@pakman said in Wales v All Blacks:
That backline is a wasted opportunity for me. Looking forward to 2026, we aren’t going to learn anything useful from ALB and Rieko.
One could argue that it gives DMac a great chance to show at 10, and Love gets a go at 15 with experience all around, but hard to see anything done for cohesion.
> And, if the backline DOES set the house on fire, where does that leave us going forward?
Give ourselves an uppercut and remind ourselves it’s only Wales
Two players that I would love to see in the ABs are Tangitau and Flanders. A fit Flanders is better than Parker IMO and Tangitau is just a gun, noting he has a bit to work on defensively.
I think this guy exists just to wind @Tim up
Well, this side is a real fullstop on the end of the season.
Gives the vibe of waking up after smashing an entire pack of darts on a night out. Just a bit grim.
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
Jesus, we are a real mess aren't we?
What are we hoping to achieve with that selection? It's just 'make sure everyone gets a go' day in what is supposed to be a high performance environment, when we have not made the progress we need to and have a heap of unanswered questions.
Another wasted opportunity
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Kirifi, ALB, Reece, Christie. It's like a fucking nightmare.
The only bright aspect is no Savea wasting a position on the field and Damien has to make a turd sandwich palatable.
@hikastags said in Wales v All Blacks:
Not sure i've seen anything from Dyer that justifies him being an All Black.
Who is your alternative?
I would've had Marcel Renata ahead of Mafileo. Renata can also play both sides which is why Mafileo was picked.
I know he's 31 so on the older side, but props age like wine these days.
So both these dude's in front of Dyer? Cool. Not sure I can add any value to that.
But when we're down to numbers 4, 5, and 6 in any position it's getting somewhat subjective.
Appreciate your response. But what have you seen in Renata and Mafileo that justifirs them as All Balcks? (Genuine if somewhat smart arse question.)
@KiwiMurph said in Wales v All Blacks:
A missed opportunity if you dont include Tangitau (which I dont expect them to). A perfect chance to debut him.
yes - it's a pretty dick move by Razor to not give him a debut considering he missed the final All Black XV game against Uruguay to train with them, I mean we've really got nothing left to lose - the England test was all that mattered and Wales are essentially a tier 2 nation at this point...
@antipodean said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Kirifi, ALB, Reece, Christie. It's like a fucking nightmare.
The only bright aspect is no Savea wasting a position on the field and Damien has to make a turd sandwich palatable.
8/9/10/12 are Chiefs. Will be interesting to see how it goes 
@booboo said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Nit a fan of Sevu ... but otherwise quite happy with that.
Oh yeah ... and Kirifi ...
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
Page out of Fozzie's playbook. Empty the bench and learn zero
@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Worst ever All Blacks test team.
I've seen worse
when was the most recent year we didn't cap anyone on a end of year tour? I know last year Love debuted against Japan and 2022 Telea debuted against Scotland but anything beyond that my mind is fuzzy
@booboo said in Wales v All Blacks:
@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Worst ever All Blacks test team.
I've seen worse
In the context of the tour and 2025 season, players we needed to develop/cut, it's pretty bad.
It says something of our newly-found ability at times to simply give up, that I'm pleased Christie is on the 23.....
@canefan said in Wales v All Blacks:
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
Page out of Fozzie's playbook. Empty the bench and learn zero
Like Foster, he now has his back against the wall every bloody game.
And yet he's had 2 seasons to avoid being in this position
@Victor-Meldrew said in Wales v All Blacks:
@canefan said in Wales v All Blacks:
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
Page out of Fozzie's playbook. Empty the bench and learn zero
Like Foster, he now has his back against the wall every bloody game.
And yet he's had 2 seasons to avoid being in this position
He had a shit ton of goodwill when he came in, whereas Foster took over on the back foot from the go. Just wasted all that capital
I hope they dump the shitty game plan. Try to carry the ball up the field in the forwards, try to give DMac some decent ball and try to make solid decisions and set up his midfield
Lots of stuff to really like there - Love gets a go with the two wings he should have been starting tests alongside, and.. um, and, um.... um.
@pakman said in Wales v All Blacks:
I saw quite a lot I liked of Tupaea and Proctor on Saturday.
This week would have been a chance to see how they went with a match together under their belt.
Just why?
This is the all blacks, these pro athletes don't need participation medals. But Razor is making sure everyone gets one
Not sure about the omissions of both Cracknell (MOTM against Japan) and Ben Thomas
Huge opportunities for Deaves and Hawkins
Wales by 15-20
That's Wales done by 15-20, 10 mins after kick off 
@pooler-fan said in Wales v All Blacks:
Cracknell has a hamstring injury.
Wainwright also a slight doubt apparently
Fair enough
Shame
@hikastags Renata is often seen as gassed. Frequently a double teapot as well
@MiketheSnow said in Wales v All Blacks:
Not sure about the omissions of both Cracknell (MOTM against Japan) and Ben Thomas
Huge opportunities for Deaves and Hawkins
Wales by 15-20
That's Wales done by 15-20, 10 mins after kick off
That is the whitest team I’ve seen in I don’t know how long. Poach some bloody islanders why don’t you ! No wonder you’re minnows these days.
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Missed opportunity to run Savea off the bench as 7/12 cover.
He plays 12 anyway doesn't he?
@gt12 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Lots of stuff to really like there - Love gets a go with the two wings he should have been starting tests alongside, and.. um, and, um.... um.
For some reason i read that in Razors voice.
@pooler-fan We're light years ahead of you. Just accept it.
@MiketheSnow said in Wales v All Blacks:
@pooler-fan said in Wales v All Blacks:
Cracknell has a hamstring injury.
Wainwright also a slight doubt apparentlyFair enough
Shame
Wainright looks a class act. Hope he can play
Happy for Ioane starting and also looks as if he will lead the haka too. Great occasion for him and his parents.
Given their relative experience in the ABs, it’s a little surprising that ALB and Ioane have only started 4 tests as a 12/13 combo
They have started 10 other tests together with ALB at centre and Ioane at left wing and 1 more with ALB at 2nd 5 and Ioane on the wing.
