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.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Also could it happen that players end up being grouped together at particular regions ie back 3 at Cardiff, front 5 at the Os, etc?

I said about this last time the centralised contracts were mentioned.  Theoretically it would make sense for the union to allocate player to regions so, assuming contracts went to all Internationals, the regions would feild teams like (IMO)

Blues -: Halfpenny, Robinson, O Williams, Allen, Cuthbert, Patchell, Ll Williams; Hobbs, Rees (?), Andrews, B Davies, Reed, Petorious, Navidi, ???
Scarlets -: Li Williams, North, Davies, Sc Williams, Jo Williams, Priestland, Rh Williams; John, Owens, Lee, Ball, ???, Shingler, Turnbull, McCusker
Ospreys -: Fussel, Walker, Bishop, Beck, Dirkson, Biggar, Phillips; Bevington, Hibbard, Ad Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Rh Jones, Tipuric, Bearman
Dragons -: Dan Evans, Prydie, Dixon, Hook, Amos, Tovey, Rees; ???, E Phillips, ???, Coombs, Charteris, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau

I don't get where your coming from with this sorry.
Why is Hobbs there instead of Jenkins and why the hell Warburton at the Blues
I guess that your making a team with foreign player brought back in, if so you left out Rhys Gill, Mitchell, Roberts, Broster and Aled Brew

ScarletSpiderman wrote:The Amlin should be a bit more competitive next season, as there will be a few more Rabo sides in there.

Yes true, but do you think the Amlin will get more television cover?

Griff wrote:I don't think they did Guns. They said they'd suspended him, which they had.

Two other players were fined, not suspended, under similar circumstances. I can only assume they were out with Mike drinking the night before.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dave, I was just thinking about keeping combinations (backrow) in one team, and moving one player is easier than moving two.  Although if the WRU did it Wales' first team would be at the Blues, the second team would be at the Ospreys, the U20s and dregs would be spread to the Scarlets and Dragons.

I know mun and let's hope it never gets to the stage where the WRU call the shots like you have suggested.

Jhamer25 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:The Amlin should be a bit more competitive next season, as there will be a few more Rabo sides in there.

Yes true, but do you think the Amlin will get more television cover?

Probably not would be my guess and as you've brought up the subject, I believe that it would be a good idea to broadcast a few HEC/Amlin games on free to air tv.

ok faletau taken to hospital, hopefully not serious, but what are our other options at 8, has either lydiate or Warburton played 8, as Ryan Jones just isint in form at the moment

welshy824 (new) wrote:ok faletau taken to hospital, hopefully not serious, but what are our other options at 8, has either lydiate or Warburton played 8, as Ryan Jones just isint in form at the moment

Warburton played 8 all through age grades

With Tipuric's form, it could well be an option

welshy824 (new) wrote:ok faletau taken to hospital, hopefully not serious, but what are our other options at 8, has either lydiate or Warburton played 8, as Ryan Jones just isint in form at the moment

Hope it turns out ok for Faletau. A true legend in the making at Dave.

Let's hope Falateu is back soon, and also Jarvis who went off.
See how both get on but is so Samson and Allen should be called up to cover.
If Falateu is out, the backrow should be Dan, Tips and Sam 8

Jhamer25 wrote:Let's hope Falateu is back soon, and also Jarvis who went off.
See how both get on but is so Samson and Allen should be called up to cover.
If Falateu is out, the backrow should be Dan, Tips and Sam 8

I put similar on the Os Dragons club thread.

Could a back row of Lydiate Warburton Tipuric work because Tipuric was on fire tonight and would be huge call to leave him out even with Warburton as skipper.

Do we trust in Ryan Jones finding some form and in honesty he would bust a gut for Wales.

Or if Toby is out do we take the opprotunity to blood a young (even younger than Toby) No8 maybe Morgan Allen or Ieuan Jones?

So who are Way-ulls playing again this fine Autumn; Australia obviously and?

Apparently not so bad for Toby..?

Good news that our foreign based players are available for the Australia game.

Www.planetrugby.com

George North, Dan Lydiate and Jamie Roberts will be availability to face the Wallabies for Wales despite the game falling outside the IRB Test window.

