My Wales 23 for AIs (SQUAD ANNOUNCED)

First topic message reminder :

I'm picking my current Wales 23 based on form, though I accept it is maybe too soon because we still have the European rugby cup to be played.

15. Liam Williams
14. Hallam Amos
13. Cory Allen
12. Scott Williams
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar

9. Rhys Webb

8. Dan Baker
7. Sam Warburton
6. Taulupe Faletau
5. AWJ (c)
4. Ball
3. Lee
2. Hibbard
1. Jenkins

Reps: Baldwin, James, A.Jones, Charteris/Davies/Evans, Navidi/Tipuric, G.Davies, Patchell, J.Davies.

Not sure who is injured atm, so have included a few options. The rest of the squad though will be the usual. I also think Cuthbert will be picked on the other wing, but he is in some bad form right now, hence being left out of my squad.

Feel free to add and pick apart. We've a few weeks yet.

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Forwards:
Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Nicky Smith, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Richard Hibbard, Emyr Phillips, Jake Ball, AWJ, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, James King, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (c), Dan Baker, Taulupe Faletau.

Backs:
Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb, Rhodri Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Priestland, Cory Allen, JD2, JAmie Roberts, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Tom Prydie, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams.

No Adam Jones, Rhys Patchell, James Hook. Nicky Thomas is the only new face.

Who said it was different? How is it different?

All I know is one is playing well and the other not so well. Before you reply, you know Top14 starts before the premiership etc, right?

[quote="The Saint"]Bedford, it's like any other business. Working abroad looks good on the CV and helps you have a career in rugby until you retire. Guys like JD2, a Lions players, shouldn't need time to make it work, that's BS.


That's what you said is it not so why wouldn't that be the same for Hibbard as he needed time to make it work, in his first few games up ntil recently in fact he hasn't been great and his fitness has looked poor.

JD isn't going well at the moment I never denied that but I still think it will work for him and funnily enough I do know the French season starts before the Aviva that's why I said we are 'what 10 games into the season'and Glaws are only 7 into theirs.

Hibbard played alright at the start of the season from what I saw, so maybe he hasn't been consistent. And he's playign well now, so he didn't really need time. The same can't be said of JD.

Well if anything that goes to show how bad it is for JD having had all this game time and supposedly needing more time to settle in.

3 games more WOW thats a huge amount of extra time Hibbard was way off pace at the start of season.

But it still brings your theory crashing down .

No theory at all just saying some need more time than others but you say as Lions none of them need time to settle in and should be at their best from the off which Hibbard wasn't.

I don't know that, but if you're basing it on his teams 50 point loss then it's not a very good argument. I know JD hasn't been performing as well as he could though. I don't like the fact that some of these guys can go and play in France then walk back into the Wales team regardless of form.

Saint,

On that point I agree and I don't think anyone who isn't available for the Boks game should play in the ABs game.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Disagree on Allen Alun, think he needs to be given bit of run as and stuck with, Bishop is solid but thats it and hasn't been involved in the squad for a long time.

I think it was a choice between Walker and Amos though you argue Walker should be in ahead of  Prydie, maybe its Prydies ability to play XV as well that got him the nod.  Then again Dan Evans can play wing and XV so he would have been a better call.

Bedford

Reading the WM today Allen himself stated he was playing poorly and was shocked to be selected so it is not only me thinks he has been playing poorly!

I wouldn't have Bishop in the squad, doesn't offer enough attacking threat. The guy has played over 200 matches for the Ospreys and scored 10 tries, thats not the kind of scoring percentage I want from a centre.

And as good a defender he is, is he really better than Roberts or Davies? Then you have Scott Williams who is fairly solid along with Allen.

I don't think Allen is playing that particularly well. He's got potential no doubt, I picked him based on the fact he's playing Wales. And for me Webb, Biggar, Scott and Liam Williams are definite starters.

glamorganalun wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Disagree on Allen Alun, think he needs to be given bit of run as and stuck with, Bishop is solid but thats it and hasn't been involved in the squad for a long time.

I think it was a choice between Walker and Amos though you argue Walker should be in ahead of  Prydie, maybe its Prydies ability to play XV as well that got him the nod.  Then again Dan Evans can play wing and XV so he would have been a better call.

Bedford

Reading the WM today Allen himself stated he was playing poorly and was shocked to be selected so it is not only me thinks he has been playing poorly!

