Wales International Rugby Summer 23 onwards.

First topic message reminder :

As the pages were going over 20 shortly, I’ve had to start a new thread. This is still the place to discuss the U20s, the women and everything else internationally. Updated RWC 23 squad below.

Forwards (25)

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd– uncapped)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys / Gweilch– 42 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys /Gweilch – 21 caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dregiau– 41 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 33 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 8 caps)
Sam Parry (Ospreys / Gweilch – 5 caps)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd– uncapped)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys / Gweilch – 71 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 50 caps)
Henry Thomas (Montpellier – uncapped)
Adam Beard (Ospreys / Gweilch– 46 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons / Dregiau– 9 caps)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys / Gweilch – 2 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 6 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons / Dregiau – 23 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 5 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd– uncapped)
Taine Basham (Dragons / Dregiau – 11 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 100 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Dragons / Dregiau – 68 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 9 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr– 9 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dregiau – 37 caps)

Backs (22)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 45 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (unattached – 35 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 107 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Owen Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – 7 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – uncapped)
George North (Ospreys / Gweilch – 113 caps)
Joe Roberts (Scarlets – uncapped)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Keiran Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 49 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys / Gweilch – 57 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dregiau – 7 caps)
Cai Evans (Ospreys/ Gweilch – uncapped)
Leigh Halfpenny (unattached – 99 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw– 25 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby/ Caerdydd – 84 caps)

Rob Howley replaces Jonathan Thomas as Gatlands assistant coach in the Welsh set up.

Absolutely shocking decision. Howley is a crap coach and by some accounts an awful person too. Don’t give a toss about the gambling, 4 years away and Howley was still rubbish throughout that time. I said we need to evolve and I doubted that Gatland was the one to lead us through it - this 10 steps backward approach proves it. How the new-look WRU also signed off on it I don’t know.

mikey_dragon wrote:Absolutely shocking decision. Howley is a crap coach and by some accounts an awful person too. Don’t give a toss about the gambling, 4 years away and Howley was still rubbish throughout that time. I said we need to evolve and I doubted that Gatland was the one to lead us through it - this 10 steps backward approach proves it. How the new-look WRU also signed off on it I don’t know.

Not often I will say this but totally agree Mikey, this is a real step backwards for Wales.

Concern for Wales, with Dewi Lake (who started at flanker for Ospreys) going off after 6 mins. Jac Morgan not looking too clever. Faletau probably missing the first two games.

Squad being announced midweek (I think).

Edit: Just seen that George North withdrew before kick off too.

Just a dead leg for Lake. But we seem to have a fair few injuries in certain positions; 2, 7, and 10.

Ah is it? I haven't got the commentary on, as I am in work.

Fender injured now, and I was hoping he would get called into the Wales squad.

BBC are reporting a hamstring issue for Lake. Hopefully not too serious.

North was only ill. Fender has a shoulder injury.

Fender is in for me if he's fit. He does everything Beard does but is a much better player. I still think Beard will be in at 2nd row, along with Rowlands, Jenkins and Davies (would like to see him feature at 6 too). I don't think anyone else is putting their hand up, certainly nobody at any of the Regions and it would be a travesty if Cardiff start supplying average locks to Wales again.

mikey_dragon wrote:I've compiled a list to the best of my knowledge, of our players outside of Wales. It includes those capped and also those WQ. I've looked at England first but haven't bothered with the championship teams.

England

Exeter: Dafydd Jenkins (lock), Christ Tshiunza (lock/back row), Kane James (Back row), Oli Burrows, Iestyn Harris (hooker), Orson James (scrum-half), Iwan Jenkins (fly-half), Joe Hawkins (fly-half, centre),  Dan John, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (wing).

Harlequins: Jarrod Evans (fly-half), Dillon Lewis (TH prop), Bryn Bradley (centre), Jonny Green (lock), Seb Driscoll (back row).

