Wales squad announced

First topic message reminder :

FORWARDS: Ryan BEVINGTON, Luke CHARTERIS, Bradley DAVIES, Ian EVANS, Toby FALETAU, Rhys GILL, Richard HIBBARD, Paul JAMES, Gethin JENKINS, Adam JONES, Alun Wyn JONES, Rhodri JONES, Ryan JONES, Dan LYDIATE, Ken OWENS, Matthew REES, Aaron SHINGLER, Justin TIPURIC, Josh TURNBULL, Sam WARBURTON, Martyn WILLIAMS

BACKS: Ashley BECK, Dan BIGGAR, Andrew BISHOP, Aled BREW, Alex CUTHBERT, Jonathan DAVIES, Leigh HALFPENNY, Will HARRIES, James HOOK, George NORTH, Mike PHILLIPS, Rhys PRIESTLAND, Harry ROBINSON, Rhys WEBB, Lloyd WILLIAMS, Scott WILLIAMS, Liam WILLIAMS

..............................................................

Props
Gethin Jenkins
Adam Jones
Ryan Bevington
Paul James
Rhys Gill
Rhodri Jones

Only 1 recognised THP? No Craig Mitchell...seems strange

Hookers
Matthew Rees
Ken Owens
Richard Hibbard

Locks
Luke Charteris
Ian Evans
Alun Wyn Jones
Bradley Davies

Backrow
Dan Lydiate
Sam Warburton
Toby Faletau
Ryan Jones
Justin Tipuric
Aaron Shingler
Josh Turnball
Martyn Williams

Scrum-Halfs
Mike Phillips
Lloyd Williams
Rhys Webb

Fly-Halfs
Rhys Preistland
James Hook
Dan Biggar

Centres
Jonathon Davies
Scott Williams
Ashley Beck
Andrew Bishop

Would have rather seen Hughes than Bishop!

Back 3
George North
Alex Cuthbert
Leigh Halfpenny
Liam Williams
Harry Robinson
Aled Brew
Will Harries

Is Lee Byrne out injured? - Would have prefered him to Brew!

Bishop is a decent selection. very good defensively and has developed a good partnership with Beck for the Osprey's, won't let anyone down imo.

Surprised with Harries selection, would have preferred like many to see Hughes, eh's been superb this season for the Dragons and can also cover wing. Brew is a bit of a surprise but can always offer something.

Would like to see Webb start over Williams, Hook to also get a start with Biggar given 15mins.

Good squad you could pick two different packs out of that and both would murder the Australian scrum, remember lads all this talk of no Adam huges and who will play centre is meaningless if our forwards don't secure good line out ball and prevent turnovers, I would be pretty confident in any combination of players from 9 to 15 if our forwards man up and don't make mistakes.
Looking forward to this tour

Remember Bishop has been in the winning side for Wales against Australia before,experience is worth its weight in gold

Unusual feeling to have before the summer tour as a welsh fan,but it's exciting to see such strength in the Welsh set up

Im a bit suprised Byrne isnt in and would have taken him instead of Harris guven hes in sparkling form and Harris is coming back from a dreadful injury.

No mitchell is a suprise as well but the Ozzies dont have the power up front to challenge us if Adam is injured.

BaaBaas team

1. Rhys Gill
2. Ken Owens (for me, he should be first choice - but Howley is taking Rees out to Aus early as he is injured - so give Owens some gametime)
3. Paul James (dependant on Baabaas front row)
4. Bradley Davies
5. Luke Charteris
6. Josh Turnball
7. Aaron Shinger (Howley has stated)
8. Toby Faletau
9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Aled Brew
12. Ashley Beck
13. Andrew Bishop
14. Will Harries
15. Liam Williams

16. Ryan Bevington
17. Richard Hibbard
18. Ryan Jones
19. Martyn Williams
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Scott Williams


Advanced party (12)
Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Mike Phillips, Rhys Preistland, Jonathon Davies, George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert


Test team
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Ian Evans
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Scott Williams
13. Jonathon Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Ken Owens
17. Paul James
18. Alun Wyn Jones
19. Ryan Jones
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Ashley Beck

viewtothegym wrote:Unusual feeling to have before the summer tour as a welsh fan,but it's exciting to see such strength in the Welsh set up

It is very exciting to see so much competition and talent emerging and all so young too.

