Welsh centre pairings for Aus

With Roberts out, who would you like to see as the centre pairing for the tour in Oz.

Gone for Beck/Davies, and if Williams is out injured I'd vote for Adam Hughes and Hook to be called up as replacements.

Beck and Davies for me Martyr

gowales wrote:Beck and Davies for me Martyr

I'm with you Go, think Beck has earned the right to get his first test cap and Davies needs to be left alone at 13, like North needs to be kept on the wing, no need to tinker with anything imo

Should be a natural fit. The coaches were pretty confident in starting Beck when Roberts was doubtful during the 6 nations.
We shouldn't worry about losing any physicality, we've still got North, Cuthbert and Davies! Roberts's defence will be the main thing we will miss against the diminutive but rapid Aussie backs, Beck will have to watch out for inside balls to Ioane and co.

Agree with you there Loosehead. Hughes would be a good call up or perhaps an extra back 3 player/flyhalf to cover for North in the centre.

I would go with Sc Williams 12 and JD2 at 13. They are both narurally 12s but JD2 has the pace to play 13 at test level.

So I didn't vote!

martyr_94 wrote:

gowales wrote:Beck and Davies for me Martyr

I'm with you Go, think Beck has earned the right to get his first test cap and Davies needs to be left alone at 13, like North needs to be kept on the wing, no need to tinker with anything imo

Well if you don't want to tinker, then you should go the relatively new, relatively untried but thoroughly tested Scott Williams, who at 13 would be superb in the defensive role as much as the offensive strike partner outside of Jon Davies, a more natural 12 than Williams or the impressive Beck (who deffo should go as a bench option).

I would start Beck in the 2nd test maybe at inside centre with Williams at 13

All bodes well for you guys

ps.....Sorry but Hook is playing 10 in France, so why bring him back to centre for your summer series

flyhalffactory wrote:

martyr_94 wrote:

gowales wrote:Beck and Davies for me Martyr

I'm with you Go, think Beck has earned the right to get his first test cap and Davies needs to be left alone at 13, like North needs to be kept on the wing, no need to tinker with anything imo

Well if you don't want to tinker, then you should go the relatively new, relatively untried but thoroughly tested Scott Williams, who at 13 would be superb in the defensive role as much as the offensive strike partner outside of Jon Davies, a more natural 12 than Williams or the impressive Beck (who deffo should go as a bench option).

I would start Beck in the 2nd test maybe at inside centre with Williams at 13

All bodes well for you guys

ps.....Sorry but Hook is playing 10 in France, so why bring him back to centre for your summer series

North's playing winger in Wales, why bring him in as a centre for the summer series? hook should be in because outside of the four players previously mentioned he is the best centre available.

Beck and Davis would be pretty exciting.

Looseheaded wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:

martyr_94 wrote:

gowales wrote:Beck and Davies for me Martyr

I'm with you Go, think Beck has earned the right to get his first test cap and Davies needs to be left alone at 13, like North needs to be kept on the wing, no need to tinker with anything imo

Well if you don't want to tinker, then you should go the relatively new, relatively untried but thoroughly tested Scott Williams, who at 13 would be superb in the defensive role as much as the offensive strike partner outside of Jon Davies, a more natural 12 than Williams or the impressive Beck (who deffo should go as a bench option).

I would start Beck in the 2nd test maybe at inside centre with Williams at 13

All bodes well for you guys

ps.....Sorry but Hook is playing 10 in France, so why bring him back to centre for your summer series

North's playing winger in Wales, why bring him in as a centre for the summer series? hook should be in because outside of the four players previously mentioned he is the best centre available.

Taking that its a summer tour and you should be looking at developemt

1. Hook has not played centre for over a season
2, There are some players who are on FORM and have POTENTIAL

At 12 Dragons Ashley Smith is currently a better option and potentially offers much more going forward
At 13 Ospreys Andrew Bishop is playing very very well, certainly against Treviso he was superb alongside Beck providing so much space for Beck to operate

Bishop isn't national class imo, a decent club player but outshone by Beck since the latter entered the fold. Also prone to the odd unforced error or two, I wouldn't consider him unless we were in a dire state with injuries.

I've gone for Beck and Davies. Realistically the centre combo will probably rotate at least once along the three tests, giving Scott Williams his chance. Hook is a utility bench option if anything. My personal pecking order is: Davies, Williams, Beck, North, Hook...........................................................Bishop.

Bishop is certainly a backwards step. I backed him before but he went on to prove he is not international standard, formed one of the worlds worst midfields with an old aged and past it Shanklin. Not sure about Ashley Smith, that's a big gamble imo.

I thought Williams at 12 with Davies at 13 was effective against England. I feel if Davies goes back to 12 then it again leaves a void at 13. Beck has been impressive all season so wouldn't mind him being given a start. I wonder if Gatland mixes it up slightly with a strong bench for the baa-baa's. That is a game I will definitely be going to the Stadium to watch.

I voted for Beck & Davies anyway because I have not heard any updates on Scott Williams' injury.

