Should Owen Williams play for Wales this summer?

[Goodey]

Obviously Cockers thinks so, but that's Cockers, and of course he should back his own guy. I'm wary of how raw his decision-making is but with Biggar being somewhat limited and Priestland playing like a bucket of smashed crabs this year, I'm interested to hear what our Welsh contingent thinks of the idea.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I don't think Biggar is particularly limited - he's far and away the best Welsh 10 at the moment.
I think Owens should at least be in the squad, if not playing (do Wales have a midweek game planned?).
He's looking better and better each game, after a terrible start to the season (the game vs Wasps was one of the worst showings I've ever seen from a number 10).
He'd be worth a shout for the bench spot, with Biggar starting.

That said, it's up to Gatland. Not sure how he'd feel about picking a new player who is plying his trade in the Premiership - he's been unwilling, in the past, to pick more experienced players who have made the move.

 

[conormaccarthy9]

I think it all depends on how he fairs against Clermont. He is, no doubt, a good player. But, playing against Clermont in Clermont is arguably the toughest task in European rugby right now. If he struggles, then I don't think he is ready for the Welsh side. Also, Biggar is playing well for the ospreys again and Preistland is still getting back to what he was.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I do find it a bit funny calling Bigger "limited" considering the Welsh game plan. The Welsh game plan isn't creative, it is fundamentally simple rugby and Biggar does this very well. What's the point of going for a supposedly creative 10 in an uncreative team? I do wonder what Biggar has done to **** off Gatland because he is the best 10 in the Welsh team and should start for them. The Welsh platform relies on constant pressure with ball in hand and Biggar gives this.

 

[Thingimubob]

I don't buy into Biggar being limited either, he seems to get our backline moving a hell of a lot better than Priestland has in god knows how long! I mean when he got a run of game in the 2013 6N, he had the scoring pass/kick on quite a number of our tries. Notably that chip vs France, plus he seems the get the ball into the right place for the likes of Cuthbert to run on to and do their thing. Plus as ragerancher said, if we're gonna stick with the game plan that we have, why not have a fly half who does all the basics damn well.

With Owen Williams, he looked good for the Scarlets, and starting to come into his own for the Tigers now, but as connormaccarthy9 said, a lot of it depends on how he goes out in Clermont. Personally, I'd bring him, considering Priestlands poor form and Patchell having been ruled out by injury quite a while back. If this Probables vs Possibles trial match gets played, wouldn't mind seeing him at 10 for the possibles!

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I don't buy into Biggar being limited either, he seems to get our backline moving a hell of a lot better than Priestland has in god knows how long! I mean when he got a run of game in the 2013 6N, he had the scoring pass/kick on quite a number of our tries. Notably that chip vs France, plus he seems the get the ball into the right place for the likes of Cuthbert to run on to and do their thing. Plus as ragerancher said, if we're gonna stick with the game plan that we have, why not have a fly half who does all the basics damn well.

Agreed. Biggar was top for assists in last years' Six Nations and second in the Pro12, yet everyone seems to think he can do nothing but kick (Because, in fairness, go back two years and that was true enough).

As for Williams, he's going very well and deserves to get a go in the midweeker against the Southern kings. Maybe could sneak a bench spot. I hope we give him a go at some stage before the World Cup.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If this Probables vs Possibles trial match gets played, wouldn't mind seeing him at 10 for the possibles!

Outside of the international window, unfortunately (that's if it happens when Gatland said he wants to).

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

If Tigers don't make a final, I'd imagine he should have a shot to play, surely? Cockrell is clearly very forward in wanting him to play for Wales, so surely wouldn't object if Tigers don't have a big game that week?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's not up to Cockerill. We said Peel could play for Baabaas, on the equivalent weekend, a few years back, but PRL said no.
Of course there's always the chance that he'll follow Saints lead and just release him anyway and take the financial hit - considering they've been threatened with points deduction in the past for this I'm not sure he will though (and really, I'd like to see PRL start to impose a points deduction for this as Saints have set a very poor precedent now - break the rules at will as long as you've the cash to pay it off afterwards).

 

[TheSaffycen]

Biggar is not limited, he is one of the most well rounded fly-halves in the game ! He should have been on the lions tour but Gatland just don't like him. On Williams yes he should go, he is playing well and Preistland has been ****e for a good 18 months and now halfpenny is out you need a 10 who can kick his goals.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I'm not sure he will though (and really, I'd like to see PRL start to impose a points deduction for this as Saints have set a very poor precedent now - break the rules at will as long as you've the cash to pay it off afterwards).

Are you talking about North being released back too Wales? Because I didn't think there was really anything wrong with that personally as they're just letting him go play for his country

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are you talking about North being released back too Wales? Because I didn't think there was really anything wrong with that personally as they're just letting him go play for his country

Yes.
It's not a matter of whether or not people think it's right - realistically I don't care who goes and plays for who, internationally rugby is the pinnacle of peoples careers.
HOWEVER all premiership clubs signed a deal saying they won't do it - you can't just turn your back on that when you feel like it, picking and choosing which rules to follow.

 

[Thingimubob]

It's a bloody stupid rule however. Especially when the rule makes an exception for players in the England squad. Yeah I get that the RFU pay some sort of compensation for it, but why can't they try and set that up with the other unions? Just frustrates me when they lose out on representing their country because of some daft bureaucratic bullcrap.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a bloody stupid rule however. Especially when the rule makes an exception for players in the England squad. Yeah I get that the RFU pay some sort of compensation for it, but why can't they try and set that up with the other unions?

All of the other unions were offered the same deal as the RFU, but they refused to pay.

 

[Peat]

If Tigers don't make a final, I'd imagine he should have a shot to play, surely? Cockrell is clearly very forward in wanting him to play for Wales, so surely wouldn't object if Tigers don't have a big game that week?

Cockerill says he wants him to play for Wales in public.

I'd be interested to hear his reaction in private should he find himself missing Owen Williams as well as Freddie Burns during international windows and how that affects his Leicester career - the club needs two active international fly-halves like it needs a hole in the head.

 

[Draggs]

Biggar is an underrated standoff. Should have gone to Oz over Farrell. Why Priestland always is picked first I don't know...
I like Owen, he is turning into a rounded player, more Biggar than Priestland. I'd say at his age he is ahead of where Dan was at the same time.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Only Gatland could ignore him now.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Biggar is an underrated standoff. Should have gone to Oz over Farrell.

Lol I assume your welsh! Take of your sheep and be realistic! Garland didn't take any welsh FHs cause none are standout players. They all have good parts to their game but non have really put their hands up above all others.

They all ooze potential though

 

[Draggs]

If we are going off form before tour, Biggar was the better option over Farrell.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Lol I assume your welsh! Take of your sheep and be realistic! Garland didn't take any welsh FHs cause none are standout players. They all have good parts to their game but non have really put their hands up above all others.

Biggar is a better player than Farrell. Really they both should have gone because we ended up having only 2 fly-halfs and Hogg played 10 which was stupid.