Will Gatland experiment with his subs v Scotland?

In 2009 Wales destroyed Scotland in Murrayfield
In 2010 Wales played diabolical for 50 minutes but still won in Cardiff
In 2011 it was a pretty rubbish game, but Wales still won and Scotland were never in it.

Arguably after the Scot v England match, Gats & Co might see Sunday's fixture as the easiest out of the lot. No offence intended to Scots, but Italy should beat them this year.

If Gatland wants to give some of his players a chance then I believe Sunday should have a few newbies on the bench.

I would keep the Same XV that started against Ireland, but there will probably be a shuffle around in the pack if Bradley Egghead gets a ban before Sunday. The backs are fine. Cuthbert needs more experience and the Scots can't even get the ball out to their wings unless Evans comes in looking for work so he shouldn't need to do much tackling. Halfpenny just needs to jump more when trying to take the high ball.

I would like to see Beck and or Harry Robinson on the bench. If Wales are comfortable after 55/60 then it's worth blooding some more youth. I still believe the Roberts / Preistland injuries were mind games from Gatland, but even so I think we have enough battering rams now and Roberts could do without playing the full 80. Would be nice to mix it up a bit and get a different type of 12 on.

I think Gatland will possibly pick Beck and then Hook or Byrne, but Robinson is probably in the squad more for experience than to start.

So if this game is goning to be that easy, Well Scotlaqnd may well just not bother to turn up.

Dont be so suprised if this comes back and bites you in the bum.

Beck and Robinson are both good players. Better than what Scotland can offer. If they were to come on im sure they would make a positive impact.

Good point. Scotland to win by 20, because of this article.

majesticimperialman wrote:So if this game is goning to be that easy, Well Scotlaqnd may well just not bother to turn up.

Dont be so suprised if this comes back and bites you in the bum.

Chill out mate. We played Jamie Roberts for his first cap against Scotland in 08 and he went ok. Im sure Beck or Robinson would do fine.

2010 was a bit of a bad example to cite of Scotland being easy to beat. It took a collective brainfart from Scotland, a stupid kickoff, and a theatrical dive from Byrne for Wales to win that.

The last match at Murrayfield was a complete farce from what I remember.

Past results don't mean anything anyway. We are in good form, Scotland are in ok form but i hope they don't learn how to finish off tries against us though! We tend to do better against Scotland at home as well so fingers crossed.

Webb to get a chance? or perhaps Lloyd to start to give Phillips a rest.

But to be honest, I cant see any changes - though I would like to see Byrne on the bench if they want to take Cuthbert off again.

It seems to me that you are gtetting a little too complacent, thinking that Experimenting with subs, i personaly do believe that NO TEAM, can afford to get ahead of themselves.

But then ithat is just me.

Its not really experimenting though. Beck is in form and Robinson looks very very good.

I agree that we shouldn't become complacent but i think from yesterdays showing. It looks like Gatland has created a system where new players can fit into the systems easily.

Cuthbert and Gill to start again will be enough for now, keep the starting 15 (well as much as poss) and build momentum, Hook covers too many angle to bother with byrne, I would have Beck on the bench though.

Jones to lock and Tuperic to 6 maybe, dependant on Lyds.

I do not want to take Scotland lightly, they are down, cannot score tries and are hurt by an English win in Murrayfeild, they will throw the sink at us, and they generally score tries against us!

If we win and win well, good on us, we never seem to rack up the points against teams like France and England tend to, even when playing poorly!

It was an experimental side against Ireland for goodness sake.

Byrne for hook every time

Can't be too confident against Scotland, if Robinson sees the light and starts Laidlaw they'll have a threatening back line. Max Evans is playing out of his skin.

If Roberts injury is still bothering him there may be a change in the midfield, probably Williams in to partner Davies, with Beck coming onto the Bench.

Hopefully Lydiate will be able to start 6 allowing Jones to partner Evans in the second row rather than using a new partnership, if Warburton is out I'd be happy to see Tipuric get the nod with Shingler on the bench and Jones handed the captaincy for a match.

Even though Williams may offer a quicker service, I think Phillips should start this match, he's a confidence player and will thrive off his last game, could cause the scottish halfbacks some real trouble with his aggression too.

We need to start with Priestland, Roberts and Phillips if they are fit. They are key to the way we play. We can blood other positions but these guys are crucial.

If we dismiss the scots then we will get a spanking. They have big fast outside backs their centres are better defensively than Irelands. They have an Athletic bunch of forwards who can win good ball and in Denton they have an awesome no 8 who is only going to get better as the tournament goes on. Their halfbacks wont be as bad again even if its cusiter and Parkes. Dismiss the scots at our peril, they are far better than saturday showed.