Bath: Louie Hennssey (centre), Ieuan Davies (scrum-half), Ioan Emmanuel, Archie Griffin (prop).

Saracens: Nick Tompkins (centre), Aled Davies (scrum-half).

Bristol: Callum Sheedy, Jac Lloyd (fly-half), Dan Thomas (back-row), Nick English (prop).

Gloucester: Louis Rees-Zammit (wing), Lloyd Evans (fly-half), Max Llewelyn (centre).

Leicester: Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell (back row), Osian Thomas (lock).

Newcastle: Iwan Stephens (wing), Josh Thomas (fly-half).

Sale: Rouban Birch (back-row).

A couple obvious ones I forgot, and couldn't remember who Nye played for.

Bristol: Joe Jenkins (centre).

Gloucester: Josh Hathaway (utility).

Sale: Aneurin Thomas (scrum-half).

We're not really in a position to be 'bringing them home', but suppose if we could then we might have enough pro players for 4 teams.

Think it shows the state of Welsh rugby that I won't be going to any of the 6 nations matches for probably the first time in 10 years or so.

Oakdene wrote:Think it shows the state of Welsh rugby that I won't be going to any of the 6 nations matches for probably the first time in 10 years or so.

It's all getting too expensive and last year was a poor product. I think I'd like to go this year as it's been a while since I went to a 6N game. Tickets seem easier to come by, I wonder why that is....

We'll definitely see a few more players continue going over, now and at U20 level. We always did see a few go over. I think it shows the system isn't fit for purpose and needs to do better.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Oakdene wrote:Think it shows the state of Welsh rugby that I won't be going to any of the 6 nations matches for probably the first time in 10 years or so.

It's all getting too expensive and last year was a poor product. I think I'd like to go this year as it's been a while since I went to a 6N game. Tickets seem easier to come by, I wonder why that is....

We'll definitely see a few more players continue going over, now and at U20 level. We always did see a few go over. I think it shows the system isn't fit for purpose and needs to do better.

Yeah we were nowhere near close in taking our full allocation in the club this year.

I think my lack of interest in the game at the moment has a lot to do with how poor the Scarlets have been. I know of a lot of season ticket holders who aren't going to games at PYS, instead going to their grass roots clubs on a Saturday.

https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/content/louis-rees-zammit-to-join-nfl-international-player-pathway

I'm not Welsh or a Welsh supporter, but that is a huge story and a big blow. LRZ is one of Wales' best players and a potential game-changer. This will be a big loss.

Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

Oakdene wrote:

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

It could have been announced yesterday, this was a major rugby story, that will grab the headlines and will now totally overshadow the Welsh squad announcement

By all accounts it was carnage, as the journos got notifications about it just as the squad was being announced.

Wonder how that will affect Feyi-Waboso's thinking on his future.

BigGee wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

It could have been announced yesterday, this was a major rugby story, that will grab the headlines and will now totally overshadow the Welsh squad announcement

By all accounts it was carnage, as the journos got notifications about it just as the squad was being announced.

Well played by Gatland then, getting it to be the talking point to distract from the fact that he's become stale and completely clueless. Shocking selections in that squad.

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

It could have been announced yesterday, this was a major rugby story, that will grab the headlines and will now totally overshadow the Welsh squad announcement

By all accounts it was carnage, as the journos got notifications about it just as the squad was being announced.

Well played by Gatland then, getting it to be the talking point to distract from the fact that he's become stale and completely clueless. Shocking selections in that squad.

Lol. You should team up with 7.5, he's of similar opinion on Borthwick for England.

mountain man wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

It could have been announced yesterday, this was a major rugby story, that will grab the headlines and will now totally overshadow the Welsh squad announcement

By all accounts it was carnage, as the journos got notifications about it just as the squad was being announced.

Well played by Gatland then, getting it to be the talking point to distract from the fact that he's become stale and completely clueless. Shocking selections in that squad.

