Possible changes for Wales ahead of their Second Test

I don't think anybody managed to see the game against the brumbies as it wasn't televised but from listening to commentary what are people's opinions on changes for the second test. which players stood out?

Hook- seems he had a pretty decent game, missed a few kicks but we would have HP taking the kicks anyway. I think a combination of this game and priestland's poor form means hook should start at 10.

Webb- I don't think anyone doubts that he should be on the bench ahead of williams, phillips' form is not too great either but i don't see Howley dropping Phillips at all

Tipuric-there's already a thread on this but he has way too much quality to not even make the bench. He won't start but if he doesn't make the bench i will be so

Beck-seems he had a good game today, might even have earned himself a starting place

Other wing if north cannot play- robinson? (didn't hear his name once) or hp to wing and liam williams at fb? not too confident about either, would have liked to see robinson but if he had a poor game (or unexistent) today then maybe worth rethinking

Hibbard- IMO should be bench, seems to have had a good game, might even start ahead of Rees? doubt it though.

Second Row- AWJ for sure, i'm not sure how evans did today but would probably go with him.

i would have

10. Hook
12. Beck
8. R.Jones
4. AWJ

and Tipuric on bench.

the rest i'd keep the same, if North is out then HP to wing, Hook at FB

and also Webb on bench

Pot Noodle Miner wrote:i would have

10. Hook
12. Beck
8. R.Jones
4. AWJ

and Tipuric on bench.

the rest i'd keep the same, if North is out then HP to wing, Hook at FB

Pot,

I was all in agreement until I got to the Hook at XV bit please for the love of God no. He's not a XV and scares the hell out of me everytime he plays there.

If North is out then I would rather we went with Brew (know he got injured today) or even Robinson on the wing or put Liam Williams at XV and Halfpenny on wing.

For me if Hook is to start then it has to be at 10 or nowhere

Halfpenny stays at 15 no matter what

4. AWJ
5. Ian Evans
8. Ryan Jones
10. James Hook
12. Beck (maybe)

606,

No argument from me on that one

I would have gone with byrne if he were in the squad and the circumstances had been different but i havnt seen enough of liam williams to say hes an international fb, he has potential but i dont think hes ready yet and the same goes for harry robinson, the only other option is brew and i think i'd prefer hook at fb with hp and cuthbert on the wings.
Hopefully north will be fit and we wont have this dilemma

Is Byrne still involved with Clermont, couldn't he have flown out later like AWJ and Evans?

Please, please, please keep Halfpenny at FB - he is the only one of our back 3 options with the defence to play FB, especially without Byrne on the tour.

My changes would be

AWJ - 4
I Evans - 5
R Jones - 8
Hook - 10
Beck - 12

Hibbard - 16
Davies/Shingler (Ryan J would go to lock if Shingler was on the bench) - 18
Tipuric - 19
Webb - 20

If North is out i'd start Brew, if Brew is out lol i'd start Robinson
If Scott W is out i'd have Liam W on the bench

Ospreys represent

I think some of the players today really put their hands up. My Team would be

1. Gethin
2. Rees
3. Adam
4. Ianto
5. AWJ
6. Dan
7. Sam
8. Ryan
9. Spikey
10. Hook
11. North (Robinson if he and Brew are out)
12. Beck
13. JD
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Paul James
17. Hibbard
18. Bradley
19. Tips
20. Webb
21. Priestland
22. Bishop I guess. if Sc Williams is out

TycroesOsprey wrote:I think some of the players today really put their hands up. My Team would be

1. Gethin
2. Rees
3. Adam
4. Ianto
5. AWJ
6. Dan
7. Sam
8. Ryan
9. Spikey
10. Hook
11. North (Robinson if he and Brew are out)
12. Beck
13. JD
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Paul James
17. Hibbard
18. Bradley
19. Tips
20. Webb
21. Priestland
22. Bishop I guess. if Sc Williams is out

I agree with that side, although I would start with Owens. He did nothing wrong on Saturday and didn't miss a line out. With Ianto and AWJ back as a partnership, he will have two very good line out catchers to aim for. Although he wasn't his usual self in the loose, neither were many of the pack. He did nothing to deserve to be dropped, Rees didn't add much when he came on. So, Hibbard onto the bench instead of Rees, bring him on after 60 mins.

If current injured come through I would go for:

1. Jenkins
2. Rees
3. A Jones
4. Evans
5. AWJ
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. R Jones

9. Phillips
10. Hook

11. North (Brew or Robinson depending on injuries)
12. Beck
13. JD
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. James
17. Owens
18. Delve (on my own on this one I know)
19. Tipuric
20. Webb
21. Priestland
22. Sc Williams (Bishop if injured)

I think Delve is great but again today in a welsh shirt he was anonymous. Ok it was a radio stream but he wasnt mentioned once. The Aussie commentators bigged him up when he came on but think that was cos it was the only player they knew anything about.

I think Delve would be better with Ryan at 6. Delve is more of a workhorse than a ball carrier these days.

At international level, Delve is more of a shadow than an 8,

1. Jenkins
2. Hibbard
3. Jones
4. Evans
5. AWJ
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Jones
9. Webb
10. Hook
11. North
12. Beck
13. Davies
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Owens / Rees
17. James
18. Bradley Davies
19. Tipuric
20. Phillips
21. Priestland
22. Scott Williams

IronMike wrote:1. Jenkins
2. Hibbard
3. Jones
4. Evans
5. AWJ
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Jones
9. Webb
10. Hook
11. North
12. Beck
13. Davies
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. Owens / Rees
17. James
18. Bradley Davies
19. Tipuric
20. Phillips
21. Priestland
22. Scott Williams

Yep, thats what I would go for - except I would still have your namesake starting.

What has Hibbard ever done in a Welsh shirt to warrant starting

Actually, i'll add Hibbard to start to my changes with Owens on the bench for impact.

How has Webb gone up the pecking order ahead of Lloyd Williams. He has ability but his decision making is at times just mad. He is as likely to throw a game as win it. Is Williams injured/

dragonbreath wrote:How has Webb gone up the pecking order ahead of Lloyd Williams. He has ability but his decision making is at times just mad. He is as likely to throw a game as win it. Is Williams injured/

Webb isnt ahead of Williams - Williams was on the bench on Saturday.

He should be however, as Williams is badly off form and Webb is a very creative, on form player. From a Blues fan.

I think you make a case for Webb to start the game. Hes the form welsh scrum- half, hes like Peel but more physical.

Wales don't need a big SH the forward do the donkey work, we need someone quick with the ability to speed the game up. Webb is very much in the same mold as Genia, a fast sniping SH who can spot a gap but also someone with quality service. I'm not suggesting for one second that Webb is as good as Genia but they play play similar styles.

Nothing frightens a defense more the pace, and Webb has that in abundance

2. Hibbard
4. AWJ
5. Ian Evans
6. Warburton (don't tell me he can't)
7. Tipuric
8. Ryan Jones
10. Hook
12. Beck

The general view seems to be, bring in more Ospreys, lets be honest, there the only form players in the squad, no one else has played for weeks