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).

Arrrrgh!  Forward pass, Prydie was tackled anyway.

If Wales had gone for the post when they had penalties and advantages this would be a much closer game

no doubt the coaches are to blame

Awful from robinson

This has to be the seconds? Unless you have left 10+ players at home?

The lack of depth doesn't bother me, the lack of effort/intelligence does. Wales could have scored 3 or 4 times before half time with the amount and quality of possession but they've ferked it... again. It's bad enough watching us butcher tries and make amateur defensive errors against top sides, against Japan I put my foot down.

No we don't KK - this is what we've got left I think when you take away those on Lions duty and injuries...maybe one or two who weren't picked from abroad/outside Wales for whatever reason.

Knackeredknees wrote:This has to be the seconds? Unless you have left 10+ players at home?

Matthew Rees, Luke Charteris, Scott Williams, Ashley Beck, Lee Byrne, Ken Owens, Rhys Preistland

There is some others too

I made a list and this is mostly 3rd choice with some 2nd and 4th involved

Why are we not winning any breakdown ball? Why haven't we got a number 7 on the pitch?

Aelandor wrote:Why are we not winning any breakdown ball? Why haven't we got a number 7 on the pitch?

Nope

I know just looking at the squad, a fair few took part in the 6n or the autumn int. 

To help everyone I think all the 6n country's should be forced to re instate the A sides

Well I can't see Wales getting close in the next ten minutes.  Japan still keeping up the pressure.  Biggar going for the corner again.

Navidi was taken off injured - that didn't help!

Great kick from Japan there...they could get another try here.

Knackeredknees wrote:I know just looking at the squad, a fair few took part in the 6n or the autumn int. 

To help everyone I think all the 6n country's should be forced to re instate the A sides

Not many actually played in the 6Ns

Andrews, Coombes, Williams, Biggar and Liam Williams (?) are th only ones I think. Bradley Davies would have i guess, but then Coombes probably wouldn't.

I'm sorry I thought Navidi was just wearing 7 because he liked the number rather than it signifying that he was an openside flanker.

God this is embarrasing

Davies was injured during the Six Nations I think.  Wales are seriously depleted between injuries and the Lions.  That goes for coaching set up as well.

Knoyle kicks it away

WHY!!!

What a time for a high tackle!

And Japan can seal the victory with this kick

Dire, it's like watching the Blues

Great victory for Japan, chwarae teg.

23 - 8 likely FT score.

Not embarrassing for me.

Japan have played amazing. 

Ferocious, skillful, defensive and accurate.

And that is the game

Some real problems with the decision making on the field and with the coaches on this tour

Well wales606 that's who we're mostly watching. I knew there was a reason we were so dire.

Indeed, fair play to Japan.  A deserved victory.  They played well from the off.

Wales606
Thought more had played, what happened to beck? Thought he was on tour? 
I don't think this tour has been down to the quality of players more the coaching. They look like they have never seen the person next to them before.

KK - Beck is injured.

FT 23-8.  well done Japan.

Well most of them play for the Blues, including No's 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 so no excuses for the lack of link play between those lot.

I love the fact the Welsh commentators are now calling Wales "The Welsh Development Side" - as if to ssave embarrassment.

That win is great for Japanese rugby though and their hosting of the RWC.

It was a well deserved result. At least I hope it will stop a number of people on here from putting forward certain players names for the full national side.

Well played Japan, i thought they were immense. Looked a level of fitness and physicality above us. You could see some of them would have died in that jersey to win today.

It comes purely down to Robin's pigheadedness from not selecting the likes of Paul James etc. A few more old heads there could have steadied the ship when things started going wrong. Particularly Ryan Jones. I am made up for Japan, but we should undoubtedly paid them more respect.

Has Joe Bearman qualified for Wales yet?

At the end of the day, it is wrong that certain Welsh players have been handed out caps there too. Should've been a development tour, otherwise you have to pick your strongest available squad. McBryde has just handed out a few cheap caps.

