Roberts likely do miss AIs, who to replace him ?

Scot Williams ? Bishop ? Try out one of the Dragons centres ? BOD ?*

*WhatWouldKeithDo

Eh? Why?

I would go for Scott Williams (or Steve Shingler) as the partnership between Foxy and someone tha the works well with will be important.

Although I guess it all goes on form and what have you, being only a few games in we don't know who have had easy/tough opposition, or who have played a team that were off form or 'under rated' etc.

I guess that it will be Foxy and Williams/Beck though.

Dontheman wrote:Eh? Why?

he caught an ankle injury a week ago. they dont know how long he will be out though. a few weeks minimum.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I would go for Scott Williams (or Steve Shingler) as the partnership between Foxy and someone tha the works well with will be important.

Although I guess it all goes on form and what have you, being only a few games in we don't know who have had easy/tough opposition, or who have played a team that were off form or 'under rated' etc.

I guess that it will be Foxy and Williams/Beck though.

I don't know why but I though SW was injured, good to know he isn't. Seeing how battered NZ were after the SA game I'm a little worried about Injuries.

Scott missed the summer tour due to a knock, but came through a few pre-season games ok, and looked solid enough against Leinster and Treviso. Fingers crossed he can stay fit. But I think the Scarlets are going to have to rejig their backline a bit now Foxy is back, as we have had Shingler and Scott in the centre, Li Williams on the wing and Owen at fullback. IMO Owen hasn't looked to good so far, so it will be either Li Williams to fullback and Scott to the wing, or Shingler to fullback (as we need Shingler for his kicking). Depending on who gets moved where will impact their chances for the AIs.

Cheers, good to know  

You coming down to Mordor on Friday ?

I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Eli Walker/Sanjay on the wing ? Could work

Big game to throw North into though

munkian wrote:Cheers, good to know  

You coming down to Mordor on Friday ?

Sadly not, even worse I'll be in the 'port in November when your boys are down in PYS  . Should be a good game Friday though, glad it'll be on the tele.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

munkian wrote:Cheers, good to know  

You coming down to Mordor on Friday ?

Sadly not, even worse I'll be in the 'port in November when your boys are down in PYS  .  Should be a good game Friday though, glad it'll be on the tele.

Shame dude, there's a beer festival before/after too - I've booked the day off

munkian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Eli Walker/Sanjay on the wing ? Could work

Big game to throw North into though

Might be a good test for some further options ahead of the world cup with a game that strictly speaking doesn't have anything major resting on it. I really want to make a tongue in cheek comment about Gatland not really liking to experiment on centre combos now but fear I would get lynched.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

munkian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Eli Walker/Sanjay on the wing ? Could work

Big game to throw North into though

Might be a good test for some further options ahead of the world cup with a game that strictly speaking doesn't have anything major resting on it. I really want to make a tongue in cheek comment about Gatland not really liking to experiment on centre combos now but fear I would get lynched.

Aslong as he shows respect whislt doing it I'm sure Wood will be Ok  

Would like to see some more Dragons in Welsh tops but don't see it happening

Munkian I think there could be more Dragons in Welsh tops, but they will be in the stands watching  

Realistically, there could be a few in the Argentina game, as I assume the release deals with French clubs will mean that people will miss that game.

Quite a lot missing that game, will we have full comliment v Aus ?

I am not too sure, I know that Lydiate and Roberts claim to have full release clauses, but I have a feeling that htese will work out more or less like Charteris' did where he can play the big games but has to go back to France for the lesser games.

Also before the HEC/Amlin rolls around we can't really tell who our will be fit, on form and available. So I guess it will be a case of waiting and crossing fingers etc.

 

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Wouldn't Northampton cry foul at their star signing playing out of position where Roberts has picked up a fair few injuries? Have they got a say?

Dontheman wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Wouldn't Northampton cry foul at their star signing playing out of position where Roberts has picked up a fair few injuries? Have they got a say?

Simple answer is no. If the WRU wanted to feild him as a lock during the AIs or anywhere else for that matter (bar front row) Saints wouldn't be able to say a word.

Dontheman wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:I would think Gatland will be a little tempted to try North there.

Wouldn't Northampton cry foul at their star signing playing out of position where Roberts has picked up a fair few injuries? Have they got a say?

They wouldn't have a say and doubt they would be bothered to be honest. They may like him adding another string to his bow.

North could be a very exciting centre (Well..compared to Doc) can he kick ?

I'm sure I have seen him kick, but no instance of him kicking either well or poor sticks in my mind. But then again I guess he rarely needs to on the wing. And I guess if he was in the outside centre slot, I guess he wouldn't really need to as eitehr Biggar or Foxy would put boot to ball first, or he could ship it back to Tuppence to hammer down feild.

North in centre with someone nippy on his wing please - Walker, Sanjay or Robinson. I don't think Prydie is up to it yet

munkian wrote:North in centre with someone nippy on his wing please - Walker, Sanjay or Robinson. I don't think Prydie is up to it yet

Would be interesting to have George North in the centre, I don't think Prydie is too far from it either, this season is big for him.

I would imagine that Wales would select a regular centre, Williams or Beck, but maybe hold other options from the bench...?

Seems reasonable. Are the Pumas our last match ?

SA, Argentina, Tonga then Oz

Feic, so the best chance we have to beat AUS and a load of our players will prob be stuck in France/England ? Top Marks Roger  

munkian wrote:Feic, so the best chance we have to beat AUS and a load of our players will prob be stuck in France/England ? Top Marks Roger  

england yes, France not necessarily, the WRU have a great line of communication with the French clubs that have Welsh players on their books and give us release.

Which is definitely "Top Marks Roger", as well as Gats and Howley, we would be stuffed without that line of communication.

