Lee Byrne out until NZ Game

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales full-back Lee Byrne has been ruled out of the autumn Tests against Australia, South Africa and Fiji after fracturing a bone in his hand.

The Welsh Rugby Union say Byrne has "an outside chance" of making the 27 November New Zealand game but he misses Australia, South Africa and Fiji.

Blues back Chris Czekaj has been called into the squad as a replacement.

Scarlets back-row forward Rob McCusker has withdrawn from the squad to undergo a hernia operation.

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

 

[dullonien]

Oh ffs, pure balls....

One of our most important players, and just when he was starting to get some form back! Who do we now play at 15? My guess is that Gatland will move Hook there which will leave us short of creativity in the centres. Other options are Harries (no real kicking game), Halfpenny (never been that convinced with him at 15), or Czekaj (gone downhill in recent weeks).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I reckon Prydie,
He replaced Byrne yesterday when he went off, and Gatland does have a huge mancrush on him

 

[dullonien]

Afraid Prydie will get exposed at fullback. He did well on the wing, but he will be targetted big time at fulback. Would be a massive test for the lad, but if Gatland feels he's up to the job then hopefully he'll do well.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Agreed,
Hook would be safest at the back, but then the midfield would suffer a lot for it, so Czekaj would be the best option, but i really think Prydie will be picked (especially as he was already named in the squad for FB, whereas Czekaj has only just been called) - Czekaj should still get bench time for his troubles though

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

While Byrne is obviously a big blow, everyone's overlooked the fact that McCusker is also out- Leaving the strength in depth at 6 hit big time, espechially as nobody has been called up 'at this stage' (Meaning Powell will be in post-Austrailia).

I think I'd put Czekaj in at 15, although Halfpenny would have to cover if he has a wobbler- We can't afford to lose Hook from midfield.

 

[Amobokoboko]

A pity, but now he can gain his strength for the NZ game

 

[TRF_Cymro]

A pity, but now he can gain his strength for the NZ game

How can he when he is injured ...

 

[Feicarsinn]

A pity, but now he can gain his strength for the NZ game

Eh? How does that work?

 

[MichaelBoard]

Thats a major blow for us. I agree that Hook would probably be the safest option at fullback but I personally wouldn't put him there simply for the reason that we would lose much needed creativity in the centre like others have said and cannot do without that creativity against the likes of the Aussies and All Blacks. Jason Tovey would be a good shout for a call up but its unlikely that Gatland would consider him as hes just come back from injury. Czekaj was called up to replace Lee Byrne so he is the obvious replacement and in my opinion the player most likely to start at fulback. Theres also Morgan Stoddart playing quite well for the Scarlets now but I think hes widely considered as a winger now eventhough I'm sure all of his caps for Wales have been at fullback. Prydie is an obvious contender as well but as earlier mentioned playing at full back is very different to playing on the wing in the sense that all eyes will be on him and he will likely be under all sort of pressure and be targeted as a weak link in the side.

 

[Draggs]

Czekaj looks good going forward, but like Prydie, his tackling is suspect and they both seem to panic when caught with the ball in their own 22's.
The obvious choice is Hook 15, JD 12 and Bish 13.
Harries hasn't been bad at fullback lately. Kicking is a bit weak but he is a good runner and breaks the defence pretty well.

I'd pick Daniel Evans or Rhys Priestland over Morgan 'the gap' Stoddart (who I believe is out with injury right now).
Tovey is 10 and should only be thought of as such. He was played at 15 to accommodate Arlidge/Jones over the past year, but has shown that he is a standoff.

I wish Fiji was the first game, or at least second, to allow some player experimentation.

 

[MichaelBoard]

Czekaj looks good going forward, but like Prydie, his tackling is suspect and they both seem to panic when caught with the ball in their own 22's.
The obvious choice is Hook 15, JD 12 and Bish 13.
Harries hasn't been bad at fullback lately. Kicking is a bit weak but he is a good runner and breaks the defence pretty well.

