Wales vs Argentina KO 14:30 Sat 10th Nov - TEAM ANNOUNCED

First topic message reminder :

WALES V ARGENTINA

Venue: Millennium Stadium Cardiff Date: Saturday, 10 November Kick-off: 14:30 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales & online; live on S4C; live commentary on BBC Radio Wales & online; live commentary on Radio Cymru

Wales Team

L Halfpenny (Blues), A Cuthbert (Blues), S Williams (Scarlets), J Roberts (Blues), G North (Scarlets); R Priestland (Scarlets), T Knoyle (Scarlets); G Jenkins (RC Toulon), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), S Warburton (Blues & Captain), T Faletau (Dragons)

Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), R Bevington (Ospreys), P James (Bath RFC), R McCusker (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (RC Bayonne), J Hook (USA Perpignan), L Williams (Scarlets)


Argentina Team

JM Hernandez (Racing Metro), G Camacho (Exeter), G Tiesi (San Isidro), F Contepomi (Stade Francais), J Imhoff (Racing Metro), N Sanchez (Bordeaux-Begles), M Landajo (San Isidro), M Ayerza (Leicester), E Guinazu (Southern Kings), J Figallo (Montpellier); M Carizza (Racing Metro), JF Cabello (Tucuman); L Senatore (Gimnasia Rosario), JM Leguizamon (Lyon), JM Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon, captain)

Replacements: A Creevy (Montpellier), B Posiglioni (La Plata), J Gomez (Los Matreros), T Vallejos (Scarlets), T Leonardi (San Isidro), N Vergallo (Southern Kings), H Agulla (Bath), J Tuculet (Grenoble).

Whoops.. see you responded.. ignore my last.

MRW - yeah i had a bit of a brain missing moment with those posts, but the theory is right still, just wrong team. Even though the Aussies are not good in the scrum I would like to have a pack go against them with some experience (and recent game time).

Don't worry we got the Glynneath lad in there as I said

Press conference from today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20226699

Arg will be without Patricio Albacete, Marcello Bosch and prop Francisco Gomez Kodela. Veteran Contempomi has been called up.

After watching the video I get the impression there are different rules for different players as Howley talks about form, combinations and training. Howley applies each to justify his (Gatland's) selection e.g. G Jenkins he must have trained well as he has hardly played, it can't be form as James is the form player, Preistland selection may be the reason Knoyle was picked for a combination justification, they are both not international standard and not form players. The selection of Turnbull is based on trained well, this is a game of rugby not a run around the park, did he play against the Ospreys he is lightweight. It you look at the player's weights the two centre and wingers are more solid than our 6!

I suspect Hook, Phillips, James and Hibbard will be on at half time to try to rescue the game. The lack of a decent second row cover is a worry.

As far as I understand Priestland started mediocre - then developed into something really good then is gradually sinking back into mediocre. He hasnt had bad injuries it all seems to be mental. So he can do it, its just finding a way of getting him back to form

No Tipuric, no respect.

Higher_Ground wrote:No Tipuric, no respect.

He's on the bench

I understand that J Davies ( the pundit ) not the player predicts a 3 game win for Wales this Ais. Seriously, with the team that as been anounced i think that he may be a little bit over optamistic.

If they do not beet Argentina this week end. Then it may be only one win.

I would have given them 2 at the most.

Geoff Parling predicted England would win all of theirs Madge. People can let their hearts rule their heads.

I wouldn't be too worried should we lose on Saturday. It would certainly highlight the stupidity in some of Howley's selections, which may do us a favour for the NZ game (depending on what he selects for the game against Samoa). I still think Wales will win though, as we are at home.

We will need a lot of players back before the NZ/Aus games.

JD2, Beck, Charteris, Ryan, Phillips will all have to start that game if we want a chance (will Adam be back soon?)

Another Josh can be pretty frustrated that Turnball is starting at 6. If picking on form, Navidi deserves to be there over Turnball. We need Ryan back, also surprised not to see Shingler. I would prefer Tipuric on the pitch really.

