WHILE Sam Warburton believes that Wales could spring a surprise, the general consensus among North Wales’ rugby fraternity is that Saturday will turn out to be an All Black night.
Following report kindly supplied by The Denbighshire Free Press
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Warren Gatland is back in charge as Wales entertain world champions New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday night in the Dove Men Series, but local rugby followers are fearful that the All Blacks may hand out a hammering should the poor Welsh form of the autumn continue.
Under the stewardship of Rob Howley, Wales’ opening international of the autumn series ended in a toothless 26-12 reverse at the hands of Argentina a fortnight ago, while last Friday night, Wales slipped up 26-19.
Former Ruthin Rugby Club scrum half Rhys Hughes is predicting a real Welsh hammering.
“(It will be) 74-9 to New Zealand,” he said. “They are in a league of their own!”
Llangollen coach Ian Morris said: “If we keep it to within 25 points, then we will have done well. “The big thing for me harks back to 2005. We won the Grand Slam and the next season we think we are Big Time Charlies. We think we have got a right to win any game. But Argentina are only going to get better and Samoa are always going to be an awful side to play. There were a few there on Friday who were found wanting and they bottled out of it.”
Morris is unsure whether the return of Gatland into the hotseat on Saturday will have any sort of positive effect on Wales’ performance, but he remains fearful of the Welsh set piece. “We will get ripped apart if the lineouts and scrums are not functioning,” he warned.
Clwb Rygbi Dinbych’s mini-juniors section chairman David Jones feels that the regional game in Wales needs a major overhaul if the national side is to become competitive again.
“I like everyone hope Wales get a result,” said Jones. “But I'm realistic and I fear the All Blacks might run up a cricket score. The WRU need to take a look at themselves, regional rugby is a mess and that shows in the national team.” Jones believes that New Zealand will win by 15 points.
Ruthin Rugby Club skipper Peter Harrison is off to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, but he is pessimistic about Wales’ hopes of springing a shock. “I think it will be a 20-point win for New Zealand,” he said. “Wales should raise their game and New Zealand at home, we shouldn’t need any incentive I am going down for both New Zealand and Australia and I will be cheering the lads on regardless.”
The same downbeat mood is also being demonstrated by Clwb Rygbi Dinbych webmaster Sam Jones. “My prediction is for Wales to lose to the All Blacks 36-9,” he stated. “(It’s) not very patriotic, but I’m afraid without Adam Jones, Wales will lose out at the scrum and against the World Cup holders, Wales will need men of his calibre.”
Jones believes there are a couple of reasons to be cheerful, though. “They (New Zealand) weren't error free against the Scots, so who knows?! Maybe our towering wingers can get going and correct my prediction!”
The last meeting between the great rugby rivals came in November 2010, when the All Blacks ran out 37-25 winners at the Millennium Stadium.
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