The Wales squad - Scotland, Autumn Nations Cup, and beyond

First topic message reminder :

Wayne Pivac will announce the squad on October 6th, likely to be a Scarlet-heavy selection and rightly so. I would also like to see new players come in so we can see what they have to offer. 

Wales might play France on October 24th in warm-up, but there is currently some doubt on whether this will go ahead. Next up is the re-arranged 6N match with Scotland on October 31st. In the autumn nations cup Wales will face-off against Ireland, England, Georgia and either France, Fiji, Italy or Scotland. 

Venues to be announced.

Turnbull knocking on for the third time...

It's currently like both teams aren't interested, this second half is like watching 2 amateur teams with nothing to play for

Anand Dillon Lewis comes on and instantly gives Argentina a shot at goal ahahahaha

Hallam Amos and tompkins are both playing a game between themselves...

Who can look like a 14 year old running around like headless chickens more!

Enough is enough, greatest respect to both teams but I'm off to put the washing on the line...

Dillon Lewis knock-on…

Botham and Turnbull not good enough but no call up for Young at Wasps? He's been quality for years. Young Tommy Reffell picked up the second most turnovers in the Prem last season and not deemed good enough.

Poor from Argentina. I really feel they should be going for the corner, they’ve played crap over the last 2 weeks.

I walked back into my living room to watch Will Rowland pull out of a tackle on his own try line hahahahaha

I'd like to say well deserved from Argentina but they've been poor! They've just come up against a very amateur looking wales team, who's coach actively tried to weaken the side from last week.

Dirtydave wrote:I'd be worried if I was welsh

You’re not miaow?

mikey_dragon wrote:

Dirtydave wrote:I'd be worried if I was welsh

You’re not miaow?

No not welsh woof!

Dirtydave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Dirtydave wrote:I'd be worried if I was welsh

You’re not miaow?

No not welsh woof!

Bad humour, it’s familiar. Also if you check your posting history you were saying you’re Welsh, and a support of Wales. Now you’re neither somehow? This information wasn’t hard to find. You’ve also posted a lot on Wales match threads, like a hell of a lot. Awkward.

[quote="mikey_dragon"]

Dirtydave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Dirtydave wrote:I'd be worried if I was welsh

You’re not miaow?

No not welsh woof!

Bad humour, it’s familiar. Also if you check your posting history you were saying you’re Welsh, and a support of Wales. Now you’re neither somehow? This information wasn’t hard to find. You’ve also posted a lot on Wales match threads, like a hell of a lot. Awkward.[/quo

Your a bit of a nationalist? Are non Welsh people not allowed to support differing teams?

What's the bad humour btw?

Got this match on to record. Perhaps I’ll give it a miss now! #glorysupporter !

Dirtydave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Dirtydave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Dirtydave wrote:I'd be worried if I was welsh

You’re not miaow?

No not welsh woof!

Bad humour, it’s familiar. Also if you check your posting history you were saying you’re Welsh, and a support of Wales. Now you’re neither somehow? This information wasn’t hard to find. You’ve also posted a lot on Wales match threads, like a hell of a lot. Awkward.[/quo

Your a bit of a nationalist? Are non Welsh people not allowed to support differing teams?

What's the bad humour btw?

What? You said you’re Welsh in your posting history. So somewhere down the line you were telling lies. Most of your comments are annoying as s|\*t too.

Your humour.

Dirtydave wrote:Maesteg

How brutal has the wales attack been thus far anyway? Especially our counter attack!

We've been blunt, and structured, Williams has hardly had a free roam role to beat men at will, he's been kicking a lot

This you? There’s more.

Just seen that all the Autumn Internationals are on Amazon. Are we also on free to air TV, such is BBC or S4C?

mikey_dragon wrote:Just seen that all the Autumn Internationals are on Amazon. Are we also on free to air TV, such is BBC or S4C?

You can normally get a month free trial of Amazon Prime and hence get all the sport for free.

I've had an Amazon Prime account for years. Their video streaming isn't as good as it used to be, and now they're charging additional fees to watch half of their library. I have quite a few subscriptions so was about to cancel this, but now I may as well keep it. It also makes my Christmas shopping ridiculously easy.

Fitzy saying what a bunch of fans have been saying for decades: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58271324

I think our first game (versus NZ) is outside the international window too. Great scheduling.

mikey_dragon wrote:Fitzy saying what a bunch of fans have been saying for decades: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58271324

I think our first game (versus NZ) is outside the international window too. Great scheduling.

I was going to post this on the regional thread on the club section, but I thought it would cause to much of a stir, so I didn't bother. But yes, the WRU should be putting more effort into the game below the regions.

It's just daft by the WRU, unless they're going to pay England clubs to release players, which is fair. I really want LRZ to run out against the AB's.

Fitzpatrick is correct to say the regional game needs boosting (I didn't see him mention anything about the levels below).

