All Blacks vs Wales

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="585707" data-time="1465403600">
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Agreed. I'd go further and say that 'tour' is a misnomer at this stage.
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This is a 3-match Test tour with a homecoming match for Gats ;)

Frye

1. Joe Moody (11) 2. Dane Coles (36) 3. Owen Franks (78) 4. Luke Romano (22) 5. Brodie Retallick (47) 6. Jerome Kaino (67) 7. Sam Cane (31) 8. Kieran Read â€“ captain (84) 9. Aaron Smith (47) 10. Aaron Cruden (37) 11. Julian Savea (41) 12. Ryan Crotty (15) 13. Malakai Fekitoa (13) 14. Waisake Naholo (3) 15. Ben Smith (48) Reserves 16. Nathan Harris (2) 17. Wyatt Crockett (45) 18. Charlie Faumuina (33) 19. Patrick Tuipulotu (7) 20. Ardie Savea 21. TJ Perenara (17) 22. Beauden Barrett (36) 23. Seta Tamanivalu

Frye

Harris the only real surprise.
 
I guess depth at hooker certainly needs to be developed. Might be an indication that Taylor might start one of the tests.

Bones

Yeah bit odd to my thinking. Taylor has been going great, they obviously see something in Harris they want to bring in. Bloody solid for a depleted team...

Billy Tell

Let's be honest. We lose a bit of moral high ground playing taminavulu. 
Extremely predictable except for Harris I suppose. Probably offers more impact than Taylor.

pakman

Imagine selection of Moody to start is in response to expectation that Wales front row will be full on. Crockett and Charlie come in once leekmuncher legs are tired. Has Taminavulu played wing at high level? If not, then straight cover for midfield.

sparky

Go Ardie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
So pleased for him. I think he going to have an awesome All Blacks career ahead.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="585714" data-time="1465408257">
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Has Taminavulu played wing at high level? If not, then straight cover for midfield.
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Well they haven't been shy to use Crotty on the wing previously, plus you have Smith, so probably plenty of cover there.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="585715" data-time="1465409263">
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Go Ardie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
So pleased for him. I think he going to have an awesome All Blacks career ahead.
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Yes , I posted a year or so ago , by the next WC he may have gone past Cane , 
 
and got ridiculed a bit for suggesting it , I still think its a possibility ,

kiwiinmelb

I guess the only concern in a tight test, question mark on the goalkicking ,
 
but its funny, I dont remember it being much of a talking point during the period when Dan was unavailable , 
 
Going to be interesting to see what happens with the 10 jersey, is it Cruden every test , or does Lima get a shot to show what he can do ?

pooler fan

I think our record against the Blacks shows we have a mental block against you guys. We (for the most part) recently seem to compete favourably against Aus & SA with tight closely fought games followed by heroic failure in the end. 
But against you guys we never even get too close. Usually get well & truly stuffed to be honest. 
The masochistic side of me is looking forward to the 4 matches but I'll have my hands over my face for the most part !

taniwharugby

Cheesy marketing line, but the legacy you face is more intimidating than any opposition....

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="585719" data-time="1465411665">
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I think our record against the Blacks shows we have a mental block against you guys. We (for the most part) recently seem to compete favourably against Aus & SA with tight closely fought games followed by heroic failure in the end. 
But against you guys we never even get too close. Usually get well & truly stuffed to be honest. 
The masochistic side of me is looking forward to the 4 matches but I'll have my hands over my face for the most part !
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And giving credit where it is due which probably doesnt make you guys happy,
 
England probably doesnt have that same block , or not as much, not a lot of wins , but seems to be a pattern of one a decade

taniwharugby

Or 30 years in NZ...1973, 2003....

scribe

So who leads the haka? Smith A or Cruden would be my guesses given the amount of time they've been in the set up and both being in the leadership group.

leytonandamanda

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="scribe" data-cid="585726" data-time="1465413778">So who leads the haka? Smith A or Cruden would be my guesses given the amount of time they've been in the set up and both being in the leadership group.</blockquote>
Dane Coles I would expect 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hooroo

Well I think Hansen has shown a complete disregard towards rugby forums! How predictable and dull was that AB naming?
 
Give us something to moan and argue about PLEASE!!!

Crucial

Should have had Dixon as loose forward cover and Ardie as backs reserve.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="585719" data-time="1465411665">
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I think our record against the Blacks shows we have a mental block against you guys. We (for the most part) recently seem to compete favourably against Aus & SA with tight closely fought games followed by heroic failure in the end. 
But against you guys we never even get too close. Usually get well & truly stuffed to be honest.
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Wales have had some very good first halves against the ABs I think the athleticism and depth has been a killer for the Welsh over the past 15 years.
 
That said it definitely did seem like in the post-Hansen era the WRU and then Gatland specifically in his first little bit very much had a complex when it came to the ABs. The dressing room haka, the haka stand off, Gatland would sound off in the media. I think he is a little more level headed these days.
 
We have seen them once in the past 4.5 years and again the first half was a dour 3-3 affair before the ABs blew them out. So Wales to me very much have the benefit of the doubt when it comes to that.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585609" data-time="1465354192">
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About 1988: 
Well this is wrong. Waikato were only 1 year up from Division 2, wellington were actiually the second best team from the previous NPC (but about to implode that year), Otago were on the way up, and probably were the second best provincial team in NZ in 1988. But the strongest team in NZ from 1987 to 1993 was Auckland, second stongest was Auckand B, third strongest was Ponsonby :-), then Auckland Marist .... etc. Waikato beating Wales was such a shock (at the time, but only for about 3 days until we realised how abysmal they were still in the next match).
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A couple of points here. No doubt Auckland was the dominant province at that time. They won the 1987 and 1988 NPC without losing a game (the same in 1989 and 1990). Wellington were 2nd in both years and Otago 3rd. Waikato finished 6th and 8th in those seasons. However, it was a brutual start to the tour and Waikato's win over Wales set the tone for the tour. Wales only won 2 of their 6 provincial games. Apart from losing to Waikato and Wellington in the first 2 games Wales also lost to North Auckland and drew with Taranaki. Hawke's Bay was the only Div 2 team they played and they got promoted in 1988.
 
I wouldn't have said Waikato's win over Wales was a shock, more a surprise as over half of the Welsh test team played in that match. For a mid-table NPC province, Waikato did have an excellent record against international teams and always played a midweek game, often the tour opener. Waikato had drawn with the 1986 Wallabies and thrashed Argentina in 1989. The Waikato forward pack vs Wales contained 6 current or future ABs and that was where the game was won - Loe scored 2 tries.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales