Biggar gets injured/has a mare against Italy.....

Would you parachute in Gavin?

I know that I would or perhaps fast track Patchell.
Probably best if Patchell went on summer tour to be honest.

Talking about Lions or Wales ???

Are you forgetting james hook?

If he has a mare against Italy then I guess Hook will come on off the bench and then possibly start against Scotland.

If he gets injured then Hook will start and I guess Patchell would be drafted in.

If you are talking about Wales. How about bringing Stephen Jones back as cover.


Personaly i would not agree with sutch a move, as it could be a step backwards. But if there is no other options.

maj,

Whats wrong with bringing in a young player like Patchell?

If Biggar had a mare then he wouldn't be dropped from squad so would still be available.

If he got injured and ruled out then Hook would be there for the last two games and Patchell as back and also gain some experience.

And we dont drop players for having a mare anyway. We keep them in until they either find form or get injured. Warbs, priestland etc.

Patchell has been playing very well recently, he lost it slightly for a few weeks a couple of months ago, but has been back to his best in recent weeks apparently.

If Biggar gets injured, Hook starts and Patchell gets a phone call.

Too early for Patchell imo. Let him at least get a full season under his belt before considering him for national honours. I know some may have succeeded when thrown in early (e.g. North, Cuthbert) but I still can't comprehend the craze with taking almost any youngster who has shown a little promise and pressing the red shirt on him.

I was thinking more in terms of Patchell's development.Would we want to expose him to the cauldron just when things were hopefully coming to the boil?
He is a cracking talent for sure.
Gavin would relish the situation in my opinion whilst Patchell might crumble.Going forwards we need to nurture guys like Patchell.

Henson is the best back in Wales now that Shane has retired.

Regardless of his lack of international starts, he is just too good. We need to use him while he's still around.

None of this too young rubbish,

at the moment, Patchell is the 3rd best FH Wales have available. That is the fact, if we need a 3rd FH then Patchell is certainly good enough.

Henson is surplus now but give it a century or two and I'm sure he'll be in contention from beyond the grave.

If;

Biggar gets injured,
Hook has a gutsful of being messed around for 5 years and tells Howley to get stuffed,
Patchell's mam says he's not allowed to play against full sized blokes yet,

then presumably it's Stephen Jones?

Would this actually improve the team? Could he play his way into the Lions squad?

Casartelli wrote:If;

Biggar gets injured,
Hook has a gutsful of being messed around for 5 years and tells Howley to get stuffed,
Patchell's mam says he's not allowed to play against full sized blokes yet,

then presumably it's Stephen Jones?

Would this actually improve the team? Could he play his way into the Lions squad?

Well if Wilkinson is in contention the Stephen Jones definitely is. He has two tours as the test flyhalf under his belt.

**whispers*gaaaaavvvvviiiinnnnn*whispers**

In an ideal world I'd love Henson back at 12, he could bring out the best in JD2 and allow him to run even better angles than he does already. Thing is he's playing 10 for Welsh and that's where i'd keep him.

I'd always welcome him back into the set up because he's still the best back we have when fit. If he can get some games under his belt for the rest of the season, he still has a future with Wales, especially when he's only 31 still.

Surely the likes of Stephen Jones, Nick Robinson, Rhys Patchell, Jason Tovey, Dan Evans, Lewis Robling, and Steff Jones deserve a shout before Henson, based on game time (for top flight teams) this season.

Personally I would expect Hook to take over the fly half duties (only if Biggar is injured) and Patchell to be called up and bench warm, just to get used to being in the squad.

Surely the likes of Stephen Jones, Nick Robinson, Rhys Patchell, Jason Tovey, Dan Evans, Lewis Robling, and Steff Jones deserve a shout before Henson, based on game time (for top flight teams) this season.

