Scarlets duo set for Wales debuts

[Cymro]

Uncapped Scarlets pair Daniel Evans and Jonathan Davies will make their Wales debuts against Canada on Saturday.

Caretaker coach Robin McBryde has named a youthful backline that, apart from experienced scrum-half Gareth Cooper, boasts just 10 international caps.

Blues wing Chris Czekaj returns for his first cap since fracturing an ankle on last year's Australia tour.

Ryan Jones leads the side from number eight, while Bradley Davies and Deiniol Jones form an all-Blues lock pairing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...lsh/8069003.stm

Wales: Daniel Evans (Scarlets); Tom James (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Blues); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Gareth Williams (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Nicky Robinson (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).

 

[Sir Speedy]

Yay, Jon will be a star in a few years.

ALSO, WARBURTON OVER DAFYDD S'IL VOUS PLAIT.

 

[Cymro]

Looking forward to seeing Jonathan Davies, Tom James, Gareth Williams, Craig Mitchell, Sam Warburton, Nicky Robinson, Jonathan Spratt all play.

 

[dullonien]

Tom James should rip 'em to shreds. While this is the start to Warberton's rise to faim

Jon Davies needs to improve his defence, he get's caught out way to often imo. The rest of his game is pretty good though. Glad to see the young Daniel Evans getting a look in, he's really impressed me since getting his chance at the Scarlets, not the same devastating runner Stoddard is, but his all round game is much better. Hopefully we'll see good competition between the two over the next few years, improving both players overall games. As for Czekaj, they need to tell him to use his size and run through players if need be, he's got all the qualities to be a great winger, but he does't always appear to back himself.

Overall, quite happy with the team. Warberton starting would have been better, maybe Ceri Jones getting a chance instead of Duncan, and Peel over Cooper, but shouldn't matter too much. Hope Yapp can survive scrum time, he's not the best in that aspect of the game. Also, where's Delve ffs. He should be getting his chance on a tour like this, he's a quality player who's been dreadfully unlucky with injuries. We need him back in the Wales fold to challenge Ryan an Andy for the no 8 jursey.

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ May 27 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Tom James should rip 'em to shreds. While this is the start to Warberton's rise to faim

Jon Davies needs to improve his defence, he get's caught out way to often imo. The rest of his game is pretty good though. Glad to see the young Daniel Evans getting a look in, he's really impressed me since getting his chance at the Scarlets, not the same devastating runner Stoddard is, but his all round game is much better. Hopefully we'll see good competition between the two over the next few years, improving both players overall games. As for Czekaj, they need to tell him to use his size and run through players if need be, he's got all the qualities to be a great winger, but he does't always appear to back himself.

Overall, quite happy with the team. Warberton starting would have been better, maybe Ceri Jones getting a chance instead of Duncan, and Peel over Cooper, but shouldn't matter too much. Hope Yapp can survive scrum time, he's not the best in that aspect of the game. Also, where's Delve ffs. He should be getting his chance on a tour like this, he's a quality player who's been dreadfully unlucky with injuries. We need him back in the Wales fold to challenge Ryan an Andy for the no 8 jursey.[/b]

Delve did not go for mutual reasons. Which Wales respected them.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ May 27 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Tom James should rip 'em to shreds. While this is the start to Warberton's rise to faim

Jon Davies needs to improve his defence, he get's caught out way to often imo. The rest of his game is pretty good though. Glad to see the young Daniel Evans getting a look in, he's really impressed me since getting his chance at the Scarlets, not the same devastating runner Stoddard is, but his all round game is much better. Hopefully we'll see good competition between the two over the next few years, improving both players overall games. As for Czekaj, they need to tell him to use his size and run through players if need be, he's got all the qualities to be a great winger, but he does't always appear to back himself.

Overall, quite happy with the team. Warberton starting would have been better, maybe Ceri Jones getting a chance instead of Duncan, and Peel over Cooper, but shouldn't matter too much. Hope Yapp can survive scrum time, he's not the best in that aspect of the game. Also, where's Delve ffs. He should be getting his chance on a tour like this, he's a quality player who's been dreadfully unlucky with injuries. We need him back in the Wales fold to challenge Ryan an Andy for the no 8 jursey.[/b]

Yapp smashed them to bits in the Autumn at Scrum-Time, just hope he can do the same the other side of the scrum. Just wish we could see Dragons players like Fussell and Tovey in action too.

 

[excitation]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ May 28 2009, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ May 27 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tom James should rip 'em to shreds. While this is the start to Warberton's rise to faim

Jon Davies needs to improve his defence, he get's caught out way to often imo. The rest of his game is pretty good though. Glad to see the young Daniel Evans getting a look in, he's really impressed me since getting his chance at the Scarlets, not the same devastating runner Stoddard is, but his all round game is much better. Hopefully we'll see good competition between the two over the next few years, improving both players overall games. As for Czekaj, they need to tell him to use his size and run through players if need be, he's got all the qualities to be a great winger, but he does't always appear to back himself.

Overall, quite happy with the team. Warberton starting would have been better, maybe Ceri Jones getting a chance instead of Duncan, and Peel over Cooper, but shouldn't matter too much. Hope Yapp can survive scrum time, he's not the best in that aspect of the game. Also, where's Delve ffs. He should be getting his chance on a tour like this, he's a quality player who's been dreadfully unlucky with injuries. We need him back in the Wales fold to challenge Ryan an Andy for the no 8 jursey.[/b]

Yapp smashed them to bits in the Autumn at Scrum-Time, just hope he can do the same the other side of the scrum. Just wish we could see Dragons players like Fussell and Tovey in action too.
[/b][/quote]


Smashed them to bits?
What game were you watching... ?
the score is going to be closer then you think, most likely the same score as that last game in Cardiff 34-13.

Wales will beat the States by 35+ points, Canada most likely 15-20.

 

[Cymro]

Canada spoiled the game terribly, the ref to was a shocker, when Tait got yellow carded first half did he take the yellow card with him?

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (excitation @ May 30 2009, 08:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ May 28 2009, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ May 27 2009, 07:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tom James should rip 'em to shreds. While this is the start to Warberton's rise to faim

Jon Davies needs to improve his defence, he get's caught out way to often imo. The rest of his game is pretty good though. Glad to see the young Daniel Evans getting a look in, he's really impressed me since getting his chance at the Scarlets, not the same devastating runner Stoddard is, but his all round game is much better. Hopefully we'll see good competition between the two over the next few years, improving both players overall games. As for Czekaj, they need to tell him to use his size and run through players if need be, he's got all the qualities to be a great winger, but he does't always appear to back himself.

Overall, quite happy with the team. Warberton starting would have been better, maybe Ceri Jones getting a chance instead of Duncan, and Peel over Cooper, but shouldn't matter too much. Hope Yapp can survive scrum time, he's not the best in that aspect of the game. Also, where's Delve ffs. He should be getting his chance on a tour like this, he's a quality player who's been dreadfully unlucky with injuries. We need him back in the Wales fold to challenge Ryan an Andy for the no 8 jursey.[/b]

Yapp smashed them to bits in the Autumn at Scrum-Time, just hope he can do the same the other side of the scrum. Just wish we could see Dragons players like Fussell and Tovey in action too.
[/b][/quote]


Smashed them to bits?
What game were you watching... ?
the score is going to be closer then you think, most likely the same score as that last game in Cardiff 34-13.

Wales will beat the States by 35+ points, Canada most likely 15-20.
[/b][/quote]

Yeah the fact that Canada gave away two penalty tries from collapsed scrums kinda shows how dominant teh Welsh pack were in the scrums...
They did it again today, and Canada were very lucky not to concede a penalty try at some stage or other.
Could have throttled that ref though, he really spoiled the game and let the Canucks get away with murder at the breakdown. And the decision to call Bishop back when he was through for the try so Wales could have a penalty is still utterly baffling to me. Fair play to teh Candaians, they showed some class handling skills for their tries (though I swear one came from a knock on...)

 

[Sir Speedy]

Hm, let's see:

Positives:
Biggar's kicking.
Tom James' feet. Jaysus that boy can run.
Ryan Jones' game.
We managed to beat them reasonably despite putting out a third choice team with an error-strewn game.
Our scrum mullered theirs; really should have taken advantage by getting some penalty tries.

Negatives:
Ryan Jones' captaincy (some very suspect decisions from penalties...)
Peel didn't do much when he came on, besides providing some slick passing.
Jon Davies was average.
Handling errors all round.
The ref didn't let the game flow.
Lineout was a shambles again, though I've come to expect it over the past 4 years.

