Wales vs Samoa KO 19:30 Fri 16th Nov - Match Thread/Build Up etc....

[HERSH]

WALES V Samoa

Venue: Millennium Stadium Cardiff Date: Friday, 16 November Kick-off: 19:30 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales & online; live on S4C; live commentary on BBC Radio Wales & online; live commentary on Radio Cymru

Seeing as no one has started a thread yet I thought I would.

Enjoy the discussion.

Leigh Halfpenny
Alex Cuthbert
Ashley Beck
Jamie Roberts
George North
Dan Biggar
Mike Phillips
Paul James
Richard Hibbard
Aaron Jarvis
Bradley Davies
Ian Evans
Ryan Jones (Capt)
Justin Tipuric
Toby Faletau

REPLACEMENTS:
Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Luke Charteris, Sam Warburton, Tavis Knoyle, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams

Samoa:
F Autagavaia (Northland)
P Perez (Eastern Province)
G Pisi (Northampton)
P Williams (Stade Francais)
D Lemi (Worcester, captain)
T Pisi (Suntory)
K Fotuali'i (Ospreys)
S Taulafo (Wasps)
O Avei (Bordeaux-Begles)
C Johnston (Toulouse)
D Leo (Perpignan)
T Paulo (North Harbour)
O Treviranus (London Irish)
M Fa'asavalu (Harlequins)
T Tuifua (Newcastle)

Replacements: T Paulo (Clermont Auvergne), V Afatia (Agen), J Johnston (Harlequins), F Lemalu (Mont de Marsan), T Fomai (Hawke's Bay), J Su'a (Tasman), J Leota (Sale), R Lilomaiava (Laulii).

[HERSH]

I went for Wales 5-10.

I can't see them mucking this one up.

[HERSH]

What changes should be made?

I think Biggar has to start, Priestland has been givin enough time to find his world beating form that he showed in 2011.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Hersh, any chance you can edit the voting options? You have teams winning by 0 - 5 points and it's impossible to win by zero points.

[HERSH]

You could win morally

[Sgt_Pooly]

After predicting an Argentina victory in the last match I'm fancying a strong display form the Welsh and a 10pt victory.

[Morgannwg]

What changes should be made?

I think Biggar has to start, Priestland has been givin enough time to find his world beating form that he showed in 2011.

See here; https://www.606v2.com/t37070-wales-vs-argentina-assessment-player-changes. Won't predict until I see the line-up.

[HERSH]

So from that I take it you're not that confident?

I have to admit I don't like Friday evening games especially Internationals, they very rarely live up to expectation.

[George Carlin]

The Scottish football team has won plenty of matches 0-0.

[thebluesmancometh]

Friday night games are excellent in Cardiff, the rets of Wales can't get to the game but those who live or work near the city centre are in for a beautifull night!!!

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I had a bad feeling about this fixture even before last Saturday's match. Changes in personnel won't be enough if the turgid gameplan remains the same. If it does, and I'm sure it will, I think Samoa will win by 5 - 10 points.

[nobbled]

Wales by + 10 for me. Very different game to Argentina. Argentina play in a style that really doesn't suit Wales. Very tight, almost a stranglehold in defence with no real risks taken in attack. Samoa are a constant danger in attack, particularly broken play, but Wales are better for my money. Samoa will be keen to run everything at Wales, and Wales will happy to turn them over and run it right back!

Should be fun to watch!

[thebluesmancometh]

I think the kicking game will be key on Friday certainly!!! But I worry if Samoa tighten things up and use Fortuali's boot cleverly...

[HERSH]

I agree, Wales won't lose this one.

[Pot Noodle Miner]

Biggest area for concern against Argentina was our flankers and half-backs, the flankers were'nt carrying, putting hits in, or making nuisances of themselves, Knoyle and Preistland were'nt organising the players around them to dictate the play at all they were playing as if they were having a run around at training with no intent or desire shown, they failed to rally the team and up the tempo all game,

against samoa i'd go with,
1. Jenkins
2. Rees
3. Jarvis
4. AW-Jones (B.Davies if AWJ is not fit)
5. Charteris
6. R.Jones
7. Tipuric
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Hook
11. North
12. Roberts (Sc.Williams if Roberts is unfit)
13. Davies
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. R.Hibbard
17. P.James
18. R.Bevington
19. B.Davies/I.Evans
20. Warburton
21. Priestland/Biggar
22. Sc.Williams/A.Beck
23. L.Williams

Ian Evans also must be 4th choice in the SR pecking order after giving away silly penalties almost every game hes played this season, always comes in the a high tackle or does something stuiped at a ruck, AWJ & Charteris should be 1st choice pairing with B.Davies to come in if AWJ is injured.

