[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Wales

[welshglory]

I think that they should let the teams that aren't in the play off release them though if they wish or any country for that matter

 

[Maverick1987]

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.

Quiet rightly so for the players that play for clubs in the semi-finals aswell . This trial match is only 5 days after the semis and they really should have a reasonable rest time .

Then again I'm in the camp that is pretty disappointed wales turned down the baa baas tbh . Just makes Warren Gatland look even more arrogant than he already is imo

 

[Thingimubob]

Quiet rightly so for the players that play for clubs in the semi-finals aswell . This trial match is only 5 days after the semis and they really should have a reasonable rest time .

Then again I'm in the camp that is pretty disappointed wales turned down the baa baas tbh . Just makes Warren Gatland look even more arrogant than he already is imo

Off the top of my head, a grand total of 2 Welsh players will compete in the semi finals, George North and Owen Williams. They will be competing against each other in the semi on Friday the 16th of May, 2 whole weeks before the trial match, which is on the 30th of May. North should be also playing a week later in the Challenge Cup Final, against two other players likely to be affected by the block - Henson and Paul James. Even with that, rest isn't too much of an issue, as it is still not just 5 days.
As I said earlier, if Northampton lose to Leicester, and North wants to play in this game, Northampton will be obliged to release him for the match, or else be in breach of the clause in their contract with him, stating that he will be allowed to released to any Welsh commitments.

Really don't see the arrogance in turning the BaaBaa's down for this? It gives more players likely to be picked in the touring squad game time than a one off vs the BaaBaas, plus gives a chance for a couple of the younger players who've been playing outstandingly to go head to head with their positional rivals, and maybe even nab the shirt off them. In particular, Cory Allen, Gareth Davies/Rhodri Williams and Dan Baker are the one's to really look out for again the current established players!

And anyway, there's a chance this might even turn out a bit more intense than a BaaBaas game, as I can imagine the Probables really gunning for it. That's something that isn't always there in a BaaBaas game - just look at that BaaBaas vs Australia game from 2011! The last 2 we've played vs them, while entertaining, were hardly amazingly useful preparation/selection wise, and as much as I love the spectacle of the games against them, can't help but feel like a Trial match is something new and exciting!
Last one was in 2000, and helped Shane Williams secure his first call up the Welsh squad. He didn't turn out too shabby I'd say

 

[Shaggy]

Off the top of my head, a grand total of 2 Welsh players will compete in the semi finals, George North and Owen Williams. They will be competing against each other in the semi on Friday the 16th of May, 2 whole weeks before the trial match, which is on the 30th of May. North should be also playing a week later in the Challenge Cup Final, against two other players likely to be affected by the block - Henson and Paul James. Even with that, rest isn't too much of an issue, as it is still not just 5 days.
As I said earlier, if Northampton lose to Leicester, and North wants to play in this game, Northampton will be obliged to release him for the match, or else be in breach of the clause in their contract with him, stating that he will be allowed to released to any Welsh commitments.

Really don't see the arrogance in turning the BaaBaa's down for this? It gives more players likely to be picked in the touring squad game time than a one off vs the BaaBaas, plus gives a chance for a couple of the younger players who've been playing outstandingly to go head to head with their positional rivals, and maybe even nab the shirt off them. In particular, Cory Allen, Gareth Davies/Rhodri Williams and Dan Baker are the one's to really look out for again the current established players!

And anyway, there's a chance this might even turn out a bit more intense than a BaaBaas game, as I can imagine the Probables really gunning for it. That's something that isn't always there in a BaaBaas game - just look at that BaaBaas vs Australia game from 2011! The last 2 we've played vs them, while entertaining, were hardly amazingly useful preparation/selection wise, and as much as I love the spectacle of the games against them, can't help but feel like a Trial match is something new and exciting!
Last one was in 2000, and helped Shane Williams secure his first call up the Welsh squad. He didn't turn out too shabby I'd say

Exactly, a trial game is more likely to battle harden/prepare the Welsh squad, than a Baabaa's game, which is entertainment value mostly. As it's been pointed out, more Welsh players are involved in the trial match.

... hopefully the players can be released, but if the likes of George North is a no show, it's probably not going to matter too much, because they already know what he can do, and is a certainty for selection isn't he?

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Probables Squad:
Forwards:Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Owen Evans (Dragons), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (Captain),Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Bristol), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Blues), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Taulupe Faletau (Dragons).


Backs:
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jon Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Gavin Henson (Bath), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Liam Williams (Scarlets).


