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Sunday
Yep, Sunday too!
Anyway, let’s stick to Wales V SA, perhaps we shouldn’t forget that SA have failed to beat Wales in their last 4 meetings…..
Friendlies against an end of season knackered SA or Washington DC knockabouts dont count for much. Curious what aspects of the game you think Wales have the advantage in?
I’m assuming the big SA pack has something to do with Wales looking tired against the French. Its ok having a defense based team but taking a battering week in week out must take a toll.
Anyway lets hope for the best eh.
I’m assuming the big SA pack has something to do with Wales looking tired against the French.
I think thats just SA packs!!
To be fair , there was quite a lengthy period where S.A went fairly shit , mainly due to a unsuccessful management period and a large team rebuild following big name retirements.
All culminating when they got their own asses handed to them by Japan a few years back.
They're looking good this year though.
Lots of power upfront and will try and dominate with the forwards.
But certainly not unbeatable regardless of what odds the bookies give.
Thank goodness Wales set piece has somewhat come together just in time... but all teams know how to beat Wales. As we always say, Wales just don't have destructive big ball carriers or a pack to defend the likes of England/ NZ/ SA who *can* make light work of them. Lots to be gained close to rucks and running inside shoulders/ inside runners against Wales as several teams have shown. Gatland said this week all teams know how to beat each other though, but doing it is another matter.
What is in Wales favour is SA have a habit of blowing chances still and giving the opposition little half chances to get back in to a game. Wales reeeaaally need to start well and be able to put SA under pressure. True of virtually all rugby matches but I don't fancy Wales having to chase SA.
Lets hope for two cracking matches!
Curious what aspects of the game you think Wales have the advantage in?
I’ve already stated where I think Wales will do well and what their strengths are.
Player v player I think Wales probably come up a bit short when compared with S.A. but I believe Wales’ players are greater than the sum of its parts. This is evident in their habit of falling behind (as you point out) and then going on to win (as I point out). I don’t think Wales will romp to victory but I reckon they might just edge S.A.
How do you see the match panning out?
I’ve already stated where I think Wales will do well and what their strengths are.
Have you? I must have missed that.
How do you see the match panning out?
Either Wales will get a real smashing by about 20 points or SA will choke and it'll be close, I just dont see where Wales have an advantage. Scrum, no, lineouts no, mauls no, ball carrying in forwards no, mid field no, back 3 no. So our best hope is SA get tired out running into us and Biggar can win a few high balls.
Firstly, I agree it is hard to see Wales winning this match. Especially with injury upon injury.
I just dont see where Wales have an advantage
However (all of this does not consider SA - which I do not know enough about), Wales do have a few things going for them. Strategy: I have become increasingly confident over the past few years in Gatland’s ability to find a plan to play each big game. Kicking: Wales are great with penalty and conversion kicks, drop goals have also been successful at times so far. Pressure: Wales have won a few big games in the past 18 months where they were underdogs, due to imho their being able to handle the pressure better than their opponents; AWJ, Biggar, 1/2p being three in particular who spring to mind. I may be delusional, it may not be enough to win, but it is enough to give me hope. So long as Wales are within 6pts of the opposition before the 80 min gong, I’ll still be a little hopeful.
Wales: Halfpenny; North, J Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Wyn Jones, Owens, Francis, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Wainwright, Moriarty, Tipuric.
Replacements: Dee, R Carre, D Lewis, Beard, Shingler, T Williams, Patchell, Watkin.
Shit's about to get real! Enjoy the games everyone.
That's some Welsh team.
All British lions backs, except the 2 -parks Adams - who weren't yet Welsh enough
5 out of 8 lions forward too.
Should be confident coming off a slam.
And a gameplan that doesn't need the ball should be ideal against the boks.
Kick long, pressure mistakes, play the ref, take chances.
Can see SA getting frustrated
Big miss with kolbe out too , all ways good to watch.
Other game interesting too
All blacks building nicely, and Arddie looks like the new Michael Jones.
England confident too.
picking 2 tens looks like they'll continue with that big kick chase game that's brought a good few tries for may.
All blacks won't mind them sending ball to Barret though
Should be fun
Though it feels dirty saying it, I want England to win this one.
If Wales can get past SA, they're more likely to beat England than NZ, so my reasoning is partly selfish!
Also, I'll happily support whoever is playing NZ as a matter of principle!
So, good luck England!
Mega excited this morn !
got up early to get all my shit done in readiness
too early for me to be boozing so i'm wired on caffine lol
Will be a great match , , good luck England !
🙂
Woke up at 5, daren't go back to sleep incase I slept in and missed KO...
Just done half an hour on the rowing machine cos I'm nervous and need something to do.....
Might have to get a bacon butty!.
Come on England!!!🌹
Come on England (and Wales for tomorrow)
I am as excited as a small boy at Christmas! Just off to the pub to join up with a group of friends, big fat breakfast and then it will be KO.
Good luck to all and here's hoping George Kruis comes on and scores the winning try.....
5 out of 8 lions forward too.
Who are they?
Though it feels dirty saying it, I want England to win this one.