To be fair though, Scarlets seem to be doing okay. They're even able to add pretty decent backroom staff.

Another out of window game is obviously expected, but there isn't a chance that WRU will pay to release English based players. They don't even pay proper release for Welsh based ones.

Seems daft to play NZ outside the window. Why not play one of the weaker teams outside the window that we usually play in the 4th AI game? That way we can play the stars in the league and some of the development players in the AI game? And then have the stars just playing during the international window when, I hope, there are no league games. Saying that, Fiji I guess would be classed as the ‘weaker’ team in this series but I’d prefer if we didn’t send out a weak team!!! If it was Canada or USA or something then that game first would be better.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/dan-carter-just-sent-louis-21389233.amp

Very nice gesture from DC to LRZ.

Clickbait Online wrote: Carter, who is the leading points scorer of all-time, amassing 1,598 in his 112 New Zealand caps, sent the young Welshman a handwritten message.

It read: "To Louis, What a magical season! Work conquers all. Enjoy the boots!"

Accompanying the note was a pair of Carter's limited edition Adidas Predator boots. Earlier this year, the Kiwi unveiled his latest project with the manufacturer; a custom pair of gold boots.

They boast the New Zealand rugby logo, Carter's signature, his cap number, number of appearances and points scored.

The Oracle wrote:Seems daft to play NZ outside the window. Why not play one of the weaker teams outside the window that we usually play in the 4th AI game? That way we can play the stars in the league and some of the development players in the AI game? And then have the stars just playing during the international window when, I hope, there are no league games. Saying that, Fiji I guess would be classed as the ‘weaker’ team in this series but I’d prefer if we didn’t send out a weak team!!! If it was Canada or USA or something then that game first would be better.

One would guess that the ABs had already filled their fixtures for the window.

Well it’s almost time. As we don’t have a bunch of players available for NZ, North injured, JD2 passed it, I think we could see Michael Collins at 13. He’s been a regular in NZ super rugby for a few years, so theoretically he’s good enough. It would be funny if he lines up outside Halaholo and Anscombe .

The starting front row could be all Scarlets, unless Francis gets ahead of John.

We really needed LRZ for this one but as he isn’t around I think I would go for Holmes unless J Mac does something good - and why not, he’s a kiwi.

I would be willing to go for all of the above. There’s nothing to lose… which if we do lose Pivac will find all the excuses anyway.

Absolutely no Dillon Lewis or Tom Rogers please.

Michael Collins starts at 13 for Ospreys on Sunday.

mikey_dragon wrote:Well it’s almost time. As we don’t have a bunch of players available for NZ, North injured, JD2 passed it, I think we could see Michael Collins at 13. He’s been a regular in NZ super rugby for a few years, so theoretically he’s good enough. It would be funny if he lines up outside Halaholo and Anscombe .

The starting front row could be all Scarlets, unless Francis gets ahead of John.

We really needed LRZ for this one but as he isn’t around I think I would go for Holmes unless J Mac does something good - and why not, he’s a kiwi.

I would be willing to go for all of the above. There’s nothing to lose… which if we do lose Pivac will find all the excuses anyway.

Absolutely no Dillon Lewis or Tom Rogers please.

What's Holmes got that Owen Lane doesn't?

mikey_dragon wrote:Michael Collins starts at 13 for Ospreys on Sunday.

Any news on his injury, seems to have gone un-reported but didn't look good.

Well the truth of what happened with Cory Hill over the summer has come out

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58791723

lostinwales wrote:Well the truth of what happened with Cory Hill over the summer has come out

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58791723

Not a lot for him to be proud of there unfortunately

BigGee wrote:

lostinwales wrote:Well the truth of what happened with Cory Hill over the summer has come out

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58791723

Not a lot for him to be proud of there unfortunately

Yep, that's a tale of weapons grade stupidity.

Hmmm. Wonder if that’s what prompted the move abroad? Not sure of the timelines but the move seemed very sudden, and then he was yanked from the summer squad very quickly (with a good rationale given at the time for it too in fairness).

Either way, sounds like he was a right chopper. And his pals too.

The actions are awful, but the fact he didn’t even apologise in person makes it ten times worse.

SWP not following it up is not a good look either.

PhilBB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well it’s almost time. As we don’t have a bunch of players available for NZ, North injured, JD2 passed it, I think we could see Michael Collins at 13. He’s been a regular in NZ super rugby for a few years, so theoretically he’s good enough. It would be funny if he lines up outside Halaholo and Anscombe .

The starting front row could be all Scarlets, unless Francis gets ahead of John.

We really needed LRZ for this one but as he isn’t around I think I would go for Holmes unless J Mac does something good - and why not, he’s a kiwi.

I would be willing to go for all of the above. There’s nothing to lose… which if we do lose Pivac will find all the excuses anyway.

Absolutely no Dillon Lewis or Tom Rogers please.

