World cup new caps

In the 'good old days' teams used to respond drastically to selection issues. The start, or even half way through, a 5 nations campaign could see a clutch of new caps as plans were ripped up and redrawn.

Now it seems the Welsh team is selected 5 years in advance in the academies. The regions fall over themselves to draw from this talent pool making this a self fulfilling prophesy to some extent. When did we start to trust teachers and youth team coaches with our future? Age grade rugby used to be notorious for nepotism and favouritism. There were more dark arts used than at the palace of Westminster. Has this changed?

Then a player like Lloyd Burns comes along. With his Ginger short back and sides he's not exactly one to get the other half suddenly interested in on field activities. However I believe this home made Dragon should be on the plane to NZ for the WC.

So my question to you is simple. Who are the candidates from your uncapped ranks who deserve a call up (whether you think they actually will get it being irrelevant) and if you'd like, why?

For Ireland I would say Felix Jones and Conor Murray. No one else has been so good as to justify selection over existing players. There are also a couple of young players with only a handful of caps who should go but probably won't: Fergus McFadden springs to mind.

Fussel - as fullback/wing cover

Perhaps Ken Owens (just so Bennett stays at home )

Hewitt/Maule - we need centre cover at the moment and these 2 are probably the best candidates - with Hewitt training with the squad in the autumn.

606 - Fosters


( 'gerd caul' )

Fussel really impressed me at the weekend. He looked dangerous from all over the pitch.

Faletau as a 12? He has more football than the entire Blues backline this afternoon.

Well, for Wales at least, I think that Faletau, Wayne Evans, Ken Owens and Fussell have all got a shout. Even Tipuric and Webb as an outside bet!!

Other than that, I think that Tuilagi is the only other that I can see happening, though Goode should definitely be in there.

Is Fruean capped yet? Think there may be a few form the SANZAR teams too.

There goes my first message on 606v2...exciting times!! Now to get used to this...

I'm a newby and all monkey. I think once 606 closes and there is more immediacy coming from a higher number of posters it will go well.

Beck?

All Blacks assuming the usual suspects are fit,I would say possibly three bolters.Ben Smith,if Dagg does`nt make it unlikely but possible.Fruen if Kahui pulls up lame as usual.and Matt Todd.

Hopefully Conor Murray,Felix Jones maybe but Conor Murray is,at the moment Ireland's best scrum half.

For Ireland, the only players I see even slightly deserving of the going as uncapped players are Murray, Jones and Spence, probably in that order.

The problem is that only 30 players can be brought to the world cup and, as a result, I don't see Kidney bringing any of those three and have them disrupt from is current crop.

The problem for Kidney (if you want to call it a problem) is that, without doubt, Jones and Murray are the form players in their position (and you could argue Spence is too).

3 SH's out of TOL, Stringer, Reddan, Murray and Boss (funnily enough all from Munster bar Boss)

FB is more difficult but Earls is definitely going. Fitzgerald possibly and you could (if you were a fool) argue he covers full back. Bowe definitely going too and you could argue he covers it as well. So, honestly, I see only one of Kearney, Murphy (Geordan - definitely not Johne) and Jones going. Therefore unlucky Felix.

Then with centre you have BOD and D'arcy obviously. Then Paddy Wallace definitely going due to him covering FH. Again, Bowe and Earls cover centre and you could argue Fitzgerald and Trimble could too (again, if you were a fool). So, is there room for one more place? Possibly, but I'd argue McFadden should get it if anyone should (meaning Spence would miss out of course).

So, my long winded thought process has led me to conclude that Murray is the only even slightly likely bolter for Ireland - and I still reckon Kidney will take TOL, Strings and Reddan.

For NZ the only chances seem to be Fruean and Todd. I think Ben Smith has a couple of caps from a couple of years ago. This isn't because the team has been picked so far in advance( though it has to some extent) but because so many people have had a go in Black. There will be a bunch of players with a few caps that wont get to the RWC. eg Victor Vito, Aaron Cruden, Benson Stanley, Cory Flynn, Stephen Donald, Jo Rockcokoco etc

I just hope Faletau goes - Only Ben Morgan was better than him this season and he's NWQ at the mo. Streets ahead of the rest.

Can we leave the coaches behind?