How does a 15 point defeat affect the ranking for wales?

Agree Rev - there are some great Welsh players still available from outside Wales, but they just don't get a look in.  Between that, the Lions and injuries, we're seriously depleted when it comes to things like this.  I know there won't always be a Lions tour during the summer tours in future, but we can't keep relying on the same group of individuals.

Forgot about Paul James and Ryan Jones not playing either

That's about 10 at home, 15 in Australia

So we still have 25 players who's reputation is not now permenantly scared

Pretorious and Navidi will have to have this as their first cap forever

Aelandor - Bearman's 34, I can't see him coming into the Welsh squad anytime soon.

Wow!

Well played Japan

Cari wrote:I love the fact the Welsh commentators are now calling Wales "The Welsh Development Side" - as if to ssave embarrassment.

That win is great for Japanese rugby though and their hosting of the RWC.

It just makes us look even worse when our pundits/press make excuses. We were defensively woeful, and Japan made us look amatuer.

Holy smokes!  Just saw the score.  What happened?

Some of those player are good enough to play for Wales, but they can't be expected to perform with a bunch of other inexperienced players

This team needed some big leaders, leaving Ryan Jones and Matthew Rees at home was a huge mistake - especially when Owens, Williams, Preistland and Beck all went down injured

Cari wrote:I love the fact the Welsh commentators are now calling Wales "The Welsh Development Side" - as if to save embarrassment.

That win is great for Japanese rugby though and their hosting of the RWC.

Yes, you can be certain that none of the Japanese reports will be talking about which Welsh players were missing.

there was an alarming diaprity in basic skill levels between the two sides for me....the Japanese looked comfortable ball in hand and looked after it in contact far better than we did, their defence was superb as well,

For me this highlights the issue with player development in Wales, I feel we put too much emphasis on physical ability to the detriment of technical skills....this is fine when you have big men like Roberts, north and Cuthbert to get you over the gainlin but when you take this away it shows the limitations in our game....

Player wise for me Pretorius should not be in contention for the jersey again, looking at the Japanese second try he was walking, I say again WALKING to a side of the ruck and stopped when they had a huge overlap, secondly he did not give us any go forward (neither did the rest of the pack)

doctor_grey wrote:Holy smokes!  Just saw the score.  What happened?

Japan defended very well

Wales couldn't take advantage of the majority of the possession and dominance at the set piece

Wales defense was very average on the few occassion Japan got consistant possession

Wales 606, which of those players in your opinion are good enough to play for Wales?

Aelandor wrote:Wales 606, which of those players in your opinion are good enough to play for Wales?

Gill, Andrews, Davies, Navidi, Biggar and Liam Williams

With a bit more regional rugby experience - Patchell, Pretorious and maybe Owen Williams and Robinson if they keep developing

This problem is that a lot of the young player hadn't played enough regional rugby - Owen, Robinson, Patchell, Howells and King all need more experience before they are thrown into tests

Playing in a third string team does not easy players into the test arena - just ask Dan Biggar


Ah well, time to watch New Zealand and France show some real skill

Aelandor wrote:Wales 606, which of those players in your opinion are good enough to play for Wales?

Gill, Bevington, Andrews
Davies, Coombs
Navidi, King

Biggar, Patchel
O Williams
Prydie, L Williams, Robinson

All have or will be, involved with the real welsh squa, but some have really shown they have had their chance and messed up like Petorious, McGog, and Spratt

The Wales U20s coaches would have done a better job on this tour

McBride wasn't very good in the USA 4 years ago and I don't think Edwards is used to teaching 10+ player how to tackle all in one go

So of the "newcomers" that means Andrews and Navidi. I think Navidi need Warburton and Tipuric to both retire very early to have any sort of chance of a "proper" Welsh cap. Remember Tipuric is only 23 so still has at least 10 years in front of him at the top.