Again its the old problem of does the coach pick entirely on form or put his trust in someone who has played very well before and has the potential which for me Allen does.

For years we have seen players play very well for Club/Region but we all know they haven't got the ability to step it up that extra level. For me Allen has way more potential and skills in his armoury than Bishop has and whilst both are available for the Boks game I would give Allen the nod.

Noticed Owen Williams has been named at 10 for the Tigers tomorrow, lets hope he shows Priestland up and makes Gatland sit up and take note.

I think Priest will play okay, he's still the charge down (on the receiving end) King though.

As for team Wales, I'm starting to get the feeling that Gats will opt for Williams and Roberts (not sure who'd be at 12/13) with JD2 on the bench.

The Saint wrote:Who said it was different? How is it different?

All I know is one is playing well and the other not so well. Before you reply, you know Top14 starts before the premiership etc, right?

It just is. Sometimes different is its own definition

The Saint wrote:I think Priest will play okay, he's still the charge down (on the receiving end) King though.

As for team Wales, I'm starting to get the feeling that Gats will opt for Williams and Roberts (not sure who'd be at 12/13) with JD2 on the bench.

Can't see Roberts being anything other than 12.

Looks like Owen Williams has ousted Burns for the ten shirt at Leicester..

maestegmafia wrote:Looks like Owen Williams has ousted Burns for the ten shirt at Leicester..

I'm not so sure of that just yet. I guess they think Owen would be best suited to running the show against a team he's familiar with.

North had an alright game tonight

Yeah George decides too score 4 against a Welsh side

Scott Williams has a hamstring injury, so could be off for 1-2 weeks I guess. Things aren't looking good if this trend continues.

And Priest is having a shocking day with the boot. Begs the question again why is he in the squad.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:Yeah George decides too score 4 against a Welsh side

well he wouldnt score 4 if he was playing for one

Quins unfortunately you right :-(

although having just watched scarlets v leic i will now amend the above to he might have scored 4 against leicester playing for anyone.

am looking forwards to the AIs. really really fingers crossed wales can get a victory against one of the big 3 SH side. Pob lwc!

That wasn't a good game tbh, both teams disrupted by injury and it led to a lot of errors. Tigers do look a bit soft though.

What's the latest on the welsh players who were injured?

Scott Williams hamstring and is jake ball injured too?

The Saint wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Looks like Owen Williams has ousted Burns for the ten shirt at Leicester..

I'm not so sure of that just yet. I guess they think Owen would be best suited to running the show against a team he's familiar with.

I think he has. The reason Burns has been playing 10 recently has been because all the 12s have been injured and Williams is a better 12 than Burns. With Allen back Burns drops to the bench.

Injuries to Scott Williams and Jon Davies now, we're starting to look a bit bare in the centre.

Allen also has a knock

Might have to consider calling up Hook or even Henson as cover

Yeah, not looking good at all. Maybe call up Owen Williams for centre cover!

He's a better flyhalfs than a centre.

Henson has been playing well at 15 for bath. Hook wasn't great for Gloucester last week and he is playing flyhalf.

Gareth Owen has played well for Scarlets, not my first choice but we are scrapping the barrel a bit now.

Is anyone of the Dragons lads recovered?

Otherwise it looks like Jamie Roberts and George North might be paired up in the midfield.

We still have Cory Allen in the squad mind, I would rather see a center playing in the center before we start playing wingers in the center, and anyway, until George North learns how to tackle, then I do not want to see him anywhere near the center.

Lets hope whatever strain Allen has, isn't serious then.

I'm sure Gatland said Tyler Morgan would have been involved if he wasnt injured as well. I really cant imagine who else can step up to test level from the regions right now...

Bishop?
Dixon?
Spratt?

Realistically Henson and Hook are probably more experienced centres right now. Patchell can play at 12 as well if desperately needed.

I'd rather see Hook or Henson come into the squad before we move North there. Plus either player would give us good utility cover too

IronMike wrote:Lets hope whatever strain Allen has, isn't serious then.

I'm sure Gatland said Tyler Morgan would have been involved if he wasnt injured as well. I really cant imagine who else can step up to test level from the regions right now...

Bishop?
Dixon?
Spratt?

Realistically Henson and Hook are probably more experienced centres right now. Patchell can play at 12 as well if desperately needed.

