[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Wales

[Thingimubob]

You'd've thought. Not sold on Watts-Jones as an international players yet, but he could well prove me wrong. Dan Baker is on such form that we could see Toby shifted over to the flank. It would make more sense than moving Bradley about. After all, after Sam's ban in RWC11, we moved Faletau to 7 and brought Ryan in at 8 (Who is eternally an option).

Exactly my thought. Faletau did a cracking job at 7 in that game too, was everywhere around the park if I remember correctly. Baker's form is hard to ignore, so if he keeps it up, why not? A Lydiate - Faletau - Baker combo is hardly small, and certainly brings plenty of power to throw against the physical Saffa back row!


That said, as per usual, important players are dropping like flies before big games against the SH teams. Feels like the same story every year! What is already looking like a extremely difficult tour could turn messy if things carry on like this.
Could be a good chance to test the fringe players in the vacant positions I suppose, all depends on what Gatland and co want. Go all out for a test victory in SA or rotate the squad, see the options we have before 2015.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

...False alarm. Tipuric's playing on Sunday as his injury only effects gym-based training, not actual game situations, apparently. I don't even know how that's possible, but I'm not surprised, it's Justin Bloody Tipuric. The man is not human. I'm pretty sure he pre-dates time. He was responsible for the naming of the town of 'Rugby', the pastry 'turnover' and the emotional crisis 'breakdown'. The ball is only oval shaped because it resembles his nose. Of course he isn't injured. Don't be so daft.

 

[Thingimubob]

Looks like that trial match is getting the go ahead!:

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/30400.php#.U2voQ_ldU-V

Tickets are only a fiver (£1 for kids), so definitely gonna head up there if I'm in Swansea!

Still not sure on the whole international window stuff for this, wikipedia tells me that there are international matches on that weekend - Japan vs Samoa (only full international I'm guessing), what appears to be a Canadian trial game (BC Bears vs Canada Select) and England vs Baabaas.

So at a guess, does that mean that any players that are not involved with the Premiership Final that weekend, or any Top 14 play off games, will be available for it? I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark that I'm wrong, and this will end up being a bit meh without some of the bigger name overseas players.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, it's outside of "the window" from what I remember, which is a shame as I really want to see Marc Jones get a shot for Wales, and being unavailable for this will damage his chances.

 

[Thingimubob]

Yeah, it's outside of "the window" from what I remember, which is a shame as I really want to see Marc Jones get a shot for Wales, and being unavailable for this will damage his chances.

Any official IRB stuff outlining the window dates, only had a quick look round the web so couldn't see anything official. Still a bit frustrating, as like you said, Marc Jones and other promising Welsh players could stand to lose out because of it, as they may not even be playing that weekend! Could end up seeing a few Welsh based players stuck "making up the numbers" due to the unavailability of the foreign based players.
Wish the unions and the PRL would get round the table and try to figure out some sort of deal where everyone benefits, like the odd club has already tried to do.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

is dan Lyidate still avaliable for selection

 

[Draggs]

is dan Lyidate still avaliable for selection

I would assume so. Warburton and Tips are both out, so much for openside depth. Gatland has mentioned Lydiate open, Bradley Davies blind... Ugh. Sam Lewis for me, I suppose.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

i wonder who'll be the 15 as i also heard that halfpenny is out for the tours i dont want to see liam williams there even though he is most likely to be the 15

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26505365

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Sanjay'll play fullback, although I'm growing increasingly impressed with Hallam Amos and would love to see him get some gametime.

I'm thinking our best-case scenario backrow will be Lydiate-Baker-Faletau with Ryan Jones on the bench, although I'd like to see Sam Lewis involved. He's been on great form all season and is an actual 7, although Faletau can do a better openside impression than most non-specialist backrowers. I fear we'll see Bradley shifted into the backrow, which'll be a disaster.

 

[Shaggy]

Looks like that trial match is getting the go ahead!:

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/30400.php#.U2voQ_ldU-V

Tickets are only a fiver (£1 for kids), so definitely gonna head up there if I'm in Swansea!

Still not sure on the whole international window stuff for this, wikipedia tells me that there are international matches on that weekend - Japan vs Samoa (only full international I'm guessing), what appears to be a Canadian trial game (BC Bears vs Canada Select) and England vs Baabaas.

