Wales team vs Aus announced

First topic message reminder :

Who would you pick in the 22 to face Australia on saturday?

heres the squad:
Forwards: Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Ryan Bevington, Scott Andrews, Lloyd Burns, Huw Bennett, Matthew Rees, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Ian Evans, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau, Ryan Jones

Backs: Tavis Knoyle, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Shane Williams, George North, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams


i would go with

1. Jenkins
2. Rees
3. R.Jones
4. B.Davies
5. L.Charteris
6. D.Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Williams
10. Priestland
11. Williams
12. Roberts
13. Davies
14. North
15. Halfpenny (if fully fit otherwise L.Williams)

16. H.Bennett
17. S.Andrews
18. I.Evans
19. R.Jones
20. T.Knoyle
21. D.Biggar
22. Sc.Williams


anyone have any injury updates on players who were injured at the time of selection etc.
also does anybody know roughly how many tickets are still available for this game? just wondering if the stadium is going to be half empty or almost a sell-out?

A try like that and you'ld think we should put him on the wing. Luckily we already have two lads his size but even quicker already there...!

Back to reality for Wales on Saturday. I predict another plucky loss. The front row is going to get thumped. Benett's last game he reverted to type.

I'm looking forward to the game. Hope it's an open contest.

I think Aus by around 10, with a few tries each.

Australia by 10 would be a positive for Wales. If the players have apathy because it's one game too far then I'll want my money back and won't be paying to watch a region.

How can they be tired? Theres 10 changes and gehin and Matthew Rees haven't played rugby for ages

Sam warbs and priestland missed the last few weeks of the world cup - Lloyd Williams only played a few games.

slartibartfast wrote:Australia by 10 would be a positive for Wales. If the players have apathy because it's one game too far then I'll want my money back and won't be paying to watch a region.

How can they be tired? Theres 10 changes and gehin and Matthew Rees haven't played rugby for ages

Sam warbs and priestland missed the last few weeks of the world cup - Lloyd Williams only played a few games.

in your world perhaps defeat can be taken positively but Wales will not take a defeat of any kind as a positive. They know the rugby world is watching to see if they can make good on their potential and i expect an all out Test with a close margin.

slartibartfast wrote:Back to reality for Wales on Saturday. I predict another plucky loss. The front row is going to get thumped. Benett's last game he reverted to type.

What, Against Australia's much lauded and acclaimed front row ?

To be honest that Aussie front row are not the kippers they were five years ago. They coped well with Wales, when missing Adam Jones, in the third/fourth play off and I think they will do well again this Saturday.

The big match up will be at seven, eight and nine. If we can get good turnover ball, good quick ball and Faletau and Williams can ease pressure of Priestland Wales will be able to command the game.

Though even with that said, the Aussies need very little possession to score tries.

Should be a great game, really looking forward to it.

I agree they have improved alot - but they coulsnt have gotten alot worse.

I haven't seem a Welsh front room get 'thumped' in a very long time

You can't have watched the World Cup warm-up matches against England then!

Or Wales - Wallabies 2009???

I can't help thinking Wales have got their excuses in early, I expect Aus to walk in a few tries just like they did to the Baa baas.

Seems strange that the only reason this game is going ahead is that it gives a chance for the Welsh fans to wave bye bye to Shane.

HERSH wrote:I can't help thinking Wales have got their excuses in early, I expect Aus to walk in a few tries just like they did to the Baa baas.

Seems strange that the only reason this game is going ahead is that it gives a chance for the Welsh fans to wave bye bye to Shane.

If the RFU spent as much time looking into England's rugby problems as you did trying to pick holes in Wales' Hersh then England might not be the current laughing stock of rugby

its cheap WUM and not even worth replying to munk

shows his lack of cred by comparing a dreadful Baa Baa team, their backline marshalled by Cipriani who squandered loads of chances, with the Welsh side and their defence marshalled by the coach all england fans want!!

and it is a measure of the esteem in which the great little winger is held that the stadium will be packed to the rafters to pay tribute, something i have no doubt Hersh has never experienced

If HERSH thinks this is a case of Wales getting excuses in early then allow him to think that. I don't see why we should be bothered by the thoughts of someone who believes Bath will win the Heineken Cup!

Australia announced:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
1. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
3. Salesi Ma'afu (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
6. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)

Replacements: Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Radike Samo (Queensland Reds), Ben Lucas (Queensland Reds), Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds), Anthony Fainga'a (Queensland Reds).