Lol. You should team up with 7.5, he's of similar opinion on Borthwick for England.

Why? I'm fairly certain you had the same opinion of Eddie Jones. Wales now finds itself in a similar situation, except worse when you factor in an inept union and failed regions. Coaches can stay in the role for too long and become stale. It happened with Eddie, it seems to be happening with Pat Lam, and now it's happening/has happened with Gatland.

Beetham isn't in the Scotland squad, perhaps due to his injury. We seem to have a lot of injuries right now, I'm not sure which are short-term and which are longer. Being injured and off form doesn't seem to prevent you getting picked if this and all of Gatland's previous squads are something to go by.

mikey_dragon wrote:

mountain man wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

BigGee wrote:Probably was not the most considerate time to make the announcement just as the Welsh 6N squad dropped.

Hard to imagine that was planned!

Why? He is leaving rugby immediately so his absence would have been questioned.

It could have been announced yesterday, this was a major rugby story, that will grab the headlines and will now totally overshadow the Welsh squad announcement

By all accounts it was carnage, as the journos got notifications about it just as the squad was being announced.

Well played by Gatland then, getting it to be the talking point to distract from the fact that he's become stale and completely clueless. Shocking selections in that squad.

Lol. You should team up with 7.5, he's of similar opinion on Borthwick for England.

Why? I'm fairly certain you had the same opinion of Eddie Jones. Wales now finds itself in a similar situation, except worse when you factor in an inept union and failed regions. Coaches can stay in the role for too long and become stale. It happened with Eddie, it seems to be happening with Pat Lam, and now it's happening/has happened with Gatland.

I wouldn't say Jones became stale as such, more bloody minded. The more pundits, ex players etc called for certain players to be picked/dropped the more he dug his heels in and picked players who were not deserving and/or out of form and ignored others who should have been in. Maybe that is stale but I lost faith in Jones in autumn matches 2022, until then I supported him.

Stale, bloody minded, etc, etc. They're all getting at the same thing. It is possible that coaches can stay in a role for too long and no longer be good enough. For me, Gatland seems like he can't evolve, he proved it in NZ with the Chiefs and he proved it at the World Cup. Wales needs everything fixed from the ground up - a new coach probably wouldn't make that big of a difference at this stage, although that shouldn't stop valued stakeholders from expressing their view.

Borthwick ain't stale. He's just too negative.

The Welsh squad is all over the place really.

The tight heads make little sense. I can’t stand that Leon Brown literally gets fit for Team Wales and in the one game he played for Dragons, he had a tuning. This just seems like a move to get him to 25 caps. There is barely any 15 cover, with Gatland knowing Winnet probably misses the first two games. Isn’t Owen Williams fit, to give us a bit more ten cover, so Evans can be a 15?

Gatland saying he doesn’t see Jenkins as a starter for three years, yet has named him captain. I don’t get that decision then.

For Gatland to say he didn’t contact Feyi Waboso isn’t great too.

I really do worry for Wales, this tournament. Then again, it’s about time the WRU started seeing the fruits of their labour.

Shocking news about Rees Zammit. Guess he can have a couple of years in America, presumably well paid, then come back to rugby in time for the World Cup...unless the NFL dream works out, which would be Hollywood stuff.

Duty281 wrote:Shocking news about Rees Zammit. Guess he can have a couple of years in America, presumably well paid, then come back to rugby in time for the World Cup...unless the NFL dream works out, which would be Hollywood stuff.

I'm sure LRZ fully knows the odds he is up against to make this work. That said, I think he could possibly make it work as a wide receiver. He speed and quickness are very good. He has good hands and can make defenders miss. I truly wish him good luck, Rugby will be waiting for him if it doesn't work out.

doctor_grey wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Shocking news about Rees Zammit. Guess he can have a couple of years in America, presumably well paid, then come back to rugby in time for the World Cup...unless the NFL dream works out, which would be Hollywood stuff.

