Welsh Posters(and others if they are so inclined)-No10?

for me RP doesnt cut it at the moment and apart from a brief spell never has-ok,that out of the way-now No10 is a sacred position in Wales so who would you put there? many are calling for Hooky,some advocate Dan(and before his injury he was sort of good BUT he's not available for...........)
Who exactly would you play at 10?-Tovey,Henson or that boy from Pontnewyndd thirds?

Rhys Patchell?

The conveyer belt has really dried up.

Prisetland is way off form and not good enough to start at the moment.
Stephen Jones has been shunned and some say too old. If we're building for the future then he's out, in fairness.
Biggar I think should be given another shot. Didn't do much wrong, just got injured so hard to judge. Form 10 at club level so tha should earn him some right to be looked at.
Tovey wasn't even that good at the Dragons, doesn't seem to get much game time at the Blues, so I wouldn't put him anywhere near the squad.
Hook is notoriously up and down. Why not give him a go, but history suggests he'll stuff it up.

Who else is there?

I'll have a go, my boots not what it was, my speed was never anything to talk about but I can pass off both hands at at least half pace!!!

Im sure that many will not agree with me but I think a fully fit and firing Tovey is the best 10 in Wales.
He has all the skills required to get the Welsh back line moving and as he matures the ability to control a game.
I agree that his performances did drop last season but with his move to the Blue's I was excited that we would see the best of im and that he would grab hold of the 10 shirt, ufortunately he has suffered with injuries since his move but I am sure he will be back and hiting top gear soon and hope he is able to break into the welsh squad / team in the six nations

Just think this time 2 seasons ago RP, Biggar, and Tovey were all up and comers with a lot of potential and very differing styles!!!

Sadly Biggar and Tovey have stagnated since and RP has become 10 by default, if only Hook had been seriously considered for the long term option!!!

bluesman -nah dont think so -Ritchie M would be looking for you and I think the rest is history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk about Mccaw, bumped into him and a few of the kiwis in HMV in Cardiff city centre today, far smaller than I had considered, maybe I have fallen into the Kiwi aura trap.

Anyway most of the boys I saw Mccaw, Franks, Woodcock, and Whitelock were all much smaller than I had imagined!!!

It is a problem no doubt. It is a shame Priestland is so delicate mentally, was and still is a confidence player and can flip during the course of a game if things don't go well. I really thought he had overcome this problem this time last year but it seems it was a flash in the pan. Lets be honest he was pretty poor most of the time in the 6N and has got worse.

I actually thought Biggar was doing OK behind a beaten pack before he was ABH'd. So when they have stuck him back together I would persist for a few more games. He can run a game at Regional level and may be able to transfer this ability to the international stage given a run of competive games rather than the B team opportunities he has had so far. Not everyone is Dan Carter and the ability to run a game is more important than a dashing side step in the modern game.

Tovey never really progressed as we hoped and after trashing the boy Shindler's chances of playing for Scotland he has never featured (that really was just petty and mean spirited, if they don't rate the boy why bugger his career up)

Morgan is just too small and always will be.

Hook is not the answer just too many flaws and suffers a bit from Priestlanditis when things don't go well at 10. He just doesn't have the Rubgy brain or speed of thought to operate as an international 10

So the cupboard is pretty bare. People used to critisise Stephen Jones but we could do with a 25 year old wellies right now.

We could have Dan Carter at ten but unless the pack front up it won't matter. During the worldcup and 6 nations Rhys was given a platform, not so far this autumn, thats why confidence is low, the whole pack need to start performing to give the backs a fighting chance

thebluesmancometh wrote:Talk about Mccaw, bumped into him and a few of the kiwis in HMV in Cardiff city centre today, far smaller than I had considered, maybe I have fallen into the Kiwi aura trap.

Anyway most of the boys I saw Mccaw, Franks, Woodcock, and Whitelock were all much smaller than I had imagined!!!

