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

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

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).

[munkian]

Warburton actually made a shed load of tackles in the last match. Loads

[HERSH]

Warburton actually made a shed load of tackles in the last match. Loads

Lets face it he needs the practice.

[glamorganalun]

I have not voted this time as I predicted Wales would win by >10 last time before I knew what the was, after seeing the team I predicted Wales would lose by 5, I was wrong again we lost by even more points. Knowing our coaches they never admit they screwed up with tactics and selection it is the players did not turn up.

Looking on the bright side if Wales do lose again under Howley he may be gone before the 6N with luck.

[Wi11]

Here are Samoa's last results against major nations (2010 onwards)

Australia W 23-32
England L 26-13
Ireland L 20-10
Scotland L 16-17
South Africa L 5-13
Wales L 10-17

These show a tough but limited team, however background checks show that in 4 of these matches their opponent was on their best run of form in recent years, whilst the other two were hardly struggling at the time. Given the respective form of Wales (poor) and Samoa (pretty good) I don't think Wales are obvious favourites.

[thebluesmancometh]

Favourites, yes, capable of losing...? certainly!!!

Samoa will be very dangerous and will look to emulates Argies breakdown work!!!

[mckay1402]

Samoa are every bit as dangerous as Argentina and I think if Wales play with the same lack of gameplan and direction they played with on Saturday they will have a similar if not worse result.

[thebluesmancometh]

I'd say if we play similarly to that again we'll be on the end of a tonking, IMHO Samoa wouldve beaten us saturday!

[mckay1402]

totally agree. not looking forward to saturday.

[bedfordwelsh]

totally agree. not looking forward to saturday.

mckay,

We play on Friday or do you mean all the shoite that will be floating round on here after we lose (cos we will if we play like last saturday)

[EngInAuck]

Do people really think Samoa will win this one?

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

\

Could you see Argies

I think the majority of people voted for an Argy win on the build up thread.


Can't see Wales losing this one , expect lots of 3 pointers and a negative game plan.

Wales to get an early lead and then try close the game down completely. They will do anything for a win.

Wales by less than 5

[George Carlin]

But seriously, no. Of course Wales aren't going to lose to Samoa, whose 10th in the world ranking flatters them a little bit.

A lot will depend upon selection - Warbuton does not deserve his place on current form and Evans has to start - he's the best lock you've got.

[munkian]

Samoa will be dangerous but not as much as a threat as Argentina.

They will come out flying and be physical but not match the Pumas at the breakdown, set piece or scrum.

If we tighten up defensively and tackle as well as we used to then we'll be Ok, especially if Halfpenny has his kicking boots on.

I'll take a 1 point win to be honest - anything that gets us winning again to restore a bit of pride and confidence in a player.

[TJ1]

this one wales should be favourites but its a potential banana skin for sure. Samoa actually having had a warm up game and some time together will help them but unless Wales leadership is poor wales should win.

[Guest]

Wales should win it, but Samoa could win it.

On paper Wales by far the better team but Wales are such a momentum side, if they get any doubts they seem to just fall apart.

[HERSH]

"Samoa will be dangerous but not as much as a threat as Argentina."

and so it starts again!

The arrogance shown by Welsh fans amazes me, yet people think the English fans are arrogant.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Hersh, that quotation doesn't even mention Wales, so how can it show Welsh 'arrogance'? What you've quoted is an assessment of the relative strength of Samoa and Argentina. Whether it's accurate or not, we'll find out in a couple of days' time.

[Guest]

HESHE why the fascination with Wales?
you are an England fan yea? you do know they have a game this weekend yea? but not a mention about it from you! how sad.

[HERSH]

HESHE why the fascination with Wales?
you are an England fan yea? you do know they have a game this weekend yea? but not a mention about it from you! how sad.

https://www.606v2.com/t37049-england-v-aus-ko-1430-sat-17th-nov-at-hq-match-thread-build-up-etc

Knock yourself out buddy.

