

SBW can't catch today. He's knocked it on at least 3-4 times now. Wales' defense is immense though.

Struggling in the last game of the year is becoming a bit of a theme for us.

 

[Darwin]

Disappointing half of rugby (from both sides). Far too many basic errors. The AB's were in a fantastic position to go into half-time with a lead but really blew that chance. The only real positive from the AB's has been the scrum, but to be honest I have no idea what is going on there (the one time we smashed the Welsh scrum we were the ones penalised...).

Barrett has been poor. His no-look passes are just as likely to go to a Welsh player as an AB, and his short kicking game has been atrocious. 3-4 prime attacking opportunities have been wasted by his poor kicks. SBW's handling outside him has been shocking too...

- - - Updated - - -

Savea.

Fanastic pass under pressure by C Smith!

Good kick by Barrett too. Great start to the 2nd half for the AB's.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Try time. Did Read release Halfpenny when he won back that turnover? And he had his hands on the ground, so not supporting his body weight.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Great response from the Welsh, keep going.