'If Lydiates out' - Who would be your replacement?

Fairly straight forward, if its worse case scenario who would you bring out?

Easy one for me Rob - Delve.

But I reckon it would be either JT or Turnbull, I think a lot would depend on R Jones' injury as well.

Travel wise...Delve, would make more sense. Turnbull is a no for me now, he's been poor for the Scarlets the start of the season. I'd have said Martyn (yes I know he's a 7 not a 6), but he's broken his arm. So I reckon it'll be between JT and McCusker.

What's the ruling? You can bring a replacement up until the end of the group stage, but then must settle on your squad, with no changes, thereafter?

In which case, as long as it means Lydiate isn't ruled out of the rest of the tournament, I would bring Josh Turnbull. Gatland said that an extra back row option would mean openside would be considered and, with Martyn Williams injured, it rules him out.

Turnbull is an excellent 7 who is big enough and does enough ball carrying and tackling to play 6. And he adds another cover at second row, in the same way Ryan Jones does. I think his versatility is what is needed at the moment as, with Danny injured, the back row should be Ryan Jones and Faletau, don't mind in which position. So he'll, hopefully by displacing Powell, cover the bench at best.

The only other real option is Jon Thomas. And maybe Delve, though I think it would be more likely he'd go for Thomas. I will say I thought Thomas had a great end to the season, and has started well for the Ospreys as well, so actually, despite being one of his biggest critics over the years, I wouldn't mind him in there. Delve is dismissed for obvious reasons, unfortunately, though it would be a really tantalising prospect to have him involved with Wales again. Won't happen though.

But, personally, I'd have Turnbull over the lot. I'd imagine that's who he'd go for as well, due to being an openside who can cover the back and second rows. That's what you want, as there isn't another starter back at home who could replace Lydiate (maybe Delve...?).

miaow,

With regards the ruling I read something early about England calling up Waldrom.

If he is only considered as temp cover just in case then he cannot play for 48hrs but once he plays he then becomes added to the squad and the injured players has to be removed from squad.

If there is any chance that Lydiate could return for a semi final Id keep him in the side, I'd put Powell on the blindside.

Alyn,

Hopefully he will b back for Fiji or quarter at least, nothing has come as yet saying how bad it is.

Even if not bad I wouldn't risk him against Namibia

Wait, so, let's talk hypothetically for a second.

We remove Lydiate from the squad for the next two games, and pick one of Delve, Turnbull or Thomas, whether they play or not, but let's just say they come off the bench for argument's sake.

Let's just say that we get to the QF and Lydiate is fit again. Can we drop the new player from the squad, and reinstate Lydiate? Could we do that at any time, say the semis or later? I felt there was some rule about not having new players/changing the squad after the group stage? Any help?

Not the way I understood it, once the temp player plays then he is part of the squad.

May just be my interpretation but thats how I believe it is.

You cant reinstate a player who is sent home injured

Yeah, okay, he's part of the squad, but can he not then be demoted/removed in order to reinstate the now fit again injured player? Or can you only remove a squad player through injury?

If that is the case, I wouldn't remove Lydiate. He's far too important, and, with Ryan back, we have enough to get through the next two games...hopefully.

If Ryan is not quite ready for 80 mins AWJ has played 6 so he could cover from the bench or the other way around, we should not sent for a replacement until we know more.

We should bring in Tupuric as at least that way we would have a proper seven if sam gets injured. look at the Ireland game - if Pocock had played it could easily have been a different result. Maybe a back row of Tupuric, Sam and Falatau would be good. With that back row and Gethin in the team we would be lethal at the breakdown.

deadfred wrote:We should bring in Tupuric as at least that way we would have a proper seven if sam gets injured. look at the Ireland game - if Pocock had played it could easily have been a different result. Maybe a back row of Tupuric, Sam and Falatau would be good. With that back row and Gethin in the team we would be lethal at the breakdown.

Delve

In Australia, covers 6 and 8

Turnbull. And Tipuric instead of Powell, but that's another Fred.

I would like to see Delve

mm,

Despite fear of being shouted down from some posters I would have had Delve there in first place instead of buggy boy.

I wouldn't risk sending for a replacement until we know more and maybe see how Jones goes as well.

Lydiate injury is a worry but with Gethin back we have somebody who's work rate is immense defensively.

Turnbull or Tipuric, we are lucky to have so many young great backrow players at the moment

Very good point about Gethin, but I think that, whilst Gethin is brilliant at the breakdown, he doesn't bring the ball carrying of tackling ability that Lydiate does. It's good to have Gethin back, but for me, and I've been saying it for the last year, Lydiate is our most important forward, and on a par with Roberts as most important player.

Still nothing on Lydiate ?

miaow wrote:Very good point about Gethin, but I think that, whilst Gethin is brilliant at the breakdown, he doesn't bring the ball carrying of tackling ability that Lydiate does. It's good to have Gethin back, but for me, and I've been saying it for the last year, Lydiate is our most important forward, and on a par with Roberts as most important player.

*cough* Warburton *cough*

*cough* Aam Jones *cough*


If Lydiate is out we need a specialist 6...but we dont have one

Turnball and Tipuric are 7s
Delve and JT are now 8s


If only Andreus Pretorious was WQ now, he is the only 6 in Wales who is comparable to Lydiate.


I think JT should be called up (if Lydiate is out for good), JT has experience, decent form and his defense is good (though we lose the ball carrying). Delve may work at 6 though, but he has little experience, maybe play Faletau at 6 and then Delve/R.Jones/JT at 8.

wales606 wrote:I think JT should be called up (if Lydiate is out for good), JT has experience, decent form and his defense is good (though we lose the ball carrying). Delve may work at 6 though, but he has little experience, maybe play Faletau at 6 and then Delve/R.Jones/JT at 8.

