Welsh Squad for Autumn Tests?

First topic message reminder :

I'm not 100% sure of how many players are allowed in the team. I think it's about 35 though. So whilst considering injuries and and choosing players on form, this is what i think the team should be:

Props:
Gethin Jenkins
Paul James
Rhys Gill
Adam Jones
Samson Lee
Scott Andrews

Hookers:
Hibbard
Ken Owens
Matthew Rees

Locks:
Alyn Wyn Jones
Ian Evans
Bradley Davies
Andrew Coombs

Flankers:
Dan Lydiate
Sam Warburton
Justin Tipuric
Ryan Jones
Aaron Shingler

Number 8:
Toby Falateu
Morgan Allen

Scrum Half:
Mike Phillips
Richie Rees
Gareth Davies

Outside Half:
Dan Biggar
Rhys Priestland
Rhys Patchell

Centres:
Johnathan Davies
Ashley Beck
Scott Williams
Andrew Bishop

Wings:
George North
Alex Cuthbert
Eli Walker

Fullback:
Leigh Halpfenny
Liam Williams

Not Available (so far):
Craig Mitchell
Jamie Roberts

I think players like Morgan Allen, Andrew Bishop, Rhys Gill and Samson Lee all deserve at least a start against Tonga.
Rhys has been sharing the one jersey with Vunipolo but i have watched him once and he was solid, I hear he has been part of a strong Saracens scrum though. Plus Ryan Bevington hasn't really done much for the Ospreys so far this season.
8 for me with Wales is a big worry at the moment because with Toby injured and Ryan seen ore a a versatile substitute, however that's still only 1 cover for our starting 8. Morgan is young, fresh, strong and a great talents who is in form with the Ospreys. We need to start bringing youny 8's like Allen and Baker into the set up for the future. I mean Ryan isn't going to last much longer, we need someone know to start to challenge Toby and be a descent back up.
Bishop - is one of the most under rated players in Britain. Such a strong defender, on par with Barett in my eyes. A great player who is safe and has that experience.
Samson Lee -Been the best tightheads out of all the regions so far this season  (Adam has only just come back). A strong scrummager and would give the Tongan a good run for their money. Surly the successor for Adam when he retires. Obviously Adam to start against South Africa, Argentina and Australia but would rather Scott on the bench for those games. As much as i want Samson to shine NOW, he still needs to be bled into the set up first. SO one appearance against Tonga would be great.
Lastly, Patchell like Samson is still young and needs small steps into the set up. I think one appearance of the bench for Tonga would be nice for him. However we all know what can happen when we rush a young 10 into the spotlight. So even though i want him in the team for the experience, i hope were not forced to play him too much this Autumn.

Any news on Coombs' knock ? I know he should be fine for SA, its Baarf I'm concerned about

Nothing on Coombs yet but young Dixon is apparently out for a while, they have to operate on his foot injury..

4-6 months  

Thats him out of the AIs AND the 6N (He should've been picked  )

maestegmafia wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Here's what mine would be against the Boks:

James (Not sure what Jenkins' form is like and James technically better)
Hibbard
A Jones
AWJ
Evans
Lydiate
Faletau
Warburton

Phillips (Maes says he's in top form at mo)
Biggar

North
Davies
Sc Williams
Cuthbert

Halfpenny

Jenkins, Owens, Coombes, R Jones, G Davies, Priestland, Li Williams

There are a few contentious selections, Flyhalf as ever is a good point of debate. Blindside flanker, Shingler and Lewis Evans have been in sparkling form. Partner to AWJ in the bolierhouse, Coombs ixS in great shape, Charteris is recovered, Evans is his usual abbrasive self.

Maes,

Blindside in my book is never in doubt Lydiate all the time no one comes close to him.

AWJ and Evans for me are 1st choice though Coombes as you say is on form and it was strange to see Evans dropped by the O's last weekend. The AIs may be to soon for Charteris.

I have given Biggar the benefit of the doubt as the man in possession but as I have said before with the likelihood of a Scarlets centre pairing Priestland may well get the nod and is in good form.

maestegmafia wrote:Hey Iron Mike,

Why some multiple choices and others not? What's your thinking? And why leave out so many regulars?

Not as well thought out as I intended, mostly the multiple choices are back ups to my first choice, some I put on equal grounds and whoever shows the best form over the next few weeks will get the nod. I would also have Walker in the squad.

I think Bedfordwelsh is pretty close;

Toss up between James and Jenkins at loose head, Evans is out of favour at the Ospreys so his place could be under pressure.

In the backs, if Priestland is fit he may start ahead of Biggar (he looked great against Quins), I agree with the centres with Davies at 13.

On the bench there are likely to be 2 props so Andrews or Lee may come in for either Coombs or Ryan. Rhodri Williams is ahead of Davies at the Scarlets so the reserve 9 is up for grabs. And Hook may be considered a more versatile option on the bench than either Biggar or Liam Williams.

Right, i'll have a go,

My team (not the team I think Gatland will go with)

1. Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Ian Evans
6. Ryan Jones
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Scott Williams
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Ken Owens
17. Gethin Jenkins
18. Scott Andrews
19. Andrew Coombes
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Lloyd Williams (Rhodri Williams)
22. Dan Biggar
23. ???

Not sure who will get the replacement backs spot - it should really be a centre, but I don't think I would trust anyone outside the top3 at the moment - perhaps that could be a saving grace for James Hook?

