Wales - Player rating and Scotland team

Halfpenny - 8
A good overall performance, was beaten in the air a few times, but made up for it with some good placekicking to win the game

Cuthbert - 6
Defence is a concern, made a few good runs though.

J Davies - 9
Two tries and some beautiful breaks, strong tackling too

Roberts - 6
Fairly anonymous in attack, good defence though - clearly not 100%

North - 9
Beautiful skills for JDs try and raw power for his own

Priestland - 7
Good distribution and management, some poor tactical kicking and awful place kicking

Phillips - 8
Really up for this game, made some strong breaks - clearly wanted another try against Ireland at times, good passing too

Gill - 7
Decent, but a bit nervy - scrum was ok and he made some runs, no Gethin Jenkins though.

Bennett - 7
Lineout was a bit of a mess, but improved. Strong in the loose

A Jones - 7
Anchored the scrum, nothing spectacular.

B Davies - 7
Very strong first half and took it to the Irish, would have been an 8 if it wasn't for a very stupid card.

Evans - 7
Stood up to the Irish forwards and secured enough ball for the backs

R Jones - 8
Was everywhere, MOTM in the 3/4th at the WC and he is maintaining that form for Wales.

Warburton - 7
A nuisance at the breakdown for Ireland, but wasn't the turnover king without Lydiate, only had 1 half to do it in aswell.

Faletau - 6
Having been playing so well coming into this game, he seemed ineffective for most of it.

Replacements:

Hook for Cuthbert (41) - 6 - Lost at FB

Tipuric for Warburton (41). - 8 - Strong performance with some crucial turnovers.





TEAM FOR SCOTLAND

1. Rhys Gill - Give him another shot, but P.James will be waiting in the wings
2. Matthew Rees - Needs a bit of gametime and a chance to prove he is better than HB
3. Adam Jones - Who else?
4. Ryan Jones - Undroppable, has to be somewhere - an extra backrow in the 2nd row will be useful
5. Ian Evans - Enforcer, BD dropped or banned as a lesson
6. Dan Lydiate - Should be fit, works well with Warbs
7. Sam Warburton (c) (If injured, Justin Tipuric)
8. Toby Faletau - Needs a good game
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathon Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert - Give him another chance, Byrne to come on in the 2nd half
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Paul James
17. Huw Bennett
18. Andy Powell
19. Justin Tipuric (Shingler if Warbs is out)
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Lee Byrne

I pretty much agree with you on the ratings.

That's the team i'd want against Scotland.
But with Ryan J going into the second row we'll need cover on the bench. Probably Lou Reed or Shingler instead of Powelly.

Harsh on Priestland? His running, passing, playmaking and the assist on that try were sublime. Defence was solid. Kicking out of hand generally good, better than Sexton. His goalkicking was poor, but that should have been given to Halfpenny far earlier.

Wales606-have to disagree with you on Toby-thought he tackled and carried really well-not an outstanding game to be sure but rarely was found wanting.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Harsh on Priestland? His running, passing, playmaking and the assist on that try were sublime. Defence was solid. Kicking out of hand generally good, better than Sexton. His goalkicking was poor, but that should have been given to Halfpenny far earlier.

Perhaps, I did think he had a good game. But, some of his tactical kicking was off and his place kicking brought him down, if 1/2p had kicked from the start he would have got an 8/9

senghenydd1913 wrote:Wales606-have to disagree with you on Toby-thought he tackled and carried really well-not an outstanding game to be sure but rarely was found wanting.

True that Toby was rarely found wanting. But as one of our best players he should be trying to get himself involved a bit more. He wasn't carrying the ball as much as he has done before.

Roberts was quiet today but still effective, He was used as a decoy runner a lot, somthing we have been crying out to see for ages. When he carried he still made yards, still broke the gainline. He created a lot of space even if he wasnt at his best.

Next week

1. Rhys Gill
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Ryan Jones
5. Ian Evans
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (c) (Justin Tipuric)
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathon Davies
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Leigh Byrne

16. Paul James
17. Huw Bennett
18. Andy Powell
19. Justin Tipuric (Shingler)
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Alex Cuthbert

I think Cuthbert has somthing to offerr coming off the bench with Halfpenny moving to full back. It just ramps the attacking pressure up in the last 20 minutes. Halfpenny should be kicking full time. Byrne to start as he is solid defensivey and good under the high ball. Physically he is no slouch either.

I thought Gill had a good game and should keep his place.

My worry is that Scotland cant keep butchering all the chances they create. Sooner or later its going to click and sombody is going to get a hiding, I hope its not next week. We need to sort out our lineout and our kicking. So no change there