There had been fears that many of Wales' foreign-based stars would be unavailable for the last of their four November internationals against South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia.
However, Racing Metro flank Lydiate has revealed that his contract allows him to be released for one extra international per year and that his club team-mate Roberts has the same situation.
"Yes, I am available," Lydiate told the reporters after his side's draw with the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup.
"It is part of my contract. I am allowed to play one match outside of the window, either the one in the autumn or a match in the summer like the ones against the Barbarians. So I'll choose the autumn one."
Northampton wing North also looks set to be given an extra week by his club thanks to a similar clause in his contract.
Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder said they encouraged rather than prevented their players from featuring in internationals.
"I would not talk about individual players' contracts, but we want all our players to play international rugby and we support them in their quest to do that," said Mallinder.

From watching Coombs on Friday, if Ian Evans is out of favour or injured surly he should start.
He was a knife in the ospreys team side surly. He was amazing at the break down, constantly put pressure at the rucks and turned a lot of ball over.
Would be a good choice in my eyes with two work horses like Coombs and ALyn Wyn (who was also everywhere). They are both in form and deserve starts after their performences on Friday in my eyes.
Also any news on Jarvis' injuries

Coombs is a cracking player having a good season too. Glad his injuries haven't been too problematic.

Jhamer25 wrote:From watching Coombs on Friday, if Ian Evans is out of favour or injured surly he should start.
He was a knife in the ospreys team side surly. He was amazing at the break down, constantly put pressure at the rucks and turned a lot of ball over.
Would be a good choice in my eyes with two work horses like Coombs and ALyn Wyn (who was also everywhere). They are both in form and deserve starts after their performences on Friday in my eyes.
Also any news on Jarvis' injuries

Coombs played really well in the loose and in the lineout, but he is a bit loose for a test lock and does not appear to add a great deal to the scrum. Wales will need plenty of beef in the scrum against SA, but if Faletau is not fit could Coombs do a job at 8?

Seagultaf wrote:

Jhamer25 wrote:From watching Coombs on Friday, if Ian Evans is out of favour or injured surly he should start.
He was a knife in the ospreys team side surly. He was amazing at the break down, constantly put pressure at the rucks and turned a lot of ball over.
Would be a good choice in my eyes with two work horses like Coombs and ALyn Wyn (who was also everywhere). They are both in form and deserve starts after their performences on Friday in my eyes.
Also any news on Jarvis' injuries

Coombs played really well in the loose and in the lineout, but he is a bit loose for a test lock and does not appear to add a great deal to the scrum. Wales will need plenty of beef in the scrum against SA, but if Faletau is not fit could Coombs do a job at 8?

I do understand what you mean about the beef up front, yes he is light and a choice of Bradley Davies would be a safer option. I do Hope Ianto is fit so he can prove his form back but id he dones't then a change will have to be made for Australia and Argentina.

Don't think Coombs will be considered at 8: if Falateu is injured we might for for a Dan, Tipuric, Sam (8)split or go with the safer option of Dan, Sam and Ryan Jones. However the form Tipuric is in, he should have a spot in the team.
There are a few questions over lock, 8 and wing at the moment but i'm sure Gats will pick the right team. He should look at in form players though.

Also i saw Scott Andrews also went off Friday, they claimed it was injury but i think it was more that he was shocking at scrum time again. It is a real shame though because for a prop, he gets through so much work and so many tackles. I do hope the Blues, come next season sign two new tightheads and he can work more on his scrummaging. But if he is actually injured and Aaron is, that leaves Adam and Samson. Am i worrying too much or do you think it is a cause of concern.

Jhamer25 wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:

Jhamer25 wrote:From watching Coombs on Friday, if Ian Evans is out of favour or injured surly he should start.
He was a knife in the ospreys team side surly. He was amazing at the break down, constantly put pressure at the rucks and turned a lot of ball over.
Would be a good choice in my eyes with two work horses like Coombs and ALyn Wyn (who was also everywhere). They are both in form and deserve starts after their performences on Friday in my eyes.
Also any news on Jarvis' injuries

Coombs played really well in the loose and in the lineout, but he is a bit loose for a test lock and does not appear to add a great deal to the scrum. Wales will need plenty of beef in the scrum against SA, but if Faletau is not fit could Coombs do a job at 8?

I do understand what you mean about the beef up front, yes he is light and a choice of Bradley Davies would be a safer option. I do Hope Ianto is fit so he can prove his form back but id he dones't then a change will have to be made for Australia and Argentina.

