If Priestland is out..

Who do you pick to start against France?

Better kicking option with SJ.

For his kicking and ability to control a game - Stephen Jones every time.

They'll go with Stephen Jones. For one thing, Hook provides cover for more positions on the bench than Wellies, and for another, the coaching team won't have forgotten how poor Hook was when we played France in this year's Six Nations. You can bet the French coaching team won't have forgotten it.

I'm still hoping there has been some terrible mistake or that Gatland is bluffing. He can't be out!!! In the event that he is I've gone for Jones.

If we want to win the WC we need to have our best player at 10. That is JH not SJ - who is over the hill and has been for quite a while at this level.

The last time we won a match against a top 6 team with Stephen Jones at 10 was February 2009....

I'm sure that most pundits would choose Hook to start.

samuraidragon wrote:The last time we won a match against a top 6 team with Stephen Jones at 10 was February 2009....

And how many of the XV who played against Ireland were in that team?

...then we're in the sheeet.

Would pick Hook if Priestland is out, younger and more creative than Jones and by far a better 10 than he is a 15. There's only so far that Jones' reputed game-management, which isn't as good as it was of old anyway, can take us at this level.

More to the point, how many who played against Ireland were playing in the games we lost during our long losing streak. The answer is quite a lot. EG. when England beat us at home in the 6 nations this year, Roberts and JD2 were the centres, Warburton and Lydiate the flankers, AWJ and B Davies at second row, Shane on the wing, Jones and Phillips at halfback.

And how many were part of the XV who, with Hook at the helm, lost with barely a whimper in Paris this year?

luckless_pedestrian wrote:And how many were part of the XV who, with Hook at the helm, lost with barely a whimper in Paris this year?

Not sure that's the best example as it was a contender for single most embarrassing and sluggish display of the 2000's for Wales as a team, not restricted only to Hook.

Hook looked very good in the warm-up's and the three games we won last 6N, I think Jones is past his best personally.

Roughly the same amount is the answer. But we did win 4/5 games we played with Hook at 10 this year.

To be fair to Hook, we got absolutely smashed at the breakdown in that game, it didnt help that Warburton limped off after 5 minutes. It wouldnt have made a difference who we had at 10 with the slow ball we kept receiving.

With Hook going to Perpignan he may have a point to prove.

Let's just be thankful that if Priestland doesn't make it - and it's by no means certain that he won't - we have two more than competent players ready to step in.

Lets put it this way ...would Wales pick Flood or Wilkinson? Sexpest or OGara? Would they see their recent success as being based on attacking flair or a fear of their oppenents attacking flair?

Surely Hook if you want to keep doing what has worked so far.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Let's just be thankful that if Priestland doesn't make it - and it's by no means certain that he won't - we have two more than competent players ready to step in.

New Zealand would happily borrow one.

I would preferably start with Jones as Hook offers more options off te bench but I would be just as happy if Hook starts.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Let's just be thankful that if Priestland doesn't make it - and it's by no means certain that he won't - we have two more than competent players ready to step in.

Was thinking the same thing, the fact that we're able to feel downhearted that no better than Hook and Jones are available says enough. Besides, I wouldn't say Priestland is the worst injury we could suffer, he only kicked two from five against Ireland. I'd be more worried if Warbs, Roberts or either of the props were missing out.

knows,

I know his kicking wasn't best but two were quite a way out and still hit the post so not miles off etc.

I just think that out of all 3 he has seemed to nring the best out of Roberts for a long time so thats where I am hoping we don't miss him if he doesn't recover.

ahhh, this old chestnut.

i would pick jones and im sure gats will too. priestlands style of play is closer to jones' than hooks. it will be less disruptive to start with wellies.

shame for priestland. lucky for wales that we have two excelent alternatives.

henson can play 10

If he was fit I'd defo start him against France but to his criticism I thought the two that hit the posts weren't the hardest kicks you could take, it's not as if he was taking them from a ridiculous angle near the touchline.

Priestland has come of age but isn't the only one who can link up well with Roberts imo. The latter has worked very well alongside Phillips, JD2 and a host of others, he's using his initiative to the max and is hardly recognisable from the player we used to criticise for not coming into the game enough. I trust Roberts' nose hasn't given him as much trouble as expected?

Also anyone know how Charteris' shoulder is doing?

It's a disappointment that RP wont play but I'm happier with Hook at 10 than SJ . If Hook's longer range kicking hasn't improved then leave the 35 - 50 metre kicks to Halfpenny.

Are there any rumours about who has been standing at 10 during training?

Stellar Key wrote:
It's a disappointment that RP wont play

No one's said he won't play, just that he's sat out training, which seems a sensible enough precaution.

Apologies for the persistent questions but is Priestland still in his sling?

I am quite undecided about this, but pretty sure I would rather Stephen Jones. The only thing I would really worry about is the distance with his punting. Having Priestland kicking for touch has really been a bonus, although he has missed touch occasionally.

I suppose we are quite lucky to have the depth of Priestland, Joenes and Hook.