No George ? Ouch.

munkian wrote:No George ? Ouch.

More importantly might be Rhys Gill and Paul James.

The way Aus are playing at the moment the squad you sent to Japan should beat them.

Lets be fair ignoring our non-regional players against Aus we should be able to field

Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, Walker, Biggar, Li Williams; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Navidi, Faletau.
(Owens, Bevington, Lee, B Davies/Coombs, Shingler, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams)

That is a far far better side than we fielded back in the 90s, and to be fair probably a better side that we feilded back in '05.

No 7&1/2 wrote:The way Aus are playing at the moment the squad you sent to Japan should beat them.

They will be a much better team by the time the Autumn match comes.

This summer we have seen four games under McKenzie. By the time they face Wales they will have played five more, they have some decent players, they just need to click.

No 7&1/2 wrote:The way Aus are playing at the moment the squad you sent to Japan should beat them.

Aus seem to have wide on for beating us though, they'll want Lions rewengy too

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Lets be fair ignoring our non-regional players against Aus we should be able to field

Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, Walker, Biggar, Li Williams; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Navidi, Faletau.
(Owens, Bevington, Lee, B Davies/Coombs, Shingler, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams)

That is a far far better side than we fielded back in the 90s, and to be fair probably a better side that we feilded back in '05.

And we will likely have, Roberts, Charteris, Phillips, Hook, Lydiate all available too as it is likely that the WRU will work it out so that those guys go back to france during the AIs so that they are available for the Oz match. As we did the last two years.

why o why o why didnt they book Australia inside the window . lets be honest even tho they not playing well we still need our full first team squad on that pitch .

How is Charteris doing ? Will we ever see him back in Wales ?

I really don't think Aus will prove any real battle for you, they look completely lost at the moment. You really should turn them over and I think you will.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I really don't think Aus will prove any real battle for you, they look completely lost at the moment. You really should turn them over and I think you will.

We failed to beat their weakend side quite a few times, they always seem to find a way to score a last minute try or penalty.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I really don't think Aus will prove any real battle for you, they look completely lost at the moment. You really should turn them over and I think you will.

It wouldn't surprise me if Australia don't lose a game between now and December.

I'm honestly surprised you have so little faith. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost to the Argies and went on a losing run. I would be bitterly disappointed if England didn't beat them in the AIs and I just can't see them beating Wales.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I'm honestly surprised you have so little faith. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost to the Argies and went on a losing run. I would be bitterly disappointed if England didn't beat them in the AIs and I just can't see them beating Wales.

Well I am sure I speak for all the Welsh fans when I say it would be nice to beat them for a change.

We aren't good enough to beat SH sides without our full team....yet

munkian wrote:North could be a very exciting centre (Well..compared to Doc) can he kick ?

He's a poor kicker, very unnatural. Seems to sort of kick sideways to the ball, tends to therefore go 15 yards to the right of where he should be putting it.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:
Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, Walker, Biggar, Li Williams; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Navidi, Faletau.
(Owens, Bevington, Lee, B Davies/Coombs, Shingler, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams)

That's a scary looking back row Scarlet. The thought of Navidi as a starting option for Wales makes me feel a little ill. Surely Shingler is twice the player, and would you not Tipuric starting over both?

miaow wrote:Surely Shingler is twice the player, and would you not Tipuric starting over both?

I agree, Nalvidi is a bit further down the list as a blindside. Especially with the form of Shingler recently... The fight for the 7 shirt will be fun though.

Miaow, just noticed that should have been Tipuric not Navidi! I knew it was a good old fashioned welsh coal mining name, just picked the wrong one  

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Lets be fair ignoring our non-regional players against Aus we should be able to field

Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, Walker, Biggar, Li Williams; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Navidi, Faletau.
(Owens, Bevington, Lee, B Davies/Coombs, Shingler, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams)

That is a far far better side than we fielded back in the 90s, and to be fair probably a better side that we feilded back in '05.

SS,

That's not a bad side at all but please no Ll Williams at 9 lets give Davies a run with A N Other on the bench. Pretty sure Lydiate has a release clause in his contract mind

bedfordwelsh wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Lets be fair ignoring our non-regional players against Aus we should be able to field

Halfpenny, Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, Walker, Biggar, Li Williams; Jenkins, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Warburton, Navidi, Faletau.
(Owens, Bevington, Lee, B Davies/Coombs, Shingler, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams)

That is a far far better side than we fielded back in the 90s, and to be fair probably a better side that we feilded back in '05.

SS,

That's not a bad side at all but please no Ll Williams at 9 lets give Davies a run with A N Other on the bench.  Pretty sure Lydiate has a release clause in his contract mind

We will likely have Phillips available anyway but I don't see your concern over Lloyd Williams...?

He was man of the match in the first game and was unlucky not to repeat that in the second match. He is in great form.

There is plenty of competition for the shirt. With all fit we are likely to have two scrumhalfs at each region in reasonable contention.

Thought Lloyd Williams looked pretty sharp against Connaught. Seemed to be whipping the ball out quickly, doing toe bread butter sufficiently. His telegraphed box kicking is a clear weakness, but that's coachable, surely. Better shepherding from the forwards, and a swifterclearance routine, should alleviate the charge downs that occur there.

Hard to say yet. If Beck is on form then i would be an easy choice for beck.
I wouldn't try north in center against South Africa or Aus, Tonga yes, maybe Argentina.

I forgot that the Aus game was again out of the IRB window, but it will again depend on who the clubs will release because last year we a few foreign clubs did release our boys.
We will still have a strong pack though against Aus even without the foreign players.
1. Gethin, 2. Hibbard, 3. Adam Jones, 4. Alyn Wyn, 5. Ian Evans, 6. Ryan Jones, 7. Sam, 8. Toby Falateu