There are a number of International teams bigger than the All Blacks, compared to the South Africans they're tiny.

I don't think it's as bad as we all make out, and the fact that, as soon as we start losing, everyone points fingers at the 10, highlights the aura and myth the 10 shirt has to the Welsh people. I can understand Jonathan Davies, a former 10 and brilliant one at that, positing his ideas on the subject, he's obviously knowledgeable on the topic and it's his job to do so. He was calling for Biggar based on form, but I'd say that his assessment was 5 months out of date. Based on form, prior to the AI/Argentina game, Biggar wasn't playing much, if at all, better than Priestland. End of last season, however, there was a marked difference, and that Biggar didn't tour Australia was a joke.


However, i thought that, in the 34 odd minutes Biggar played against Samoa, he looked hungry, and made the right decisions, including when to move the ball across the line (even in our 22) and when not to: that Jamie Roberts and others were guilty of drifting and passing early is not his fault. Priestland had a shocker, but what was perhaps more depressing was his post-match interview, showing a strict adherence to a general, and obvious, tactic of 'territory' over anything else. Where does this leave us on an international level?

Rhys Priestland: A few years ago, a nervous, possibly decent regional player. Under the stewardship of Stephen Jones, he became far more confident, added a greater running aspect to his game, and banished his tendency to crumble when under pressure, or having missed a goal kick. Perhaps fortunate circumstances saw him profit from SJ's injury and Hook's poor form to take the 10 shirt in the WC, where he was a solid and reliable clog in the system, and continued to be so in the 6N. Ended last season with a more kick-orientated, territorial game for Wales: this was clearly a directive for the coaches. Obviously a keen observer of what he is told by the coaches, in many ways he seems to be 'playing by numbers', and not relying on instinct or simply playing 'heads up rugby'. That said, he probably has the longest kick of all the 10s, is very effective with the up and under, and can regularly gain a lot of ground from a kick to touch. Goal kicking is not of regional level, let alone international, though I feel this is a blip: that said, I don't think he's someone who can be relied on to kick 80-90% every game at international level. The best distributor from 10, can pass very well from either hand, and up until these last two games, seemed to be the best decision maker. Also, he is (tentatively) the best defensive option at 10. Decent tour to Australia, and unfairly targeted for the negative rugby we played: it is clearly a tactical issue, as we are now patently seeing, and one that, frankly is neither natural to our players nor winning us games.

Dan Biggar: His natural game is to kick, and he's superb at it, range, accuracy and consistency. Also the best goal-kicking 10 in Wales. Has improved defensively, and no longer shuns a tackle, but not great. Decent distributor, however I would say he has been prone to pettiness (thought little of this in the last two years, excusable as he was young) and, unforgivably, awful decision making: often hoofing the ball away when there is an overlap/throwing an intercept. This seems to have got better, too. He's standing a lot flatter on the gainline, and the last 3-4 months of last season looked superb, and should have gone to Australia and taken over at 50-60 mins when the game was tight to not only mix it up but to have the more accurate boot at 10 as the game concludes.

Those are our two realistic starting options now. I was ambivalent if Biggar started over Priestland first game up, due in no small part to the fact it must be a lot easier to be a 10 behind the Ospreys' pack than it would behind the Scarlets'. However, on the basis of the first half of the Samoa game alone, he should start against Australia (if fit). I would like to see him get a run in the 6N now, Biggar was cast away from the Welsh squad for two years after poor performances in a 3rd string Welsh team against Fiji or Canada, and a few 10 minute games as a replacement, and whilst I don't think Priestland has been as bad, or for as long, as people would suggest, he has had equal if not more chance, and when a player is playing better than you, you are likely to be usurped.

There is also, biding his time, James Hook. Talk about when to hit a bad run of form: in the 6N '11 just before the WC, that France game was a diabolical effort for an international 10, and then, in the World Cup, his goal-kicking was poor (against SA, one that maybe went over?, one that was hashed to win the game), and then, when Priestland was injured, simply didn't step up in the semi-final (or 3rd place play off), being replaced by SJ. But since then, I thought, for the very little he did play in the GS '12, he was actually very good. He's not a 15, that has been shown numerous times (Frans Steyn's try in the WC is proof enough of this). He's also not a great centre, and most importantly doesn't want to play there: if he doesn't see it as his position, he won't learn the specifics of it. He's a 10, and will live and die by his decision to move to France to play there. I think, 45-50 minutes in on Saturday, if we're playing stagnant, slow, lateral, or, God forbid, kick-orientated rugby, Hook will come on. He has literally everything you want from a 10: a great step, 'natural' instinct to read the game in ways others cannot, good passing, great kicking, adequate defence for the position, decent pace, and, most of the time, decent goal-kicking. What he has lacked, unfortunately, is consistency of performance, decision making, and, let's be honest, the whim of selectors: whilst at international level SJ repeatedly proved to be the better option, Hook was perhaps harshly dealt with by the Ospreys. This is due, perhaps, due to Hook being reliant on his natural game, just as DB and RP are: but whereas Hook's is to step and take on the opposition himself, Biggar's is usually to kick the ball, and going down a blind alley/getting turned over is often more damaging to your team than gaining territory. Certainly to the current Welsh set up, sticking to the mantra is a trait greater than trying something for yourself and it failing (if your name wasn't Shane). I still think, opportunities permitting, he could nail the shirt with SJ out of the picture, and with neither Priestland nor Biggar possessing the talents of the former's former (eh...?) mentor, keeping it for some time. He would have to display consistency, however, and temper his desire to run with an accurate and effective kicking game.

Of the others, Jason Tovey has suffered with injury, however I fear, as it did with Ian Evans, this may shorten his international potential for some time to come. Is he made of glass, and does he have the mental strength to fight through rehabilitation and, now, no longer being a 'youngster with potential' but someone who has to perform? I believe it was the right decision to move to the Blues in the medium term, even if they're playing awful rugby at the moment, and I hope he makes it, because he displayed an awful amount of natural talent and rounded ability when he first broke through. Possibly weaker than all of the above defensively, and also prone to rubbish goal-kicking as well. Has never been tested to an intense level of rugby in Europe, let alone on the international stage, so something of an unknown entity.


Of the others? Well, Matthew Morgan appears to possess a running game equal to, if not better, than Hook's. Obvious defence will always, however hard he trains, be a problem, but if his talent's are honed, this can be negated by a well drilled back row/flankers: look how Ireland accommodated, and did not suffer from, O'Gara's poor defence for years. Electric pace, seemingly finds a gap where this is no room. However, as a distributor, I have no seen enough of him to pass judgement, and as a decision maker, I think there is a lot to be desired. The U20 game against (France/Ireland?...possibly Italy?) I think in '11, where he kicked the ball back to them with seconds remaining, only to have the opposition run it back and score, was an example of poor decision making. Also think him a little 'selfish', maybe? Again, not exposed to a high level yet, but that's good: if he learns and broadens his game, like Biggar has, could be a genuinely brilliant option for Wales. Yet to see a Rhys Patchell play a full game, but apparently he has a well rounded game?

So where does this leave us? As Roberts said, there is no one else who can improve this for Wales: and we are stuck with Priestland, Biggar and Hook, in that order most probably. Priestland isn't as bad as people think, but I don't think he'll become a vastly better player than the one at the WC '11, I don't think he has the intrinsic talent to do so. Biggar could be better than Priestland, but isn't at the moment in my opinion: become better with ball in hand, and how to actually pass and organise the inside backs effectively, and he would be. Hook's time is surely running out to become the kind of player his talent ought to dictate he became at 19/20 (remember that England game '07? Incredible). I think deep down everyone in Wales would like our most 'attractive' runner with ball in hand to play 10, but until he becomes a better 'team 10' than RP, this will not be the case. I think, post-Stephen Jones, whose absence merely displays how he was truly a world class 10 and so vital to the successful running rugby of '04-05 and the more structured, intelligent game '08-, we have no-one who is confident enough or has the ability to run the game with authority. We have no one to fill his boots. Perhaps Hook could given an extended run? SJ's reading of the game was up there with the best 10s to have played the game, it's a shame he didn't have the pace to make the kind of half breaks and offloads the best 10s regularly do, and it's a shame he didn't have a little longer kick, from hand and tee. But he was genuinely class, and deserving of his 104 caps.




