Welsh World Cup Squad

First topic message reminder :

Dragons not playing until tomorrow and quiet on here so just wondered what early thoughts are on the Welsh WC squad.  I think a lot of it will pick itself unless injury or shock retirements dictate.  I have gone with a 30 man squad 16/14 forwards/back split same as last world cup so here's my thought.

Here's the 47 man Training Squad, Players in bold are the ones I think are already inked in:

Props (5) JENKINS,JAMES,LEE, Evans, Francis, Jarvis, Andrews
Hookers (3) BALDWIN,OWENS, Dacey
2 Row (3) AWJ, CHARTERIS, Ball, Davies, Day
Backrow (5) FALETAU, WARBURTON, LYDIATE, TIPURIC,Moriarty, King

No9s (3) WEBB, Davies, Ll Williams
No10s (3) BIGGAR, PRIESTLAND, Anscombe, Morgan
Centres (3) ROBERTS, Sc WILLIAMS, Morgan, Allen
Back 3 (5) NORTH, HALFPENNY, Li WILLIAMS, Cuthbert, Walker, Amos, James (Then 2 from Cuthbert, Amos, Walker) For me Cuthbert and Amos

As I said the ones in Bold are the ones I feel are already pencilled in to go. Updated squad as we stand now

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Bedford, I'm guessing under 5 caps, and not involved in any national squads before this season would be a bolter.  But even then if it's someone with regular regional experience (Say Patchell) I wouldn't count him as a bolter either

Yeah fair one but again I don't think there would be many. Anscombe, Patchell, Morgan I guess.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Bedford, I'm guessing under 5 caps, and not involved in any national squads before this season would be a bolter.  But even then if it's someone with regular regional experience (Say Patchell) I wouldn't count him as a bolter either

Yeah fair one but again I don't think there would be many.  Anscombe, Patchell, Morgan I guess.

Matthew Morgan ???

Tyler Morgan is still young/fresh enough to be classed as a bolter for me. And to a point so is Amos, but only if he were to be the RWC top try scorer, or really set the tournament alight somehow.

I dont think Morgan will be involved Maes but if he was then yeah that would be a shock for me.

I think Amos could really shine if gets the chance. He's had a great season

Anscombe is your bolter. He will get his shot in the summer and if he proves solid then he will be the back up. Perfect utility back replacing Hook.

Gwlad,

I don't think he will be back up, he may be used as utility but in Gatlands eye I think Priestland will still be back up No10

bedfordwelsh wrote:Gwlad,

I don't think he will be back up, he may be used as utility but in Gatlands eye I think Priestland will still be back up No10

Really? I suppose had he been benched even once in the 6 Nations I think that would shave been a statement of intent from Gats. Fact is i really dont rate Priestland, he is terrible at getting isolated and turned over. RWC may not be the time for the handover but IMO it has to happen.

Gwlad wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Gwlad,

I don't think he will be back up, he may be used as utility but in Gatlands eye I think Priestland will still be back up No10

Really? I suppose had he been benched even once in the 6 Nations I think that would shave been a statement of intent from Gats. Fact is i really dont rate Priestland, he is terrible at getting isolated and turned over. RWC may not be the time for the handover but IMO it has to happen.

Gwlad,

Don't disagree with you, though he has been playing really well of late. Its just I can't see Gatland dropping Priestland, like you said if Anscombe had got some game time off the bench in 6 Nations then possibly but now I just can't see it.

So did any 'bolters' stake a claim during the games today. I think all the usual suspects played well and confirmed their statuses but what about the outsiders or as I said bolters?

Thought Navidi and Baker looked good as did young Morgan and Amos. Walker seemed a bit quiet but John had a good game though he's playing in a position of relative strength for us at the moment.

Ben John looked good, as did Nicky Smith. James Davies had another good game.

Nicky Walker?

Would have said the only unusual suspects from that game that could be in the squad is Amos, Prydie, Navidi and Baker. Surely Navidi hasn't got to do much more than what he's been doing in the past seasons? Fantastic open-side.

