WALES INTERNATIONAL: GAMES, SQUADS, TOURNAMENTS, CHAT - SUMMER TOUR & SEASON 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

Here it is:

Springbok team to face Wales in Cape Town:
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 19 caps 18pts, 50pts (10t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 27 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 59 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 26 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 61 caps, 613 pts (6t, 83c, 131p, 4d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 12 caps, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 59 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 64 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 99 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 49 caps, 50 pts (10t)
1 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 48 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 60 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 33 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 20 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0pts
22 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 37caps, 25pts (5t)
23 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 73 caps, 60 pts (12t)

majesticimperialman wrote:I have not watched any of the gams due to not having
SKY sports. What i would like to know is, is there any person who should not play again for Wales Or do you expect every one to be in the next 6nations??

After his comments this weekend I think Andy Powell should be no where near the squad.

majesticimperialman wrote:I have not watched any of the gams due to not having
SKY sports. What i would like to know is, is there any person who should not play again for Wales Or do you expect every one to be in the next 6nations??

I don't think anyone disgraced themselves in any way but I wouldn't necessarily have Hardy as number one starter as scrum half, he's too up & down - though I will say his kicking was pretty much spot on but his slow pondering passing was frustrating. I thought Lake would over take Elias as hooker but he wobbled badly Saturday with his lineout throwing, yes I know it's not just the hookers fault when lineouts don't work but the not straight calls are down to him. I think him & Elias will be nip & tuck over the next 12 - 18 months in terms of starting.

I don't see how Tompkins keeps starting, I know Pivac is looking to build this centre partnership with North but Tompkins (apart from the side steps) doesn't offer enough in attack for me & I'd like to see Jonny Williams given go in the Autumn.

Biggest takeaway is discipline, we gave so many needless penalties away over the series, this needs addressing badly. We looked very fit & competed with, possibly the most physical side in the world, for long periods of time. We looked out on our feet after 65 minutes on Saturday but we got a second wind around the 70 minute mark.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:I have not watched any of the gams due to not having
SKY sports. What i would like to know is, is there any person who should not play again for Wales Or do you expect every one to be in the next 6nations??

After his comments this weekend I think Andy Powell should be no where near the squad.

Have heard a couple of people in the office refer to this, what have I missed?

Some comments that haven't gone down well around Ryan Jones' diagnosis and then some comments about beating up a woman, then I saw some further ones of physically intimidating a partner from an old biography I hadn't previously seen.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Some comments that haven't gone down well around Ryan Jones' diagnosis and then some comments about beating up a woman, then I saw some further ones of physically intimidating a partner from an old biography I hadn't previously seen.  

Thanks, will have a look online at lunch. Have seen the messages he's sent to Mrs Anscombe.

We all know there are risks associated with contact sport, but yeah Powell's tweet was insesntive, and come out at the wrong time. Andy has a way with words and according to Cuthbert a few boys don't bother with him any more over it.

For what it's worth, I really like Nick Tompkins.

Good player, his defence still isn't good enough for international rugby though. We haven't helped him at times, trying to use him as a crashball centre... It's possible we have someone similar coming through in the U20s, who might be a better tackler.

I too quite like Tompkins, but is it just that we're using him in the wrong way? Or has he just not got as much space and time to do what he does at club level?

I know it won't happen but I would like to see Williams given a couple of games in the Autumn so we can see what he can do, he started brightly in a Wales jersey but then got injured. That said Scott Williams was the best centre for the Scarlets last term.

We need outside centre's. JD2 doesn't have the knees for it, it's a difficult channel to defend in. I'm not sure why him and Scott just didn't swap around? Johnny Williams has played a bit of both positions from what I understand. He's rarely got a good run of games together but when he did, he looked good. For me Williams and North seem like it could be a good midfield.

Agreed Mikey, we've seen the best of JD2 & I don't think he will be involved internationally again unless we have the biggest of injury crisis's. In a way I am glad Williams didn't get battered & bruised so he can hopefully get a run of games for us at regional level. I am coming round more & more to North being a 13 but still not quite there.

If Scott Williams has another good season with Scarlets then I'd be all for him coming back into the international fold. We've got to reward form, regardless of age and previous history (to a certain extent). Cuthbert as an example, so it wouldn't be outrageous for Pivac to do the same with Scott W. However, I'm no sure they got on at Scarlets? Didn't Scott W move to Ospreys during the Pivac reign?

The Oracle wrote:If Scott Williams has another good season with Scarlets then I'd be all for him coming back into the international fold.  We've got to reward form, regardless of age and previous history (to a certain extent).  Cuthbert as an example, so it wouldn't be outrageous for Pivac to do the same with Scott W.  However, I'm no sure they got on at Scarlets?  Didn't Scott W move to Ospreys during the Pivac reign?

