@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v All Blacks:

@DaGrubster he was still coaching the Saders when it was announced. So the whole 15 months to prepare is a furphy. Also he didn’t have access to the all the AB data, resources etc. I’m sure there was other stuff he did in prep but it wasn’t until after the World Cup and Fozzie finishing up that things really started.

Foster called to congratulate him and offered any help/support/info he needed in transitioning. Decided not to take up the offer in case it impacted the RWC2023 campaign. Can't blame him for that.

The prep time is same for everyone in terms of working with players. What disappoints me is that we all knew we were not good in the contestable kick area under Foster, that should have been identified before taking over as just about priority #1 to improve. And he just hasn't. Our kicking is shit, our formation around the contest area etc. There have been some efforts to improve it in using jordie etc, but oyr kicking against england waa again abject, and these things all should have been addressed from test 1 last year.

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

Cortes Ratima was shit against England. Utterly shit. If he plays that badly again Wales have a great chance of winning.

Replacing roigard with Ratima last week was replacing our best player with our worst,

@SammyC Wales' best chance on Saturday is the target Ratima, ALB and Kirifi and hope all three shit the bed.

TAB has the ABs at $1.01 and Wales at $15 - so there's a fabulous insurance bet in there.

They've got Will Jordan at $1.60 to score a try - which will take him clear of Beaudy - and draw him level with Big Jules, Joe Rok and Cully in second place on the All Black try scorers list.

Will's at $3.20 to score two or more.

Two will draw him level with BoD - and enter the top 10 test try scorers (all countries) of all time.

The good thing about Will is - he's only 27. If he can avoid injuries and doesn't decide to fuck off for some easy yen - he'll only be 33 when RWC 2031 comes around. A bit long in the tooth as a wing, but luckily he's moved to fullback.

That would give him another six years to score the 25 tries he needs to break Ohata's all time record.

Of course he has to worry a bit about the Georgian!

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

@SammyC Wales' best chance on Saturday is the target Ratima, ALB and Kirifi and hope all three shit the bed.

I think Kirifi will do fine, he is not the answer at 7, but he will put in the work.
ALB - who knows, probably just get a card and be off the field anyway.

Razor's conservative approach is killing this team. Love at 10 would have been the obvious choice if building depth in that position was a priority. ALB and Reece should be discarded, they offer nothing. Why persist with Christie on the bench when we already know what he offers. Perfect opportunity to see what Preston or Fakatava could do but no, the coward goes with the safe option again. Ratima is so clearly not up to it at this level but let's waste another test instead of opting for someone with a much higher ceiling. Kirifi is another proven failure at this level, but let's waste a test and give him another go. Sigh.

@Chris-B he might even be as good as Beauden Barrett in 6 years, such is his improvement.

@Chris-B said in Wales v All Blacks:

TAB has the ABs at $1.01 and Wales at $15 - so there's a fabulous insurance bet in there.

Boyle Sports have Wales at 25-1 so is a better place to make that bet.

@Dan54 said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Jet said in Wales v All Blacks:

Why not give Tangitau a run?

Reece's selection is utterly pointless.

He isnt the man for now. He wont be the man for 2027.

Tangitau is only in squad as cover, so it would I think be a stretch to put him in squad for the game if not needed.

Of course they could have named him in the original 36 man squad and released him to play All Black XV but no... for some reason Reece had to be picked in the squad.....

@KiwiMurph said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Dan54 said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Jet said in Wales v All Blacks:

Why not give Tangitau a run?

Reece's selection is utterly pointless.

He isnt the man for now. He wont be the man for 2027.

Tangitau is only in squad as cover, so it would I think be a stretch to put him in squad for the game if not needed.

Of course they could have named him in the original 36 man squad and released him to play All Black XV but no... for some reason Reece had to be picked in the squad.....

What are we waiting for?

If Narawa was fit he gets in ahead of both.

@Darren said in Wales v All Blacks:

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

@SammyC Wales' best chance on Saturday is the target Ratima, ALB and Kirifi and hope all three shit the bed.

I think Kirifi will do fine, he is not the answer at 7, but he will put in the work.
ALB - who knows, probably just get a card and be off the field anyway.

ALB just needs a bit more luck with selections next year to bring up 100 richly deserved AB caps.

@MN5 said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Darren said in Wales v All Blacks:

@sparky said in Wales v All Blacks:

@SammyC Wales' best chance on Saturday is the target Ratima, ALB and Kirifi and hope all three shit the bed.

I think Kirifi will do fine, he is not the answer at 7, but he will put in the work.
ALB - who knows, probably just get a card and be off the field anyway.

ALB just needs a bit more luck with selections next year to bring up 100 richly deserved AB caps.

I'm sure Victor Matfield will magnanimously invite him into the changing sheds after.

@akan004 said in Wales v All Blacks:

Razor's conservative approach is killing this team. Love at 10 would have been the obvious choice if building depth in that position was a priority. ALB and Reece should be discarded, they offer nothing. Why persist with Christie on the bench when we already know what he offers. Perfect opportunity to see what Preston or Fakatava could do but no, the coward goes with the safe option again. Ratima is so clearly not up to it at this level but let's waste another test instead of opting for someone with a much higher ceiling. Kirifi is another proven failure at this level, but let's waste a test and give him another go. Sigh.

Lakai was injured, LJ went home and RD rested, so no one else left but DPK?

@Bones said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Chris-B he might even be as good as Beauden Barrett in 6 years, such is his improvement.

I note he took over kicking penalties to touch from BB last week - a move to 10 is the logical next step.

Who will be the Vice-Captain this week?

DMac, ALB?

@Chris-B It's Jordan.

@Bovidae said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Chris-B It's Jordan.

Sensible move.

They've got Ta$man players captaining both the sevens sides - when Scooter goes to the bin, we'll have a Trifecta.

Leon's already proved where the brains of the outfit lie, so let's carry on with the Ta$man takeover!

#BringbackLeon

@pooler-fan said in Wales v All Blacks:

@Catogrande absolutely, money talks.

I've been searching for a Harry Enfield/Loadsamoney GIF in response but time is money you know so., as a Wellingtonioan on 6 figures I cannot justify wasting that much effort.

Sorry. Not sorry.

:winking_face: