Wales thread continued - 2017/18 season

[mikey_dragon]

First topic message reminder :

2017/2018 season results (full fixture list posted below).

Wales 21 - 29 Australia
Wales 13 - 6 Georgia
Wales 18 - 33 New Zealand
Wales 24 - 22 South Africa

Wales 2018 6N Squad:
Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), James Davies (Scarlets), Taulupe Faletau (Bath), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys).

Backs: Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Gloucester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Steff Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Saracens).

Faletau, Biggar expected to be available later on in the tournament. Amos, L Williams perhaps a little sooner.

Call-ups to cover injuries, etc.
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


I thought we'd start with the Autumn series. Gatland the Great is set to return and shake things up after another disappointing season underneath the Howler and his pal McBryde. The fixtures for this series are as follows:

November 2017
Sat 11th Nov 17 17:15
Wales   v   Australia  
Sat 18th Nov 17 14:30
Wales   v   Georgia
Sat 25th Nov 17 17:15
Wales   v   New Zealand
December 2017
Sat 2nd Dec 17 14:30
Wales   v   South Africa

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well there's no time like now so why not. Last year was a bit disappointing, topped off with an unsuccessful tour to NZ (as expected). Whilst I'm hoping for better this season my expectations are low as we have Howler and some other amateurs in charge who got the job because they were mates with Gatland and others in the WRU.

AI's
Wales V Australia 05/11/2016
8 - 32
Wales V Argentina 12/11/2016
24 - 20
Wales V Japan 19/11/2016
33 - 30
Wales V South Africa 26/11/2016
27 - 13

6 Nations
Italy V Wales 05/02/2017
7 - 33
Wales V England 11/02/2017
16 - 21
Scotland V Wales 25/02/2017
29 - 13
Wales V Ireland 10/03/2017
22 - 9
France V Wales 18/03/2017
20 -18

Very tough AI series but a kind start in the 6N. So far this season Blues and Ospreys look good, but how many of their players will be starters for Wales? Cuthbert is starting to look like his old self and if this continues he could come back into the team. Tomos Williams looks like a good player and if he also continues in this vein then might he take advantage of Gareth Davies' supposed rustiness? It's still early days but going by what I've seen and the reports I've read I would like to see a new centre partnership and also perhaps see our old back 3 of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny reinstated - although a lot could happen between now and November. With Faletau out I think we can all guess who the wildcards will be, but who does that leave to play at No.8 - possibly Warburton with Ellis Jenkins at 7? What changes (if any) would you like to see? Keep it sensible please.

WALES 2016 UNDER ARMOUR SERIES SQUAD
Prop Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues) (12 Caps) Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (14 Caps) Rhys Gill (Cardiff Blues) (6 Caps) Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (126 Caps) Samson Lee (Scarlets) (28 Caps) Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (3 Caps)
Hooker Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) (24 Caps) Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues) (3 Caps) Ken Owens (Scarlets) (42 Caps)
Second Row Jake Ball (Scarlets) (20 Caps) Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby) (68 Caps) Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (56 Caps) Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (102 Caps) Rory Thornton (Ospreys) (UNCAPPED)
Back Row Dan Baker (Ospreys) (3 Caps) Taulupe Faletau* (Bath Rugby) (61 Caps) James King (Ospreys) (8 Caps) Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (57 Caps) Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (9 Caps) Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (43 Caps) Sam Warburton (CAPT) (Cardiff Blues) (67 Caps)
Scrum Half Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (17 Caps) Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (22 Caps) Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) (27 Caps)
Fly Half Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (8 Caps) Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (48 Caps) Sam Davies (Ospreys) (UNCAPPED)
Centre Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (56 Caps) Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons) (3 Caps) Jamie Roberts* (Harlequins) (83 Caps) Scott Williams (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
Wing/Full Back Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons) (10 Caps) Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) (42 Caps) Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (62 Caps) George North* (Northampton Saints) (62 Caps) Liam Williams (Scarlets) (35 Caps) * Denotes Senior Player Selection Policy wildcard selection.
Ospreys wing Keelan Giles, Cardiff Blues full-back Rhun Williams and Dragons pair Leon Brown and Harrison Keddie will train with the Wales squad.  

