EOYT: Wales v Samoa, 16/11/2012

[psychic duck]

01 Gethin Jenkins/Paul James, 02 Richie Hibbard, 03 Aaron Jarvis, 04 Luke Charteris, 05 Ian Evans, 06 Ryan Jones (c), 07 Justin Tipuric, 08 Toby Faletau, 09 Mike Phillips, 10 Dan Biggar, 11 George North, 12 Ashley Beck, 13 Jamie Roberts, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 15 Leigh Halfpenny

With the exception of Bradley Davies for Charteris. They've selected the exact same team you advised them Dullonien.

My only issue with the team is the bench. I don't understand how Priestland keeps his place on the bench ahead of Hook. And also seeing the name Scott Andrews in a Wales 23 again makes my eyes hurt.

 

[Ozzay]

Better team fairplay, would of rather have seen Charteris in for Davies but nevermind. Samson over Scott Andrews aswell.

does this mean we will see hook at 10 for allblacks?

Hopefully his team is to buikt momentum going into that game and he wont change it much for next week..Biggar needs a big game

 

[SelimNiai]

Biggar can't win. He deserves to play, doesn't last week in a game situation made for him but finally gets his start in front of the raging psychopaths better known as the Samoa defence. He'll get smashed early and play the game on the back foot thus having a poor game and on Monday all the Welsh media will go, "told you he can only play club rugby"

Mark my words

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hook is very unlucky.
Good looking side though, I'm looking forward to seeing the side Samoa name.

 

[Ozzay]

I just gotta feeling Hooks gonna be 10 next week

 

[psychic duck]

Biggar can't win. He deserves to play, doesn't last week in a game situation made for him but finally gets his start in front of the raging psychopaths better known as the Samoa defence. He'll get smashed early and play the game on the back foot thus having a poor game and on Monday all the Welsh media will go, "told you he can only play club rugby"

Mark my words

Yep, you're right.

Priestland had numerous poor games before he was dropped, but I bet if Biggar has just one game where he's not so good then he'll get binned for another year. Biggar has never had two starts in a row for Wales, and now more than all the times before he deserves to be given a fair run.

 

[TrueSlawter]

Oh god Scott Andrews is there.. Also I have to agree Hook is very unlucky, should be on the bench.

 

[Draggs]

Decent XV, awful bench. Too many Scarlets there, considering their form.

I really have nothing to say, except that I wholly agree with the situation regarding Biggar. Come Monday it will be 'Nipper for Wales'.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

SAMOA:Fa'atoina AUTAGAVAIA (Northland); Paul PEREZ (Eastern Province), George PISI (Northampton), Paul WILLIAMS (Stade Francais Paris), David LEMI (Worcester, capt); Tusiata PISI (Suntory Sungoliath), Kahn FOTUALI'I (Ospreys); Sakaria TAULAFO (London Wasps), Wayne Ole AVEI (Bordeaux-Begles), Census JOHNSTON (Toulouse), Daniel LEO (Perpignan), Teofilo PAULO (North Harbour), Ofisa TREVIRANUS (London Irish), Maurie FA'ASAVALU (Harlequins), Taiasina TUIFU'A (Newcastle) <wbr style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> <wbr style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
REPLACEMENTS: Ti'i PAULO (Clermont Auvergne), Viliamu AFATIA (Agen), James JOHNSTON (Harlequins), Joe TEKORI (Castres Olympique), Tivaini FOMA'I (Hawkes Bay), Jeremy SU'A (Tasman Makos), Johnny LEOTA (Sale), Robert LILOMAIAVA (Laulii)

 

[dullonien]

It was all going so well until the name Scott Andrews appeared on the bench. I'm not sure about Bradley Davies either, he's really not playing well, whilst Charteris is apparently playing very well. Don't agree with Knoyle, Priestland or Scott Williams on the bench either, would have preferred Lloyd Williams (or ideally Gareth Davies), Hook and Liam Williams in their place. Are they playing Roberts at 12 and Beck at 13? Not sure that will work, in the same way playing Davies at 12 and Roberts at 13 didn't work when they first played together. Hopefully they'll switch depending on situation.

Still, much, much better. I'm almost amazed that this team got selected by Howley. I'm suddenly feeling a lot more confident. Just hope the tactics and passion is there this week.

