I think some of the reaction has been just but some need to calm down.
There are some shock selections in the midst of what Howley has selected. Think the biggest talking point is starting Preistland at 10. The guy has seriously been lacking some form. I don't rate him but obviously in training he has been doing the right things which is why Howley and Co have gone with him. I only need to remind people that under Gatland, Howley and Co. Wales team selections have tended to be quite consistent and that club form does not always dictate / guarantee a player's selection. This has proven successful for Wales and at the end of the day people years ago were calling for consistent selection and this is what they are getting. I still believe that this is a big mistake as Preistland has rarely delivered in a Welsh shirt and to be fair Biggar should have gotten the nod.
As for Jarivs. He's stepped up to fill Adam's boots at club level and been successful. It's now a chance for him to do so at International level and see if he is a better bet than others. Personally I would have selected Paul James at three but I have enough confidence that Jarvis will do the business. I find it laughable that there were some who think Gethin should have been dropped, again goes to my point above ... Gethin delivers everytime for Wales and does it every game. Rarely does he have a bad game in a Welsh shirt, people I think need reminding of that. On the same point ... it doesn't matter if we have Gethn and Jarv starting in regard 'less of a scrummager' because both will do a job, be more worried if it would have been Andrews at 3. James should have started at 3 not at 1 if anything.
The selection of Turnbull is a right field selection. Not one I necessarily agree on but one I can see why it has. Personally I would have rather seen Warburton at 6 and if not then Shingler who offers something more than Turnbull. Turnbull has obviously done enough in Spala to show that he deserved the 6 slot.
Boys seriously grow a pair and get behind this team and not be all doom and gloom. Let's be positive.
I'm on the opinion that Knoyle is lucky to start. I don't think he's great and neither do I think he is better than Lloyd. Phillips on the other hand is plain lucky to be involved. A man who can provide a touch of class on those rare moments which allow people to talk how good he is rather than them focusing on what he doesn't do for Wales ... quick ball for the backs. But as I have already said ... consistent selection is what Wales are about.
I do agree with a lot of that, but form should always be taken into account, especially after what happened in Austrailia where arguably not selecting the form players cost us a test, if not a series. Down under, Priestland, Warburton and Gethin Jenkins in particular were all well below where they should have been.
I do agree with dropping Phillips to some extent. He's been in dire form by all accounts, and has also been in trouble off the field. I do think that Knoyle has been in ok form, behind a weak pack, but then I also think that Gareth Davies is the form 9 at the Scarlets, not Knoyle. Hopefully dropping Phillips has the desired effect, because I fully expect him to come on, and if he proves himself, I'd also expect him to then start the remaining tests. Lloyd's form is not good at the moment, I'd have Knoyle over him.
I have no problem with Jarvis' selection. He was always my first choice after Adam was ruled out. Moving Paul James is a temporary measure, and we need to develop some back-up for Adam. Hopefully Samson Lee also get's a chance. I really do hope Gethin recovers form, but he was quite poor in Austrailia, and is not getting game time at Toulon. Paul James is a better scrummager than Gethin, I don't think anyone can dispute that, so starting Paul James on the loose in the absence of Adam Jones would have been sensible imo. I do think that we may struggle slightly in the scrum against Argentina, nothing huge.
Turnbull just makes no sense to me. He's not been playing well at 7 for the Scarlets, granted out of position. Moving Warburton isn't a big deal imo, especially because he's not been in top form himself. Tipuric has been the stand-out backrower in Wales, but hasn't been included, yet they are prepared to move Turnbull away from the position he's been playing all season at the Scarlets. Shingler would have been a better option, but the most sensible option would have been to have both Warburton and Tipuric.
I am fully behind the team, but honestly my opinions of Howley are quite low.
Wales have always placed too much emphasis on training. This has sometimes paid off, but form should always be a better guide. The times that Wales have gone on form (World Cup), Wales have performed.