I'd pick Daniel Evans or Rhys Priestland over Morgan 'the gap' Stoddart (who I believe is out with injury right now).
Tovey is 10 and should only be thought of as such. He was played at 15 to accommodate Arlidge/Jones over the past year, but has shown that he is a standoff.

I wish Fiji was the first game, or at least second, to allow some player experimentation.

yeah I agree with what you're saying with Tovey being a 10 rather than 15. was just making the point though that under the circumstances he'd be one of the better options to slot in at 15 as he has played there in the past fro the Dragons albeit to accomodate James Arlidge or Matthew Jones (by the way I think Matthew Jones is dire and don't rate him at all. Would much rather Arlidge who is playing really well by all accounts at Bedford or even Shaun Connor or obviously Tovey). I guess my point is all of our options to replace Byrne aren't natural fullbacks: Theres Czekaj who has played a few games at fullback but is ultimately a winger, Stoddart (hes back from injury and played against the Blues on Saturday) who blows hot and cold but could potentially be very good, Harries who again is a winger but has had no choice but to play at fullback a few times because of injuries in the Dragons squad as well as people questioning his kicking game, havn't seen much of Daniel Evans so can't really comment and theres Rhys Priestland who played at 10 on the weekend against the Blues and played very well. I agree that Priestland is a good option but is young so who knows how he would cope at international level (I'm sure he'd be fine though). Of course theres Hook but as I previously mentioned though hes the most obvious choice personally if it was me picking the side I definitely would leave him at centre. So there are plenty of options for Wales at fullback but nobody is really standing out to be picked. There was always going to come a time eventually where Lee Byrne would get injured or when he eventually retires so maybe its a good thing that we can blood a few players in the fullback position to find a natural replacement to succeed Lee Byrne when he hangs up his boots.

 

[Draggs]

...Matthew Jones (by the way I think Matthew Jones is dire and don't rate him at all. Would much rather Arlidge who is playing really well by all accounts at Bedford or even Shaun Connor or obviously Tovey)

Agreed on all points.

Stoddart is out again:

But Wales flanker Rob McCusker hobbled off with a knee problem, while wing Morgan Stoddart, who has just returned to action after nearly two years out, picked up another hamstring injury.

“It’s very frustrating for Morgan,†said Davies, who already has new Wales squad wing George North currently on the sidelines.

“I really do feel for him because he has had this injury and he is still struggling to fully recover from it, but he just has to keeping working hard and he will be back.â€

Wales really are in dire need for a full time fullback after Byrne. Hopefully Martyn Thomas improves and is able to stay fit.

 

[dullonien]

Byrne has been extremely injury prone over the past two seasons so it's probably for the best (looking ahead to the WC) that someone else is blooded incase he's injured at some point during the WC. For that reason alone I don't think Hook is the correct player to fill the position in the AI's, as he's never going to be a long term option. What's the point of using him as stop gap cover when we'd find ourselves in the exact same position if Byrne is injured again. Hook has potential to be an awesome centre, or shift back to 10 with much more maturity and axperience under his belt. Fullback is never going to be his best position.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Priestland has proven himself this season (and some of last season) to be a ver, very good option at fullback. There are question marks over his one on one tackling on occasion, but no more so than Hook or any of the other options. He does however have an extremely good rugby brain and hits the line well from fullback, not to mention a great kicking game (as shown v Blues). He's uncapped, but he's quite an experienced campainer for the Scarlets now, and has only ever let them down kicking at goal (which never effects the rest of his game, always a good sign of self confidence). Cyril and Cymro will probably say that he should be nowhere neer the team, but imo he's a better option than all the rest at the moment, especially after Czekaj's poor performances of late.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Preistland has one good game (yes one outstanding game, others are meh) and instantly becomes a selection contender ... its quite obviously a joke. Some of the names thrown around at times is crazy. Id rather see Gavin Henson play there than Preistland!

 

[dullonien]

I've been impressed with him for a while Cymro. I think everyone knows his goalkicking is inconsistant at best and this is what let's him down when playing 10. But at 15, without the need for place-kicking, I fail to see why he is 'quite obviously a joke'.

He was awesome in both the games v Blues and Perpignan, and I've seen many good games from him at both 10 and 15. He was average along with the rest of the team v Leicester, but that can't be held against him, otherwise it would also have to be held against King, Steven Jones etc. etc. I can't think of any glaring errors in his gameplay (forget about goalkicking for now), and he's an attacking threat, and a very good kicking option out of hand.

The only thing to hold against him is that he hasn't been a regular starter at fullback for the past year or two. However neither have any of the other option we have. What am I missing here, because I can't see it!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I've been impressed with him for a while Cymro. I think everyone knows his goalkicking is inconsistant at best and this is what let's him down when playing 10. But at 15, without the need for place-kicking, I fail to see why he is 'quite obviously a joke'.

He was awesome in both the games v Blues and Perpignan, and I've seen many good games from him at both 10 and 15. He was average along with the rest of the team v Leicester, but that can't be held against him, otherwise it would also have to be held against King, Steven Jones etc. etc. I can't think of any glaring errors in his gameplay (forget about goalkicking for now), and he's an attacking threat, and a very good kicking option out of hand.

The only thing to hold against him is that he hasn't been a regular starter at fullback for the past year or two. However neither have any of the other option we have. What am I missing here, because I can't see it!

The boy is not good enough, he is far to inconsistent and his game time decisions are poor. Thats what you are missing and thats what Gatland and the boys see. Im glad Gatland is in charge and not you Dull because we would see some pretty average players playing for Wales.

 

[dullonien]

Haha, fair enough. I honestly can't remember many poor game time decisions. The reasons he's usually critisised for are all to do with his goal kicking which have cost the Scarlets many a game in the past. That's where his inconsistency's come to light, not in open play, and not in his kicking from hand. He's had some great tactical games for the Scarlets from 10 aswell, so I completely disagree with you there. His defense isn't perfect, but it's no worse than Tovey's or Biggars at 10, and I don't recall it being a majour concern at fullback. I feel that you're letting his goal kicking influence your opinions of him, where you should't unless it's regarding playing 10.

You obviously don't rate many of the fringe Scarlets players, and that's fine because they haven't been performing for the last few seasons. But for me I've seen some good individual performances (albeight in patches whilst Nigel Davies changes his mind every other week) over that time. I remember commenting on the form of the Scarlets second row at the beggining of last season, when along with Ken Owens they won pretty much every lineout going their way. They have had another good start to the season, so let's see if that continues.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Haha, fair enough. I honestly can't remember many poor game time decisions. The reasons he's usually critisised for are all to do with his goal kicking which have cost the Scarlets many a game in the past. That's where his inconsistency's come to light, not in open play, and not in his kicking from hand. He's had some great tactical games for the Scarlets from 10 aswell, so I completely disagree with you there. His defense isn't perfect, but it's no worse than Tovey's or Biggars at 10, and I don't recall it being a majour concern at fullback. I feel that you're letting his goal kicking influence your opinions of him, where you should't unless it's regarding playing 10.

You obviously don't rate many of the fringe Scarlets players, and that's fine because they haven't been performing for the last few seasons. But for me I've seen some good individual performances (albeight in patches whilst Nigel Davies changes his mind every other week) over that time. I remember commenting on the form of the Scarlets second row at the beggining of last season, when along with Ken Owens they won pretty much every lineout going their way. They have had another good start to the season, so let's see if that continues.

I got nothing against the Scarlets, I still believe Ken Owens should be infront of Bennett for Wales and the likes of Turnbull should be included. What I dont agree / want to see is average Magners League players playing for Wales when they clearly aint good enough. Maybe this is were Wales A is needed to bridge the gap.

 

[dullonien]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't saying you did have anything against the Scarlets Cymro. You always come across as a very fair judge of players and never favour any region. Just simply pointing out that our opinions differ when it comes to a couple of the Scarlets boys. Always gonna be differences of oppinion, would make this forum a little boring otherwise. Came out a bit wrong, tis all.