Webb or Davies to start against England

Simple question, who starts next week at 9.

Gareth Davies has been the incumbent since the World Cup and has done a great job.

Rhys Webb has played three games since coming back from injury (all away games in Ireland) and has oozed class and hasn't missed a beat.

I don't have any doubts about webbs fitness and I think he's the better player, better passer and controls the forwards better and should start against England as we should play our best players. It's harsh on Gareth Davies who would be a great option to have on the bench but this is a must win game and we need our best players playing.

Is Rys Webb a better player than Gareth Davies? if so why as he not started in the first 3 games?

Well he was voted player of the year last year and he hasn't started the last three games because he's been injured.........

If that is the case then True Raven then surely he should be on the bench.

If Webb is fit he should play. He is a specimen in terms of how he manages his fitness and he offers a totally different threat at 9 to Davies. His service is consistent and quick and edges Davies.

Davies can make an impact off the bench.

Don't think it matters much which one plays. Unless psychologically, one takes a loss better than the other.

Davies with Webb on the bench.

Its a no win position...

Start Webb and if we lose, we'll get the "told you so".. "Wasn't ready".. "Davies better", etc..

Start Davies and if we lose, we'll get the "Webb is better".. etc.. see where its going..

Its so easy to forget, that Davies held the No9 shirt before Webb, and if it wasn't for injury, Webb may not have got a look in... How things go around.

IMO, Webb is the "better" option, but (and this as an Osprey fan) I wouldn't even have brought him back into the squad so late into the tournament and with only 3 games under his belt.

Webb will regain that shirt, of that I have little doubt, but it shouldn't be during a tournament deciding fixture as Eng/Wal and also he should be allowed to get more game time under his belt.

I don't actually think he'll figure in the Eng/Wal fixture, and this is little more that Gatland playing mind games around selection. But, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a run out against Italy, as by then it will either be won or lost..

But, wont be the first time, Gatland as done something I predicted he wouldn't..

Whichever one starts, all I ask is that they keep the box-kicking to a minimum, because neither of them is very good at it, and both are candidates for a chargedown.

I think Webb is back in because Williams offers so little from 9. Davies and Webb are the two best 9s in the 6 nations I reckon.

No9 wrote:Its a no win position...

Start Webb and if we lose, we'll get the "told you so".. "Wasn't ready".. "Davies better", etc..

Start Davies and if we lose, we'll get the "Webb is better".. etc.. see where its going..

Its so easy to forget, that Davies held the No9 shirt before Webb, and if it wasn't for injury, Webb may not have got a look in... How things go around.

IMO, Webb is the "better" option, but (and this as an Osprey fan) I wouldn't even have brought him back into the squad so late into the tournament and with only 3 games under his belt.

Webb will regain that shirt, of that I have little doubt, but it shouldn't be during a tournament deciding fixture as Eng/Wal and also he should be allowed to get more game time under his belt.

I don't actually think he'll figure in the Eng/Wal fixture, and this is little more that Gatland playing mind games around selection. But, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a run out against Italy, as by then it will either be won or lost..

But, wont be the first time, Gatland as done something I predicted he wouldn't..

It might be easy to forget because it never happened. Davies made his debut as a sub vs South Africa in June 2014 and then got his second appreance as a sub vs Italy in March 2015. His first start was last summer which by then Webb had established himself as our first choice 9.

Hes been called up to the Wales squad and as our best scrum half in my opinion should start

Tell you what, we'll give you an 8pts start if we can have one of them for 40mins, but you have to start with Ben Youngs?

Davies with Webb on the bench, maybe a bit harsh on Brynmors boy but Webb is different class to Williams.

Davies should keep the shirt for now. Wales are fortunate to have two good 9 options.

Good to see Wales move on from Phillips, I always thought Phillips slowed you down.

Davies first 50 and then depending how its going get the main man on to speed things up if need be:thumbsup:

True Raven wrote:

No9 wrote:Its a no win position...

Start Webb and if we lose, we'll get the "told you so".. "Wasn't ready".. "Davies better", etc..

Start Davies and if we lose, we'll get the "Webb is better".. etc.. see where its going..

Its so easy to forget, that Davies held the No9 shirt before Webb, and if it wasn't for injury, Webb may not have got a look in... How things go around.

