Wales Team vs The Babas

So we are a fortnight away from the Babas match and whilst there is still a couple of games left, the squad has been announced with Nugget assured a place on the bench. Heres my thoughts on the team Howley is going to pick and the fifteen going to Oz early. We also have various wedding commitments which forces the hand selecting the locks.

Babas Team/Australia XV

1. Rhys Gill/Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens/Matthew Rees
3. Paul James/Adam Jones
4. Ian Evans/Bradley Davies
5. AWJ/Luke Charteris
6. Shingler/ Dan Lydiate
7. Tipuric/ Sam Warburton (c)
8. Ryan Jones (c)/ Toby Faletau
9. Lloyd Williams/ Mike Phillips
10. James Hook/ Rhys Priestland
11. Aled Brew/ George North
12. Ashley Beck/ JD2
13. Andrew Bishop/ Scott Williams
14. Harry Robinson/ AleX Cuthbert
15. Liam Williams/ Leigh Halfpenny

16. Ryan Bevvington
17. Richie Hibbard
18. Josh Turnbull
19. Martin Williams
20. Rhys Webb
21. Dan Biggar
22. Wil Harries

Spares - Rhodri Jones

I'd love to see those two teams play each other, as in the old Probables vs. Possibles fixtures. It would be very close.

Id start dan biggar and richard hibbard against the babaas, id also be tempted to start webb as hes been very lively this season and imo in much better form than l.williams, how didnt craig mitchel even make the squad? Is he injured? It looks as though james has been taken as adam jones' back up.

YOu know for all my criticism of Biggar I sort of agree with you. Thing is the Ospreys will have played a week before whilst the other players will have been with the squad. Even looking at the first xv only Adam is there from the Ospreys which is going to make our preperation for the first test more comprehensive as the team will have had a couple of weeks to get back into the welsh systems rather than regional ones. compare that to the Ozzies who are in the midst of the super xv and have to play the scots four days before us.

Biggar has matured he deserves selection on his current form.

All early reports suggest that the majority of the GS starting XV will be going to Oz early to prepare for the 1st test so I am guessing that the No10 slot will be between Hook and Biggar.

For me, and I have criticised him in the past, I would start with Biggar.

BaaBaas

1. Rhys Gill
2. Ken Owens (though he should be first choice imo)
3. Paul James
4. Alun Wyn Jones (forced)
5. Ian Evans (forced)
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Justin Tipuric (If he is staying and they are only taking 15 ahead)
8. Ryan Jones (would rather have him resting in Aus)
9. Lloyd Williams
10. James Hook (Biggar and Webb at 50mins)
11. Harry Robinson
12. Ashley Beck
13. Andrew Bishop (:/)
14. Will Harries (Brew is leaving next season)
15. Liam Williams

16. Ryan Bevington
17. Richard Hibbard
18. Josh Turnball
19. Martyn Williams
20. Rhys Webb
21. Dan Biggar
22. Aled Brew


Test team

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
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. Paul James
17. Ken Owens
18. Alun Wyn Jones
19. Ryan Jones (Why can't I fit Tipuric on the bench!)
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Ashley Beck

JD and Williams play 12/13 for the scarlets so I expect them to do the same for Wales. Brew leaving shouldnt affect his position, Harries is coming back from injury and can be eased back in from the bench after Brew has battered them a bit. Also Brew is a realistic call up if one of our monsters is injured whilst Harries realistically needs a pre season and a lot more gametime before he is considered.

TycroesOsprey wrote:JD and Williams play 12/13 for the scarlets so I expect them to do the same for Wales. Brew leaving shouldnt affect his position, Harries is coming back from injury and can be eased back in from the bench after Brew has battered them a bit. Also Brew is a realistic call up if one of our monsters is injured whilst Harries realistically needs a pre season and a lot more gametime before he is considered.

Internationally, JD2 has been an excellent 13 - I would keep him there for Wales (just as Roberts used to alternate between 12 and 13 for Wales and the Blues)

Can you guys honestly believe that apart from Ian Evans and AWJ, the test team in its entirety will be sent out to OZ early, for a start it is condescending to the BaaBaas squad and basically giving the team away to Robbie Deans even before we get out there, even though most of the team picks itself injury permitting.

606,

What has Brew leaving next season got to do with Harries starting over him when you have James and Hook in the starting XV?

bedfordwelsh wrote:606,

What has Brew leaving next season got to do with Harries starting over him when you have James and Hook in the starting XV?

Brew can't get selected when playing in Wales, he won't when he is in France - Harries will be back at the Dragons with a full pre-season and a chance to impress. Harries is the longer term option and giving Brew a game isn't going to help him develop.

Fair one but I would still currently pick Brew over Harries who hasn't had much game time at all this past season.

The starting backlines for the Ba Baas game look very weak. Harries and Robinson are barely up to Regional standard at present. Neither of the 9s fills me with confidence. Bishop is solid at best and Beck looks a bit one paced.

I would start with Brew and Biggar at 10 with Hook in one of the centre berths. I think then Howey needs to look outside the squad at; Peel, Hughes (Dragons), Warren (Scarlets) also Eli Walker.

I'd like to see Biggar get a chance but otherwise a likely two teams.