What's Holmes got that Owen Lane doesn't?

Either or. Lane is a good player, and has already proven himself on the test stage. I think J Mac is more likely to miss out.

Isn't this due to be announced soon? Based on some disastrious opening rounds, I'm keen to know what everyone thinks about the probable selection and how much we'll lose by in the AI.

Wales v All Blacks score predictions?

45-17

Old Man wrote:45-17

Wales home. I agree.

i didn't say who.

mikey_dragon wrote:Isn't this due to be announced soon? Based on some disastrious opening rounds, I'm keen to know what everyone thinks about the probable selection and how much we'll lose by in the AI.

Today then, by the looks.

I don’t think the squad will be anything ground breaking. The usual faces with perhaps a few youngsters in there to get ‘in the environment’ and perhaps cover for injuries. The thing is, our regions have been pretty cr*p on and off forever. Just the odd highlight with a few years when either the Ospreys or Scarlets were doing well in the league. Never have we have 3 (and definitely not 4) regions flying high. Under Gatland I think he recognised that and his game plan sort of suited a squad that was coming off the back of poor club performances. He got them into camp, put a rocket up them, beasted them on the fitness front, and employed a limited gameplan that a fit and fired up group of players could execute even with low form and low confidence carried over from their club game. It resulted in the backs to the wall, attritional, defensive, high intensity but often low skill performances that ground out wins and tournament victories with low try scoring games.

What worries me about Pivac is that his gameplan is based more on flair, on running and attacking rugby, and perhaps needs more confidence to execute. I think players need to be doing this well at their clubs to be able to have a chance of performing it well at international level. Our Lions players seem well off the pace so far since they’ve come back. The rest don’t seem amazing. I’m really worried about what will happen in the Autumn! Hope Pivac has some magic potion up his sleeve because I can’t see us being able to produce the dazzling rugby Pivac wants us to play with the form of the players currently.

Thomas Young will be in though, as he has signed for Cardiff.

Really? Didn’t know that. Good signing I think and I hope he gets a look in now for Wales (probably discussed it with Wales before making his decision). Some good back row options for Blues going forward when all fit - Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Young, Botham, Will Boyde seemed to have the potential when at Scarlets, some promising youngsters too (heard good things about Sam Moore).

Hoping the players playing in England can bolster the ailing home based players is the AIs!

Can't help that move has come.too late for him to have a proper impact at international level. 3 or 4 years ago he was sensational for wasps but his form has dipped a bit. Still looks good but not the star man he once promised to be.

The teams been selected and released boys:-

Forwards: Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), WillGriff John (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Will Rowlands (Dragons), Ben Carter (Dragons), Seb Davies (Cardiff), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Thomas Young (Wasps), Taine Basham (Dragons), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Bath).

Backs: Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Cardiff), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Willis Halaholo (Cardiff), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Owen Lane (Cardiff), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby), Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

Dear me, it wouldn’t be a Pivac selection without a few blunders, would it?

Lewis, Priestland, Seb Davies, Tompkins, Tshiunza shouldn’t be near this squad. Why has he selected Jones over Nicky Smith? Why has he not selected Parry? I wouldn’t have minded if Dee was dropped. Ellis Jenkins hasn’t played much and did look a little slower the last time
I seen him. No Jonah Holmes is a shocker of a call. Davies can’t start at 13, he’s become a liability in defence unfortunately.

Surprised with Christ Tshiunza being selected, I hope he is not just there to hold tackle bags, and I am disappointed Tom Rogers has not been selected.

Thanks for posting, LD.

Thomas Young straight in

A few surprises such as Christ Tshiunza. Looks to have great potential but wasn’t expecting the call just yet. A ‘get him in the environment’ call maybe. Ben Thomas a surprise to me too.

I think this shows our lack of centres and injury issues at no 10 - we’ve selected 4 10s and only 4 centres (or is Ben Thomas a centre too?).

Sorry, cross posted with LD. Yes I too am surprised by Christ. I thought Tom Rogers looked good against Lions the other week. Would have had him in.

From a dragons point of view I’m happy to see the likes of Carter and Basham being rewarded for a decent start to the season.

Agree with Mikey about Jonah Holmes too. In great form currently.

LordDowlais wrote:Surprised with Christ Tshiunza being selected, I hope he is not just there to hold tackle bags, and I am disappointed Tom Rogers has not been selected.

Not wanting to open an international qualifications debate but I suspect his inclusion with the England U20s in the spring may have prompted that too. He was with the U20s for some of their under the radar games against Premiership A-teams.

They were odd, not advertised, slightly cloak and dagger affairs. Big matchday squads were picked to use lots of players and originally they seemed to be intended as behind closed doors then news of players being involved filtered out through fans. With the Championship not really happening and the Prem A-league postponed by covid it seemed a means of getting senior academy players from Premiership sides some rugby.