Important questions for Wales fans...

I was going to call the Real Radio sports phone in because I think my questions are quite important.

1) Matthew Rees is only missing the tournament because of injury, but in a sad twist of fate I don't think anyone would revoke the captaincy from Sam Warburton once the tournament is finished. What interests me more is that I haven't heard anything on TV or radio about this. Does anyone think it should go back to Rees once he's back in the Welsh setup?

2) I can't believe that we have 3 quality 10's to choose from. Wales's strength in depth has developed so much recently. 2 british & Irish Lions & grandslam winners and a youngster performing out of his skin. What I am wondering is what will happen down at the Scarlets after the world cup? Priestland has had some great games there at 15 but why move him back there when he is doing so well on the international stage? Would Jones play a bit of 12 now that King is gone? I doubt it when you have JD2 and Scott Williams playing so well. I guess Priestland will play 15 until Stoddart recovers as there aren't many options other than that.

1) Ive thought about this quite a lot and in truth I liked Ryan Jones, I like Matthew Rees and I like Warburton, so I have no idea what Gatland will do.

My only reasoning is at hooker your stuck in the tight and involved in a real battle, where as at Openside you can see whats happening all over the pitch and are in the middle of everything, so have a far better view point from which to make decisions.

Though I still think the Welsh captaincy is still a massive burden to put on young shoulders, yes it's fun while were winning but Wales are never consistent and we tend to go from one extreme to the other. Do we really want to be pummelling Warburton during the next 6 Nations if we have a poor one?
We haven't seen Warburton under REAL pressure from an angry Welsh public yet, and I wonder if he is too nice to put up with it.

2) We have several quality Fly Halfs anyway Dan Biggar is playing fanststic rugby at the Ospreys.
Tovey is quality at the Dragons.
Hell even Shingler is doing good things at London Irish and their fans have been posting on the Scarlets forums wondering why he left them.
Matthew Jarvis who was 4th choice at the Ospreys has been playing well for Connaght and seems to have won a strong following since going there.
Matthew Morgan is still in the wings waiting for a chance.
At the end of last season people were championing Nicky Robinson who is now at Wasps, for his performances at Gloucester.

Wales have real depth at 10!

I think the Scarlets need to stick with Priestland at 10, because he is their future, though worryingly according too the Scarlets forum nearly all their young players or World Cup backs contracts are up after this season, they have no money and you can bet there will be a hell of a lot of offers for these guys coming in! Can you imagine what North;s value is at the moment, he is the best thing to impact a World Cup since Lomu!

only John Davies' contract is up at the end of this season I believe Alyn.

Priestland and definitely North signed a 3yrs deal last season.

rugbydreamer wrote:only John Davies' contract is up at the end of this season I believe Alyn.

Priestland and definitely North signed a 3yrs deal last season.

Ive been trying to get the thread up on Scarlet Fever but the damn page wont load for me

http://www.scarletfever.org/forum/player-contracts-and-injury-status_topic16202.html


Player Signed Contract end of Season Contract web links Injury status
George North 07/06/2010 2011/12 2 or 3 LINK N/A
Scott Williams 07/06/2010 2011/12 2 or 3 LINK N/A
Nic Reynolds 07/06/2010 2011/12 LINK Injured - Ankle injury
Nick Cudd 07/06/2010 2011/12 LINK Injured - Season LINK
Gareth Davies
07/06/2010
2011/12
LINK
Stephen Jones 07/01/2006 2011/12 LINK

N/A
Andrew Fenby
29/05/2009
2011/12
LINK

Tavis Knoyle
22/05/2009
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK
N/A
Dan Newton 29/03/2011 2 or 3 LINK





Rhys Thomas
27/03/2009
2011/12
LINK
Gareth Maule
19/05/2009
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK
Injured - Dec LINK
Pete Edwards
2 or 3 LINK
Phil John
01/08/1999
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK

Ben Morgan
05/08/2009
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK
Sean Lamont
07/05/2009
2011/2012
LINK
N/A
Richie Pugh
29/05/2009
2010/11
LINK

Rhys Lawrence
05/08/2009
2010/11
LINK

Deacon Manu 03/06/2006 2011/12 LINK
Injured - Shoulder LINK
Aled Davies 29/03/2011 2 or 3 LINK Knee injury
Daniel Evans
2009/10
2011/12
LINK
Damien Welch
29/05/2009
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK
Matthew Rees 05/07/2007 2012/13 LINK Injured - November LINK





