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'They have nothing to lose': Former All Blacks' warning ahead of Welsh Test
Former Blues captain James Parsons has warned the All Blacks that Wales have “nothing to lose” ahead of their crunch Test clash at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
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After coming fifth in the 2022 Six Nations, winning just one Test against Scotland, Wales defied some expectations to win in South Africa earlier this year.
During the July internationals, South Africa won the first Test by three-points at Loftus Versfeld, before Wales recorded an upset in the second Test 13-12.
While the reigning World Cup champions won the third match by a comprehensive margin, and wrapped up the series, Wales showed what they’re capable of.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, former All Blacks hooker Parsons said Wales showed that they’ve “got enough there” during that Test series.
“We know (Wayne) Pivac will be really clear, and he’ll know he’ll have to beat them with attack and bring that rush defence,” Parson said.
“There has to be a sense of belief in that camp. There’s no expectation for them to win, they have nothing to lose. It just is weighed probably in their favour at the moment.
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“If there’s ever a time, you have to look at this season, if there’s ever a time they have to believe in themselves.”
Wales coach Jonathan Humphreys has downplayed any 'weak All Blacks' jibes as they search for their first win over them in 69 years. #WALvNZL https://t.co/VwZ6lrlyuZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2022
The All Blacks are facing some selection headaches ahead of this weekend’s Test, with captain Sam Cane and Test veteran Dane Coles having been ruled out.
Another challenge for All Blacks selectors will be replacing star lock Brodie Retallick, who received a ban after being red carded in the 66th minute against Japan.
New Zealand are also under immense pressure to win this weekend after a disappointing, or far from clinical, display against the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo last Saturday.
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Six-time Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall believes Wales could potentially “steal” the Test if the scores are close late.
Rugby Australia have "talked to the Kiwis" about fielding an ANZAC team to take on the British and Irish Lions in 2025. #ANZAC #Wallabies #AllBlacks https://t.co/QXt2PfAgWL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2022
“They’ll get a little bit more of a stronger All Blacks team but they’ve had four losses this year, they’re not playing consistently in the areas that we think they should be every single week,” Hall said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“If it gets tight and they give themselves an opportunity… give themselves an opportunity to win that Test match, 10-15 minutes to go, put all that pressure back on the All Blacks that’s been given to them all year and they could steal one.”
It was almost a year ago to the day when the All Blacks last took the field at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and they’ll hope that history repeats this weekend.
It was a dominant display from the men in black, who recorded a comfortable 54-16 win.
After the Test against Wales, the All Blacks will finish their end-of-year tour with blockbuster matches against Scotland at Murrayfield, and England at Twickenham.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments