Dove Men Challenge: Wales vs. Australia (3-12-11, 14:30 GMT)

[TRF_Cymro]

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (3 December 2011, 14:30 GMT)

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant Referees: Dave Pearson, Jérôme Garces
Television Match Official: Geoff Warren

TV: Live on BBC
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[Teh Mite]

Dove?

Really?

What next? The Oil of Ulay Bledestloe Cup?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Dove?

Really?

Yes ....

Dove Men+Care Sponsor Wales v Australia

The Welsh Rugby Union has signed a deal with Dove Men+Care for the ***le sponsorship of the Wales versus Australia game at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December (kick-off 2.30pm).
The men’s skincare brand has acquired the naming rights for the “Dove Men Challenge†clash between the Rugby World Cup Bronze Medal finalists, after extending its contract with the WRU following Wales’ 2011 summer series home games against England and Argentina.
The partnership with Unilever-owned Dove Men+Care will see the brand feature prominently throughout the Millennium Stadium on match day, as it steps up its support of rugby union.
The sponsorship will also benefit rugby fans attending the game with a range of free samples available to showcase the Dove Men+Care range, which delivers superior care for total skin comfort across both shower and deodorant categories.
WRU Head of Sales and Marketing Craig Maxwell said: “I’m delighted to announce the renewed and extended contract with renowned Unilever brand Dove Men+Care for Wales’ upcoming game against Australia at the Millennium Stadium.
“Following the initial short-term partnership during the summer series campaign, the new deal confirms the WRU’s status as a successful and reputable brand and we are looking forward to partnering with Dove Men+Care for the future.
“Already we are exploring the obvious synergy between the brands and the potential incentives and opportunities for our fans and the Wales squad throughout the partnership.â€
Brand Manager for Dove Men+Care, Paul O’Connor, added: “As a brand which combines powerful technology and care, Dove Men+Care makes a natural partner for rugby and the WRU partnership only serves to cement our commitment to the sport.â€
The Wales v Australia Clash will be televised on BBC network television and fans can still get tickets and hospitality packages to be part of the Millennium Stadium action.

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[TRF_Olyy]

Bit of an odd sponsor, but more interesting that an obscure insurance company I've never heard of


Looking forward to this match

 

[TRF_heineken]

well I guess it's better than the Sunfoil Cricket series which just ended between South Africa and Australia...

Sunfoil is a cheap cooking oil brand which were the main sponsor of the series...

Cooking oil, Dove... Man the F Up!!

 

[Teh Mite]

I Remember when rugby was about beer, pork scratchings and dirty songs. Next up we'll see brylcream and nivia sponsorship. Gavin Henson, you have a lot to answer for.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Or these companies have a lot of money to give!

 

[dullonien]

Welsh team announced:

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Ryan Bevington, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert.

Can't complain about that really. Charteris, Adam Jones and Jon Davies are injured from the squad Gatland selected. Great to see that Halfpenny, North, Roberts, Priestland and Lydiate have all recovered. Interesting to see Bennett continue, but he fully deserves it after a great WC. Sends out a message that no-one is safe of their position, and good performances are rewarded. Big step back for Ian Evans, hope he can discover some of his old form. Davies is a blow from the 22, but Scott Williams deserved his starting spot regardless. Nice to see Tips and Cuthbert on the bench.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Hope that Shane scores 11 tries.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Hope that Shane scores 11 tries.

Would be nice. Come on Shane!!

Scott Andrews is my only real concern. A pretty meh scrummager who's only international experience is 18 minutes against the Barbarians. Unable to get close to displacing Tau Filise from the Cardiff team, which is a bit of a concern as much as I love the plasticine blob of a man that is Filise, he seems to be suffering from scrum-arthritis at the moment. (Since making his club debut in 2008, he has made just 21 starts, with only one in the Heineken Cup) Ma'afu is a better scrummager than him, and we could be going backwards, after just about having parity in the Bronze match. Hopefully Gatland will be prepared to haul him off after 45 if we're struggling. Got to have faifth, though!

And Dove is an appropriately soft brand for what could be the first match to make me cry. Don't go, Shane! Don't go!!

 

[Draggs]

Charteris is out of the Six Nations with a wrist injury, so Ian Evans has his chance here.
Can't complain about the lineup with what is available. Lets see Rees and Bennett fight for the 2 shirt.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Would be nice. Come on Shane!!