I would go with:

1. Rhys Gill
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Paul James
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Ian Evans
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Ryan Jones (but give Turnbull a decent run)

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
11. Harry Robinson
12. Ashley Beck
13. James Hook
14. Aled Brew
15. Liam Williams

Seagultaf wrote:The starting backlines for the Ba Baas game look very weak. Harries and Robinson are barely up to Regional standard at present. Neither of the 9s fills me with confidence. Bishop is solid at best and Beck looks a bit one paced.

I would start with Brew and Biggar at 10 with Hook in one of the centre berths. I think then Howey needs to look outside the squad at; Peel, Hughes (Dragons), Warren (Scarlets) also Eli Walker.

606 good to see we're on the same page

Eli Walker... what the feck

bedfordwelsh wrote:I would go with:

1. Rhys Gill
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Paul James
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Ian Evans
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Ryan Jones (but give Turnbull a decent run)

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
11. Harry Robinson
12. Ashley Beck
13. James Hook
14. Aled Brew
15. Liam Williams

Bedford - I agree with this - if you aren't going to try a new front row now, then when?

Will look forward to Johnny Beattie bringing the biff to Ryan Jones.

gowales wrote:606 good to see we're on the same page

Eli Walker... what the feck

I have watched Harris, Harry Robinson and Eli Walker play this season and Walker has looked the best of these three. Not saying a lot I know but I fail to see what Harris and Robinson have done to get into the squad. Harris has only played a few games and Robinson got caught from behind by a pretty average second row last time I saw him play.

Nah Robinson has looked the best and he has the most potential that's mostly why he's there. Walker could be a solid average international (aka Mark Jones) but he will never be world class, Robinson could be

you must be getting Eli Walker mixed up with a decent winger Seagultaf.

From my understanding it's 12 players who are going with the advanced squad and both Warburton and Tuperic are included in that 12.

So according to Howley, it's going to be Shingler starting at 7 against the Baa Baas and Williams on the bench.

I'd go with Bedofords team - except Shingler would be 7 (for the above reason) with Turnbull (most likely) or Evans slotting into 6 and I'd like to see
Webb starting 9.

I do worry about messing Hook around again and putting him in at 13 - but agree he seems our best option

Smirnoffpriest wrote:From my understanding it's 12 players who are going with the advanced squad and both Warburton and Tuperic are included in that 12.

So according to Howley, it's going to be Shingler starting at 7 against the Baa Baas and Williams on the bench.

I'd go with Bedofords team - except Shingler would be 7 (for the above reason) with Turnbull (most likely) or Evans slotting into 6 and I'd like to see
Webb starting 9.

I do worry about messing Hook around again and putting him in at 13 - but agree he seems our best option

The starting 15 for the Australia test leave on May 31st according to the Fail not 12 including the two opensides?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17992775 The only link I could find is this one talking about Tipuric and Warbs most likely going in the Advanced guard (of 15 you are right) - but I had read a Western Fail article previously which said that it was 12 and the two open sides would be going.

It also says that Shingler will be starting 7 and Williams will be on the bench.

I will try and find the Fail article I read with a quote from Howley

Howley did say 12, but now says 15 and it will be the entire first team (so no place for Tipuric I guess? - Maybe now Warbs is fully fit they will play tips against the Baabaas with Shingler at 6)

wales606 wrote:Howley did say 12, but now says 15 and it will be the entire first team (so no place for Tipuric I guess? - Maybe now Warbs is fully fit they will play tips against the Baabaas with Shingler at 6)

Sounds likely espescially when there were doubts over warbs. NOw we know hes fit I guess planning is easier.

in regards to the front row i can see rhodri jones playing tighthead, young player, lots of promise and young enough to convert.

i want to see a backline of
9) webb- on fire for ospreys and looks hungry when he is on the pitch
10) Biggar- not a fan of his but last half of the season he has been superb and combining with webb will be good for him.
11) Harry Robinson- player of the future, just see how he plays, potential
12) Beck- another superb player this season, deserves a shot.
13) Hook- unfair on Hook as he has been playing 10 all season- but quality player and realistically if we have some injuries in Aus he may be asked to fill in
14) Brew (maybe swap wings with robinson)- never really shown a huge amount in a welsh shirt but he has a good work rate, he knows how to finish for a poor team (in regards to other pro 12 teams)
15) Liam Williams- if Lee byrne was able to play i would have him starting with Robinson on bench and Liam on wing.- shown alot of grit for a youngster, not afraid to get stuck in.

Scarlets have apparently said they won't try and convert him after considering it. So I hope Wales don't try it or we could have another P James - a player whose ok at TH but won't set the world alight, and now just a good but stead player at LH. Instead of a player who could be great at LH

I'd prefer to see Biggar start and Hook have a half/30mins off the bench.

I've never seen Eli Walker have a decent game.

Harries deserves another pop at it

Yup it's way to early to be talking about Walker and Warren for international honours

Warren ?

Warren could be there pretty soon - Same as happened to Scott Williams

Somebody earlier in the thread mentioned they'd like to see Walker, (Adam) Warren, Hughes and Peel in the Baa Baas squad

Ahhh, I don't think I've seen him.

Adam hughes

Def Biggles, top player