Wallabies to play in open stadium in Wales

[travelling_gerry]

Wallabies to play in open stadium in Wales

David Beniuk, AAP November 6, 2010, 4:00 am

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The Wallabies will need to adapt to greasy UK conditions immediately, with their Test against Wales to be played with the Millennium Stadium roof open.
Both sides need to agree for the roof to be closed and the Welsh preference is for the ground to be left open to the elements.
Rain has been falling in Cardiff over the past couple of days with more predicted for Saturday.
Wales are likely to be trying to nullify Australia's sparkling attack and speed in a move which will could make tight play and set pieces more important.
Australia completed their final training session under a closed roof on Friday afternoon.
"It has been resurfaced, it's not totally firm, it won't be totally fast, there will be moisture so it won't be straightforward and it will take some adaptation from our blokes," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
"We've had some experience during the week of training in the rain and hopefully we're better for that."
Australia captain Rocky Elsom said his players would need to draw on previous UK experience.
"Field position usually plays a bigger role up here," he said.
"You need good rugby around that to support a win but there are small differences like that can make a big differences, knowing when to put it into the corner, knowing when to slow the game down.
"It is a little slower as far as the deck goes. At times you need to focus on playing well when the ball's not being moved quickly."
The Wallabies haven't seen a lot of the injury-depleted Wales side but are bracing themselves for a battle completely unlike their recent Tri-Nations campaign.
"We're always reasonably cautious of Wales when we come here, they've played particularly well for a better part of the past five years<' Elsom said.
"There's a little bit of feeling that we've got to be prepared for anything because we're not going to have the same familiarity with them."
Kick-off is at 2.30pm local time (0130 Sunday AEDT).
Respected commentator Gordon Bray, who called his last game for the Seven Network in Hong Kong last weekend, was given the honour of handing out the Wallabies' jerseys.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...dium-in-wales/

[brokendown gunfighter]

whats the point of having a roof,if it isn't going to be utilised?

[Burgs]

Fairies, still going to get pumped.

Should be: "Hey you fellas, we have a roof and it looks like it's going to be wet, are you happy for us to shut it", not, "We see you have a roof, we'd like it shut please"/"Oh no, we only use that on special occasions, like when we are favourites".

[WF1964]

I thought people enjoyed spectating a bit of mud wrestling.

[GIGS20]

It's not the fact that the game will be wet, nor the fact that it'll be old fashioned UK rugby, it's the fact that Wales use the roof as a weapon in the game.

I hope it pisses down for the whole game and they still get pumped by brilliant attacking rugby, that'd show them. Alternately, I'd love to see us adapt to the wet better than them, smash them in set piece and pilfer all their ball.
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[welshrugbyfan]

C'mon it's our first test match for a long time, new faces in the team as well, we've got to have a little bit of help from the weather.

It just means we won't get pumped by quite as much that's all. Stop worrying about the roof in the long run it won't make a difference.

You guys have way to many flashy backs for Wales to contend with.

[Elf1]

I thought people enjoyed spectating a bit of mud wrestling.

Only Friday nights at the pubs WF

[Boomer]

C'mon it's our first test match for a long time, new faces in the team as well, we've got to have a little bit of help from the weather.

It just means we won't get pumped by quite as much that's all. Stop worrying about the roof in the long run it won't make a difference.

You guys have way to many flashy backs for Wales to contend with.

And what about if you've paid hundreds of quid for a seat?

WRFU - short-sighted

[James]

I reckon this test will be pretty close on the scoreboard at least. We have the backrow to stop Wales from scoring but if its wet and muddy we'll probably waste a lot of our own opportunities. I bet our discipline will be average and we will probably cop a fair few dodgy penalties in the scrum giving Wales the chance to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Wallabies by 8. (23-15).

[welshrugbyfan]

And what about if you've paid hundreds of quid for a seat?

WRFU - short-sighted

I'd pay hundreds of pounds to be sitting in Millenium to see the game rain or not. But in saying that the atmosphere when the roof is closed is great.

[Boomer]

I'd pay hundreds of pounds to be sitting in Millenium to see the game rain or not. But in saying that the atmosphere when the roof is closed is great.

21K seats short of a full house tends to suggest that most people would rather not

[welshrugbyfan]

21K seats short of a full house tends to suggest that most people would rather not

It's only the wallabies, full houses are saved for England and the All Blacks.

[The InnFORCEr]

Wallabies by 8. (23-15).

Not bad James, Wallabies won by 9 (25 - 16)

[James]

Not good enough to save my vcash

[Burgs]

It's only the wallabies, full houses are saved for England and the All Blacks.

Spectacular hand grenade WRF, shame it was wasted though