RWC 2015 QF 1 South Africa v Wales

WC 2015 M35 Australia v Wales

RWC 2015 M21 Wales v Fiji

RWC 2015 M16 England v Wales

RBS Six Nations 2013 - Round 3

Six Nations 2013 - Round 2: SCO v ITA | FRA v WAL | IRE v ENG

2012 - That’s a Wrap.

This is little catch up, more than a retrospective. Real life caught up with both Ferdy and me post-RWC2011. Posts became less frequent, and I even missed a few games late in the year for the stat graphics.

Below are the game sheets for the final Bledisloe Test against Australia, and the November Tests against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England.

My own views about a couple of the games are here, but hey, let’s look back happily on a pretty solid year as World Champions ... probably the best year by a RWC-winning team following their win.

We are still the best side in the world, and have a more than solid foundation to build on as we head into next year’s exciting 3 Test series in NZ against France, then the Rugby Championship. We should also look forward to an awesome series across the ditch as Dingo Deans’ Wallabies take on Warren Gatland’s Lions team.

For now though, if you wish to trawl the numbers from any of this years All Black Tests, search through our blog ... or if you want the whole lot on one hit (you stat slut, you), then here is a PDF that compiles them all.

As we have said before, we are happy for all these to be shared and circulated amongst fans, though Ferdy and I would appreciate either a credit for our site or a link to where they originated.

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Its really cool to see on our blog analytics that rugby fans are coming here from all over the world. We’ll try to keep up the good work in 2013 when game stats for the Six Nations and NZ Super Teams will reappear.

Meri Kirihimete, and a Happy 2013!

 

Australia v Wales - Second Test

Wallabies v Wales and Boks v England

2012 TESTS First Matches

Test Match Fever! Here we go ... a revised version of the graphic I did last week, now showing the (expected) walk on teams for all three of this weekend’s top tier Test matches: New Zealand v Ireland, Australia v Wales, and South Africa v England.

Each game has the starting XV lined up in their positions, and each player has their number of Test caps indicated so you can see just who is out of their depth (I’m looking at you Bradley Barritt!). Mind you, Sean ‘The Tullow Tank’ O’Brien is also up against Our Richie.

Check it out. Wallabies looking better than the team that lost to Scotland, but they better front, because this Welsh team is tight. Will teh Boks have enough class to take out a rebuilding and ever-confident England?

Predictions: I hate this bit, but ... NZ by 20 points, Wales by 7, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Boks by 15.

Jinx!

2012 Six Nations - Wales v France

2012 Six Nations - Wales v Italy

2012 Six Nations - England v Wales

Six Nations: Wales v Scotland

My time-management policies meant this was the game of the round I watched, and it was a good match. If you look at these stata (for all the good that does) the game actually looks a lot closer than the scoreline indicates. Those moments of self-destruction that produced two yellow cards for the Scots maybe cost them the game? They certainly showed a lot more creativity and determination than when I saw them play here in Wellington against Argentina during the World Cup. That game was a treatise in how to mess things up.

Still think Wales are looking pretty solid in defense – for all Sotland’s endeavour, they did find it hard to get over the advantage line, and gain ground. But with Measts likeHamilton, Strokosch, Gray and Denton, they don’t lack the will.

Can’t be easy watching for you Scottish fans, eh? But there is real improvement there I thought ... maybe I have been too hard on Andy ‘Growler’ Robinson, maybe its slowly coming together. There’s no way he’ll go easy on them that is for sure.

Certainly, rebuilding and gaining experience is a watch word across most of the Six Nations’ squads, and Scotland are no different.

Wales still look the most composed and comfortable team though. Hard to see them not winning the title.

2012 Six Nations - Ireland v Wales

This was always going to be the best game of the opening round, and it delivered. Both teams were superb in their intent, and the game’s intensity meant both the Irish and Welsh sides had to at times bring themselves back into it.

