Double injury blow hits Ryan Jones & Leigh Halfpenny

[dullonien]

Ryan Jones simply hasn't been on form for a long time. He played his best game I can remember for a long time in the second-row against London Irish, and therefore big questions must be asked about what his future playing position will be? He brings plenty to the table. His work rate is great, he's a good lineout option when used, he's got great cover defense, and he's got very good leadership qualities. However none of them make up for the fact that he hasn't been getting over the advantage line from 8 for a long time now, and that's something Wales are sorely missing. When you're number 12 is more effective at carrying the ball than your number 8, something wrong. Just lookign athow influential the likes of Rush and Lyons are at the Blues and Scarlets highlights what both the Ospreys and Wales have been missing over the past couple of years.

Is Jonathan Thomas the man to provide that role, not really, but he's the best option at the moment. I think Powell could be an even better option after the Aus game, if he really has managed to cut the stupid errors from his game, and actually runs at space instead of at defenders. Delve could've been lapping up the chance to show what he can do if he hadn't moved to Aus, he's just the kinda player we need. Combinations of injuries and Gatland being stubborn have meant he's never come close to cementing his place in the Welsh squad, pitty as he has bags of potential.

The Dragons looks like the best hope of producing the kind of 8 we need. Bearman's chance has well and trully gone now, since he's still nowhere to be seen. But Faletau has got the physique. Unfortunately there are NWQ players filling the roles at both the Blues and Scarlets, who are great for their respective regions, but meaning no-one else is really getting a shot. Ben Morgan looked goot for the Scarlets the other day, but Lyons is probably too important to them to leave out. He may get a couple of games, but won't be anywhere neer ready for Wales duty for a good couple of years, if he makes it at all.

 

[MichaelBoard]

Ryan Jones simply hasn't been on form for a long time. He played his best game I can remember for a long time in the second-row against London Irish, and therefore big questions must be asked about what his future playing position will be? He brings plenty to the table. His work rate is great, he's a good lineout option when used, he's got great cover defense, and he's got very good leadership qualities. However none of them make up for the fact that he hasn't been getting over the advantage line from 8 for a long time now, and that's something Wales are sorely missing. When you're number 12 is more effective at carrying the ball than your number 8, something wrong. Just lookign athow influential the likes of Rush and Lyons are at the Blues and Scarlets highlights what both the Ospreys and Wales have been missing over the past couple of years.

Is Jonathan Thomas the man to provide that role, not really, but he's the best option at the moment. I think Powell could be an even better option after the Aus game, if he really has managed to cut the stupid errors from his game, and actually runs at space instead of at defenders. Delve could've been lapping up the chance to show what he can do if he hadn't moved to Aus, he's just the kinda player we need. Combinations of injuries and Gatland being stubborn have meant he's never come close to cementing his place in the Welsh squad, pitty as he has bags of potential.

The Dragons looks like the best hope of producing the kind of 8 we need. Bearman's chance has well and trully gone now, since he's still nowhere to be seen. But Faletau has got the physique. Unfortunately there are NWQ players filling the roles at both the Blues and Scarlets, who are great for their respective regions, but meaning no-one else is really getting a shot. Ben Morgan looked goot for the Scarlets the other day, but Lyons is probably too important to them to leave out. He may get a couple of games, but won't be anywhere neer ready for Wales duty for a good couple of years, if he makes it at all.

Had totally forgotten about Gareth Delve since hes moved to Australia but you're totally right in what you say that he would be ideal to take the number 8 spot and make it his own had he stayed locally rather than the other side of the world. I'm sure he'll have seen that Ryan Jones is out injured for the Australia game and see it as a real opportunity missed. Powell has looked really good for London Wasps and I heard Kingsley Jones on Scrum V on Sunday saying that in his opinion Powell had his best game against Sale and saved a struggling Wasps pack so he is of course an option after the Aussie game. Although it pains me to say it I think you're right about Bearman because I read recently that his injury may be career threatening and the clock is ticking at his age (I'd love nothing more than him to make a miraculous recovery and get back to form straight away but thats not realistic.) In my opinion Bearman would be the closest Number 8 to the skillfull Michael Owen who was first choice throughout our 2005 Grandslam. Of course theres JT who is a very versatile and "EXPERIENCED" player who has played well and taken his opportunity at number 8 for the Ospreys in Ryan Jones' absence. Would love to see Faletau get a chance and with Gatland's record of bringing in youngsters why not? Another 1 or 2 injuries and he may be in Gatland's thoughts for a call-up. However he has just come back from injury so maybe give him a while to get back into it. Of course it comes down WG and he seems to go with the policy if you're good enough then you're old enough. The bottom line is we do have options if Ryan Jones was not to recover from his minor injury come the second match so we shouldn't be too worried. Also I don't know how hes doing over in France but what about Alix Popham? Yes he had a habit of being quite ill disciplined but who knows he may have lost that out of his game in which case he would be a good number 8. Just throwing it out there but obivously I don't know how well hes playing etc.

 

[dullonien]

Alix Popham has become a bit of a forgotten man. That's the risk you take when moving to another country. He's playing well by all accounts, but obviously not well enough to force the media to big him up. When Stephen Jones went to France, he stayed in the public's eye, in the media's eye and ultimately the Welsh coaches eye because he was playign so well. Moving abroad and playing ok hasn't done Popham any favours, even if he might be playing as well if not better than some of the choices playing in Wales.

I'm not sure I'd even want Bearman representing Wales anymore. If he hadn't got injured last season when he was on the verge of getting called up, then at least he'd have had a few seasons left in him to play for Wales. But getting called up now at the age of 31 (32 in Feb), then what's the point. Bringing back an experienced player to do a job at the WC is one thing, handing out new caps to 31 y/o's is a step backwards.

Faletau isn't ready for international rugby yet. He needs to improve his handling skills imo, as he was guilty of a couple of knock ons for the Dragons on the weekend. Gametime for the Dragons will sort that out though, he could be there or thereabouts the 6 nations following the WC though.

Should Ryan Jones automatically get his place back if he's fit after the Aus game?

 

[MichaelBoard]

No, I don't think he should automatically get his place back, after all he has only played a few games since coming back for the Ospreys. The only players in my opinion who should come straight back into the side are Lee Byrne at fullback because he our 1 outstanding fullback and James Hook at centre as well as Stephen Jones at 10. Also Matthew Rees in the forwards

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Shane Williams, too. Wales without Shane is like fish without chips.

And on the experience note, Ryan Jones took up Rugby at 18. He'd been a goalkeeper for Bristol City Youth until then. (Though he had played briefly in school)

 

[dullonien]

Jonathan Davies now also out of the Aus game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9120272.stm

 

[Draggs]

Jonathan Davies now also out of the Aus game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9120272.stm

#$%^&*

Right, how about this?

9. Mike Phillips
10. Stephen Jones
11. Shane Williams
12. James Hook
13. Andrew Bishop
14. Will Harries
15. Tom Prydie/Chris Czekaj

20. Richie Rees/Tavis Knoyle (Richie has a small injury)
21. Tom Shanklin
22. Tom Prydie/Chris Czekaj

If anything happens at FB, Hook can switch there and have Shanklin take his spot in the centre (same goes for standoff changes) or Tom/Chris can be brought on.

It would be fantastic to see Gareth Delve in the squad, I'd easily start him over Jonathan Thomas.
Lydiate should be fit, so a bit of positive news on the injury front.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

God, that's a lot of players out for the Aus game!
At least a handful will be there afterwards, but sheesh
Suppose that ends the Davies vs Bishop argument

 

[dullonien]

That backline looks bang on Draggs. I'd be tempted to have Brew on the bench for the added impact he'd bring. Afterall both Harries and Hook can cover fullback if something happened to Czekaj/Prydie.

Not a bad place to be after loosing two centres, to have Bishop starting and Shanklin on the bench! Certainly shows that there is already depth in certain positions.