 

[psychic duck]

SAMOA:Fa'atoina AUTAGAVAIA (Northland); Paul PEREZ (Eastern Province), George PISI (Northampton), Paul WILLIAMS (Stade Francais Paris), David LEMI (Worcester, capt); Tusiata PISI (Suntory Sungoliath), Kahn FOTUALI'I (Ospreys); Sakaria TAULAFO (London Wasps), Wayne Ole AVEI (Bordeaux-Begles), Census JOHNSTON (Toulouse), Daniel LEO (Perpignan), Teofilo PAULO (North Harbour), Ofisa TREVIRANUS (London Irish), Maurie FA'ASAVALU (Harlequins), Taiasina TUIFU'A (Newcastle) <wbr style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><wbr style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
REPLACEMENTS: Ti'i PAULO (Clermont Auvergne), Viliamu AFATIA (Agen), James JOHNSTON (Harlequins), Joe TEKORI (Castres Olympique), Tivaini FOMA'I (Hawkes Bay), Jeremy SU'A (Tasman Makos), Johnny LEOTA (Sale), Robert LILOMAIAVA (Laulii)

Strange call by the Samoan coaches to leave Lilomaiava out after he scored 4 tries on his debut.

Where is James So'oialo? He got several kicks from the touchline against Canada and looked a decent player.

Paul Williams back in the side ahead of Sa adds quite a bit to the side, as does the inclusions of Fotuali'i and Fa'asavalu. Tekori is immense in the Top 14 so I'm surprised he's only on the bench, but then the Samoan pack did okay without him starting last week, so hard to argue with the Samoan selectors.

It was all going so well until the name Scott Andrews appeared on the bench. I'm not sure about Bradley Davies either, he's really not playing well, whilst Charteris is apparently playing very well. Don't agree with Knoyle, Priestland or Scott Williams on the bench either, would have preferred Lloyd Williams (or ideally Gareth Davies), Hook and Liam Williams in their place. Are they playing Roberts at 12 and Beck at 13? Not sure that will work, in the same way playing Davies at 12 and Roberts at 13 didn't work when they first played together. Hopefully they'll switch depending on situation.

Still, much, much better. I'm almost amazed that this team got selected by Howley. I'm suddenly feeling a lot more confident. Just hope the tactics and passion is there this week.

Why couldn't he have selected this team in the first place?

Thankfully McCusker is out of the side, who an earth thought he was of international standard. He couldn't even do running onto the pitch well, nearly hurting AWJ's injured arm.

 

[Draggs]

It was all going so well until the name Scott Andrews appeared on the bench. I'm not sure about Bradley Davies either, he's really not playing well, whilst Charteris is apparently playing very well. Don't agree with Knoyle, Priestland or Scott Williams on the bench either, would have preferred Lloyd Williams (or ideally Gareth Davies), Hook and Liam Williams in their place. Are they playing Roberts at 12 and Beck at 13? Not sure that will work, in the same way playing Davies at 12 and Roberts at 13 didn't work when they first played together. Hopefully they'll switch depending on situation.

Still, much, much better. I'm almost amazed that this team got selected by Howley. I'm suddenly feeling a lot more confident. Just hope the tactics and passion is there this week.

Oh god, no! Another Premiership SH playing for the Turks. I'll never forget how he alone cost the Turks in the HC against the Saints. Simply not a bright player. Their best bet might be Rhodri Williams for the future. Bench should have been: Owens (?), Jenkins, Bevington (?), Davies (Chart starting), Shingler, WilliamsL, Hook, ehh... Not sure.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Roberts is at 12 because he's the defensive captain and leads the line, so has an important role. I'd imagine they'd switch around in attack.

Bradley aside, the team's spot-on. I'm really looknig forward to the game now, we should take them in less of a struggle than usual. (That isn't the strongest-looking Samoa team I've ever seen. Not bad, but it's not their strongest-possible XV by any stretch, whereas this isn't far off ours at the moment)

 

[psychic duck]

Oh god, no! Another Premiership SH playing for the Turks. I'll never forget how he alone cost the Turks in the HC against the Saints. Simply not a bright player. Their best bet might be Rhodri Williams for the future. Bench should have been: Owens (?), Jenkins, Bevington (?), Davies (Chart starting), Shingler, WilliamsL, Hook, ehh... Not sure.

I remember that. The Scarlets had like a 4 on 1 on the left, and Davies chose to go himself. Didn't he also throw an intercept late on as well?