I think moving Faletau to 6 would be the best option and bringing in Delve. However i'm not sure that Gatland really likes Delve, or at least it seems that way. I think he would prefer bringing Jonathan Thomas.

6. Faletau
7. Warburton
8. Delve

To me that backrow has plenty of potential.

JT for me, he's looking good and always gets too much criticism for me - With Toby and Warburton he would be fine IMO - :thumbsup

wales606 wrote:
*cough* Warburton *cough*

*cough* Aam Jones *cough*

I'd say that Adam Jones isn't; he showed against Samoa that he can have bad days in the scrum and is not a guaranteed scrum winner, and in both games he struggled with the pace at the breakdown; most easily shown just prior to Hougaard's try. To be honest, whilst he is excellent in the scrum usually, probably the best technical TH in the world, if not the strongest, he seems off the pace, and I fail to see how Mitchell could have done worse than Adam in the Samoa game. Usually, when on form, he's important, with his lifting and rucking as well, but I don't think he's integral to the game plan, not as integral as Lydiate and Roberts.

Warburton, it's difficult to argue with, and he's probably on a par with Lydiate, but I feel, whilst Warburton gets the plaudits, I'm more of a fan of the understated Lydiate and I think Danny does more tackling and more carrying than Warburton. Probably my favourite Wales player over the last twelve months. Only game below the exemplary standard was against England in the 6N where he was lined up out of the game by the English fat row.



I'm coming round to the thinking of Delve now though. If Lydiate is replaced, and therefore cannot come back if he returns from injury, we need a first team player, and for me that's Delve, even though Powell with probably start.

Delve IMO has always been an out an out No8 which way have worked against him as well.

If he was drafted in (which don't think he would be) then I would move Toby to No6 Delve at 8 warburton 7

I suspect it'll be Delve, but with Powell, Jones and TF in the squad I wonder whether that's the right balance.

I would have thought Gatland wouldn't want Warburton to have to play each and every match, so perhaps a 7 makes sense. Tipuric?

fES,

I hope your right but suspect your not, Delve didn't appear at all in the warm up games whilst JT and Turnbull did.

Plus both those can play 2nd row and JT has played 7 for us before.

i would use ryan at 6.

we are bit light on backrowers but i wouldnt send for anyone just yet. hopefully lydiate will make a swift recovery

If Lydiate is out for the quarter final we had all better get on our knees and start praying as no one in the country is good enough to replace him.

RubyGuby wrote:JT for me, he's looking good

No he isn't. He needs a haircut.

If it is JT they might as well all come home, now.

Glas a du wrote:If it is JT they might as well all come home, now.

Thats a bit harsh Glas - JT has had to play in a very stodgy and limited Wales back row for a long time, alongside Toby and Warburton I think he would be fine. None of us have seen Delve for a long time.

Tipuric or Turnbull, it really is that easy.

Why would you take JT to bring down the average ability?

We need Turnbull and JT and send Powell home with an ingrowing toe nail injury - Others on here are also suggesting JT - Tuperic has great potential but I'd look at McCusker before him. Turnbull has yet to convince me consistently. It's Gatlands choice and I know he will go for JT if that helps.

It's a Kiwi conspiracy!

Look at the Scarlets v Blues match in CCS last season and tell me who came out on top.

So you want to base it on one match? - Look we're entitled to have different opinions, ours differ, move on - Ryan will be first choice replacement for Lydiate anyways

Looks like Delve is unavailable due to knee op, according to the BBC story. Strange!

Strange! Definately not Jason Strange

Strange has got two hopes of appearing in this WC, Bob Hope and no hope. Bob might do a job at full back.

JT has had a storming start to the season, I have said this in another thread. He is looking very sharp in attach and defense and has a huge work rate. I just hope he maintains this for the rest of the season. I would call him up as he is a six, but can also cover 8 and second row.

In fairness, TBJ9625, it's easier to look good when the sides you're facing are missing their international players.

Luckless, I understand your point, but did you see the Leinster game? You can hardly call that an easy team to beat, even with their internationals gone and he was imense.
Should of had MOM in my opinion. I just think at the moment he's gutted he didn't get to the RWC and is trying to prove a point. If he does go, I just hope he continues this good form on his return

Not a big JT fan but out of those available I guess it will be JT due to:

a. His experience.

b. His ability to cover all back row slots and 2nd row

I'm almost certain it'll be Jonathan Thomas, but I wouldn't be at all confident if he gets game time, even if he has started the season well.

lp,

I would be more happy with JT there than Powell or certainly AWJ or Davies

According to the Argus, Lydiate is looking like he could be fit for the QF (should we make it), so I doubt anybody will be called up.

according to WRU article, Lydiate has ankle ligament trouble and the medical team are going to have to wait for a few days for it to settle down before they can properly assess how long he'll be out for.

1. lets all just hope, pray and cant we get the argus/echo to do a picture of lydiates ankle for us all to rub and pray for like the sun did with beckhams toe a few years back?! Id feel a lot better pretending to have an impact!

2. Tipuric or McCusker (Delve is injured, Turnbulls had a bad start to the season and Gats has said we'll look at 7 cover should we need a backrow replacement, Williams has a broken arm).

Tipuric played in one of the warm-up games. What size is the guy? He seemed a bit short of physical presence compared to the other forwards.