Can't wait for this match now, just gotta make sure I'm up in time!
I have some mixed feelings about the team Gatland has selected. I can see why Charteris has been selected, because when things go to plan, he can be an excellent lineout jumper, and that's the one biog area that needed improving. Bradley Davies also hasn't managed to hit the form he showed last season yet, having much less impact, so overall I think this could work out well. The rest of the pack picked itself really with Ryan Jones not available. Hopefully Faletau will step up another notch or two and show why everyone in Wales is hugely excited about this young man. Along with Lydiate and Warbs, he forms a very young backrow with an average age of what, 21? Exciting times ahead.
I'm a little more concerned about the makeup of the backline. The main two problems I have is with Hook at fullback, and the centre partership. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Hook doesn't make a good fullback. He makes a solid fullback, but he's simply too far away from the action, and not decisive enough with his runs to make any real impact from the 15 berth. The problem would be, if not Hook then who? Byrne is a big no for me (which begs the question, why was he included in the squad in the first place), but how about Halfpenny, or playing Priestland at 15. I've got no problem with Priestland at 10, he's an excellent attacking outside half who's a little more direct than Hook, but imo he makes a better fullback than Hook, due to his extra pace and running lines. Switching those two would make alot of sense in my book, and I'm not quite sure why Gatland persists in switching Hook to 15 on a regular basis. As I said, the centres is another are that concerns me slightly. Jon Davies has yet to get close to his barnstorming Scarlets best for Wales, and there's little sign that it will happen in this game. At the moment, he's little more than solid alongside Roberts who's returning to some genuine form. I'm not sure the two work all that well, and for me, this is where Hook is really needed at the moment, to bring some creativity ito the midfield. If I were Gatland I'd have gone for a backline of: 9 Knoyle, 10 Priestland, 11 Shane, 12 Roberts, 13 Hook, 14 North, 15 Halfpenny. We might have lost a little defensively, but I think we would have gained more in attack.
Alas, this is not the case, but all is not lost. The team Gatland has selected is still a strong one, and some of my issues are reletively minour in comparison to the past. I'm still predicting a close game, and I still believe we can win tomorrow morning. Gatland can still move Hook foreward and bring Halfpenny on if things aren't going to plan. I'm certainly weary of SA's forwards, particularily Matfield and Brussow, and whether we can live with the power the entire Bok forward pack brings for the full 80. If Warburton continues where he left off against England, and Alun-Wyn v Argies then I think we could surprise many, but the rest of the pack need to step-up a level aswell. Let's produce some quick ball and see what that backline can do, afterall every one of them are gamebreakers on their day, given a little space, but it all starts up front.