[rodders]

I'm backing Wales to bounce back here with a comfortable win. Samoa are a tough side to turn things around against but with home advantage I can't see Wales loosing....could be real bruiser though....

I thought Argentina would do a number on them last week, I don't think people appreciate how good Argentina are still, but Wales are better than Samoa and if they play well they'll win I think.

[Jimpy]

But seriously, no. Of course Wales aren't going to lose to Samoa, whose 10th in the world ranking flatters them a little bit.

A lot will depend upon selection - Warbuton does not deserve his place on current form and Evans has to start - he's the best lock you've got.

But.... But..... Warburton is God isn't he? Nailed on as the Lions Capatain isn't he? Wales are the best NH team aren't they?

Chortle.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Argentina were underestimated, no matter what the players and coaches say now. Howley gave it away when he said after the game, 'we talked about it being an arm wrestle for 50 minutes'. They assumed that Argentina would be wholehearted and physical but would wilt in the final quarter.

[rodders]

I'm stunned if thats what Howley thought.

[bedfordwelsh]

Nobody thought we would lose in 91 or 99 or to Fiji in 07 or draw with Fiji but we did.

Its simple if we play like we did last weekend we will lose.

[Jimpy]

I'm stunned if thats what Howley thought.

So would I, he's not normally that articulate.

[mckay1402]

totally agree. not looking forward to saturday.

mckay,

We play on Friday or do you mean all the shoite that will be floating round on here after we lose (cos we will if we play like last saturday)

didn't actually realise the game was on friday. I guess both apply...

[George Carlin]

But seriously, no. Of course Wales aren't going to lose to Samoa, whose 10th in the world ranking flatters them a little bit.

A lot will depend upon selection - Warbuton does not deserve his place on current form and Evans has to start - he's the best lock you've got.

But.... But..... Warburton is God isn't he? Nailed on as the Lions Capatain isn't he? Wales are the best NH team aren't they?

Chortle.

You're right, Jimpy. I've just slapped myself across the face.

[munkian]

"Samoa will be dangerous but not as much as a threat as Argentina."

and so it starts again!

The arrogance shown by Welsh fans amazes me, yet people think the English fans are arrogant.

Yeah, not sure how that is arrogant, comparing two teams against each other....

Nice try though

[HERSH]

Why can't you just respect the team you are playing, we weren't disrespecting Fiji before last weeks game!

Wales record against Samoa isn't great by the way Played 8, won 5, lost 3.

[munkian]

Again, how is comparing them to another team 'disrespecting them' ?

What I actually said was

'Samoa will be dangerous but not as much as a threat as Argentina.

They will come out flying and be physical but not match the Pumas at the breakdown, set piece or scrum.

If we tighten up defensively and tackle as well as we used to then we'll be Ok, especially if Halfpenny has his kicking boots on.

I'll take a 1 point win to be honest - anything that gets us winning again to restore a bit of pride and confidence in a player.'

Are you saying that Samoa are stronger than the Pumas in these areas ?

Did I say 'we'll thrash Samoa' or did I say ' I'll take a 1 point win to be honest '

[Morgannwg]

HERSH you actually started a good thread here. Don't ruin it with stupid/false accusations. BTW HERSHY, what time is our team announced?

[HERSH]

I'll give Howley a ring if you want seeing as his an old buddy of mine.

[Morgannwg]

That woud be grand. Tell him he's a bell end while you're at it. Anyway, rumour that keeps flying around that it's the back-row we all wanna see; Jones, Tips, Faletau with Warbs on the bench. RJ is the captain.

[HERSH]

That's no way to treat a Welsh rugby legend

[bedfordwelsh]

That woud be grand. Tell him he's a bell end while you're at it. Anyway, rumour that keeps flying around that it's the back-row we all wanna see; Jones, Tips, Faletau with Warbs on the bench. RJ is the captain.

If thats true morg then its spot on IMO. Obvioulsy the managemnet will be keen to stress its part of the rotation system that sees Warburton on the bench rather than see him dropped.