IMO, Webb is the "better" option, but (and this as an Osprey fan) I wouldn't even have brought him back into the squad so late into the tournament and with only 3 games under his belt.

Webb will regain that shirt, of that I have little doubt, but it shouldn't be during a tournament deciding fixture as Eng/Wal and also he should be allowed to get more game time under his belt.

I don't actually think he'll figure in the Eng/Wal fixture, and this is little more that Gatland playing mind games around selection. But, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a run out against Italy, as by then it will either be won or lost..

But, wont be the first time, Gatland as done something I predicted he wouldn't..

It might be easy to forget because it never happened.  Davies made his debut as a sub vs South Africa in June 2014 and then got his second appreance as a sub vs Italy in March 2015.  His first start was last summer which by then Webb had established himself as our first choice 9.

Hes been called up to the Wales squad and as our best scrum half in my opinion should start

Did Davies win a cap BEFORE Webb.. I never said he was first choice did I... Both where understudies to Mike Phillips at the time.. I know I used the term "held the No9 shirt", but did you really want to be pedantic, and say it was the No21 (or what ever)...

Webb got his debut in 2012, I just don't recall Gareth Davies ever being seen as wales 9 after mike Phillips, apart from the scarlets fans talking about it. I could be wrong though and I was pedantic sorry, I thought you meant was wales first choice no 9. Well Rhys has been called up but rob howley praised g Davies so it looks like Gareth to start with Rhys on the bench

BS to bench Webb

If he is fit enough to be on the bench he shoudl start

Gwlad wrote:BS to bench Webb

If he is fit enough to be on the bench he shoudl start

Same could be said to bench the man of the match in the last game, and Wales' most prolific try score in 2015/16 .

Personally I think there is very much between the two of them. Davies edged it slightly a few seasons ago, but got injured, then Webb took his chances and edged it until he got crocked, and now IMO Davies edges it as he is the man in possession of the shirt.

Davies has done nothing to lose the shirt and Webb has done nothing to win it. If he's ready after injury, Webb should be on the bench (Williams is not a test level 9) and let's see what he can do if needed.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:BS to bench Webb

If he is fit enough to be on the bench he shoudl start

Same could be said to bench the man of the match in the last game, and Wales' most prolific try score in 2015/16 .

Well said (even if the Man of the Match should have been Guirado!).

Why should Webb start when Davies is playing well?

Davies has been fantastic since Webbs injury so why should he lose the shirt. It's a great option now to have Webb on the bench and to earn his No1 spot back.

I'm going to go with Davies!

Surely both are World Class?

TightHEAD wrote:Surely both are World Class?

I wouldn't say Surely, Davies's try at Twickenham was a result of poor defending really - lets give them both time.

TightHEAD wrote:Surely both are World Class?

They would keep any English 9 out of a decent team but world class would be pushing it a bit.

Definitely Webb. He deserves a chance to shine in the sun.

Sorry I am not sure where else to post this so I thought here would do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35770096 wrote:
Webb scored a try in the win over England in Cardiff in the 2015 Six Nations, while Davies scored a crucial late try in their victory in the 2015 World Cup, a competition Webb missed following surgery.

Well done to the Beeb, they have changed history for us. As opposed to winning all bar our opening game against England last season, it now seems like we beat them, so must be reigning Grandslam and Tripple Crown champs.

Great stuff.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Sorry I am not sure where else to post this so I thought here would do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35770096 wrote:
Webb scored a try in the win over England in Cardiff in the 2015 Six Nations, while Davies scored a crucial late try in their victory in the 2015 World Cup, a competition Webb missed following surgery.

Well done to the Beeb, they have changed history for us.  As opposed to winning all bar our opening game against England last season, it now seems like we beat them, so must be reigning Grandslam and Tripple Crown champs.            

Hence the dreadful old line about not beating Wales just scoring more points....

Welcome!!

Nice to see so many English posters on a thread about Welsh scrum halves doing their best to stir it up…..we all know how much such behavior is not welcome on the English threads right. But its okay on a Welsh thread, less knickers in a bunch and more equal opportunities in Wales.

I do hope your team has as much fight in them, or at least more than at RWC, on Saturday.