Wales 2nd XV

Ok getting nervous so I'm posting cxap threads - Wales currently have this as a 2nd XV - It looks useful - any thoughts as we look to develop strength in depth


1 - Gill
2 - Owens/Bennett
3 - James
4 - Bradley Davies
5 - Ian Evans
6 - Lewis Evans/Few Scarlets lads
7 - Tipuric
8 - Ryan J
9 - LW/Tavis/RW
10 - Hook
11 - Stoddard
12 - S Williams
13 - A Beck
14 - Brew
15 - L Byrne

That team is better than what we had through the 90's and early 2000

Looking at players available I would think we would have something like the following as third/forth choice

1 - R Jones / D Jones
2 - Owens / Hibbard
3 - E Lewis-Roberts / Mitchell
4 - Reed / A Jones
5 - Day / Gough
6 - McCusker / L Evans
7 - Turnbull / Navidi
8 - Powell / J Thomas

9 - Webb / G Davies
10 - Tovey / Biggar
11 - T James / Harris
12 - Henson / A Smith
13 - Maule / G Evans
14 - Mustoe / Walker
15 - Li Williams / M Thomas

To be honest I have seen worse welsh sides than that out in the past

Me to SS but those players are largely depth as opposed to Strength in depth - To think we used to send out the Boobyers, David Evans, Arwel, Alan Edmunds!! instead of Jiffy, Bateman and Gibbs as the midfield trio - Never mind, we're back competing and that's the main thing.

Strange to see hook named in a seconds squad. Never thought I'd see that 2 years ago. That's not a bad team to be fair, shame it couldn't be put to the test in a Wales A scenario. WRU dragging their knuckles in regards to that.

RubyGuby - I think Liam Williams would be in my 2nd XV as would either Shingler at 6 and I Evans would prob be in the 1st XV, but it looks a huge amount better/stronger than even 2 years ago (when our 1st choice back row was M Williams, JT and Powell/R Jones).

It seems funny to have Henson only in the 3rd/4th XV but that's rightfully where he belongs until he proves himself again.

Also think Robinson should creep into the 3rd/4th XV.

I just hope some of these players get gametime in the summer and the young props like R Jones, Gardiner, Andrews and Bevington get lots of gametime with their regions next season,.

Impossible Standards wrote:Strange to see hook named in a seconds squad. Never thought I'd see that 2 years ago. That's not a bad team to be fair, shame it couldn't be put to the test in a Wales A scenario. WRU dragging their knuckles in regards to that.

The A-Team wouldn't have those players in it though, as they are all in the main squad for the 6Ns. The a squad would be more like the list I added sadly.

Just a few massive glaring errors here. Owens, Bennet, James, Davies, Evans, Tipuric, Jones, L. Williams, Hook and S.Williams are in our first squad, pushing for a starting place. And they would need to stay put anyway to cover any potential injuries (like they have been doing), so not sure how anyone can place them in a '2nd XV.'

1 - Gill
2 - Burns
3 - Mitchell
4 - Lou Reed
5 - Adam Jones
6 - Lewis Evans
7 - Turnbull
8 - McCusker
9 - Webb
10 - Tovey
11 - Stoddard
12 - Beck
13 - Maule or Warren?
14 - Brew
15 - L Byrne

Lacking in 2nd row and bench depth.

And actually there are also more possbiles, some in and out of the Wales squad dependant on injures: Shingler, Henson, Liam Williams, Bevington, Rhodri Jones, Lewis-Roberts, Powell.

Morgannwg - don't be a pedant and go and spoil it for me

not considering what i think the starting xv should be on saturday
1. Gill
2. Owens
3. Mitchell
4. Charteris
5. Davies
6. Jones
7.Tipuric
8. Powell
9. Williams
10. Hook
11. Brew
12. Beck
13. Williams
14. L Williams
15. Byrne
pretty strong second xv if this was wales A team we would do great

I think theres such a strong case for an A team it's madness not to!!!

If I were considering a 2nd team it would definately have a developmental edge...

Gill
Owens
Mitchell
Reed
AWJ
Shinglar
Tipuric
Mccusker
Williams
Tovey
James
Smith
Maule
Brew
Williams

This team is pretty short of experience mind, so there would be cases made for the likes of Henson, Hewitt, D Jones, Stoddart, Lloyd Burns, M Williams, Rees, Czekai etc...

What is good is we now have pretty much a second xxii not just a second xv. That strength in depth is going to be important as we seek to develop over the next couple of years.

1. Gethin/Gill/Bevvington
2. Smiler/Bennett/Owens
3.Adam/Mitchel/Andrewsl
4. Evans/AWJ/Day
5. Charteris/Bradley/Read
6. Lydiate/Shingle/Ryan
7. Warburton/Tipuric
8. Faletau/McCusker/Powell
9. Phillips/ Lloyd/Webb
10. Priestland/Hook/Tovey
11. Cuthbert/Harry Robinson
12. Roberts/Henson/Beck
13. JD/ Sc Williams
14. North/Brew/Walker
15. Halfpennt/Byrne/Liam Williams

Not a bad squad there Tycroes, I think Wales have decent depth everywhere apart from tight head.

