All Blacks vs Wales

[game_film]

@TheMojoman Hence, Samisoni is there for the business end.

[Victor Meldrew]

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Why is our best frickin hooker on the frickin bench?

Makes sense to me as Sami can't start every game. Managing workload and all that.

[Frye]

Taylor didn't play poorly in his last start at all, in a very good team performance at Eden Park. And I think it's good to manage resources honestly. Especially as it should be a fast, flowing game under the roof at Millennium which could suit Taylor. Taukeiaho's power game will be more useful later in the tour.

It's a very strong team.

I'm confident of getting good results this tour but still gotta get lucky with injuries (and judiciary).

[scribe]

@Frye strong team but I was so looking forward to Will Jordan carving up over here.

[kiwiinmelb]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Why is our best frickin hooker on the frickin bench?

Makes sense to me as Sami can't start every game. Managing workload and all that.

That was my thought, it’s just a concern the gap between him and the rest has become so big,

Good team otherwise

[Victor Meldrew]

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Why is our best frickin hooker on the frickin bench?

Makes sense to me as Sami can't start every game. Managing workload and all that.

That was my thought, it’s just a concern the gap between him and the rest has become so big,

Good team otherwise

We seem to have options in pretty much all positions which, if not perfect, at least don't make you hide behind the sofa.

[Bovidae]

@TheMojoman said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Why is our best frickin hooker on the frickin bench? Mr Codie “I can’t throw straight under pressure” Taylor starts instead? FFS I can’t wait to see the back of Foster and his stooopid selections.

This could be a Ryan selection. His default choice for hooker is someone from Canterbury.

I knew that Frizell would be picked. Christie pays for his 'mare against Japan.

I just hope that Foster and co are proactive with their substitutes and yank players if they aren't doing the job.

[MN5]

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@Chris-B o would prefer a fullback who is an actual attacking threat from fullback

JB is very much a defensive fullback. I miss Mils

But yeah I really miss Cully

Mils was a more complete fullback. Great alround skilz. I'll go one further, Bender was better than both.

Anyone being a better fullback than Cully does not compute in my simple brain, sorry.

[booboo]

@game_film said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Reckon Samisoni is on the bench in the Malcolm Marx role and we might see him after 30 mins if Codie isn’t firing. If Codie goes well then leaves him fresher to cause havoc.

Ridiculous idea. Should never even be suggested.

[JC]

So Brad Weber is back for reserve halfback. I’m relieved frankly.

[JC]

@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Wales:
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Justin Tipuric, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Ryan Elias, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Alun Wyn Jones, 20. Christ Tshiunza, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Owen Watkin.

Adams injured?
Did not see Dyer in there

He’s going to be targeted like fuck
Could be an easy & enjoyable afternoon for Sevu Reece

And did not see Tips at 6 and Reffell at 7

Happy for Reffell
He was the find of the S Africa tour

But on the other wing Caleb Clarke will need to bring his A game lining up in front of Rees-Zammit, especially on defence.

[booboo]

@Frye said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Taylor didn't play poorly in his last start at all, in a very good team performance at Eden Park. And I think it's good to manage resources honestly. Especially as it should be a fast, flowing game under the roof at Millennium which could suit Taylor. Taukeiaho's power game will be more useful later in the tour.

It's a very strong team.

I'm confident of getting good results this tour but still gotta get lucky with injuries (and judiciary).

Apparently that's utter rubbish, and sacrilegious.

[sparky]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Omen?

https://www.allblacks.com/news/barnes-to-mark-100th-test-with-whistle-from-famous-1905-match/

The thought of Barnes in Cardiff in 2007 makes my blood boil. The French committed offence after offence after offence at the breakdown in the last 15 minutes of game. And Barnes forgot to whistle any of them.

The thought of John Dewar Dallas in Cardiff in 1905 makes my blood boil over. The Originals had won every other game on that tour. Bob Deans scored a fair try. The Welsh moved the ball and conned the ref. Unforgivable.

Never forget!

[Crucial]

Sami on the bench is purely a workload thing. We have other tough tests to come and he wasn't meant to play last week until Coles got injured.
As log as it is a pointer to using him more in the remaining games I'm fine with it.

[foobaNZ]

Obviously if it was the top 15 Samisoni would start, but must be a rest thing. A shame Jordan is injured but I like the team otherwise.

[sparky]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Wales:
15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Justin Tipuric, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Ryan Elias, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Alun Wyn Jones, 20. Christ Tshiunza, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Owen Watkin.

Strong Welsh team who will be chasing immortality. Mixture of experienced wise heads and promising youngsters. Tommy Reffell at 7 will be a handful. Rio Dyer's first test.

[Crucial]

@foobaNZ said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Obviously if it was the top 15 Samisoni would start, but must be a rest thing.

Just to put this topic to bed. Foster has been asked and the answer confirms. If it wasn't for Coles injury he may have started but they are managing the hooker workloads as there isn't experience in the number 3

[Victor Meldrew]

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Wales:

The thought of Barnes in Cardiff in 2007 makes my blood boil. The French committed offence after offence after offence at the breakdown in the last 15 minutes of game. And Barnes forgot to whistle any of them.

I wasn't there and it didn't happen.

[sparky]

@Duluth said in All Blacks vs Wales:

I'd have gone for Akira Ioane at 6 and Hoskins Sotutu on the bench ahead of Frizzell. But the rest of the team makes sense. Go Black!

[Victor Meldrew]

@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Wales:

@Chris-B o would prefer a fullback who is an actual attacking threat from fullback

JB is very much a defensive fullback. I miss Mils

But yeah I really miss Cully

Mils was a more complete fullback. Great alround skilz. I'll go one further, Bender was better than both.

Anyone being a better fullback than Cully does not compute in my simple brain, sorry.

Cully's up there with Blanco & JPR in the GOAT Pantheon. Mils was bloody great though and his consistency was astonishing but not on that level.

As this is the Wales thread, I'll give a mention to Leigh Halfpenny. Hugely underrated player IMHO - does he ever have a bad game?