I do think Morgan might sneak in but again he's in a position where we are strong at the moment.

I think he might train with the squad, but it's in our best interests for him to be with the U20s.

I agree. Morgan has another season in the U20s. Could make the Squad if there are injuries.

Fair point and centre is a relative position of strength for us. Am guessing there will be a back up group anyway in case of injuries, I don't think there will be many shocks to the main squad.

What's the latest news on Cory Allen?

bedfordwelsh wrote:I do think Morgan might sneak in but again he's in a position where we are strong at the moment.

Are we really that strong in the centres though ?

Jamie Roberts
John Davies
Scott Williams

Then who ?

we have a lot of potential in the centres

Jack Dixon
Tyler Morgan
Cory Allen
Ben John

So any one of the above could make the Welsh squad for the WC, if I were to put money on it, it would have to be one of the two playing for Dragons, unless we start including the likes of James Hook, Gavin Henson, Gareth Maule, Gavin Evans. Perhaps if Gatland potches about with it again and puts George North in the centre, but for me any one of those four kids NEEDS to go to the WC, we cannot just go with three centres, can we ?

Ben John

The Saint

One good game in all his seasons at the Ospreys... Only you would do such a thing.

Give it a rest Saint, next you will be saying I am championing him for the WC, why do you troll me so much on here ? FFS get a life, you laugh at Ben John, he is a better centre than you though.

Anyway, back to my original point, I do not think we have that much depth in the centres, not yet anyway.

LordDowlais wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:I do think Morgan might sneak in but again he's in a position where we are strong at the moment.

Are we really that strong in the centres though ?

Jamie Roberts
John Davies
Scott Williams

Then who ?

we have a lot of potential in the centres

Jack Dixon
Tyler Morgan
Cory Allen
Ben John

So any one of the above could make the Welsh squad for the WC, if I were to put money on it, it would have to be one of the two playing for Dragons, unless we start including the likes of James Hook, Gavin Henson, Gareth Maule, Gavin Evans. Perhaps if Gatland potches about with it again and puts George North in the centre, but for me any one of those four kids NEEDS to go to the WC, we cannot just go with three centres, can we ?

Unless injury strikes all them 3 will be in the squad and the last two world cups we have only taken 3 centres with a utility player as cover plus Allen has been involved in most squads so I imagine he would be next in line.

Like I said I think Morgan might sneak in but those 3 are pretty cemented ahead of him so yeah I would say that's fairly strong for us.

I think its a season too early for Dixon, Morgan and John, Allen hasn't been in good form and is out with a lengthy injury.

Personally I would have the same with one extra who could play 2nd or back row I would have the following. These are not in any particular order
Hookers Owens, Hibbard, Baldwin
Props Lee, Jenkins, James, Smith, Francis
2nd row AWJ, Charteris, Ball
Flankers Warburton, Lydiate, Tipuric
No8 Faletau, Baker
Utility King, I wouldn't be upset if it was somebody who could cover a number of positions in the back row and you couldn't do better than Navidi
Scrum halves Webb, Davies, Phillips
Outside halves, Biggar, Priestland, Anscombe
Centres Roberts, Davies, Williams
Wings North, Amos, Walker
Full back Williams, Halfpenny
The extra player could be added to the backs and one of the young centres could be added or even Cuthbert added, but that is my list.

