All Blacks vs Wales

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="579150" data-time="1463058747">
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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.
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Speak for yourself.
 
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.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579170" data-time="1463072206">
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Speak for yourself.
 
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.
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I re-watched it again the other day. We just coughed up possession so often with space in front of us - not sure we froze at times, but certainly played a lot of unforced errors.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="578829" data-time="1462956295">
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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.
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Come on now, they're not Scotland.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579081" data-time="1463040026">
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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 :(
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A minute or so before that Whitelock LO steal, the Boks had a LO closer in on the other side of the field. They took that and started their maul drive. We did an excellent job in splintering it and we eventually go the ball. Aaron Smith cleared the ball and that's what resulted in the above Bok LO.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="579176" data-time="1463080315">
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I re-watched it again the other day. We just coughed up possession so often with space in front of us - not sure we froze at times, but certainly played a lot of unforced errors.
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The weather was shit , Im sure that played a big part , that was for me the most tense part of the WC , a dour struggle in the rain

Provincial Stalwart

You're right billy. If whitelock failed to get that steal we were in major strife.

Davesofthunder

Yep, I was at the game and that moment was just huge! 
I was way more tense during that Semi than the final (which I was lucky enough to also be at)

TeWaio

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Davesofthunder" data-cid="579694" data-time="1463208654">
Yep, I was at the game and that moment was just huge! 
I was way more tense during that Semi than the final (which I was lucky enough to also be at)</blockquote>
 
Same here. Semi was a harrowing, barely enjoyable experience, whereas the final was just like one big party start to finish. 
I think the weather played a part in the general vibe too; cold and heavy rain versus balmy autumn sunshine a week later.

Provincial Stalwart

So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. 
But has anyone seriously run numbers on who's missing since we last played? I count 14 of the 33 guys who won us the RWC are missing. That's more than 40% of the last squad. The big six retired, Vito, Slade and b franks off, SBW and messam playing sevens, then NMS, TKB and pauliasi manu all got injured. Add in several others also not available - laulala, thrush, broadhurst, piutau, plus fringe names like buckman, ranger, tom Taylor. There's probably a strong 23 man team in there. The numbers are quite staggering. We lost a decent chunk of players after 2007, but nowhere near the current losses, and suffered through an average 2008 and a poor 2009 after injuries hit. 
Just sayin'.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="580801" data-time="1463654967">
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So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. And you're at home. And you've never lost to Wales at home. And haven't lost to them at all for over 60 years....Just sayin'.
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Billy Tell

We are not losing to Wales at home.

Provincial Stalwart

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="580803" data-time="1463655381">We are not losing to Wales at home.</blockquote>
I'm not sayin' we are losing to wales. My comment is more aimed at the fact that champion teams that get their personnel dismantled usually go one way pretty quickly, but no-one expects that to happen next month or in fact at all this year. 
Sent from my VF-895N using Tapatalk

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="580801" data-time="1463654967">
<div>
So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. 
But has anyone seriously run numbers on who's missing since we last played? I count 14 of the 33 guys who won us the RWC are missing. That's more than 40% of the last squad. The big six retired, Vito, Slade and b franks off, SBW and messam playing sevens, then NMS, TKB and pauliasi manu all got injured. Add in several others also not available - laulala, thrush, broadhurst, piutau, plus fringe names like buckman, ranger, tom Taylor. There's probably a strong 23 man team in there. The numbers are quite staggering. We lost a decent chunk of players after 2007, but nowhere near the current losses, and suffered through an average 2008 and a poor 2009 after injuries hit. 
Just sayin'.
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Who have we lost from the 2015 RWC?
 
McCaw - to be replaced by Cane who has been in the team for four years.
Ma'a Nonu - probably replaced by Ngatai
Conrad Smith - probably replaced by Fekitoa who has been around the team for a few seasons
NMS - probably replaced by Naholo. NMS is definitely our incumbent right winger but pre world cup it looked like Naholo would take that position.
Dan Carter - replaced by Cruden.
Mealamu - only a bench player in 2015.
Ben Franks - only a bench player in 2015
Messam - hardly sighted at the World Cup.
SBW - a good impact player to have on the bench.
TkB - A bit of a blow because he offers something different.
 
I think we are only losing 4 players from our best starting line up in 2015. Cruden had probably already overtaken Carter before being injured. Midfield, replacement half back and replacement hookers are all positions with a question mark over them. I think in most positions we have ready made replacements

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="580801" data-time="1463654967">So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. 
But has anyone seriously run numbers on who's missing since we last played? I count 14 of the 33 guys who won us the RWC are missing. That's more than 40% of the last squad. The big six retired, Vito, Slade and b franks off, SBW and messam playing sevens, then NMS, TKB and pauliasi manu all got injured. Add in several others also not available - laulala, thrush, broadhurst, piutau, plus fringe names like buckman, ranger, tom Taylor. There's probably a strong 23 man team in there. The numbers are quite staggering. We lost a decent chunk of players after 2007, but nowhere near the current losses, and suffered through an average 2008 and a poor 2009 after injuries hit. 
Just sayin'.</blockquote>
 
By the sounds of it PS I'm surprised we'll even be able to put a team out..... 
And yet when I pick my 23 plus squaddies, we have plenty of test experience to boot and room for some new faces just as has been the case every year under Hansen. The only genuine question marks for me are the 5th and 6th prop.

