My squad at this current time:
Props - Cian Healy, Gethin Jenkins, Alex Corbisiero, Adam Jones, Dan Cole, Mike Ross
- No real problems here. Scotland's scrum isn't to great although Euan Murray is an outsider. Others that could make include Mako Vulipola who was impressive against Australia, Andrew Sheridan if Gatland is willing to go there and possibly Paul James.
Hookers - Rory Best, Dylan Hartley, Richardt Strauss
- Best and Hartley pick themselves, Strauss is looking very good at this level as well. Ken Owens could be an outsider for me, because he's played well every time for Wales, carries well, impeccable lineout throwing to. Ross Ford is also a good option.
Locks - Richie Gray, Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell, Alun-Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling
- Gray and Ryan are clear cut in my opinion and Parling looks very good and is a hard working lock. Jones and O'Connell are experienced and if Jones finds his world cup form, then he could fight for a start as could O'Connell.
Blindside flanker - Dan Lydiate, Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien
- forget the crap that O'Brien outplayed McCaw in that test, it wasn't him making the steals. He's a blindside and an excellent one at that. Could also come into consideration at 8. I reckon Gatland will chose Lydiate as he fits in with what Warburton does (see below about opensides). Forget Robshaw, he isn't that good, Alberts and Louw ran over the top of him on Saturday.
Openside flanker - Sam Warburton, Ross Rennie
- Justin Tipuric may stake his claim in the Six Nations but Warburton showed last week he is world class as he went toe to toe with McCaw. Rennie is proven at test level. I think if Tipuric shows he can be an impact player from the bench then this could change. Steffon Armitage could be a wildcard as well.
Number Eight - Jamie Heaslip, Toby Faletau
- It's close between these two and Ben Morgan as well as Dave Denton. We could potentially see Ferris or O'Brien play here as well.
Scrum Half - Danny Care, Tavis Knoyle, Conor Murray
- I think Knoyle could be a wildcard with his abrasive impact off the bench. Unless Phillips shifts into gear then he won't make the plane. Henry Pyrgos, if he proves himself in the Six Nations could also come in.
Outside Half - Jonathan Sexton, James Hook, Jonny Wilkinson
- Priestland is out of form incredibly, Flood is overrated and Laidlaw is too weak in contact. Wilkinson has been there before and is playing great footy for Toulon. Hook has versatility which could get him on the plane.
Centres - Manu Tuilagi, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Brian O'Driscoll
- these are the only players worthy in my opinion, although O'Driscoll is subject to fitness and Roberts to form. Hook can cover centre, as well as possibly North. Keith Earls is a liability in defence.
Wings - George North, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Tim Visser.
- Cuthbert is a liability defensively (Gatland might pick him though cause of his form in Aus last June). Ashton is crap, straight up, can't tackle and gives away penalties. Gilroy has an X-factor about him and will be interesting to see how he goes in the Six Nations. I think he could be the 2013 version of Jason Robinson?
Full Backs - Rob Kearney, Stuart Hogg, Leigh Halfpenny
- Extra full back to provide more cover on the wing. Hogg is a prodigious talent while the other two are experienced and Halfpenny is a good kicker.
My starting team.
1. Healy, 2. Best, 3. Jones, 4. Gray, 5. Ryan, 6. Lydiate, 7. Warburton, 8. Ferris, 9. Care, 10. Sexton, 11. North, 12. Davies, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Bowe, 15. Kearney
Ferris is a great ball carrier and will balance the back row perfect. Gray and Ryan are your enforcers. Healy and Best will add further to the breakdown, Care is probably in my opinion the best of an average bunch unless we see Phillips improve (Gatland will pick him tbh but I would like improvement), Sexton is hands down the best 10, Davies and Tuilagi could combined well, although the Roberts-BOD axis could come into play again. We'll see!
) and no offence was intended.