June summer tour
Tonga 6 - 24 Wales
Samoa 17 - 19 Wales

[RugbyFan100]

Well they can, they can put a contract out for nearly anything they want, but if it puts them in breech of contracts they have in place, then they are going to be in trouble.... They did, paying no consideration, just they wanted North to play, and they paid for it.... Guess they learned their lesson when they re-negotiated.

Has anyone got any quotes to prove that North now has not got that clause in his contract? Otherwise, why is he telling Howley that he is available for all Wales training and games? Either way Saints did what they had to to secure North's signature.....twice.

Here, but it is the fail so take it with a pinch of salt (about one mines worth)

Northampton team manager Paul Shields said: “George has been selected for the Wales internationals, but as it stands he will not be available for that game.

“I know discussions are ongoing with the WRU and the chairmen but I’m not privy to those conversations. “George is no different than any other non-English player. There’s no side letter that exists or anything in his contract that says we will release George to play.

“We’re governed by Premier Rugby, who as a company will not release players outside the international window.”

Seems strange that North would tell Howley he is available then.

One of them has to be wrong.

[bedfordwelsh]

Well they can, they can put a contract out for nearly anything they want, but if it puts them in breech of contracts they have in place, then they are going to be in trouble.... They did, paying no consideration, just they wanted North to play, and they paid for it.... Guess they learned their lesson when they re-negotiated.

Has anyone got any quotes to prove that North now has not got that clause in his contract? Otherwise, why is he telling Howley that he is available for all Wales training and games? Either way Saints did what they had to to secure North's signature.....twice.

Here, but it is the fail so take it with a pinch of salt (about one mines worth)

Northampton team manager Paul Shields said: “George has been selected for the Wales internationals, but as it stands he will not be available for that game.

“I know discussions are ongoing with the WRU and the chairmen but I’m not privy to those conversations. “George is no different than any other non-English player. There’s no side letter that exists or anything in his contract that says we will release George to play.

“We’re governed by Premier Rugby, who as a company will not release players outside the international window.”

Seems strange that North would tell Howley he is available then.

One of them has to be wrong.

I know which one my money would be on and its not the player.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Do we know North has actually told Howley he's available?

[bedfordwelsh]

Do we know North has actually told Howley he's available?

I wouldn't be surprised if none have said it, more like Howler being a c**k and trying to push it.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

That's what I was thinking.

[ScarletSpiderman]

In his defence, Howler has been Gats understudy pretty much all his coaching career, so he's probably learnt how to drop changers with the press from him.

[mikey_dragon]

Why the feck we don't just say ok guys for the Australia game we will just have to do without you.

The only area we really don't have cover is tighthead and even then I'm still not convinced by Francis and I guess with Nicky Thomas now eligible for selection we could use him.

Against Australia with the squad selected we could still field:

Jenkins Owens Lee
AWJ B Davies
Lydiate Baker Warburton

Webb S Davies
Amos Sc Williams JD Cuthbert

Li Williams

Smith Baldwin Andrews Ball Tipuric  G Davies Biggar Anscombe

Good point. They'd probably select Mitchell as Thomas is barely fit enough for club rugby so I'm told. And a big no to Davies at 10.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Saint, they'd probably go for Rhodri Jones, and use the 'he has experienced the international camp before' line to justify it, even though he's had next to no game time in the last two years.

[wayne]

Saint, they'd probably go for Rhodri Jones, and use the 'he has experienced the international camp before' line to justify it, even though he's had next to no game time in the last two years.

SS he came on last week, and apart from Cai Griffiths I don't think I've ever seen a tight head whose shape is totally wrong for that position, our scrum visibly weakened when he came on and that is no advert because apart from that match Ma'afu Fia has struggled when he has come on for Dmitri this season, I really hope he gets a complete mullering in an unimportant match and that will make the coaches sit up and make the only sensible decision into putting him on the loose, and the sooner the better.

[bedfordwelsh]

Why the feck we don't just say ok guys for the Australia game we will just have to do without you.

The only area we really don't have cover is tighthead and even then I'm still not convinced by Francis and I guess with Nicky Thomas now eligible for selection we could use him.

Against Australia with the squad selected we could still field:

Jenkins Owens Lee
AWJ B Davies
Lydiate Baker Warburton

Webb S Davies
Amos Sc Williams JD Cuthbert

Li Williams

Smith Baldwin Andrews Ball Tipuric  G Davies Biggar Anscombe

Good point. They'd probably select Mitchell as Thomas is barely fit enough for club rugby so I'm told. And a big no to Davies at 10.

