By Nick Powell
Wales, Ireland, England and France travel to Rugby Championship nations New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina while the two surprise packages of last year’s World Cup clash as Scotland travel to Japan.
Unfortunately, the 2016 Six Nations provided little evidence that there was flair on the agenda and was described many as the worst Championship in years in terms of its quality and entertainment value.
But is there any hope of a recovery? Can Wales stun new-look New Zealand? Can once again injury-hit Ireland finally perform on tour against a dangerous South African side? Can England translate their Six Nations and European Club form to heal the World Cup wounds down under? Are France going to join the Pumas on an upward trajectory towards 2019? And can the hosts of that year’s World Cup further prove they can beat the best, as Scotland look to keep up their improving form in Japan? I’ll attempt to answer these questions in a series of articles, starting with a Wales’ trip to New Zealand.
Wales in New Zealand
Whilst Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953, they have come mighty close. The controversy of 1973, the thriller in the 2003 World Cup, New Zealand’s autumn scare the following year, and the southern-hemisphere sides epic comeback in 2014 to name a few. All were close, but the reality is, all were won by the All Blacks.
So how is it going to pan out? Wales are a very good side and I do believe they’ll cause New Zealand problems but I just can’t see them winning but more importantly I can’t see New Zealand losing. The hope for Wales is the fact that New Zealand may well have a shaky start with players bedding in in the first game, they can also take positives from the fact that England, without their best players who were in the Premiership Final, went to New Zealand and were only denied victory by an agonisingly late try in Auckland in the first test of the 2014 tour. So can New Zealand by challenged over 3 games? Yes they can. Can they be beaten? Probably not I'm afraid, but I do hope I'm wrong.
New Zealand to win series 3-0
They say that the knock-out stage of a
major tournament separates the men from the boys. In which case, on the
evidence of last year’s World Cup, the Southern Hemisphere teams are men and
the Northern Hemisphere are most certainly not.
Danny Care tries to hug Dan Biggar
Wales, Ireland, England and France travel to Rugby Championship nations New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina while the two surprise packages of last year’s World Cup clash as Scotland travel to Japan.
Unfortunately, the 2016 Six Nations provided little evidence that there was flair on the agenda and was described many as the worst Championship in years in terms of its quality and entertainment value.
But is there any hope of a recovery? Can Wales stun new-look New Zealand? Can once again injury-hit Ireland finally perform on tour against a dangerous South African side? Can England translate their Six Nations and European Club form to heal the World Cup wounds down under? Are France going to join the Pumas on an upward trajectory towards 2019? And can the hosts of that year’s World Cup further prove they can beat the best, as Scotland look to keep up their improving form in Japan? I’ll attempt to answer these questions in a series of articles, starting with a Wales’ trip to New Zealand.
Wales in New Zealand
Whilst Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953, they have come mighty close. The controversy of 1973, the thriller in the 2003 World Cup, New Zealand’s autumn scare the following year, and the southern-hemisphere sides epic comeback in 2014 to name a few. All were close, but the reality is, all were won by the All Blacks.
Wales gave New Zealand a big scare in 2014 before the All Blacks pulled away
New Zealand used
to be the side that had an aura, but couldn’t win World Cups. However, their
last game was their second straight World Cup win and they are rapidly building
an aura that they simply cannot be beaten. And especially not by Wales,
Scotland and Ireland. Whom have managed a grand total of 0 wins against them in
their last 79 attempts (yes, you read that right). The World Cup was truly eye-opening,
no-one got near them. Every time you thought a team was in the game against
them they’d go up the gears and make sure of a convincing win, whether it was
the 38 unanswered points that turned the French game from a battle into a
slaughter or wiping out Argentina’s hopes with an incredibly dominant second
half, they just looked like they’d win. McCaw, Smith, Nonu and Carter are all
gone, but look at some of talent coming through in Super rugby: Elliot Dixon,
Ardie Savea, Damien McKenzie, but to name a few.
The world champions have lost just 3 of their last 64 tests, with just 1 loss out of 26 against Northern Hemisphere opposition.
For Wales, the Six Nations and domestic season were quite disappointing. There was no major
cause for concern, but equally no cause for celebration. The recent defeat
against England was where the concern lies. But for a few players, Wales were
at full strength, England were missing nearly 10 first team players it could be
argued. They started well but shipping five tries and rarely threatening
against that team should be worrying. Wales looked really mediocre. If you are
mediocre, New Zealand will rip you to shreds. Wales have not win in five
attempts away from Cardiff and whilst they were definitely in contention for
the Six Nations title they have been producing irritatingly basic rugby at the
moment, which just won’t work.
They still have some World Class players, Captain Sam Warburton, Dan Biggar on his day, Jonathan Davies and Taulape Faletau without doubt and you could definitely argue a few more. Faletau’s go-forward and Warburton’s work-rate need to be near their best if they are to have any chance and Davies will need to threaten to break through and produce the kind of form that made Wales and the Lions such a fantastic sides in 2012 and 2013.
They still have some World Class players, Captain Sam Warburton, Dan Biggar on his day, Jonathan Davies and Taulape Faletau without doubt and you could definitely argue a few more. Faletau’s go-forward and Warburton’s work-rate need to be near their best if they are to have any chance and Davies will need to threaten to break through and produce the kind of form that made Wales and the Lions such a fantastic sides in 2012 and 2013.
So how is it going to pan out? Wales are a very good side and I do believe they’ll cause New Zealand problems but I just can’t see them winning but more importantly I can’t see New Zealand losing. The hope for Wales is the fact that New Zealand may well have a shaky start with players bedding in in the first game, they can also take positives from the fact that England, without their best players who were in the Premiership Final, went to New Zealand and were only denied victory by an agonisingly late try in Auckland in the first test of the 2014 tour. So can New Zealand by challenged over 3 games? Yes they can. Can they be beaten? Probably not I'm afraid, but I do hope I'm wrong.
New Zealand to win series 3-0
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