Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour

Tim

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Sort of the state of the entire side really, a bunch of pretty handy players who are all sort of the same, and at the same level. Few standouts, few variations available. Need to find a plan that makes best use.

Yeah, we have a lot of midfielders who are good at Super Rugby level, but are mediocre athletes at test level. Would be good to see Lienert-Brown develop the ability to be able to take at least one outside break per season.

chimoaus

Akira at 6, Jacobson at 8 and Paps at 7 is the best unit for me.

mariner4life

@tim said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Sort of the state of the entire side really, a bunch of pretty handy players who are all sort of the same, and at the same level. Few standouts, few variations available. Need to find a plan that makes best use.

Yeah, we have a lot of midfielders who are good at Super Rugby level, but are mediocre athletes at test level. Would be good to see Lienert-Brown develop the ability to be able to take at least one outside break per season.

will they go around you? no
okay so will they go over you? also no

but tidy hands and quick feet...

which, again, would be alright if everyone played straight, but playing outside two 10s whose entire game is crabbing and trying to pick up a runner.... sensational balance.

Tim

@mariner4life Kerevi would shit in to this team.

mariner4life

@tim said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@mariner4life Kerevi would shit in to this team.

i would cut off 2 fingers of my left hand for him

fuck i would take 2021 Quade too...

taniwharugby

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Ardie Savea is the most kissed-on-the-dick player in NZ. Very handy 7 if a bit light in the tackle. Ordinary 8. I give far less care to the "post contact metres" as they very rarely result in quick ball.

especially when often if he busts through 2 or 3 tacklers, and then goes to deck it can isolate him behind them.

In regard to your point re BB and getting a hundy...a decade ago, we had 2 players on 100 tests, now we are about to have 11.

Crucial

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@tim said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Sort of the state of the entire side really, a bunch of pretty handy players who are all sort of the same, and at the same level. Few standouts, few variations available. Need to find a plan that makes best use.

Yeah, we have a lot of midfielders who are good at Super Rugby level, but are mediocre athletes at test level. Would be good to see Lienert-Brown develop the ability to be able to take at least one outside break per season.

will they go around you? no
okay so will they go over you? also no

but tidy hands and quick feet...

which, again, would be alright if everyone played straight, but playing outside two 10s whose entire game is crabbing and trying to pick up a runner.... sensational balance.

...and a 12 that doesn't exactly crab but does drift....

This is why I think that the backline itself functions much straighter with (surprisingly) DMac. I think his passing game from 10 has come on hugely and he looks to feed runners into gaps with well placed passes a lot more. That means the others don't slide to look for gaps as much and end up with 3 guys in a 5 metre outside channel.

Chris B.

@mariner4life said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@act-crusader said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Man he’s provided some highlights over his AB career. Is he a 10, is he a 15, who cares really, I’ve just enjoyed watching him out on the park

a fantastic rugby player. Pace, good vision for a half opportunity, and a willingness to chance his arm.

His highlight reel would be pretty fucking sweet.

100 for the ABs is really quite something considering how hard we have been on selection.

He'll draw level with Mils in this test. Level with Aaron Smith if he plays again this tour and likely end the season one test behind Nonu.

As long as he sticks around till the next RWC and without serious injuries he'll surely overtake DC as the most-capped back. He'll be in a tussle with Smith for that, though.

Tim

I know this Wales "B", but selecting only two lineout options in the starting XV seems rather odd.

mariner4life

@tim said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

I know this Wales "B", but selecting only two lineout options in the starting XV seems rather odd.

2003 called and it wants its glaring deficiency back

chimoaus

@tim said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

I know this Wales "B", but selecting only two lineout options in the starting XV seems rather odd.

I think most loose forwards are expected to have some skill in the lineout, anyone have stats on which loosies are most used, I would think Akira must be up there.

TheMojoman

3 interesting points for me;

Loose forward trio and Akira relegated to the bench. He was awesome versus the Wallabies/Pumas but that was on dry tracks and versus sides that played more open rugby which gave him more opportunities. Looks like the thinking here is to start with a high workrate loose forward trio to wear down the Welsh and bring Akira on in the last 20 for impact.
Persisting with Havili and ALB in midfield. IMO Havili is in same camp as Akira in that against the Fijians/Wallabies/Pumas ie, more space he flourished. Versus the Boks, rush pressure defence he was found wanting. I'd prefer to see an ALB/Reiko Ioane midfield. ALB has enough in him to provide punch in tight situations using footwork in his carry from 12. Tupaea has potential as he continues to develop.
First Five and I think given it's BB's 100th test it might given him the nod. IMO Mounga is clearly our top 10 with his speed of passing, kicking game superior to BB IMO. He needs a strong 12 (like the Cooper/Kerevi midfield) to help him though. I don't think Havili is it especially against the Boks/England.

Toddy

@chimoaus said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

I think Jacobson, QT, SB slightly unlucky but can't deny Blackadders workrate and commitment. They must see TV as a more impactful lock replacement going forward. I think TJP must be the luckiest selection after his efforts last week. One bonus is to have such competition in the team.

Scott Barrett returned home after the final match against the Springboks.

mariner4life

@toddy said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@chimoaus said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

I think Jacobson, QT, SB slightly unlucky but can't deny Blackadders workrate and commitment. They must see TV as a more impactful lock replacement going forward. I think TJP must be the luckiest selection after his efforts last week. One bonus is to have such competition in the team.

Scott Barrett returned home after the final match against the Springboks.

part of our issue up front is that this year SB is our best performing lock. Problem is, SB has a low ceiling. If our pack is ever going to go anywhere we need to find guys capable of better.

Stargazer

Updated Wales squad: hooker Owens out; Elias starting; Myhill coming onto the bench for his test debut.

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Media release: https://www.wru.wales/2021/10/wales-squad-to-face-all-blacks-announced/

Machpants

@stargazer said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Updated Wales squad: hooker Owens out; Elias starting; Myhill coming onto the bench for his test debut.

Media release: https://www.wru.wales/2021/10/wales-squad-to-face-all-blacks-announced/

Ouch it really is getting to be finding fit players for Wales!