I agree to a point Mikey but it was more just an example of what we could still field without the exiles.

[2ndtimeround]

If the WRU really want to make a point about players staying in Wales then they should be picking Amos and JD2 instead of North and Roberts, with the way Amos is consistently playing he should be in the side anyway.

[rainbow-warrior]

If the WRU really want to make a point about players staying in Wales then they should be picking Amos and JD2  instead of North and Roberts, with the way Amos is consistently playing he should be in the side anyway.

But they shouldn't we should be picking the best team regardless of where they are playing.

[mikey_dragon]

If the WRU really want to make a point about players staying in Wales then they should be picking Amos and JD2  instead of North and Roberts, with the way Amos is consistently playing he should be in the side anyway.

But they shouldn't we should be picking the best team regardless of where they are playing.  

If we're utilising Gatland's law then yeah, they should.

[maestegmafia]

Saint, they'd probably go for Rhodri Jones, and use the 'he has experienced the international camp before' line to justify it, even though he's had next to no game time in the last two years.

SS he came on last week, and apart from Cai Griffiths I don't think I've ever seen a tight head whose shape is totally wrong for that position, our scrum visibly weakened when he came on and that is no advert because apart from that match Ma'afu Fia has struggled when he has come on for Dmitri this season, I really hope he gets a complete mullering in an unimportant match and that will make the coaches sit up and make the only sensible decision into putting him on the loose, and the sooner the better.

Bit of an enigma young Rhodri

Unlucky with injuries but also never very effective in the scrum. Good around the park, not a bad player with game time. Struggles to get game time though

[wayne]

I've put it in the Ospreys section, I suppose it should be put on here. Keelan Giles called into the TW squad for the AIs as injury cover for George and Liam, I just hope they both recover very quickly.

[mikey_dragon]

They picked up knocks yesterday? Still way too early for Giles, I wish they'd leave him to it as his development is going well so far.

[wayne]

They picked up knocks yesterday? Still way too early for Giles, I wish they'd leave him to it as his development is going well so far.

Totally agree Mikey

[True Raven]

Apparentl also, Rhun Williams, Leon Brown, Harrison Keddie have been called to train with the squad but not called into the squad.

[aucklandlaurie]

Dean Mumm Suspended for the Wales test.

[mikey_dragon]

It's alright, they'll still beat Howler's lot.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I've put it in the Ospreys section, I suppose it should be put on here. Keelan Giles called into the TW squad for the AIs as injury cover for George and Liam, I just hope they both recover very quickly.

The WRU's own tweet said explicitly that the four players had not been called into the squad, but called to train with the squad. Of course, that didn't stop Wales Online saying that Giles had been called into the squad, in their endless quest for clicks.

[ScarletSpiderman]

I've put it in the Ospreys section, I suppose it should be put on here. Keelan Giles called into the TW squad for the AIs as injury cover for George and Liam, I just hope they both recover very quickly.

No he hasn't. The WRU's own tweet said explicitly that the four players had not been called into the squad, but called to train with the squad. Of course, that didn't stop Wales Online saying that Giles had been called into the squad, in their endless quest for clicks.

It is really sad, and bleeding frustrating, that the fail do things like that, especially as so many of the non-regional fans read the fail and take it as gospel.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It couldn't have been clearer: 'train with the squad (not called into squad)' was how it was worded. So they didn't misunderstand it, they just chose to misreport it.

[munkian]

Way too early for Leon Brown too  - hes barely had a run out for the Dragons.

EDIT

Ah, 'train with' - holding tackle bags then

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It's about time he did have a run out for the Dragons. He can't be any worse than Craig Mitchell.

[wayne]

I've put it in the Ospreys section, I suppose it should be put on here. Keelan Giles called into the TW squad for the AIs as injury cover for George and Liam, I just hope they both recover very quickly.

The WRU's own tweet said explicitly that the four players had not been called into the squad, but called to train with the squad. Of course, that didn't stop Wales Online saying that Giles had been called into the squad, in their endless quest for clicks.

What time did you see that LP, because last night when the story broke and for about an hour afterwards there was nothing on the WRU website about anybody getting called up, I read it on our website that said he had read it on Twitter and the Fail, somebody later on, on our website put it out there what has actually transpired, and I read our Forum's moderator explaining the full story this morning, and finally the Fails online headline changed from the story breaking and about an hour later.

Sorry for breaking this story inaccurately, that's for me actually believing what is put on social media and the incompetent Fail.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I saw it on Twitter last night - someone retweeted the WRU's tweet about Leon Brown and Harrison Keddie being called up to train with the squad. Then I looked and saw Wales Rugby (Wales Online) saying Giles had been called into the squad, even though they knew that wasn't the case. It was irresponsible of them, but all they care about these days is clicks.

[wayne]

Just happened to have a look NOW, and there is NOTHING on this story on the WRU website, just reports on the Regions matches over the weekend and a preview of the Argentine match.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

It was the WRU's Twitter feed.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Which sounds like something you put on your bird table.

[nathan]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

[munkian]

More worried about Liam Williams being injured

[mikey_dragon]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

Contract renegotiaions after their current ones end?

[maestegmafia]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

Contract renegotiaions after their current ones end?

Great news that the PRL have backed down. This frees up our entire england based squad.

[Guest]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

I think that's a great gesture actually. They state clearly that it's a one off, but they could very easily have dug their heels in and said 'no'. So we've been fortunate there.

Appreciate that RFU

[ScarletSpiderman]

Is it a trade off, 'have them this week, but return them a week early?'. Also, with the season schedule up in the air, it always helps to have a favour to call back in.

[bedfordwelsh]

I'm also guessing that as its an LV weekend they wouldn't be involved so happy to be released, if it had been a full Aviva weekend they wouldn't have been released.

Isn't North injured anyway?

[munkian]

I'm also guessing that as its an LV weekend they wouldn't be involved so happy to be released, if it had been a full Aviva weekend they wouldn't have been released.

Isn't North injured anyway?

Hand injury but no real update on the severity.

[maestegmafia]

I'm also guessing that as its an LV weekend they wouldn't be involved so happy to be released, if it had been a full Aviva weekend they wouldn't have been released.

Isn't North injured anyway?

Hand injury but no real update on the severity.

According to today's meeting no one is ruled out of the first match bar Faletau.

Looks like the Aussies will be missing Mumm Kerevi and Genia

[munkian]

Sanjay is out for 2 weeks I yeard.

[maestegmafia]

Sanjay is out for 2 weeks I yeard.

McBride said he's fine

[munkian]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

I think that's a great gesture actually. They state clearly that it's a one off, but they could very easily have dug their heels in and said 'no'. So we've been fortunate there.

Appreciate that RFU

Nothing to do with the RFU

[mikey_dragon]

They'll likely be back at their PRL clubs on the weekend of the Japan game?

[munkian]

That seems the most likely scenario, I just hope we take Japan seriously.

[mikey_dragon]

You never know with Lenny and Larry do you, I mean look what happened the last time they instructed Wales in a Japan fixture... But the reality is, if we're without Roberts, North and Charteris then we can still put out a good team. I might hand Francis a start for that game just so he can further emphasize he's not cut out for it at this level.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Sanjay is out for 2 weeks I yeard.

McBride said he's fine

McBryde says a lot of things.

[mikey_dragon]

How it's been surmised that he's fine I don't know? What was actually said:

"He hasn't been ruled out yet and we're seeing how he reacts to treatment,"

"Jake with regard to his ribs is pretty sore, it's quite hard to determine how long they're going to take, and it's the same with Liam really,"

If fit, Williams starts at 15 for me.

[Guest]

North and Roberts have been released by PRU as a good will gesture to play for Wales outside the window.

Wonder what they are after

I think that's a great gesture actually. They state clearly that it's a one off, but they could very easily have dug their heels in and said 'no'. So we've been fortunate there.

Appreciate that RFU

Nothing to do with the RFU

PRL then, if you're splitting hairs. Either way, I'm happy that they said 'yes' rather than 'no'. Aren't you?

[munkian]

Its not splitting hairs, they are nothing like each other - and yes, Im glad but I hate the 4th AI situation we've been left with.

[Guest]

Its not splitting hairs, they are nothing like each other - and yes, Im glad but I hate the 4th AI situation we've been left with.

I named the wrong body. Whoops. Slap on the wrist.

I too dislike the 4th AI.

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