June International Test: New Zealand vs. Wales [1st Test] (11/06/2016)

[Regan]

If we'd selected Osbourne like I was saying last year we wouldnt have a problem would we?

He was in and around the ABs last year but ultimately Savea was immense at the WC so no room for him, he's committed to Fiji now and we just have to deal with that fact I guess. Can't see Savea being dropped.

 

[austingtir]

He was in and around the ABs last year but ultimately Savea was immense at the WC so no room for him, he's committed to Fiji now and we just have to deal with that fact I guess. Can't see Savea being dropped.

I still dont see what was so great about Savea at the WC or otherwise. He murdered a terrible french backline which I was saying before the game were barely past NZ secondary school standard before the game. Which if you watch the highlights of any winger in the world would of scored all but one of his tries were nothing special they were all gifts on a plate. Other than that he didnt do anything that outstanding.

And I cant see why he cant be dropped. Especially for the second test. That would be the best opportunity to dump him for a game or two. Hansen hooked him in this game... no reason that he cant not play him for the second or third test. We've got plenty that could fill in for this test series.

 

[nightmarehitter]

One of the joys of being an All Blacks supporter is that we can be exceptionally hard on our players. Julian 'The Bus' Savea when fit is a MUST pick player. Extremely dynamic with rare power for a winger, the bus is the most lomu-esq player in world rugby. Hansen and co will back themselves to have Savea back into form and firing. He is still so young.

Naholo looks like he is a genuine match winner, once he irons out the errors and decision making in his game I think it is easy to say he will be the best winger in the world. NMS will need to come back firing on all cylinders to get back into the AB's but we know he has the incredible talent to do it.

So for the Number 11 its between Savea and Naholo - try picking that winner. Patrick Osbourne while solid wouldn't have a hope in hell of matching up to either of those guys.

 

[Tony Manx]

Walsh is a **** though

He was when he was "ill" but when he came back to the game he was much better and one of the top ref's at that time!

ALL refs make errors and the size and frequency of the error, more often or not, is gauged by which team you are supporting!!

All decisions are a matter of opinion and they are, by their nature, argumentative.

Lastly, most "erroneous" decisions even themselves out.

 

[smartcooky]

Its not just the forward passes its the blatantly terrible control of the breakdown and its not just in AB games. The Wales vs Ireland game last year is a prime example. It was a lolly scramble. Yet barnes would call that a fair contest. The man simply isnt fit to referee at the highest level.

The Wallabies vs AB's game in sydney is the other clanger in the last year. 0 breakdown contol. Just let Pocock do what ever he felt like.

Last night Barnes pretty much allowed a free for all at the breakdown; Jacklers being allowed forearms on the ground, and hands on the ground past the ball, players lying over the ball or not rolling away in order to slow down and kill quick ruck ball. He also allowed players to stand offside at the rucks and in the midfield. That kind slack refereeing of the breakdown suits other teams better than it suits us, and IMO, that is one of the reasons why we have so much difficulty in playing our game when he has the whistle.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Interesting call SC, worthy of reflection.

I wanted to say commiserations to the Welsh team and their legion of fans.
I thought Wales played some spectacular rugby and lifted themselves to a level where we know they can play. Their attacking flair and passion was in clear evidence and to twice be leading this test match shows the quality they can muster when they are in the mood.
Wales are no mugs and they can lift to another level if Gatland can rouse the boys enough. They have the talent to beat us in our back yard, no question.
The only question mark, for me, over Wales, is Gatland.

The new AB lineup was a joy to watch. The precocious talent, the mistakes and concern, ultimately the belief and the desire.
A wonderful tough test match between two very talented teams that raced along at a breakneck pace.
Hansen is some coach. I'm feeling really proud in the way he backed the Super XVIII players on form and it was vindicated. More youngsters dripping with talent please.
Fabulous rugby from both teams and a thrilling test match.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

If we'd selected Osbourne like I was saying last year we wouldnt have a problem would we? And I see no reason Naholo couldnt play on the left he's brutal in the contact when he wants to be. But anyway perhaps the likes of Seta or someone like that could be played there as a stop gap.

If ABs had listened to you last year:

1. Carter would have been dropped. As according to you he can't score drop goals. Instead the ABs should pick Sopoaga for the RWC. Oh and low and behold Carter scored two vital drop goals in the semis and final.
2. Read should be dropped. And look, low and behold he's made captain of the ABs.
3. Savea should also be dipped in the RWC, but low and behold ends up top try scorer in the RWC.