Morgan Stoddart 04/06/2006 2010/2011 2 or3 LINK Injured - Season
Iestyn Thomas 11/03/2005 2011/12 LINK

Aaron Shingler
15/06/2010
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK

Jon Davies 05/07/2007 2011/12 LINK N/A
Ken Owens 05/07/2007 2012/13 LINK N/A
Emyr Phillips
15/06/2010
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK
Josh Turnbull
17/04/2008
2010/11 2 or 3
LINK Injured - January LINK





Simon Gardiner



Jonathan Edwards
06/03/2009
2010/11 2 or 3 LINK
Dominic Day
06/03/2009
2011/12 LINK
Rob McCusker 21/03/2006 2010/11 2 or 3 LINK

Rhys Priestland 21/03/2006 2 or 3 LINK N/A
Lou Reed 21/03/2006 2011/12 LINK Injured - Nov LINK
Lee Williams 21/03/2006 LINK Injured - January LINK
Dale Ford
Kirby Myhill
Jordan Williams
Rhodri Jones Development contracts
COACHES


Nigel Davies 14/05/2008
2009/10?
LINK

most of those re-signed last season Alyn, I'm guessing those are out of date, I know Stoddart and North definitely signed extensions last season. There was a huge fiss about the Scarlets relying on local talent and signing up youth at the tim.e

North signed a 2-3 yr contract extension in March 2011. That takes him to at earliest March 2013 being available.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/12897410.stm

Stoddart, Scott Williams, Priestland, North and Knoyle are all included in taht. Like I said, John Davies is the only one who's contract is up the end of this season.

rugbydreamer wrote:most of those re-signed last season Alyn, I'm guessing those are out of date, I know Stoddart and North definitely signed extensions last season. There was a huge fiss about the Scarlets relying on local talent and signing up youth at the tim.e

North signed a 2-3 yr contract extension in March 2011. That takes him to at earliest March 2013 being available.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/12897410.stm

Stoddart, Scott Williams, Priestland, North and Knoyle are all included in taht. Like I said, John Davies is the only one who's contract is up the end of this season.

Good I'm glad, it would be gutting to lose them all at the end of the season. Lets hope the crowds pick up at the Scarlets and they can get the money to keep them all. by the way going back to the Scarlets forum I found the team to take on Leicester:

i've heard that with our injuries and world cup calls our team is
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other

a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other
a.n.other

not a bad team on paper,

I think Sam will probably keep the captaincy as barring injury or a serious drop in form he is nailed on for a place until 2015. Although I hope Tipuric pushes him all the way.

As for the Scarlets hadnt priestland pretty much displaced wellies last season anyway? I think Rhys will probably start more of the important games now as wellies begins to look at a coaching role. That tends to be how they do it in PYS.

they were rotated a lot last season Tycroes, I'd imagine the same will happen this season as well with Rhys taking more and more control, although he's likely to be away from the Scarlets a lot with international call ups anyway!

rugbydreamer wrote:they were rotated a lot last season Tycroes, I'd imagine the same will happen this season as well with Rhys taking more and more control, although he's likely to be away from the Scarlets a lot with international call ups anyway!

Yeah I agree I think Preistland will be our number 10 with Tovey and Hook as backup in the 6nations, cant see wellies being in the squad again. I expect Hook to stay as utility for Wales now sadly for him.

There has been some interesting permutations for when the internationals return home in two weeks.

Will Warburton take over the captaincy at the blues as well as retaining his Welsh captaincy, which i presume he will.

Will Lloyd Williams be first choice at the Blues?

Will the dragons be amazing now that half the welsh pack are Gwentboys

TycroesOsprey wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:they were rotated a lot last season Tycroes, I'd imagine the same will happen this season as well with Rhys taking more and more control, although he's likely to be away from the Scarlets a lot with international call ups anyway!

Yeah I agree I think Preistland will be our number 10 with Tovey and Hook as backup in the 6nations, cant see wellies being in the squad again. I expect Hook to stay as utility for Wales now sadly for him.

depends how serious gatland is about the not when your overseas policy ?

The idea of loosing Phillips, Hook and Byrne does seem less worrying right now.

maestegmafia wrote:depends how serious gatland is about the not when your overseas policy ?

The idea of loosing Phillips, Hook and Byrne does seem less worrying right now.

I think their being deliberatly marginalised by Gatland.
Bryne doesnt seem relevant anyway, Hook is now 2nd or third choice 10, while we do have a glut of young exciting scrum halves coming through.

Gatland doesnt seem like the type of guy to go back on his word to not select players who move abroad.