So at a guess, does that mean that any players that are not involved with the Premiership Final that weekend, or any Top 14 play off games, will be available for it? I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark that I'm wrong, and this will end up being a bit meh without some of the bigger name overseas players.

What do you guys think of the whole "trial match" concept ... is it of any benefit/do you think any outsiders can push their way into the Welsh squad based on a good performance in this game, or is more about establishing combinations between platers that are already, more or less, picked?

 

[welshglory]

I think it speaks volumes that they rejected the Babaas and are going through with this instead.

 

[Shaggy]

I think it speaks volumes that they rejected the Babaas and are going through with this instead.

Not sure if I understand ... are you saying that the trial match is a good thing, or that they should have gone with the BaaBaas match?

 

[welshglory]

Obviously i mean from the point of view of the performance staff (coaches)

 

[Shaggy]

Ok, so it's exercise in seeing where the players are at/player cohesion, rather than a genuine chance for some outside chances to force their way into the squad then?

 

[Thingimubob]

Ok, so it's exercise in seeing where the players are at/player cohesion, rather than a genuine chance for some outside chances to force their way into the squad then?

Bit of both from the sounds of it. Gatland realised that without any Welsh clubs in the play off, it means that a huge amount of the likely touring party will not have played any rugby for 5 weeks before they leave. So it seems like Gatland wants to give his likely test team (bar the odd unavailable player) a proper run out, plus give those outside the current Welsh team a chance to shine in direct competition with them. For me its a great idea, as there's been quite a few young players who have forced their way through this season, and it'll be very interesting see them face up against the current squad, which does probably need a bit of shaking up after a poor Six Nations.


Overall wouldn't mind seeing a squad like this. Though with the Probables, gone with who I'm expecting them to pick more or less:

15. Liam Williams vs Hallam Amos
14. Alex Cuthbert vs Hanno Dirksen
13. Jonathan Davies vs Cory Allen
12. Jamie Roberts vs Steven Shingler/Jack Dixon/Scott Williams (if they risk him straight back from injury)
11. Harry Robinson vs Jordan Williams (assuming they'll go for Robinson in Norths absence)
10. Dan Biggar vs Rhys Priestland (would love to see Owen Williams here, unlikely though)
9. Mike Phillips vs Gareth Davies/Rhodri Williams
8. Toby Faletau vs Dan Baker
7. Dan Lydiate vs Sam Lewis/Josh Navidi/Josh Turnbull
6. Bradley Davies vs Aaron Shingler
5. Luke Charteris vs Ian Evans
4. Alun Wyn-Jones vs Jake Ball (If Wyn-Jones is rested, then Ball in for Probables and Coombs for Possibles)
3. Adam Jones vs Samson Lee (Rhodri Jones is probably more likely)
2. Ken Owens vs Kristian Dacey/Matthew Rees/Scott Baldwin.
1. Gethin Jenkins vs Paul James

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I can see it being very similar to that. I'd be inclined to use someone such as Rob Evans or Nicky Smith on the loosehead, give a young player a look. Hopeful Hanno, Gareth Davies, Samson Lee and Sam Lewis all get a go in the possibles, they deserve it, the last three especially after their form this season.

 

[Thingimubob]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27356468 - No surprises in the PRL blocking player release as per usual. Drives me nuts when there will be players who I'm sure Gatland want to have a look at, who won't even be playing that weekend!

However, if Northampton lose their play off vs Leicester, they will be obliged to release him should he want to play, because of that clause in his contract. If Leicester lose however, I doubt we'll see Owen Williams taking part, which leaves us a little light on no.10's with Priestland and Patchell injured.

 

[welshglory]

Does the "trial match" count as an irb sanctioned international? Surely they could challenge the prl here? I know that technically they could still be injured, but if the WRU have some good lawyers they would have a case me thinks...

 

[Thingimubob]

Does the "trial match" count as an irb sanctioned international? Surely they could challenge the prl here?

PRL said in the article that it doesn't -

"Premiership Rugby has a policy to only release non-England players under the conditions of the International Rugby Board's regulation nine.
"This regulation covers international release for every Test country across the world. This trial match does not fall under IRB regulation nine."

 

[welshglory]

PRL said in the article that it doesn't -

Ah yes fair enough got a bit mixed up there