Don't think Coombs will be considered at 8: if Falateu is injured we might for for a Dan, Tipuric, Sam (8)split or go with the safer option of Dan, Sam and Ryan Jones. However the form Tipuric is in, he should have a spot in the team.
There are a few questions over lock, 8 and wing at the moment but i'm sure Gats will pick the right team. He should look at in form players though.

Also i saw Scott Andrews also went off Friday, they claimed it was injury but i think it was more that he was shocking at scrum time again. It is a real shame though because for a prop, he gets through so much work and so many tackles. I do hope the Blues, come next season sign two new tightheads and he can work more on his scrummaging. But if he is actually injured and Aaron is, that leaves Adam and Samson. Am i worrying too much or do you think it is a cause of concern.

Is Craig Mitchell injured?

Still thing he should be our no2

If you're on about beef in 2nd row then don't forget Charteris is in the squad as well.

I know he hasn't had much game time because of injury but at one point he was seen as 1st choice with AWJ.

Mitchell was on Rugby Tonight, still injured

bedfordwelsh wrote:If you're on about beef in 2nd row then don't forget Charteris is in the squad as well.  

I know he hasn't had much game time because of injury but at one point he was seen as 1st choice with AWJ.

He looked good in the two games he has played but is a long way off

Evans, Davies, AWJ and Coombs all ahead

Yea Mitchell is out.
He has always been second choice but he is always injured as well which doesn't help us.
All im saying is, if all three; Mitchell, Andrew and Jarvis are out.
That leaves Adam and Samson:
the only other choice to call up i would consider is:
Nicky Thomas
Eifion Lewis Roberts
but i think if we are have that much of a problem Gats will just stick with Gethin and Adam to start with Paul the only prop on the bench.

Wouldn't put Charteris up against a team like South Africa, Bakkies Botha or Eztabeth would snap him in half. I know he is heavy but thats because of his height, he is a good target for the shorter beefier players. Would rather Coombs.

He's still 19 stone - I reckon he has bulked up a fair bit since playing in France too

Jhamer25 wrote:Yea Mitchell is out.
He has always been second choice but he is always injured as well which doesn't help us.
All im saying is, if all three; Mitchell, Andrew and Jarvis are out.
That leaves Adam and Samson:
the only other choice to call up i would consider is:
Nicky Thomas
Eifion Lewis Roberts
but i think if we are have that much of a problem Gats will just stick with Gethin and Adam to start with Paul the only prop on the bench.

Wouldn't put Charteris up against a team like South Africa, Bakkies Botha or Eztabeth would snap him in half. I know he is heavy but thats because of his height, he is a good target for the shorter beefier players. Would rather Coombs.

You have to have a full front row on the bench as subs.

Sampson Lee has been the best tighthead in Wales this season.

Re Charteris, didn't he play with AWJ in the second row when we nearly beat SA at the RWC.

Maes,

You only have to have full front row in 23 man squads or is everything 23 man squads these days?

AWJ and Charteris were at one time seen as our first choice pairing and it was only injury that opened the door for Evans

I think it's 23 across the board and has been for at least a year

maestegmafia wrote:I think it's 23 across the board and has been for at least a year

Never quite know these days lol.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:I think it's 23 across the board and has been for at least a year

Never quite know these days lol.  

Looks like Faletau is fit for selection

Anyone have any ideas on who will be in the team?

Not yet, don't think they'll announce it till next week

Injury wise we are missing Roberts and Cuthbert, both big players in the recent teams.

I think we'll be looking at

Gethin
Owens
Adam
AWJ
Ianto/Davies
Lyds
Warbs
Toby

Phillips
Priestland
Walker
Scott
JD2
North
Halfpenny

maestegmafia wrote:Injury wise we are missing Roberts and Cuthbert, both big players in the recent teams.

I think we'll be looking at

Gethin
Owens
Adam
AWJ
Ianto/Davies
Lyds
Warbs
Toby

Phillips
Priestland
Walker
Scott
JD2
North
Halfpenny

Hibbard starting surely against SA ?

Would be very harsh on Biggar if he lost the shirt

Ianto is injured no ? I'd have Coombes

Priestland and Liam Williams would start for me. Ken Owens is the better all-round hooker I think, but he's a better impact sub so they'll probably start with Hibbard.

There's some very tough calls there. Hooker, Lock, Backrow, Flyhalf and Wing..!

Hibbard or Owens, Owens has been in superb form, Hibbard too. I have been very impressed with Owens but it is currently Hibbards shirt.