Adam missed the last two encounters against Aus and they then had the upper hand in the scrum. I'm suprised anyone would say otherwise considering he is the only TH in the squad. I still think a lot depends on Adam and then AWJ and Evans in the 2nd row, both of whom shall miss the first test.

Bishop is just impotent. The pacey Aussies in the backs will be too quick for him. IMO the Ospreys attack would be 10 times better if they had a 13 similar to O'Driscoll outside Beck. Bishop or Issacs so far just haven't complemented all the work he does.

Morgannwg wrote:Adam missed the last two encounters against Aus and they then had the upper hand in the scrum. I'm suprised anyone would say otherwise considering he is the only TH in the squad. I still think a lot depends on Adam and then AWJ and Evans in the 2nd row, both of whom shall miss the first test.

Bishop is just impotent. The pacey Aussies in the backs will be too quick for him. IMO the Ospreys attack would be 10 times better if they had a 13 similar to O'Driscoll outside Beck. Bishop or Issacs so far just haven't complemented all the work he does.

I know. If Davies and Williams were not fit I would have liked to have seen Beck and Hughes in the centre, at least for the Baa Baa's.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/05/14/wedding-dates-give-wales-selection-problems-for-first-test-in-australia-91466-30966286/


It looks like the entire starting 15 will miss the Baabaas game (+ Tipuric I guess).

Also AWJ will play against the Baabaas, but as he cant fly out early, he will only make the bench for the first Aussie test.

That's good then . AWJ will probably captain the team. Very impressed with him lately; wears his heart across his sleeve, massive work horse and big ball carrier.

Is this squad largely gatland selected or is he still at the bottom of the ladder so to speak.

Looks like a good squad. Mostly familiar names. Good to see the squads all being named for this all NH assault down under. Emotions are starting to rise again with less than four weeks till the first tests for some.

It will be interesting to see how Ashley Beck goes and whether he'll get a run out on tour.

Australian fan licking my lips. Can't see Wales getting within 10 points in any of the tests. Depending on the state of the Brumbies roster at that time it could be 0/4.

BeachBoy2012 wrote:Australian fan licking my lips. Can't see Wales getting within 10 points in any of the tests. Depending on the state of the Brumbies roster at that time it could be 0/4.

HEY EVERYONE! THIS GUY WANTS ATTENTION - EVERYONE TALK TO HIM!

Whoa! Just making an observation! If I wanted attention I could streak at the Cardiff City Stadium, in front of a full house... Oh wait! That wouldn't get anyones attention... only be 7 people there!

Only just seen squad, few surprises for me, really glad to see Brew in there but am surprised, also Harries thought he had dropped right off radar.

Biggest surprise for me is no Byrne - any ideas as to why

Because he's a dope who has a set of calamitous mistakes in him when playing against the best?

No since when has that mattered...

So has GreyGhost returned to as after pretending to be English and then Japanese? Now he's an Aussie. Wonder what his social life is like (if any)?

bedfordwelsh wrote:Only just seen squad, few surprises for me, really glad to see Brew in there but am surprised, also Harries thought he had dropped right off radar.

Biggest surprise for me is no Byrne - any ideas as to why

Read a few posts up and a couple of lads suggested he might have an injury and others that he is still involved with Clermont Auvergne.

Not sure which is right but both make sense.

Clermont Auvergne may well have a cup game then so hes on stand by. No mystery....

munkian wrote:Clermont Auvergne may well have a cup game then so hes on stand by. No mystery....

Yep, Top14 final I think (or semi?) - Byrne is on standbye for the tour afterwards (I don't know if that means he will go or wont because he isn't there for the initial training session) - Personally, I hope he goes, he is playing very well at the moment and perhaps starting to show the form of 2009 when he was the best in the NH until he was injured and Kearney emerged for the Lions.

martyr_94 wrote:Would like to see Webb start over Williams

I agree with this. Lloyd Williams is a good player but Rhys Webb seems to have more of a spark about him. Then again, Lloyd Williams would have fared better this season if he'd been playing behind the Ospreys' pack.