I'm sure LRZ fully knows the odds he is up against to make this work.  That said, I think he could possibly make it work as a wide receiver.  He speed and quickness are very good.  He has good hands and can make defenders miss.  I truly wish him good luck, Rugby will be waiting for him if it doesn't work out.  

I haven't seen the documentary, but those who have seem to be of the opinion is family is running the show to try and earn more money, etc. I guess we can only speculate. Coincidentally, his dad is supposedly big into NFL. There doesn't seem to be any going over there and becoming successful, he might be the first, or not.

RiscaGame wrote:The Welsh squad is all over the place really.

The tight heads make little sense. I can’t stand that Leon Brown literally gets fit for Team Wales and in the one game he played for Dragons, he had a tuning. This just seems like a move to get him to 25 caps. There is barely any 15 cover, with Gatland knowing Winnet probably misses the first two games. Isn’t Owen Williams fit, to give us a bit more ten cover, so Evans can be a 15?

Gatland saying he doesn’t see Jenkins as a starter for three years, yet has named him captain. I don’t get that decision then.

For Gatland to say he didn’t contact Feyi Waboso isn’t great too.

I really do worry for Wales, this tournament. Then again, it’s about time the WRU started seeing the fruits of their labour.

There are three superior THs available as far as I know. Griffin I half expected because he had some game time for Bath but he's down the pecking order there, it's really a select and hope for the best though. Leon Brown really is a terrible call with all those things considered. I don't see what other justification there is. It's also hard to justify Basham; he's spent this season banned, off form, and was never a regular in the starting team. And is Cai's dad high up in the organisation?

It's a bit of an odd squad to read through, then try to pick a 23 from it must be said. Something like below perhaps?

1.Thomas 2.Elias 3.Brown 4.Rowlands 5.Beard 6.Jenkins (c) 7.Reffell 8.Wainwright
9.Williams 10.Costelow 11.Adams 12.Tompkins 13.North 14.Dyer 15.Evans

16.Dee 17.Domachowski 18.Assiratti 19.Botham 20.Basham 21.Hardy 22.Lloyd 23.Grady

Fullback in particular feels an odd one to pick. Could Adams or Rogers be used there perhaps?

It's such a shame that Morgan hasn't recovered. He rapidly became one of my favourite players to watch last season. So skilful, always seems to be in the most annoying possible place for the opposition and absolutely mashes people.

It feels like it might be a bit of an odd post RWC sort of tournament. That looks like a Wales squad in transition. England have lost a lot of experienced players. Ireland are mostly intact but in a post Sexton era. France won't have Dupont or Ntamack. Italy look relatively stable but even then have 3 uncapped props in their squad! Scotland are the least changed I think but there's a definite feeling from Scotland fans that they need some fresh blood to come up behind the current generation as they age. It doesn't feel like any nations fans are that at ease.

king_carlos wrote:It's a bit of an odd squad to read through, then try to pick a 23 from it must be said. Something like below perhaps?

1.Thomas 2.Elias 3.Brown 4.Rowlands 5.Beard 6.Jenkins (c) 7.Reffell 8.Wainwright
9.Williams 10.Costelow 11.Adams 12.Tompkins 13.North 14.Dyer 15.Evans

16.Dee 17.Domachowski 18.Assiratti 19.Botham 20.Basham 21.Hardy 22.Lloyd 23.Grady

Fullback in particular feels an odd one to pick. Could Adams or Rogers be used there perhaps?

It's such a shame that Morgan hasn't recovered. He rapidly became one of my favourite players to watch last season. So skilful, always seems to be in the most annoying possible place for the opposition and absolutely mashes people.

It feels like it might be a bit of an odd post RWC sort of tournament. That looks like a Wales squad in transition. England have lost a lot of experienced players. Ireland are mostly intact but in a post Sexton era. France won't have Dupont or Ntamack. Italy look relatively stable but even then have 3 uncapped props in their squad! Scotland are the least changed I think but there's a definite feeling from Scotland fans that they need some fresh blood to come up behind the current generation as they age. It doesn't feel like any nations fans are that at ease.

