Third Test

[Lizard]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

[Eugene Wrayburn]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

[Lizard]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

I can't find any player stats but Opta reports NZ 566m, Wales 193.

[Sandydragon]

Our first XV is just about able to give the blacks a game, but with only an (extremely) outside chance of a win.

Nearly all the second choice players are a mile off the standard required, imo.

Faletau and Liam Williams have been outstanding though.

On the whole, I'd add Webb to that list, although some of his kicking today was sub par.

Overall, just not good enough, regardless of the game plan. Our forwards were exposed badly too often but equally when they had the ball, the basic skill execution just wasn't good enough.

I lost count of the number of times that AB players went around our defence, or how often we kicked to them in acres of space.

The first two games were were competitive for much of the match. Today felt like on long period of defence, punctuated by the odd attacking moment that inevitably lacked vision, skill or composure.

[Mikeyv]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

I can't find any player stats but Opta reports NZ 566m, Wales 193.

I wonder how many of those 566m were made after catching a Welsh kick, straight down their throat, and running in to the space before meeting a Welsh player.

We never learn, it seems.

[Mikeyv]

Our first XV is just about able to give the blacks a game, but with only an (extremely) outside chance of a win.

Nearly all the second choice players are a mile off the standard required, imo.

Faletau and Liam Williams have been outstanding though.

On the whole, I'd add Webb to that list, although some of his kicking today was sub par.

Overall, just not good enough, regardless of the game plan. Our forwards were exposed badly too often but equally when they had the ball, the basic skill execution just wasn't good enough.

I lost count of the number of times that AB players went around our defence, or how often we kicked to them in acres of space.

The first two games were were competitive for much of the match. Today felt like on long period of defence, punctuated by the odd attacking moment that inevitably lacked vision, skill or composure.

Webb and a couple of others were OK, but I thought Faletau and, to a slightly lesser extent, Williams were exceptional.

Agreed on the lousy kicking though, it was like a blast from the past, when Priestland was getting picked while badly out of form, and hoofing it straight back at them, even when we were ahead with minutes to play.

[pompey-zebra]

Our first XV is just about able to give the blacks a game, but with only an (extremely) outside chance of a win.

Nearly all the second choice players are a mile off the standard required, imo.

Faletau and Liam Williams have been outstanding though.

On the whole, I'd add Webb to that list, although some of his kicking today was sub par.

Overall, just not good enough, regardless of the game plan. Our forwards were exposed badly too often but equally when they had the ball, the basic skill execution just wasn't good enough.

I lost count of the number of times that AB players went around our defence, or how often we kicked to them in acres of space.

The first two games were were competitive for much of the match. Today felt like on long period of defence, punctuated by the odd attacking moment that inevitably lacked vision, skill or composure.

Webb and a couple of others were OK, but I thought Faletau and, to a slightly lesser extent, Williams were exceptional.

Agreed on the lousy kicking though, it was like a blast from the past, when Priestland was getting picked while badly out of form, and hoofing it straight back at them, even when we were ahead with minutes to play.

Ah those were the days-being ahead with minutes to play

[Banquo]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

good to see Dagg back at his best tho

[Lizard]

According to Twitter:

Wales running metres: 193
Israel Dagg running metres: 196

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

good to see Dagg back at his best tho

Indeed. He has made the most of his re-selection.

[Banquo]

Jesus. If that's true how the hell can gatland keep his job.

good to see Dagg back at his best tho

Indeed. He has made the most of his re-selection.

Is savea in receipt of special help? Looks to have regressed without the ball.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

good to see Dagg back at his best tho

Indeed. He has made the most of his re-selection.

Is savea in receipt of special help? Looks to have regressed without the ball.

I suspect he's just a bit stale - there's been a lot of rugby in the past 18 months. It would have been very good for him if he'd gone off to try to get into the 7s.

[Banquo]

Indeed. He has made the most of his re-selection.

Is savea in receipt of special help? Looks to have regressed without the ball.