I can see your point and its a good one, but its a big risk, what if Wales lose tomorrow!!! If only the games were reversed!!
yep - woke up early here too. Beautiful sunny day, clear skies, but the bike is going to sit inside this morning!
Have a friend in NZ who is keeping very quiet about his teams chances.....
Should be confident coming off a slam.
Not to mention that walloping they inflicted on the French.
Not to mention that walloping they inflicted on the French.
And Fiji
Though it feels dirty saying it, I want England to win this one.
If Wales can get past SA, they’re more likely to beat England than NZ, so my reasoning is partly selfish!
Also, I’ll happily support whoever is playing NZ as a matter of principle!
So, good luck England!
This is pretty much where I am too. I’m sure I’ll regret it should they win, as the media and some of the pundits will be unbearable. But, some of the team are actually quite likeable and whilst NZ play some great rugby, it’s time for someone else to win.
Come on England!
I’d prefer England to play Wales in the final too, think they’d have a better chance against them than SA
I've ground my beans and am waiting to the coffee ritual to perfection.
Nervous times... Cmon England!
But, some of the team are actually quite likeable
Dont tell anyone but I quite like Farrell whenever I hear him speak and Mako is obviously a good valleys boy so he's OK.
been catching up on the prematch. I enjoyed the 1970's version of the Haka, that's a ritual that seems to have evolved in the last 50 years
Not nervous at all.
All the hype about England potentially winning the game is mostly just, hype.
NZ are a class apart and need to have an off day to be beatable. We maybe have a 5-10% chance of doing it. I'm still hoping for that chance to come through but it's not like 2003 where we expected to win and would have been really disappointed if we hadn't.
We maybe have a 5-10% chance of doing it.
I feel like England have a 25% to 40% chance. I just hope they hold it together.
C’mon Kyle : )
Interesting games from England. Rising to the challenge
I’m not a Python fan, but I’d love to see england reply to the Hakka with:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-2jLLMdEBw
We maybe have a 5-10% chance
Bigger than that, but about the same as wales tomorrow...
**** me!
Blistering!
98 seconds!
Way hey!!!
😁😁😁😁
Great rugby!!!
Awesome!
I picked the wrong moment to collect my work iPad from the car. 😂
Good start but they’re so quick to pounce on our mistakes.
The line out looks like it’s going to be a real competition, the AB’s are going after us there.
A couple of England drop goals would be nice at the moment. Thought we were going to get one at about 4 min.
Bah he said play on
England need to stay positive here, starting to kick more rather than keep doing whats working.
Be interesting to see the possession and territory stats
I hope Wales come out playing their A game like England are here. The next score will be huge.
****ing come on!
and the next score was Eng.........
10-0
epic game
Can Wales play NZ in the final instead, please?
Wow !!
More nervous then ever now!
England probably disappointed to only be 10 nil up.
New Zealand very glad for the break and relived to be only 10 down.
Hopefully the rain holds off and doesn’t spoil a potentially great second half
40 more minutes like that please. NZ hardly been in Eng 22. Line outs lost, under pressure at the scrum, under pressure virtually everywhere else. Only criticism of Eng? Few sloppy handling errors
Gooooo on England!!
I can’t actually sit back and enjoy this...it’s so tense.
NZ do look rattled but I’m just waiting for them to come back with a sucker punch that kills us. Curry and Underhill have been good at the breakdown and Itoje has been a pain in the bum.
More nervous then ever now!
likewise. But I’m not daring to dream - the AB’s have a habit of scoring big in the second half. We need another try at least.
Farrell's injury could be a real problem here.
I can’t actually sit back and enjoy this…it’s so tense.
It’s been a great first half for a neutral, albeit England supporter today. Several England players having a great game. Nigel too.
50:50 now?
it'll only be worse when the AB come back......
What a match!
Good 40 mins but a long, long way to go.
I still don't expect England to win, but at least they've turned up.
Itoje has been the best player on the pitch.
NZ have put no pressure on us at all so far. Unless that changes - we'll be in the final.
That touchdown was nice. A couple of feet at a time.....
Gulp. Surely not a time to throw blind passes.
C’mon England!!!!
GET IN !!!!!!!!!!!
Yesssssss!
Yeeassss!!
England will win have no worries.Then another victory over SA and its all theirs.Not easy to type as a welshman.Realistically,England are the only northern hemisphere team that had a chance of going all the way.
Good luck England fans.
Wowsers....!
No.
Two disallowed tries...that’s going to bite us in the arse.
Bahhh
Harsh, very harsh
Harsh.
Two disallowed tries, missed penalty, missed drop goal.
I think that's a poor call
First one was correct but I think that wasn’t. Did Jamie George ever let go of it?
Worse still, my wife has now got up and won’t stop wittering on about something.
I think that’s a poor call
Me too. It may be correct, but it’s nonsense.
England play so well when their tails are up.
It's the right call, before var both would be tries.
Bollox
Ooft
The TMO as NZ’s 16th man. Ace.
This will be interesting. All a little one-sided up until now anyway 😂