All Blacks vs Wales
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="578689" data-time="1462928623">
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<p>I really doubt that you'll find anybody who lives above the equator who agrees with you. AWJ was absolutely immense last year.</p>
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<p>By both I meant Retallick and LdJ. Can't remember anything much about AWJ last year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="578694" data-time="1462929905">
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<p>That Welsh midfield is pretty seasoned and experienced. They might look to target the ABs relative lack of miles on the clock in that department.</p>
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<p>That's why I would like Fekitoa there. He just smashes people on defense, always has.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="578689" data-time="1462928623">
<p>I really doubt that you'll find anybody who lives above the equator who agrees with you. AWJ was absolutely immense last year.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately for you that was last year (he did have a very good 2015, I agree). In 2016 (at least in the 6N) he was quiet - Kruis & Itoje were better.</p>
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<p>AWJ is a very good lock though, but I would not have him in the AB team ahead of our current locks: I thought our 2 main locks were unsung heroes at the RWC, especially Whitelock (Retallick was more of a sung hero...).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="578751" data-time="1462939309">
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<p>Unfortunately for you that was last year (he did have a very good 2015, I agree). In 2016 (at least in the 6N) he was quiet - Kruis & Itoje were better.</p>
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<p>AWJ is a very good lock though, but I would not have him in the AB team ahead of our current locks: I thought our 2 main locks were unsung heroes at the RWC, especially Whitelock (Retallick was more of a sung hero...).</p>
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<p>This is becoming a Fern myth, Whitelock is hardly unsung. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="578766" data-time="1462942382"><p>This is becoming a Fern myth, Whitelock is hardly unsung. :)</p></blockquote>
Oh he plays for the Crusaders eh?<br><br>
He is often immense and doesn't get close to the love Retallick or Kaino get. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="578751" data-time="1462939309"><p>Unfortunately for you that was last year (he did have a very good 2015, I agree). In 2016 (at least in the 6N) he was quiet - Kruis & Itoje were better.<br><br>
AWJ is a very good lock though, but I would not have him in the AB team ahead of our current locks: I thought our 2 main locks were unsung heroes at the RWC, especially Whitelock (Retallick was more of a sung hero...).</p></blockquote>
He was carrying a heel injury for the entire 6 Nations this season & shouldn't have been selected. He still performed well but not to the heights of 2015 I'd agree.<br>
There was a bit of fuss about this at the time with the Ospreys not particularly happy he'd been playing with an injury. He's not played since the tournament due to it.<br>
Gats does like to "flog" his favored players. -
<p>The interesting thing about a 3 test series is that it allows the coaches to give more players opportunities. I'm sure Hansen will rotate a few players in and out of the starting XV. For example, Cruden and Sopoaga might get at least one start each. Gatland is going to have to play half of his test 23 vs the Chiefs, which makes selection a little more tricky.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="578694" data-time="1462929905"><p>
That Welsh midfield is pretty seasoned and experienced. They might look to target the ABs relative lack of miles on the clock in that department.</p></blockquote>except that when Wales make a linebreak they get sudden onset agrophobia and don't know what to do. They look more comfortable running into people and falling over. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="578689" data-time="1462928623">
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<p>I really doubt that you'll find anybody who lives above the equator who agrees with you. AWJ was absolutely immense last year.</p>
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I <strong>live</strong> above the equator and agree with him :i_am_so_happy:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="578829" data-time="1462956295">
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<p>except that when Wales make a linebreak they get sudden onset agrophobia and don't know what to do. They look more comfortable running into people and falling over.</p>
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<p>They seemed pretty OK in the wide open spaces against England in RWC.</p>
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<p>The bastards.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="578766" data-time="1462942382">
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<p>This is becoming a Fern myth, Whitelock is hardly unsung. :)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="578768" data-time="1462942738">
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<p>Oh he plays for the Crusaders eh?<br><br>
He is often immense and <strong>doesn't get close to the love Retallick or Kaino get</strong>.</p>
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<p>Yeah, people on here simply refused to praise him for that lineout steal against the Boks in the RWC semi.</p>
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<p>Whitelock is often immense, it just seems that Retallick has that little bit more to his game (or is it because he features more in the loose?). They are far and away the best pairing in the game, and might be #1 and #2 in the world as individual locks.</p>
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<p>AWJ is really good, but so was Kane Douglas in 2015.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="578883" data-time="1463002356">
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<p><strong>Yeah, people on here simply refused to praise him for that lineout steal against the Boks in the RWC semi.</strong></p>
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<p>I had to pause for a moment and remember the sheer relief and elation that moment gave at the time. Talk about crucial moments</p>
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<p>Thanks for the reminder PS :)</p> -
<p><img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03482/Whitelocksteal_3482306a.gif" alt="Whitelocksteal_3482306a.gif"></p>
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<p>The moneyshot of the ABs RWC 2015 campaign right there. It's not hard to imagine SA winning that lineout and forcing a maul penalty...final score RSA 21 NZ 20 :(</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="578842" data-time="1462961875">
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<p>They seemed pretty OK in the wide open spaces against England in RWC.</p>
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<p>The bastards.</p>
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<p>I don't mean the wide open spaces of penalty kicks from between the 22's.</p>
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<p>I had to go and watch a highlights package in case I missed something. Wales made one good midfield break and the carrier died with the ball as he had no decent support. A try came from a centring kick from the sideline after getting around the outside.</p>
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<p>Whenever I have seen Wales manipulate a break it's like everyone freezes for a split second trying to work out what to do next. The instincts just aren't there.</p> -
<p>Yeah I know what you mean Crucial but the winning score owed nothing to freezing after a break. Sure it was a centering kick but it showed good awareness, skills and pace.</p>
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<p>And it won them the bloody game against the odds.</p>
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<p>Did I say bastards earlier?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579081" data-time="1463040026"><p>
The moneyshot of the ABs RWC 2015 campaign right there. It's not hard to imagine SA winning that lineout and forcing a maul penalty...final score RSA 21 NZ 20 :(</p></blockquote><br>
Yeah nah. With 5 or so minutes to play if the Boks had kicked it, NZ would have found a way to win. They just had more in the tank, which they showed in every game they played. -
<p>Two good articles vindicating Gatland's decision to leave the youngsters at home</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-selection-spot-on-11316620'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-selection-spot-on-11316620</a></p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/you-probably-dont-remember-1988-11320847'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/you-probably-dont-remember-1988-11320847</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="579150" data-time="1463058747">
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<p>Yeah nah. With 5 or so minutes to play if the Boks had kicked it, NZ would have found a way to win. They just had more in the tank, which they showed in every game they played.</p>
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<p>Speak for yourself.</p>
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<p>I really didn't enjoy that game. It had SA sneaking it by penalties written all over it. My only enjoyment really was the final whistle.</p>