RubyGuby wrote:Ok getting nervous so I'm posting cxap threads - Wales currently have this as a 2nd XV - It looks useful - any thoughts as we look to develop strength in depth


1 - Gill
2 - Owens/Bennett
3 - James
4 - Bradley Davies
5 - Ian Evans
6 - Lewis Evans/Few Scarlets lads
7 - Tipuric
8 - Ryan J
9 - LW/Tavis/RW
10 - Hook
11 - Stoddard
12 - S Williams
13 - A Beck
14 - Brew
15 - L Byrne

That team is better than what we had through the 90's and early 2000

Props: Rob Evans (Scarlets, Tom Davies (Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dan Suter (Ospreys), WillGriff John (Blues). Hookers: Kirby Myhill (Scarlets), Jack Dando (Blues ), Darran Harris (Blues), Jac Hopkins (Cardiff), Jamie Sollis (Dragons). Second Rows: Matthew Screech (Blues), Jack Jones (Ospreys), Rhodri Hughes (Ospreys), Jonathan Gardiner (Leicester). Back-rows: Ellis Jenkins (Blues), Daniel Thomas (Scarlets), Dan Crimmins (Cardiff), Ieuan Jones (Dragons), Rueben Tucker (Blues), Dan Baker (Ospreys). Scrum-halves: Jonathan Evans (Dragons), Joshua Davies (Dragons), Jack Moates (London Irish). Outside-halves: Jordan Williams (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Lewis Williams (Blues). Centres: Rheon James (Scarlets), Thomas Pascoe (Blues), Cory Allen (Blues), Nathan Edwards (Bridgend), Luke Williams (Dragons). Wings/full-backs: Luke Morgan (Ospreys), Iolo Evans (Scarlets), Jake Randall (Scarlets), Tom Prydie (Ospreys), Ross Jones (Ospreys).


I thought this was the official Wales 2nd XV squad

Wouldn't Shingler be in the 2nd XV? I think Shingler and Tipuric would make a class flanker partnership.

No ones mentioned the 'other' shingler yet either...

Also isn't Pretorious (sp?) going to be Welsh qualified soon?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:No ones mentioned the 'other' shingler yet either...

Also isn't Pretorious (sp?) going to be Welsh qualified soon?

Yup and Dirksen, and James King could also get a mention.

I see there's few mentions of Dan Biggar

AlynDavies wrote:Not a bad squad there Tycroes, I think Wales have decent depth everywhere apart from tight head.

There are quite a few decent young tightheads in and around the regions Alyn. To ad to the three he mentioned you could put Gardiner and Eifion Lewis Roberts to the list as well.

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Mitchell
4. Reed
5. B Davies
6. Shingler
7. Turnbull
8. Powell
9. Webb
10. Tovey
11. Stoddart
12. Beck
13. Maule
14. Brew
15. L Williams

I would have I Evans in my 1st team ahead of AWJ at the moment, think the guys has had a cracking 6 Nations.

I agree Bedford, I'm just basing on 1st choices at the start of 6 Nations. Ian Evans has lived up to his previous billing this tournament and he and Charteris would be a monster of a pairing IMO

Powell and Delve should be making these 2/3rd XV's ahead of McCusker

Out of the players not making the 22 I'd go for..

1. Gill
2. Bennet
3. Mitchell
4. Davies
5. Reed
6. R Jones
7. Shingler
8. Delve
9. Webb
10. Tovey/Biggar
11. Stoddart
12. Beck
13. Hook
14. Brew
15. Byrne

1 - Gill
2 - Burns
3 - Mitchell
4 - Lou Reed
5 - Adam Jones
6 - Lewis Evans
7 - Turnbull
8 - McCusker
9 - Webb
10 - Tovey
11 - harries/james
12 - Beck
13 - Maule/hughes
14 - Brew
15 - Stoddart/Thomas

Exciting...

Imagine this scenario. After a review of the IRB '2nd XV' ruling Wales have to select a senior A team for one game, which is to take place before the Australia tour. Gatland selects and coaches this team, and uses it to blood some youngsters and give some fringe players game time. The way Declan Kidney had used the Wolfhounds before the 6 Nations.

So, we may see Gatland selecting one of our 2nd rows (could be B.Davies or AWJ or Charteris) because of their lack of game time, to partner Lou Reed, who seems the obvious choice and attempt to develop our list of no.7's. Let us also imagine he would like to get a look at a certain player in the Super 15, who has recieved excellent reviews.

Rhys Gill
Ken Owens
Craig Mitchell
Bradley Davies
Lou Reed
Aaron Shingler
Justin Tipuric
Gareth Delve

Rhys Webb
Jason Tovey/Dan Biggar
Harry Robinson/Will Harries
Gavin Henson/Ashley Beck
Gareth Maule/Adam Warren
Aled Brew
Morgan Stoddart/Martyn Thomas

Subs: Duncan Jones, Lloyd Burns, Cory Hill/James Downes, Lewis Evans (can play 7 very well), Tavis Knoyle, Tom Prydie and Jack Dixon; (Gatlandesque selections).

Bearing in mind, this is how Warren G would likely call it, not me, as I do not rate Knoyle and Biggar even at Regional level. Some things to consider, Gatland may want to take all these players and the first team to Spala before Aus. He may also want to take some U20 back row players as well as Kirby Myhill, those are the position where we actually have some decent players this year.

Some impressive list there lads.

Not much to add to that other than this is the first time in a very long time that Wales have had this much talent available. Things are not there yet but we are working in the right direction for a much brighter future.

A big congratulations has to go to all those involved in the hard work involved in turning welsh rugby around.

As I said its not perfect but I am starting to believe that I might see Wales at the top of world rugby before I die, a few years ago I didn't think I would.

1. Gill
2. Owens/Bennett
3. James/Mitchell
4. Davies
5. Evans
6. Shingler
7. Tupiric
8. Jones

9. Webb/Williams
10. Hook
11. Stoddard
12. Henson/Beck
13. Williams
14. Brew/Robinson
15. Byrne