Melon and Priestland out for Ireland match

I think Gatland will go with this team

15. Lee Byrne
14. George North
13. Jon Davies
12. Gavin Henson
11. Leigh Halfpenny
10. James Hook
9. Mike Phillips

8. Toby Faletau
7. Sam Warburton
6. Dan Lydiate
5. Ryan Jones
4. Bradley Davies
3. Adam Jones
2. Matthew Rees
1. Paul James

Where have you heard this ?

I see Gatland has said he'll go with Hook or Henson at 10 against Ireland. What's the reaction to that?

My reaction is that if Priestland, Roberts and Jenkins are out then I'm a lot more confident about things!

http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2012/rugby/story/158173.html

Yeah this really is tipping to Ireland.

Lydiate also a doubt, but Roberts should be ok if short of match sharpness

Gatlands said Hook will come in at 10, with Hneson the reserve ( seriouslY) and Halfpenny taking the kicks.


Oh Wales!

If Preistland and Roberts are out that would be Gatlands wet dream, he could feild Hook and Henson at 10 and 12 without being accused of overlooking better players for his favourites.

Byrne
Halfpenny
Davies
Henson
North
Hook
Phillips

James
Rees
A Jones
Davies
R Jones
Lydiate (Powell if injured)
Warburton
Faletau

It would be weird to see Phillips, Henson, Hook, Byrne all back in the side together after each having been written off a number of times by the fans.

People hate Hook, but if we pretended this was 2008 people would be saying that was a fanatastic backline.

PSW -: if this was 2008 there would be a people saying that Hook is fantastic. But then there would be people saying that Tindall is not a shabby player too. It is now 2012 and Hook has not been able to cerment a position in either the international or regional sides he has played in so his stock in the eyes o fhte fans has gone down.

Also that team was not the team I would chose, but the team I expect to get out on the feild.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:If Preistland and Roberts are out that would be Gatlands wet dream, he could feild Hook and Henson at 10 and 12 without being accused of overlooking better players for his favourites.

Er, Ashley Beck?

Be fair, people always hated the tindalll Noon partnership.

Would you take SJones back over Hook? I still think the lad has potential to be a threat with the ball in hand, but I can understand why people are down on him for failing to get teh basics right so often. Its a big ask for Halfpenny to be the lead kicker of course.
As usual with Wales assuming the vbacks are something like that theres the threat of this going either way. The could be scinitlating, or it could be a car carsh. Im thinking back a year + to when Hook and Swilliams were determined to throw as many intereceptions as possible.
If Phillips and Byrne can win back the fans ( and their form) lets have some faith Hook can too.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:If Preistland and Roberts are out that would be Gatlands wet dream, he could feild Hook and Henson at 10 and 12 without being accused of overlooking better players for his favourites.

Er, Ashley Beck?

Luckless I don't rate Henson or Hook, but Gatland would be able to justify it. If I were to select players I would probably have Jones/Biggar in there as fly half and Beck/Davies/Williams in the centre

Well Halfpenny is maturing into an outstanding place kicker, so no loss to them if he's kicking at posts.

I think it is a blow to Wales, how Hook will fare on his return to the Welsh set-up I don't know. I think it may be a case of if we let them get on the front foot in our half, they can still kill us. Maybe this gives me more confidence that he and Wales might be vulnerable if he has to get them out of a hole.

As an Ireland fan I'm not exactly crestfallen Hook will be starting, put it that way. As disappointed as I am for Priestland.

Biggest loss is Roberts and Lydiate, I think our Pack can still stand up for itself.

*edit*

Gatland said utility back Leigh Halfpenny is likely to take over the kicking duties in Priestland's absence.


He also revealed that flanker Dan Lydiate is also a doubt for the Six Nations opener because of an ankle problem, but centre Jamie Roberts (knee) is expected to be fit to play.


Crud

Rhys Priestland (knee) and Dan Lydiate (ankle) are doubts so I would not write them off just yet and Gatland said "We're hoping Jamie Roberts will be OK"

I'm worried most by Gatland saying he's considering Henson at outside half. Surely it would be better to call up a recognised ten than risking a player who hasn't played there since BOD knows when.

Reports on BBC Wales says Jenkins out for 5 weeks, Priestland & Lydiate likely to miss the Ireland.

For me Priestland is the biggest loss out of those and thats despite me being a huge Lydiate fan.

James has most probably played more of late than Jenkins and his seen by some as a the stronger scrummager.

Lydiate will he a big loss to but by his absence maybe now people will actually realise how good this lad is and how much work he puts in around the park. I guess R Jones or Shingler maybe will step into replace him.

