Wales 6N squad and target!

First topic message reminder :

Ok so from what we've seen from Wales in the World Cup and from the players left behind at the regions over the last 2 months and with some players due to come back from injury etc. over the coming weeks, who do you think should make the Wales squad atm and what size squad should Gats go for?

IMO we have always seemed to perform better when a smaller squad has been selected so i think a maximum of 32 players should be selected, i'd go with:-

PROPS: Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Paul James, Craig Mitchell, Ryan Bevington

HOOKERS: Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ken Owens

LOCKS: Luke Charteris, Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies

FLANKERS: Sam Warburton, Danny Lydiate, Justin Tipuric

NUMBER 8s: Toby Faletau, Ben Morgan, Ryan Jones(RJ covering 4,5,6 & 8)

SCRUM-HALFS: Mike Phillips, Lloyd Williams, Tavis Knoyle

OUTSIDE-HALFS: Rhys Priestland, James Hook, Dan Biggar

CENTRES: Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams

WINGERS: George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Aled Bew, Tom James

FULL-BACKS: Morgan Stoddart, Lee Byrne

i think full-back is the position we're most worried about and a decision needs to be made whether Halfpenny remains there or whether we give some one like Stoddart a chance in the 15 jersey, also Chris Czekaj has been doing well at 15 for the blues and if he raises his game to the next gear he could come into contention

Alex Cuthbert has got the potential to get in the squad ahead of Tom James and if Gavin Henson finds some sort of form i think Gats will have him in the squad

similar squad that went to the world cup but with 5 new faces coming in and if Stephen Jones is playing well at the Scarlets he could yet make the squad

Wales need to go to the 6 Nations and set the target of winning it, after doing well in the world cup we need to back that up in the 6 nations and set down a marker that we're aiming to become a dominent force in world rugby
as the saying goes, aim for the stars and you may reach the top of the mountain!

Scott Andrews - has to be better out there surely, what about Gardiner or Lewis Roberts

Ben Morgan (form depending) - and eleigibility

Bitter Beer wrote:What team would go into the competition (apart from Italy perhaps) not expecting to win it?

England definitely

They could provide he post match entertainment though

Smirnoffpriest wrote:well you know luckless that you have to find a place in the squad for Hook, because he brings that X factor, and on his day he can win you games single handedly!

lay off the Smirnoff

We are in the very fortunate position of having blooded the future on the biggest stage of all.

Here is my 6Ns 22

Jenkins
Rees/bennet
Jones
AWJ
Lukey
Lyds
Sam
Toby

Lloyd
Priestland
North
Jamie
JD2
Stoddart
Halfpenny

Bevington
Rees/Bennet
James
Bradley/Ryan
Ryan/Tipuric
Knoyle
Henson

Geth and Jones are approaching the end of their careers, i want 2 props on the bench

No powell, Philipps, Hook, Wellies, Shane.

Henson if on form and no dramas, with LH he can cover 10-15

Rees skipper if playing

Many Welsh fans would be happy with just 3 loses in the tournament, so long as they finish fourth

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Many Welsh fans would be happy with just 3 loses in the tournament, so long as they finish fourth

How many exactly and do they live in W W W Waleshire with the other W W W Wums?

"Geth and Jones are approaching the end of their careers, i want 2 props on the bench"

Not necessarily, both still 30 I believe and could still be playing and first choice in 2015. Though the next 4 years do present us with the chance to develop ideal backup and eventual successors for the pair.

Why no Phillips? One of the best if not the best scrum half in the WC this year. Still a healthy 29 also.

MP - only through being unavailable

Neither Geth or Jones will be in RWC 2015 squad if selection policy is right

Gatts wrote:MP - only through being unavailable

Neither Geth or Jones will be in RWC 2015 squad if selection policy is right

Phillips should be available, this isn't the Australia game we're talking about. Though what are the odds Bayonne will try to get him to play for them during the rest weekend and then cry bloody murder if we don't let him go?

What is the right selection policy? If neither Geth or Jones have retired by 2015 and both are still the best available, then both ought to start.

Jenkins will be 34 Jones 33 which is young in prop years lol.

Knowsit17 wrote:

Gatts wrote:MP - only through being unavailable

Neither Geth or Jones will be in RWC 2015 squad if selection policy is right

Phillips should be available, this isn't the Australia game we're talking about. Though what are the odds Bayonne will try to get him to play for them during the rest weekend and then cry bloody murder if we don't let him go?

