2014 Six Nations: Wales

[The Jones Boy]

Sounds like there is plenty of quality talent coming through the ranks in Wales.
Good stuff.

 

[khaotix]

I'm bored so I'm just going to stir a bit of crap just now.

ahem, so basically the last time a team won three consecutive "outright" tournaments was in deed Wales from 64-66. Boy, that's almost as long ago as the last time Wales beat the All-Blacks !....
*drum roll*

haha well call me crazy but I think the time we would've beaten them was the world cup final. Shame that match didn't happen.

 

[Draggs]

Rhys Webb should get a shot, personally I would rate him over both Lloyd and Rhodri.

Thanks for your contribution, Mrs Webb.

 

[Big Ewis]

haha well call me crazy but I think the time we would've beaten them was the world cup final. Shame that match didn't happen.

mmmm, I don't think any team would've beaten them on that day

 

[dullonien]

Whilst the team is pretty settled at the moment, Gatland has some tough decisions to make in a few key areas.

- In the backrow, Gatland needs to decide whether he wants Lydiate or Tipuric starting. Up until now Lydiate has been his preference, but I think that's a conservative approach that could hold Wales back a little. Having Tipuric at 7 allows us to play more in the wider channels, IMO he's a must. Given that Warburton has added the chop tackle to his skill-set, moving him to 6 seems sensible. Some will argue that he's not as effective there, but he's put in some impressive performances whilst playing at blindside, and his partnership with Tips has huge potential.

- As ever, who plays at 9 and 10 is a hot topic in Wales. Phillips is our undisputed first choice 9, but he needs to be put under pressure, and Gats needs to decide who's his understudy. Lloyd Williams and Rhodri Jones were preferred in the AI's, with Rhodri getting the nod against Aus. I'm a fan of Rhodri Jones, but it'll take some time for him to settle in. At 10, Biggar should be first choice, but Gats appears unsure, with Priestland his apparent preferred option.

- Whilst at first glance the centres look settled, with Roberts and Davies clear first choice, I think Gatland is seriously considering playing North more often at 13. It's certainly an exciting prospect, but Jon Davies is getting better and better in the outside centre role, and we're short of experienced wingers, with Liam Williams and Cuthbert our only other two with a healthy amount of experience. Looking ahead, there are some wingers coming through, such as Eli Wales, Hanno Dirksen, Jordan Williams, Harry Robinson and Hallam Amos, but it'll take time for any of them to bed in.

 

[dullonien]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25578159

So Jon Davies is likely going to miss the 6 nations. I think we'll see a Roberts and North partnership in the centre in the opening game with Liam Williams coming onto the wing, as there's no sign of Eli Wales returning to action yet.

 

[Thingimubob]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25578159

So Jon Davies is likely going to miss the 6 nations. I think we'll see a Roberts and North partnership in the centre in the opening game with Liam Williams coming onto the wing, as there's no sign of Eli Wales returning to action yet.

Possibly could see them try and cap Dirksen too, either starting or off the bench. That said he hasn't quite hit the form he was in before his injury yet

 

[Draggs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25578159

So Jon Davies is likely going to miss the 6 nations. I think we'll see a Roberts and North partnership in the centre in the opening game with Liam Williams coming onto the wing, as there's no sign of Eli Wales returning to action yet.

I hope not. North isn't a centre and Williams isn't a wing. We will go with Scott Williams I'd say. Also roberts looked like he injured himself last match so we will have to wait and see.

Mallinder stated outright North will not be a centre for the saints. Gatland would be wasting everybody's time doing it.

 

[dullonien]

I hope not. North isn't a centre and Williams isn't a wing. We will go with Scott Williams I'd say. Also roberts looked like he injured himself last match so we will have to wait and see.

Mallinder stated outright North will not be a centre for the saints. Gatland would be wasting everybody's time doing it.

I dunno, North has the potential to be an awesome 13. I think Gatland sees it, and he will have no hesitation of trying it out. Mallinder would quickly change his tune if North had a blinder of a 6 nations at 13.

 

[Draggs]

North can stay as a wing and still be involved in midfield if needed, I don't know why people always want to mess around with wings, either moving them to fullback or centre, and vice versa. Save for an unusual amount of injuries, we are fine in midfield. Roberts, Davies, WilliamsS, WilliamsO, Dixon, Beck all candidates soon enough. On the wing we have Cuthbert and North... Walker, Dirksen haven been tested, Robinson not good enough, WilliamsL a fullback, Prydie inconsistent. Amos is looking better and better but just suffered a leg injury.

 

[psychic duck]

I am worried about our tightheads going into 2015. Adam Jones has had the role for nearly a decade, and whenever he has been injured, it has been a point of weakness. He spends more time injured each year, and must be carefully managed. Craig Mitchell has looked decent but also suffers from injuries at the wrong time. Scott Andrews has never shown anything beyond being 'less dire than thought', and unfortunately hasn't improved since he was brought in the squad in 2010. Samson Lee is likely the future, but is 2015 too soon? He has had the nod over Rhodri Jones, a convereted loosehead, for the Scarlets, but not for Wales. Jones was respectable and put in a good shift in the loose this November. I would like to see him and Lee given more chances in 2014.

