Wales team to play Scotland

1.Gill
2.Bennett
3.Jones
4.Jones/Reed
5.Evans
6.Lydiate/jones
7.Warbs/Tupiric depending on Warbs dead leg
8.Toby

9.Phillips
10.Preistland
11.North
12.Roberts
13.Davies
14.1/2p
15.Byrne

16.Owens
17.James
18.Reed
19.Tupiric
20.Powell
21.Williams
22.Hook
23.Cuthbert

I would go with Byrne to simply give him some game time and take Cuthbert out of the firing line. I think it's the perfect game for him to get some momentum and form, and if it doesn't work out we can always just move 1/2p to fb and Cuthbert to wing. 1/2p also to take on the kicking duties.

Nothing wrong with that selection generally with a few exceptions

1. Ryan Jones cannot be dropped
2. Lydiate on bench if fit
3. Bradley Davies will be out for the season
4. Lou Reed will be brought in or maybe Gough
5. Keep 1/2p at FB and Cuthbert in
6. Byrne on bench instead of Hook

I'd keep Hook. If Preistland still isn't 100% fit I would like him to come on. Gough can still do a job for Wales but I'd prefer Reed so we continue to build for the WC in four years.

Hook should have covered North for Irelands (Bowes) 2nd try........ North had three players to cover as Hooky was totally out of position yet again........... such an issue with his positional awareness still

You will need players who can defend against any 6N side, and we will be no different next week

I would go for the same team, Cuthbert will have the crowd to support him. I would go with Lou Reed in the second row as Bradley will be out which is bad news for the Blues HC quarter final as he could be out for some time.

Scotland can't be as bad as they were against England, they seem to suffer against England like no other team. Hope for another good game.

I see what you mean but I'd have him as fly half cover. Cuthbert's positioning was poor for the Ross try you could say. I thought Hook did ok when he came on. Made some nice passes, drew defenders in and as for the Bowe try, we were down to 14 men, North just came in too narrow and there was always going to be an overlap, so a tad harsh on Hook in my view.

Flyhalf

I saw it as North's fault being too tight, also they were bunched expecting the drop goal.

glamorganalun wrote:I would go for the same team, Cuthbert will have the crowd to support him. I would go with Lou Reed in the second row as Bradley will be out which is bad news for the Blues HC quarter final as he could be out for some time.

Scotland can't be as bad as they were against England, they seem to suffer against England like no other team. Hope for another good game.

Alun
It was just awful, nearly left after 65 mins............. yet another false dawn.

I think you will see some changes next week, our half back pairing will replace Dan and Cussie, this will inject pace into the back line. I expect Rennie to start with Denton which again will inject some pace

OOOOH not confident tho

Only change for me is Lou Reed in for Davies and that is to say with or without a ban for Bradley. He needs to learn that his action wasn't acceptable and we can't go encouraging players to develop into thug types by giving them back their spot regardless. As for Reed I'm all for giving another new cap a taste of the action.

If Lydiate is fit again then he can possibly be brought onto the bench. Not sure where that leaves us for a replacement lock as I don't feel Tipuric should be dropped after today. He can come in if Warbs doesn't make it and keep his bench spot if Warbs is fit in time.

As you were for me particularly Cuthbert as the guy showed some good youches and has power and pace. Bradley will surely be out so for me it's one of the following

1) Ryan to 2nd row and Dan back at 6
2) Reed 2nd row, Dan on the bench and as you were.

glamorganalun wrote:Flyhalf

I saw it as North's fault being too tight, also they were bunched expecting the drop goal.

Surely not Alun ................. look at it again, you had phillips and davies anchoring left of the posts and Hook was behind them!!!............... North was wide as he had 3 players to mark between Davies and the wing spot. Absolutely dire positioning by Hooky in my opinion

flyhalffactory wrote:

glamorganalun wrote:Flyhalf

I saw it as North's fault being too tight, also they were bunched expecting the drop goal.

Surely not Alun ................. look at it again, you had phillips and davies anchoring left of the posts and Hook was behind them!!!............... North was wide as he had 3 players to mark between Davies and the wing spot. Absolutely dire positioning by Hooky in my opinion

Hook was full back so tends to be behind the line of play, I too agree that North was way to narrow and Hook could never get across in time to make the tackle on Bowe. Agree to disagree

Lee Byrne has to play just to wind up Andy Robinson,he really does hate him.

someone mentioned gough being called in for second row cover, what other options are there? I know alun wyn jones should be back soonish but what other options are there, reed is already in the squad. from the o's there's JT

someone mentioned gough being called in for second row cover, what other options are there? I know alun wyn jones should be back soonish but what other options are there, reed is already in the squad. from the o's there's JT

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Rees
4. Jones
5. Evans
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. North
12. Roberts
13. Davies
14. Halfpenny
15. Byrne

16. James
17. Owens
18. Reed
19. Tipuric
20. Webb
21. Sc Williams
22. Hook
23. Cuthbert

Flyhalf:
Sorry to hear you actually paid to watch that game, evertime Scotland play England up north it always seems to be a grim game. I thought England were poor. What was Dan Parks doing, his kicks were so poor, there were some rubbish kicks from Preistland today but he will improve for next week.

Scotland's best chance next week is to keep it tight and rely on penalties and drop goals, they did not look like scoring. Lamont has improved playing at the scarlets he is the biggest threat.

Enjoy the game but not too much.

