Wales starting XV?

First topic message reminder :

It's great that Wales won the Grandslam with their 10 dipping in an out of form, but we really need to start picking on form again.

The Ospreys contingent has wained in recent times, but a lot of them have hit some good form in the past month.

There will always be players who who are too skillful or too important to leave out even if they are not in their best club form, but I would like to see a bit more enterprise when it comes to selection.

I think the strongest Wales team at the moment would be.

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Jon Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar
9. Mike Phillips

8. Toby Faletau
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Sam Warburton
5. Alun-wyn Jones (C)
4. Ryan Jones
3. Adam Jones
2. Richard Hibbard
1. Gethin Jenkins

16. Paul James
17. Matthew Rees
18. Bradley Davies
19. Aaron Shingler

20. Rhys Webb
21. James Hook
22. Ashley Beck

samuraidragon wrote:Mowgli, you appear to be saying that Howley / Gatland cannot be criticized and we fans must simply approve their selections.

+1, thanks totally agree.

Personally I think whatever team we put the NZ game is beyond us and we should be looking for 3 out of 4 wins.

I agree with you on the who is point but I just don't think picking a player out of position who is out of form in the first place would work.

The NZ game is so far beyond us (But I do have a tenner on us) that we have to do something drastic, allthough coaching teams these days don't necesarily want to win, just being in the game with 20 to go may sufice for their reputations!!!

IMO I'd much rather an 80 point loss 9 times out of 10 and the 10th a victory than 10 5 point losses!!!

I don't come on here much anymore but have to say the last two posts are shocking.
Bedford. We have a great chance of victory against NZ. Possibly our best ever since 2004, our greatest strength, they will underestimate us.
Bluesman, you are a great poster but that's a pile of, 9 humiliating defeats in exchange for 1 narrow victory? It's all a bit Dr Faustus. No team or management could cope with that scenario.

Norfolklass wrote:I don't come on here much anymore but have to say the last two posts are shocking.
Bedford. We have a great chance of victory against NZ. Possibly our best ever since 2004, our greatest strength, they will underestimate us.
Bluesman, you are a great poster but that's a pile of, 9 humiliating defeats in exchange for 1 narrow victory? It's all a bit Dr Faustus. No team or management could cope with that scenario.

RubyGuby wrote:

Norfolklass wrote:I don't come on here much anymore but have to say the last two posts are shocking.
Bedford. We have a great chance of victory against NZ. Possibly our best ever since 2004, our greatest strength, they will underestimate us.
Bluesman, you are a great poster but that's a pile of, 9 humiliating defeats in exchange for 1 narrow victory? It's all a bit Dr Faustus. No team or management could cope with that scenario.

Fact is we all know on paper the AIG All Blacks are virtually unbeatable but the beauty of rugby is, on their day, any team can beat any other (unless in the case of Wales playing Australia)

However, anyone who knows diddly about rugby would also be entirely accurate if they said that we have very little or no chance of beating NZ. It may be unpalatable but it is a fact. NZ are miles ahead of every other Union, it's reality and best we face it. they have even kicked on and left Aus and SA to becoem 2nd tier and in my view it is them we should be targetting. Anything v NZ is a bonus.

The ABs do underperform sometimes - they did against Ireland this summer and were lucky to win in the dying minutes. If they are off form and we are on form, anything is possible.

But beyond that, it would be poor if we cannot beat Oz. That would make 6 losses on the bounce, against what is a weak Oz team by usual standards.

I'm still amazed so manyWelsh fans are content with the poor performance this summer against a team that was beaten by Scotland and thrashed by the Boks and ABs.

Norfolklass,

I am glad you have more faith than me but I just can't see us beating them even if we had all fit available etc.

It will be another cracking game as they usually are but the Blacks will pull well ahead in the last 10-15 minutes.

Never being one to admit I was wrong but if I am I will willingly come on here the day after and take my punishment.

samuraidragon wrote:The ABs do underperform sometimes - they did against Ireland this summer and were lucky to win in the dying minutes. If they are off form and we are on form, anything is possible.

But beyond that, it would be poor if we cannot beat Oz. That would make 6 losses on the bounce, against what is a weak Oz team by usual standards.

I'm still amazed so manyWelsh fans are content with the poor performance this summer against a team that was beaten by Scotland and thrashed by the Boks and ABs.

I dont think that many welsh are content with the results, we knew we could have won(probably should have) the 2nd and 3rd tests but threw it away in the last minute.

We have never really travelled well so whilst not being happy about the summer tests I wasn't surprised.

That said if we don't win 3 out of the 4 tests this coming AI series then for me it will be seen as a backward step and one that could damage us further mentally.

Norfolk

I think you need to rethink if you believe Wales are as good as NZ!!!

I personally think we are going to beat them (well one NH nation will beat them, but I'll say us) but we can't do it by playing safe, or picking the old heads.

Also I was talking about beating the Kiwis 1 in 10, do you not think that'll be a step up, it's about Englands level isn't it? I would kill for that kind of record against the AB's at present!!!

My backline woud be:

9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. L halfpenny
12. Henson
13. North
14. Cuthbert
15. Liam williams

Scrumdown wrote:My backline woud be:

9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. L halfpenny
12. Henson
13. North
14. Cuthbert
15. Liam williams

well thank god you aren't picking it

Scrumdown wrote:My backline woud be:

9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. L halfpenny
12. Henson
13. North
14. Cuthbert
15. Liam williams

I would choose Cuthbert, but none of the others in the positions you have them.