Spring Tour: Australia v Wales -2nd Test. (16/06/2012 10:00GMT)

[dullonien]

Playing Warburton at 8 is an interesting option. Playing two opensides doesn't always work, as they can sometimes get in each other's way, but it might be worth a shot. Neutralising Pocock is essential, he was everywhere last week, and maybe playing Tipuric and Warburton is an effective way of doing that.

If this is the option the management go for, then starting Hibbard at hooker would be the sensible option. He's by far the most effetive ball carrying hooker we have, and he can take up some of the work expected from a genuine 8th man. He's probably the form hooker anyway, and could help combat the physicality Austrailia showed at the tackle area last week.

Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones have to come into the second row. Bradley Davies was decent last week, offering a good carrying option, but his workrate in defence and at the breakdown is bellow par at the moment. Ian Evans hits a lot of rucks, and is an effective counter rucker, whilst Alun Wyn Jones puts in quite a few bone crunching tackles normally. Hopefully both can help to slow down Austrailia's ball. Aus thrive off quick ball, take that away from them and they become much more beatable.

I'd persoanally replace both Phillips and Priestland with Williams/Webb and Hook. From the highlights of the Brumbies match, Webb looked good, getting the the breakdown early, and getting the ball away quickly. He also offers a genuine threat from the base of the ruck, and his kicking game is usually effective. Lloyd Williams needs to work on his kicking game, and for that reason I'd start Webb. Priestland is simply off-form. I'm not totally convinced by Hook at 10 yet, but at the moment he's a better option than Priestland.

Finally, Beck must come into midfield instead of Scott Williams. I feel Williams is better suited to outside centre. He played much to deep last week, and failed to make too much impact of the Aus defense. He's a good option to have on the bench, but Beck offers more creativity with his running angles and offloading ability. I feel Beck and Davies could form a good partnership in midfield. Davies is a proven finisher and could feed from Beck's offloads inside him.

So, my team for Sat:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Richard Hibbard
03 Adam Jones
04 Ian Evans
05 Alun Wyn Jones
06 Dan Lydiate
07 Justin Tipuric
08 Sam Warburton

09 Rhys Webb
10 James Hook
11 George North
12 Ashley Beck
13 Jon Davies
14 Alex Cuthbert
15 Lee Halfpenny

16 Matthew Rees
17 Paul James
18 Bradley Davies/Luke Charteris
19 Ryan Jones
20 Mike Phillips
21 Rhys Priestland
22 Scott Williams

 

[bushytop]

Deffo agree about Hibbard Dull, he's a beast and probably playing his best rugby right now so now is the time.

Even though Phillips was poor I'm not sure Webb or Williams are ready to start a test against Genia with Pocock dominating the breakdown. Phillips prob looked worse than he was due to our breakdown difficulties, so if Tips/Warbs/both can negate (I know I'm hoping here) then maybe Phollips can get hold of the game a bit more.

If Beck doesn't start Howlers will have already lost my vote and 10 is tough, Priestland was obviously terrible but watching Hooks flyhalf performance at the RWC was maybe even worse... so dunno can Beck kick? :lol:

Anywho, Wales need to draw on last weeks loss in the same way the Aussies found focus after their loss to the Jocks... if so I think we'll squeak the result and the 3rd test will be HUGE!

 

[dullonien]

Phillips was definitely made to look worse due to the breakdown, the ball was spilling out everywhere. But I thought the rest of his game was also poor. His kicking game really kept Wales under the cosh, and there is no excuse for costing your side 10m resulting in a shot at goal. I feel Webb can inject some much needed pace into the Wales game, something Phillips is incapable of doing, and that will help the outside backs including whoever is picked at 10. On top of that, Webb's pace may also help contain Genia, who ran rings around Phillips last week.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I think Wales are the only one of the NH teams that is going to win any tests this winter. And the 2nd test is their best shot. They win that and the 3rd test is anyones.

Mate, i'm going to the game on saturday, i will be buggered if I see the wallabies lose again! I've only ever seen them lose once in Melbourne, and that was the 2010 Bledisloe

 

[Zed]

Mate, i'm going to the game on saturday, i will be buggered if I see the wallabies lose again! I've only ever seen them lose once in Melbourne, and that was the 2010 Bledisloe

I don't think they will I think we'll win and the Welsh will sneak the last one.

 

[cyRil]

I don't think they will I think we'll win and the Welsh will sneak the last one.

And that's not good enough.

 

[cyRil]

Team announced:

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Jon Davies
12. Ashley Beck
11. George North

10. Rhys Priestland
9. Mike Phillips

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun-Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (c)
8. Ryan Jones

16. Richard Hibbard
17. Paul James
18. Luke Charteris
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Rhys Webb
21. James Hook
22. Scott Williams

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18433953

Gutted Tipuric hasn't been included in the XV in the end.
Good to see Beck given his chance, though I hope he'll be able to step up - despite his offload for the try last week he did look like a rabbit in headlights and his defence is going to be tested big time.
Don't agree with no Ian Evans. Last week showed we needed his grunt and dynamism and although I thought Bradley was excellent, I haven't been impressed with Charteris recently so would have at least had Ianto on the bench.

WALES BY 3!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Presume Evans had not trained enough to be merited for inclusion.

 

[bushytop]

Presume Evans had not trained enough to be merited for inclusion.

He's obviously fit & playing every second of yhe 6N still has an understanding of the plays, team mates etc. Think the decision is more down to the fact that competition for places in his position is so tight right now (although Evans would be my first pick atm) that any little thing (a wedding) is justification for the change.