I think Byrne at full back just to provide some defensive stability at least at first. with 25 to go then bring on Cuthbert and throw him at the scottish defence. That leaves them facing another monster which will open up space. We need to take the sting out of Scotlands game in the first half. Keep it tight defensively kick better tactically and force them to run at us from deep. More of teh same when we are in possession and the Scottish defence will crack.

If Bradley isnt cited then I expect Gatland will pick him if not Ryan into second row and Lydiate comes in or maybe even Shingler.

Scrums should be just Wales as Murray wont be playing, LIneouts will be scotlands but I dont see them having quite the dominance Ireland did today. They do have some good strike runners but if we play as we did today we should win well.

Cuthbert won't come up against any decent opposition until the France game so gotta leave him there to gain experience.

Gnoll - I knew Tipuric wouldn't let us down - what a player eh!

The scottish outside backs are big strong and fast, at the moment they couldnt catch a cold but that was yesterday we cant rely on them having another bad day at the office. We have to be tight defensively because if we let them get a sniff of the lead their forwards will be all over us like a rash and it will turn into a dog fight. Choke them in the first half run them into the ground in the second.

gnollbeast wrote:Cuthbert won't come up against any decent opposition until the France game so gotta leave him there to gain experience.

After reading your little quips over the last few days I must assume you are going for WUMMER OF THE YEAR award

Will chat to you after next weekend

Every game in the 6 nations is a mighty challenge and I would love to see Cuthbert get more experience - if the welsh get ahead of themselves (which I doubt - some fans will) then Scotland could well beat us as they have beaten Ireland away recently

RubyGuby wrote:Every game in the 6 nations is a mighty challenge and I would love to see Cuthbert get more experience - if the welsh get ahead of themselves (which I doubt - some fans will) then Scotland could well beat us as they have beaten Ireland away recently

Lets be fair Ruby the fans will and I guess some of us are going to be hard to handle in the next few days. The team will keep it together though they probably have more perspective than most of us do. Im a fan of Cuthbert but I think he would be more dangerous coming off the bench than starting.

Knowsit17 wrote:with or without a ban for Bradley... he needs to learn that his action wasn't acceptable and we can't go encouraging players to develop into thug types by giving them back their spot regardless.

Damn right.

On Alex Cuthbert, he did nothing wrong and wouldn't deserve to be dropped. I'd rather give him a home game than Byrne, who should know what Test rugby's all about by now.

TycroesOsprey wrote:We need to take the sting out of Scotlands game in the first half.

And the best way of doing that is by taking the game to them from the first whistle and looking for an early try or two. That was our approach yesterday, why should we approach Scotland any differently?

Cuthbert could be come a very lethal weapon come the end of the tournament and needs to play as much as possible. Scotland will need to string 3 passes together to get anywhere near scoring so we won't have to worry about defending out wide because they will knock on everytime.

Lee "sin bin" Byrne should be on the bench though,

The only concern is Halfpenny isn't tall enough to deal with the high ball and that could cause issues. Byrne is our only specialist here.

The same logic that says that halfpenny can't deal with the high ball suggests that Robinson will pick Parks to kick to him all day.
I mean HP is small and missed a couple of high balls but he is solid enough, tru, byrne is better under the high ball but HP aint bad

Ya Halfpenny didn't look that convincing under the high ball yesterday. He needs to command the air a bit more. If Scotland play Laidlaw though they probably won't kick that much.

If Rees isn't fit i might actually go with Owens starting and Bennett on the bench just to see what he can do.

Hook was good when he came on. I think its unfair to criticise him for his defending at fullback when he hardly plays there anymore.

A lot will obviously depen of fitness and citings.

davies is very likely to be out if not for the whole tournament and desevedly so it was dangerous and stupid no excuse.

So my side would be

Gill Bennett A Jones
R Jones
Evans
Lydiate
Faletau
Warburton/Tipuric

Phillips
Priestland

North
Roberts
Davies
Halfpenny
Byrne

Hard on Cuthbert I know but he was out of depth yesterday so I would start with Byrne.

I have been one of R Jones' biggest knockers but he had great game yesterday but I still think that if fit Lydiate plays thats why I have moved Jones up to 2nd row.

Obvioulsy other option is to blood Reed and leave Jones where he is use Lydiate of f the bench.

Tipuric if Warburton out.

Bedford:

Glad you had to eat your words on Jones, he offers more than Lydiate in terms of going forward, lineout, passing (and kicking) skills and captain cover. Toby had an OK game but not up to his best of recent games.

I would stick with the same team and allow Lydiate time to recover the time he does not get at the Dragons. Hook was fine at FB but I would have moved Preistland to FB, Hook has to be on the bench for cover at 10 hence no Byrne. To replace Bradley, I would bring in Reid.

Jones should start, he also played very well against Australia I remember. Think he deserves to start, probably over Faletau.

alun,

I have ate more than my words over the years so no problem at all that said a fully fit anf firing Lydiate would get my nod ahead of Jones anyday.

Rory,

If Jones plays it has to be at 6, he is not an international 8 anymore, Faletau had a quite game by his standards but he has to stay at 8.

The game against Australia I am referring to that Jones had a brilliant game was at 8, with Faletau at 7. I thought Jones was excellent there. Looks like he has learnt how to carry again.

It is good we can't agree the best options at 6 and 8 as we are lucky to have such good players including as a host of Scarlet and Dragons back row forwards e.g., McCuster etc. but the Blues have no Welsh players and the other Ospreys back row forwards are premier level.