Rhodri Jones is rubbish. Samson Lee was on top of Duncan Jones throughout the derby game, then as soon as Rhodri Jones replaced him at tighthead Duncan got back on top. And that was with Aaron Jarvis who has been on poor form all season and a lightweight Scott Baldwin alongside. There is no logical explanation as to why Rhodri Jones should be ahead of Samson Lee, or Mitchell for that matter.

Also too much was made of Rhodri Jones' Autumn. Argentina had injuries in their front row and were suffering from a tumultuous period for them. There were hardly any scrums in the Australia game. And in the Tonga game, the opposition was incredibly weak with Romania and France giving them a real butchering in the previous weeks. I saw nothing from those games that meant he should be ahead of Mitchell or Lee. Whilst I have seen enough to say he shouldn't from his Scarlets performances.

 

[Rich Taff]

North can stay as a wing and still be involved in midfield if needed, I don't know why people always want to mess around with wings, either moving them to fullback or centre, and vice versa. Save for an unusual amount of injuries, we are fine in midfield. Roberts, Davies, WilliamsS, WilliamsO, Dixon, Beck all candidates soon enough. On the wing we have Cuthbert and North... Walker, Dirksen haven been tested, Robinson not good enough, WilliamsL a fullback, Prydie inconsistent. Amos is looking better and better but just suffered a leg injury.

Robinson is definitely improving this season. Everyone was expecting him to be 'the New Shane', but quick as Robinson is on his feet, Shane was a freak (in a good way like Lomu) now Robinson has also added a lot of power to his game.

 

[dullonien]

Rhodri Jones is rubbish. Samson Lee was on top of Duncan Jones throughout the derby game, then as soon as Rhodri Jones replaced him at tighthead Duncan got back on top. And that was with Aaron Jarvis who has been on poor form all season and a lightweight Scott Baldwin alongside. There is no logical explanation as to why Rhodri Jones should be ahead of Samson Lee, or Mitchell for that matter.

Also too much was made of Rhodri Jones' Autumn. Argentina had injuries in their front row and were suffering from a tumultuous period for them. There were hardly any scrums in the Australia game. And in the Tonga game, the opposition was incredibly weak with Romania and France giving them a real butchering in the previous weeks. I saw nothing from those games that meant he should be ahead of Mitchell or Lee. Whilst I have seen enough to say he shouldn't from his Scarlets performances.

I mostly agree with you. I do think you're being a little too harsh on Rhodri Jones, but he's certainly behind Lee and Mitchell in my mind as well. I'd have him just ahead of Scott Andrews, but both struggle in the scrum.

 

[Draggs]

I think we can all agree that he is better than Andrews at least. Jones also put a decent shift in the loose, but I'd agree that Lee is the future.
To be fair, Rhodri is not the worst tighthead we have had in recent years. Obv not first choice, I'd say like 5th? (Adam, Craig, Samson, Paul James) so not bad by that measure.
Also did well in the loose IIRC, made more tackles than his loosehead usually. So yeah, not what we want to have as first choice, but all in all, not completely terrible.

Welsh staff seem to not like Samson for whatever reasons so who knows? Best mates with Richie Rees?

Shame Amos suffered an injury after NGD v Blues, he was bloody impressive, come a long way in a year.

 

[khaotix]

Thanks for your contribution, Mrs Webb.

You are quite welcome Mrs. Williams

 

[dullonien]

Regarding Webb. I think he's a very talented scrum half. When he plays well he's probably the best Welsh 9, combining good service with a great ability to exploit gaps around the fringes of the ruck. However he's also shown on numerous occasions that he simply doesn't have a brain, making dumb mistakes and blunders.

He had a great game last night, but he needs to show he can consistently deliver before I'd consider him again for international honours.

 

[psychic duck]

I see the WRU chickened out of the usual press conference to announce the 6 Nations squad and picked cherry picked invited media so to as avoid questions on the mess of the regions.

 

[j'nuh]

No discussion on the squad yet? Here you go, have at you.

Forwards: Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton Capt (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)


Backs: Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

Thought I'd never say this... Phil John can count himself very hard done by.

 

[Draggs]

Squad is boring. I've never felt less interest in a six nations series.

 

[psychic duck]

Squad is boring. I've never felt less interest in a six nations series.

Only thing to really discuss is who is on the outer fringes of it really. I'd have had Rob Evans and Ball ahead of Bevington and Coombs. Also Rhodri Jones should be left alone with the Scarlets to make it as a loosehead, not holding tackle bags for a doomed to fail tighthead plan. Hopefully Rhys Webb doesn't get another cap as well, he's had about 2 decent games after about 30 cringeworthy ones.

On another note. Where is dullonien? After endorsing Andy Howell's crap whinge about not sending the star names to a press conference was evidence of the regions incompetence, surely he will equally lay the boot into the WRU for ducking an open press conference in favour of giving the media the squad via email? Something which has escaped any reporting whatsoever from the paper edited by Roger Lewis' good friend Alan Edmunds. I wonder why?