Moody
Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Luatua
Cane
Read
A. Smith
Cruden
J. Savea
Crotty
Fekitoa
Naholo
B. Smith
Taylor
Crockett
Faumauina
Tuipoluto
Todd
Perenara
Barrett
Moala 
Take your pick of the following for the rest 
Harris, Romano, Kaino, A. Savea, Kerr-Barlow, Webber, Sopoaga, Ngatai, Dagg, McKenzie

Wreck Diver

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="580814" data-time="1463660304">
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Messam - hardly sighted at the World Cup.
 
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He carried the water beautifully.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="580814" data-time="1463660304">
<div>I think we are only losing 4 players from our best starting line up in 2015. Cruden had probably already overtaken Carter before being injured. Midfield, replacement half back and replacement hookers are all positions with a question mark over them. I think in most positions we have ready made replacements</div>
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The bench is eroded noticeably though and that was an absolute weapon for us the past two seasons. Many tests were won (or won much easier and sooner than they otherwise would have been) because of the blitzkrieg from the bench.
 
I'm confident that we can restock that though, much easier to blood high impact guys who may have a few holes in their game off the bench than it is to stumble on guys capable of starting.
 
We are well positioned, but I think we will miss that bench.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">The bench is eroded noticeably though
 
</blockquote>
 
I think the bench looks potentially better than ever personally.
 
Codie Taylor is doing ridiculous things.
Crockett and Faumuina are still there.
Tuipulotu is back after being unavailable last year. 
Savea probably offers more from the bench than Cane did.
Perenara isn't in top form but TKB should be fit for the RC.
Barrett is still there.
Plenty of guys available as utility backs.
 
Who have we lost, Kev's experience? SBW?

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="580821" data-time="1463678287">
<div>
I think the bench looks potentially better than ever personally.
 
Codie Taylor is doing ridiculous things.
Crockett and Faumuina are still there.
Tuipulotu is back after being unavailable last year. 
Savea probably offers more from the bench than Cane did.
Perenara isn't in top form but TKB should be fit for the RC.
Barrett is still there.
Plenty of guys available as utility backs.
 
Who have we lost, Kev's experience? SBW?
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 I think you could add Ngatai or Fekitoa to that bench as well

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="580821" data-time="1463678287">
<div>
I think the bench looks potentially better than ever personally.
 
Codie Taylor is doing ridiculous things.
Crockett and Faumuina are still there.
Tuipulotu is back after being unavailable last year. 
Savea probably offers more from the bench than Cane did.
Perenara isn't in top form but TKB should be fit for the RC.
Barrett is still there.
Plenty of guys available as utility backs.
 
Who have we lost, Kev's experience? SBW?
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</blockquote>
 
For the Wales tests at hand obviously TKB and SBW are the big two in the loose - assuming Barrett remains on the bench.
 
Hooker is always the wildcard off the bench. It remains to be seen Taylor can bring his game off the bench and slot into the scrum and lineout without missing a beat.
 
For the most part the Cane/Mealamu substitutions were purely fatigue related - they weren't about bringing in game breakers and augmenting the game plan like SBW/Barrett. They would just slot in and things would keep turning over. So the upside of Taylor/Savea in terms of game breaking ability is less exciting to me than the concern that they could throw the rhythm off - coming from the bench.
 
It's a different look that's all. Our outlook is very bright as I said, and it's a great opportunity to blood some guys - but I think for these Wales tests the bench won't be the same predictable weapon it was last year.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="580815" data-time="1463665511">
By the sounds of it PS I'm surprised we'll even be able to put a team out..... 
And yet when I pick my 23 plus squaddies, we have plenty of test experience to boot and room for some new faces just as has been the case every year under Hansen. The only genuine question marks for me are the 5th and 6th prop.

Moody
Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Luatua
Cane
Read
A. Smith
Cruden
J. Savea
Crotty
Fekitoa
Naholo
B. Smith
Taylor
Crockett
Faumauina
Tuipoluto
Todd
Perenara
Barrett
Moala 
Take your pick of the following for the rest 
Harris, Romano, Kaino, A. Savea, Kerr-Barlow, Webber, Sopoaga, Ngatai, Dagg, McKenzie</blockquote>
Good team. That's pretty much my preferred XV. I'd do a few different things on the bench but that's just splitting hairs. 
To go back to Stalwart's point the only place I'm concerned about the loss of players is 12 and 13. It's not that we don't have good players there it's more lack of experience and experience together. In previous yearswe had the luxury of having at least one of Nonu or Smith, and SBDub. Still Fekitoa/Crotty/Ngatai is pretty handy. 
That's why we're not as concerned about the player turnover as we could be.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales