[2019 Six Nations] Wales vs England (23/02/2019)

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Happy to see Shields in for Hughes

 

[ratsapprentice]

Like that team.

 

[Scotty]

Happy but would have rather started Genge than Moon starting for experience more than anything else. Shields for hughes i dont care either way.

Happy and pretty confident tbh but not an easy one by any stretch

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Coka over Te'o too <3

 

[Bill]

Good side. Only two potentially unexpected decisions:

Moon starting over Genge - I actually quite like this call, with the way Peyper referees the scrum it will be importance to get dominance early. Moon probably slightly nicks Genge here. I also think that having both Genge and Sinckler start could almost be too much aggression from the off. Moon seems like a cool head who will do the basics very well.

Shields over Hughes - Hughes has been pretty poor for a long time, Shields is better. On the off chance Billy does have to come off, Genge can offer some bulldozing carrying off the bench with fresh legs.

Genge arguably looks a bit of a tool now after his interview a couple of days ago where he appeared to say that he was proud to be Mako's replacement.

Obviously he was working on an assumption there.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I don't think starting Moon over Genge is that a contentious decision it is probably what I would do. As a Wales fan I would much rather face Hughes and Teo than Shields and Cokanasiga

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nice

 

[Every Time Ref]

That's the best combo of outcomes within the parameters for me - Moon/Genge is a 6-of-1 choice for me (maybe because I'm a back....); not a massive fan of Shields but way prefer him to Hughes, and Teo out is the best news I could possibly have had prior to kick off.

I suspect this confirms EJ still sees Teo as a straight swap for Tuilagi in case of injury but will not have him on the bench.

In short I'm really happy with this England side, but then I was livid about the side for Ireland so what do I know?

 

[TommiG88]

Happy with that

 

[MikeTheNative]

Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (C), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Reps: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin.

No Tomos Williams in the squad at all, I think it was the right call to start G Davies but I don't think A Davies deserves his the place on the bench above Tomos. As expected really although I'm surprised to see Lewis on the bench over Lee. It's the decent team but they are going to have to play out of their skin to beat England continue their from so far.

Edit-

Have just seen that Tomos Williams and Lee are injured

 

[Thingimubob]

Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (C), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Reps: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin.

No Tomos Williams in the squad at all, I think it was the right call to start G Davies but I don't think A Davies deserves his the place on the bench above Tomos. As expected really although I'm surprised to see Lewis on the bench over Lee. It's the decent team but they are going to have to play out of their skin to beat England continue their from so far.

Aled over Tomos is mental! Wtf does Aled add to team? He didn't exactly set the world alight vs Italy so baffled that he's got a bench place here. If we're down by a score in the closing stages of the match, then you'd surely want a guy like Tomos to come off the bench who can make something out of nothing, rather than a slow and steady SH?

I'm assuming Lee must be injured, but at least Lewis will provide good impact in the loose off the bench, though the scrum will creak at the end - if not for the entire game!

 

[MikeTheNative]

Aled over Tomos is mental! Wtf does Aled add to team? He didn't exactly set the world alight vs Italy so baffled that he's got a bench place here. If we're down by a score in the closing stages of the match, then you'd surely want a guy like Tomos to come off the bench who can make something out of nothing, rather than a slow and steady SH?

I'm assuming Lee must be injured, but at least Lewis will provide good impact in the loose off the bench, though the scrum will creak at the end - if not for the entire game!

Not sure if you seen my edit but Tomos is injured.
That Smith and Lewis 2nd half front row is both exciting and fills me dread thinking about the scrums.

 

[Thingimubob]

Not sure if you seen my edit by Tomos is injured.
That Smith and Lewis 2nd half front row is both exciting and fills me dread thinking about the scrums.

Ah I did not - rage is subsided (until Saturday...)

Yeah not the best options scrummaging wise off the bench... hopefully they can keep it at least steady.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Can live with that.

Intensity and physicality's not going to drop off too much with Genge, Joe etc.

 

[curtbob7]

Nice, proper fancy us now tbh after seeing both teams. Breakdown will be huge between both sets of flankers.

Just hope Genge gets 30-40mins as opposed to 7 mins.

 

[Tayga]

Seen both team selections .

Te Wales

Not convinced about Andcombe at flyhalf abd don't understand why Tomos is dropped . Also I think Samson Lee is a big loss because he is a first class and very underrated scrummager .

Re England

Nowell back in is an easy call.
Coka is also a good call as I would not have both Manu and Teo in at the same time .

Shields v Hughes - I am a fan of Hugues ( unlike many here) but this probably the right call on balance.

England have 2 of their most influential players out - Itoje is not such a huge loss given the way Lawes is playing . Mako though is a big loss because his roductivity stats are off the charts for a loosehead . Moon provides ballast and security to the scrum but not so much contribution around the park .

This is a strong England team and Wales are still struggling to find the optimal 9/10 pairing.

Personally I would have gone for Biggar as he is an excellent defensive fly half -

I think EJ will look to target Anscombe though carries by Tuilagi on the inside channel

 

[dullonien]

Happy enough with the Welsh side, especially that Gatland has decided to opt for creativity at 10, as opposed to overly worrying about stopping England. Anscombe tore England apart at times during last seasons fixture, so hopefully he can do something similar on Saturday.

Like others have said, I would have preferred to see Tomos on the bench over Aled, but can't help injuries sometimes. I'm not as concerned as some over Smith's scrummaging off the bench. I said before the AI's that his scrummging is back to a good standard after injury issues. Dillon Lewis is still learning so I'm more concerned over him, however his very dynamic.

I think it's only right that Halfpenny wasn't considered for this game. He needs some game time for Scarlets first.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I agree about Halfpenny, he definitely needs a regional game before he should be considered.

 

[MojoPin]

On paper I'm very happy with that Wales squad, but at the moment we just don't know which Wales is going to turn up. I'd like to think that if Anscombe and Davies are given a good enough platform by the forwards then we can cause England some problems as they both look so dangerous on the front foot. Gats seems very happy with how the team has come together so fingers crossed.

 

[Reiser99]

Very happy that Hughes and Te'o aren't there. Think those two by far don't deserve to be in the squad based on form. I think if both teams play well then England will win. Moon is a solid starter and Genge will be better late on.