Knoyle is disastrous, I would rather Phillips, Davies or Webb to be honest.

Preistland doesn't deserve to start, but I can understand the coaches reluctance to chance at the moment.

Not particularly happy with Faletau, but there are no other options at 8 without Ryan.

Scott Williams will have a point to prove.

Warburton NEEDS to have a good game, if he is anonymous, Howley need to have the b*lls to drop him from the 23 if necessary.


Get the ball to the back 3 and we will score tries, lets hope that Knoyle can pass, Preistland can catch and Sc.Williams can see an overlap.

+1

maestegmafia wrote:

IronMike wrote:A few questions come from this:

Is Knoyle on form?
Did they think Turnbull was a better option at blindside than playing either Tipuric or Warburton there?
Should Warburton be starting?
No Biggar?

Bench looks a bit weak, no second row replacement, bringing on Mike Phillips and James Hook late in the game could cause problems for our structure.

In my opinion I think he and Phillips have been the two best Welsh scrum halves of the last two months in the matches I have seen.

In which matches you have watched with Phillips and Knoyle, have convinced you they are the best two 9s in Wales ?

maestegmafia wrote:

Higher_Ground wrote:No Tipuric, no respect.

He's on the bench

There's a myth that Warburton came up as a 7, when he in fact started as an 8, and then played 6 to Martyn Williams' 7. There's no reason he couldn't have moved across the back of the scrum to accomodate Tipuric at 7. Best player in Wales, on the bench, you can try and spin that any way you want.

Higher_Ground wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Higher_Ground wrote:No Tipuric, no respect.

He's on the bench

There's a myth that Warburton came up as a 7, when he in fact started as an 8, and then played 6 to Martyn Williams' 7. There's no reason he couldn't have moved across the back of the scrum to accomodate Tipuric at 7. Best player in Wales, on the bench, you can try and spin that any way you want.

I'm not spinning anything.

Argentinian Camp update:-

http://supporters.wru.co.uk/matchdaytv/?play=media&id=13344

Higher,

You are correct however he came to inetrnational prominence and has gained his reputation as a 7.

For what its worth I honestly think that him and Lydiate could comfortably play the old left/right combo if wanted.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Higher,

You are correct however he came to inetrnational prominence and has gained his reputation as a 7.

For what its worth I honestly think that him and Lydiate could comfortably play the old left/right combo if wanted.

But you don't think Warburton and Tipuric could do a left and right? Maybe Turnbull and Warburton will..?

Maes,

What I have said is if Warburton isn't considered to be in good enough form to play 7 what makes him good enough to play out of position at 6 out of form.

If he was on top form and firing on all cylinders like in past then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Maes,

What I have said is if Warburton isn't considered to be in good enough form to play 7 what makes him good enough to play out of position at 6 out of form.

If he was on top form and firing on all cylinders like in past then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

True that is what you said. Not sure that going on regional form I would think that Turnbull had played any better than Warburton.

I guess they have shown something special in Poland.

Higher_Ground wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Higher_Ground wrote:No Tipuric, no respect.

He's on the bench

There's a myth that Warburton came up as a 7, when he in fact started as an 8, and then played 6 to Martyn Williams' 7. There's no reason he couldn't have moved across the back of the scrum to accomodate Tipuric at 7. Best player in Wales, on the bench, you can try and spin that any way you want.

There is a myth that Warburton played 6 for the Blues to accommodate Williams at 7. Unfortunately the Blues had Pretorious, Molitika and Paterson playing 6 at the time. I can only remember one game in which he played 6, and that was against the Dragons when he was already well established as Wales' first choice 7.

As for playing 8 at age grade level, a lot of player change positions between age grade and international rugby, because they are not suited to that position.

Gone for Wales 5-10(but now i seen team would pick 0-5). Mainly cos we at home. 9/2 is a pretty decent price for a side that was very close to beating the Springboks and the Aussies, but cant bring myself to bet against Wales.

Pinching something off the England Fiji thread but out out curiosity does the WRU release any players back to the Regions if they are not involved.

If not I think they should especially in the case of the likes of Lee and Robinson.