For the next two games/upcoming 6N? I think a lot will depend on regional form in the 'big' games (full strength Rabo and Europe), and how RP and DB perform respectively. For Wales, with the conservative, possession only in good territory 'gameplan', does it necessarily matter who plays 10? Out of the 3, perhaps not. Will it makes us more competitive with NZ/Aus? Probably not. If the forwards don't start playing significantly quicker with ball in hand, if the backs don't offer themselves in carrying the ball, and if we don't offload, does it matter who we play? No, not really. Again, it's a Welsh affliction to look to the 10, a role so steeped in esteem and envy. In reality, unless at least 2, hopefully 3, regions become competitive in Europe, like Ireland, we have no structure and basis to expect a successful international team, and this is distracting from the real issue: it's not necessarily money, or power, or the WRU. Frankly, post-'03, does anybody care massively whether the regions have autonomy, or if players are centrally contracted? They were set up for the benefit of Wales, and it seemed to be working, progressively, with some troughs, since the inception. But now there's a stagnation, and no debate over who plays 10 should detract from the real issue: that regardless of how well trained, drilled, fed and built the players are, if they're not playing intense and competitive, and hopefully winning, rugby week in week out, the step up to the likes of the All Blacks and Springboks will simply be too great. This has been the worst start to the domestic season for Welsh rugby, where only one team has a realistic hope in Europe (could the Blues pull it out of the bag? Based on my opinion of Phil Davies, you won't have the defence to build a successful team on, so no), and probably two in the Rabo, and that was clear around mid-October. All this on the back of a decent WC and Grand Slam.

I haven't banged this drum for a while now but as we are trying to decide who our best or next option at No10 is or should I thought if we had an A Side then at least the guys would get a bit more exposure and on the flip side if like Priestland at the moment, if he's not playing well then drop him down.

In all honesty to Priestland himself, he was chucked in the deep end before the WC and who knows maybe just got lucky with his performances.

Biggar deserves another shot if after injury he gets his form back.

Hook, well he has never convinced me which isn't all his fault having been shunted here there and everywhere by Region and Country.

Tovey for me seemed to have what it took and maybe still can push on at the Blues but he does seem bit inury prone of late.

Patchell, well again the was the usual clamour for him after only a few games, lets give him some time to settle and see how the battle between him and Tovey pans out.

Well the only two I have really seen of late was Biggar (albeit for half a match) and Priestland.

I have been criticising Priestlands decision making for some time now and can hoenstly say I don't think he is good enough. Whether it is just form I don't know, but we have had a number of these 10's before who promises to be a great international player but never really settles into international rugby.

From the little I have seen from Biggar, I certainly think he showed enough to be given a regular chance, at least the same as what Priestland has recieved

Griff wrote:The conveyer belt has really dried up.

Prisetland is way off form and not good enough to start at the moment.
Stephen Jones has been shunned and some say too old. If we're building for the future then he's out, in fairness.
Biggar I think should be given another shot. Didn't do much wrong, just got injured so hard to judge. Form 10 at club level so tha should earn him some right to be looked at.
Tovey wasn't even that good at the Dragons, doesn't seem to get much game time at the Blues, so I wouldn't put him anywhere near the squad.
Hook is notoriously up and down. Why not give him a go, but history suggests he'll stuff it up.