Ian Evans has had an ankle issue but not a major and will be available. There is very little between Ianto, Brad or Coombs. All different players but all have some fine qualities.

Flyhalf I think Priestland has been the better player this season. Biggar has been consistently good but he lacks any magic. Priest land has always had a better eye for attack. Wales will need to attack to win.

walker looks the most exciting option, with Gatland already staying that he insiders Liam and Leigh as out and out fullbacks.

Here is the Gatland interview.

It seems like a number of posters missed it.


Warren Gatland's live video Q+A with rugby fans on WalesOnline has been the talk of the rugby world on social media during the past 24 hours.

During his 30-minute appearance on our Focus on Rugby show, Gatland hit out at chief Lions critic Keith Wood, revealed the story of Brian O'Driscoll's Downing Street peace offering, explained why he chose Andy Farrell over Shaun Edwards for Lions duty, insisted he had no problem with Lee Byrne's public criticism of his omission from the autumn squad and hinted he could stay with Wales beyond the 2015 World Cup.

Rugby media and fans in Ireland were quick to pick up on his comments about Irish duo Wood and O'Driscoll, while the English press jumped on his, perhaps tongue in cheek, admission the decision to take Farrell on the Lions tour ahead of Wales defensive guru Edwards was partly down to a desire to gain inside info on England's tactics ahead of the World Cup.

Here, we bring you the transcript of the key exchanges, and give you the chance to watch the whole video interview. Enjoy



What has life been like for you since coming back from the Lions tour of Australia?

I had a bit of a break after the Lions trip. I needed that. It was a full-on year leading into that, with all the commercial stuff and doing two or three dinners a week and trying to get round and look at players. Then the tour was tough. It was full-on, two games a week and reasonably stressful as well, so it was good to get a bit of a break. Now it’s great to, ironically, come back to a little bit less pressure here in Wales. Normally the spotlight is really on you here.

You have a tough call to make at outside-half for the autumn internationals. Where are you in your thought process with that?

We have got some good competition there. Dan Biggar did really well last season in the Six Nations. In two or three of those games, the conditions were pretty wet and it wasn’t ideal to play a lot of running rugby. He controlled those games exceptionally well and got confidence as that tournament went along. Rhys Priestland is now back from injury and he’s had some good games for the Scarlets recently. He’s started to run the game pretty well, his kicking out of hand has been good. And we are really excited about Rhys Patchell. We have brought him into the squad to have a look at him in terms of giving him some experience. We know he has got some speed and he’s keen to learn.

He’s great, then we have got the experience of James Hook, who can cover us at 10, as well as at full-back and midfield.

We want to see James perform well. I spoke to him a couple of days ago and the great thing is he’s desperate to play for Wales and that’s exciting. I told him the best thing about the conversation is you are showing me a little bit of fight. I didn’t always feel that from him in the past. I felt sometimes he accepted the disappointment of being left out, but he really wants to play. So I said come in and let’s see that hunger and don’t let some of those younger boys push you around. Come in there and show that potentially you can be the boss.



What has Lee Byrne got to do to gain a place in the squad and why is Samson Lee not involved? What did you make of Lee’s reaction on Twitter?

I wasn’t disappointed with that reaction. That was understandable. We discussed Lee and thought his form for Clermont has been excellent.

But part of the remit at the moment is counting down to the 2015 World Cup. If we were picking a World Cup squad tomorrow, there’s a good chance Lee would be in it. But we have got arguably one of the best full-backs in the world in Leigh Halfpenny and another player whose form has been excellent in Liam Williams.

We definitely discussed Lee as an option, but would he be round in two years time for the World Cup? I’m not too sure. It definitely doesn’t count him out for future selection though.

Samson Lee is another one who has been playing well and has been part of the squad in the past. Another prop we have got a high regard for down the Scarlets, who is not getting game-time, is Rhodri Jones.

Selection is just a matter of opinion and everyone has a right to their views. That’s what sport is all about.

Are we likely to see Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric starting together in the back row, as was the case in the Six Nations title-clincher against England?

I thought both of them complemented each other really well in that last game. We have got that option. I think we should celebrate the fact we’ve got two real quality sevens that can both do a great job for us.

It’s a fairly tough position in terms of putting your body on the line. If Sam does pick up injuries, we’ve got Justin there or vice versa, or we could play them both at six and seven as we’ve done. It does give us those options.