Dixon won't be fit at all (I think). Morgan is very close to a return. I wouldn't be surprised to see Morgan available this weekend or worst case next (unless he has suffered some other niggle). I guess that might mean he might play an LV game for us and then get added to the squad for the Fiji game.

What do youy welsh guys on here think about playing Tips there his skill level is up there

I see in today's Eastern Fail, that PRL as refused Gatland's request to do a deal to release; Paul James, Bradley and Hibbard for the SA Game in exchange for releasing them to their clubs on the Weekend of the Fiji game. It appears that the English PRL and happy to realease players outside the IRB for the USA Eagles but not for Wales.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-plea-english-based-stars-8002984

Should Wales now drop these players from the squad and issue a big hint that if they want to play for Wales they need to come back under a central contract?

irnbrew wrote:What do youy welsh guys on here think about playing Tips there his skill level is up there

No

Seagultaf wrote:I see in today's Eastern Fail, that PRL as refused Gatland's request to do a deal to release; Paul James, Bradley and Hibbard for the SA Game in exchange for releasing them to their clubs on the Weekend of the Fiji game. It appears that the English PRL and happy to realease players outside the IRB for the USA Eagles but not for Wales.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-plea-english-based-stars-8002984

Should Wales now drop these players from the squad and issue a big hint that if they want to play for Wales they need to come back under a central contract?

I think so. But then it might not persuade too many of them to come home. I guess James is the only one who might have a contract due up soon?

Problem is no Center out there is shouting for the shirt...

Howley said today, that they are waiting on JD's scan when he joins the squad and is still hopeful on Scott Williams and Allen making it fit... So I dont reckon Gats will bring another into the squad at this time..

I reckon, he'll be considering North to Centre, and Liam William to Wing (or Liam 15 and Halfpenny to 11)..

Either way, I think he'll use this as practice for the RWC and work around the injuries within the squad rather than bring in fresh boddies..

...but I've been wrong so many times in the past second guessing Gats.. So what do I know

Halfpenny still isn't getting involved in attack much from 15 at Toulon, it would be nice to have his boot on the wing though. Liam Williams is No.1 choice at 15 for me, I just hope he plays better than he did in SA (his form says yes he should). So just for a moment let's imagine this backline:
Webb, Biggar, Amos (or Prydie, but not Cuthbert), Roberts, North, Halfpenny, Williams.
The fact that Cuthbert is so badly off the form we know he's capable of yet he's still a Gats favourite worries me. His strike rate is all he had going for him, but when did he last score?!

His strike rate is all he had going for him, but when did he last score?!

Against SA in the first test, set up a couple of tries in the second as well I think.

I meant for club though. Last season was..... Well, last season.

I hear they are very positive on the JD2 and Scott Williams scans.

What's the latest on Jake Ball...?

The Saint wrote:Halfpenny still isn't getting involved in attack much from 15 at Toulon, it would be nice to have his boot on the wing though. Liam Williams is No.1 choice at 15 for me, I just hope he plays better than he did in SA (his form says yes he should). So just for a moment let's imagine this backline:
Webb, Biggar, Amos (or Prydie, but not Cuthbert), Roberts, North, Halfpenny, Williams.
The fact that Cuthbert is so badly off the form we know he's capable of yet he's still a Gats favourite worries me. His strike rate is all he had going for him, but when did he last score?!

I think, after Priestlans p*ss poor kicking on the weekend, it's essential to have Halfpenny on the field kicking. I know the sensible option is to go with Biggar at 10, but the way coaches like to rotate the fly half during the game these days, I can see Priestland coming on even if he doesn't start. That being the case, do you want to see Priestland kicking to win or secure the game in the last 10 mins....

Neither do I, so Halfpenny has to be selected somewhere...

I don't want to see Priestland on the pitch fullstop. I still struggle to understand how he made the squad?

With the likes of JD, Allen and Williams possibly out its sods law that then the likes of Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon are also out injured.

We know gatland likes the tried and trusted team.

I think he will seriously consider back row alternatives - pick 3 from 4 - Baker / Faletau / warburton / tipuric. Would be very surprised if Lydiate plays. I would look at faletau at blindside.
And I think webb will be picked over Phillips. And obviously no adam jones so samson lee is in. In second row there is no settled partner to AWJ - any of them could slot in well.
Rest of the team will be as usual - injuries excepted.

JD2 out for 2 to 3 weeks. might just be back for some of he AIs?