Who else is there?

Wow its like you read all the bad opinions of players and didnt ever watch them.

Is their any others...? Yes there are plenty. But you are writing off some very good players with some rash and incorrect statements.

Biltong wrote:Well the only two I have really seen of late was Biggar (albeit for half a match) and Priestland.

I have been criticising Priestlands decision making for some time now and can hoenstly say I don't think he is good enough. Whether it is just form I don't know, but we have had a number of these 10's before who promises to be a great international player but never really settles into international rugby.

From the little I have seen from Biggar, I certainly think he showed enough to be given a regular chance, at least the same as what Priestland has recieved

Bil,

I guess even as a player all you can ask is that you get a fair crack of the whip as others do, which in Biggars defence he hasn't really had.

Tovey looks class, but has to put in some big performances in big regional games to get into the frame. Morgan more so. Patchell had only a few games under his belt and already people are calling for him to take the 10 slot in international games!

Hook is doing fine at Perp (top points scorer in France this season), but he obviously doesn't match the Wales gameplan so is better off sunning himself in the South of France.

The French are well used to coaches having favoured playes at 10. EG Marc Lievremont kept choosing the mediocre Lionel Beauxis and even Parra, who had never played at 10 before, while the creative gamechanger F. Michalak was cast into outer darkness. Now Lievremont has gone and Michalak is back, playing brilliantly as France crush the Aussies.

Between RP and Biggar, it's no contest. Biggar is an excellent kicker out of hand and a tidy place kicker too. That alone would give another dimension to our game.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Biltong wrote:Well the only two I have really seen of late was Biggar (albeit for half a match) and Priestland.

I have been criticising Priestlands decision making for some time now and can hoenstly say I don't think he is good enough. Whether it is just form I don't know, but we have had a number of these 10's before who promises to be a great international player but never really settles into international rugby.

From the little I have seen from Biggar, I certainly think he showed enough to be given a regular chance, at least the same as what Priestland has recieved

Bil,

I guess even as a player all you can ask is that you get a fair crack of the whip as others do, which in Biggars defence he hasn't really had.

Beds thats because invariably his form at the Ospreys doesn't really transfer to Wales. 90% of the time he has been awful for Wales.

His good regional form will keep getting him opportunities. Though as a player and an Ospreys fan I don't rate him as highly as other options like Priestland, Tovey, or that he has or ever has had as much promise as Steffan Jones or Rhys Patchell have shown.

From the limited games Patchell has played at the start of this season he has been excellent for the Blues, only 18 years old as well, good kicking game, good offloads, if he doesnt make it at 10 I can see him becoming a decent 12.

no contest, biggar has to be the future 10, hook on bench over priest at the moment, but if he gets his game back, priest on bench in future.

last chance saloon for hook, tbh the saloon door is about to shut for him, would not be on the bench if biggar was playing this week.

time to look forward, biggar has grown up big time, some people just dont like him, end of.

as for a poster putting biggar behind priestland, tovey, and less promise than patchell and jones, well .........

we are taliking now, we are talking who should be there now, to work towards immediate future.

gavstar wrote:no contest, biggar has to be the future 10, hook on bench over priest at the moment, but if he gets his game back, priest on bench in future.

last chance saloon for hook, tbh the saloon door is about to shut for him, would not be on the bench if biggar was playing this week..

Hook ain't in the saloon. He's been refused entry. Pretty clear that if he can't get picked over a badly misfiring RP, he'll never be picked again by this coaching team.

The fact it's the ABs actually protects RP - we're not expected to win, so if he has another mare and we ship 50 it will be no big deal.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Talk about Mccaw, bumped into him and a few of the kiwis in HMV in Cardiff city centre today, far smaller than I had considered, maybe I have fallen into the Kiwi aura trap.

Anyway most of the boys I saw Mccaw, Franks, Woodcock, and Whitelock were all much smaller than I had imagined!!!