[thebluesmancometh]

Pot

AWJ gave away plenty of stupid pens yesterday and was useless, Evans gave away a high tackle but was better than AWJ around the park.

IMO I'd go with the same 15, make them go out and prove themselves!!! Obviously AWJ and Roberts are out so would need to be replaced, Davies and Beck are the only options really, Charteris on the bench!

Jenkins, Rees, Knoyle, Warbs, Turnbull, don't deserve to start but after saturday need to prove they deserve to be in a wales shirt at all, maybe give them 40/50 mins to prove themselves, it's make or break time (for the AI's anyway)

[HERSH]

AWJ gave away plenty of stupid pens yesterday and was useless,

Where was AWJ playing yesterday?

[thebluesmancometh]

Classy Shall we derive to spelling mistakes next?

[HERSH]

The weekend must have been a blur to you Blue, so I'll cut you some slack.

Interesting view from a former Captain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20295007

[Sgt_Pooly]

"AWJ gave away plenty of stupid pens yesterday and was useless, Evans gave away a high tackle but was better than AWJ around the park"

I couldn't agree more, I really don't understand how he gets near a Welsh jersey. He must be the most overated lock in the NH.

[BlueNote]

I thought the Ian Evans penalty was harsh, he got the shoulder of a guy who was ducking.

I guess you can't play Evans and Charteris, so maybe Evans/Davies with Charteris on the bench.

[thebluesmancometh]

Pooly

Tone it down a bit, I know how much you hate him but he was certainly the form lock in UK and Ireland... until Saturday!

Blue agree with you totally, on both points, I thought Evans was very cool headed sat, but then when your partner is going nuts it's easy. Sadly I clapped when both Roberts and AWJ went off, not because they were injured but because both were just damn awfull, if only Sam stayed off the pitch too!!!

[Impossible Standards]

Samoa will be keen to run everything at Wales, and Wales will happy to turn them over and run it right back!

Disagree, I think Samoa are far better at a running game than Wales. Wales have to target a structured game plan to win this one. Getting into a 7's style game will result in...well a 7s result. Samoa often coming off best in that form.

[Morgannwg]

The high tackle that Evans supposedly did was fine, it turned out to be nothing short of an embarrasing call when you consider that's how Argentina's back-row tackled our ball carriers all game. I'd keep Evans in, you need someone to dish out a few high tackles when you face Samoa anyway. AWJ out of the squad altogether after that awful performance, Charteris to start.

[thebluesmancometh]

Morg

Agree on partly, North was double clotheslined late on....

[HERSH]

"You need someone to dish out a few high tackles when you face Samoa anyway"

That’s the spirit, I noticed a few Welsh players trying to charge down kicks with a leading foot too. Now that’s a card waiting to happen when one connects.

[Morgannwg]

Nah I doubt it HERSH. You're reminding us of the moaning Scots now, who said Lee Byrne was trying to KO their players by being taken out in the air himself .

[majesticimperialman]

It is hard to see Wales losing this game after the Argentina game.

But if Wales take Samoa lightly it could just come back to bite them.

Do you think their will be many changes for this game, or will it a case you are better that, go out and prove it.

[wales606]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20291889

Osprey Lloyd Peers has been added to the squad to cover for AWJ

....

So I guess B.Davies is still injured.

R.Jones and Ashley Beck are expected to be fit - Jonathan Davies is touch and go.


My team

1. Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Aaron Jarvis
4. Ian Evans
5. Luke Charteris
6. Ryan Jones (c)
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. George North
12. Ashley Beck
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Matthew Rees
17. Gethin Jenkins
18. Samson Lee
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Aaron Shingler/BD)
20. Sam Warburton
21. Tavis Knoyle
22. Dan Biggar
23. Scott Williams

[Morgannwg]

WTF are they thinking, Lloyd has played like 2 game of pro rugby? Why not Lou Reed or Aaron Shingler?

