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Wales 32 man squad:
Props: Ryan Bevington, Rob Evans, Rhys Gill, Adam Jones, Samson Lee
I don't think Gethin Jenkins will quite make it to the next world cup. I'm going out on a limb and suggesting that Paul James won't make the cut either. I believe the three looseheads I've picked will be good scrummagers come 2015, and will offer more than James in open play. I know Rob Evans is a big call, but I really like the look of him. No idea why the Scarlets aren't playing him over the rubbish Phil John! I think Samson Lee might well be our starting loosehead come 2015, but Jones will still be around.
Hookers: Ken Owens, Kirby Myhill, Richard Hibbard.
Relatively straight forward here. Wish Owens' form wouldn't go up and down like a yoyo though! Hibbard needs a bit of luck the poor sod. Myhill has huge potential, but needs to work on his throwing (when does a Welsh hooker not have to!) There are some other options, including a third at the Scarlets: Emyr Phillips, and to the probable disgust of Cymro, Scott Baldwin at the O's (I like him!). Sam Parry should not be discounted, nor should Rhys Williams.
Second Rows: Alun-Wyn Jones, Macauley Cook, Luke Charteris, James King.
I am really undecided here. There are some excellent young second rows on the cusp of breaking through at the regions. I like the look of Cook and King in particular (King might be viewed as a back-rower though). Ian Evans' form has dipped again, but if he can get it back to 6 Nations levels and maintain it, he'd probably make it instead of one of the others. Bradley isn't firing. He needs to start carrying the ball again like he was in '09.
Back-rows: Dan Lydiate, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.
The back-row is already incredibly young, so I can see them developing as a unit and all still involved come 2015 (unless the rumours about Sam's problems with concussion are true). There will be plenty of players nipping at the heels though, the likes of: Pretorius, Patterson, Navidi, Hamilton, Sam Lewis, Morgan Allen, Turnbull, Murphy and McCusker.
Scrum halfs: Lloyd Williams, Tom Habberfield, Gareth Davies.
I know Draggs keeps on going about another Scarlets scrum half (Gareth Williams?), and there was the Aled Davies that came on on the weekend that the commentator hyped up, but at the moment Gareth Davies is the outstanding option at the Scarlets. He makes mistakes, but he will mature. I still think Webb might be able to make it, I like his style of play, but he'd have to stop doing the completely mental things that plague his game atm. Knoyle is a decent 9, but hasn't developed as expected. Hopefully Phillips won't still be involved, I really want to see some proper scrum halves play for Wales again.
Outside halfs: Matthew Morgan, Dan Biggar, James Hook.
This is the most difficult position to predict. Part of me doubt whether Morgan will ever make it at international level, but I still hope. I really wanted to include Patchell, but couldn't justify him in front of these three, but if Morgan does prove to be too small or Biggar cannot make the step-up, then Patchell looks like a good shout. There's always Tovey to consider as well, and Priestland could yet return to form I suppose. Do I dare raise the name of Gavin Henson? Would he play at 10 for Wales though?
Centres: Jamie Roberts, Jon Davies, Ashley Beck, An Other.
The first three pick themselves. Roberts needs to adapt his game (and be allowed to by the Blues and Welsh management), and Davies still has areas of his game to improve upon, namely his defence. Beck will come good, I'm sure of it, and will provide a more creative option in midfield. Who else though? Scott Williams is hit and miss. He's a very decent player, and may well develop into a better one, but I just feel that we can do better. I think we are really lacking a fast, nimble centre in the mould of a young Jamie Robinson to compliment the other three. There aren't many like that coming through at the moment, possible the Scarlets duo of Reynolds and Warren best fit the bill, but I'm far from convinced with either yet. Jack Dixon and Owen Williams aren't bad either. Corry Allen is a young player with plenty of potential (why the Blues don't play him already is a mystery), but he's another bulky centre. There could always be the option of moving North infield, especially now that a few more wingers have started to emerge. Despite being a big admirer, it's not looking likely that Gareth Owen will make a test player
. There's always Gavin Henson, but he doesn't fit the fast, nimble part, but along with Beck would introduce some much needed creativity to our midfield.
Back three: George North, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Hanno Dirksen.
I wanted to make room for Tom Prydie or Harry Robinson, but couldn't leave any of those named out. North will develop into one of the best players on the planet, I'm certain of that. I thought Liam Williams stepped up to international rugby well, but has shown that he's got work to do to become an international fullback, especially under the high ball. I love Dirksen, I don't like it that we've 'poached' him from the USA/SA, but he's too good to pass-up. Others worth mentioning are Eli Walker, Morgan Stoddart and Richard Fussell (still developing as a player).
There will hopefully be 10 or so new players putting their hands up come 2015, but this is what I see happening taking into account the age of the current players, and the potential of the young players I've seen. Sorry Dragons, I've not seen many players that have really caught my eye recently. There are a few that are OK, Adam Hughes for instance, but they fail to perform on a regular basis.