Guess the shirt is Bradleys now until he has a poor performance or spear tackles someone.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Or he is actually tired from traveling and playing mid week?

Playing every min in 6 Nations or knowing the plays should have no real affect on his selection but his fitness will.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I really rated Wales for a chance at taking a series win. If Delve is the best they can muster for the backrow I have to reassess though. But what do we Saffas know; we have stayed with Spies for an age.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Delve has been outstanding for the Rebels and has drawn by many pundits to be a real gem for the Rebels.

 

[TVH11]

Side has been named (at least thats whats floating around Social network sites and "club" sites) with Beck coming in for Scott Williams, glad to see his form given a chance Priestland still at 10, hope he actually shows some form. Tipuric on bench, so the whole Warburton to 8 situation was obviously a publicity stunt!! Not a bad side, best we can do with I guess!

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5392.php

Thats where I got my info from btw

 

[cyRil]

Side has been named (at least thats whats floating around Social network sites and "club" sites) with Beck coming in for Scott Williams, glad to see his form given a chance Priestland still at 10, hope he actually shows some form. Tipuric on bench, so the whole Warburton to 8 situation was obviously a publicity stunt!! Not a bad side, best we can do with I guess!

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5392.php

Thats where I got my info from btw

Alternatively, you could have gone to the previous page on this thread and seen the side named in the post I put up at 6 this morning!!

 

[dullonien]

I'd have played Ian Evans, but the management knows best and he mussn't be quite ready. Surely he was ok for the bench though? He shouldn't be punished having to attend his own wedding, which was organised before he got re-involved with the Welsh set-up and the dates for this series were announced.

Other than that though, I think the changes made are are positive. Good to see Hibbard in the 22. I might have started him, but he will add some real impact from the bench. Great to see Beck starting.

Phillips and Priestland need to reward the selectors faith in them. Hopefully the bolstered pack will provide better ball for Phillips, front foot ball that will get the best out of Priestland and the outside backs.

Awesome that North is fit.

 

[TVH11]

Alternatively, you could have gone to the previous page on this thread and seen the side named in the post I put up at 6 this morning!!

Ahhh sorry pal. Had a night at the Poet's corner last night, wasn't thinking straight!!!! The fumes of a pub have gone to my head haha

 

[Draggs]

Ianto not even on the bench is a massive loss.
I rate him ahead of Charteris, Davies, and even AWJ right now.
Still disappointed not to have Tipuric in the starting XV.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Aled Brew has been sent home because of the hip injury he sustained and will be out for two weeks.

Gareth Delve is struggling with a knee injury that he got during the Brumbies game and that is why he was not considered for the Second Test.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Stormer2010 old man your mad! Delve is an absolute banger! Most consistent performer over the last two seasons with the Rebels and has dragged them kicking and screaming to some great wins.

Anyway, comes ons Waleses, take one for the team! If you can grab a win I'll even have a celebratory pint of that awful 'Brains' stuff you guys call ale! (only joking)
Come to think of it, why isn't there a thread in the clubhouse bar section devoted to beer!? Madness!

 

[dullonien]

Yup, Delve is a good player. Should be approaching 30 or 40 caps by now, but was unlucky with injuries and inexplicably paid the cost of playing his domestic rugby in England.

Gotta say, one of the strongest benches I've seen Wales put out in my lifetime (with the starting 15 also being first choice), and that's without Ian Evans featuring at all. There's some serious impact on that bench, and I'd expect many of them will be needed. I think Gatland/Howley will ask Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones to run themselves into the ground to be replaced around the 60min mark. Warburton will then move to 8, with Tipuric coming on at openside. Whether or not we see Webb and Hook will depend on the performances of Phillips and Priestland and the score. If we're behind come 65mins, I think both will enter the fray to add some creativity.

I hope Rees' lineout throwing is accurate. That was one aspect of Owens' game that went perfectly last weekend, which resulted in one of the best lineout displays I've seen from Wales in years.

Edit.

Quick team rating:

01 Gethin Jenkins - 6 - Scrummaged well when he was allowed to do so. Struggled to get his hands to the ball ruck time due to Aus sealing off the ball.
02 Matthew Rees - 4 - Started well in the loose, but the lineout was a complete mess.
03 Adam Jones - 7 - Strong scrummaging, pity it wasn't more in the Aus half. Prominent in defence around the fringes.
04 Bradley Davies - 7 - Good display from him. Carried the ball well and made a nuisance of himself in the tight.
05 Alun Wyn Jones - 8 - Really put himself about I thought. Managed to disrupt a lot of Aus ball.
06 Dan Lydiate - 7 - A few trademark tackles, and lots of work again.
07 Sam Warburton - 5.5 - Costly penalty, and was blown away at the breakdown by Pocock. Still doesn't look match fit.
08 Ryan Jones - 7 - Worked hard and was unfortunate not to win a few turnovers. Still more of a blindside flanker than an 8.

09 Mike Phillips - 5 - An improvement on last week, but his kicking was still poor, and he made another couple of costly errors.
10 Rhys Priestland - 4 - Another decent defensive performance, but dire kicking really cost us the match.
11 George North - 8 - Scored a try and did all he cold otherwise. Barely saw the ball in attack.
12 Ashley Beck - 6 - At fault for Aus try, but otherwise defended well. No chance to show us what he's good at in attack.
13 Jon Davies - 7 - Great control of the ball for his try. Put pressure on Aus defensively, but still a few errors in his game.
14 Alex Cuthbert - 7 - Did all he could really.
15 Lee Halfpenny - 9 - Great display from the fullback. Basically kept Wales in the game with his awesome place kicking. Secure under the high ball and ran strongly.