Yes he did, though that was more to do with Parkes starting before him both at PYS & for Wales I think.

How the hell has Hardy made it into the BBC team of the summer?!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62220417

The Oracle wrote:How the hell has Hardy made it into the BBC team of the summer?!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62220417

Best of a bad bunch I'd guess, no 9 for any side really stood out & despite his other short comings I guess Hardy's kicking was on point.

Hardy making the team is just very wrong.

Pivac confirms he is a bonehead for the 100th time.

mikey_dragon wrote:Pivac confirms he is a bonehead for the 100th time.

How so?

Wales squad for autumn internationals:

Forwards: Rhodri Jones (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlet), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Wainwright (Saracens), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons Rugby), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Will Rowlands (Dragons Rugby), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Josh MacLeod (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs).

Backs: Dane Blacker (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons Rugby), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby)

I'm pleased with some selections, Owens, Hawkins and Tshiunza to name a few. But the ones I've italicised make me wonder if this cowboy even watches Rugby? How are we paying this guy so generously?

No Rhys Carre, Gareth Davies, Thomas Young, Wyn Jones, Bradley Roberts. Vital positions.

"Northampton's Biggar, flanker Taine Basham, prop Leon Brown, lock Seb Davies, prop Wyn Jones, back-row Josh Navidi, centre Johnny Williams and full-back Liam Williams have not been considered because of injuries."

Makes you wonder if he'd have picked Seb Davies if not injured!

I'm not sure if anyone else was available, at a stretch maybe Dafydd Jenkins, but I don't see what good selecting AWJ is right now. George Nott another one maybe? Form and/or game time seem to come into the equation for some but not others. I just don't understand it.

mikey_dragon wrote:I'm not sure if anyone else was available, at a stretch maybe Dafydd Jenkins, but I don't see what good selecting AWJ is right now. George Nott another one maybe? Form and/or game time seem to come into the equation for some but not others. I just don't understand it.

Agreed Mikey, we know what AWJ can bring so would have been a good time to blood someone else in as if AWJ, or either Beard or Rowlands, is injured in the 6 nations we wont have anyone with real experience.

I understand there being some exceptions, for example I think we'd all agree on Ken Owens coming back in if he's available. Tipuric is debatable, given the strength we have in the position. Both Beard and AWJ (among a few others) are questionable selections when it comes to recent form.

For me Priestland and Halfpenny are among the worst selections of the lot.

mikey_dragon wrote:I understand there being some exceptions, for example I think we'd all agree on Ken Owens coming back in if he's available. Tipuric is debatable, given the strength we have in the position. Both Beard and AWJ (among a few others) are questionable selections when it comes to recent form.

For me Priestland and Halfpenny are among the worst selections of the lot.

Halfpenny is there for goal kicking as Biggar is out. What I find the most baffling is that we have Preistland in but then Pivac says Hawkins can play 10....

mikey_dragon wrote:I understand there being some exceptions, for example I think we'd all agree on Ken Owens coming back in if he's available. Tipuric is debatable, given the strength we have in the position. Both Beard and AWJ (among a few others) are questionable selections when it comes to recent form.

For me Priestland and Halfpenny are among the worst selections of the lot.

Two tries, three turnovers, try saving tackle (should have got the publicity LRZ's did) and general top notch performance from Tommy Reffell at the weekend. You've got your openside.

Is Priestland in good form again now? Nice to see Costelow included as well but is it a case of fingers crossed Anscombe doesn't get injured?

Reffell will start, he's become a Pivac favourite along with Lydiate - the difference between the two is Reffell consistently being in great from. We would have loved to have Tipuric coming off the bench in SA (along with Owens), but he's played half a game so far this season? I would have went with Thomas Young. Moriarity didn't get in through lack of game time via injury (like Tipuric and Josh McLeod) but apparently we know what he can do - it just didn't apply to Tipuric . I don't have much/anything against McLeod being involved, he'd have been a starter last year if he didn't get so many injuries.

Absolutely not, Priestland is in poor form. His defence is bad, plus he's slow, with that in mind the obvious pick would have been O'Brien.

formerly known as Sam wrote: Nice to see Costelow included as well but is it a case of fingers crossed Anscombe doesn't get injured?

Fingers crossed for Anscombe yes, and he is fairly brittle. He can do the job but I'd still have my reservations about him being in a matchday squad if Biggar was starting, Anscombe can be a little flaky at times. I imagine he is the No.1 now with hopefully the in-form Costelow as back-up.

Why bluff about Carre? I thought that was the point of the training camps anyway, to apparently cross fit them into shape. I hope Pivac doesn’t make any early subs in the AIs, or otherwise he should be called out.

Wouldn’t have rushed Owens back, when he talks in his interview about knowing what certain players can do (Moriarty etc).

Happy for Dyer to be recognised, I just hope it turns out to be a worthwhile experience for him.

Smith to be the starting LH for me, he is a great scrummager & is very very good over the ball.

It would make a lot of sense to start with the Ospreys front-row of Smith, Lake and Francis. Ken Owens, Gareth Thomas, Dillon Lewis as the replacements for me. If he goes with that then I think we have a good idea of who will lineup in the pack - a real curveball would be starting Tshiunza at 6. The backs I'm not so sure, bit it could be Tompkins and North at centre.

I think Owens is the better lineout thrower so it's a tight call between him & Lake but I like Tshiunza at 6 with Reffell at 7 & Faletau at 8.

Backs wise, I fully expect it to be Tompkins & North in the centres with Williams & Anscombe at 9 & 10. The news Adams may be struggling may throw a spanner in the works slightly, especially if Cuthbert isn't fit.

Exciting to see Costelow in there.

If he picks Refell over Tipuric, how will that alter the line out plans?

PhilBB wrote:If he picks Refell over Tipuric, how will that alter the line out plans?

Depends if he picks Christ.

Oakdene wrote:

PhilBB wrote:If he picks Refell over Tipuric, how will that alter the line out plans?

Depends if he picks Christ.

Yes, exactly.

And, of course, we're basing this on the thought that Pivac knows what he's doing by there's precious little evidence of that.

PhilBB wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

PhilBB wrote:If he picks Refell over Tipuric, how will that alter the line out plans?

Depends if he picks Christ.

Yes, exactly.

And, of course, we're basing this on the thought that Pivac knows what he's doing by there's precious little evidence of that.

Of course, that goes without saying but a starting back row of Christ at 6, Reffell at 7 & Faletau at 8 is quite good.

Oakdene wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

PhilBB wrote:If he picks Refell over Tipuric, how will that alter the line out plans?

Depends if he picks Christ.

Yes, exactly.

And, of course, we're basing this on the thought that Pivac knows what he's doing by there's precious little evidence of that.

Of course, that goes without saying but a starting back row of Christ at 6, Reffell at 7 & Faletau at 8 is quite good.

That could be a pretty handy backrow for Wales. Pop Tipuric on the bench for added experience in case you require it or just with a license to come on at 100% full gas when other players are tiring.

So Tipuric has been named captain, which I assume means he will probably play 6? I imagine you would find it hard not to start Reffell, but who knows what Pivac is thinking. I wouldn't have said Tipuric is necessarily nailed on to start, unless he's like a "tour captain" in effect.

Bradley Roberts called up to replace the injured Dewi Lake. Very unfortunate timing for Lake indeed. I like Roberts though, as he offers something a bit different to the other options. I know people say he's small, but I haven't seen his size as an issue, as much as what somebody like Dee's possibly has been.

Pivac is just clueless. I find it difficult not to start Reffel and Tshiunza, which would leave just one spot that should probably go to Faletau.

Rumoured Welsh team.

Halfpenny
LRZ
Watkin
Tompkins
Adams
Anscombe
Williams

Thomas
Elias
Francis
Beard
Rowlands
Morgan
Tipuric
Faletau

North out injured.

I thought Reffell would have been starting ahead of Morgan after his performances in South Africa but then again this is Pivac we're talking about, apart from that the pack is what I would have gone with. (Before it was announced that Tipuric was skipper, I would have had Christ at 6).

That back line isn't the greatest but I have heard that Dyer will be involved but that may not be true.

I think Reffell may have a stinger, otherwise I imagine he would've started. That's what the guy said who posted this (and he's normally pretty bang on).

RiscaGame wrote:I think Reffell may have a stinger, otherwise I imagine he would've started. That's what the guy said who posted this (and he's normally pretty bang on).

Fair enough, that's a shame he was immense in South Africa.

Not sure if the double open-side still work in international rugby, we'll see. With that you'd assume Tshiunza is on the bench at least, but I doubt it. Our midfield is meh, I expect it to get sliced up.

Agreed there Mikey, midfield is very week, unsure whether they will cope with direct runners. Tompkins tackles quite upright too....

New Zealand: B Barrett; Reece, R Ioane, J Barrett, Clarke; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Whitelock (capt), S Barrett, Frizell, Papali'i, Savea.

Replacements: Taukei'aho, Tu'ungafasi, Newell, Vaa'i, A Ioane, Weber, Havili, Lienert-Brown.

Think that back line has far too much for us!

Roof will stay closed.

Crikey. He was way off haha.

Wales team: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.