Wales Tour of Japan

First topic message reminder :

I know there was a thread on this somewhere, but it's been swamped.

Wales Lions - likely replacements

Halfpenny - Liam Williams
Cuthbert - Walker, Robinson
Davies - Williams, Maule
Roberts - Beck, Hewitt
North - Owen Williams (gutted for Mike Poole)
Phillips - Aled Davies, Tavis Knoyle
Jenkins - Gill
Hibbard - Myhill
Jones - Mitchell
AW Jones - Lou Reed
Ian Evans - King, Kohn
Lydiate - Ieuan Jones
Warburton and Tipuric - Thomas
Faletau - Bearman

What do you think? Anybody else you'd like to see tour Japan?

Wales Training Squad:
Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Sam Hobbs (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues), Josh Navidi (Blues).
Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Aled Davis (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).

LATEST WRU PRESS RELEASE:




Wales Training Squad Update

Wales have called Cardiff Blues outside half Rhys Patchell and Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Sam Parry into their training squad for the tour of Japan but Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has been ruled out of the tour.

Priestland aggravated his Achilles tendon in the warm-up of the Scarlets’ RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final on Friday evening and will miss the two-test tour.

Patchell, 19, who has scored 147 points in 22 appearances for the Blues this season and Haverfordwest born Parry, joined up with the training squad when they met for the first time this morning.

Ken Owens, Scott Williams and Liam Williams who picked up knocks in the defeat to Ulster, will continue to be monitored by the National Squad medical team.

Rhys PATCHELL (CARDIFF BLUES - Uncapped)
DoB: 17.05.93. 6’2” / 1.88m. 14st 13lbs / 95kgs
International record: Uncapped

Sam PARRY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS - Uncapped)
DoB: 17.12.91. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 11lbs / 107kgs
International record: Uncapped.

Further update:

Scott Williams out. Will not be replaced in the squad.

Further update:

Ken Owens confirmed out, won't be replaced. 27 man squad TBA.

Cheers Munkian:

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WELSH RUGBY UNION:
WALES ANNOUNCE JAPAN TOUR SQUAD

Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies will lead Wales in the forthcoming two-test tour of Japan.

The 26-year-old was named captain as Head Coach for the Japan tour Robin McBryde reduced his initial training squad down to a 27-man touring party.

The squad includes nine uncapped players including Ospreys duo Dafydd Howells and Dan Baker and Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell.

Props Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues) and Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs) who all featured for Wales in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations are joined by Saracens’ Rhys Gill and Rhodri Jones (Scarlets).

Uncapped pair Emyr Phillips (Scarlets) and Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) are named as hookers.

Davies returns to the squad after missing the Six Nations campaign due to injury and is named alongside Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Lou Reed (Blues) and James King (Ospreys).

Baker, 20, who featured 25 times for Swansea in the Principality Premiership this season, joins Scarlets duo Aaron Shingler and Rob McCusker and Blues captain Andries Pretorius.

Lloyd Williams (Blues) and Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets) are named at scrum-half alongside Dan Biggar (Ospreys) and Patchell at fly-half.

In the backline Ospreys trio Ashley Beck, Jonathan Spratt and 18-year-old Howells are joined by Blues duo Owen Williams and Harry Robinson, Liam Williams (Scarlets), Tom Prydie (Dragons) and Steven Shingler (London Irish).

Wales face Eddie Jones’ Japan in Osaka on June 8th and then in Tokyo on June 15th and McBryde has been impressed with his squad over the past ten days.

“We’ve had the training squad together for more than a week and we’ve been impressed,” said McBryde.

“They have really put the effort in and stepped up as we have asked them to. Everyone in the training squad put their hand up for selection making our jobs much harder.

“It’s a chance for these players now to experience the international test environment and put their marker down.
Wales Squad:

Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues).

Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).

Cari wrote:

wales606 wrote:Getting constantly pinged at the breakdown...you know what helps with that AN OPENSIDE FLANKER!

Didn't they put the O's boy there and he's not normally played at OF?

He has NEVER played there before

2 locks in the backrow is a really stupid idea

Biltong wrote:I missed that now, why is there a yellow card?

Lazy runner a few yards in front of the posts.

Sensibly, Wales are taking the points now.

6-3 at 22:58.

wales606 wrote:

Cari wrote:

wales606 wrote:Getting constantly pinged at the breakdown...you know what helps with that AN OPENSIDE FLANKER!

Didn't they put the O's boy there and he's not normally played at OF?

He has NEVER played there before

2 locks in the backrow is a really stupid idea

If they were at 6 and 8 it wouldn't be so bad!

Patchell will sort this out when he gets on

thebluesmancometh wrote:

Biltong wrote:I missed that now, why is there a yellow card?

Very soft, Mccusker made contact with a potential ball carrier, there was little in it tbh, but the ref has a whistle at Wales mindset right now!

Doesn't help when the lineout is awfull, and we are giving ball away too easily

Don't think it's a whistle at wales mindset at all, wales are just being very lazy all over the park.

Playing the kicking game against this FB isn't the smartest, recognise he has a huge boot and stop hitting him

Once again our flanker come locks are nowhere to be seen at that turnover!!!

The Welsh need to clear their rucks better.

wales606 wrote:Patchell will sort this out when he gets on

Well we know he can sing if nothing else

This game's getting messy now.

