S.A. V Wales R Union

[Welshbeef]

Looking forward to the next few weekends - beers and some good international tests.

Im thinking Scotland will be thumped by the Pumas
Ireland skinned by OZ & NZ
Eng bent over by NZ

Wales - with the number of injuries its a daunting task.

Anyone think Wales can stay within 3 converted tries?

[disco1]

If we (Wales) come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders we have a chance, we are traditionly terribly slow to get moving and when we finally do we're already 20+ points down. Our forwards should be able to hold out and our backs should be competative.

Although winning would be very nice it isn't important, we just need to prove we can compete with the top teams.

I fear for Ireland and England.

[Welshbeef]

Agree Eng, Ire & Scotland are in the Lions den.

Our Forwards are pretty much the same as in the 6N - which wiped out France on that Great day, so I guess that should be a good fight in S.A. Adam Jones will hopefully be ready to go.

Our Backs - well were weak at Scrum half, Full Back and centre.

[stimmers]

All NH sides are going to get well beaten.

AB's side to face Ireland. (Kiwifriend says the weather is cold and wet and will remain so, which gives Eng + Ire more of a hope)

1. Tialata
2. Hore
3. Afoa
4. Thorn
5. Williams
6. So'oialo
7. McCaw
8. Kaino

9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14. Tuitavake
15. Muliaina

16. Mealamu
17. John Schwalger
18. Anthony Boric
19. Adam Thomson
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Stephen Donald
22. Leon MacDonald

Front row doesn't look too strong, obviously Somerville and Woodcock will play vs Eng and possibly Mealamu.
I'm suprised Leon McDonald is only on the bench, he's been the form 15 in the SH all season, so expect him to start vs Eng.
Interesting the selectors think Kaino is an 8. This guy is awsome and can't wait to see him vs Haskell.

[stimmers]

SA vs Wales

Wales simply won't be able to deal with SA backrow. Its immense, especially 7+8. White never rated Luke Watson but i think he's a pretty good player. Not sure about their 13 Jacobs or the 15.

1. Gurthro Steenkamp
2. John Smit (captão)
3. Brian Mujati
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Andries Bekker
6. Luke Watson
7. Juan Smith
8. Pierre Spies

9. Ricky Januarie
10. Butch James
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Adi Jacobs
14. Tonderai Chavanga
15. Conrad Jantjes

[Welshbeef]

Can someone confirm which channel these games are on? Sky Sports 3 is showing the Wales game on Sat but what about the other games?

Annoyingly I dont have sky - so looks like an all day down the pub - BUT it Euro 2008 starting day..... so finding somewhere which will show the games will be tricky.

Reading I guess it will be the Station pub - the Unofficial London Irish Supporters pub (as its beside the transport to the Majeski).

[stimmers]

Welshbeef said:

Can someone confirm which channel these games are on? Sky Sports 3 is showing the Wales game on Sat but what about the other games?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12946,00.html

Edited by stimmers on Thursday 5th June 13:19

[johnnywb]

Odd question i know and probably needs to be put elsewhere, but thought i'd try here first. Does anyone know where in London (i.e. bars) i might be able to catch the NZ game on Saturday? No Sky at home!

[Welshbeef]

johnnywb said:

Odd question i know and probably needs to be put elsewhere, but thought i'd try here first. Does anyone know where in London (i.e. bars) i might be able to catch the NZ game on Saturday? No Sky at home!

Its 7am ish... I always used to go to Everglades in Covnant Garden (Welsh pub) but that got taken over so I switched to the Famous Three Kings in Fulham very good pub & I enjoyed the 2005 Slammer in there.

[johnnywb]

Welshbeef said:

johnnywb said:

Odd question i know and probably needs to be put elsewhere, but thought i'd try here first. Does anyone know where in London (i.e. bars) i might be able to catch the NZ game on Saturday? No Sky at home!

Its 7am ish... I always used to go to Everglades in Covnant Garden (Welsh pub) but that got taken over so I switched to the Famous Three Kings in Fulham very good pub & I enjoyed the 2005 Slammer in there.

Hmm, well as i'm Fulham based, that would seem to be a good bet, will check it out, thanks!

[stimmers]

johnnywb said:

Welshbeef said:

johnnywb said:

Odd question i know and probably needs to be put elsewhere, but thought i'd try here first. Does anyone know where in London (i.e. bars) i might be able to catch the NZ game on Saturday? No Sky at home!

Its 7am ish... I always used to go to Everglades in Covnant Garden (Welsh pub) but that got taken over so I switched to the Famous Three Kings in Fulham very good pub & I enjoyed the 2005 Slammer in there.

Hmm, well as i'm Fulham based, that would seem to be a good bet, will check it out, thanks!

As welshbeef says, Famous 3 Kings is your best bet. I've watched a few games in their as im just down the road. Might even be there for the Eng vs NZ games myself, depending on where my Kiwi mates want my humiliation to occur.

The Alma in Wandsworth used to be a good place too. I watched the Lions in Aus there, all three tests but im not sure they show live games at all anymore.
The O'Neills in Covent Garden is also very good. I watch a lot of HC games in there. They have one side for football and one side for rugby. Not sure if they open early. Oh and its the one in the link below as there are two O'Neills in Covent Garden.
http://www.oneills.co.uk/pub_details.php?pub_id=12

[stimmers]

Oh and its 8am KO for all the games in New Zealand

[dickymint]

Sounds like Gatland has the Welsh lads really wound up for this. The Boks backs really need to be hit hard and early IMHO. Strange that Wales are based in Cape Town and not at altitude though!


http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-n...

Edited by dickymint on Saturday 7th June 11:53

[hornetrider]

Oooh didn't see this thread. Thought we were beaten fairly today but the scoreboard didn't reflect the passage of the game. I personally think it was a 10/12 point game and the ref certainly seemed a tad one-eyed! I thought we missed out on a couple of key decisions which could easily have swung the scoreboard the other way - I'm talking the two forward passes (one given, one not).