I think the squad mostly picks itself

Props - Lee if fit otherwise Rhodri Jones, Jenkins, James, Smith, Francis
Hookers - Baldwin, Owens, Hibbard
Locks - AWJ, Charteris, Ball
Flankers - Warburton, Tipuric, Lydiate
8 - Baker, Faletau
Utility - Navidi
Scrum halves - Webb, Davies, Phillips
Fly halves - Biggar, Priestland, Hook
Centres - Williams, Davies, Roberts
Wings - North, Amos, Cuthbert
Fullback - Williams, Halfpenny

IronMike wrote:I think the squad mostly picks itself

IronMike wrote:

Props - Lee if fit otherwise Rhodri Jones, Jenkins, James, Smith, Francis
Hookers - Baldwin, Owens, Hibbard
Locks - AWJ, Charteris, Ball
Flankers - Warburton, Tipuric, Lydiate
8 - Baker, Faletau
Utility - Navidi
Scrum halves - Webb, Davies, Phillips
Fly halves - Biggar, Priestland, Hook
Centres - Williams, Davies, Roberts
Wings - North, Amos, Cuthbert
Fullback - Williams, Halfpenny

which concerns me to be honest. I would like to see something new.

Hook and Cuthbert are massive nos for me. Time to bring some spice into the back 3 and What is the point of project Anscombe if they don't use him now

I really don't think he will pick Hook. If he goes for a utility player then I think it will be Anscombe.

Gwlad,

Who 'new' would you like to see?

I'm also not sure if he will pick Francis either, do England play warm up game before us? They might sneakily cap him though he has said he will go with Wales but you never know.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I really don't think he will pick Hook.  If he goes for a utility player then I think it will be Anscombe.

Gwlad,

Who 'new' would you like to see?

some effing big PI prop whose mum's dog's tennis partner was born in ebbw vale.

I dunno…is morgan a possibility, he was pre SA tour, the next big thing but seems to have done a Prydie on us.

props really worry me.

Gwlad wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:I really don't think he will pick Hook.  If he goes for a utility player then I think it will be Anscombe.

Gwlad,

Who 'new' would you like to see?

some effing big PI prop whose mum's dog's tennis partner was born in ebbw vale.

I dunno…is morgan a possibility, he was pre SA tour, the next big thing but seems to have done a Prydie on us.

props really worry me.

I know a few, will have a word with the family.

Not so much think Morgan has done a Prydie he got injured and was injured for a chunk of the 6 Nations. If there was any bolters in the backs I think it could be him but like others have said maybe he would be better off getting bit more game time with the U20s.

I would really like to see Amos giving a good run in the warm up games and give Gatland a real headache when it comes to selecting the back 3.

Just watched a very down looking Adam Jones on Scrum V…dropped by the Blues, did he have a massive tantrum with them as well after getting canned by Gats? I am not sure he has a future on TV either because he is completely unintelligible, can barely hear his muttering. Notice he was wearing flip flops on TV too.

He's not the best in front of a mic, though reasons he gave for being dropped were fair and Mitchell had a good game I thought.

Btw i mean Mathew Morgan not Tyler..how is he doing?

Ah right, can't see him getting a look at all to be honest. Not sure how he's getting on at Brizzle but while they are in the Championship he won't get a sniff.

He is, I would imagine behind Biggar, Priestland, Anscombe, Hook and Patchell.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Ah right, can't see him getting a look at all to be honest.  Not sure how he's getting on at Brizzle but while they are in the Championship he won't get a sniff.

He is, I would imagine behind Biggar, Priestland, Anscombe, Hook and Patchell.

Agreed just think he has an X Factor…would have been an exceptional 9.

I can understand him wanting a move get more game time etc but going to a Championship side as he did just seemed like the wrong move.

Will be interesting to see how the likes of him and Ian Evans get on if they get promoted to the Aviva.

Gwlad wrote:

IronMike wrote:I think the squad mostly picks itself

IronMike wrote:

Props - Lee if fit otherwise Rhodri Jones, Jenkins, James, Smith, Francis
Hookers - Baldwin, Owens, Hibbard
Locks - AWJ, Charteris, Ball
Flankers - Warburton, Tipuric, Lydiate
8 - Baker, Faletau
Utility - Navidi
Scrum halves - Webb, Davies, Phillips
Fly halves - Biggar, Priestland, Hook
Centres - Williams, Davies, Roberts
Wings - North, Amos, Cuthbert
Fullback - Williams, Halfpenny

which concerns me to be honest. I would like to see something new.