Also I wonder if they maybe tried to do a deal with Exeter over Mitchell like they did with Perpignan over Charteris

bedfordwelsh wrote:Pinching something off the England Fiji thread but out out curiosity does the WRU release any players back to the Regions if they are not involved.

If not I think they should especially in the case of the likes of Lee and Robinson.

Also I wonder if they maybe tried to do a deal with Exeter over Mitchell like they did with Perpignan over Charteris

Mitchell is injured, hence why he isn't in the squad for the first 3 games.

Wales will win this one, of that I am sure. Wales were only a few dodgy decisions from winning down under and I cannot see where Argentina have the beating of us, perhaps the front row but that's it and we do have more options there than Argentina do, we have Paul James, Hibbard and Ryan Bevington who can come on and make a difference, we will not see Argentina running in tries from far out but Wales have options through out the back line, we have some big boys in the backs with Roberts, Williams, North, Cuthbert and Preistland so I am not overly worried and Ian Evans and Alyn Wyn Jones have been playing very well as a a pairing form the Ospreys this season and as long as Knoyle can get the ball out to the backs we will be fine Argentina will be stubborn and hard to beat but come the sixty minute mark I can see them start to get tired and start falling off tackles and we should pull about two scores clear and be a little more comfortable by then, well this what I hope happens, COME ON WALES!!!!!!

wales606 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Pinching something off the England Fiji thread but out out curiosity does the WRU release any players back to the Regions if they are not involved.

If not I think they should especially in the case of the likes of Lee and Robinson.

Also I wonder if they maybe tried to do a deal with Exeter over Mitchell like they did with Perpignan over Charteris

Mitchell is injured, hence why he isn't in the squad for the first 3 games.

606,

Wasnt aware of that but if he out of the squad for first 3 games then surely he's out for all 4 as the Austarlia game falls outside the IRB window.

To all up and coming youngsters playing at 10, dont bother learning to kick over the posts, dont worry about your form, just be a 'yes' man and worship the man who picks the team, oh yes and dont have confidence in your decision making if it all goes wrong in front of you.

jd on scrum 5 ' biggar is the inform 10 in wales, has been all season, but can he play the way wales want to play' why bother taking him to poland !!!!!! if you upset rh , bye........

Lord Dowles Of what yoiu have just said about Argentina.

Argentina will be stubborn and hard to beat but come the sixty minute mark I can see them start to get tired and start falling off tackles and we should pull about two scores clear and be a little more comfortable by.

It was not long ago that Wales started their games and did not start too play untill AFTER the 60 minutes mark.

Wales cannot afford at any time in this Ais to not start playing untill the 60 muinutes is up. They have to start playing from the first whistle.

majesticimperialman wrote:Wales cannot afford at any time in this Ais to not start playing untill the 60 muinutes is up. They have to start playing from the first whistle.

As opposed to the first second whistle???

Oh jeez maj, tell us something we don't know for a change.

also, young 10's out there, if HE REALLY likes you, you wont have to go to the special training camp and be judged like the rest, you will be given sooooooo many chances to prove yourself, and when you mess up BIG time on the WORLD stage, well you get a bench spot no problem.

hook may well be ok for for perps, but he is not in better form that biggar, no way, look at the game and full club stats. as i've said before howley should go,

sorry all you young 7's, same applies. it dont mean a thing!!!!!

I think he has picked the right team, Phillips won't be in the 2015 world cup,

Warburton and Tupric on the same back row would be far to light weight.

Priestland and Hook could be playing in a wheel chair and still out shine Dan Biggar.

Howley has to try out many combinations and players, it's all about exposing our players to a test match in the build up for the 2015 world cup.

We won't lose to Argentina,they are a stubborn team but far from quality.

Howley expains his selections.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20226699

IAOB

Ifandorbut wrote:Howley expains his selections.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20226699

IAOB

I posted the link earlier. I don't think many actually watched it.

you are a wind up vttgym!! everyone knows biggar is wales on form 10, even priest fans are crying.

hook, lovely looking boy as he is , has never and will never be first choice 10.

wheelchair, i thought you knew a bit about rugby vttgym.

next move from howley. weakend pack against samoa and put biggar out there, bye danny boy, thou shalt not cross the man in charge, it really is pathetic, wheelchair I love it!!!

