Wales injuries

WALES INJURY UPDATE

Dan Lydiate and Gethin Jenkins are both expected to return to full training this week in time to make themselves available for selection for Wales’ second round RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday (Kick-off 3pm).

The Wales side to take on the Scots in Cardiff will now be named on Thursday, 9 February (see above), to allow injury issues to subside and to await news from the citing hearing taking place tomorrow (Wed) involving Bradley Davies.

Dragons back row Lydiate (ankle) and Blues prop Jenkins (knee) will be integrated back into full training during the early part of this week as will Blues wing Alex Cuthbert, who is following the normal return to play protocols following taking a bump to the head.

Cuthbert will be available for selection and it is also hoped his Blues colleague, the Wales captain Sam Warburton, will recover sufficiently from a dead leg to be in contention, but his fitness will be continually assessed over the next few days.

While tickets are still available for Wales versus Scotland and the clash with Italy on Saturday 10 March, fans are advised to get their tickets now to avoid disappointment.

As a non Welsh fan would say that if Lydiate is passed fit will be the biggest plus as it enables Ryan Jones to move into the seriously depleted second row, assuming Bradley Davies will be banned. Thought Gill did well on Sunday, will be interesting to see if he drops out altogether if Jenkins is fit to start or if James looses his spot in the 22.

Aahhhhh so Cuthbert got a bash on the noggin ? Thats why he was subbed. Was going to say, I didn't think he made any glarign errors

I would bring in someone else to the second row and put R jones on the bench. Lou Reed would be good to have in the squad and we could do with bringing some new second rows on...

Surely George North can play (both) second rows AND break from the scrum and get across the pitch to take his place on the wing?

Or is he just overhyped?

no he could do that

Good news on Jenks and Lydiate - hopefully Warbs will pull through and then we'll have a pretty strong pack with Ryan packing down next to Evans. Then we'll have at least Lydiate and Toby in the backrow and hopefully a fully fit backrow.

If so then we should do pretty well against the Scots pack - except in the lineout obviously, which is a major concern, and I think the Scots (against many wishes) will pick Parks to kick for touch in our 22 so they can pressure our lineout

If Lydiates fit then for me he plays no questions, I would then move Jones up to 2nd row.

If he doesn't pull through then its a debut for Reed IMO, there is no way Davies WON'T be banned so might as well start planning without him.

Gough at lock - good solid player - not bad to have in lineout

The Welsh should be careful the Scots are just a few brain cells from being a descent team

rosbif wrote:The Welsh should be careful the Scots are just a few brain cells from being a descent team

Well there IQ just went up dramatically with Parks retirement.

They just need to finish off a few moves. Had they done that Saturday they would have had four tries and the result of the weekend not the opposite.

maesteg, do you think you could manage a post without insulting Dan Parks? You have bad-mouthed him constantly on here to the point of it being quite pathetic.

munkian wrote:Gough at lock - good solid player - not bad to have in lineout

I think Adam Jones of the Dragons is unlucky not to be with the squad, age is probably his only hindrance he has been superb all season.

maestegmafia wrote:

munkian wrote:Gough at lock - good solid player - not bad to have in lineout

I think Adam Jones of the Dragons is unlucky not to be with the squad, age is probably his only hindrance he has been superb all season.

Agree on Jones and Gough would never let us down but Reed is in the squad so I would rather we blood him if need be otherwise why have him there. Like I said though first option for me would be bring Lydiate back Jones upto 2nd row.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

munkian wrote:Gough at lock - good solid player - not bad to have in lineout

I think Adam Jones of the Dragons is unlucky not to be with the squad, age is probably his only hindrance he has been superb all season.

Agree on Jones and Gough would never let us down but Reed is in the squad so I would rather we blood him if need be otherwise why have him there. Like I said though first option for me would be bring Lydiate back Jones upto 2nd row.

I agree and although i like Lou Reed and Dom Day of the Scarlets as club players, they don't have the extra class for international honours.

