Wales tour of SA

First topic message reminder :

Halfpenny is out and recent news (unknown to me) is stating that Warburton will now also miss out due to a dislocated shoulder. It doesn't look good for us going to SA without these two and with our recent away form being so bad. Personally I think it would be a good idea if we had a midweek game before the first test against a SA Provincial team, using the majority of our first team.

Who would you like to see on the plane?

Wumming in all it's glory

You can only blood a few new players at a time, and combine them with plenty of experienced players. Playing an all-new team and getting smashed is not a worthwhile experience for new players.

So I reckon Wales must take a full strength team plus 2 or 3 new guys...

Rainbow, you're only contributing to thread derailment with that.

Mr Fishpaste wrote:You can only blood a few new players at a time, and combine them with plenty of experienced players. Playing an all-new team and getting smashed is not a worthwhile experience for new players.

So I reckon Wales must take a full strength team plus 2 or 3 new guys...

The best available squad will be going. I wouldn't take what some fans on here say so seriously. Looking forward to the series!

It doesn't matter who you take as SA look outstanding.

If England can hammer you I'd say SA could really inflict some damage.

I wonder if Matfield will make a return.

6 Nations results probably aren't that relevant. Embarrassing England's Slam Seekers 30-3 didn't do much for us in our following game (which was also against SA) where we were completely outplayed.

Quite recent the England humbling though, I'd say that was a better level or where you are currently.

It'll be a very interesting watch, we scraped a draw but have improved no end since then.

You miss the point though, as per. If you just took off your anti-wales specs then that wouldn't happen. If you have no attention of discussing the OP constructively I'd suggest frakking off. If Wales fans and players come back dissatisfied with a draw it won't be as embarrassing as your tour there.

Always reverting to the England bashing Saint and it's a free forum, u can post where I like.

No because if you continue to derail threads and disrespect other posters the mods will take action against your account. So stick on topic or stick off.

Agreed Saint.

What do you think your front 5 should be?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It doesn't matter who you take as SA look outstanding.

If England can hammer you I'd say SA could really inflict some damage.

I wonder if Matfield will make a return.

But it's a good time to play the Boks, at the beginning of our season. The Scots gave us a good run for our money last year in June, and if we're honest, they're not a great team right now, so who knows what Wales could do with a good game plan (which is what the Scots had) and a bit of luck! And you never know how many Boks will be left standing after Super rugby.

AS for Matfield, he's a great player, and seems to have brought some calmness and stability to the Bulls, but the Boks have enough talent at lock coming through to not have to look to the past. (But with Heyneke's special relationship with Victor, who know?)

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Agreed Saint.

What do you think your front 5 should be?

Jenkins, Owens, Jones
Charteris, Ball
AWJ, Faletau, Tipuric (back-row)

or the lower centre of gravity front row:
James, Owens, Lee.

Gats won't pick the latter but we may see them in the Kings tour game.

I think you need Hibbard's physicality out there.

1. James (really don't rate Jenkins at all)
2. Hibbard
3. Jones
4. AWJ
5. Evans (is he fit?)
6. ???
7. Warburton
8. Faletau

6 is a bit of an issue, no doubt Gats will go Lydiate.

Hibbard is unlikely to tour as he's recently had a shoulder op. Warburton is out, with a dislocated shoulder. If you'd spent less time thread derailing you might have read that. Otherwise he'd be everyone's starter. Evans should be fit, I'm just not sure when his ban is up, but him and Davies are just penalty machines. I prefer the 3 lock options we had during this 6 Nations.

Sorry to hear that about Warburton. He wasn't back to his best in the 6N but was definitely improving. On form he is a class act.
Hope his shoulder heals well. Dislocated mine 3 times and hurts like stink!

Try to contribute and you have a dig.

Wales are going to get humped (as per England/Ireland) no matter who they take so it matters little.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Try to contribute and you have a dig.

Wales are going to get humped (as per England/Ireland) no matter who they take so it matters little.

Problem is Sgt - not that you think Wales will "get humped" but that you seem to take pleasure in it.
I think they'll have a tough time of it, but "humped"?

I think it's going to be big scores Notch, more to do with how strong SA are at home rather than Wales away.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Try to contribute and you have a dig.

Wales are going to get humped (as per England/Ireland) no matter who they take so it matters little.

Surely what with Wales having all those Lions in their team. A humping will not happen. will it?  

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Try to contribute and you have a dig.

Wales are going to get humped (as per England/Ireland) no matter who they take so it matters little.

Perfectly reveals your motives, well done. Enjoy NZ.   

No motives just like discussing rugby, there's some knowledgable guys on here with some valid points.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:No motives just like discussing rugby, there's some knowledgable guys on here with some valid points.

No you don't. You aren't fooling anyone but i do hope you learn something.   

Says the man who started watching rugby in 2012

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Says the man who started watching rugby in 2012

what are you talking about? seriously, i don't need to attack the poster, you do it for yourself   

Anyway.......

What's your 6 options past Lydiate Saint?

I've finally figured out where that ignore poster is....bliss.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I've finally figured out where that ignore poster is....bliss.

  he's quick that Pooly   

use it and then we don't have to clear up your mess any more.

Mr Fishpaste wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It doesn't matter who you take as SA look outstanding.

If England can hammer you I'd say SA could really inflict some damage.

I wonder if Matfield will make a return.

