Morgan Stoddart close to Scarlets return.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19561505

hooray.

It was a truly devastating injury, and one that can end a career. I hope he can make a real return, he's suffered in the past and it may be difficult to return to the level, both in terms of fitness and form, he was at before it occurred. Let's not forget that, at the time it happened, he was about to start at 15 for Wales at the World Cup. When he returns, he may well find it hard to get in a Scarlets back 3, especially at 15, comprising North, Liam Williams and Fenby, who are either undroppable, in the case of North, or in excellent form.

That is good news. Hope he can get back to the level he was at.

Fantastic news, the lad just finds space with ease and really cleaned up his tackling technique just before he got injured.

Yup great news, hopefully they'll bring him and Dale Ford back slowly and that Stodds in particular will be back up to speed by the time the AIs are on, and then he'll have a great chance to get back up to speed when North and Liam are away with Wales.

It's mouth watering to think of a backline of Stoddart, Jon Davies, Scott Williams, North and Liam Williams... especially the way Stoddart linked up with Jon Davies, North and Priestland before his injury

Heard about it from Simon a few weeks back that he was close to being fit, so this is excellent news after so many set backs in his recovery. Chuffed for him and it'll be great to have him back and in some form before the internationals start. Expect him to be getting game time for Llanelli first up for a while mind.

Is it just me that doesn't rate Stoddart? Not WUMming. I'd like to hear more from fans of what his strong points are... because I can remember being rather relieved he was in the Welsh squad when playing Scotland.

Mind you I'd probably have him in our squad.

Nonetheless, horrible injury. Good luck to him.

If he proves he can still cut it at the pro level, he can come to the O's if he wants to be guaranteed first choice 15

He was in excellent form before his injury KaC. His abilitiy to take the ball into contact and beat the first defender was excellent. Great speed, great boot, great pass. Was prone to being a bit suspect in defence but that had massively imporved also. Hope he can get back to a similar level.

He also linked up really well with jd2,north and priestland and ud generally see whenever north or jd2 made a break stodds would b on their shoulder

It is good to hear he is almost back, but I would not get too excited. Last few time he has come back form a hefty layoff he has taken a good while to get back to form. I have a feeling that he will still be ropey aroud the AIs, and will be looking good just in time for the welsh squad to call him up (and knowing them injure him again).

Stoddart's linking with JD2 was fantastic to watch. I hope we see it return.

SS - I think the soonest Stodds will be involved with the Welsh squad is the 6Ns and he may even miss that.

Fingers crossed tho

Smirnoffpriest wrote:SS - I think the soonest Stodds will be involved with the Welsh squad is the 6Ns and he may even miss that.

Fingers crossed tho

Priest - I wold rather they kept him the hell away from it until next season anyway, just to be on the safe side. The national squad doesn't seem the safest place to be injurywise.

I know what you mean Wales do have a penchant for playing unfit players and injuring them, especially Scarlets players (and Roberts) so it seems!

I would like to see Stodds playing for Llanelli for a good month before coming into the Scarlets team, though Easterby seemed to suggest he could come straight in for the Scarlets.

And like you, I think it would be better for Stoddart to have a whole season with the Scarlets before any international duty, to ensure he has recovered.

I think Mark Jones will handle him the right way. I think he Mark played one half, then a match for Carmarthen Quins before returning for the Scarlets after his second knee reconstruction. So I would hope he would show the same sort of respect to Stodds, although knowing Stodds he probably just wants to get straight back in asap.

To be honest even if Stoddart hit the ground running and returned straight to his pre-injury form, he would struggle to get in the Welsh squad. Liam Williams has deservedly nailed himself into the squad with his form over the last twelve months, and with Cuthbert and North, along with Harry Robinson, Gatland's blue eyed boys on the wing, he would find it hard to make it ahead of the incumbents in any of the back 3 positions.

With Halfpenny's unbelievable international form since the 6N/being the only reliable kicker in the side, his performances negate the fact that, in reality, he isn't actually a full back. Liam Williams is clearly next in line, and you'd have to say that Gatland/Howley probably still haven't given up on the idea of playing Hook at 15 'just for him to be on the pitch', regardless of the wisdom (or lack of) of putting at full back. I'd say 15 is the only place Stoddart could get in the team/squad, too many options on the wing, whereas the lack of depth at full back may give him an opportunity, but the AI is definitely too soon, and I don't understand the logic of Howley calling him up in the 6N if both Halfpenny and Liam are fit, as the latter definitely deserves game time for his form.