In the extreme circumstance of having three first choice locks out, which would test even the top teams like the French, Kiwis or Boks, i would say bring in an inform older player like Adam Jones until AWJ is fit enough to resume normal service

SafeAsMilk wrote:maesteg, do you think you could manage a post without insulting Dan Parks? You have bad-mouthed him constantly on here to the point of it being quite pathetic.

As long as you bad mouth Wales

SafeAsMilk, will never have anything good to say about Wales or the Welsh, he has bad mouthed us on here to the point of it being quite pathetic.

I've said some quite nice things about Wales and the Welsh. Admittedly, on occasion I've posted the odd cheeky swipe...

Looks like Warburton and Cuthbert will be fit and Lydiate and Gethin to come back in to the 23 as well. Other than the enforced Ryan to second row the team has a settled look about it. If the noises are correct then tomorrow we should see

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Adam
4. Ryan
5. Evans
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. North
12. Roberts
13. JD
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Geth
17. Owens
18. Read (Maybe Shingler)
19. Tipuric.
20. Lloyd W
21. Hook
22. Sc Williams

23. Mitchell

TO,

where did the 23 man come from its 22 man squads isn't it?

I'd still be tempted to go with Beck on the bench but yeah thats pretty spot on.

Apparently Alun Wyn Jones should be playing for the Ospreys on Friday, so looking certain to be fit for Twickenham on the 25th provided nothing new comes up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16931272

AWJ and Evans would be a handy 2nd row combo to have ready for Twickers.

I thought it was still 22 as well Bedford but had seen some pther posts with 23 which Im assuming is for an extra prop. If its not and its the travelling reserve then I guess he will take Byrne.

TycroesOsprey wrote:Looks like Warburton and Cuthbert will be fit and Lydiate and Gethin to come back in to the 23 as well. Other than the enforced Ryan to second row the team has a settled look about it. If the noises are correct then tomorrow we should see

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Adam
4. Ryan Reed
5. Evans
6. Lydiate Jones
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. North
12. Roberts
13. JD
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Geth
17. Owens
18. Read (Maybe Shingler) Lydiate
19. Tipuric. or Shingler
20. Lloyd W
21. Hook Byrne
22. Sc Williams

23. Mitchell

Not sure I like the blance of your 22 mate............ Ryan played too well to be dropped from 6, Reed is a proper out and out lock, 1/2p struggled under the high ball against Kearney and AR will have noticed that plus Byrne has found a bit of club form in France

fly,

Agree that Jones had a good game but wouldn't have started if Lydiate had been fit, for me if he's fit he plays as he has been out and out form 6 in Wales for past 18 months.

But as before its nice now that Gatland has these difficult decisions.

NOt my 22 FHF but the one I expect Gatland to go for.

Personally I would have Byrne at full back and cuthbert on the bench. Hook has to be on the bench as he covers so many positions and your bench would have no 10 cover. I would rather see a specialist lock but Ryan is going to get shifted there and he will do a good job. Lydiate has to start for me because he gives us better balance in teh back row. I dont think he is as good a player as Ryan but he compliments Toby and Sam better.

bedfordwelsh wrote:fly,

Agree that Jones had a good game but wouldn't have started if Lydiate had been fit, for me if he's fit he plays as he has been out and out form 6 in Wales for past 18 months.

But as before its nice now that Gatland has these difficult decisions.

Dont agree with you 100%, Bedford mate. the last 3 games he played I think he was pretty quiet and gave quite a few pens away (memory fades so forgive me if I am incorrect), if Shingler wasnt such a penalty machine I would have put him ahead of all your blindsides ........... blistering speed and thats what Lydiate hasnt got

TycroesOsprey wrote:NOt my 22 FHF but the one I expect Gatland to go for.

Personally I would have Byrne at full back and cuthbert on the bench. Hook has to be on the bench as he covers so many positions and your bench would have no 10 cover. I would rather see a specialist lock but Ryan is going to get shifted there and he will do a good job. Lydiate has to start for me because he gives us better balance in teh back row. I dont think he is as good a player as Ryan but he compliments Toby and Sam better.