Hook and Cuthbert are massive nos  for me. Time to bring some spice into the back 3 and What is the point of project Anscombe if they don't use him now

Hook is proven at test level and covers more positions than Anscombe, Anscobme has been hit and miss this season so I think its too early for him. Likewise with Cuthbert, hes not going to be a starter for me, but hes a backup because again he has proven at this level that he can score tries. Where as the others are unknown entities.

I know we all want the young lads to have a go, but aside from a couple of backs and forwards I don't really see many making their case, maybe in next years six nations they'll get their chance.

Mike,

Even though I am not a big Hook fan I agree but I honestly think he will go with Anscombe, that said I don't see what fuss is about Anscombe so if its a choice between them two then I would take Hook.

As for Cuthbert then despite his poor form he was an easy target for people to single out and ignore the fact before the Italy game North has been as poor for Wales over recent games/months.

Given the fact I think Halfpenny and Li Williams will start then I hope we see a good fight between North, Cuthbert and Amos for that 3rd backline spot.

I think we will be taking a huge risk by just taking three centers, especially with the group we have ended up in, for my liking one of the youngsters from Dragons needs to go, and if Cory Allen was not injured I would think he would have gone, if we have any injuries to the "three" we do not have enough quality at the moment to stand up and be counted, but in a few years time, we will have Jamie Roberts, John Davies, Scott Williams, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Ben John and that is not forgetting fringe players like Ashley Beck, Jonathan Spratt, Gavin Evans. But after the first three, the quality drops a hell of a lot.

We need to be getting exposure for the young centres as soon as possible so that they can reach the level of the three internationals we have at the moment.

What position would you sacrifice to take a 4th centre though?

bedfordwelsh wrote:What position would you sacrifice to take a 4th centre though?

No.10 or No. 9

LordDowlais wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:What position would you sacrifice to take a 4th centre though?

No.10 or No. 9

We def need 3 No9s in my opinion so that's a no go for me. I guess as for No10 then that's where the utility player would come into the equation. Someone like Hook who covers numerous positions.

I do believe the squad has been increased to 31 this year but I think that will be taken up by another forward.

Why do you think we need three scrum halves ?

LordDowlais wrote:Why do you think we need three scrum halves ?

We definitely need there of each position. We are bound to lose at least 2 or 3 to injury in the group games. IMO we have to use utility folks where we can but my pref is Anscombe over Hook.

LordDowlais wrote:I think we will be taking a huge risk by just taking three centers, especially with the group we have ended up in, for my liking one of the youngsters from Dragons needs to go, and if Cory Allen was not injured I would think he would have gone, if we have any injuries to the "three" we do not have enough quality at the moment to stand up and be counted, but in a few years time, we will have Jamie Roberts, John Davies, Scott Williams, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Ben John and that is not forgetting fringe players like Ashley Beck, Jonathan Spratt, Gavin Evans. But after the first three, the quality drops a hell of a lot.

clueless. And you need 3 no.9s because it's a pivotal position. Most international squads have 3 scrum-halves.

Gwlad wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Why do you think we need three scrum halves ?

We definitely need there of each position. We are bound to lose at least 2 or 3 to injury in the group games. IMO we have to use utility folks where we can but my pref is Anscombe over Hook.

Hook is rubbish and his time has come and gone, but IMO Anscombe isn't much better. I think the halfback selection will the same as it was in the 6 Nations:
Biggar, Priestland, Anscombe
Webb, Phillips, Davies.

If i was selecting, Mathew Morgan should be the 3rd 10.

Gwlad wrote:If i was selecting,  Mathew Morgan should be the 3rd 10.

To be fair, Morgan hasn't been playing top flight rugby this season, do you really want to take him to the world cup?

We need 3 scrum halves as its such a pivotal position. Webb and Davies are still relatively in experienced so that's why I think Phillips will go as 3rd choice.

Despite not being his biggest fan if we take a utility player then I would take Hook over Anscombe all day long but I think Anscombe will go.