I suspect he's just a bit stale - there's been a lot of rugby in the past 18 months. It would have been very good for him if he'd gone off to try to get into the 7s.

He has been pretty poor. He's not getting much rest soon either.

Has he played much 7's?

[morepork]

Is savea in receipt of special help? Looks to have regressed without the ball.

I suspect he's just a bit stale - there's been a lot of rugby in the past 18 months. It would have been very good for him if he'd gone off to try to get into the 7s.

He has been pretty poor. He's not getting much rest soon either.

Has he played much 7's?

With that gut?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I suspect he's just a bit stale - there's been a lot of rugby in the past 18 months. It would have been very good for him if he'd gone off to try to get into the 7s.

He has been pretty poor. He's not getting much rest soon either.

Has he played much 7's?

With that gut?

That was kind of my point. Learning a different set of skills and focus on his running not his power. Wouldn't get away with a gut.

[Son of Mathonwy]

You may say that but by the same argument the second test was less likely to be successful than the first. However we got a better result in the second test.

This said as before, our chance of winning is very small, and is pretty much dependent on our not having the traditional 15 minutes where we go to sleep somewhere in the match.

I'd say you were less competitive in the second match than the first, albeit the score ended up closer. By 60 minutes it was all over bar the shouting, they lifted out some key players and you scored a couple of consolation tries. It depends on whether they get their selection right and what the aims might be towards the end of the game. It's possible that you'll be closer, but I expect you to be carrying a bigger deficit at half time and at full time and I doubt you'll ever look like you could win this one.

I'd like to claim prescience, but really no other result was likely.

I don't think you needed prescience to expect a NZ win.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Well, at last a return to the traditional Wales tour of NZ scoreline. A thrashing. No Welsh tries.

From playing well for 60 out of 80 minutes in the first 2 tests we were simply outclassed for 60 out of 80 minutes. Very sad. We had no answer to the sheer acceleration of Barrett, Dagg, Smith et al when they went wide, time and again they shredded our defences.

What great news that we have these coaches until after the next world cup. What great news that after 9 years at the helm they are just beginning to add some variation to our game (allegedly). And England kicking Australian butt just makes it feel all the worse. Gatland for the Lions? Only if the good coaches are unavailable.

[Ross. S]

Gatland for the Lions? Only if the good coaches are unavailable.

I'm all fot Gats for the lions, Take Howler, Edwards and McBride and don't come back.

[Mikey Brown]

Did Paycheck get some decent exposure at least? Is Garland likely to persist with another back that can move the ball a bit?

[Sandydragon]

Did Paycheck get some decent exposure at least? Is Garland likely to persist with another back that can move the ball a bit?

Some moments with ball in hand. Yet skinned badly in defense more than once.

[Ross. S]

Who dafuq is paycheck?

[Sandydragon]

Who dafuq is paycheck?

Patches I assume.

Edit: Blydi auto correct - Patchell

[kk67]

Did Paycheck get some decent exposure at least? Is Garland likely to persist with another back that can move the ball a bit?

Sadly,...I think Patchell is increasingly looking like a player that doesn't fit with the overall gameplan. How long Wales can continue with this situation is a blydi mystery to me. The poor fecker is turning into the Welsh version of Dai Duckham.

[Mikey Brown]

Who dafuq is paycheck?

Patches I assume.

Edit: Blydi auto correct - Patchell

Patches is closer as least. I'm impressed you realised who I meant.

It's a shame if you can't find a spot/use for him.

[kk67]

Who dafuq is paycheck?

Patches I assume.

Edit: Blydi auto correct - Patchell

Patches is closer as least. I'm impressed you realised who I meant.

It's a shame if you can't find a spot/use for him.

He ain't 'paycheck'.....that's balls. He's jumped ship from Caerdiff because they were clearly unable to utilitse him properly.
The lad has massive talent and could have easily gone to the continent for big money. We shall see what happens at Llanelli.
The potential of next years Scarlets team is big.

[Mikey Brown]

Yes, if he'd signed for Toulon/Metro it may have been more appropriate. It was just an autocorrect blunder.