On top of taht why guve out caps cheaply for people to gain experience, it disrupts continuity and could backfire guven how tight the championship looks like getting. It also devalues the shirt. If Beck or Webb was first choice or first sub then fine they are on the teamsheet until then they keep working until they either establish themselves as first choice or sombody goes down with an injury and they step up.

All this jingoism about the scots is way over the top boys.

The six nations is not the place to mix it up, Scotland are not that bad.

I think Beck and/or Robinson are pushing for starting spots. Roberts could be out injured so Beck or Scott Williams could replace him and Cuthbert wasn't too impressive. If the Blues had some decent coaches they would start Robinson.

I actually think the scots were too conservative against England, the Edinburgh pairing shouldve started, but that said the more exciting pairing will be a mistake for Scots against us, I think they stand a far better chance playing the Parks style conservative way, as someone saidthe Scot backline is decent defencively, but if our back row and centres get up the middle theyre in trouble, Parks will know our game, and many of our players, he'd be the better option!

The lack of respect shown by this thread is staggering.The culprit should apologise.Made me squirm with embarrasment.

Gatland got stung before against Italy and Fiji!!!

I've paid good money i want to see the best side Wales can put out!!!! My children are starving and my wife's getting impatient - always seems to have an iron in hand ready.

He'll start with a full strength team don't worry about that.

Taffineastbourne wrote:The lack of respect shown by this thread is staggering.The culprit should apologise.Made me squirm with embarrasment.

Same here. Same old arrogance from the same old posters. Can you even imagine the stick that'll be coming our way if we lose? Threads like this always make me cringe and my insides tighten.

I lived in Wales for a little under 2 years (I got out early with time off for good behaviour jk.) I consider Wales to be my 2nd team.

All the time I was down there I never spoke to anyone with the attitude of some of the Welsh posters on this board, and it's starting to grate with me a little bit. I think, and this is hard for a Scotsman to say, I think I want England to give you a thumping (although not as big as the one I pray we give you)

gmclachl wrote:I lived in Wales for a little under 2 years (I got out early with time off for good behaviour jk.) I consider Wales to be my 2nd team.

All the time I was down there I never spoke to anyone with the attitude of some of the Welsh posters on this board, and it's starting to grate with me a little bit. I think, and this is hard for a Scotsman to say, I think I want England to give you a thumping (although not as big as the one I pray we give you)

Cool story bro

gmclachl wrote:I lived in Wales for a little under 2 years (I got out early with time off for good behaviour jk.) I consider Wales to be my 2nd team.

All the time I was down there I never spoke to anyone with the attitude of some of the Welsh posters on this board, and it's starting to grate with me a little bit. I think, and this is hard for a Scotsman to say, I think I want England to give you a thumping (although not as big as the one I pray we give you)

Looking back through the thread,do you feel that you may be overreacting a tad

It's not just this thread though. Ok maybe if England ran you close but you dropped a goal in the 80th minute, but that's as far as I am willing to go. ;-)

Glad you like the cool story gowales, this board is full of them, and full of something else as well.

gmclachl wrote:It's not just this thread though. Ok maybe if England ran you close but you dropped a goal in the 80th minute, but that's as far as I am willing to go. ;-)

Glad you like the cool story gowales, this board is full of them, and full of something else as well.

You do know what will happen to this thread if Scotland win??

606V2 has some fantastic Welsh posters, but come on what's the point of this!

RDW_Scotland wrote:You do know what will happen to this thread if Scotland win??

606V2 has some fantastic Welsh posters, but come on what's the point of this!

Always the option of boycotting threads like this. Nobody's forcing you to read or even to care for that matter

I only care when I think it's likely to flaw people's views on a certain variety of posters without mentioning any particular races. Some may very well say I'm overreacting, overly sensitive or whatever but I never find it amusing, I'll say it now.

Anyway, as long as you feed the troll he'll always be back. These net chavs live for attention, take it away from them and they'll slowly die off.

Taffineastbourne wrote:The lack of respect shown by this thread is staggering.The culprit should apologise.Made me squirm with embarrasment.

Hear, hear. We need to play our strongest team on Sunday if we want to win.

To be honest after some careful thought, Gatland will always pick his strongest XV because that is the only way to generate competition for places and keep people on their toes.

He is being more ruthless than ever. Everybody says Gatland loves Henson and Byrne is our only specialist 15 etc etc, but Gatland did not hesitate to omit them from the 22 and it paid dividends.