So, I think the AB selectors know a great deal more and be listened to than you.

 

[austingtir]

If ABs had listened to you last year:

1. Carter would have been dropped. As according to you he can't score drop goals. Instead the ABs should pick Sopoaga for the RWC. Oh and low and behold Carter scored two vital drop goals in the semis and final.
2. Read should be dropped. And look, low and behold he's made captain of the ABs.
3. Savea should also be dipped in the RWC, but low and behold ends up top try scorer in the RWC.

So, I think the AB selectors know a great deal more and be listened to than you.

Fact is we would of still won the cup without those three players.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Fact is we would of still won the cup without those three players.

Thought you said you would never reply to my posts after you said McCaw "accidentally" tripped that player to get yellow carded during the Argentina game. Even after the match McCaw admitted he did.

And who says ABs would have won the RWC without Carter, Read and Savea? ABs beat SA by 2 points (the difference Carter's drop goal at a crucial time when ABs were struggling), also in the final, an Carter drops a goal to stem the Wallabies come back and stop their momentum. Trust me I was at both games and in the final I was sitting next to a Wallaby fan whose words were - "that was class" when Carter dropped that goal. The fact is Carter's 100 caps plus experience and class showed he could judge the moment when to pull the trigger and execute it when nothing else was on. Sopoaga, despite being able to drop goals in Super rugby was not guaranteed to do the same based on 1 cap. And Read's leadership and experience in the team just cannot be underestimated.

The point is the ABs and their selectors won the RWC, not Kiwi fans like you, who just spout out their opinions on this board.

 

[Bon]

Thought you said you would never reply to my posts after you said McCaw "accidentally" tripped that player to get yellow carded during the Argentina game. Even after the match McCaw admitted he did.

And who says ABs would have won the RWC without Carter, Read and Savea? ABs beat SA by 2 points (the difference Carter's drop goal at a crucial time when ABs were struggling), also in the final, an Carter drops a goal to stem the Wallabies come back and stop their momentum. Trust me I was at both games and in the final I was sitting next to a Wallaby fan whose words were - "that was class" when Carter dropped that goal. The fact is Carter's 100 caps plus experience and class showed he could judge the moment when to pull the trigger and execute it when nothing else was on. Sopoaga, despite being able to drop goals in Super rugby was not guaranteed to do the same based on 1 cap. And Read's leadership and experience in the team just cannot be underestimated.

The point is the ABs and their selectors won the RWC, not Kiwi fans like you, who just spout out their opinions on this board.

Right on the money with that post!

 

[dullonien]

I wanted to say commiserations to the Welsh team and their legion of fans.
I thought Wales played some spectacular rugby and lifted themselves to a level where we know they can play. Their attacking flair and passion was in clear evidence and to twice be leading this test match shows the quality they can muster when they are in the mood.
Wales are no mugs and they can lift to another level if Gatland can rouse the boys enough. They have the talent to beat us in our back yard, no question.
The only question mark, for me, over Wales, is Gatland.

Cheers.

However, I disagree that the only thing holding us back is Gatland. It's the quality of our regions and domestic competition that isn't strong enough. The Pro 12 isn't played at a high enough tempo to fully prepare these players to compete with the All Blacks, and the regions are the biggest culprit (the Irish provinces are likely desperate for the regions to up their game).

It was all too apparent to watch the Welsh players fade in the final 20. The only Welsh player that managed to keep going was Faletau, and that's because he's so naturally fit. It's too late to significantly improve the fitness of the players once they are in the Wales camp. We've seen it time and time again against the SANZAR teams, competitive for 60-75 minutes (60 v NZ, 70-75 v SA & Aus), but to lose in the closing stages of games.

 

[Larksea]

I don't know if anyone else notice it but one thing the refs didn't pick up on was AB's being held down on the ground once a ruck had been completed. Not the first time we've seen it, AUS & SA used that tactic on McCaw for years the thought being I guess that he was so good it was worth sacrificing one of your own players to hold him down so he would miss a ruck or two. The welsh didn't seem to target any particular player but Aaron Smith seemed to be a priority target, when he would go to contact he would be held down and miss the next couple of rucks but Barrett was also targeted and a couple of other players as well so not just Smith. I guess the thought being that if players like Aaron Smith, Barrett & Cruden are held back and miss phase play it would upset the AB's attacking game.

 

[Thingimubob]

So here's the squad to start vs the Chiefs on Tuesday:

Matthew Morgan, Eli Walker, Tyler Morgan, Scott Williams, Tom James, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, James King.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Ross Moriarty, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell.