It'll probably be something like that, hard to guess what Gatland is thinking though.
1.Thomas. 2.Elias.3. Assiratti. 4.Rowlands. 5.Beard. 6.Jenkins 7.Reffell 8.Wainwright
9.Davies 10.Costelow 11.Grady 12.Tompkins 13.North 14.Dyer 15.Adams

Good call on the blindside, I think we have to put either one of Jenkins or Rowlands there seeing as Rhys Davies now doesn't exist. I'm a bit tired of the persistent 3 open-side BS that is no longer useful - yes Wainwright started as a 7 too. I hope Rogers and Hardy don't get anywhere near our team, god awful players and it's very stressful to watch them if you're not a Scarlet. I won't be investing anything in tickets or merchandise this year.

If we're going youth and/or development for the future and next world cup cycle, I perhaps would have like to see Morgan Morse and Morgan Morris in there based on form and potential.  Morris is not exactly young or inexperienced, but I feel he deserves a call up.  Morse for me based on his star potential.  Or is it too early for him?

As a Dragons fan, it pains me to says that I feel some of our players have been lucky.  As mentioned above Leon Brown has not been playing and has not been good when he has played.  He's not solid in the scrum, to my amateur eyes, so I don't see what he brings.  Basham - loved him when he burst onto the scene but he's lost it a bit and has gone over the top with the niggly play.  Just a yellow/red waiting to happen.

No Ben Carter from the Dragons.  Has he now fallen out of favour with Gatland?  Or inured?  Again, if planning for the future then I thought he'd be in as they seemed to be trying to develop him. (Edit: just checked and he's a long term injury.  Out for up to 4 months from Nov with a hammy tear).

I will be amazed if we place higher than 5th. Even Italy at this stage might finish higher.

I'm not apposed to us start to develop this year for the next world cup. But I there are quite a few other players I would have looked at instead of half the squad selected. Granted there are injuries which no doubt also played a part.

But I can't see us doing well this year.

I can see us labouring to a victory over Italy & that being pretty much that. Some players in the squad who really shouldn't be including Mathias.

He can't really justify a number of inclusions for various reasons, the same as he can't justify leaving out a raft of others for whatever BS reason he's coming out with now. When you have injuries it's a good idea to pick experience and get the blend right. There's just a number of rookie and off form picks though. I think we'll struggle against Italy and lose to the rest, but Italy will surely fancy themselves. In this squad, I think someone like Rhys Ruddock could have made a positive contribution but that's just me. Also I read the interview, he didn't bother to contact Feyi-Waboso and admitted that he doesn't see his captain as first choice, I'm not sure if he has given up or just gone batty.

Provence look like a good bet to go up, Tomas Francis is 31. Hopefully we see him get regular rugby in the Top 14, and he has to be back involved in the Wales squad going forward.

Henry Thomas has joined Castres until the end of the season, hopefully he gets more game time as Montpellier don't seem to like him. He's currently 32, perhaps has a good 3 seasons in him? He would be a good signing for a Welsh team but it has to be Ospreys or Cardiff, he'll be wasted elsewhere. Tom Botha is 33, WQ but probably left out due to his age. He has dismantled the opposition scrums this season, including against those currently in our squad...

Rhys Webb still sitting at home as far as I know, can we get him back in a Wales jersey? There doesn't seem to be any amazing 9s coming through at the moment.

I thought Webb got a drugs ban?

Henry Thomas is bang average these days from what I've seen. A shame as he was once a cracking talent. Strong in the scrum, decent carrier and great hands. Injuries stalled his development and he never really recovered.

king_carlos wrote:I thought Webb got a drugs ban?

Henry Thomas is bang average these days from what I've seen. A shame as he was once a cracking talent. Strong in the scrum, decent carrier and great hands. Injuries stalled his development and he never really recovered.

