All Blacks vs Wales

Billy Tell

I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match. 
Just sayin'

Hooroo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585458" data-time="1465272365">
<div>
I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match. 
Just sayin'
</div>
</blockquote>
I hear ya! I'm finding the "Sydneysider catch up" thread more interesting in who will turn up!

antipodean

Found this, didn't know their record was that bad.
 
<img src="http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/424/walessouth.jpg" alt="walessouth.jpg">

Bovidae

Wales have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory a few times in recent matches vs Aust.
 
The records of Ireland and Scotland in the SH are probably similar though.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585458" data-time="1465272365">
<div>
I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match. 
Just sayin'
</div>
</blockquote>
When is the team named? 
 :truce:
 
Seriously though, this will have to be one of the most interesting team naming's we've had in a while - with positions 1,10,12,13 and 14/15, plus the bench up for debate (in the publics eyes anyway, maybe not the selectors).

Crash

So, Whtelock and TKB sit this one out and Ngatai has been released on home duty. Interestingly no players will be released to the Chiefs for their match against Wales.
Opens up the door for all the newbies to get a run at some stage.

taniwharugby

According to TV1 they are giving Whitelock until Thursday to prove his fitness, which coincides nicely with the team naming.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="585474" data-time="1465277438">Interestingly no players will be released to the Chiefs for their match against Wales.</blockquote>
 
I'm hearing that Wales have been really targeting the Chiefs game....

Catogrande

With a caveat that all this comes from the BBC, the noises coming out of the Welsh camp seem, well sort of defeatist really. Like this from Rob Howley (via the BBC website).
 
"History is against us, but we need to change history and by trying to create a siege mentality that might put us, hopefully at some time on Saturday, in a good space and putting the All Blacks under pressure on some occasions."
 
and
 
"Skill set under pressure is vital in the modern game and we are continually working on it," he said. "It's about speed and mindset. It takes time, but it's something which we are very mindful of. Hopefully you will see not just glimpses of it on the weekend, but quite a lot of it."
 
Now that wasn't all he said, but it's not exactly positive is it? Much the same from most of the guys interviewed as well. I'm all for respecting the opposition but if you can't be positive in an interview then perhaps stick to the platitudes of "we're here to play rugby" or maybe just keep quiet?

SabalomG

wales are adopting a siege mentality? uh oh! can't see the ABs winning it now :(

pakman

Could anyone make out what Foster meant in conference? Sounds like Cruden, Lima and Barrett will start one test each. But at another stage said something about three would be in 23, and then added 'at some point'. On Herald website there was a photo of Fekitoa and Seta T in background -- so maybe midfield. In which case the correction might suggest no recognised midfielder on bench for first?

MiketheSnow

Mate and I are seriously considering laying NZ to rack up +150 pts across the three tests.
 
The gulf in "skill set under pressure" is so vast that once NZ put width and speed on the game Wales will not be able to cope.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="585517" data-time="1465299520">
<div>
Mate and I are seriously considering laying NZ to rack up +150 pts across the three tests.
 
The gulf in "skill set under pressure" is so vast that once NZ put width and speed on the game Wales will not be able to cope.
</div>
</blockquote>
That's the sort of win-win situation isn't it? If your team get reamed at least you've got some dosh to go on the piss with and drown your sorrows.
 
Wish I'd done that in RWC15. :Bang_Head:

pukunui

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="585510" data-time="1465296751">
<div>
Could anyone make out what Foster meant in conference? Sounds like Cruden, Lima and Barrett will start one test each. But at another stage said something about three would be in 23, and then added 'at some point'. On Herald website there was a photo of Fekitoa and Seta T in background -- so maybe midfield. In which case the correction might suggest no recognised midfielder on bench for first?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I took it as: Moving forward all three players will get chances at various points in time due to inevitable injuries or form drops. They won't be picking a single player and giving him 100% of the game time because they need them all to be able to slot in when required.

MN5

How can a team that has genuine class players across the board like AWJ, Warburton, Faletau, North, Roberts and Davies be so lowly rated.....are the nine I haven't mentioned shit beyond words ?

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585567" data-time="1465340404">
<div>
How can a team that has genuine class players across the board like AWJ, Warburton, Faletau, North, Roberts and Davies be so lowly rated.....are the nine I haven't mentioned shit beyond words ?
</div>
</blockquote>
Possibly, or perhaps the 6 you have mentioned are not as good as you are making out?

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585567" data-time="1465340404">
<div>
How can a team that has genuine class players across the board like AWJ, Warburton, Faletau, North, Roberts and Davies be so lowly rated.....are the nine I haven't mentioned shit beyond words ?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Agree, they weren't too bad in the world cup last year either. 
 
I didnt watch any 6 nations this year though.
 
I thought the 18.5 points head start at the TAB was quite generous for the first test of the year.

Provincial Stalwart

Wales have talked about applying a "siege mentality" which is actually just status quo when it comes to their style of rugby. The imagery is backwards though - Wales are actually the marauders attacking our fortress. I'm pretty sure the "siege mentality" applies to the ones defending their castle and you can't lay siege to a fortress with a siege mentality. 
 
Prospects for the game are a bit grim when their main hope of winning consists of us playing poor, naive rugby. Still, if it's going to happen it will be in the first game. We will actually have quite a bit of experience in our XV running onto the park and any naivety is likely to reside on our bench.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="585582" data-time="1465343677">
<div>
Possibly, or perhaps the 6 you have mentioned are not as good as you are making out?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I think it's safe to say all would rate mentions in a "best in the world" discussion. All of them are Lions which is nothing to sniff at.
 
Just find it rather odd that in less than a year they've gone from a team that did well to get out of a very tough WC pool to taking on ( admittedly the World champs ) who have lost a lot of experience and world class......but it's "only" Wales so the ABs should put 50 on them in each test.

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585589" data-time="1465345011">
<div>
I think it's safe to say all would rate mentions in a "best in the world" discussion. All of them are Lions which is nothing to sniff at.
 
Just find it rather odd that in less than a year they've gone from a team that did well to get out of a very tough WC pool to taking on ( admittedly the World champs ) who have lost a lot of experience and world class......but it's "only" Wales so the ABs should put 50 on them in each test.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I don't think too many people are expecting 50 points, especially in each test, I think you are stretching things there.
 
The issue I see is the likelihood of Wales winning a test - it looks very low - let's look at some factors
 
- The stats of Wales vs Southern Hemisphere teams under Gatland talked about earlier in the thread, it is woeful.
 
- The ABs haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994, or in NZ at all since 2009
 
- Wales looked poor vs England in the warmup game.
 
- The ABs have also had an extra week prep than they often normally have at this time of year and they are picking a near full strength team and almost everyone is in decent form. 
 
Having said all that - I sense a bit of an ambush approach from Wales and I expect Wales to come out all fire and brimstone v the ABs on Saturday and the ABs to be a bit slow out of the blocks. I'd be shocked if the ABs don't win relatively comfortably - but I think early on in test 1 it will be a bit of a wakeup call.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales