Italy v Wales

[Draggs]

Good news on Paul.
Sam starting 15, if possible, according to Howler.
Glad we are going for consistency instead of stupid selections and potentially effing us up. (As we are so good at doing)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Bad news if we keep Phillips at 9!

 

[Draggs]

Bad news if we keep Phillips at 9!

Ah yes, I was caught up in a sudden rush of optimism that I forgot about him. Phillips to bench, Peel to start. I have heard Halfpenny could be back, North will be another two weeks or so.
Ryan seems to have come back into good form, now we need Byrne and Phillips to follow.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Should try Priestland at 15 for this, imo

 

[Draggs]

Should try Priestland at 15 for this, imo

Still not convinced with him at 15, like Tovey, he seems to be just a standoff pushed to fullback.
I'd pick Halfpenny at fullback over him, just to give ourselves a few more options at 15 come September. I still have hope that Martyn Thomas will be selected, I'd definitely like to see him play for Wales XV against the Barbarians.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Reckon best thing Wales can do is put some points on the board and if we are comfortable (which we never are) then shove him on for 20 mins. No point having him on the bench and getting no international exposure!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Halfpenny is back, I'd agree to that, too - but Priestland has played very well at 15 for Scarlets though (such as in the early Heineken matches, against Perpignan and Tigers)
With Hook evidently being eyed up as flyhalf for the near future, a replacement 15 needs to be tested as if Byrne gets injured it means disrupting more than just 1 position

 

[TRF_Cymro]

If Halfpenny is back, I'd agree to that, too - but Priestland has played very well at 15 for Scarlets though (such as in the early Heineken matches, against Perpignan and Tigers)
With Hook evidently being eyed up as flyhalf for the near future, a replacement 15 needs to be tested as if Byrne gets injured it means disrupting more than just 1 position

Debate comes back to, if Byrne drops when is he going to get the game time to get back to his best? Its a catch 22, best option is to look at bringing Preistland on with 20 or so to go. Maybe try Halfpenny there.

 

[Draggs]

If Halfpenny is back, I'd agree to that, too - but Priestland has played very well at 15 for Scarlets though (such as in the early Heineken matches, against Perpignan and Tigers)
With Hook evidently being eyed up as flyhalf for the near future, a replacement 15 needs to be tested as if Byrne gets injured it means disrupting more than just 1 position

I agree. Fullback has been out weakest position for quite a while. We have switched players through that position many times, but have rarely had a natural fullback.
Shane Howarth, Matt Cardey, Rhys Williams, Kevin Morgan, Gareth Thomas, Lee Byrne, Morgan Stoddart, Jamie Roberts, and James Hook have all played at fullback since 2000.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I agree. Fullback has been out weakest position for quite a while. We have switched players through that position many times, but have rarely had a natural fullback.
Shane Howarth, Matt Cardey, Rhys Williams, Kevin Morgan, Gareth Thomas, Lee Byrne, Morgan Stoddart, Jamie Roberts, and James Hook have all played at fullback since 2000.

Stephen Jones did have a small stint there also!

 

[Draggs]

Yes, Wellies played there once, in 2001.
Gavin also played at fullback a few times if I remember correctly.

 

[SelimNiai]

Ok, this might just be a typical forward missing the "finer points" of being a pretty boy back but how different is being a 15 to a 10?

Kicking, safe hands, awareness and the ability to read the game are attributes needed for both so why do most 10s make cruddy 15s and vice versa.

How hard can it be to play both as effectivley?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

10 has a lot of play making and organising involved,
You're the guy making sure all the other backs are doing what they're supposed to, and sorting the moves/set pieces etc.
Full back partly does this for the defence too, but Flyhalf is the most influential backs position, which is why teams with a poor/stupid flyhalf tend to play poorly

Generally flyhalves do make decent FBs too (i.e Henson, Priestland, and Sale are currently using a Flyhalf (Miller/MacLeod) as fullback-backup to Miller) - Fullbacks don't really slot into 10 as easily as the other way round though

I remember hearing commentators once saying that playing Fullback is like a stepdown to flyhalf, and where a lot of flyhalves will earn their stripes (think it was when Cipriani was playing FB for England, with an eye on the 10 shirt)


That's my view on it anyway, not having played either position :lol:

 

[SelimNiai]

All good points and they do make sense. Generally I would always run at the 10 in open play as I often knew he was thier most important player

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Neil Jenkins full back for Lions 1997 FWT!

 

[Draggs]

Neil Jenkins full back for Lions 1997 FWT!

Won the series. Stuff Guscott.

While a 10, such as Hook, can cover fullback well, they really lack the attacking and line breaking skills a fullback needs. Similarly, a wing to fullback conversion often lacks the kicking needed.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales centre Jonathan Davies injury doubt for Italy

Shortage at centre be interesting to see what happens now!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just seen on the Wales Online site that Halfpenny is having a fitness test this week to see if he'll be fit for Saturday, and that North is playing for Scarlets on Thursday so could potentially be play for Wales by the end of the tournament,
They also seem to think that if Halfpenny is fit that he'll start with Stoddart moving to the bench at the expense of Priestland (which would be stuuuuuuuuuuuuupid)


What would happen if Davies does go out injured? Move Hook back to the centres and start Jones again?
Would they call up someone new?
I think Maule is worth a shout, had another good game for Scarlets against Ulster (though on the wing rather than centre)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Just seen on the Wales Online site that Halfpenny is having a fitness test this week to see if he'll be fit for Saturday, and that North is playing for Scarlets on Thursday so could potentially be play for Wales by the end of the tournament,
They also seem to think that if Halfpenny is fit that he'll start with Stoddart moving to the bench at the expense of Priestland (which would be stuuuuuuuuuuuuupid)


What would happen if Davies does go out injured? Move Hook back to the centres and start Jones again?
Would they call up someone new?
I think Maule is worth a shout, had another good game for Scarlets against Ulster (though on the wing rather than centre)

Well by the sounds of it they might not call anyone in, if they do it will be the two that have previously trained with Wales and that would be Scott Williams of the Scarlets and Dafydd Hewitt of the Blues.

It will likely be Hook and Roberts in the center mind!

 

[TrueSlawter]

Maule can play Centre too from what ive seen, well he's played there before iirc. It depends on how long davies is out for if he gets dropped for a replacement, if he's out the backs should go -

9- Peel
10- Jones
11- Williams
12- Hook
13- Roberts
14- Halfpenny (if fit) / stoddard
15- byrne (give him 1 more shot) with Priestland coming on in the second half.


Also this time gatland dont sub Lydiate for fecking Jonathan Thomas <.<