All Blacks v Wales II: The Decider?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

East of Java off the pitch. Real shame.

He's back. Yay! Fekitoa really does cut easily.

[Mellsblue]

Lizzie Marvelly. She's pretty fantastic all-round, actually.

With those eyes, I don't doubt it.

She's a regular columnist for the Herald, and her opinion pieces quite often tend to be on point. She also does a blog about gender politics, and it actually rules.

She'll probably not appreciate my comments then. She sounds like one of those annoyingly perfect people - good looking, intelligent and an elite level talent.

[Puja]

Right, I've put a small amount of money on NZ beating Wales by more than 40 points, with the returns getting more interesting the higher the score goes. If you guys could manage to win by 81 point plus, then it's 1000-1 and I'd be very grateful.

Puja

Ooh. Where's that?

A series of small winning margin bets on Ladbrokes, starting at 41-50 at 16-1 and going up to 81+ at 1000-1.

Mind, it's not looking so sound at the moment.

Puja

[Lizard]

With those eyes, I don't doubt it.

She's a regular columnist for the Herald, and her opinion pieces quite often tend to be on point. She also does a blog about gender politics, and it actually rules.

She'll probably not appreciate my comments then. She sounds like one of those annoyingly perfect people - good looking, intelligent and an elite level talent.

I can tell you that is a burden not easily borne.

[Mellsblue]

She's a regular columnist for the Herald, and her opinion pieces quite often tend to be on point. She also does a blog about gender politics, and it actually rules.

She'll probably not appreciate my comments then. She sounds like one of those annoyingly perfect people - good looking, intelligent and an elite level talent.

I can tell you that is a burden not easily borne.

If you'd put 'annoying' in bold I'd have been inclined to take you seriously.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Right, I've put a small amount of money on NZ beating Wales by more than 40 points, with the returns getting more interesting the higher the score goes. If you guys could manage to win by 81 point plus, then it's 1000-1 and I'd be very grateful.

Puja

Ooh. Where's that?

A series of small winning margin bets on Ladbrokes, starting at 41-50 at 16-1 and going up to 81+ at 1000-1.

Mind, it's not looking so sound at the moment.

Puja

Then again...

jamie Roberts looks in bits.

[jared_7]

Barrett changing the game. Wales have conceded a few penalties in their red zone, keep the pressure here and one will go.

[jared_7]

Fitness difference is unbelievable.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Fitness difference is unbelievable.

Turns out that training for a game which involves passing and running has advantages in a game that involves passing and running.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

This needs to be projected on Gatland's hotel room wall on repeat.

Is that Israel dagg?

Point a minute this half.

[zer0]

Wasn't paying too much attention at the time, but that was a backward cross field kick, right?

[zer0]

"All Black captain, Kieran Read". Doesn't sound right. Will take some getting used to, I think.

[WaspInWales]

Any news on Cruden?

[zer0]

Doesn't seem to have been anything serious.

Indications are Aaron Cruden's neck injury sounded worse than it was.

The All Blacks first five-eighth was stretchered from Westpac Stadium after 33 minutes of the team's 36-22 win over Wales on Saturday night. Cruden heard a "crack" as his neck was compressed in a tackle by Wales lock Luke Charteris, leading to fears he could have suffered a serious injury.

But after being rushed from the ground for X-rays, reports from Wellington Hospital suggested Cruden had escaped with little more than a big fright.

"Doc [team doctor Tony Page] has been in touch and it sounds like he's going to be OK. They're just doing a few other precautionary things at the moment, but the word is he's pretty good," New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said after the match.

...

"There was a bit of a crack. But by all accounts back at the hospital there's nothing that's damaged, from a broken point of view," said Hansen.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... -of-health

[Len]

Compared to the 2015 side this is a much much weaker ABs squad. The 2015 vintage would lay waste to this Welsh side. Players overseas like Piutau would be nice to have back, SBW away with the 7s and NMS injured. Wales really missing their opputunity to score a win I feel. Still pretty impressed by this new look set up but at the end of the year we'll have to send a stronger squad north.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Compared to the 2015 side this is a much much weaker ABs squad. The 2015 vintage would lay waste to this Welsh side. Players overseas like Piutau would be nice to have back, SBW away with the 7s and NMS injured. Wales really missing their opputunity to score a win I feel. Still pretty impressed by this new look set up but at the end of the year we'll have to send a stronger squad north.

You had 7(a pretty bloody good 7 as well, that could all be argued a place in an All Time AB's XV maybe even an All Time World XV) missing from the World Cup Final squad? Then proceeded to beat another tier one side comfortably, I don't think anyone else could have done that. Considering your 2 tests into a new side your not in a bad place. I think maybe Hansen has to be a bit brutal with some picks, the pack are pretty good as a whole, its in midfield that you look a bit at sea atm. Then again the previous pair had what 80 tests together?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Compared to the 2015 side this is a much much weaker ABs squad. The 2015 vintage would lay waste to this Welsh side. Players overseas like Piutau would be nice to have back, SBW away with the 7s and NMS injured. Wales really missing their opputunity to score a win I feel. Still pretty impressed by this new look set up but at the end of the year we'll have to send a stronger squad north.

Pretty poor performance by the ABs I thought save for a 20 minute period. Everyone has injuries and missing players, but as the best the ABs can put forward I expected an awful lot more control and much better defence.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Pretty much par for course at this time of year. Hell, they've been worse some years, like in 2014.

True. I'd thought that it hadn't lasted a couple of games before you mentioned 2014.

[zer0]

Not directly relating to the match, but Barnes was spotted at a Welsh bar during the week. While there he was good enough to sign the guest book.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... wellington

Wayne is definitely in this for the giggles.

[Len]

Not directly relating to the match, but Barnes was spotted at a Welsh bar during the week. While there he was good enough to sign the guest book.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... wellington

Wayne is definitely in this for the giggles.

Nothing is as funny as his shorts.

[dk4]

Last year against England the performance was probably similar. 10-20 min of very good rugby and then so-so..

Would be interesting to see the squad for the 3rd game.
Who has taken his chances?
Will BB be on the bench?

[Lizard]

Good on Wayne.

As for the 3rd test squad, a new Fred is required shewerly?

[Spy]

Compared to the 2015 side this is a much much weaker ABs squad. The 2015 vintage would lay waste to this Welsh side. Players overseas like Piutau would be nice to have back, SBW away with the 7s and NMS injured. Wales really missing their opputunity to score a win I feel. Still pretty impressed by this new look set up but at the end of the year we'll have to send a stronger squad north.

Pretty poor performance by the ABs I thought save for a 20 minute period. Everyone has injuries and missing players, but as the best the ABs can put forward I expected an awful lot more control and much better defence.

Agreed. Pretty scruffy stuff for a lot of the game. Best spin you can put on it is that this is a rebuilding phase after a mass-retirement of all-time greats. In that light I suppose most nations would take a pair of ~20 point wins over Wales. The lineout and scrum seem to be operating well. I'd like to see a tidier performance in Dunedin, though. Fewer turnovers at the breakdown.