All Blacks v Samoa & Tonga v Wales: June 16

[waiopehu oldboy]

The Tonga v Wales (minus their Lions, obviously) match has been on the schedule for some time but once the All Blacks v Samoa game was confirmed the venue & start time were changed to create a double-header at Eden Park:

Tonga v Wales @ 15:25 AEST

All Blacks v Samoa @ 17:35 AEST

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Love the fact that this is a double header.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wales squad:

Forwards: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), James King (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Thomas Young (Wasps).

Backs: Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Steff Evans (Scarlets), Keelan Giles (Ospreys), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (captain, Harlequins), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers), Rhun Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues).

After Tonga in Auckland they'll head up to Apia to play Samoa on June 23. If you're wondering "why Auckland?" (in another context one of the great questions of this or any age ) it's because Wales didn't feel the facilities at Nuku'alofa were up to scratch & asked for a venue transfer.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I would have thought Auckland would have been obvious with the high Islander population!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tonga vs Wales
@ Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

 

[Braveheart81]

Tonga: 15 David Halaifonua, 14 Nafi Tu'itavake, 13 Siale Piutau (c), 12 Vili Tahitu'a, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Latiume Fosita, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Valentino Mapapalangi, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Dan Faleafa, 5 Sitiveni Mafi, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Latu Talakai
Replacements: 16 Suliasi Taufalele, 17 Sila Puafisi, 18 Phil Kite, 19 Sione Tau, 20 Mike Faleafa, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Kali Hala, 23 Kiti Taimani

Is Cooper Vuna the only player to successfully change allegiances under the Olympics rule?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Samoa: 15 Ah See Tuala (Northampton Saints), 14 Albert Nikoro (West Scarborough), 13 Kieron Fonotia (Ospreys), 12 Alapati Leiua (Wasps), 11 Tim Nanai Williams (Chiefs), 10 Tusiata Pisi (Bristol), 9 Kahn Fotualii (Bath), 8 Faifili Levave (Mitsubishi), 7 Jack Lam, (Bristol), 6 Piula Faasalele (Toulouse), 5 Faatiga Lemalu (Saracens), 4 Chris Vui (Worcester Warriors), 3 Census Johnston (Toulouse), 2 Maatulimanu Leiataua (Bayonne), 1 Viliamu Afatia (Racing 92)
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam (Nevers), 17 Nephi Leatigaga, (Piacenza), 18 Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Français), 19 Taiasina Tuifua (Lyon), 20 Alafoti Faosiliva (Worcester Warriors), 21 Auvasa Falealii (Nevers), 22 D'Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe), 23 Ken Pisi (Northampton Saints)

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Good chance for AB to practice their scrummaging under French interpretations

Assistant Referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wales: 15 Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues, 9 caps, 14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues, 46 caps), 13 Scott Williams (Scarlets, 46 caps), 12 Jamie Roberts (c) (Harlequins, 94 caps), 11 Steffan Evans (Scarlets, uncapped), 10 Sam Davies (Ospreys, 6 caps), 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets, 24 caps), 8 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues, 1 cap), 7 Thomas Young (Wasps, uncapped), 6 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets, 8 caps), 5 Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons, 5 caps), 4 Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues, uncapped), 3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps), 2 Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues, 3 caps), 1 Nicky Smith (Ospreys, 12 caps)
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets, uncapped), 17 Wyn Jones (Scarlets, uncapped), 18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues, uncapped), 19 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, 3 caps), 20 Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons, uncapped), 21 Aled Davies (Scarlets, uncapped), 22 Owen Williams (Gloucester, uncapped), 23 Cory Allen (Ospreys, 4 caps)

 

[amirite]

That's a good Samoan team, considering it's missing Filo Paulo. He must be injured.

If I was them I'd look to cap Losi Filipo ASAP before NZ rugby says "all sins are forgiven". He's bloody good.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

ALL BLACKS (15-1): Ben Smith (capt), Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves (16-23): Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Vaea Fifita, T J Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Jordie Barrett.

 

[amirite]

ALL BLACKS (15-1): Ben Smith (capt), Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves (16-23): Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Vaea Fifita, T J Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Jordie Barrett.

Interesting. Is Reed injured?

 

[KOB1987]

Interesting. Is Reed injured?

Yes. Broke his thumb and was always touch and go to be ready for the first Lions test.

 

[Dan54]

I would have thought Auckland would have been obvious with the high Islander population!

Yep and add to that I think about 12 of the Samoan starting team were born and raised in NZ, would imagine a few of the Tongan boys were too, so their families can get to game easier

 

[KiwiM]

Its a little unclear whether the Tonga v Wales game is going to be shown on Fox? It doesn't seem to be on any of the main channels but perhaps it will be one of those red button pop up channels. Anyone have any info on this?

 

[Braveheart81]

Its a little unclear whether the Tonga v Wales game is going to be shown on Fox? It doesn't seem to be on any of the main channels but perhaps it will be one of those red button pop up channels. Anyone have any info on this?

Courtesy of Brumby Jack, it's on BeIn Sports 3.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Is Cooper Vuna the only player to successfully change allegiances under the Olympics rule?

Tim Nanai-Williams also did it but I'm reasonably sure they're the only two.

 

[Braveheart81]

Tim Nanai-Williams also did it but I'm reasonably sure they're the only two.

Oh yeah, how could I forget him!

 

[cyclopath]

Beast All Black back row. Fark!

 

[zer0]

Needs more Matt Todd.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Tonga coming out in their usual red so it must be Wales wearing their alternate kit. Conditions look OK (but it's Auckland so could be pissing down in 10min), crowd not so much but only 5:25 local time so everyone's probably caught up in Auckland's perpetual traffic jam. They'll probably make it in time for the All Blacks, though. All Blacks v Lions, that is