In all probability even if we had won last weekend then I doubt Sam would have played on Friday, lets hope he goes the whole hog and gives Biggar the nod to

[thebluesmancometh]

Thats a poor call IMHO if Tips comes in for the captain based purely on that performance!

I hope to god that this series isn't going to go how it's shaping up... winless!

[wales606]

That woud be grand. Tell him he's a bell end while you're at it. Anyway, rumour that keeps flying around that it's the back-row we all wanna see; Jones, Tips, Faletau with Warbs on the bench. RJ is the captain.

If thats true morg then its spot on IMO. Obvioulsy the managemnet will be keen to stress its part of the rotation system that sees Warburton on the bench rather than see him dropped.

In all probability even if we had won last weekend then I doubt Sam would have played on Friday, lets hope he goes the whole hog and gives Biggar the nod to

Great if true. Warbs needs to be benched, and Ryan Jones deserves the captaincy for all the AI

[bedfordwelsh]

If Rees is picked then I would give the captaincy to hom after all Warburton only got it due to Ress' injury and I have always said that Jones plays better without the added pressure of captaincy.

[thebluesmancometh]

I find it amazing that noone considers player mindset with regards to performance!!

[Luckless Pedestrian]

What do mean by that?

[thebluesmancometh]

An unsettled locker room is key to poor performances, ditching your captain after 1 AI performance in which many more players were garbage will hurt the locker room.

Gethin Jenkins has to be dropped if Warbs is dropped

Matthew Rees has to be dropped if warbs is dropped

AWJ is injured anyway

Turnbull has to be dropped if warbs is dropped

Knoyle, RP, Roberts, and 1/2p were all as bad as Warburton!!!

If you select them and not him youve got a major problem with the captain who is the linchpin of the team. Now don't get me wrong maybe Warburton isn't the loudest or most experienced player, and if not he shouldn't be captain anyway (shouldnt be in the squad IMHO) so then why is he?

How does Warbs feel if he's dropped and not given a chance to prove himself and Rees not only is but given the captaincy too?

[Morgannwg]

Rees should be on the bench too. Most agree that Ryan Jones should be captain, regardless of whether they believe that will effect his game. Either that or pick Tips for captain.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Let's wait and see what the XV is.

[bedfordwelsh]

blues,

I agree with all those changes bar Halfpenny who I didn't think was that bad Turnbull is out injured anyway btw.

[thebluesmancometh]

Is he?

Didn't hear that! Pity, although he wasn't any good, gametime V Samoa wouldve helped him.

1/2p needs to work on his foot placement and agility, if I see him slip, half slip or get wrong footed once more I swear I'll scream!!

IMO he's spending way too much time flat foot training on 3g pitches in trainers, his plant foot needs to be way more conservative when in his boots!!!

[wales606]

Tips would be my other choice for captain.

[Higher_Ground]

Thats a poor call IMHO if Tips comes in for the captain based purely on that performance!

I hope to god that this series isn't going to go how it's shaping up... winless!

Umm, I think it's probably based on the entire season of performances, including the pre season tour to Australia, last weekend being the cherry on top.

[bedfordwelsh]

Yh Halfpenny does seem to lose his footing a hell of a lot but I still think he deserves his slot.

[thebluesmancometh]

higher ground

If thats the case Tips shouldve been made first choice7 (which I would agree with) but he hasn't, he's been made the captains back up. Thats why it's a poor decision.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Then again, Bedford, Liam Williams would be much more of an attacking threat, coming into the line as well as running the ball back, and having Biggar at ten would mean we wouldn't miss Halfpenny's goalkicking. I'd question Williams's defence, but Halfpenny's not exactly JPR in that aspect of the game.

[glamorganalun]

I suspect the fans will get their way with the team selection as Howley wants to save his job i.e., Biggar at 10 Warbs for the bench, Ryan captain and break the record for the number of caps as the captain. I suspect Charteris in the second row for AWJ.

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