First up you’ve got South Africa, so what can you do to make sure your players are on the money straight from the off?

That’s always a challenge, with two weeks to prepare. It’s a huge step up. Players in Pro12 games cover about 55 metres per minute, you go to a Heineken Cup game and you might get 60-65, in an international that’s up to 75-80 metres.

For players stepping up to the next level, it tends to be a little bit of a shock. We have got to replicate in training what they are going to expect against one of the southern hemisphere teams.

The pace of Super Rugby is very close and sometimes even a little bit higher than international games New Zealand are playing. So when they come into an All Blacks environment, they don’t have to look at stepping up the intensity and pace of training because they are already getting that week-in, week-out.

For me, that’s the big thing. I don’t want South Africa to be a huge shock.

In saying that, we’ve got a group of players who have come back from a successful Lions tour and the time is right to have expectations about the development of this team.

Yes, we’ve done very well in the Six Nations in recent years, but we haven’t done as well as we should have in the autumn.

It would be great to start out first up against South Africa and get a performance and a result and build on that confidence.

We need to have that belief. Maybe in the past we’ve talked about being good enough to win big games, but did the players really believe it?

There needs to be real belief that we are good enough to win. Mentally that has a huge impact on expectations and that’s where this team need to go.

Shaun Edwards was obviously hurt by not being part of the Lions coaching team. Has your relationship with him been damaged at all?

I know how disappointed Shaun was, missing out on the Lions, and it was an incredibly tough decision for me to make,” Gatland said.

I made it, a little bit selfishly, it was a chance for me to bring in someone who I hadn’t worked with in the past, in terms of Andy Farrell, who was well regarded by anyone who I spoke to. It doesn’t take away from the respect I have for Shaun as a coach, but it was good from that aspect to work with somebody else. I have a huge amount of respect and regard for Shaun.



There was, I suppose, a part of me looking long term – knowing that Andy could do a good job – but also, if you are thinking you know what the World Cup pool is and knowing that we were going to have England in our pool, potentially it gives me a little bit of an insight into England and their preparations.

That’s a little bit of the cunning side of me. You don’t admit those things and that’s probably more of a reflective decision, saying what happens afterwards," he said with a smile on his face.

There was no doubt that by us going on the Lions, we have given away, from a coaching set up and backroom staff, a huge amount of information, so it’s always nice to get something back as well.

It was tough, but the thing about Shaun is that he has been a professional sportsman since he was 17 and at times, although he doesn’t always agree, he respects that decisions need to be made.

He texted me whilst I was on tour and wished me good luck and we have met up a few times since. I am confident that that relationship will continue to flourish.

With the injury to Alex Cuthbert, does Liam Williams come in to the wing equation along with Eli Walker and might you even look at Leigh Halfpenny on the wing?

We think Liam is probably a better full-back than he is a winger. We know Leigh can play there, but then you would be moving one of the best full-backs in the world. Eli Walker has had a good start to the season and is dangerous. He hasn’t had the most opportunities for the Ospreys in the last couple of games in terms of room to move.

There were other options we considered, like Hallam Amos, Harry Robinson, Tom Prydie and Jordan Williams. So there is talent around.

With Jamie Roberts injured, do you now turn to Scott Williams at inside centre?

I think Scott has been the form player of the season so far. He’s been absolutely outstanding. It’s great that after his involvement over the last few years now he’s going to get a chance hopefully to start.

We know what Jamie can do as a centre. In the last two or three years, he has been very effective at what he has been able to do, but he needs to start adding some other aspects to his game, some other subtleties in terms of off-loads and putting players into a bit of space and developing his kicking game.

Ma’a Nonu was very direct when he came into the All Blacks, but if you look at him now he’s given himself an all-round game. That’s the challenge for Jamie over the next two years up to the World Cup – not just to be considered as a one-track pony, but to add other parts to his game that can give him and the team variation.

What would you class as a successful autumn campaign for Wales?

Well, we didn’t do too well last year!

You would like to win all the games, but three out of four would be a reasonable reflection of a successful autumn campaign.

We have a couple of key players that are injured and that always has an impact.

But we have got a group of world-class players here and we have to start putting pressure on ourselves to perform and get the results.

Will you sign a new contract with Wales for after the 2015 World Cup and would you like to coach the Lions again in your native New Zealand in 2017?

