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:

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.

We have Phillips for that.

And its not like HP can't tackle, probably less likely to get carded too

Interesting Gatland comments, particularly about Jamie Roberts needing to develop his game, also about Lee Byrne.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

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  

If he improved so he was better than Halfpenny he might get more caps...!

Competition for places is good. Re Tavis surely his largest problem has been injury not squad duty..!

Maes - Tav's biggest problem was that he was either injured, or holding tacklebags with the national side. He tended to get injured, recover, be named in the welsh squad, then get injured with the welsh squad (or just after), recover just in time for the international squad etc etc. There was non-stop grumbling at the Parc about how he was never released back to us, but wasn't even on the bench.

It's done wonders for your you go scrumhalfs giving them a great opportunity to prove their worth.

I think we all have a great idea of what the first team will be even if we don't want to say: My prediction is the following:
1. Gethin (certain)
2. Hibbard (certain)
3. Adam Jones (certain)
4. Alyn Wyn Jones (certain)
5. Ian Evans (uncertainty)
6. Dan Lydiate (certain)
7. Sam Warburton (certain)
8. Toby Falateu (certain)

9. Mike Phillips (certain)
10. Priestland (uncertainty)
11. George North (certain)
12. Scott Williams (certain)
13. John Davies (certain)
14. Liam Williams (uncertainty)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (certain)

So just 3 places we are looking to fill. I think Gatland will go for those three choices, persoanlly i would rather:
5. Andrew Coombs
10. Dan Biggar
14. Liam Williams (think he will be goo there)
Gatland likes to stick with what he knows, we all know that. He likes Eli Walker but has opted for Liam at 14 before and I think he would pick Liam ahead of Eli at this moment in time.

maestegmafia wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

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  

If he improved so he was better than Halfpenny he might get more caps...!

Competition for places is good. Re Tavis surely his largest problem has been injury not squad duty..!

No, his largest problem is that he was never good enough to be a constant presence around the squad.

I think Liam Williams will come in on the wing. He has done that for us previously and has played well on the wing with the Scarlets this season.

Just seen Paul James has been picked to start for Bath. How?  

Surely if you have LW and 1/2p you'd go with LW at 15? 1/2p is a finisher.

Surely? Why would you move one of the world's premier full-backs?

In my honest opinion, Halfpenny is a better winger than a fullback, that just shows how good he is though he always started off as a winger but was moved to fullback out of necesaty he has done well there but I think people are forgetting how good he was on the wing prior to playing fullback, again I will repeat myself, try and remember his performances on the wing when he burst onto the scene, some people were saying he was our long term sucsessor for Shane Williams.

I can't believe we are having this discussion about Halfpenny again. He is head and shoulders above anyone we have at XV, Williams is a young very very good up and coming youngster who I would let develop on the wing at this stage.

LD, he hasn't played on the wing in years...

LordDowlais wrote:In my honest opinion, Halfpenny is a better winger than a fullback, that just shows how good he is though he always started off as a winger but was moved to fullback out of necesaty he has done well there but I think people are forgetting how good he was on the wing prior to playing fullback, again I will repeat myself, try and remember his performances on the wing when he burst onto the scene, some people were saying he was our long term sucsessor for Shane Williams.

He wasn't moved out of necessity

We moved there for Wales because Gatland decide he was a better option than Hook or Byrne.

He moved their for the Blues because he wanted to play there - even though he was competing against Ben Blair for a while.

wales606 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:In my honest opinion, Halfpenny is a better winger than a fullback, that just shows how good he is though he always started off as a winger but was moved to fullback out of necesaty he has done well there but I think people are forgetting how good he was on the wing prior to playing fullback, again I will repeat myself, try and remember his performances on the wing when he burst onto the scene, some people were saying he was our long term sucsessor for Shane Williams.

He wasn't moved out of necessity

We moved there for Wales because Gatland decide he was a better option than Hook or Byrne.

He moved their for the Blues because he wanted to play there - even though he was competing against Ben Blair for a while.

In the not so distant past.....
Shove and also Jaw, featured predominantly at FB for Cardiff in the Welsh prem. When they got the call from da Bloos, winger was their spot as Ben Blair was the main man at 15 and remained so until he got crocked. Think it was Gats who suggested that Jaw should move to centre and the rest is history.

Just noticed Lee has been released back to the Scarlets for tonights' game any other been released back to their respective Regions for extra game time?

bedfordwelsh wrote:Just noticed Lee has been released back to the Scarlets for tonights' game any other been released back to their respective Regions for extra game time?

Samson Lee was not in the squad, I assume as punishment for his citing against Quins. He is now free to play.

Halfpenny played on the wing for Wales under 20s in the 2008 world cup team that also contained; JD2, Biggar and Warburton. He played wing because 1st choice 15 was Dan Evans now playing very well for the Dragons.

Dan Evs deserves a call up, if we had a slot. Halfpenny and Sanjay have it I guess, but I would probably have him over say Robinson. Was gutted to see Dan benched last night. Though he still did ok when he came on.

Though I think I've said on here, obviously Lee Byrne as a 15 is unlucky too.

I think hes got the squad pretty much spot on at the moment, yes we all have our preferences but I don't think there is anyone in squad who doesn't deserve to be there at the moment ahead of others.

Nothing wrong with squad Bedford, Samson Lee aside, it's just how he uses the players he has at his disposal I would query.

LordDowlais wrote:Nothing wrong with squad Bedford, Samson Lee aside, it's just how he uses the players he has at his disposal I would query.

In what way LD?

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nothing wrong with squad Bedford, Samson Lee aside, it's just how he uses the players he has at his disposal I would query.

In what way LD?

Well I wouldlike to see Paul James start ahead of gethin Jenkins for my money against the Boks, but Gatland will most probs go with Gethin, I would also prefer to see Liam Williams at fullback and Halfpenny out on the wing, but he will have it the other way around, and I would like to see Charteris in the second row, but Gatland will most prob go with Bradley Davies, but like I have said, nothing wrong with the squad. 

LordDowlais wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nothing wrong with squad Bedford, Samson Lee aside, it's just how he uses the players he has at his disposal I would query.

In what way LD?

Well I wouldlike to see Paul James start ahead of gethin Jenkins for my money against the Boks, but Gatland will most probs go with Gethin, I would also prefer to see Liam Williams at fullback and Halfpenny out on the wing, but he will have it the other way around, and I would like to see Charteris in the second row, but Gatland will most prob go with Bradley Davies, but like I have said, nothing wrong with the squad. 

LD,

Other than the Williams/Halfpenny switch I agree totally with you.

I have said for some time that James is the technically better scrimmaging prop, Charteris maybe a bit short on game time and interesting to see if Evans is fit.

For me Halfpenny is head and shoulders the best XV we have and should leave him there, I think he has been better at XV than on wing but both should start so not unhappy.