In conclusion, I'd say we're safe for now. Break him in slowly, let him build up his confidence in the prem for a few weeks then introduce him off the bench, because to be honest, let alone Wales, it would be difficult to see him starting if we have Fenby, North and Liam available.

Brew has been playing really well for Biarritz as well

Miaw - Fenby probably deserves a call come the autumn

miaow wrote:To be honest even if Stoddart hit the ground running and returned straight to his pre-injury form, he would struggle to get in the Welsh squad. Liam Williams has deservedly nailed himself into the squad with his form over the last twelve months, and with Cuthbert and North, along with Harry Robinson, Gatland's blue eyed boys on the wing, he would find it hard to make it ahead of the incumbents in any of the back 3 positions.

With Halfpenny's unbelievable international form since the 6N/being the only reliable kicker in the side, his performances negate the fact that, in reality, he isn't actually a full back. Liam Williams is clearly next in line, and you'd have to say that Gatland/Howley probably still haven't given up on the idea of playing Hook at 15 'just for him to be on the pitch', regardless of the wisdom (or lack of) of putting at full back. I'd say 15 is the only place Stoddart could get in the team/squad, too many options on the wing, whereas the lack of depth at full back may give him an opportunity, but the AI is definitely too soon, and I don't understand the logic of Howley calling him up in the 6N if both Halfpenny and Liam are fit, as the latter definitely deserves game time for his form.

In conclusion, I'd say we're safe for now. Break him in slowly, let him build up his confidence in the prem for a few weeks then introduce him off the bench, because to be honest, let alone Wales, it would be difficult to see him starting if we have Fenby, North and Liam available.

If Stoddart was at pre-injury form he would definitely make the squad. After Cuthbert and North, we have few options on the wing other than moving Halfpenny or playing young Robinson (who is not tested on a regional level yet for a start). Stoddart would be 3rd choice wing and may well get gametime with North an Cuthbert's chance of injury.

I can see in around 3 months time Stodds taking Fenby's place in the Scarlets side (always preferred him on the wing) though it will be really good to have Liam and Stodds switching postitions throughout the season and during games to confuse the oppostion (and even Fenby as well).

I then think there'll be a big battle between Liam and Stodds next season for a Wales spot, and it could well push Robinson out of contention.

wales606 wrote:

miaow wrote:To be honest even if Stoddart hit the ground running and returned straight to his pre-injury form, he would struggle to get in the Welsh squad. Liam Williams has deservedly nailed himself into the squad with his form over the last twelve months, and with Cuthbert and North, along with Harry Robinson, Gatland's blue eyed boys on the wing, he would find it hard to make it ahead of the incumbents in any of the back 3 positions.

With Halfpenny's unbelievable international form since the 6N/being the only reliable kicker in the side, his performances negate the fact that, in reality, he isn't actually a full back. Liam Williams is clearly next in line, and you'd have to say that Gatland/Howley probably still haven't given up on the idea of playing Hook at 15 'just for him to be on the pitch', regardless of the wisdom (or lack of) of putting at full back. I'd say 15 is the only place Stoddart could get in the team/squad, too many options on the wing, whereas the lack of depth at full back may give him an opportunity, but the AI is definitely too soon, and I don't understand the logic of Howley calling him up in the 6N if both Halfpenny and Liam are fit, as the latter definitely deserves game time for his form.

In conclusion, I'd say we're safe for now. Break him in slowly, let him build up his confidence in the prem for a few weeks then introduce him off the bench, because to be honest, let alone Wales, it would be difficult to see him starting if we have Fenby, North and Liam available.

If Stoddart was at pre-injury form he would definitely make the squad. After Cuthbert and North, we have few options on the wing other than moving Halfpenny or playing young Robinson (who is not tested on a regional level yet for a start). Stoddart would be 3rd choice wing and may well get gametime with North an Cuthbert's chance of injury.

Don't forget Liam Williams can play on the wing, and a scary (but good) thought - if Prydie keeps playing as well as he is, then he could easily be in contention and would give another kicking option.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Miaw - Fenby probably deserves a call come the autumn

I'd agree with that, but just like Brew, Fenby strikes me as the kind of player who will excel at regional or club level, but not necessarily make the step up. Whereas with Brew I think it was due to the infrequency of touching the ball when making the step up to Wales due to the pace/nature of international rugby, thus not having as many opportunities to dominate/create in the way he did at the Dragons, with Fenby I'm just not sure if he conforms with what an international winger is these days, especially under Gatland.