Props: Ryan Bevington, Rob Evans, Rhys Gill, Adam Jones, Samson Lee
I don't think Gethin Jenkins will quite make it to the next world cup. I'm going out on a limb and suggesting that Paul James won't make the cut either. I believe the three looseheads I've picked will be good scrummagers come 2015, and will offer more than James in open play. I know Rob Evans is a big call, but I really like the look of him. No idea why the Scarlets aren't playing him over the rubbish Phil John! I think Samson Lee might well be our starting loosehead come 2015, but Jones will still be around.
Hookers: Ken Owens, Kirby Myhill, Richard Hibbard.
Relatively straight forward here. Wish Owens' form wouldn't go up and down like a yoyo though! Hibbard needs a bit of luck the poor sod. Myhill has huge potential, but needs to work on his throwing (when does a Welsh hooker not have to!) There are some other options, including a third at the Scarlets: Emyr Phillips, and to the probable disgust of Cymro, Scott Baldwin at the O's (I like him!). Sam Parry should not be discounted, nor should Rhys Williams.
Second Rows: Alun-Wyn Jones, Macauley Cook, Luke Charteris, James King.
I am really undecided here. There are some excellent young second rows on the cusp of breaking through at the regions. I like the look of Cook and King in particular (King might be viewed as a back-rower though). Ian Evans' form has dipped again, but if he can get it back to 6 Nations levels and maintain it, he'd probably make it instead of one of the others. Bradley isn't firing. He needs to start carrying the ball again like he was in '09.
Back-rows: Dan Lydiate, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.
The back-row is already incredibly young, so I can see them developing as a unit and all still involved come 2015 (unless the rumours about Sam's problems with concussion are true). There will be plenty of players nipping at the heels though, the likes of: Pretorius, Patterson, Navidi, Hamilton, Sam Lewis, Morgan Allen, Turnbull, Murphy and McCusker.
Scrum halfs: Lloyd Williams, Tom Habberfield, Gareth Davies.
I know Draggs keeps on going about another Scarlets scrum half (Gareth Williams?), and there was the Aled Davies that came on on the weekend that the commentator hyped up, but at the moment Gareth Davies is the outstanding option at the Scarlets. He makes mistakes, but he will mature. I still think Webb might be able to make it, I like his style of play, but he'd have to stop doing the completely mental things that plague his game atm. Knoyle is a decent 9, but hasn't developed as expected. Hopefully Phillips won't still be involved, I really want to see some proper scrum halves play for Wales again.
Outside halfs: Matthew Morgan, Dan Biggar, James Hook.
This is the most difficult position to predict. Part of me doubt whether Morgan will ever make it at international level, but I still hope. I really wanted to include Patchell, but couldn't justify him in front of these three, but if Morgan does prove to be too small or Biggar cannot make the step-up, then Patchell looks like a good shout. There's always Tovey to consider as well, and Priestland could yet return to form I suppose. Do I dare raise the name of Gavin Henson? Would he play at 10 for Wales though?
Centres: Jamie Roberts, Jon Davies, Ashley Beck, An Other.
The first three pick themselves. Roberts needs to adapt his game (and be allowed to by the Blues and Welsh management), and Davies still has areas of his game to improve upon, namely his defence. Beck will come good, I'm sure of it, and will provide a more creative option in midfield. Who else though? Scott Williams is hit and miss. He's a very decent player, and may well develop into a better one, but I just feel that we can do better. I think we are really lacking a fast, nimble centre in the mould of a young Jamie Robinson to compliment the other three. There aren't many like that coming through at the moment, possible the Scarlets duo of Reynolds and Warren best fit the bill, but I'm far from convinced with either yet. Jack Dixon and Owen Williams aren't bad either. Corry Allen is a young player with plenty of potential (why the Blues don't play him already is a mystery), but he's another bulky centre. There could always be the option of moving North infield, especially now that a few more wingers have started to emerge. Despite being a big admirer, it's not looking likely that Gareth Owen will make a test player
. There's always Gavin Henson, but he doesn't fit the fast, nimble part, but along with Beck would introduce some much needed creativity to our midfield.Back three: George North, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Hanno Dirksen.
I wanted to make room for Tom Prydie or Harry Robinson, but couldn't leave any of those named out. North will develop into one of the best players on the planet, I'm certain of that. I thought Liam Williams stepped up to international rugby well, but has shown that he's got work to do to become an international fullback, especially under the high ball. I love Dirksen, I don't like it that we've 'poached' him from the USA/SA, but he's too good to pass-up. Others worth mentioning are Eli Walker, Morgan Stoddart and Richard Fussell (still developing as a player).
There will hopefully be 10 or so new players putting their hands up come 2015, but this is what I see happening taking into account the age of the current players, and the potential of the young players I've seen. Sorry Dragons, I've not seen many players that have really caught my eye recently. There are a few that are OK, Adam Hughes for instance, but they fail to perform on a regular basis.
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