Wales v New Zealand

[TRF_Cymro]

Millennium Stadium
27 November 2010
Kick Off 17:15​

 

[Darwin]

I'd imagine the AB's will again put out a full strength side, though there are a few contentious positions. The choice of hooker will be interesting - Mealamu is back from his two week suspension this week, so I'd imagine he would get the start (with Hore again on the bench). Elliot has played well in his first two matches - I'd certainly be comfortable with him starting a big test match for the AB's, but I'd imagine they will stick with there top two ranked hookers. With Donnelly out with injury, Sam Whitelock will start alongside Thorn at lock (assuming Thorn is fully fit), though I'd imagine Whitelock has surpassed Donnelly in the pecking order in any case.

Cowan should get the start at halfback, with Mathewson providing impact from the bench (though I'd be more than happy with Mathewson starting). The midfield combo will probably be the most contentious selstion - I'd imagine Smith will be a certainty, so it will between Nonu and SBW for the 12 spot. Gear has done enough to maintain the left wing spot over Rococoko or Toeava, but I would like to see Toeava back on the bench this week, as he provides more versatility than Nonu/SBW (and he has played very well in his last two games).

 

[dullonien]

Not gonna be much otimism for a Welsh win here!

However I think it's gonna be a close-ish match, with Wales starting strongly, but NZ upping it in the second half, before a little push by Wales at the end, even though the games already out of reach. As for the Welsh team, much of it really does now pick itself, with only really the backrow, wing and bench spots up in the air. I'd say it'll be somethign like this:

01 Gethin Jenkins (if fit)
02 Matthew Rees (c)
03 Adam Jones
04 Bradley Davies
05 Alun-Wyn Jones
06 Dan Lydiate
07 Martyn Williams
08 Andy Powell

09 Mike Phillips
10 Stephen Jones
11 ?
12 James Hook
13 Tom Shanklin
14 George North
15 Lee Byrne

16 Richard Hibbar (for the love of God!)
17 Paul James
18 Ryan Jones/Jonathan Thomas
19 Sam Warburton
20 Tavis Knoyle/Richie Rees (Richie may deserve a second shot)
21 Andrew Bishop
22 ?

I'm honestly not sure who should fill the wing spot and back three cover on the bench. The choices are: Harries, Czekaj, Prydie and Brew. Harries looked to have a complete shocker against Leinster on the weekend, with some truly terrible defense. Czekaj was a bit meh against Ulster. Brew tried hard against Fiji, but didn't really shine, although wasn't exactly a game for Welsh wingers to shine! Prydie has seen no gametime atall. Probably the best performance from a Welsh winger last weekend (bar North) was Tom James for the Blues, but he's gotta play plenty more good games before he deserves another chance.

Probably give Brew another shot, with Czekaj on the bench? Harries certainly played himself out of the reckogning imo. Prydie could be given another cap v the All Blacks, but that would probably mean he'd have more caps to his name v NZ than starts for the Ospreys lol.

 

[admartian]

I'd like to see Hore get some starting game time, for Mealamu to come off the bench. I think if SBW is starting at 12, Toeava should be on the bench (not likely, Nonu looks like a coache's pet) due to being more versatile.

In fact, maybe Nonu and Toeava on the bench would be much more ideal (no Donald).

Matthewson should start too, but Idue to the extreme opposite of Henry's rotation policy, this will not happen.

 

[Draggs]

Yes, Harries' defense is a problem, but hardly worse than Shane.
Harries and Halfpenny are still a possible combination come 2012, unless North keeps playing at this level.
If Tom James keeps his forum up he could be in line for the 6N.

Adam is possibly out, from what I hear.

 

[dullonien]

Shane has had his odd blip over the years, but in general his defense is quite good. To be fair with Harries aswell, the game on the weekend was the first time I've really seem his defense so poor, although against Aus he was getting swatted away quite easily.

If Tom James shuts up and get's on with things, works on his deficiencies and gives the last pass a little more often instead of dummying and going himself, then he could still become a hell of a player. Afterall he's still only 23. Up to him really, but if Shane is still out come 6 Nations, then he could figure.

I hope to got Adam's not out!

