June International Test: New Zealand vs. Wales [1st Test] (11/06/2016)

[TRF_heineken]

Location: Eden Park, Auckland
Time: 09:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

TEAMS

New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody

Substitutes: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Seta Tamanivalu

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins

Substitutes: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Scott Williams.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Wales may have a chance. Wayne Barnes is Reffing this match.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/match-officials-to-june-12-2/

 

[dullonien]

If we have any chance at all, then this first match is it. We'll be hoping for an uncharacteristically poor performance from NZ, as their new combos settle, and for us to somehow pull a good performance out of the bag.

Can't see it myself. I can maybe see us leading for 60-70min if we can string some phases together, but NZ will probably win regardless.

Apart from one or two positions, we all know what the welsh team will be. I'd expect Moriarty at 6, but King, Turnbull or even Ellis Jenkins (with warbs switching to 6) are all options. With Scott Williams likely to be on the bench, it'll be interesting to see if it's Priestland or Anscombe on the bench alongside him. Probably Priestland, but I'd prefer to see Anscombe get the nod.

 

[Larksea]

well there you go, this really is your big chance Wales... Barnes will offset a lot of the home ground advantage. He wont ref like his disaster performance in 07 but what he does do is impose his personality on the game. He interferes with the game, he can become the center of attention and is unpredictable and that can upset the AB's flow.

This really is unknown territory for the AB's. The saving grace is really that we have the same coaching setup. That is absolutely key to maintaining continuity after losing what must be 1000 odd test caps experience in key positions. In theory even without those guys we should have a good group of experience there to keep the machine running well but you just never know.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Not expecting any surprises with NZ's first side of the year, we'll likely see:

1 Moody
2 Coles
3 Franks
4 Retallick
5 Whitelock
6 Kaino
7 Cane
8 Read
9 Smith
10 Cruden
11 Savea
12 Crotty
13 Fekitoa
14 Naholo
15 Smith

16 Taylor
17 Crockett
18 Faumina
19 Tuipulotu
20 Savea
21 Perenara
22 Barrett
23 Tamanivalu/Moala/Dagg

 

[nzlizard]

Not expecting any surprises with NZ's first side of the year, we'll likely see:

1 Moody
2 Coles
3 Franks
4 Retallick
5 Whitelock
6 Kaino
7 Cane
8 Read
9 Smith
10 Cruden
11 Savea
12 Crotty
13 Fekitoa
14 Naholo
15 Smith

16 Taylor
17 Crockett
18 Faumina
19 Tuipulotu
20 Savea
21 Perenara
22 Barrett
23 Tamanivalu/Moala/Dagg

Looks about right, only changes I could see is

Crockett start and Moody on the bench.
Should most prob see a midfield back over Dagg, although given that Ben plays anywhere that may not be so necessary

 

[Larksea]

I hope that's not the selection, I don't know if whitelock is going to be fit but other than that we have like 6 debutantes it would be nice to see at least a couple get on the team sheet.

I don't think Hansen and Co are THAT conservative. The best thing about new players is that the welsh wont know a lot about them. They are a surprise factor, don't protect them. Use them as a weapon!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...arlow-likely-to-sit-out-first-all-blacks-test

Sounds like Kerr-Barlow, Whitelock and Ngatai are all out for the first test. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tuipulotu and Retallick starting with Dixon and Savea on the bench.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Are Wales naming their team today or later in the week? When do New Zealand usually do it?

 

[nzlizard]

Normally Thursday

 

[smartcooky]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...arlow-likely-to-sit-out-first-all-blacks-test

Sounds like Kerr-Barlow, Whitelock and Ngatai are all out for the first test. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tuipulotu and Retallick starting with Dixon and Savea on the bench.

Luke Romano would be more likely

 

[Gavin]

Luke Romano would be more likely

Why do you think Romano is more likely? He is 30 compared to 23 for the other lad. Also hasn't Romano not played international rugby for a good while?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Why do you think Romano is more likely? He is 30 compared to 23 for the other lad. Also hasn't Romano not played international rugby for a good while?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...aded-for-opening-test-of-international-season

Stuff website are also saying Romano most likely to replace Whitelock. I think it's a question of he has more caps than Tuipulotu

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...arlow-likely-to-sit-out-first-all-blacks-test

Sounds like Kerr-Barlow, Whitelock and Ngatai are all out for the first test. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tuipulotu and Retallick starting with Dixon and Savea on the bench.

From what the NZ management have said I'd have thought that Squire will be getting picked on the bench over Dixon.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

All Blacks team:

Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody

Reserves: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Seta Tamanivalu

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ies-for-first-test-against-wales-at-eden-park

 

[MikeTheNative]

I'm not that clued up on Super Rugby, what are your guys thoughts on Seta Tamanivalu?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

WALES TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND
Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Note the mistake for Rob Evans ...

 

[Tony Manx]

WALES TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND
Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Note the mistake for Rob Evans ...

Good luck and is Warbs wearing the golden wig of General Custer?!!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Owens for Baldwin, initially surprised but then Baldwin hasn't played great for Wales recently especially not hitting his jumpers in the line out and missing tackles.

No Charteris is a blow - assuming his late arrival didn't help. Bradley Davies isn't that great a line out exponent, so I wonder if Wales will look to hit Warburton and Faletau as alternatives to going to AWJ. How is Moriaty as a jumper?

Jenkins picked ahead of Rob Evans I suspect for his experience and breakdown presence in terms of getting over the ball to help out The backrow.

 

[SelimNiai]

Am I actually going senile or have they picked Anscombe as 10 cover for once