Morgannwg wrote:Oh jeez maj, tell us something we don't know for a change.

Oh jeez Morgannwg, seems like every body knows about this. except the Welsh Players.


Maybe you could have a word with Howely and co.

Biggar proved in Welford road that if he is pushed,tested or makes a mistake he crumbles.
Priestland Grand Slam winning Priestland may have really crap place kicking but he is very good at creating space.

Hook Grand Slam winning Hook has a very good all round game and can have moments of brilliance.

Dan Biggar is the Welsh Dan Parks, excellent place kicking................

I doubt if we will ever know but it would be interesting to hear if the teams selected for the first 2 games are all just Howleys doing or if Gats has had an input.

Aparently Gatland has been very active in the selection process

So, we play the priest because 'he can create space' (is that club level too?)we have to have someone else to kick the goals, and if they are injured or off day?

So,we play hook, good all round game mmmmmm debatable, and he COULD have a moment of brilliance.....on the other hand.....

hook is not first choice in any position, and priestland should not be first choice at 10.

we need a new 10, who can do all the things a 10 should be able to do, and kicking the goals is a must. to highlight biggar in one game as crumbling under pressure and ignore the rest of the end of last season and this season so far is blinkered . he has to play at international level regularly, look how many chances OTHERS have been given. and they are STILL not first choice.

I would be surprised if Wales don't win this one.

Argentina have said they see their pack (and scrum) as their main weapons.

Seemples. Keep the ball alive at the breakdown and shift it out to the Welsh backs (and don't drop the feckin thing!), where you definitely have the beating of them.

As Argentina don't have a good back three, in terms of counter attacking, I reckon the Welsh coaches will opt for a kick and chase game plan.

And if it wins you the game, fair enough.

Hopefully I'm proved wrong, and we'll get a good open game.

With Cuthbert and North in such form, Wales should just try to play 2 man rugby. We tried 1 man rugby with Shane, this time we can go left or right though.

wales606 wrote:With Cuthbert and North in such form, Wales should just try to play 2 man rugby. We tried 1 man rugby with Shane, this time we can go left or right though.

Half penny is playing well too, with boot and ball in hand.

majesticimperialman wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Oh jeez maj, tell us something we don't know for a change.

Oh jeez Morgannwg, seems like every body knows about this. except the Welsh Players.


Maybe you could have a word with Howely and co.

If I could get through to Howley I would. On the other hand you could just stop reading what everyone else writes, then repeat it as if it were your opinion.

maestegmafia wrote:

wales606 wrote:With Cuthbert and North in such form, Wales should just try to play 2 man rugby. We tried 1 man rugby with Shane, this time we can go left or right though.

Half penny is playing well too, with boot and ball in hand.

Halfpenny isn't quite as much of a destructive attacking try-scorer - but if he can get his 100% kicking percentage for the first 2 Aus tests (although I will accept his close to 90% for Wales last season) back then that would be pretty useful

I dunno about 'two man rugby' W606, but The Pumas will not relish your two wings bearing down on them after well aimed box kicks and garryowens landed just outside their 22.

Sure, it's one way of potentially gaining territory and possession. But I also think Wales have enough smart players to attack space when it's on.

If rugby was all about territory and possession, the Germans would have cracked this game long ago.

Running rugby has worked best for North and Cuthbert. Two players at the very top of their game.

Something just clicked. Anyone remember the time the national coaches bizarrely selected Tom James at 11, Cooper at 9 and JT with Deniol Jones at 2nd row? All because they had 'impressed in training'. Result = 30-17 loss.

Morgannwg wrote:Something just clicked. Anyone remember the time the national coaches bizarrely selected Tom James at 11, Cooper at 9 and JT with Deniol Jones at 2nd row? All because they had 'impressed in training'. Result = 30-17 loss.

Against who?