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)

I put the commentators curse on that! Strewth.

Why did Griffin get hooked? I feel he’s been a shining-ish light the last few weeks.

Would be an epic try saver if Dyer didn’t get that.

Good finish by Dyer. Wales applying good pressure and hanging on to the ball before then as well.

Pleased for Dyer to have scored there. Think he has been a little harshly treated these AIs.

RiscaGame wrote:Pleased for Dyer to have scored there. Think he has been a little harshly treated these AIs.

I try telling myself that Gatland has picked match squads this AIs with an eye on the future, I.e. trying to blood new players to give us some depth. So maybe that, I tell myself, is why he dropped Dyer who is more established. Deep down I’m not sure I really believe that though!

Wonder why he ‘dropped’ Wainwright….

Ellis Bevan, for me, is sh//.

Dewi Lake with a chip ahead - great for the crowd maybe, but as a slow hooker he’s just too slow to have any chance of catching his own kick. And we lose possession and put pressure on ourselves. It’s not an exhibition match.

I don’t see what Tshiunza brings to the team really. Has done nothing all AIs. He’s an athlete, no doubt, but not impressing as an International rugby player.

Botham with a try. I think he’s had a good game.

Well we score at the end of a half again, but it has definitely been one way traffic and SA not really hitting top gear.

Congrats SA. Well deserved. A fairly easy win, but I will say I thought Wales fronted up well. Just not as good as SA by some way.

Never mind the scoreline for one match, the WRU will be more concerned about the top tier of the stadium being virtually empty to see the world champions against Wales.

Unfortunately one thing leads to another

People don't want to pay good money to see their team lose and it is not cheap to go and watch an international now.

Scotland were the same a few years back when we were cr*p. Getting tickets back then was a lot easier and we often did not sell out.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Never mind the scoreline for one match, the WRU will be more concerned about the top tier of the stadium being virtually empty to see the world champions against Wales.

They produce rubbish and charge people £100 a ticket - before factoring in the dimwit coaches making a fool of us, the price of merchandise, the price of travelling and the day out - a number of people have just two words for that.

In theory, another coach would make Wales better and bring the fans back, and the money. A short term fix whilst the union hopefully fixes everything else. We can dream.

Agree, SA seemed to cruise that. They’re a class team and the depth is unreal - probably a bit more depth than what NZ had in 2010-2015. I think these things usually go in 10 year cycles but I’m sure SA will be dominant for a bit longer. I have no problem admitting that, and give respect where it’s due.

I wouldn't be too down if I was a Welsh fan - some players like Costello, Lake, Morgan and Botham looked very good indeed. Knowing which players to start to build your future 6 Nations squad around is invaluable knowledge. Steve Borthwick has shown that unless you understand the foundation, you won't have any consistency.