Possibles Squad:
Forwards:
Paul James (Bath), Phil Price (Dragons), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Blues), Kristian Dacey (Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Blues), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Macauley Cook (Blues), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), James Davies (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys).


Backs:

Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Matthew Morgan (Ospreys), Harry Robinson (Blues), Owen Williams (Leicester), Steven Shingler (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Jordan Williams (Scarlets).

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I thought Wales had plenty of 1st choice payers out? As far as I can see only Hibbard, Halfpenny and Warburton are missing?

 

[goodNumber10]

Henson in the probables?

 

[goodNumber10]

I thought Wales had plenty of 1st choice payers out? As far as I can see only Hibbard, Halfpenny and Warburton are missing?

Tipuric and Williams are also out

 

[TheSaffycen]

Got a couple of points
- Jenkins ahead of Paul James !!!! Jenkins gets sin binned every other game at Intl' level !!!!
- Though the intensity and the knowledge you will get from the game is better than the BaaBaas but isn't there a serious chance of injury ? If you have young guys trying to play their hardest to show they are good enough, I wouldn't be surprised to see 1 or 2 players coming out of the game injured.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Marc Jones

 

[Thingimubob]

No Marc Jones

Really surprised to see Owen Evans and Scott Baldwin there instead of him! Never been impressed by Baldwin, and honestly not completely sure I remember who Evans is exactly?

Not the worst squads to be fair, although there's a few players in a different squad to what I imagines - I expected, if Henson was to be picked, that he'd be in the Possibles so he could line up against the current centres. A Henson - Allen midfield could be tasty!

 

[lynam1104]

Saffyscen I don't think the chance of injury will be any higher than a normal pro level match, injury in rugby IMO very rarely happens because a player is hitting and running harder, more likely to occur due to accident.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Saffyscen I don't think the chance of injury will be any higher than a normal pro level match, injury in rugby IMO very rarely happens because a player is hitting and running harder, more likely to occur due to accident.

I just think that a more physical and higher intensity game will be more likely to result in injury. Playing the BaaBaas, a team who's style is to throw the ball around and use the backs more than the forwards. Playing the possibles, who I assume will play in the wales style, big runners through the middle and smashing defence I think is more likely to result in injuries. Not necessarily big injuries but definitely battered bodies, more likely against Wales than the BaaBaas.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I just think that a more physical and higher intensity game will be more likely to result in injury. Playing the BaaBaas, a team who's style is to throw the ball around and use the backs more than the forwards. Playing the possibles, who I assume will play in the wales style, big runners through the middle and smashing defence I think is more likely to result in injuries. Not necessarily big injuries but definitely battered bodies, more likely against Wales than the BaaBaas.

And, y'know what? If I was, say, Cory Allen and not that far away from a starting spot and due to be up against the two people ahead of me, I might think about throwing in a crafty shoulder somewhere or other.

 

[j'nuh]

I suspect, though I might not be right, that those starting for the possibles are seen as further up in the pecking order than those benching for the probables (i.e. the pecking order is probables XV -> possibles XV -> probables bench -> possibles bench).

 

[Thingimubob]

I suspect, though I might not be right, that those starting for the possibles are seen as further up in the pecking order than those benching for the probables (i.e. the pecking order is probables XV -> possibles XV -> probables bench -> possibles bench).

Did think that too, which is sad because shows that they still insist of having Rhodri Jones ahead of Samson Lee...

 

[The Jones Boy]

I love Wales, they are my 'away' team if the AB's are not playing but I do worry for them going down to Saffrica, I fear some hideous mailings in the forward pack.

 

[SelimNiai]

And, y'know what? If I was, say, Cory Allen and not that far away from a starting spot and due to be up against the two people ahead of me, I might think about throwing in a crafty shoulder somewhere or other.

It would have to be very crafty, picking up a penalty or yellow card for any sort of late hit is probably not going to go down well with the tour selectors

 

[Thingimubob]

So North won't be playing in this one, definitely not the worst thing as he's obviously one of the nailed on starters for the tests barring injury. Gonna assume that we'll see a back 3 of 11. Hallam Amos 14. Cuthbert and 15. Liam Williams, which is definitely none too shabby! Wouldn't have minded seeing Amos get a chance at 15 for the Possibles though, been very effective from there this year.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

North's a no, but we should have Jamie, Lydiate (Fitness providing), Phillips and Owen Williams available. I'd agree with Thingimubob's Probables back three, and hope Leciester do the right thing for the game and for Owen Williams' development as a player (Especially considering how readily Cockerill has admitted he'd like to see Williams play for Wales) and let him start for the Possibles.