That's wicked- you get a chance to talk? McCaw's never been the biggest.

Are you quite a tall chap yourself bluesman?

you mean 'did McCaw get a chance to talk' couldnt resist that bluesman !!!!

maestegmafia wrote:

Griff wrote:The conveyer belt has really dried up.

Prisetland is way off form and not good enough to start at the moment.
Stephen Jones has been shunned and some say too old. If we're building for the future then he's out, in fairness.
Biggar I think should be given another shot. Didn't do much wrong, just got injured so hard to judge. Form 10 at club level so tha should earn him some right to be looked at.
Tovey wasn't even that good at the Dragons, doesn't seem to get much game time at the Blues, so I wouldn't put him anywhere near the squad.
Hook is notoriously up and down. Why not give him a go, but history suggests he'll stuff it up.

Who else is there?

Wow its like you read all the bad opinions of players and didnt ever watch them.

Is their any others...? Yes there are plenty. But you are writing off some very good players with some rash and incorrect statements.

I know there are plenty of 10's. I could step in if need be. What I'm talking about are 10s that can step in NOW, now that Preistland is having a mare and Biggar is/was injured. So, as you've not bothered to expand - who is there playing 10 right now who is qualified to play for Wales that could step in, last minute, if need be? For me there are plenty who physically could put on the jersey, but there is no-one capable to playing interntaional rugby, doing well, controling the game, and ousting Priestland at the moment. That is why Priestland is still there - lack of alternatives. A statement that has plagued Welsh rugby for many years. Our depth is paper thin. Biggar looked to be out but I think is OK now. Hook has been tried and not performed many times, just like Priestland. Who do we draft in? Are you seriously saying that we should chuck in Tovey or Morgan against the ABs or Oz?

Who would you elevate from the club game to full international status then Maes?

Griff wrote:So, as you've not bothered to expand - who is there playing 10 right now who is qualified to play for Wales that could step in, last minute, if need be?

Stephen Jones. Still probably the best option if Hook isn't going to be given a fair chance.

Also, don't rule him out of Lions contention if a few first choice 10s get injured: I'd rather have SJ than Jonny Wilkinson.

Maes,

With the exception of last Friday which was most peoples first choice all considering Biggar hasnever started in a first choice Welsh side.

Talking about wales 10.

What about the Davies chap ( sorry dont know his first name.) Is he Nigel Davies son or relation? I know he is young but seemed pretty nippy the other day.... Can't be any worse than Priestland can he?

Sam Davies, Nigels son. Has had a few games last season and will get more this one to.

Had a few good games and one or two shockers so time will tell I guess

bedfordwelsh.

Thanks for that.

Samurai Dragon - "Tovey looks class"

Hahahahahahahahahhaha

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it.

Long term, the best option remains, after all these years, to give Hook a run at 10. He's had that in France and is playing well again. He's still only 27.

Priestland has had almost 20 starts at outside half. Hook would probably be second best 10 in world rugby with a quarter of that opportunity.

But that's besides the point. Team Gatland value Hook more as a utility back, a strategy that would have destroyed a lesser talent, so that's how it will remain.

The rest are much of a muchness. Decent regional players trying their best to plug a gap in an otherwise world class backline.

Might as well pick Ceri Sweeney. He's alright.

casa, we always get back to the hook debate.

someone will come on and tell you now just how many times hook has played at 10 for club and country.

it is a significant number, but i m not up in figures and dates (Cant be bothered to do his player profile on the web)

samurai has said the saloon door is shut, and he's probably right.

gavstar wrote:casa, we always get back to the hook debate.

someone will come on and tell you now just how many times hook has played at 10 for club and country.

it is a significant number, but i m not up in figures and dates (Cant be bothered to do his player profile on the web)

samurai has said the saloon door is shut, and he's probably right.

Gav - I've attached the ESPN link. Quite quick to find and always useful.

http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/15287.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match

The last time Hook was given more than two consecutive starts at 10 for Wales was in 2008.