Gallery: Gatland and the Lions celebrate


A no doubt relieved Warren Gatland leaves the field after his big selection gamble paid off handsomely

Man of the series Leigh Halfpenny celebrates at the final whistle

A solemn handshake between coaches Robbie Deans and Warren Gatland

A big smile from injured skipper Sam Warburton

Mike Phillips celebrates with Leigh Halfpenny

And Phillips also has a big hug for try scorer George North

Brian O'Driscoll looks a bit terrified by North's celebrations

Leigh Halfpenny raises the trophy awarded to the Lions for winning the series

Brothers Tom and Ben Youngs celebrate with the trophy

Time to pop the champagne for the victorious Lions

Big celebrations in Sydney for the Lions as they raise the trophy

Tour skipper Sam Warburton and match captain Alun Wyn Jones raise the trophy together

Two kisses for the trophy

Adam Jones poses for a picture with Brian O'Driscoll

A big smile from Jamie Roberts as he gets his hands on the crystal

All the players got the chance to pose with the trophy - here's Jonathan Davies getting his chance

Manu Tuilagi brings the trophy down the tunnel

A touching moment as Brian O'Driscoll brings his baby daughter onto the field

Jamie Roberts takes the plaudits as he leaves the field

Sam Warburton leads his squad from field

A famous face among the jubilant Lions fans - 007 Daniel Craig, who had a few words for Mike Phillips

Craig posed for pictures with try scorer Jonny Sexton, before heading into the Lions changing room

Mike Phillips - never one to shy away from the camera lens - gets his hands on the trophy

Toby Faletau raises the trophy with Sam Warburton

No-one among the thousands of Lions fans was in the mood to leave early

It was a true 'I was there' moment for the thousands who made the trip to Australia

It's sure to be a big night in Sydney...



If the opportunity arose, I would love to do the Lions again. But that is dependent on Wales over the next couple of years.

If they are successful, then it gives me a chance to potentially be asked again. If Wales are rubbish, then the Lions aren’t going to ask me. But hopefully Wales will continue to be successful over the next couple of years.

There is a group of players coming through at the moment that you would like to be involved with for the next three or four years.

Every now and again a generation of players come through that could do something pretty special. Fingers crossed, we may have that opportunity.

We have a group of players in their early and mid-20s and as they mature and get more experiences they are only going to get better.

Apart from perhaps Adam Jones, Mike Phillips and Gethin Jenkins, there is a group of players that are going to be around for the next five to six years and from the national point of view that’s pretty exciting to be a part of that for Wales. When you see that talent, you don’t want to walk away from it and give it to someone else.

That’s the selfish part of me wanting to be involved.

We will see what happens. Roger Lewis and I have just had a general chat at the moment.

I have really enjoyed my time here in the last six years.

When I first signed my contract, I can tell you my heart was pumping and my hand was shaking. I was thinking what am I doing going to Wales, am I doing the right thing? After the World Cup in 2007, I wasn’t quite sure.

It was a four-year contract. I arrived in the December and I can remember after the first month going out on the balcony of my apartment and saying that’s one out of 48 gone.

But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It’s been special and I’ve met some great friends. I’m always challenged by the Welsh public and I respect and admire that.

Everyone talks about the three million selectors and they have the right to their opinion. That’s what makes living in Wales interesting.

Anyone know if any of the squad been released back to their Regions this weekend yet.

Not so far as I have seen but tomorrow may tell a different story.

Who do you hope stays..???

I'd quite like Patchell, Owen Williams & Corey Allen to be sent back to the Blues.

They can keep Scott Andrews though....

















forever.

Comfort wrote:I'd quite like Patchell, Owen Williams & Corey Allen to be sent back to the Blues.

Yes indeedy and these 3 have to play together as often as possible. Should have happened last season, but there we are.

Well it's good news that they are playing together now.

Very exciting that they are in the squad to. Great promise for the future in all three.

Against South Africa, surely we have to have Liam W at F/B and 1/2p on the wing? Eli Walker up against Pietersen or Habana would be asking an awful lot of him defensively.

Jhamer25 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Also could it happen that players end up being grouped together at particular regions ie back 3 at Cardiff, front 5 at the Os, etc?