Maybe Wales stumbled a little. They seemed to dominate possession in the first half, and Ireland looked to kick away the ball too much, but what a twisted plot this match delivered. After some genius back play on display from both sides – Bowe, Kearney & Trimble for Irelnd, North, Roberts and J Davies for Wales – it came done to a last minute penalty.

Another epic, decided once again by that Panto Villain, Mr Wayne Barnes. I do not think that was a spear tackle, neither of them were vertical to start with ... it was another bad call in the heat of the moment by him. And it could decide the Six Nations?

Ireland have to travel away to play England, Italy and France ... a killer draw. Wales go to Twickers, but at least host France in Cardiff. This surely gives them a wee edge now.

Constantly feel that when I watch these two teams I am looking at the next Lions squad running about. O’Connell was immense today! Should Declan Kidney be the Lions coach? I think he should be.

Thanks to both teams. And thanks to Sky TV and ESPN because in 2012 I finally get to watch HD coverage of the 6N on my telly, without forking out for the Rugby Channel. About bloody time!

Quarter Final 1: Ireland v Wales

Quarter Finalist Preview: Wales

Ferdy says:

Wales have been so good in this world cup with one of the hardest pools. They should have beaten South Africa (we dare not mention the name of that *red head* ref). Warren Gatland has been able to do what several coaches for Wales have not been able to do previously...build some cohesion from all that raw talent within the team, both on and off the field.

Under a strict regime that involves Scandanavian saunas and zero tolerance on alcohol, they have come out in this world cup with extraordinary fitness levels. A mixture of young and old talent, I'm picking Wales to take Ireland very close this weekend. Close ... but no cigar.

Ferdy’s pick: losing quarter finalists.

Slugso says:

Wales, well they too are on the rise, and looking comfortable with the running space game they always aspired to ... but its been raining here in Wellington all week, and may not be the try fest we’d love to see. Though give George North some space and I am sure he can aquaplane.

Both teams have had similar levels of set piece success so far, and won one physical game each against 3N teams. However, given the wet, I think Ireland can nudge this by playing a straighter, simpler game to get field position. I keep agreeing with the Boss!

Pool D: Wales v Fiji

Pool D: Wales v Namibia

Wow. A tad one sided that: those pie charts don’t show much blue possession, and you can see that Wales were getting building consents granted they were down in that Namibian 22 so much of in the second half.

A mismatch? Yeah ... nah. That was Namibia’s fourth match in fourteen seventeen days. That is ridiculous, considering those four matches were against Fiji, Samoa, South Africa and Wales. The IRB has to do something about this, its bullshit.

Namibia played with heart and passion for 80 minutes every game, but no preparation with their resources is going to allow them to compete on that schedule. The NZRU and All Blacks would never tolerate four games in fourteen seventeen days.

Personally, I rate their Captain Jacques Burger, I am working on a Minnows (though I hate that word) XV, and he is the Captain, first name down. Loved his attitude in post-match interviews, and the the fact that every time a ruck disassembled he was at the bottom, and evry last ditch Namibian tackler was often him. Legend, bro.

Wales. Well, its a bonus point. They should go through. But that may just flatter to deceive. We’ll see.

Pool D: Wales v Samoa

Another wrestle, and Samoa go so close. Check the numbers (here and at ruckingoodstats.com) ... it was real close! No one can ever talk about Samoa over achieving, or punching above their weight anymore: they are in the tent, they are at the table and frankly are probably better than their ranking of 10.

Sure there was a bit of guess the rule interpretation with Rolland there, but this was another physical game, battle out in the middle of the park.

Wales will be relieved - it was close and not pretty, but they are getting it right, and Priestland, Roberts, Warburton and AW Jones were legends.

How good is Kahn Fotuali’i? He is class ... a player that kept Andy Ellis as No. 2 halfback at the Crusaders. Manu Samoa, you rock, and your fans rock. Go get those Bokke now!