What is the right selection policy? If neither Geth or Jones have retired by 2015 and both are still the best available, then both ought to start.

mea culpa


in which case Philipps gets the nod from me to start, but i would like to see Lloydie start v Scotland and Italy

With regards selection, youth has clearly paid off for us so i want to see that continue, yes of course if Geth and Jones are firing their age becomes irrelevant and their experience will be invaluable but i don't want us to field a bunch of OAPs like SA did this RWC

Gatts wrote:Philipps gets the nod from me to start... youth has clearly paid off for us so i want to see that continue

Surely if you want to see youth given its head, you'd want Lloyd Williams to start?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Many Welsh fans would be happy with just 3 loses in the tournament, so long as they finish fourth

Dumb & sour statement

We're used to these types of comments, it's funny though as he was supporting Wales in the WC!

Love ur name by the way, I wonder if you come from Norway - by the fjords...

It's called a WUM, blatantly obvious and very light-hearted by PSW I'm sure.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:We're used to these types of comments, it's funny though as he was supporting Wales in the WC!

Love ur name by the way, I wonder if you come from Norway - by the fjords...

I won awards for the crinkley bits

I'd just like wales to score a couple of more points

To be fair I laughed at Johny's "woeful" kicking in the group stages and ball swapping gate, but by the end of the tournament I was with him all the way.

slartibartfast wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:We're used to these types of comments, it's funny though as he was supporting Wales in the WC!

Love ur name by the way, I wonder if you come from Norway - by the fjords...

I won awards for the crinkley bits

I think that the way forward for Wales is the LW-RP 9-10 combination.

Williams has a very quick brain and asses' the situation before he gets the ball and as such his distribution is far quicker than that of Phillips. You can argue that Phillips has more phsyicality to his game but from what i have seen of Williams, he doesnt shirk his responsibility and is a decent tackler in his own right.

Wales just look so much better with quick distribution.

eire,

With Phillips likely to be unavailable for the Australia game in Decemeber this will be the perfect chance for Gatland to give that combo a good run out and see how it goes.

Am pretty sure Phillips will still have big impact in the 6 Nations though.

I am not writing Phillips off bedford as i do rate him highly but i just feel that if LW gets some more exposure at International level he will excel. Phillips will have a tough job of disposing him for the 6N.

Is priestland def fit for the oz game?

slartibartfast wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:We're used to these types of comments, it's funny though as he was supporting Wales in the WC!

Love ur name by the way, I wonder if you come from Norway - by the fjords...

I won awards for the crinkley bits

bedfordwelsh wrote:eire,

With Phillips likely to be unavailable for the Australia game in Decemeber this will be the perfect chance for Gatland to give that combo a good run out and see how it goes.

Am pretty sure Phillips will still have big impact in the 6 Nations though.

I thought Phillips was excellant in bringing Priestland along throughout the World cup, he did a very good job of taking some pressure off him at crucial times, like a safety net.

I've no doubt Williams will be brought on within the next year or 2, but I dont think we need to be rushing him into the line-up just yet. He has the potential but Im not sure if he's there just yet, although, I'd be happy for him to be brought in to start against the Aussies

I agree, was about to make the same point. It would do Williams well to be mentored into the team. As well as learning to have a bit more doggedness in his game.

Though I think Knoyle and Rhys Webb will be tough candidates too. The three young lads have a great opportunity to press their claims.

absolutely maesteg, I think Webb looks a great prospect aswell and Knoyle had a decent season last time out. I'm excited to see how they all go in the Heineken, thats the real test.

Williams doesnt look like he shirks his physical responsibilities at all, he just looks a little, lambish? maybe, like he could do with that extra doggedness as you say. No doubting that'll come with more experience.

So less like a sheep and more like a sheepdog, have I got that right?

more like a lamb from the gurnos!

Fair points in regards to the Williams - Phillips debate. I was just amazed at how well Williams slotted into the Wales team and how comfortable he looked at International level.

To me he is the smarter 9 out of the two and his quick distribution suits Wales style of play better than that of Phillips.

absolute eire, dont think anyone in wales is questioning the potential l.williams has to become pure gold at scrum half!! the sooner the better aswell of course!

but, I think theres a couple of good scrum halfs out there earning their stripes quietly and playing some nice rugby. Rhys Webb is one I think could really step up to the plate sooner than most think.

We've got some great options at scrum half, that's something we can all agree on and it's great for the national team. What we need now is more quality options at tight head!

Havent seen much of Rhys Webb at all but i have heard that he is a huge talent.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:We've got some great options at scrum half, that's something we can all agree on and it's great for the national team. What we need now is more quality options at tight head!

Tight heads not so bad some good youngsters. I like Joe Rees the young Mumbles lad. He's been very strong. Scarlets have gardiner still not fully fit yet. Others make up the numbers.

I think Hensons move to the blues could be massive for Wales. If he can regaion his old form AND strike up a potent partnership with Jamie Roberts.. OOOFFF!!!!

Thats a big IF wonder man, he's also got to regain the skills to play 10 and find some consistency (and learn to not p!ss off Roberts, which he's done in the past). But if it comes together then it will be good.