All Blacks vs Wales
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<p>One good thing about Hansen is that he doesn't fuck around in his press releases.</p>
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<p>Going back to April when asked about the 2016 squad for wales, he mentioned Dixon, Savea and McKenzie and voila. I don't thnk he threw in too many red herrings</p>
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<p>So when he says he's going for a conservative first team selection, well we pretty much know what we're getting.</p> -
<p>yeah I bet other teams wish they could pick a conservative team with the likes of A & B Smith, Naholo, BB, Coles, Savea etc</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="585413" data-time="1465263658">
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<p>yeah I bet other teams wish they could pick a conservative team with the likes of A & B Smith, Naholo, BB, Coles, Savea etc</p>
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<p>Conservative in the sense of those with tenure getting bumped up and given first crack rather than style of play I would imagine.</p> -
<p>yeah I realize that, I even posted as such yesterday....</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585436" data-time="1465268615">
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<p>George North was on the radio saying if he and his teammates can each outplay the 15 guys against them then Wales will win.</p>
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<p>That kid has supercoach written all over him when he retires. What a gifted rugby mind.</p>
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<p>Yeah, but, he hasn't accounted for the 8 guys on the bench. So still some work to do on the tactical side of things - I'm sure that will develop as he matures.</p> -
I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match.<br><br>
Just sayin' -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585458" data-time="1465272365">
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<p>I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match.<br><br>
Just sayin'</p>
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<p>I hear ya! I'm finding the "Sydneysider catch up" thread more interesting in who will turn up! </p> -
<p>Found this, didn't know their record was that bad.</p>
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<p><img src="http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/424/walessouth.jpg" alt="walessouth.jpg"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585458" data-time="1465272365">
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<p>I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match.<br><br>
Just sayin'</p>
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<p>When is the team named? </p>
<p> :truce:</p>
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<p>Seriously though, this will have to be one of the most interesting team naming's we've had in a while - with positions 1,10,12,13 and 14/15, plus the bench up for debate (in the publics eyes anyway, maybe not the selectors).</p> -
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According to TV1 they are giving Whitelock until Thursday to prove his fitness, which coincides nicely with the team naming.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="585474" data-time="1465277438"><p>Interestingly no players will be released to the Chiefs for their match against Wales.</p></blockquote>
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I'm hearing that Wales have been really targeting the Chiefs game.... -
<p>With a caveat that all this comes from the BBC, the noises coming out of the Welsh camp seem, well sort of defeatist really. Like this from Rob Howley (via the BBC website).</p>
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<p>"History is against us, but we need to change history and by trying to create a siege mentality that might put us, hopefully at some time on Saturday, in a good space and putting the All Blacks under pressure on some occasions."</p>
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<p>and</p>
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<p>"Skill set under pressure is vital in the modern game and we are continually working on it," he said. "It's about speed and mindset. It takes time, but it's something which we are very mindful of. Hopefully you will see not just glimpses of it on the weekend, but quite a lot of it."</p>
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<p>Now that wasn't all he said, but it's not exactly positive is it? Much the same from most of the guys interviewed as well. I'm all for respecting the opposition but if you can't be positive in an interview then perhaps stick to the platitudes of "we're here to play rugby" or maybe just keep quiet?</p> -
<p>Could anyone make out what Foster meant in conference? Sounds like Cruden, Lima and Barrett will start one test each. But at another stage said something about three would be in 23, and then added 'at some point'. On Herald website there was a photo of Fekitoa and Seta T in background -- so maybe midfield. In which case the correction might suggest no recognised midfielder on bench for first?</p>
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<p>Mate and I are seriously considering laying NZ to rack up +150 pts across the three tests.</p>
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<p>The gulf in "skill set under pressure" is so vast that once NZ put width and speed on the game Wales will not be able to cope.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="585517" data-time="1465299520">
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<p>Mate and I are seriously considering laying NZ to rack up +150 pts across the three tests.</p>
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<p>The gulf in "skill set under pressure" is so vast that once NZ put width and speed on the game Wales will not be able to cope.</p>
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<p>That's the sort of win-win situation isn't it? If your team get reamed at least you've got some dosh to go on the piss with and drown your sorrows.</p>
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<p>Wish I'd done that in RWC15. :Bang_Head:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="585510" data-time="1465296751">
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<p>Could anyone make out what Foster meant in conference? Sounds like Cruden, Lima and Barrett will start one test each. But at another stage said something about three would be in 23, and then added 'at some point'. On Herald website there was a photo of Fekitoa and Seta T in background -- so maybe midfield. In which case the correction might suggest no recognised midfielder on bench for first?</p>
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<p>I took it as: Moving forward all three players will get chances at various points in time due to inevitable injuries or form drops. They won't be picking a single player and giving him 100% of the game time because they need them all to be able to slot in when required.</p>
