[EOYT] Wales v Australia, 30/11/13

[Patchey]

Just seen on the Telegraph's sport section (the only time I go on their website) that George North will probably be released by Saints but Saints will then face a fine from PRL for releasing him...

Doh.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

WALES TEAM TO PLAY AUSTRALIA
Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Owen Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Unattached), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

 

[dullonien]

Personally I would have gone for Tips and Warbs in the backrow. Australia is the perfect side to play two opensides against. Wasn't at all impressed with Lydiate against Tonga either, didn't have any of the impact he usually does, and made a few errors.

That is the only position I can question though, and Lydiate is still a quality player, so still very happy.

Interesting to see Rhodri Williams get the bench spot ahead of Lloyd.

 

[Ospreylian]

What does Tipuric have to do to break into this team?? Lydiate had a relatively poor game against Tonga (even admitting so himself), whereas Tips played out of his skin and arguably should have been man of the match in a game full of mediocre performances. I just don't get Gatland's thinking on this one. I like Lydiate, don't get me wrong, but at this moment in time Tipuric has ​to start

 

[Jaguares]

Wallabies have improved a lot, they have won this Welsh team in worst times, like last year. Now they are improving, they have established a team for several games without injuries. So I have no doubt, they are going to win.

I say today:

Next year, Wallabies will win ABs in Australia as in 2011, remember me.

 

[David Smith]

Wallabies have improved a lot, they have won this Welsh team in worst times, like last year. Now they are improving, they have established a team for several games without injuries. So I have no doubt, they are going to win.

I say today:

Next year, Wallabies will win ABs in Australia as in 2011, remember me.

This man speaks the truth. Finally someone worth listening to on this forum

" Wales are a like cockroaches: They look scary but are easily crushed" Vice Captain Quade cooper at today's training

The battle begins. Your Turn Wales

 

[Ospreylian]

" Wales are a like cockroaches: They look scary but are easily crushed" Vice Captain Quade cooper at today's training

The battle begins. Your Turn Wales

 

[Thingimubob]

Did old Quade actually say that or are you just exaggerating?

Happy enough with the team, only problem position being tight head, as I would've started Lee.
Agree with Dull and definitely would've liked to see Tipuric and Warburton starting together

 

[David Smith]

touché

 

[The Jones Boy]

If Wales want to beat Australia just take a leaf out of England's book.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

go on wales i think wales can defo beat the aussies by 10 +

 

[David Smith]

If Wales want to beat Australia just take a leaf out of England's book.

I don't think your allowed to pick certain Refs for Matches. George Clancy hopefully won't be Referring the wallabies ever again.

I assume you were talking about the incompetent Refereeing, otherwise what else were you talking about, England were plain awful. You could play the Benny Hill theme music to George Clancy decisions in that game.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I don't think your allowed to pick certain Refs for Matches. George Clancy hopefully won't be Referring the wallabies every again.

I assume you were talking about the incompetent Refereeing, otherwise what else were you talking about, England were plain awful. You could play the Benny Hill theme music to George Clancy decisions in that game.

agree'd that 45 degree angle scrummaging from Vunipola was a joke, and clancy seemed totally oblivious to it because "the wallabies have a weak scrum"

Wales have been guilty of talking themselves up this week. they believe they can beat us because the lions beat us in the last test, but they're playing an inexperienced centre combination instead. we must close down north's space. he's a hot head and gets frustrated/angry easily if he isn't allowed to run. i think our backs will be superior to wales' we just need our forwards to win that battle.

 

[David Smith]

Don't worry we have Wayne Barnes as Ref this weekend. Big fan of him and past games we've had with him

2010: Wallabies vs South Africa ( First Win at Altitude)
2011: Wallabies vs All blacks ( Tri-nations win)
2013: Wallabies vs Argentina ( Thumping win)

I'm also sure he did some Welsh games as well when we've beaten them

I'm happy

 

[Big Ewis]

Cuthbert back, huh....still waiting for full lineups. And yes, the Aussie scrum held OK in Twickenham, but not as well as last year.

 

[The Jones Boy]

He's a Big player for Wales in more ways than one.
Wales are going to have to front up in the pack and make a lot more effort than they did in the game against the Boks.

 

[Thingimubob]

Wales have been guilty of talking themselves up this week. they believe they can beat us because the lions beat us in the last test, but they're playing an inexperienced centre combination instead. we must close down north's space. he's a hot head and gets frustrated/angry easily if he isn't allowed to run. i think our backs will be superior to wales' we just need our forwards to win that battle.

Really? Everything I've seen hasn't really being using the Lions at all? In fact I read an interview with Phillips where he repeated the same type of stuff coming out of the Aussie camp - "different set up, different environment" . However they are saying they're confident they can win, which is still not exactly bigging themselves up

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

He's a Big player for Wales in more ways than one.
Wales are going to have to front up in the pack and make a lot more effort than they did in the game against the Boks.

I thought Wales did compete particularly well against us in the pack, more so than Scotland or France if you ask me, Hibbard even outplayed Du Plessis if I have to be honest. They didn't score a try while we scored 3 but that is more due to in-game injuries in the backline than anything else and not a reflection of the Welsh forwards' lack of fronting up to the Boks IMO. The France game was tighter but IMO that is because we were 1)without FdP, 2)unlucky to not get two tries awarded and 3)the French backs if I am not mistaken did not miss 1 single tackle or near enough.

 

[Ospreylian]

Really? Everything I've seen hasn't really being using the Lions at all? In fact I read an interview with Phillips where he repeated the same type of stuff coming out of the Aussie camp - "different set up, different environment" . However they are saying they're confident they can win, which is still not exactly bigging themselves up

Agreed. Not sure where this "Wales bigging themselves up" nonsense is coming from. From where I stand, Wales just sound confident they can win this time. Is that a crime?

 

[The Jones Boy]

The number of injuries against the Boks is what I was referring to, Wales have to harden up.
Aussie have a good pack but not inthe same class as the Boks.
If Wales harden up in the pack they can dominate the set pieces but Aussie will be a serious handful for them at the breakdown.
Aussie are not the easybeats in the pack everyone makes them out to be.
England, the Pumas, the Boks are clearly better at the set piece scrum but in the loose and at the ruck Aussie are pretty much as good as anyone. Aussie do ok at the set piece and they make up for it by how they play in other forward aspects. I think they are really missing David Pocock. When he gets back they will be a serious threat to everyone again. He's a powerhouse in the loose.

Wales need to take a lead from the Irish attitude against the AB's.