Priestland, now here's the worry. Out of the initial training squad picked I am guessing Hook will now be 1st choice 10. I am not happy with that as despite hims having the ability to be brilliant we haven't seen that for a while and he isn't in very good from for Perpignan.

I am guessing that Wellies or Biggar (should be Tovey) will be called into the squad as cover.

Cymroglan wrote:Rhys Priestland (knee) and Dan Lydiate (ankle) are doubts so I would not write them off just yet and Gatland said "We're hoping Jamie Roberts will be OK"

Lydiate has proven before he has amazing healing properties so here's hoping.

Melon is out and Lydiate looks a major doubt for the Irish game. Roberts is pretty much back to fitness and is in the cryo chambers like everybody else so Im pretty sure he will line up in dublin and I also think priestland is going to make it. A lot of the information on the BBC and from Andy HOwell is from Saturday its only the news on Gethin being definitely out which is different. The thought of an undercooked Henson coming on as sub in Ireland is the stuff nigtmares are made of but just cos of the disaster in 2006.

1. Paul James,
2. Smiler
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley
5. I Evans
6. Ryan or Shingler
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland or Hook
11. North
12. JR
13. JD
14 Halfpenny
15 Byrne

16. Gill
17. Bennett
18. Shingler or Ryan
19 Tipuric
20.Ll Williams
21. Hook or Henson
22. Cuthbert

Question is do we really want to go into the Irlenad game with Hook and Henson as our options at 10 .

It may be seen as a backward step but I would prefer he called up Jones as cover until at least Priestland is back.

If the 3 are injured then I would go for

James
Rees
A Jones
Davies
Evans
R Jones
Faletau
Warburton

Phillips
Hook

Halfpenny
Roberts
Davies
North

Byrne

Gill
Bennett
Shingler
Tipuric

Ll Williams
S Jones
Li Williams

I would not write anybody off that travelled to Poland I'm sure the medics were confident that they would be ok

If all 3 are out then some would say that the balance would swing back to Ireland.

But was the balance in our favour anyway?

The back rows are evenly matched and if R Jones starts we not going to lose out on experience.

Jenkins will be a loss but Healy is injured for Ireland.

Priestland - OK Hook may not be on form but the Irish guys know what he is capable of so they won't be thinking its now easier cos he is in.

They are missing BOD as well. Still think it will be a great match close right to the end with ROG coming onto break our hearts again

I'm amazed that people still don't have Ashley Beck in their match-day squads.

This six nations could well have been Steven Shingler's opportunity to shine but in a red shirt though.

Lp,

For me if Roberts is out then Beck starts but he's an out and out centre in my opinion so would only cover centre on the bench.

Jones could cover 10 allowing Priestland to cover XV.

Li Williams can cover wing and XV.

Thats my reasoning.

Cymroglan wrote:This six nations could well have been Steven Shingler's opportunity to shine but in a red shirt though.

Cymro,

I don't think he's anywhere near the Welsh squad. I would say he is behind Priestland, Hook, Henson, Biggar, Tovey and Jones in the pecking order.

Shingler (the Scott) shouldn't be anywhere neat the Welsh squad at the moment.


Is Healy def injured ? Not heard anything official. I just saw him limp off.

Huge loss to Ireland

Assuming Jenkins, Lydiate, Priestland and Roberts are all out and that Jones isn't called in as replacement 10, I think our safest bet would be:

1.James
2.Rees
3.Jones

Our strongest front row without Jenkins, should be powerful in the scrum.

4.Davies
5.Evans

Not a lot of choice given injuries, both playing well, bring a lot of grunt.

6.Jones
7.Warburton
8.Faletau

Self explanitory back row, Jones in for Lydiate, could bring much needed experience to the young backrow. Jones also covering lock.

9.Phillips
10.Biggar

Phillips loves playing Ireland, big game player, start solid, bing Williams on later. Biggar's a controversial choice, but he's an out and out 10 and I'd rather kick most of our posession away than have Hook throwing intercept passes. Also knows Phillips' game.

12.Beck
13.Davies

Beck playing well, good partnership with Biggar. Davies has most experience at 13, even if he is a 12.

11.North
14.Halfpenny
15.Byrne

Back 3 need to be solid. Cuthbert's too raw to start. Halfpenny being the form back 3 player moves to the wing to accommodate Byrne, also in good form.