Scott Williams cover 10, 12, 13
Liam Williams could cover 15, 14, 11...... and I believe 10
1/2p can kick em all, 15, 14, 11
Byrne 15......wing maybe

Good call on the backrow balance tho........... didnt think about that

fly,

We will just have to agree to dis agree lol.

Admittedly he's not a speed merchant but does a 6 need to be, after all Jones has never been known for his speed.

Lydiates work and tackle rate is far higher than either Jones or Shingler and I have always said the back row is about combinations and I think Lydiate Faletau and Warburton compliment each so well.

flyhalffactory wrote:

TycroesOsprey wrote:NOt my 22 FHF but the one I expect Gatland to go for.

Personally I would have Byrne at full back and cuthbert on the bench. Hook has to be on the bench as he covers so many positions and your bench would have no 10 cover. I would rather see a specialist lock but Ryan is going to get shifted there and he will do a good job. Lydiate has to start for me because he gives us better balance in teh back row. I dont think he is as good a player as Ryan but he compliments Toby and Sam better.

Scott Williams cover 10, 12, 13
Liam Williams could cover 15, 14, 11...... and I believe 10
1/2p can kick em all, 15, 14, 11
Byrne 15......wing maybe

Good call on the backrow balance tho........... didnt think about that

Well if Priestland went down injured that would mean playing a rookie without any regional experience at ten into an international against a scottish side out for revenge. It has to be Hook and hopefully Priestland doesnt go down. Byrne to start for the very reason you stated, Halfpenny looke nervous under the high ball against the Irish. It also allows us to bring Cuthbert on and move halfpenny to full back in the last twenty to really up the ante on attack.

bedfordwelsh wrote:fly,

We will just have to agree to dis agree lol.

Admittedly he's not a speed merchant but does a 6 need to be, after all Jones has never been known for his speed.

Lydiates work and tackle rate is far higher than either Jones or Shingler and I have always said the back row is about combinations and I think Lydiate Faletau and Warburton compliment each so well.

Lydiate for me does what Hill did in the English back row, He freed up players like Back and lolly dayglow, allowing them to really impose their game on teh opposition.

TycroesOsprey wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:fly,

We will just have to agree to dis agree lol.

Admittedly he's not a speed merchant but does a 6 need to be, after all Jones has never been known for his speed.

Lydiates work and tackle rate is far higher than either Jones or Shingler and I have always said the back row is about combinations and I think Lydiate Faletau and Warburton compliment each so well.

Lydiate for me does what Hill did in the English back row, He freed up players like Back and lolly dayglow, allowing them to really impose their game on teh opposition.

And we all know how good Hill was, probably one of the best 6s over the past god knows how many years.

Certainly a vital cog in that English backrow which was one of teh best Ive ever seen. However I think its about playing the units that work rather than getting your best players on the park. Ryan Jones for me is more talented a rugby player than Lydiate but as a unit, Toby, Dan and Sam(sounds like a bunch of kids tv presenters) are a better unit than Ryan or even Tipuric coming in.

[quote="TycroesOsprey"] Toby, Dan and Sam(sounds like a bunch of kids tv presenters)

god I hope an english wum doesnt pick up on that.

How about Toby, Danny and Sammy? Sounds dangerously close to a Jonas Brothers-type boyband.

First time I've thought of this, Priestland might be able to kick better on Sunday. He was rushed in from injury against Ireland but now he's more likely to have had time to recover fully and compose himself better.

TO,

I don't think Ryan was as good as Lydiate is now when he was 23. Lydiate is still learning and getting better all the time IMO.

Jones now has that edge of experience about him having played at the top level for longer.

I have been a critic of Jones in the past but of late he has been playing some of his best rugby for a long time.

dunno in 2005 he was outstandingm arriving in NZ in shorts and flip flops and taking the place by storm and thats on top of thr slam and his performance against scotland that year was top drawer.

Jones is playing well at the moment and did a good job last week. Id have him start at 6 with Reed in the second row. If Reed doesn't perform or looks out of his depth then Jones can take over and Dan can come back as 6. As hes been injured it may help to not play the full 80 and it'll help us blood a new second row. Also Jones still has good leadership skills and his experience will be helpful in this young side.