 

[cyRil]

Ryan Jones was playing?

 

[Sir Speedy]

Didn't you hear the commentators jizzing over his game at every opportunity?

 

[cyRil]

Must have missed that completely. I thought he was totally anonymous, and so have concluded that he would fit right into the Lions pack. Fly him out now!!

 

[dullonien]

I thought Ryan Jones went ok, but not as he should against a team like Canada (no disrespect). I thought Daf Jones and Sowden Taylor were very poor, why wasn't Warberton brought on? Biggar needs to control his long passing, could have been a couple of intercepts if the Canadians looked up and went for the ball instead of the player, it wlso meant Jon Davies was giver man and ball on numerous occasions. They need to get Tom James into the game even more, he's a devastating runner, and but for the oppoition 11 who had good pace Tom James might have got another couple of tries.

Gotta agree with the rest about the ref, he was pure shite. The Canadians deserves 3-4 yellows in the first half alone, every time Wales made a break into Canada's 22, the ball was blatantly killed and nothing was done. If the ref had more balls, and yellowed another couple the game would have been totally different, as it was Wales weren't allowed quick ball, meaning no space to attack.

I have gotta finish this off by applauding some of Candaians attacking play. They scored two lovely tries that NZ would have been proud of, great handling and use of space.

 

[cyRil]

My only qualm with the ref was that he blew every ******* 5 seconds. He loved the sound of his own whistle and for a game that was tedious enough as it was, really ****** me off!

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ May 31 2009, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hm, let's see:

Positives:
Biggar's kicking.
Tom James' feet. Jaysus that boy can run.
Ryan Jones' game.
We managed to beat them reasonably despite putting out a third choice team with an error-strewn game.
Our scrum mullered theirs; really should have taken advantage by getting some penalty tries.

Negatives:
Ryan Jones' captaincy (some very suspect decisions from penalties...)
Peel didn't do much when he came on, besides providing some slick passing.
Jon Davies was average.
Handling errors all round.
The ref didn't let the game flow.
Lineout was a shambles again, though I've come to expect it over the past 4 years.[/b]

Agree with most but ...

Peel was not negative he was positive, quick ball from the base of the ruck and gave Wales direction in the second half (some of the time, Canada hands did not help). Cooper was slow and his service was terrible.

 

[dullonien]

I thought Peel was slow getting the ball out on most occasions, though that could have been down to Canadian hands all over the ball at every ruck! He certainly gave Wales more direction and wasn't as insistent as Cooper of going right to the touchline before changing the direction (getting a bit obvious now isn't it). Overall, I thought he needed to up the tempo more that he did, and it's something Wales need to improve on against USA.

He should start v USA along with Nicky Robinson. This should improve the pace Wales play at, then Warberton needs to replace Daf Jones or Sowden Taylor so we have someone to help Ryan Jones at ruck time. Charteris or Gough will replace Bradley Davies and if Mark Jones is fit, he'll start ahead of Czekaj.

 

[Cymro]

Sowden-Taylor had a poor game so Id see him being replaced by Warburton.

 

[dullonien]

Happy with all the replacements in the backline, as well as seeing Gareth Williams given his shot. Very unhappy to see the same backrow starting. Warberton has already shown in the few games he's started for the Blues that he's better then both Sowden-Tayor and Dafydd Jones, why isn't he getting his shot? He'll almost certainly come off the bench, just hope they give him a good 30min+.

Team to Face USA:

01 Duncan Jones
02 Gareth Williams
03 John Yapp
04 Ian Gough
05 Deiniol Jones
06 Dafydd Jones
07 Robin Sowden-Taylor
08 Ryan Jones

09 Dwayne Peel
10 Nicky Robinson
11 Tom James
12 Andrew Bishop
13 Jonathan Davies
14 Mark Jones
15 Daniel Evans

16 Richard Hibbard
17 Craig Mitchell
18 Luke Charteris
19 Sam Warberton
20 Gareth Cooper
21 Daniel Biggar
22 Jonathan Spratt

 

[Sir Speedy]

Warburton on the bench again... How many times has Dafydd Jones shown his mediocrity at international, and club level? He's not good enough, Robin, simple. And Sowden Taylor's had his chance; Powell beat him to that I'm afraid; get Warburton on at half time or... I'll continue watching willingly...