No Keelan Giles in the squad, could that mean he's in line to replace North? You'd imagine one of Eli and Tom will play 50 - 60 mins, and the other the full game, so might not be completely fresh come next Saturday. Wouldn't put it past Gatland to chuck a youngster in at the deep end, though I'm not sure it's best idea to give him a first cap opposite Savea / Naholo...

Gutted North likely won't play a further part, because he looked superb yesterday, really dangerous whenever he got the ball.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

So here's the squad to start vs the Chiefs on Tuesday:

Matthew Morgan, Eli Walker, Tyler Morgan, Scott Williams, Tom James, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, James King.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Ross Moriarty, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell.


No Keelan Giles in the squad, could that mean he's in line to replace North? You'd imagine one of Eli and Tom will play 50 - 60 mins, and the other the full game, so might not be completely fresh come next Saturday. Wouldn't put it past Gatland to chuck a youngster in at the deep end, though I'm not sure it's best idea to give him a first cap opposite Savea / Naholo...

Gutted North likely won't play a further part, because he looked superb yesterday, really dangerous whenever he got the ball.

I'm expecting Anscombe to start at 15 with Williams onto the wing in North's place

 

[Ka_Mate]

Kieren Read - 9 tackles 0 missed, match winning try, lead like a captain - Great job.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So here's the squad to start vs the Chiefs on Tuesday:

Matthew Morgan, Eli Walker, Tyler Morgan, Scott Williams, Tom James, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, James King.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Ross Moriarty, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell.


No Keelan Giles in the squad, could that mean he's in line to replace North? You'd imagine one of Eli and Tom will play 50 - 60 mins, and the other the full game, so might not be completely fresh come next Saturday. Wouldn't put it past Gatland to chuck a youngster in at the deep end, though I'm not sure it's best idea to give him a first cap opposite Savea / Naholo...

Gutted North likely won't play a further part, because he looked superb yesterday, really dangerous whenever he got the ball.

To play:

CHIEFS: James Lowe, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Andrew Horrell, Sam Vaka, Stephen Donald (c), Brad Weber, Tom Sanders, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Michael Allardice, Dominic Bird, Hiroshi Yama****a, Rhys Marshall, Mitchell Graham. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Taleni Seu, Tevita Koloamatangi, Kayne Hammington, Sam McNicol, Latu Vaeno.

 

[AzaMatt]

So here's the squad to start vs the Chiefs on Tuesday:

Matthew Morgan, Eli Walker, Tyler Morgan, Scott Williams, Tom James, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, James King.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Ross Moriarty, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell.


No Keelan Giles in the squad, could that mean he's in line to replace North? You'd imagine one of Eli and Tom will play 50 - 60 mins, and the other the full game, so might not be completely fresh come next Saturday. Wouldn't put it past Gatland to chuck a youngster in at the deep end, though I'm not sure it's best idea to give him a first cap opposite Savea / Naholo...

Gutted North likely won't play a further part, because he looked superb yesterday, really dangerous whenever he got the ball.

Bench is odd for the Chiefs game as both anscombe and patchell are there, I'm assuming anscombe will come on for priestland at 10 and patchell will swap with Morgan. No idea what will happen on the wing Saturday as the only option not used will be keelan Giles, surely gatland isn't that crazy to play him against the all blacks. If Williams switches to wing and anscombe plays full back then I'm not sure what the need is for 3 specialist wingers in the squad. All in all the Chiefs game should be very exciting

 

[Ka_Mate]

Gee if the Chiefs had Leitch playing, I'd be definitely saying the Chiefs to win this, anyhow they're still in with a very good chance. It's a good opportunity for a couple of potential All Black players to try make a name for themselves.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Gee if the Chiefs had Leitch playing, I'd be definitely saying the Chiefs to win this, anyhow they're still in with a very good chance. It's a good opportunity for a couple of potential All Black players to try make a name for themselves.

Will Mckenzie be released to the Chiefs for the game or will he be kept in camp?

 

[Bluemoon]

Im happy enough with the Welsh forwards for the midweek game, the backline on the other hand is very green indeed. Scott Williams is really going to have a be a general in defence to keep the rest of the backs together. I can see there being a lot of trys in this game.

Turnbull and King really need to show why they were selected in this game, as both had decent form for the regions, but I question whether they can both step up. Can't wait to see Ellis Jenkins with a Welsh start. Glad he is getting the game time to develop.

Gutted that North is injured, he was a he threat on the weekend and there isn't anyone to fill in at that level.