16.Bevington
17.Bennet
18.Mitchell
19.Tipuric - Out and out 7's will be vital against a strong irish pack.
20.Williams
21.Hook - 10 & 13 cover.
22.Cuthbert

Curly,

He won't pick 3 front rowers on the bench whoever plays. He will pick a L/Head (Bevington or Gill) and the swap James across if need be.

That would allow a space for maybe Shingler or Powell to come onto the bench.

Whoever he picks at 10 if Priestland is out won't fill me with confidence.

I think he will go for Rhys Gill to replace Melon

The lad really showed up well v the Ospreys and Gatland has been very impressed with his attitude

Yeah didn't think of that Bedford, in that case I'd go for Powell on the bench, Jones being second row cover.

Looks like the lineout could be a mess once again no matter who gets picked.

RubyGuby wrote:I think he will go for Rhys Gill to replace Melon

The lad really showed up well v the Ospreys and Gatland has been very impressed with his attitude

Ruby,

Gill starting wouldn't duly bother me but James has been solid for us and never let us down, his scrummaging is better than Jenkins' so that won't be a minus point.

Curly - Biggar ain't in the squad. Our three fly half options in the training squad are Priestland (who is injured, and off form), Hook, and Henson.

Ouch.

Ireland to win by 8.

Scarlet, Yeah that was assuming that a flyhalf would be called up through injury.

Stephen Jones would be the logical choice, but if Gatland decides to back his "building for 2015" plan then I'd rather see Biggar called up than start with Hook or Henson at 10.

Curly - I am worried that Gats will think he is building to 2015 by feilding Hook/Henson there.

Well if it's all about 2015 you may as well put Mathew Morgan there.

Unless we can start Biggar's personality from scratch I don't want him anywhere near the 2015 WC squad

Haha it's tempting, but something tells me Sean O'brien will see poor Morgan as little more than a speed bump.

munkian wrote:Unless we can start Biggar's personality from scratch I don't want him anywhere near the 2015 WC squad

Ok I'll see what the Frontal Lobotomy list is looking like

CurlyOsp wrote:Haha it's tempting, but something tells me Sean O'brien will see poor Morgan as little more than a speed bump.

About as effective as ROG then

munkian wrote:

CurlyOsp wrote:Haha it's tempting, but something tells me Sean O'brien will see poor Morgan as little more than a speed bump.

About as effective as ROG then

May even tempt him to run with the ball!

Yeah, and is that something you want munkian?

Notch wrote:Yeah, and is that something you want munkian?

In the words of the Virgin Mary - come again ?

Aaron Shingler to make a surprise start in the back row if Lydiate is out?

Hook v England 2008. Most immaculate kicking display seen in a Wales shirt for years...

dewplikuttukkawnt wrote:Aaron Shingler to make a surprise start in the back row if Lydiate is out?

I don't think it will be that big a surprise and he is on form if nothing else. Personally I think he will go with the experience of Jones with maybeShingler off the bench.

I'd actually consider Tipuric at 6. I'd imagine that a Tip/Warb combination could work well and really disrupt opposition ball and offer an attacking threat, with great leadership.

Loose,

Tipuric would get mullered against Ferris.

Priestland definitely the worst blow if out but Jenkins is the only one out 100% for now, the others could all still make it if highly unlikely. Roberts seems to be gunning along.

Priestland was the one who brought the best out of the powerful runners in NZ, just goes to show how dull most individuals have been in strategy during the three years preceding. You can't expect big ball carriers to struggle along by themselves, they need to brought in from angles and on the flat ball, hopefully others besides Priestland will have learned that by now. Still don't have much faith in Hook for this purpose.

Jenkins is more renowned for his loose play and breakdown presence than for his scrummaging and if the back row can replicate their WC performances then Jenks won't be missed that much. This is why Lydiate will however but then again we have Ryan Jones, Shingler, Powell and Tipuric who can cover blindside and Bevington and Paul James who can fill in for Jenkins.

Anyway, BOD's been confirmed out for ages and he's a huge loss for Ireland, pay no attention to the Irish posters pretending he's not

1. Bevington
2. Rees
3. A Jones
4. B Davies
5. Evans
6. R Jones
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Hook (not much choice if Priests is out)
11. Halfpenny
12. Roberts
13. J Davies
14. North
15. Byrne

16. Bennett
17. James
18. Reed
19. Tipuric
20. L Williams
21. Henson (again, starved for choice)
22. Cuthbert

The time for cotton wooling individuals is over, time to develop reserves in as many positions possible and take it to the Irish no matter who's who

Knowsit17 wrote:
Anyway, BOD's been confirmed out for ages and he's a huge loss for Ireland, pay no attention to the Irish posters pretending he's not

Who's BOD?...