James O'Connor will make his first Test start at fly-half for Australia in Saturday's clash with Wales in Cardiff.

The 21-year-old is normally a wing but stays at 10 after his performance there in last weekend's non-cap 60-11 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

World Cup fly-half Quade Cooper is injured, but centre Berrick Barnes has recovered from a blow to his back to start alongside Rob Horne in midfield.

Ben Lucas and Ben Tapuai are in line to make their Test debuts off the bench.

Lock Rob Simmons replaces Nathan Sharpe, who is among the replacements, in the only change in the pack from when the countries last met in the World Cup bronze medal match in October, when Australia won 21-18.


Graham Henry pays tribute to Shane Williams
Simmons will partner captain James Horwill at lock, as the Queensland Red is restored to the starting line-up after being given a 30-minute cameo off the bench at Twickenham last Saturday.

Australia coach Robbie Deans says that opposite number Warren Gatland will be looking to turn the tables after their World Cup meeting.

"Warren will be looking for his group to push on from the World Cup and this match provides him with a perfect opportunity to do just that as a springboard heading into the next Six Nations," Deans said.

Rob Horne looks likely to be withdrawn due to hamstring issues.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/02/horne-in-major-doubt-for-wallabies-test/

boomeranga wrote:Rob Horne looks likely to be withdrawn due to hamstring issues.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/02/horne-in-major-doubt-for-wallabies-test/

When will Deans make a decision then if he is a doubt?

Lydiate, North, Roberts and Priestland all go into this game carrying injuries as far as we're aware. Not good.

Hasn't Ashley-Cooper got a pretty nasty back I jury too?
Also anyone know what's wrong with JD2 I guess he is injured but I missed hearing what's wrong with him?

Horne has had chronic hammy issues previously so I'd take it he is out Morgan, but word is it will be confirmed Friday your time.

Havent heard anything about AAC mm. You're not thinking of Barnes are you? He took Shaw's knees in the back last weekend and went off a little while later.

Yes might have been Barnes actually. I remember one getting treatment. I have a friend who is a physio at llandarcy where the wallabies are training and she mentioned one of their three quarters had a back injury that was pretty poor...!

Hope they all pull through. They are a hell of a team, we want them all to make a good match of it...!

Yeah hopefully its a good one. Some nice matchups b/w Warburton v Pocock; Lydiate v Higginbotham; Priestland v JOC; North v Ioane; The Welsh crowd in full voice v Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi.

Ha ha ha yes usually a fun test. Looking forward to it...!

We'll need to keep a close eye on Berrick Barnes tomorrow, he's a great player who doesn't seem to get mentioned much.

Like the look of our back line, not too excited about the props though. But guess we need to do the best we can, both those I feel are weaker than should be, Ma'afu specially.

Good to see Barnes back, I reckon they'll play a shotgun style backline with JOC and Barnes either side as first receiver... looking forward to the game.

and the ole aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi needs revamping.... it's really a cricket chant. Me thinks something along the lines of we're happy little vegimities....

I'm concerned about Scott Andrews in our front row, OzT.

Hearing 'Waltzing Matilda' sung gets me all emotional and I don't know why.

Good song and for sure means heaps, just not rugby song though, except when sung by slim!

We have Moore and Ben on the bench, so at least there's some backup.
And Somo has come on heaps... but really we need another Kefu!!

Barnes carrying a back injury whilst being opposite Jamie Roberts. Things aren't looking too bright for him eh.

Just saw the Shane Williams tribute on BBC News, very exciting, cant wait for tomorrow.

Great night of rugby in the build up and a bit of sevens thrown in as well. A win over Australia in the Dubai 7s could be a good omen...!

We have Scarlets Ulster at Ravenhill coming up on BBC 2 NI in a minute, then the Blues in Dublin taking on Leinster on BBC 2 Wales at 20:00.

In the morning wake up to Live Dubai Sevens Rugby from 07:00 on Sky Sports 1, and the biggie Wales vs Australia at 14:00 on all the BBC One's

Well that was a great day out. What an emotional finish.

The game was a bit damp, ozzies played superb rugby, as did Wales a little too late.

But what a send off. Not a dry eye in the house.

Not particularly impressed with all the booing of O'Connor when he was kicking.

I guess the game was pretty dire, but why all the booing/whistling at the MS?

Looked like there was a Mexican Wave at one point too