Wales
23
0
New Zealand
55
The All Blacks will be out to turn around their patchy recent form when they begin their European travels against Wales. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 2:15am (AEDT).
All Blacks coach Ian Foster made 11 changes from the team that scraped a narrow win over Japan last weekend while Wales give a debut to exciting winger Rio Dyer and have a new captain leading the team.
No.9 Aaron Smith is set to become the most capped back in All Blacks history in his 113th Test as he returns to the team. The three Barrett brothers missed the Tokyo game due to the death of their grandmother and have returned, while only one forward from the Japan game – Shannon Frizell – has held his spot.
“Playing Wales on the road always represents an exciting challenge,” said Foster.
“We have a number of players returning to the side and we know we will need to play with a high intensity against this physical Welsh team.”
Dyer, 22, gets his debut ahead of injured Josh Adams while Justin Tipuric gets the captaincy with Dan Biggar sidelined through injury.
Coach Wayne Pivac has welcomed back no.15 Leigh Halfpenny, hooker Ken Owens and flanker Tipuric after long injury absences.
“New Zealand is going to play with speed, we know that,” Pivac said. “The roof is closed so we’re looking forward to a fast, open game and I think Justin [Tipuric] brings that extra bit of speed to the No. 6 jersey. So the combination [of Tipuric, Reffell and Faletau] we think will work well.”
Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand in 69 years and the trend is likely to continue in Cardiff.
Game information
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 2:15am (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Japan $4.10 All Blacks $1.25 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Wales
Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric (captain), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Reserves: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lews, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.
All Blacks
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ione, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tuou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
LoL. It's always Foster when they lose and Schmidt when they win.
thebleedingobvious
Roar Rookie
I’m seeing more of Joe Schmidt’s structure to earn the right, bringing more control and cohesion than did Ian Foster’s ad hoc play wide from go, impose our style on you, which didn’t work very well from cold starts against fresh defence. Along with Jason Ryan’s obvious difference making, these guys saved Foster’s bacon at the expense of Razor’s opportunity, since it’s his hand picked right hand man that deserves a lot of the credit for the forward platform performing more like it should. If the players will just trust their defence a bit more, maybe we’ll start giving away a few less needless undisciplined penalties, another reason to stick with this 23 all tests to WC and develop that greater accuracy.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
The result was never in question as the red dragons usually lose by 15-25 points against MIB.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Time for Cane to hang up the boots!
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Walws had leaky defence in second half. Allblacks #10 ( Mounga) and #9 ( Smith) set out most of the damage for the ABs onto the Welsh.
Englishbob
Guest
The 1/4 of me that's Welsh was firmly clutching at straws JD. Good win, roll over Scotland next week for me :thumbup:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Convincing win. Better in most facets of play. Faster
Highlander
Roar Guru
disappointingly soft up front from Wales
Sam.T
Roar Rookie
Surprised by that score line. This had more to do with Wales just being pretty bad. No direction in attack. Wales just seem stuck in first gear. First game jitters I guess. ABs need to seriously work on their mental game once they get ahead. Too many times they conceded a try or penalty right after they scored. Past AB teams would of pushed ahead. That wont cut it against England.
Adzy
Roar Rookie
Good win, just need to tighten up defence and penalties. Made it easy for Wales at times. Still perplexed at Foster's timing of subs
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Rest will do him good. Cane and Papalii a good one two punch.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Won’t be the last time we see that
Highlander
Roar Guru
Yep
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Bad performance next week then I guess
Highlander
Roar Guru
Boom Just too good tonight
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
Welsh had no answer to the tight power and muscle of the ABs pack. They looked sluggish and outgunned. They will need to find some power in the tight 5 from somewhere else they will never really threaten to win a world cup. There was little need for the ABs to go wide that often as their forwards dominated.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Will this be the tour that ends Cane or will he be back in the test side upon his return.
WEST
Roar Guru
Great job ABs! :thumbup:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
It’s like he really suits that position…
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Whole loose trio excellent I thought