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[2013 EOYT] Wales

I can't justify Shingler over Evans right now. Lewis has been a huge leader for the Dragons over the last few seasons.
Not sur if I would really select Patchell for the 23, I don't think he is ready yet. I have high hopes for Owen Williams at Leicester. Dixon will be a huge player for us soon, with Roberts always injured and playing in France. Allen could also play the part.
 
I'm not going to lie, Lewis Evans never goes through my mind when I'm picking a Welsh team. I think he's playing well, and if selected, I'd back him 100% to make the step up, as I did with Coombs, and prove himself in a similar manner. I feel Shinglers playing well, but I don't feel it's a selection of me picking Shingler over Evans, but Shingler is now an established squad member, and that may be the difference. It certainly was in my subconscious. I'd be happy for Evans if he does make it though, I like to see players rewarded for graft.
 
TRF_Draggs said:
I can't justify Shingler over Evans right now. Lewis has been a huge leader for the Dragons over the last few seasons.
Not sur if I would really select Patchell for the 23, I don't think he is ready yet. I have high hopes for Owen Williams at Leicester. Dixon will be a huge player for us soon, with Roberts always injured and playing in France. Allen could also play the part.
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Yeah, I think there has been and will be a bit of an over expectation over Patch, I think he will be a solid player for Wales but right now whilst he shows glimpes of class he has his moments that remind you that hes a kid still. I also share the hope over Williams, he's at a club with a top coaching staff and with gametime against stronger opponents than he got in the Pro12 he should improve his game.

One of the big questions in the Autumn games will be Biggar or Preistland at 10.
 
TRF_Draggs said:
Jamie Roberts and Craig Mitchell out of the tests.
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Jamie Roberts looks like he could be a terrible signing for Racing. They are paying him wages as one of the highest paid players in the league, yet he rarely performs outside of certain gameplans and on top of that is injury prone and never really brought his best international form to the club game.

As for Mitchell, unfortunately he seems to have lost his way. He has become very injury prone and doesn't even start for Exeter (a move that hasn't paid off for him), and that incident in Australia didn't help him either. In hindsight he would have been better off staying in Wales, in 2011 he could have been starting tighthead at any of 3 regions and kept in mind there but the move to Exeter has backfired in that he's not first choice and becomes a bit out of mind during his increasingly frequent injuries.

Surely Samson Lee has got to be the #2 #3 in November now? He's better than Scott Andrews and deserves his place on merit, he wouldn't be just a youngster thrown in like Rhodri Jones.

I told you that the post-Lions year injuries would mount up by November by the way. Hopefully we can go through the Heineken Cup rounds unscathed. Somebody always gets injured in those intense matches. Hopefully it's not Adam Jones like it was last year.
 
Yeah, seems like the Blues were pleased to be done with him somewhat. He hardly played for them anyways.
Shame about Craig, in 2011 he looked to be our best backup to Adam. If he wanted to return to Wales, I'm sure Lyn would make room for him...

Might as well give Lee a shot, Andrews is slowly improving, but we can't just put him on the bench to try to slowly bring him along. We need someone reliable, and I think Lee merits a go. I knew the injuries would happen, it was the same way in 2005 and 2009. France usually win the 6N the season after as well.
 
TRF_Draggs said:
Yeah, seems like the Blues were pleased to be done with him somewhat. He hardly played for them anyways.
Shame about Craig, in 2011 he looked to be our best backup to Adam. If he wanted to return to Wales, I'm sure Lyn would make room for him...

Might as well give Lee a shot, Andrews is slowly improving, but we can't just put him on the bench to try to slowly bring him along. We need someone reliable, and I think Lee merits a go. I knew the injuries would happen, it was the same way in 2005 and 2009. France usually win the 6N the season after as well.
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2005/06 was a nightmare season of Welsh rugby straight after one opf the best in 2004/05. Unprecedented amount of injuries then Gareth Thomas getting rid of our Grand Slam winning coach for one that was totally out of his depth at international rugby, which in turn wrecked the following 2006/07 season as well. 2001/02 was a tumultuous season for Welsh rugby as well. 2009/10 wasn't the best season of the Gatland era either. Hopefully lessons have been learnt from all those years.
 
psychic duck said:
2005/06 was a nightmare season of Welsh rugby straight after one opf the best in 2004/05. Unprecedented amount of injuries then Gareth Thomas getting rid of our Grand Slam winning coach for one that was totally out of his depth at international rugby, which in turn wrecked the following 2006/07 season as well. 2001/02 was a tumultuous season for Welsh rugby as well. 2009/10 wasn't the best season of the Gatland era either. Hopefully lessons have been learnt from all those years.
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Just like last season. RWC and Grand Slam pushed out of the way by an Aussie whitewash and five home losses as well as a rankings drop. 2010 was a big transition. Warburton, Lydiate, North, Davies (Bradley and Jonathan) all began to make a name for themselves. The next 18 months is about the time we look at bringing the last few in before settling on a squad for the RWC come 6N 2015. Sounds like we are looking and further extensions to Gatlands contract. Considering we have no viable alternates right now, it makes sense, but I feel we will be limiting ourselves. I don't see how we can really develop further with the way we play.
 
Apparently Gatland said on the radio today that he'll be resting some players in the autumn in order to bring through exciting youngsters. I'd like to imagine this means Eli Walker'll play, and Patchell'll get some game time. Samson Lee deserves a bench slot with Mitchell injured.
 
Yes, what we really need is to not play a strong team and lose another four matches.
Tonga ever beaten us at home? Might be worth putting a few down on it. Oh, and what's a 20th loss to Aus right.
 
There's no point trying new players unless they are worth their place on merit.

Samson Lee for instance is young but deserves to be in the 23 on merit on his Scarlets performances. So did Faletau and North when they came in young based on regional performances and were outplaying JT, Powelly and Mark Jones etc.

Meanwhile the likes of Prydie, Kristian Phillips, Rhodri Jones and Howells were capped or called up before ever achieving anything in pro rugby. And I don't think being capped has done much for their careers really. If anything it has put more pressure on the likes of Prydie and made it harder for him.

Just play the best team possible for each game, except maybe Tonga where we can rest a few of the top players so they don't get injured. No point long term planning, RWC is a lot to do with random luck anyway that has nothing to do with what you are doing 2 or 3 years out. Just short term plan to keep players fit and on form. A win over South Africa is a realistic aim and what should be the priority for now. Forget RWC for now.
 
Exactly. I'm all for giving the likes of Eli a shot, who is at least hitting the level we require and looking international standard, but it's a no to another Howells.
 
North might not be available for the final test v Australia.
Step forward Eli Walker?
 
Eli to have (at least) two international tries by the end of the year (injury allowing). Be they a brace against Australia or Tonga, or to include a debut try against South Africa. You heard it here first.
 
Bit old/experienced for Wales, isn't he?
Gatland usually likes to debut 15yr olds, with 2 bench appearances for the regions, during the AIs.
 

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