Andrew Bishop at 26 is certainly not a backward step, might not be in vogue and might not suit the style of Welsh play at the moment but you haven't a better defensive midfield player in Wales IMHO.

Depends on the opposition and how they suss out the Welsh tactics

But I would say Morgannwg that Beck certainly could do a job, he is not as defensively sound as Williams and would not be able to cover Davies's runs as well as his Scarlet colleague does

Seagultaf wrote:I would go with Sc Williams 12 and JD2 at 13. They are both narurally 12s but JD2 has the pace to play 13 at test level.

So I didn't vote!

I know they both think of themselves as natural 12s but I've never quite understood that. JD2 maybe to some extent although he has really adapted well to the 13 spot for Wales this season. SW on the other hand strikes me as very much a natural 13 - pace, great outside break on him. I can't really see what would make him more of a 12. Neither of them have great distribution skills either..

12 Beck/Henson
13 JD2/SW

leave North where he is please!

What about Adam Hughes? I've always thought he looked a tidy player.

Sorry flyhalffactory but Ashley Smith and Bishop are nowhere near international class, both are average club player nothing more. No offence but maybe in Scotland you're alright with mediocrity, not here in Wales mate

Stephen Shingler could be an interesting player to take as the reserve centre. Covers flyhalf centre and fullback.

I have chosed Davies and Williams but I think they will be the other way around, why that option is not there though I do not know.

gone for beck/davies although I would prefer it to be Foxy at 12 and Beck at 13.

Please leave George on the wing, he's still learning out there, don't mess it up for him now.

Went for 12. Beck/13.JD2

Hope we'll also see the following at some point.

12. Sc Williams/13.JD2
12. Beck/13.Sc Williams

I can see the ospreys doing well til the end of the season, and that'll bode well for Becks selection, his offensive game has been out of this world this season too, Bishop is starting to look a good foil for him, I preferred Parker to start for them earlier in the season, said it all about bishop, but hes starting to up his game as he did a few seasons ago.

Just out of interest when/if is Hanno Dirkson qualified. I get the feeling North may be moved to 13 for a bit of muscle in the centre and Dirkson looks like he has great potential.

Dirksen would have to pass the returning Stoddart first, he was our FB until his pre-WC injury. He is also equally at home on the wing, I can see Dirksen being used as a centre though, think thats where he sepnt most of his youth...

Has Stoddart recovered yet? I hadn't seen him play....!

im sure i read somewhere he'd be available for the trip to aus but now im struggling to find anything on it.....

... maybe i made it up and everyone can ignore me

12. Henson
13. Hook

the aussies would shoite themselves.

Comfort - he was due to be back playing at the end of March but he suffered a set back. doesn't look like he'll be playing any rugby this season at all

RD - ahhhh i knew I didnt dream it. Thats terrible, he'd be a very exciting addition to that backline, and between Cuthbert/North/Halfpenny/Stoddart he have 4 wingers with 2 who are very good at FB.

He was starting to look like the player he'd always threateend to be pre-WC.

I know, he's just had such complete horrible luck with injuries, and his last one was a proper proper nasty one.

Fingers crossed when he gets a full pre-season in he'll be back even better in September.

That would be the best thing dreamer, but we shouldn't expect him to be exactly like the player he was. He might lose a yard or two of pace after this latest one

gowales, its true, fingers and toes crossed he can come back with the same spring in his step, his footwork and speed were his real danger assets.

Liam Williams looked good on the weekend aswell mind, he wont be far off making the tour to Oz (and pushing for a bench place with Roberts not touring).

Liam (or Sanjay to Scarlet fans!) has been a revelation this season. He's already been involved with the Wales squad so I'd say he's guaranteed to go on the Oz tour.

It's been ages since I've seen a young player with such a fearless attitude, and he always looks to run the ball. A really good find for us this season

gowershowerpower wrote:12. Henson
13. Hook

the aussies would shoite themselves.

Yep, they'd be laughing that hard

9. Genia
10. Cooper/O'Connor
11. Mitchell
12. O'Connor/Barnes
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Digby Ioane
15. Kurtley Beale

I did wonder who this Sanjay was!

Yeah, I know he was involved with the 6nations squad but was released back to the scarlets for their games from what i remember.......?

He should make the Oz tour as long as his form continues, a nice contrast to Halfpenny at FB too. Seems very strong for his size too.

You guys are producing some classy backs its gotta be said.

We aren't really sure whether he's a wing or FB. He's great under the high ball but doesn't have the best boot on him.

He's just utterly fearless. It's so refreshing to ahve someone with his attitude in a squad, even if I fear for him at times! And then don't get me started on his bendy legs....have never seen a pro player with legs like it before!

Ah yeah our backs are coming good at the moment, just wish we had some 2nd rows or TH's to go with it!

I think this will work well for Wales as IMO Roberts for all his attributes is not the player Beck is and I think Beck offers a lot more - Davies and Beck offer both power and guile and along with Scott Williams make up a great centre pairing. I'm actually not averse to seeing George in there as well