 

[Draggs]

Yep, with a performance like that I surprised he hasn't been capped yet!
I think the heart and soul spirit drives all the Scarlets to go for it constantly, subsequently butchering overlaps.
Jonathan Davies is a wonderful example of this.

Davies also did something stupid and was carded two weeks ago. Can't remember what, but I think I yelled "dull twat".

Just looking at that gif is painful. What the flying **** was he thinking? We need a try and there are plenty of blokes in front of me. They'll never expect me to snipe...

 

[dullonien]

I said ideally, because he should be playing as first choice for the Scarlets. He's been on fire for Llandovery, and apart from the odd mistake for the Scarlets, like the one highlighted above, has played well. I personally really like his as a player. He has a similar skill set to Webb, without the constant f**k-ups. A few errors in judgement happens at the beginning of a players career. Anyway, it hasn't happened, so he isn't in line for Wales yet, but I'd have liked to see him there ahead of Knoyle.

Samson should have been on the bench. We know Andrews isn't up to it, whereas Samson is an unknown and could show that with Paul James at loosehead, a strong scrummaging hooker in Hibbard, and bulky second rows behind him in Ian Evans and Bradley Davies, he might have shown that he's a better scrummager than his Scarlets form has shown us so far. Last week showed that shifting Paul James over to the tight isn't a good option, because he was minced there against Argentina. Please Howley, leave Jarvis on for the 80!

 

[TrueSlawter]

It was all going so well until the name Scott Andrews appeared on the bench. I'm not sure about Bradley Davies either, he's really not playing well, whilst Charteris is apparently playing very well. Don't agree with Knoyle, Priestland or Scott Williams on the bench either, would have preferred Lloyd Williams (or ideally Gareth Davies), Hook and Liam Williams in their place. Are they playing Roberts at 12 and Beck at 13? Not sure that will work, in the same way playing Davies at 12 and Roberts at 13 didn't work when they first played together. Hopefully they'll switch depending on situation.

Still, much, much better. I'm almost amazed that this team got selected by Howley. I'm suddenly feeling a lot more confident. Just hope the tactics and passion is there this week.

Agree on the bench bar no mention of Davies as SH replacement as others have said he isn't up to it tbh. I just can't belive Scott Andrews actually got on the bench still. Also Charteris should be starting over Davies imo

Imo Owens is a ok replacement not a huge impact but imo better than Rees (for the future at least), Jenkins is ok, Samson Lee would've been a better option than Andrews imo.. Warburton on the bench is good, gives Tips a chance to start. As said would rather Ll.Williams over Knoyle on the bench, Hook over Priestland and then Liam Williams over Scott for last position.

 

[Draggs]

I said ideally, because he should be playing as first choice for the Scarlets. He's been on fire for Llandovery, and apart from the odd mistake for the Scarlets, like the one highlighted above, has played well. I personally really like his as a player. He has a similar skill set to Webb, without the constant f**k-ups. A few errors in judgement happens at the beginning of a players career. Anyway, it hasn't happened, so he isn't in line for Wales yet, but I'd have liked to see him there ahead of Knoyle.

Samson should have been on the bench. We know Andrews isn't up to it, whereas Samson is an unknown and could show that with Paul James at loosehead, a strong scrummaging hooker in Hibbard, and bulky second rows behind him in Ian Evans and Bradley Davies, he might have shown that he's a better scrummager than his Scarlets form has shown us so far. Last week showed that shifting Paul James over to the tight isn't a good option, because he was minced there against Argentina. Please Howley, leave Jarvis on for the 80!

Yes, unfortunately, NZ are up after this. Let Jarvis play at least 50 and then see how the Samoan scrum goes. I can't see Matthew Rees being relevant for much longer. Myhill is a great prospect, as is Scott Baldwin. Sam Parry could be moderately decent for us soon as well. Dacey and Williams aren't getting too much time for the Blues, unfortunately.

 

[j'nuh]

The head-to-head stats Tipuric vs. Warburton on the BBC page must be wrong? Apparently in this current season, Tipuric's made 2 turnovers to Warburton's 12. Has Tipuric really made so few turnovers? He beats Warburton in every other stat though.

 

[cyRil]

I saw that too and it must be wrong. I saw him make 2 turnovers in one half earlier in the league season...