Wayne Evans and Tavis Knoyle

As a New Zealander living in South Wales currently, I am supporting all four of the Welsh reigions in their European campaigns. The Scarlets and Dragons have serious problems at scrum half and these problems I feel have contributed significantly in their elimination/possible elimination.
Scrum half is a vitally important position. You are the link between the forwards and backs. A scrum half's delivery and service is the foundation for all backline moves and a poor first pass stops anthing happening. They are decision makers and instructors to forwards around the ruck. Wayne Evans and Tavis Knoyle for the last few weeks have show how totally inept they are at all of this. The Scarlets have a very promising backline and Priestland and Jon Davies looked so dangerous v Munster but poor decision making, aimless kicking, careless handling and wayward passing from Knoyle at crucial times of the matches cost them dearly. Their other scrum half looks far more of a steady player and should persevered with. Wayne Evans on the other hand cannot pass two his second five eigth at all. Passes spray wildly around the knee area one minute to above the head the next. The constants fumbles from the second receiver all come from his original pass and poor Steffan Jones who looks to have so much time on the ball a fortnight ago must have been wondering what was coming next. It was the same this week too with Tovey.
Now of course the Scarlets have problems elsewhere such as scrum time and the Dragons front five in general is not great but these two players are performing poorly and it must be recognised!

former,

Evans was on verge of Welsh squad season n bit back but I must agree with you, this season his service has been very poor.

Rhys Webb will be in the Wales Six Nations squad at Knoyle's expense.

I really don't know why they are raving about Lloyd Williams so much. He can be good but needs more Blues experience.

Peel has to come back.

WO,

I just can't see Pell being involved anymore, he will:

1 inevitably get caught up in the club v country row

2 has never really figured under Gatland

3 is behind Phillips, L Williams, Knoyle and possibly Webb in the current pecking order.

I agree with you guys. Webb looks a very promisng player. Peel was great but I think his best days are long gone. Still, his servive is far better than Knoyle and Wayne Evans.

Richie Rees my still be involved.

Wales are spoilt for options I just hope we choose the best options.

Peel should be on the bench behind Phillips, hes much better than the other options and has been on fire for Sale. But sadly he wont be because of the problems mentioned and his age.

Tavis is a powerful runner and has a big boot, a lot like Phillips but has to work on his passing and i think he should spend a few years gaining experience.

I feel the same about Lloyd Williams. He doesn't really offer any threat around the fringes but he is a different player to Phillips and that's important to have in the squad.

I'd like to see Martin Roberts or Rhys Webb brought in for Knoyle to award their form.

Wayne's service has always been erratic.His strength is the speed of service.Can be all over the shop but Jason gets it sharpish.
What Wayne needs to do is put his impression on a game as he is a peripheral player in the main.If he has genuine International asperations he must go up a notch or two.Very good regional scrummie who could be much more.

westernosprey wrote:Rhys Webb will be in the Wales Six Nations squad at Knoyle's expense.

I really don't know why they are raving about Lloyd Williams so much. He can be good but needs more Blues experience.

Peel has to come back.

westernosprey wrote:Richie Rees my still be involved.

Wales are spoilt for options I just hope we choose the best options.

Wow. You are on fire this evening SafeAsMilk.

Wayne Evans was always a pretty good player, he is just having a terrible season. His back-up (Bedford) is worse, a bit of odd signing if you ask any Dragons fan.

You're absolutely spot on about Knoyle. How he has ever earnt a single Wales cap let alone a few is a blydi mystery. Gareth Davies is very good though. And Rhys Webb isn't far from Wales honours either. It is not really a position of weakness for us.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Wayne's service has always been erratic.His strength is the speed of service.Can be all over the shop but Jason gets it sharpish.
What Wayne needs to do is put his impression on a game as he is a peripheral player in the main.If he has genuine International asperations he must go up a notch or two.Very good regional scrummie who could be much more.

Taff,

Think you are doing him bit of dis-service there, season n half ago was on top form but an injury and lack of form at mo has put him down pecking order

Morgannwg wrote:His back-up (Bedford) is worse, a bit of odd signing if you ask any Dragons fan.

This is what i think Chatrteris was talking about last week when he said how the Regions were spending too much on foreigners.