24. Ryan Bevington
25. Emyr Phillips
26. Bradley Davies
27. Aaron Shinger
28. Dan Lydiate
29. Rhodri Williams?
30. Eli Walker
31. Jordan Williams
32. Liam Williams

Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

We shall see this weekend

SS,

Very good point indeed and if I am wrong I will more than willingly eat humble pie but I cant see that happening  

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

We shall see this weekend

We'll need Lydiate's tackling against the Bokke

Realistically Lydiate is a real workhorse and any team would be lucky to have him. Shingler is a great player, and is immense in the line out and in the loose, but nowhere near Lydiate in tackling and grunt work.

The backrow is a real issue for us, as we have too many good options. We could realistically go for Lydiate, Shingler, Warburton or R Jones at blindside, Tipuric or Warburton at openside and Ryan Jones or Toby at number 8.

its going to to be lydiate and warburton . i know the teams picked are personal choices but you can't expect lydiate the recent touring lion over looked by Ryan Jones and shingler . i really feel sorry for tips tho . immense talent but can't get regular games

Against the boks you need the biggest/best tacklers going.... that surely means Lydiate if fit is the first man on the team sheet.

Put Tips in the centre #Lovesadummy

Give Rhys Priestland 1 months leave with a free trip all expenses paid to Tahiti courtesy of the WRU.

Its Biggar's shirt surely ?

biggar deserves to keep the shirt in my honest opinion but priesty looked good last week

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

Lydiate isn't playing for Racing

We have ridiculous depth in the backrow, so to be honest it wouldn't matter if Lydiate, Ryan or Warburton started there - and probably wouldn't make much difference with Shingler.

I'd be happy with Lydiate, Warburton, Jones or Shingler at 6 to be honest, more concerned about backup to Faletau.

Theres a few young Welsh 8s that could do the business in a few years time.

any grandfathers put a £50 pound bet on those number eights getting an international call up  

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:any grandfathers put a £50 pound bet on those number eights getting an international call up  

Ker-ching !

munkian wrote:Its Biggar's shirt surely ?

I would start with him after all he's the man in possesion as they say but Priestland has been looking good of late and its likely to be Williams and Davies in the centre so possible Priestland could get nod.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

We shall see this weekend

The red button is unavailable to me on my Sky app, but I really want to see this game. Do you know of any other way it can be viewed?

Certain streaming websites...

wales606 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

Lydiate isn't playing for Racing

We have ridiculous depth in the backrow, so to be honest it wouldn't matter if Lydiate, Ryan or Warburton started there - and probably wouldn't make much difference with Shingler.

Danny isn't playing this weekend?

I'd say it's the Boks who have ridiculous strength in the back-row. I don't think ours is there yet. Though it's a 100 times better compared to what it was.

Its 8s we need !

Ieuan Jones and Morgan Allen... One is still at home, the other got poached.

Ieuan Jones does look a bit good, played well for the U20s

The Saint wrote:

wales606 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Seagultaf,

There is likely only to be 2 props if its is a 23 man squad not sure if it is or not.

606,

Trying to take my blinkers off but why is Lydiate so down your list, I know some are in the R Jones camp and others like me in the Lydiate camp but either way he is way ahead of Shingler in the pecking order.

Lydiate isn't playing for Racing

We have ridiculous depth in the backrow, so to be honest it wouldn't matter if Lydiate, Ryan or Warburton started there - and probably wouldn't make much difference with Shingler.

Danny isn't playing this weekend?

I'd say it's the Boks who have ridiculous strength in the back-row. I don't think ours is there yet. Though it's a 100 times better compared to what it was.

Hasnt played for the last few weeks for Metro, he is apparently fit - just not being selected

Could be another Gethin situation

The French are very odd

Really? They must have some good depth in that back-row. I know they made a lot of signings over the summer. The team probably isn't as settled as say Toulon are now, so will be there for the taking. Scarlets usually take out newly promoted French teams too.

The Saint wrote:Ieuan Jones and Morgan Allen... One is still at home, the other got poached.

Whose been paoched?

I would in fact like to see one of these in the AI squad even if its just for the experience of being with the senior squad.

Allen, is from Croesyceliog and was in the Dragons academy.

Ah get you saint I thought you meant been poached Internationally for a mo then  

New kit looks meh

http://store.wru.co.uk/

Its not bad, similar to last red kit

Looks terrible.

Quite like it

Personally would have preferred just a solid red in that shade rather than random bits of black on it. Prefer it to the last few though

Reports are now saying Racing likely to include Lydiate in their side, so we might see him head to head with Shingler.

Guess that means Warby is skipper again then? Kind of pointless him standing in front otherwise? Good on him.

shirts looks like an old man united kit . when is the squad announced

After seeing it on a computer rather than a phone, I do actually like the kit.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:shirts looks like an old  man united kit . when is the squad announced

Sure I read after this round of European games so Monday or Tuesday am guessing.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:shirts looks like an old  man united kit . when is the squad announced

Sure I read after this round of European games so Monday or Tuesday am guessing.

cheers bed my girlfriends birthday on the south African game , luckily she loves rugby and going down Cardiff . . 

bedfordwelsh wrote:Reports are now saying Racing likely to include Lydiate in their side, so we might see him head to head with Shingler.

Lydiate is starting on the openside (well i assume he is down as No.7), so the head to head is not likely.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Reports are now saying Racing likely to include Lydiate in their side, so we might see him head to head with Shingler.

Lydiate is starting on the openside (well i assume he is down as No.7), so the head to head is not likely.

I think he said they don't play blindside and openside out there, they play left and right or whatever. So theoretically he isn't an openside as such

Left and Right Flanker has always made sense to me, as in principle the things they bring to the table at rucks and in the lose will be done no matter what (even if they were feilded as second rows or No.8), and the only real difference is where they pack down.