He's started at 10 just 19 times out of 65 tests (and when he's started at 10 Wales have only lost to France, Australia and, once, to South Africa).

The door did indeed close long ago. My point is that all the other options are run of the mill and won't make any difference at test level.

Casartelli wrote:

gavstar wrote:casa, we always get back to the hook debate.

someone will come on and tell you now just how many times hook has played at 10 for club and country.

it is a significant number, but i m not up in figures and dates (Cant be bothered to do his player profile on the web)

samurai has said the saloon door is shut, and he's probably right.

Gav - I've attached the ESPN link. Quite quick to find and always useful.

http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/15287.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match

The last time Hook was given more than two consecutive starts at 10 for Wales was in 2008.

He's started at 10 just 19 times out of 65 tests (and when he's started at 10 Wales have only lost to France, Australia and, once, to South Africa).

The door did indeed close long ago. My point is that all the other options are run of the mill and won't make any difference at test level.

That really is fascinating. I hadn't appreciated that Priestland has had almost as many international starts at 10 in the past 15 months as Hook has had in his entire career, stretching back to 2006. Un-bloody-believable!

My work here is done.

Assuming samurai isn't being sarcastic.

Casartelli wrote:My work here is done.

Assuming samurai isn't being sarcastic.

Nope - genuinely gobsmacked. As mentioned above, I see Hook as a kind of Michalak figure, with RP as the Lionel Beauxis type coaches favourite.

this could be the start of something special

i was on espn match stats after the argy game, and hooks pass, kick count showed he did have the ball !!!! i only saw him once or twice , so used to seeing him and something happenning, not always for the good true,
writing on the wall, outside the saloon door!

I've said for a long while, Hook should be our starting 10 with Biggar as back up. He deserves his chance, moved all the way to France just to play that position for god sake. Playing well there from the reports I've seen and still remains our most naturally gifted player.

Every player just needs a run of games that's all. Gatland hasn't given Hook tha opportunity. The only opportunity he's had under Gatland was at 13 (Where he did quite well I thought) and at 15 (Not a FB in a million years but does ok considering).

Lyn2012 wrote:Samurai Dragon - "Tovey looks class"

Hahahahahahahahahhaha

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it.

Not at all - happy to be of service. Care to back up your own view?

Why not consider Steven Shingler and Nicky Robinson?

Nicky Robinson is probably considered too old now,

Steven Shingler even if the WRU have forgiven him for being a turncoat (jest), he probably doesn't want to represent Wales because they blocked his eligibility to play for Scotland.

Fair enough about Robinson.

Doesnt he want international rugby though? I thought Shingler couldn't play for Scotland.

Heathcote recently showed how desperate these youngsters are for a call up.

Shingler might as well bite the bullet and go for the no 10 Welsh shirt which looks to be open to challengers.

Scrum V said Sweeney had an excellent game against whoever Cardiff were playing this weekend.

Has to be drafted in now, as a damage limitation exercise.

Zebre wasn't it Cas.

I know things are bad but lets not go nuts!!

Whatever anyone says about Sweeney, at least he can kick a ball, in a straight line, under no pressure, over a wide expanse of touchline.

And he stuck that hand-off on Carlos Spencer once.

Would be a huge step forward.

Ceri Sweeney a huge step forward? It's come to that?

FFS are we really that bad that we have to draft Sweeny in?

If its for damage limitation I would rather drag Wellies out of retirement or there are a few more I can think of before Sweeney

Steffan Jones
Matthew Morgan
Nicky Robinson
Gavin Henson

Hell as we stopped him playing for Scotland Steve Shingler.

outsider view................... I wouldn't have a reason in the world for having a good young player like Priestland on the Welsh team and having a fantastic erratic (yes mistakes come with that) player like Hook on the sidelines.

To me a Welsh team not finding a way of utilising Hook is just nuts thinking.