Argentina managed to negate our game plan brilliant on Saturday to the extent that it looked like we didn't even have anything in place. We tried to get front foot ball with Jamie Roberts on the crash ball early but he knocked on a couple of times and eventually went off. Someone on the field should have seen this as an indication to say, bring in North and Cuthbert in field and use them to get front foot ball, as they did effectively in the Six Nations. But it didn't happen. The other problem was the way they slowed our ball down at the breakdown. We didn't recycle quick enough and hence we had no momentum. There needs to be more efficient cleanouts, Gethin Jenkins was the only one smashing the rucks. We missed Lydiate in this regard as he is very good at this. Also, we were stuck without ball for long periods of time because we couldn't effect any pressure on the Pumas at the breakdown. Warburton tried hard but is simply not making the steals or slowing the ball down like he used to.
Team I would pick for Samoa (pending on injuries):
1. Gethin Jenkins, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Aaron Jarvis, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Bradley Davies, 6. Ryan Jones (c), 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Toby Faletau, 9. Mike Phillips, 10. James Hook, 11. George North, 12. Ashley Beck, 13. Jamie Roberts, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 15. Leigh Halfpenny
16. Ken Owens, 17. Paul James, 18. Samson Lee, 19. Aaron Shingler, 20. Sam Warburton, 21. Tavis Knoyle, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Liam Williams
Hibbard deserves a chance, as he did add some impact when he came on, and he was been in great form for the Ospreys. If Bradley Davies is fit, I'd like to see him start. He'll clean out rucks with vigour which is something we need and Luke Charteris will work hard. Ryan Jones is the obvious choice for 6 and captain considering Tipuric deserves a chance. I want to see how much Hook can get out of strike runners like Roberts, North and Cuthbert. If he can bring them into the game, then the case is closed, he deserves to wear 10 against the All Blacks as Priestland hasn't played well for Wales in a long time. Maybe shifting Roberts out one will assist as Beck is known having lovely hands and being able to put someone through a gap.
Warburton to come on at 60 minutes and be told that if he doesn't perform here Tipuric will wear 7 against New Zealand. Shingler to come in for Davies, Ryan Jones to move to lock.
Come on boys, I know you can play better than last week! Bring on Friday.