Knowsit - no, not as far I've heard. Certainly hasn't been pictured in it from yesterday of Monday's photo's.

i voted for Stephen Jones but to be honest theres not much in it

Jones brings his outside backs into the game more and offers better distribution skills IMO and also helps command the forwards and is a better defender yet Hook is better with ball in hand and is more likely to make a break himself and create something from nothing yet he sometimes fails to boss a game and take control like an international 10 should, very hard decision and going off the article on BBC SPORT it sounds as though Priestland has little chance of making the team

If Jones starts, Hook will be on the bench. But if Hook starts, I doubt Jones will be on the bench as he covers only one position. Interesting choice anyway. Could be Scott Williams and Brew!

i'd expect both Jones and Hook to make the 22 if Priestland is out, even if Hook started at 10 and Jones were on the bench, if a winger got injured then HP could move from FB to wing and Hook could slot in at FB with Jones at 10, i cant see Gats opting to leave one out just to bring Brew on the bench

You may be right. Scott Williams covered 10 in one of the warm-ups and did an OK job, but the formulation you suggest has a better combination of flexibility + quality.

Pot Noodle Miner wrote:i'd expect both Jones and Hook to make the 22 if Priestland is out, even if Hook started at 10 and Jones were on the bench, if a winger got injured then HP could move from FB to wing and Hook could slot in at FB with Jones at 10, i cant see Gats opting to leave one out just to bring Brew on the bench

PNM,

I agree and think its a pretty much done deal that if Priestland is out that both Jones and Hook will be involved just a matter of who starts and who's on bench IMO.

If priestland is out....


......we gather some chicken feet, spiders web, pigs trotters, a copy of Ashtons book on wing play, JPR's magical penny, 2 x plastic cups and a handful of peppercorns.


then we fill the cups up with said delicious mixture, and we all chip in for one of us to go out there and throw one cup in each of Parra and Trin-duc's faces.

Sorted.

The vote is 50/50 with 16 votes each.

And im undecided, its a 50/50 for me too.

It is looking less promising listening to Radio Wales this afternoon...

Lets hope he has the un-natural recovery capabilities of Dan Lydiate.

Apparently he is not in a sling, but has not done contact training.

I read a rumour from a well informed poster on Gwlad that they wont risk Priestland if he is not 100%. The management see us going through...!

it could be a lot worse. If Roberts or Warburton were injured, we have no comparable replacements, frankly you could say the same for North, Shane, Adam and Bennett. Jones and Hook are both seasoned internationals and will do a job, maybe a very good job.

samuraidragon wrote:If Jones starts, Hook will be on the bench. But if Hook starts, I doubt Jones will be on the bench as he covers only one position. Interesting choice anyway. Could be Scott Williams and Brew!

think he will, coers 10 and obviously if Hoook moves pos he slots in. In my view he will start anyway with Hook as sub

The way I see it, is that Hook could lose us the game by stealing Roberts' space or throwing an interception pass, or maybe by being a liability in defence, where as Jones won't lose us the game.
Hook could win us the game with some individual brilliance, Jones probably won't.
Jones may be a limited player and not kick the ball out of hand very far, but he distributes well and rarely loses the ball in contact.

It has to be Jones.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if Gatland picks Hook. It's a greater risk playing Hook, but it was a greater risk playing 1/2p over Byrne, it was a greater risk playing Faletau over Ryan. All these risks have paid off handsomely.

If you's had told any Welsh fan 5 weeks ago that we'd be worried about Priestland being injured then theyd of laughed in your face. Amazing how quickly things can change in rugby, but with Jones and hook we have 2 quality replacements anyway.

Messymesina wrote:The way I see it, is that Hook could lose us the game by stealing Roberts' space

That's the problem with Hook at ten - he drifts before he passes and the defence can come up. I'd be happier with Jones running the show than with Hook there.

I'm not really sure where this "jones cant kick the ball far" mantra came from, didnt he drop a goal from about half way against New Zealand?

IronMike wrote:I'm not really sure where this "jones cant kick the ball far" mantra came from, didnt he drop a goal from about half way against New Zealand?

He did miss that kick against Ireland at the end of the game which enabled them to win their grand slam. Most international quality kickers should kick that distance to be honest. Range is a weakness for Jones.

I agree Alyn.

I think, Jones' technique is poor, he kicks the ball too high and therefore too short. He kicks the ball in front of him, from a position facing his body. Compare that for example, with Dan Parks, who kicks the ball almost side on with a lower trajectory and therefore achieves greater distance.

One of the great benefits of the Gatland Gameplan (pick/drive/kick/chase) is that it doesn't matter that much who is at 10. All the outside half needs to do is pop up passes for Roberts and bomb the ball downfield.

I'd go for Hook, simply on the basis that he kicks the ball much further.

The key players will be Adam, Gethin, Warbs, Phillips and Roberts. If they're firing then we'll win, regardless of who plays 10.

gentlemen,i think you're missing the obvious replacement,i give you gethin jenkins,he scores try's from 40 mtrs can kick the length of the field and would add a formidable ball carrying option to our already huge back line! if we need a last gasp drop goal move adam jones to fly half for the last play,you know it makes sense.

mr-bryns-attitude wrote:gentlemen,i think you're missing the obvious replacement,i give you gethin jenkins,he scores try's from 40 mtrs can kick the length of the field and would add a formidable ball carrying option to our already huge back line! if we need a last gasp drop goal move adam jones to fly half for the last play,you know it makes sense.

Cool, Hooky can cover loosehead

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Let's just be thankful that if Priestland doesn't make it - and it's by no means certain that he won't - we have two more than competent players ready to step in.

+1 spot on