I said about this last time the centralised contracts were mentioned.  Theoretically it would make sense for the union to allocate player to regions so, assuming contracts went to all Internationals, the regions would feild teams like (IMO)

Blues -: Halfpenny, Robinson, O Williams, Allen, Cuthbert, Patchell, Ll Williams; Hobbs, Rees (?), Andrews, B Davies, Reed, Petorious, Navidi, ???
Scarlets -: Li Williams, North, Davies, Sc Williams, Jo Williams, Priestland, Rh Williams; John, Owens, Lee, Ball, ???, Shingler, Turnbull, McCusker
Ospreys -: Fussel, Walker, Bishop, Beck, Dirkson, Biggar, Phillips; Bevington, Hibbard, Ad Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Rh Jones, Tipuric, Bearman
Dragons -: Dan Evans, Prydie, Dixon, Hook, Amos, Tovey, Rees; ???, E Phillips, ???, Coombs, Charteris, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau

I don't get where your coming from with this sorry.
Why is Hobbs there instead of Jenkins and why the hell Warburton at the Blues
I guess that your making a team with foreign player brought back in, if so you left out Rhys Gill, Mitchell, Roberts, Broster and Aled Brew

Sorry for the delayed reply, been away from the tinterweb for a while.

I was trying to shuffle the players, whilst keeping as many where they belong as possible, so that their would be as many potential partnerships (inside + outside centre, half backs, back row, front row etc) that could work together. As IMO if the WRU did take control of the 'stars' contracts they would want to see as many as possible playing each weekend (hence moving E Phillips from the Scarlets), and they would also want to have established international partnerships/units playing together as often as possible as that tends to mean tehy function better together internationally (Peel and Jones Wales/Scarlets, Roberts/Shanks Wales/Blues etc).

I did forget Geth mind, which was not the best. I guess Gill and Mitchell could fill the gaps in the Dragons front row too.

Jhamer25 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:The Amlin should be a bit more competitive next season, as there will be a few more Rabo sides in there.

Yes true, but do you think the Amlin will get more television cover?

I think the Amlin may get a fair bit more coverage. After all it looks like the HEC/RCC will be shared between BT & Sky, and I would assume that BT will want the English Amlin matches too. So I would guess that Sky would plug the holes in their HEC/RCC coverage with Amlin matches (played outside of England).

BlueNote wrote:Against South Africa, surely we have to have Liam W at F/B and 1/2p on the wing?  Eli Walker up against Pietersen or Habana would be asking an awful lot of him defensively.

Reading the Gatland interview I posted yesterday above on this thread, he discusses the back three and says that he considers Williams and Halfpenny as fullbacks and isn't tempted to put either out of position unless injury forces his hand.

So basically Liam Williams won't get a sniff unless Halfpenny's crocked.

maestegmafia wrote:

BlueNote wrote:Against South Africa, surely we have to have Liam W at F/B and 1/2p on the wing?  Eli Walker up against Pietersen or Habana would be asking an awful lot of him defensively.

Reading the Gatland interview I posted yesterday above on this thread, he discusses the back three and says that he considers Williams and Halfpenny as fullbacks and isn't tempted to put either out of position unless injury forces his hand.

Going with only two wingers in the squad I have a feeling his hand may well be forced due to injury. Unless he means that Cuthberts injury may have force his hand.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

BlueNote wrote:Against South Africa, surely we have to have Liam W at F/B and 1/2p on the wing?  Eli Walker up against Pietersen or Habana would be asking an awful lot of him defensively.

Reading the Gatland interview I posted yesterday above on this thread, he discusses the back three and says that he considers Williams and Halfpenny as fullbacks and isn't tempted to put either out of position unless injury forces his hand.

Going with only two wingers in the squad I have a feeling his hand may well be forced due to injury.  Unless he means that Cuthberts injury may have force his hand.

Maybe...!!!

I personally think Williams and Halfpenny both make decent wingers, both very experienced tried and tested on the wing and neither would let us down.

I would like to see what Walker could offer though. He has been in great form.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:So basically Liam Williams won't get a sniff unless Halfpenny's crocked.

Tackle bag duties and bench warming duties for Sanjay. I can hear cursing down at PYS about it now -:

 another Tavis Knoyle in the making, kept from regional action but never seeing a minute of game time  

We need LW's physicality vs SA.

BlueNote wrote:We need LW's physicality vs SA.

We need his physicallity for sure, but that said I think his temperment could be an issue too. It is fine to have a big strong lad in the backs, but a firey big strong lad in the backs is not as ideal.