Surely people should know by now that all logic and sanity flies out the window when Henson's name inevitably crops up. Screw such superficial matters as gametime and fitness, Henson takes priority over both just by being Henson

Hook would play and i assume that Patchell would be drafted onto the bench..

Is Hensob even playing well for LW at the moment? Mind you he would fit right there with some old legends such as ROG and Michalak! Bring back jonny too!

whocares wrote:Is Hensob even playing well for LW at the moment? Mind you he would fit right there with some old legends such as ROG and Michalak! Bring back jonny too!

Man of the Match yesterday vs Sale RFC

Henson has played one game in months, he was MOTM in a bottom of the Premiership battle in which his team lost.

Quick, play him at 10 against England

Henson's ship has sailed....he might get a look in in the centres if JR or JD2 are injured long term but not at 10 with Preistland Hook and Patchell in the mix. A real pity the maturity he is at last showing did not come sooner as he is perhaps the worst case of an unrealized talent.

100%beefy wrote:Henson's ship has sailed....he might get a look in in the centres if JR or JD2 are injured long term but not at 10 with Preistland Hook and Patchell in the mix. A real pity the maturity he is at last showing did not come sooner as he is perhaps the worst case of an unrealized talent.

I remember that Jonathan Davies said a while ago that due to Henson's sabbatical and long injury lay offs that his body is less likely to be tired towards the end of his career and he may be able to play on into his thirties without any worry.

Never know he may well feature for Wales and the Lions again.

maestegmafia wrote:

100%beefy wrote:Henson's ship has sailed....he might get a look in in the centres if JR or JD2 are injured long term but not at 10 with Preistland Hook and Patchell in the mix. A real pity the maturity he is at last showing did not come sooner as he is perhaps the worst case of an unrealized talent.

I remember that Jonathan Davies said a while ago that due to Henson's sabbatical and long injury lay offs that his body is less likely to be tired towards the end of his career and he may be able to play on into his thirties without any worry.

Never know he may well feature for Wales and the Lions again.

Good luck with Wales but at 35 for the Lions not a chance.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

100%beefy wrote:Henson's ship has sailed....he might get a look in in the centres if JR or JD2 are injured long term but not at 10 with Preistland Hook and Patchell in the mix. A real pity the maturity he is at last showing did not come sooner as he is perhaps the worst case of an unrealized talent.

I remember that Jonathan Davies said a while ago that due to Henson's sabbatical and long injury lay offs that his body is less likely to be tired towards the end of his career and he may be able to play on into his thirties without any worry.

Never know he may well feature for Wales and the Lions again.

Good luck with Wales but at 35 for the Lions not a chance.

Henson is 31.

Aye - thus 35 when the next lions tour comes round

"Henson has played one game in months, he was MOTM ..." -- The match in which he won MOM was his third match in a row. Yes, in the first two matches he was used as a sub, but it was his third match nonetheless. If he avoids injury and keeps playing, he will soon reach match fitness.

And anyone who saw the match or highlights, would have noticed the great passes that Henson gave, with real touch and great hands. Even when he's hardly played because of injury, he can still pass the ball far better than the likes of JD2 or Roberts. So much virtue for playing every week, but still not able to pass. I'd take Henson any time over the centres we have.

Henson had a good game, lovely deft hands and brilliant timing.

Now the reality, for all the above good points, he was still off the pace, didnt turn and cover his wing or fb on two occasions, he has reverted to tackling with his right shoulder high ala Henson Pre-Gatland days, and his decision making left a bit to be desired.

The bottom of the table clash was extremely low on quality (both sides) even Cipps was made to look good. Nicky Robinson for the what 20 mins he was on looked much better in a much more intense and higher quality contest , hell even Stephen Jones looked more industrious and was more potent with his dead ball and out of hand kicking

Henson is keeping his head down and working hard in training, but get real he has a long way to go yet.

"but get real he has a long way to go yet." -- I agree. Let's see where he is after another 3 or 4 games (and hopefully he'll start in all of them).