 

[dan the man]

I really hope that Mathewson gets a start. He's really improving each time he plays.
Hore probably needs to start. We know that Mealamu is the man, and Hika Elliot has more than proven himself. Time to see if Hore is still up to playing the first 50-60mins.
Whitelock seems the obvious replacement for Donnely, with Boric on the bench...
Now that McCaw and Mils have the record, maybe put them on the bench, giving Braid and Toeava a start (maybe Toeava on the wing and send Jane back to Fullback)
Smith and Nonu in the centres, Sonny Bill was pretty non existent coming off the bench against Ireland.
I would say that Donald should get at least one start on this tour but i doubt this will happen with the record insight for Carter.

It really depends on whether Henry feels like a bot of rotation or not...

 

[nickdnz]

I'd like to see Rokocoko get another shot. With Sivivatu and Dagg coming back, and Gear in great form, Rokocoko really needs one more oppertunity to show whether he is up to it or not. I'd hate to see him miss out to be honest, but this may well be his very last tour up north, and his game has improved.

 

[northharbour]

Listening to Radio sport, this is the team you will most likely see.

Woodcock
Mealamu
Franks
Thorn (Boric)
Whitelock
Kaino
McCaw
Read
Cowan
Carter
Gear/Rokocoko (Both have been running on the wing)
SBW
Smith
Jane
Muliaina

Hore
Tailata
Boric (Braid)
Messam
Mathewson
Donald
Toeava

I would like to see Smokin Joe have one more shot to prove that he is an All Black as next year, Zac Guildford, Sitivini Sivivatu and Israel Dagg will most likely be fit for selection. I do think if Gear has another great S15 then he will be in the ABS.
Others talks are no Nonu (Giving him rest) and Donald may get good time off the bench.
Kaino will cover the lock position if Thorn is not fit meaning Messam or Braid to the blindside. (during the match)

 

[Sam Owen]

I'd like to see Rokocoko get another shot.

I would like to see Smokin Joe have one more shot to prove that he is an All Black

After all he's done for the All Blacks aye...

He was the hero, go to man, the rocket when the All Blacks really didnt have a hero (apart from an establishing DC) in the backs. He's provided the ABs with some brilliant tries in his time. I too would like to see Joe make a revival, I think the ABs owe him that much to give him a chance to comeback but if his time is up, oh well..

 

[donmcdazzle]

After all he's done for the All Blacks aye...

He was the hero, go to man, the rocket when the All Blacks really didnt have a hero (apart from an establishing DC) in the backs. He's provided the ABs with some brilliant tries in his time. I too would like to see Joe make a revival, I think the ABs owe him that much to give him a chance to comeback but if his time is up, oh well..

Well he used to be the go to man, sadly now his best days are behind him and Jane and Gear are just clearly better than him. He has had more chances than a lot of guys ever get and that's mostly due to his past exploits. He has been a good all black but all good things must come to an end and I think this tour should be his last as an AB (barring a huge turnaround in super15 next year). Although Henry seems to love him so you never can tell.

Donald shouldn't get anywhere near the field if it is semi close so I'm hoping for a tight game, I actually think it will be relatively close; Wales will be hurting and they always lift a notch playing against us.

I'd like to see Mathewson get a start and Messam to have some decent gametime too.

 

[nickdnz]

After all he's done for the All Blacks aye...

He was the hero, go to man, the rocket when the All Blacks really didnt have a hero (apart from an establishing DC) in the backs. He's provided the ABs with some brilliant tries in his time. I too would like to see Joe make a revival, I think the ABs owe him that much to give him a chance to comeback but if his time is up, oh well..

Agreed. No player I'd rather see have a turn of form. Some of the way many people have refered to Joe Rokocoko in the last few months, I've gotten a bit worked up about. He's three tries short of equally Howlett's record, and many of his tries have been something incredible. If his time has come to an end, I hope he's treated with every respect an All Black can get, as he really was one of New Zealand's greatest wingers.