[wales606]

WTF are they thinking, Lloyd has played like 2 game of pro rugby? Why not Lou Reed or Aaron Shingler?

Does seem strange

Isn't Shingler in the squad

Don't know why is wasn't Reed, or even the some of the more experienced Blues boys - Downs or Hill.

[aitchw]

This a real banana skin waiting for a foot. Welsh confidence can't be high after the weekend and if you are are hesitant or lack assertiveness as a result it could go horribly wrong. There's no doubt you should win but Samoa aren't likely to make it easy. I expect them to be up for this one.

[Seagultaf]

The weekend must have been a blur to you Blue, so I'll cut you some slack.

Interesting view from a former Captain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20295007

I heard the interview on the radio, despite being provoked by the interviewer he did his best to avoid being tribal, saying the thought that the selection was fine but the tactics were wrong. His comment about Howley is being taken out of context, the interviewer told him that Howley was blaming saturdays performance on the poor quality of the Regions, he replied that Howley should be man enough to take resposibility himself and not blame others.

It was good to hear a balanced and considered view rather than the tripe being spouted by other ex internationals in the gutter press.

PS

Who the L is Lloyd Peers?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Who the L is Lloyd Peers?

I'd never heard of him before in my life until yesterday. Considering that these are all must-win matches if he still have designs on fourth place in the rankings, it seems very strange to call up such a green player, even if he ends up not playing. He could be a great player, I don't know; but if he was that good, you'd think he'd have featured more often for the Ospreys.

Unless he's been called up by Rob Howley to make Paul Thorburn like him again?

[bedfordwelsh]

I was going to post something about Lloyd Peers but it seems most have beaten we to it but WTF is Holwey on.

There are players out there who have way more Regional experience than him and who have had good displays over a period.

Yet another selection to add to the ' Howley WTF is he doing' list.

As ofr the result at the moment I think we will lose and unless I see a few major changes in the team I wont change my view. For me we have to go with (but he wont)

James
Hibbard
Jarvis
Evans
Charteris
Jones (c)
Faletau
Tipuric

Phillips
Biggar

North
Williams
Davies
Cuthbert

Halfpenny

[2nd ID of MajorRoadWork]

Wales to implode. Samoa to pinch it with a last minute score.

[tatterd]

Wales to implode. Samoa to pinch it with a last minute score.

well your name says it all really........

[wales606]

Turnball and AWJ to miss the rest of the series.

Peers was called up for AWJ, but nobody for Turnball (Josh Navidi should be pretty p*ssed off)

[HERSH]

Do people really think Samoa will win this one?

I just can't see it, not this time.

[thebluesmancometh]

wales

Especially has he was carrying the back row of the Blues which included Warburton!!!

[Liam]

I think Navidi has been superb for the Blues this season. His defence is superb and makes good yardage when carrying up the middle. He's even played well when playing 6, very unlucky not to receive a call up. Should have been in the squad from the off.

[Morgannwg]

Navidi isn't needed unless Sam misses the remainder of the series.

[thebluesmancometh]

Navid is better than sam at present

[Morgannwg]

Maybe, but 2 open-sides is enough for the squad. If we load our back row with 7's it isn't going to be destructive enough. Glad to hear AWJ and Turnbull won't be contributing any more after saturday anyway!

[wales606]

Navidi is the form 6 in Wales at the moment, and probably the form 7 too

[gregortree]

Wales could shock everyone and win this ?

[Morgannwg]

Navidi is the form 6 in Wales at the moment, and probably the form 7 too

Guess you never heard of Ryan Jones and Justin Tipuric. If Warbs is set to miss the rest of the series only then would it be wise to call up new cap Navidi.

[wales606]

Navidi is the form 6 in Wales at the moment, and probably the form 7 too

Guess you never heard of Ryan Jones and Justin Tipuric. If Warbs is set to miss the rest of the series only then would it be wise to call up new cap Navidi.

Jones maybe, but I don't think Tipuric has been that impressive at the start of this season.

[george doors]

Well, 32% say Samoa by 5. Could be more, my money has just gone on Samoa by more than 5.

[george doors]

Do people really think Samoa will win this one?

I just can't see it, not this time.

\

Could you see Argies

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