King just got a ball pinched right in from of him

Bradley is having a good game

Someone give Owen Williams some space and a ball to run onto

Biltong wrote:The Welsh need to clear their rucks better.

Locks at 6 and 7 and a 6 at 8, we have no mobility or breakdown nous, this will be an ongoing theme!

Awh no. Could've done with mailing that, Dan....and stop chopsing the match official. No TMO required...

Can't pick it up in a ruck? How do scrumhalfs get away with it?

King ran past the ruck then!

Clear he is not an openside

I get worried when Biggar starts chopsing...

6-6 at 28:59

wales606 wrote:They need that waterboy on the pitch!

Exactly my thoughts.

Knackeredknees wrote:Can't pick it up in a ruck? How do scrumhalfs get away with it?

Can't pick it up if you're in a ruck. Ok if you're the last man and unwind from ruck but that's it. Not always picked up.

Cari, there is no TMO for this game

Wales getting some continuity in the last few minutes, maybe they sttling down now

King his hesitating at every ruck, why he was chosen as the lock to play 7 I don't know, he's proving a huge weakness right now!

Wheres Navidi, this game is primed for him

Welsh scrum under pressure...that's a worry.

HammerofThunor wrote:

Knackeredknees wrote:Can't pick it up in a ruck? How do scrumhalfs get away with it?

Can't pick it up if you're in a ruck. Ok if you're the last man and unwind from ruck but that's it. Not always picked up.

Cari, there is no TMO for this game

Judging by player and commentator reaction they thought he was the last man

Again no support for the back row whatsoever, Biggar made good ground and is totally isolated, King and Mccusker offering nothing to this game

The backrow are just not quick enough, of mind and body - they can't secure ball

thebluesmancometh wrote:Again no support for the back row whatsoever, Biggar made good ground and is totally isolated, King and Mccusker offering nothing to this game

What do you expect when you leave the best backrower in the squad out of the 23

Ok not the best game I've ever seen but for a neutral it's been quite enjoyable

Wales under pressure again...if Japan score here I can only hope that will be a kick up the backside for the Welsh boys.

Inexperience not waiting for advantage from that scrum

Then they lose it at the first breakdown

Get Pretorious on at 6 and Baker at 8

I have never seen rucks so unsupported or unattended in international rugby!!!

Good play by Japan here

Shouldve been a yellow there, easily!!!

Japan strong in technical forward skills, breakdown and maul but weak with the more physical aspects.

Welsh boys getting warned for sledging.

If Navidi doesn't start next week, someone crucify McBride

And a warning, players mouthing off.

Poor Bradley, he has been doing everything he can.

Wait, where is Shane! Someone get him on the pitch!

...and there you have it, the deserved Japanese try by Broadhurst.

11-6 at HT

HA HA HA HA HA U16's style play and in the corner untouched!!!

Mccbride thats what happens when you play 4 locks!

Who are wales back row replacements? As the ones on the pitch are not doing much at the rucks. Japan free to turn over every ruck.

Strange call by the ref there, pen try?

And it's the Japansese 7 who scores, typical

Someone get George North on a plane for next week - we need to borrow him

Lloyd Williams dummied by a 7 from Japan... I expect nothing less!

Eh...hello, referee it's HT!

Knackeredknees wrote:Who are wales back row replacements? As the ones on the pitch are not doing much at the rucks. Japan free to turn over every ruck.

Strange call by the ref there, pen try?

I thought he was going to give a PT too.

Knackeredknees wrote:Who are wales back row replacements? As the ones on the pitch are not doing much at the rucks. Japan free to turn over every ruck.

Strange call by the ref there, pen try?

2 no8s!

Although Pretorious is a better 6 if you ask me.

This is a disaster and McBride is solely to blame for not selecting a an openside

Lost another ball at the breakdown

I like Tanaka he is having a good game.

The TV clock usually goes off the TMO doesn't it? So without one the displayed time will probably be wrong.

Martyn wants Josh too!

Ok what will happen to wales world ranking if they lose?

Not that I expect them to, I expect them to get there act together in the second half

No offence to the Japanese, they have been strong, but they're offering little to the breakdown and they almost have shocked looks on their faces as they pick the ball up unoposed...

King and Mccusker are way off the pace, both missing key defencive positions at the set peice, they are miles away from the breakdown and are acting like locks!

Davies is playing well individually but leading very poorly!

Front row look ok actually, but Reed looks slow, and Lloyd Williams is just so astounding as a pro SH, let alone repeated international SH!

I feel bad for the backline outside Biggar, they have tries in them if they can get a platform!!!

Total mess of a performance so far, undercoached, undercooked, and Mccbride has to take the blame for having no backrowers in the squad!

Biltong wrote:I like Tanaka he is having a good game.

The Highlanders form is showing?
He's looked good even when they've been under the pump. He's a tough and well-disciplined SH.

Apparently Navidi is the waterboy!!!

Knackeredknees wrote:Ok what will happen to wales world ranking if they lose?

Not that I expect them to, I expect them to get there act together in the second half

God, that would be ridiculous - Wales win 2 six nations and drop to 10th in the World (or whatever it would be) because their 3rd/4th choice team and 3rd choice coach is awful.