Team for All Blacks

[Graigwen]

Wales team: Johnny McNicholl; Owen Lane, Jonathan Davies, Johnny Williams, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements:Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Will Rowlands, Seb Davies, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Ben Thomas.

[Graigwen]

Dillon Lewis on the bench!

I am not sure I have a lot of confidence in Owen Lane's defence.

The odds are very heavily stacked against us, so I suppose I should not worry about the details of selection.

.

[Graigwen]

Elliot Dee has been released from the squad owing to a neck injury.

Kirby Myhill has been called up.

While we are scraping the bottom of the barrel at the moment, the bottom of the barrel is better quality than it would have been in the past.

.

[Graigwen]

Blimey, I can't keep up with this, non-stop team/squad changes.

In less than an hour after the team was announced :-

“The squad that went out at 12, there’s been a change. Ken Owens has withdrawn. Ryan Elias starts and Kirby Myhill is on the bench.

"It’s a big blow to lose any player. We’ve selected a certain side and trained that way. It’s a disruption but it’s a massive chance for Ryan." (Pivac)

No reason given yet, maybe COVID?

.

[Numbers]

Blimey, I can't keep up with this, non-stop team/squad changes.

In less than an hour after the team was announced :-

“The squad that went out at 12, there’s been a change. Ken Owens has withdrawn. Ryan Elias starts and Kirby Myhill is on the bench.

"It’s a big blow to lose any player. We’ve selected a certain side and trained that way. It’s a disruption but it’s a massive chance for Ryan." (Pivac)

No reason given yet, maybe COVID?

.

I hope he can get his throwing sorted, he's our best 2 in the loose and a strong scrummager.

It's nice to see Ben Thomas on the bench.

[normanski]

I just hope we can stay competitive for the whole 80 minutes. Our only real hopes are the ABs are a little complacent after their runout against the US and our boys, especially the newcomers, can step up to the plate and cause a few surprises to keep the score in check.

They’re not supermen and can always have an off day.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Other than the mysterious exclusion of Holmes there's not much I'd disagree with in that selection.

There's still time for Adams to be struck down with Covid and Cuthbert take his spot though.

[normanski]

Other than the mysterious exclusion of Holmes there's not much I'd disagree with in that selection.

There's still time for Adams to be struck down with Covid and Cuthbert take his spot though.

HaHa! Don’t tempt fate.

[Graigwen]

[
I
It's nice to see Ben Thomas on the bench.

Indeed. I like his style. It will be an education if he gets a while on the pitch.

.

[francoisfou]

I just hope we can stay competitive for the whole 80 minutes. Our only real hopes are the ABs are a little complacent after their runout against the US and our boys, especially the newcomers, can step up to the plate and cause a few surprises to keep the score in check.

They’re not supermen and can always have an off day.

Good man, norm, forever the optimist!!

[Lizard]

Bad news. Ian Foster is Not Here To Fuck About:

1. Joe Moody (54)
2. Codie Taylor (64)
3. Nepo Laulala (37)
4. Brodie Retallick (89)
5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain
6. Ethan Blackadder (7)
7. Dalton Papalii (10)
8. Ardie Savea (56)
9. TJ Perenara (76)
10. Beauden Barrett (99)
11. Rieko Ioane (44)
12. David Havili (11)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54)
14. Will Jordan (10)
15. Jordie Barrett (32)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23)
18. Tyrel Lomax (11)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
20. Akira Ioane (10)
21. Brad Weber (14)
22. Richie Mo’unga (28)
23. Sevu Reece (14)

[Son of Mathonwy]

Bad news. Ian Foster is Not Here To Fuck About:

1. Joe Moody (54)
2. Codie Taylor (64)
3. Nepo Laulala (37)
4. Brodie Retallick (89)
5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain
6. Ethan Blackadder (7)
7. Dalton Papalii (10)
8. Ardie Savea (56)
9. TJ Perenara (76)
10. Beauden Barrett (99)
11. Rieko Ioane (44)
12. David Havili (11)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54)
14. Will Jordan (10)
15. Jordie Barrett (32)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23)
18. Tyrel Lomax (11)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
20. Akira Ioane (10)
21. Brad Weber (14)
22. Richie Mo’unga (28)
23. Sevu Reece (14)

I'd do a detailed analysis of our chances, facing off against that lot ... but it doesn't seem like a rewarding use of my time.

[Graigwen]

Bad news. Ian Foster is Not Here To Fuck About:

1. Joe Moody (54)
2. Codie Taylor (64)
3. Nepo Laulala (37)
4. Brodie Retallick (89)
5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain
6. Ethan Blackadder (7)
7. Dalton Papalii (10)
8. Ardie Savea (56)
9. TJ Perenara (76)
10. Beauden Barrett (99)
11. Rieko Ioane (44)
12. David Havili (11)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54)
14. Will Jordan (10)
15. Jordie Barrett (32)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23)
18. Tyrel Lomax (11)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
20. Akira Ioane (10)
21. Brad Weber (14)
22. Richie Mo’unga (28)
23. Sevu Reece (14)

Yup, that is a damn good team.

Logically, we have no chance.
Undercooked
Understrength - in several different ways.

But the WRU need the money and the cash tills are ringing.