I don't think he's banned yet, wasn't he just stood down whilst an investigation was ongoing?

Yeah that seems to be the case for HT. I thought he was alright, nothing special. He would make a good addition to one of our regions though.

Leon Brown gets a start for Dragons, just to face Ox Nche. Good luck

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68211410

One shocking player for another (Seb for Botham). I think it's good news that Dillon Lewis is back in seeing as he is probably better than all the THs picked. Still question marks over his scrum prowess, but I feel he has improved in that area and likely always had a better reputation there than Leon Brown. It's still impossible trying to understand all the selections though. Gats is potentially going senile.

So the Wales team is out. Many of the changes I wanted are in. But a couple I’m not sure about. I think North offers so much more than Watkin at 13 so glad he’s in. I like the Tompkins North partnership, and North is much more prolific than Watkin on the scoreboard. I thought Adams looked injured and was heavily strapped so might have liked to see Mason Grady on the wing. But he’s a great option off the bench. The halfback replacements from last week have played themselves into the first team, but I’m surprised to see Gareth Davies completed dropped. Hardy isn’t a great alternative. Surprised also to see Domachowski dropped to the bench but Gats does rate Gareth Thomas and the Ospreys scrum has been good this season. Dee in on the back of a good replacement showing last week so no arguments there. Assiratti for Brown who is apparently injured. Rowlands on the bench is a shocker for me. He’s consistently one of our top performers so I’d have him in over Beard. But it does strengthen our bench. Good back row. Reffell and Wainwright came good in the end and had awesome games last week. Mann rewarded for his good showing off the bench too.

Bench is mixed - I love Basham but he’s not been in good form or discipline for ages. A card waiting to happen! Please prove me wrong. Cai Evans - nah! We must have better in Wales surely? Grady, Rowlands, Domachowski are strong replacements. Elias is a risk if we are looking to close out a game, or pinch a win, and his darts go wonky. Wasn’t great last week.

Starters: Cameron Winnett; Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Ioan Lloyd, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins (capt), Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Cai Evans, Mason Grady

I like some of the changes, but Rowlands starting whether it's 2nd or back-row should have been a given. Mann looks like another average club player from Cardiff - still quite early to judge but he's being thrown in the deep end here. I feel we need a bigger back-row. Domachowski was arguably Wales' best performer last week and he's been benched. I'm not sure if the replacement front-row is much of a game changer with Elias still involved but interested to see how Griffin goes. The half-back replacements are shocking, if we get an injury early on we're in for it. Josh Adams looked injured and poor, I would have but Grady in his place - North and Grady attacking the wide channels would have been good, but it's another Cardiff player getting the nod - Gatland is now a WRU/Cardiff Rugby stooge.

I was told that Leon Brown picked up an injury last week, but I can't find anything anywhere, has anyone got a source / link?

Yes, I've read that on a few sites. Said him, Botham and Costelow were injured. Shoulder for Brown I think I read.

Griffin and Rogers released due to injury. We didn’t see much of Griffin but so far I like what I see, but he really needed to move somewhere he could get more game time. WRT Rogers well maybe they’re finally seeing what I saw with him 3 years ago, terrible player.

It doesn’t look like anyone has been called up so I expect Leon is ‘fit’, but would expect Lewis to make the 23 over him. Adams and Grady likely to keep their places too.

WOL reckon a tighthead will be called up.

I agree Lewis will likely make the 23 next week. Can't see Grady not making the 23 either, or it would be slightly hypocritical of Cement Head to do that after he gave Adams another chance.

BBC reporting the same re. a tighthead replacement being called up. Any guesses or preferences on who it could be? We were scraping the barrel a bit with the tightheads in the original squad! (E.g. one game Brown). If a TH couldn’t make that original squad then I fear they are really not very good! Or is someone decent due back from injury?

I guess it will be one of the two from France now, as I can't really think of anybody in a position here to get called up yet.