Scott Andrews is my only real concern. A pretty meh scrummager who's only international experience is 18 minutes against the Barbarians. Unable to get close to displacing Tau Filise from the Cardiff team, which is a bit of a concern as much as I love the plasticine blob of a man that is Filise, he seems to be suffering from scrum-arthritis at the moment. (Since making his club debut in 2008, he has made just 21 starts, with only one in the Heineken Cup) Ma'afu is a better scrummager than him, and we could be going backwards, after just about having parity in the Bronze match. Hopefully Gatland will be prepared to haul him off after 45 if we're struggling. Got to have faifth, though!

And Dove is an appropriately soft brand for what could be the first match to make me cry. Don't go, Shane! Don't go!!

I wonder how much people have watched the Blues during the WC because Andrews has been pretty good. So the hating needs to be given a rest. People should be more worried about Biggar on the bench.

 

[TVH11]

Very exited for this match! The Amman Valleys are gonna flood the streets of cardiff on Saturday by the sounds of it!

End of an era!!! Cant see anymore "little wings" coming through with the likes of George North etc Hope Shane goes out with a bang!!!!

 

[Draggs]

Very exited for this match! The Amman Valleys are gonna flood the streets of cardiff on Saturday by the sounds of it!

End of an era!!! Cant see anymore "little wings" coming through with the likes of George North etc Hope Shane goes out with a bang!!!!

Will Harries is still worth a shot, and we have players in the Prem coming through such as Luke Morgan and Harry Robinson, who aren't man-beasts like GEORGE NORTH!!!.

 

[psychic duck]

I wonder how much people have watched the Blues during the WC because Andrews has been pretty good. So the hating needs to be given a rest. People should be more worried about Biggar on the bench.

he can't have looked that good as he still can't push Filise out of the team

I would have liked to see Liam Williams ahead of Cuthbert on the bench

 

[dullonien]

Yup, I'm honestly not convinced with Andrews either. From what I've seen (which is most Blues games tbh), Andrews struggles scrum time at Pro12 level, let alone Heineken or International. Now Aus aren't the best scrummagers, but they still gave us a tough time in the bronze match with Mitchell at 3, and Mitchell is a far better scrummager than Andrews, so I expect to see us go backwards somewhat on Sat in that aspect of the game.

 

[Draggs]

Yup, I'm honestly not convinced with Andrews either. From what I've seen (which is most Blues games tbh), Andrews struggles scrum time at Pro12 level, let alone Heineken or International. Now Aus aren't the best scrummagers, but they still gave us a tough time in the bronze match with Mitchell at 3, and Mitchell is a far better scrummager than Andrews, so I expect to see us go backwards somewhat on Sat in that aspect of the game.

I think Paul James played TH that match, who might not be better than Andrews on that side of the scrum.
I am just hoping that Andrews will take his chance, as we really need a backup tighthead.

 

[dullonien]

I think Paul James played TH that match, who might not be better than Andrews on that side of the scrum.
I am just hoping that Andrews will take his chance, as we really need a backup tighthead.

Of course, my bad. Overall I agree with starting Andrews, because I don't want to see any more stop-gap measures like shifting Gethin Jenkins or Paul James across. We've gotta find a genuine replacement/back-up for Adam Jones, and at the moment it's likely that's gonna be between Mitchell, Andrews or Rhodri Jones. Give them as much gametime as we can afford.

 

[dullonien]

Mitchell at least starts regularly at club level and did decently during the 6N, how are the other two going to survive at international level when they are unproven even at Rabo Pro12 level?

how come Gatland selects Rhodri Jones when Rhys Thomas is the first choice tighthead for the Scarlets? yes I know that Thomas is poor, but he's surely starting ahead of Jones for a reason

The regions don't always make the right choices. I'm not a fan of Rhys Thomas, although he's having a decent start to the season. I see massive potential in Rhodri Jones, and Gatland must see the same. If Gatland always waited untill the regions did things, then Roberts would still be playing fullback (might not have been a bad thing), Halfpenny wouldn't now be being seen as the next Welsh fullback, Warburton would barely have any caps and possibly still be behind Martyn Williams in the pecking order, Lloyd Williams wouldn't be getting a look-in and Scott Williams wouldn't be anywhere neer the squad.

 

[Stoney21]

Very exited for this match! The Amman Valleys are gonna flood the streets of cardiff on Saturday by the sounds of it!

End of an era!!! Cant see anymore "little wings" coming through with the likes of George North etc Hope Shane goes out with a bang!!!!

lots of smiley faces can only mean The Hamer!

looking forward to seeing how these centre and half back pairings work. only got a glimpse in RWC.