THE COMPARISON: Wales vs New Zealand, Sat 17:15

Once again we use the modern wonder that is "a table" to analyse the strengths of two teams and pick a winner. 

	All Blacks		Wales
Back three	It's a new back three for NZ, with Cory Jane leaving Sweet Valley High to play international rugby.  They at least have a full-back playing at full-back though.	8	7	James Hook changes position again and the wings are populated by Shane and Halfpenny - combined height 4'10". They will be peppered and it will be a struggle
Midfield	Conrad Smith is class.  Ma'a Nonu would be class if he had ever passed a ball is his life.	9	8	Shanklin and Roberts have the potential to be the best pairing in Europe.  FACT.  That still doesn't make them good enough for today.  ANOTHER FACT.
Half-back	Is Carter injured or not?  Will it matter? Probably not.  New scrum-half could be a weak link.	9	8	Gareth Cooper is decent enough but has never truly fulfilled his early potential.  Stephen Jones in class but a little one-paced and that pace is "ambling" these days
Front row	Wild West sherriff Wyatt Crockett has travelled through time to fill the loose-head berth.  Won't be allowed to use his gun, however.	8	6	It's official that Wales has only one tight-head prop and when he is injured everything turns to rat-shit.  Like now.
Locks	Brad Thorn once played rugby league and Jason Eaton is inexperienced.  Not sure which is worse.	8	9	Alun-Wyn is probably the best one out there on Saturday.  Luke Charteris is definitely the thinnest, despite that Wales still have the edge.
Back row	It contains Richie McCaw - end of conversation.	10	8	Ryan Jones is pretty good, Martyn Williams is very good.  Neither of them are Richie McCaw.  Andy Powell is what he is.
Number of Welsh speakers in the team	0. Lack of ability to speak the ancient Celtic lingo means a low score in this category	0	10	At least 2. Being the second best rugby team i the world can only get you so far, being able to pronounce Rhosllanerchrugog correctly is the real clincher.
TOTALS	It was all going so well until the end...	52	56	What a late recovery that was.  Wales to win!

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