Meatball with extra olives?

Let's see, I think this is very simple.
We played some nice rugby but we just beat Ireland and needed some luck to do it. We kicked poorly, the lineout was a mess and ill discipline could have cost us.

Scotland outplayed England and went out of their way to hand England the win. (English defence was excelent)

We will need to be at out best in Cardiff to beat Scotland and Gatland must pick the best XV players available or we'll lose.

That just about sums it up, Offload.

Can anyone read the title: Will Gatland experiment with his subs v Scotland?

Does that say we shouldn't pick our strongest 15?

For me, people who react when they win to wums are worse than the wums who were playing up before the game, because obviously one team's supporters will be hurting. So I hope there isn't unnecessary gloating should Scotland win. Most people with common sense know it'll be a tough battle again.

I hope that you all regret this when Scotland put 20 points on you without Parks

A lot of overly sensitive posters here too mind. The OP was fairly arrogant, but you're probably just giving him the reaction he was looking for...

Game plans change, you can't go at every team the same way with the same players. Of course changes should be made if it's going to benefit the team.

gnollbeast wrote:In 2009 Wales destroyed Scotland in Murrayfield
In 2010 Wales played diabolical for 50 minutes but still won in Cardiff
In 2011 it was a pretty rubbish game, but Wales still won and Scotland were never in it.

Arguably after the Scot v England match, Gats & Co might see Sunday's fixture as the easiest out of the lot. No offence intended to Scots, but Italy should beat them this year.

If Gatland wants to give some of his players a chance then I believe Sunday should have a few newbies on the bench.

I would keep the Same XV that started against Ireland, but there will probably be a shuffle around in the pack if Bradley Egghead gets a ban before Sunday. The backs are fine. Cuthbert needs more experience and the Scots can't even get the ball out to their wings unless Evans comes in looking for work so he shouldn't need to do much tackling. Halfpenny just needs to jump more when trying to take the high ball.

I would like to see Beck and or Harry Robinson on the bench. If Wales are comfortable after 55/60 then it's worth blooding some more youth. I still believe the Roberts / Preistland injuries were mind games from Gatland, but even so I think we have enough battering rams now and Roberts could do without playing the full 80. Would be nice to mix it up a bit and get a different type of 12 on.

I think Gatland will possibly pick Beck and then Hook or Byrne, but Robinson is probably in the squad more for experience than to start.

Methinks you don't know alot about rugby WUM

CurlyOsp wrote:A lot of overly sensitive posters here too mind. The OP was fairly arrogant, but you're probably just giving him the reaction he was looking for...

Game plans change, you can't go at every team the same way with the same players. Of course changes should be made if it's going to benefit the team.

Apart from Brad Davies (and any injuries i.e. Warburton)
There will be no changes

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Meatball with extra olives?

mmmmmmmm nice with some spag

Wouldn't have a problem with that personally, though there could be a case to give Liam Williams a start with Dan Parks out, as there will be less of an aerial threat and less need for big wingers.

RDW_Scotland wrote:You do know what will happen to this thread if Scotland win??

606V2 has some fantastic Welsh posters, but come on what's the point of this!

RDW
Evening mate ........... this OP is just on here to wind people up continually, cant we do something about him?

CurlyOsp wrote:Wouldn't have a problem with that personally, though there could be a case to give Liam Williams a start with Dan Parks out, as there will be less of an aerial threat and less need for big wingers.

Hey Mate
I quite like Liam Williams at FB, he has looked great in that position this season....... however you need 1/2p for the long kicks

I was thinking a back 3 of North, Halfpenny and Williams, both can play wing or full back, just gives a new dimension to our attack.

Also, as much as I like Cuthbert, if there were any questions over his defence Max Evans would be on him like a hawk.

I see Gatland has delayed his team selection again. Im really starting to think some of what went on with the injuries last week were headgames from the coach. looks like Geth and Lydiate will be back but I would resist the desire for wholesale changes.

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Adam Jones
4. Ryan
5. Evans
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton (Tipuric)
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. George
12. Roberts
13. JD
14. Halfpenny (Kicker)
15. Byrne

16. Gethin
17. Owens
18. Powell
19. Tipuric
20. Lloyd Williams
21. Hook
22. Cuthbert.

If its a matchday 23 doesnt it gave to be a prop? in which case Mitchell.

I'd be much happier if you rushed back AWJ or put Lou Reed in at lock, and put Ryan Jones on the bench, with Lydiate coming back in at 6 - R Jones is just such an intelligent player, strikes me that he's enjoying a new lease of life and loving his rugby