If you look at the players he has fast tracked; North in some respects, but certainly with Cuthbert and Robinson; they're highly conditioned, big, strong and lightning. Robinson may not be tall, but he's stocky and solid in the way Halfpenny is. Fenby is neither incredibly quick nor strong: I'd argue he possibly has a better 'rugby brain' than both the Blues' wingers, he has excellent awareness, loves an offload, and is a footballer in the truest sense, but will he make the squad ahead of the likes of Brew? He is, unfortunately, the wrong side of 25 as well, and with no international experience, I'd say selection policy is against him. I'm trying to think from the selectors' point of view; I'd say, form alone, he would deserve a call up, I just don't believe it will happen. They want a winger who, given a quarter of a chance, will take it: Cuthbert did this in exemplary fashion in Australia, and I'm not sure Fenby could do that. Look at Iestyn or, especially, Rhys Thomas this time last year and during the 6N. With Adam Jones' fitness under question, Gatland went for questionable selections in the position, opting for 'youth'/academy conditioned players over Rhys Thomas' form, which was brilliant in the scrums and loose. In many ways it has worked: North, Cuthbert, arguably Robinson, have slotted into international rugby perfectly. But then, for every North there's an Andy Powell, who has all the conditioning but none of the skill.


Wales606, I hope this answers the question over where Stoddart fits in. Stoddart's footballing ability means he is useful enough to make the squad, but Gatland will most likely opt for the stronger/safer option if it's a close call. Which Cutbert, Robinson, even Brew, is (note his selection of the useless Tom James, and more frequently, the average but tall/strong Czekaj). He won't make the squad for the AI, certainly, but could for the 6N. Liam Williams has the deceptive strength, and full back's ability to smash a player in the tackle, that means his slight frame doesn't matter when it comes to selection. It's just the way rugby is these days, whatever your take on it.

Fenby is NOT an international winger

It's great news for the Scarlets, it adds a bit more strength in depth. Stod can play wing and full back as can Liam. North and Fenby are in great form but you need to rotate them at times.
For Wales, Stod was playing well before the injury but others have taken their chances well. He's not going to get a spot over North or Cuthbert at the moment. Halfpenny is proving his worth and has to be first choice 15. For cover/bench Hook is frequently a preferred option as he can play in so many positions, he covers centre, full back, OH, and wing in a sense as if a wing is injured Halfpenny moves to wing and he covers full back. That gives the coach a lot of other options on the bench.
If a specialist 15 is wanted then Liam would certainly be over Stod as he's been outstanding so far.

Form is what should count and therefore unless Stod is back into action to play for the Scarlets possibly in the HEC he shouldn't be thought of for Wales. Maybe by the 6N if he's on form and others have lost it he'll be in with a shout, other than that this season he needs to play well for the Scarlets and challenge for a first choice spot.

Looking at the players who have been on the feild for the regions so far this season i think it is fair to say that North, Prydie, and Fenby have all stood out well, and Cuthbert has not looked bad either (to be honest not the best, but will start none the less). So I would say that providing things stay as they are Fenby would be in line of a call up.

come on guys - Fenby international level? He's a bit like a speedboat with no driver............

tatterd wrote:come on guys - Fenby international level? He's a bit like a speedboat with no driver............

U sure you're not talking about Tom James there?

Fenby has been playing well and has a rugby brain on him, But I feel that Gats chooses players he thinks can make the step up regardless of form and as a result I think Robinson and even Ross Jones are in front of Fenby.

The other problem Fenby has is that many potential FBs for Wales can also play on the wing (as can Fenby himself) such as Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Prydie & Stoddart,

And also he's not actually that good...

gowales wrote:And also he's not actually that good...

I take it you have not seen any of the Scarlets matches this season, he has scored 3 good tries in the two games (same as North, one less than Visser).

Yea i've seen them, but i still don't think he's good

Excellent news for him and Wales. I can only hope he returns with some of the form he had found prior to his injury, because he was an absolute pleasure to watch. Best of luck to him.

go - fair enough each to their own.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Looking at the players who have been on the feild for the regions so far this season i think it is fair to say that North, Prydie, and Fenby have all stood out well, and Cuthbert has not looked bad either (to be honest not the best, but will start none the less). So I would say that providing things stay as they are Fenby would be in line of a call up.

Cuthbert has been incredible in the one game he has player, MOTM in a losing team.