The Silver Fern

@MN5 that was a low point to be fair, and not forgetting Brett Sinkinson either.
Interesting article here with Howarth this year if you can be bothered to wade through a Wales online article - it's not for the faint hearted.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/top-rugby-star-banned-playing-32304801?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

@MN5
They've taken advantage of the rules so good luck to them.
And I'm not suggesting Wales haven't benefitted in the past, Hadleigh Parkes as an example was excellent for us to be honest.

@hikastags don't disagree at all but while others are using world rugby regs to their advantage you have to do the same thing or get left behind.
Personally I'd probably change the regs to parentage only but you can only deal with what's Infront of you at the time.

From a Welsh perspective, I guess from the low ebb we're at we need to start looking down these avenues. We've never really taken this route as "professionally" as maybe Scotland and Ireland have in the past.
Cahill & Riley Higgins have been in the WRU's sights for a while I think. Given the mess the union are in here they're probably partially looking at this as a way of getting some public support for their plans to close one of the professional clubs.

@Jet said in Bokke vs Wales:

@stodders said in Bokke vs Wales:

@sparky said in Bokke vs Wales:

@Jet said in Bokke vs Wales:

Sad day for Rugby?

Impressive day for Rugby?

A reality check.

Wales are way, way off. Only terrible All Blacks defence allowed them to paper over the massive cracks last week.

The Springboks are one of the very best teams of all time.

Wales are missing a few of their 1st XV. The have no depth. This week’s team would struggle to beat Tonga! They are a step down from last week, which made them cannon fodder for the Boks.

WRU should hang their heads in shame for arranging this fixture outside the official window. Heads need to roll.

It just seems like a massively pointless exercise.

Just indicative of how out of touch the WRU are, they knew full well what could happen but they didn't care. They could've arranged a game during the first week of November (when England played Australia and Ireland played NZ) against a lower ranked side but would rather make an extra few ££ by playing SA but throwing your players under the bus.
All four Welsh pro clubs are also playing this weekend, so the union has fucked them over too (again)

I'm pretty sure SA could've cobbled together a 23 man squad from their non URC Currie cup sides and still won against this Welsh side

There's going to be some battered bodies in the Welsh changing room.
Just shows there's no substitute for power in rugby, you lose the physical battle and it's game over.
Wales battling hard but the 2 Bok centres are bigger than most of the Welsh forwards. We'll only get weaker when the bench empties in the 2nd half too.

@sparky this is going to get very messy. Getting absolutely smashed up front

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

No disrespect to Wales, they battled hard and scored four good tries, but they were weakest team we have played all year and that was our easiest win for some time. It felt like a bit of a training run at times.

It was a strange watch from a Welsh perspective.
I was fully expecting a 50 point defeat given how awful we have been over the last 2 years.
Pleased to see us score a few tries and look threatening out wide particularly, but surprised how easily we got to make ground in that outside channel against you.
Made me think it's a shame our team of a decade ago with the likes of Warburton, Faletau, AWJ etc didn't get a chance to play against this NZ team. They managed the odd win against SA and Aus but NZ at that time were always way too good.
We've now got a totally pointless gave against SA next week which is outside the window and we have to say goodbye to 12 or 13 of this squad to England and France.
It's going to be an utter disaster.

This is a tidy game so far, some good tries 19-19 after 37 minutes

@ACT-Crusader don't think they have any choice tbh, we have a dearth of talent at 13 and given he's added a bit of timber and physicality to his game since returning it's a no brainer.

Well that was a tough watch at times but at least we gave it a lash.
LRZ is our standout operator, shame he's stuck out on the wing.
NZ too quick and powerful for Wales to cope with, shame to see Reece getting on the score sheet - I'd rather have lost by more without him getting over the line.

Ruben Love looks like a lovely natural player.
Clarke is a bloody handful isn't he.
Glad we've managed a couple of scores, but we're going to get overrun pretty soon. Too many easy metres being made

@sparky Erm, no.

@Catogrande absolutely, money talks.

@MN5 We've had a few but England keep poaching them

Cracknell has a hamstring injury.
Wainwright also a slight doubt apparently

@MiketheSnow said in Wales Vs All Blacks:

@brodean said in Wales Vs All Blacks:

@Bones said in Wales Vs All Blacks:

@Kiwiwomble said in Wales Vs All Blacks:

@ShaquilleOatmeal in the past i would have thought the same but we've had a few games we "should" have won and didn't now...now i think they honestly see a lost to England and say..."we cant possibly run out young or inepxerienced guys....if a team with the 2016 world player fo the year cant win no one can"

Regardless of selection, losing to Wales would be a fucking abomination. I think we could seriously expect a new coach by Xmas.

We wouldn't lose to Wales even if Scott Barrett got a permanent red.

Hoping I can use this on Saturday

I was thinking the same but then remembered we couldn't even break down a 13 man Japan side last weekend.

@game_film We've got no chance but 2004 still haunts me, I was in the stadium and honestly thought we could do it until the Joe Rokocoko show. 24-25

@sparky the problem for us is your mediocre players are better than our "good" ones.