I hope Byrne gets a shot, he was superb in 2008/9 - would love to see him in good form in a Welsh shirt again.

Adam missed the last two encounters against Aus and they then had the upper hand in the scrum. I'm suprised anyone would say otherwise considering he is the only TH in the squad. I still think a lot depends on Adam and then AWJ and Evans in the 2nd row, both of whom shall miss the first test.

Why is AWJ missing the first test? I know Evans is getting but why is AWJ not available?

Think his sister is getting married not long before it bedford. There's a chance he might make the bench or something.

AWJ has his sisters wedding, he wont be arriving in Australia until later than the rest of the squad but he is still likely to be on the bench for the first test.

I wouldn't care if I was the selector, I'd still start AWJ and reunite him with his world cup partner Charteris. Alun was billed to be world class when he first arrived on the international scene but didn't back it up after a good first season. I reckon he's backing it up now, the guy is in scintillating form and has been since before the world cup.

Alun and the Welsh coaching team have stated that 'family comes first' so I'm not sure what you mean Morgannwg ?

I think you have misunderstood. I have been informed that AWJ will be late to fly down-under due to the wedding, meaning he would miss some early training sessions with the first team. NAtrually that would harm his chances of starting. I was saying if I was the selector I would put him into the first team the moment he arrives such is his importance to the team.

I think Howleys comments were uncalled for,

"We are extremely grateful to the French Rugby Union and the individual clubs involved for taking this step.

"It is a gesture which will undoubtedly benefit the players and I know they will want to thank their individual clubs for helping them fulfil their international commitments with Wales.

"It is an example of northern hemisphere rugby working in unity for the benefit of our players and the game in general."

This is a dig at English clubs for not releasing Welsh players, it was unnecessary IMO as they aren’t in the wrong.

Well I suppose it is technically the 'off' season.

HERSH wrote:I think Howleys comments were uncalled for,

"We are extremely grateful to the French Rugby Union and the individual clubs involved for taking this step.

"It is a gesture which will undoubtedly benefit the players and I know they will want to thank their individual clubs for helping them fulfil their international commitments with Wales.

"It is an example of northern hemisphere rugby working in unity for the benefit of our players and the game in general."

This is a dig at English clubs for not releasing Welsh players, it was unnecessary IMO as they aren’t in the wrong.

We need a violin emoticon

We also need evidence of this 'dig at English clubs' because there's none in what Hersh has quoted.

If the English clubs have done nothing wrong why would Howley 'dig' at them ?

Because!

Because what?

HERSH wrote:I think Howleys comments were uncalled for,

"We are extremely grateful to the French Rugby Union and the individual clubs involved for taking this step.

"It is a gesture which will undoubtedly benefit the players and I know they will want to thank their individual clubs for helping them fulfil their international commitments with Wales.

"It is an example of northern hemisphere rugby working in unity for the benefit of our players and the game in general."

This is a dig at English clubs for not releasing Welsh players, it was unnecessary IMO as they aren’t in the wrong.

Do you want any salt and vinegar with that massive chip?

HERSH wrote:Because!

Ahh the wonderful world of Hersh captures us again...

We all know it was a dig aimed at Premier Rugby and The RFU.

It was uncalled for, I wonder if Gatland told him to say it?

HERSH wrote:We all know it was a dig aimed at Premier Rugby and The RFU.

It was uncalled for, I wonder if Gatland told him to say it?

I have heard Gats can drink a glass of water whilst Howley is talking.

A Puppet with a Muppet, they should go on BGT

HERSH wrote:We all know it was a dig aimed at Premier Rugby and The RFU.

It was uncalled for, I wonder if Gatland told him to say it?

Using the royal 'we' is it Hersh?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

HERSH wrote:We all know it was a dig aimed at Premier Rugby and The RFU.

It was uncalled for, I wonder if Gatland told him to say it?

Using the royal 'we' is it Hersh?

Either that or he has worms.

Is Gatland playing mind games with you again HERSH?

Maybe you should make yourself one of those tin foil hats?