But it's a good time to play the Boks, at the beginning of our season. The Scots gave us a good run for our money last year in June, and if we're honest, they're not a great team right now, so who knows what Wales could do with a good game plan (which is what the Scots had) and a bit of luck! And you never know how many Boks will be left standing after Super rugby.

AS for Matfield, he's a great player, and seems to have brought some calmness and stability to the Bulls, but the Boks have enough talent at lock coming through to not have to look to the past. (But with Heyneke's special relationship with Victor, who know?)

i missed that game FP what type of gameplan did they employ?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Anyway.......

What's your 6 options past Lydiate Saint?

We haven't got many tried really, the current option seems to be moving Warburton across and bringing Tipuric in at 7, can't happen this tour as Sam out. Ryan Jones is still an option and we have used Shingler there for me the best other option we have is Lewis Evans but he doesn't seem to be on the radar.

Matfield will not be involved he wont be around at the WC so I don't see why he should play.

 They have the likes of:
 Uys
 De Jager
 Flip Van Der Merwe
 Franco Van Der Merwe
 Du Toit
 Etzebeth

Du Toit is out for the season.

I'm pretty sure Matfield has signed up for 2 years at the Bulls, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him involved, he's been pretty good for the Bulls

oh yeah forgot.

 I just cant see it, but Meyer is a bull though and though I guess.

That's my thinking too Welly, although Flip has been one of SA's best locks over the last year. Him and Etzebeth (out for season too?) make a great partnership.

I could see one dropping out for Victor ala Du Preez, time will tell.

I think Etzebeth is meant to be back around early June (I think)

Etzebeth is back soon, initial reports suggested he will be out for the first half of Super Rugby.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Etzebeth-to-be-ready-for-Boks-20140319
 
 He hopes to be able to play on May 21st against the Sharks.

Bad news for Wales

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Anyway.......

What's your 6 options past Lydiate Saint?

Stretched even further with Warburton out. Ryan Jones, Aaron Shingler, James King, Lewis Evans. It's likely the former 2 will get picked regardless of form (however Jones is still a good player). Gats has mentioned putting Bradley Davies to 6 to counter Alberts and the SA driving maul, personally I'd only consider putting AWJ there as he's just as big and slightly more athletic.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It doesn't matter who you take as SA look outstanding.

If England can hammer you I'd say SA could really inflict some damage.

I wonder if Matfield will make a return.

An 11 point hammering??

Now a 27 point margin is a hammering. I'd hate to think you were a real SGT   

The Saint wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Anyway.......

What's your 6 options past Lydiate Saint?

Stretched even further with Warburton out. Ryan Jones, Aaron Shingler, James King, Lewis Evans. It's likely the former 2 will get picked regardless of form (however Jones is still a good player). Gats has mentioned putting Bradley Davies to 6 to counter Alberts and the SA driving maul, personally I'd only consider putting AWJ there as he's just as big and slightly more athletic.

Saint,

I really hope to god we don't put Davies or AWJ there, Lewis Evans should tour and would be our best option after Lydiate but with various reports by Gatland that doesnt seem likely.

Jones has been playing well and will never let us down but we seen in 07 that AWJ can't play 6.

rainbow-warrior wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It doesn't matter who you take as SA look outstanding.

If England can hammer you I'd say SA could really inflict some damage.

I wonder if Matfield will make a return.

An 11 point hammering??

Now a 27 point margin is a hammering.  I'd hate to think you were a real SGT   

Rainbow, when you beat the team on top of the pile a win becomes a 'hammering' due to the repeated effort it takes to achieve it.

Wales could do a lot worse than taking Owen Williams on tour. Another confident and mature performance today for Leicester. Still a little inconsistent off the tee, but he is looking like a well rounded 10 with a good head on his shoulders.

I don't know if he's on the radar yet, there is Biggar, Priestland, Hook and then I would say Patchell and hopefully Tovey ahead of him.

Bedford….isn't it time to look past preistland?

Lions last year - essentially the Welsh team, SA this year.

It is tough on senior players both physically and i imagine psychologically….what we don't need to do is exhaust our senior core and i am now seriously thinking it would be advisable to send a larger proportion of 2nd string players to SA as opposed to just fielding our strongest team.

The fact is we need to develop more strength in depth across the squad. We need to accept that apart from lock we have no real redundancies in the side. We have adequate fill ins but in no position apart from perhaps centre, do we have anything more than competent fill ins. That is not said disrespectfully but more to identify we have perhaps relied on a small core for too long.

If we give those nailed on players a rest in SA - coming off the bench as opposed to starting, then perhaps we can really develop the excellent younger players we have.

I think Gatland is obsessed with size and with a trip to SA perhaps he is right to be, but i think we need to offer something else in the back 3, like Shane showed was more than doable against SA in 2008.

maverickmak wrote:Wales could do a lot worse than taking Owen Williams on tour. Another confident and mature performance today for Leicester. Still a little inconsistent off the tee, but he is looking like a well rounded 10 with a good head on his shoulders.

 That one "missed" conversion was huge into the wind the ref should've done a tmo. he certainly has a boot kicking out of hand. He played well he has the players around him to. (Guess the Wales backs will be a step backwards for him though   )

Moving a slow lump to the back row is not the answer.

Scratch wrote:Bedford….isn't it time to look past preistland?

Wouldn't mind him playing against minnow teams to rest our other flyhalves, but he shouldn't feature in high preassure games against tier 1 sides.