Anyhow

I disagree with the lot of you over Knoyle. i do agree his absolute pants at the moment, but it is a dip in form, he has hardly played an entire match in about six months.. He will come good again. He was in excellent form last year for the Scarlets and fully deserved his call up to the Welsh Squad.

Remember apart from Phillips and Peel we are talking about four very young professionals, and a slightly older one in Evans. Their form will dip. We are just lucky to have so many good scrum halves at our disposal, they will hopefully all push each other harder and harder to earn the Welsh nine shirt.

But that is only one example out of 4 regions though. If it was as bad as he makes out then we would not have a national team. Charteris knew all along he wanted to go earn more money in France and had the nerve to lie about it to an audience at RPs buisness and executive suite. So poor example to use really. And Knoyle was always pants.

In fairness to the dragons signing Bedford we had to. Our promising youngster (j Evans) has been injured all season. We needed backup and WQP ate out of out budget.

With regards to Wayne. He's not on great form at the moment but it's down to the team as a whole to perform. We do look erratic at times but we are not far of being the team we were last season.


DRAGONS TO UPSET THE BLUES FRIDAY!

Knoyle was on the bench for both Munster games - and I didn't think he did that badly when he came on in the 1st game - not amazing either, but he's just off form. When on form he's shown he can be very good. Think, as the posters above, that youre being very harsh on Evans - he was playing very well last season and before that.

Webb has looked magnificent this season.
He can spot a gap and make a break, is powerful to shrug off weak tackles and is probably the most promising scrum half in Wales at the moment.

Wales always have a silly amount of depth at Scrum half.
It's a 4 way fight between Knoyle, Webb, Williams and Evans.
I think Webb or Williams will win it.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Knoyle was on the bench for both Munster games - and I didn't think he did that badly when he came on in the 1st game - not amazing either, but he's just off form. When on form he's shown he can be very good. Think, as the posters above, that youre being very harsh on Evans - he was playing very well last season and before that.

I am sure that after a run of games he will be back up to pace. I thought he was fantastic last season.

Morgannwg wrote:
Wow. You are on fire this evening SafeAsMilk.

Eh? I think you're muddling me up with the other chap. Frankly, I'm insulted

SafeAsMilk wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:
Wow. You are on fire this evening SafeAsMilk.

Eh? I think you're muddling me up with the other chap. Frankly, I'm insulted

Don't be, he didn't literally mean you. If you lived in Wales you'd know your username has entered the local terminology, generally to describe somebody who tends to come out with silly ideas. Just as in Ireland they refer to them as a Dougal McGuire (I think) in Wales we now call them a SafeAsMilk

Just as Knowsit sometimes means the opposite of what it normally does I guess

youngguns6 wrote:In fairness to the dragons signing Bedford we had to. Our promising youngster (j Evans) has been injured all season. We needed backup and WQP ate out of out budget.

With regards to Wayne. He's not on great form at the moment but it's down to the team as a whole to perform. We do look erratic at times but we are not far of being the team we were last season.


DRAGONS TO UPSET THE BLUES FRIDAY!

The Dragons didn't have to sign Bedford, they could have spent their money on a Welsh player from one of the Regions Clubs. Looking at how completely inept Bedford was I would suggest they might feel like they wasted their money.

The Sarlets front row has looked OK Iestyn, Smiler and Rollerskates have held their own and showed up around the park. Last week, young Rhodri Jones was superb.

The Scarlets problem is at lock, only Reed apears to be a strong scrumager, Welch is lightweight and Timani and Shingler are backrowers playing out of positions. Ask the Ospreys supporters about that as a strategy!

The Scarlets biggest broblem has been the refereeing of the scrums, both Munster and Northampton got away with murder!

No doubt that Knoyle was ruined in the World Cup. Afer a man of the match display against Argentina, he was dropped and his confidence was destroyed

Seagultaf wrote:
No doubt that Knoyle was ruined in the World Cup. Afer a man of the match display against Argentina, he was dropped and his confidence was destroyed

I dont think his confidence is destroyed mate...! He just hasn't played much rugby... Now that he is back at the Scarlets he will be back to form in no time. He is a young guy, they need regular rugby to maintain playing at the top of their ability...!!!