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An interesting development on that Wales versus All Blacks game – it’s outside the official international weekends so English and French clubs are almost certain not to release players – and the WRU is worried that even it’s own franchises might not. It means they will probably face the All Blacks without Davies (hooker), Charvis (flanker), Jones (Fly half) and Thomas (Full back). I’m looking forward to the game more and more!!
Can you find percentages? What little I saw of him against ‘Tahs the technique was sound but accuracy was extremely poor.
Moody-it is means exactly what you took it as – although Lewis himself has worked hard to improve that since the welsh game.
It’s not the first time he has done that – or used his boots dangerously on other body parts. He is a liability to the All Blacks as he is fourteen men waiting to happen. 
Yes, but you are being overly pessimistic about Back. Not the player he was five years ago but do not expect him to be totally blown away by young McCaw even so. Still a warrior on the ground and quite unbreakable as all those North Aucklanders try to snap him in two.
Grewcock is a fair enough call – always has been a little over rated for me. Balshaw is also dubious – he is there on potential only as he has played very little rugby. With Murphy out of form at the wrong time Balsh is possibly the most attacking threat at fullback. Robinson looks over and done with in any role right now – Thomas and Lewsey are more defensive fullbacks (though Lewsey prefers wing these days).
Talking about Balshaw made me remember something – he is Leeds skipper and they play Bath (his former club) in the Powergen cup final on Saturday. Leeds are in the relegation dog fight and were told this year that the European Cup place that goes with winning this cup (should they do so) will be taken off them if they get relegated – only Premiership clubs are allowed to compete in the European Cup.
Talk about kicking someone when they are down!
When it comes to rugby ‘rabid taffy’ is the defining expression!! I would guess a large percentage expected exactly this!
Fair call on the locks. Even the Scots were hard done by there – their line out was one of the few parts of their game that worked fairly well.
I’d rather he kept it until the tri-nations.
It’s tasty on that level – BO’D works hard in defence too. Part of me wants to see Henson in the tests too – if only to prove substance is truly more important than image as he gets bulldozed. But then I do want to win the test if possible.
12 is actually a potential weakspot – that is why Greenwood travels with only one game after five months out under his belt. I’m not convinced at all by Henson yet – I think perhaps the D’Arcy-O Driscoll combination for me (D’Arcy missed the last two 6N games and it made a difference).
I hope Smithy gets a few mid-week games (or even makes the bench at tests?) as I think he is the kind of player that will go down well with Kiwis – willing to back his own skills and take defences on. He is unlucky to play in the position of the squad skipper – it kind of limits your chances.
He's become a little inconsistent lately but his technique is very sound. He'll get there.
Moody-it is means exactly what you took it as – although Lewis himself has worked hard to improve that since the welsh game.
I think he got six weeks for tap dancing on McCaw's head. I'm not sure when it expires.
Balshaw tops my list, followed by Grewcock and Back (for reasons already canvassed).
Grewcock is a fair enough call – always has been a little over rated for me. Balshaw is also dubious – he is there on potential only as he has played very little rugby. With Murphy out of form at the wrong time Balsh is possibly the most attacking threat at fullback. Robinson looks over and done with in any role right now – Thomas and Lewsey are more defensive fullbacks (though Lewsey prefers wing these days).
Talking about Balshaw made me remember something – he is Leeds skipper and they play Bath (his former club) in the Powergen cup final on Saturday. Leeds are in the relegation dog fight and were told this year that the European Cup place that goes with winning this cup (should they do so) will be taken off them if they get relegated – only Premiership clubs are allowed to compete in the European Cup.
Talk about kicking someone when they are down!
Anyway, no one except a rabid Taffy would have expected a squad full of Taffys
Fair call on the locks. Even the Scots were hard done by there – their line out was one of the few parts of their game that worked fairly well.
I read somewhere that G. Henry would be abandoning the silly ultra-flat backline approach. Good thing too.
It will be terrific. Umaga has been doing some wonderful things in S12 this year, particularly in defence.
12 is actually a potential weakspot – that is why Greenwood travels with only one game after five months out under his belt. I’m not convinced at all by Henson yet – I think perhaps the D’Arcy-O Driscoll combination for me (D’Arcy missed the last two 6N games and it made a difference).
I hope Smithy gets a few mid-week games (or even makes the bench at tests?) as I think he is the kind of player that will go down well with Kiwis – willing to back his own skills and take defences on. He is unlucky to play in the position of the squad skipper – it kind of limits your chances.
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