Everyone knows I think Hosea Gear is an awsome winger, but Rokocoko has been gradually improving over the season. Enough to justify himself a spot in the All Blacks, with all the other competition? Probably not, but if he keeps gradually improving his form, I'd be happy for him to have his spot in the RWC. I'd love to see him play against Japan and Canada so he can with any luck beat Howlett's record! Remembering he's only 27, I think there is still a lot that Rokocoko can achieve providing he can get back a bit of confidence come the RWC.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

We all have favourites, hell I loved Wilson and Cullen and they were both unceremoniously dumped by John Mitchell when they hadn't had a chance to become as average as Joe has been allowed to. Clearly Hosea Gear and Cory Jane are the guys at the moment and Joe is there on the list with about 5 other guys (Sivivatu, Guildford, Smith and some others I can't remember) who if fit are fighting it out to be the other two wingers/utilities in a squad.

It's nice to have fond memories, but there have been other class players in the past who were much more screwed over by the whole "you usually score one to two tries a game, you didn't score for the last two games, so out you go" mentality.

I honestly think Joe was for a while there the best and most dangerously dynamic and electric winger of the last 10 years, but that's just absolutely not the case right now. If it carries on this way it'll start making very obvious reading in the stats and his career will not look so good in retrospect later on.

He'd really better start jumping out of his skin in the Super 15. If he wants it bad enough then he should still be able to do it.

 

[nickdnz]

We all have favourites, hell I loved Wilson and Cullen and they were both unceremoniously dumped by John Mitchell when they hadn't had a chance to become as average as Joe has been allowed to. Clearly Hosea Gear and Cory Jane are the guys at the moment and Joe is there on the list with about 5 other guys (Sivivatu, Guildford, Smith and some others I can't remember) who if fit are fighting it out to be the other two wingers/utilities in a squad.

It's nice to have fond memories, but there have been other class players in the past who were much more screwed over by the whole "you usually score one to two tries a game, you didn't score for the last two games, so out you go" mentality.

I honestly think Joe was for a while there the best and most dangerously dynamic and electric winger of the last 10 years, but that's just absolutely not the case right now. If it carries on this way it'll start making very obvious reading in the stats and his career will not look so good in retrospect later on.

He'd really better start jumping out of his skin in the Super 15. If he wants it bad enough then he should still be able to do it.

Good point, but he was the highest try scorer in the years S14 remember. Gosh I hope he finds good form, but I agree that his spot needs to go to the best player, and if that's not him then it's not him. I just hope he is selected for Wales and has an absolute blinder. Agree with you on John Mitchell, he was a prat with the way he treated great players. No Wilson, Cullen or Mehrtens in the 2003 RWC squad, but he took Ben Atiga, screwing the careers of each of the named players.

 

[Darwin]

Based on training, it looks like SBW will be starting in the midfield alongside Smith. It has also been reported that Toeava has been training on the right wing with the top team - I wonder whether Jane is still not 100% recovered from his chest injury... (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ill-Williams-set-for-another-All-Blacks-start ).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just read that Warburton, Powell and Jenkins(!) are all fit for this game

 

[veux]

Wales are going to get battered, I recon 43-22

 

[khaotix]

I would bet my house that Wales wont get battered. As Henry has already said, pay no attention to the Fiji game, we will be a different team altogether on Saturday. And god knows we are due a win against the All Blacks. Its gonna come in the next couple of years, who knows, maybe even Saturday. (although id like to save it for the World Cup final if god is listening!)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales are going to get battered, I recon 43-22

Wonder when the WUM's would come in with a lovely post!

 

[Larksea]

normally I'd be suprised if wales broke double figures on the scoreboard. though this is the last game in a long season for the AB's which kinda makes it a little hard to predict. They've peaked for the season and put all the silverware away and with England & Ireland already done and dusted they will feel the slam is in the bag as well though henry will be trying to stop the players thinking that way.

Been ~5 or so changes each game, some players minds will be on the plane home. Others are desperate for gametime after doing "stuff all" outside training and sitting in the stands over the last ~5 weeks or so. Few injury ****les as well.

But the AB's want to finish well, they did last year with a stunning test against France. hope to see another, the welsh will be much better than their scoreline against Fiji suggests. But the AB's haven't got the continuity going into this game they had going into that french game.

Last AB test of the year!