.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Bad news. Ian Foster is Not Here To Fuck About:

1. Joe Moody (54)
2. Codie Taylor (64)
3. Nepo Laulala (37)
4. Brodie Retallick (89)
5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain
6. Ethan Blackadder (7)
7. Dalton Papalii (10)
8. Ardie Savea (56)
9. TJ Perenara (76)
10. Beauden Barrett (99)
11. Rieko Ioane (44)
12. David Havili (11)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54)
14. Will Jordan (10)
15. Jordie Barrett (32)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23)
18. Tyrel Lomax (11)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
20. Akira Ioane (10)
21. Brad Weber (14)
22. Richie Mo’unga (28)
23. Sevu Reece (14)

Yup, that is a damn good team.

Logically, we have no chance.
Undercooked
Understrength - in several different ways.

But the WRU need the money and the cash tills are ringing.

It's making good money for the WRU but I don't blame them at all. We should be playing the All Blacks and it'll be good experience for the younger players. It'll only seem like a mistake if we're absolutely crushed. Hopefully though, we can stay within a couple of scores.

[Graigwen]

Bradley Roberts for hooker !

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... dium=email

[Lizard]

Bad news. Ian Foster is Not Here To Fuck About:

1. Joe Moody (54)
2. Codie Taylor (64)
3. Nepo Laulala (37)
4. Brodie Retallick (89)
5. Samuel Whitelock (128) – captain
6. Ethan Blackadder (7)
7. Dalton Papalii (10)
8. Ardie Savea (56)
9. TJ Perenara (76)
10. Beauden Barrett (99)
11. Rieko Ioane (44)
12. David Havili (11)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (54)
14. Will Jordan (10)
15. Jordie Barrett (32)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (7)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (23)
18. Tyrel Lomax (11)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (8)
20. Akira Ioane (10)
21. Brad Weber (14)
22. Richie Mo’unga (28)
23. Sevu Reece (14)

Yup, that is a damn good team.

Logically, we have no chance.
Undercooked
Understrength - in several different ways.

But the WRU need the money and the cash tills are ringing.

It's making good money for the WRU but I don't blame them at all. We should be playing the All Blacks and it'll be good experience for the younger players. It'll only seem like a mistake if we're absolutely crushed. Hopefully though, we can stay within a couple of scores.

It might be one of those games where the All Blacks don’t want to reveal their full playbook.

I would only consider it a thrashing if we run up either a record score (46+) or record margin (36+) for matches in Wales.

[Graigwen]

It might be one of those games where the All Blacks don’t want to reveal their full playbook.

I would only consider it a thrashing if we run up either a record score (46+) or record margin (36+) for matches in Wales.

Both a record score and a record margin are easily on the cards. It will anyway be an educational game, and a few of our players will learn a lot from it. I think in a couple of years time we will look back and think it was a useful experience. It is just bad luck that the players we have lost include people like Navidi who can help stabilise an outclassed side. We will have certainly have good players on the pitch, but not in a particularly well balanced team. It is far from ideal to have to play Anscombe after two games in two years. Against many other countries I could see this team rising to the occasion, but the All Blacks are the last side you want to have to try this against.

.

[Sourdust]

It's a warm-up match, lads.

Let's face it, there wouldn't be much of a contest if we were full strength. But this is barely an A-side. Just get them through it with as few injuries as possible, and maybe we can have some kind of meaningful crack at the others.

[Sandydragon]

I’m having flash backs to the 90s!

For a side that has at least been competitive with the ABs over the past 10-15 years this could be awful. We always have players missing but going into such a bit game without any English based players is pure lunacy.

I hope the money is worth the derision!

As always I’ll be urging Wales to win but for the first time in a very long time I’m actually dreading this game.

[Graigwen]

I’m having flash backs to the 90s!
...

As always I’ll be urging Wales to win but for the first time in a very long time I’m actually dreading this game.

Wales, with limited resources, have always been prepared to put weakened teams out for internationals. Since the start of the Gatland era I think this has worked to our long term advantage with a wider field of players being exposed and tested. The 90s of course were far worse, when about two or three teams of our best players were excluded as they had gone into Rugby League for the money. It does mean we win a lower percentage of internationals than we might otherwise, but it gives us a better chance of putting out good teams for key matches.

We don't need to dread this game, we know what is on the cards and it is, as has been said, really just a warm up game.


.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'm not dreading this one because I've already written it off*. I'm just hoping we don't embarrass ourselves.

* Okay, that's not entirely true. For as long as we remain within one score (10 minutes??) I guess I'll still hold onto a glimmer of hope.

Prediction:
Wales 17 - 35 New Zealand

[Graigwen]

Prediction:
Wales 17 - 35 New Zealand

Optimist !

.

[normanski]

Prediction:
Wales 17 - 35 New Zealand

Optimist !

.

I’d love it if the score was 17-35 at full time and we were competitive for much of the match. I have a terrible feeling, however, that the winning margin will be higher.

[Lizard]

How the fuck is that Jarvo cunt allowed within 200 yards of a sports stadium on game day?

And what’s with Wales wearing black tracksuits? Attempted mind games?

[Sandydragon]

Easy try gifted to the blacks.