Squad Selections

[Cymro]

On sunday on Scrum V they asked Gethin Jenkins what happens now at training when they ask him to train at tighthead, Gethin replies that he just tells them if it happens on the day then he will just switch and do it there and then.

Also Gethin very rarely practices at tight head so he is a loose head now!

 

[dullonien]

He always has been as far as I'm concerned. I just prefer moving Gethin to tight if Adam get's injured than having another specialist tighthead on the bench, it frees up another bench spot. The perfect bench split imo is:

Prop (looshead when Gethin is starting)
Hooker
Second Row
Back row
Scrum half
Outside half
Outside back

Of course it does leave cover for 11-15 thin on the ground, but a number of those positions are interchangable, most backs can do a job on thw wing if stretched, fullback cover can often come from outside half/wing, centre cover can come from Outside half aswell.

The other option is to have a player like Jonathan Thomas who can cover second row and back row, then have an extra outside back on the bench.

With 3 front row replacements on the bench, it can leave a team in serious problems if they pick up a few injuries in the second row/back row and outside backs, as it'll likely only leave you with 1 replacement for each!

 

[An Tarbh]

I think you're always better off having a tighthead on the bench, it's far easier for them to switch over to loosehead than the other way round.

 

[shazbooger]

There are the positions that I'm seeing a bit more clearly now but a lot of the usual suspects would have to be questioned again after this weekend.

No English (so far) as their best players of late (Armitage and ...... ??) are playing in positions with a lot of good competition. No scots either but thats only because I dont understand the mechanics of the front row. I'm presuming the Scot front row will be pushing hard for a slot in the first 15.

1.
2.
3.
4. P. O'Connell (Ireland) = Will definately be in the test team.
5.
6.
7.
8. J. Heaslip (Ireland) = Only because of Powell's temporary loss of form.
9.
10. S. Jones (Wales) = The only decent out-half consistently through the tournament.
11.
12.
13. B. O'Driscoll (Ireland) = In great form, no real competition.
14.
15. L. Byrne (Wales) = In great form, clearly ahead of Kearney in my eyes.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cymro @ Feb 24 2009, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Incredible Schalk @ Feb 24 2009, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Im sure Wales lost alot of ball ,this it was something like 6 throws. Im not certain though.[/b]

Talk some sense ...

Wales did not lose a lineout against England or a scrum!
[/b][/quote]


Was talking about the Scotland game

 

[Sir Speedy]

I think Jenkins is a cert for loosehead prop. He's been immense for years and is easily the best 1 in Europe for me. He held his own and then some against the SH teams in the AI's and his tackle count against England was awesome.
Otherwise I'd struggle to add many 'certains' into Logorrhea's list; even though I'm struggling to see how you can't pick Shane Williams.

 

[SmokeyMonkey]

Can we sneak Parisse in?

 

[Sir Speedy]

And Harinoduquy. Nobody will notice!

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Mar 2 2009, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think Jenkins is a cert for loosehead prop. He's been immense for years and is easily the best 1 in Europe for me. He held his own and then some against the SH teams in the AI's and his tackle count against England was awesome.
Otherwise I'd struggle to add many 'certains' into Logorrhea's list; even though I'm struggling to see how you can't pick Shane Williams.[/b]

Yeah I was thinking him, and Murray but to be honest I havent a clue what goes on in the front row so I'd never state an opinion either way.

As for Shane Williams, he's be lightly pencilled in there along with Williams at 7. Just waiting for them both to stand right out from the rest.

 

[An Tarbh]

No one can claim that Williams has been at his best in the 2 games he's played but reputation will have him as one of the first names on the team sheet along with Martyn Williams, O'Connell, O'Driscoll and Jenkins. As for the rest they're still up for grabs with Byrne, Stephen Jones and Murray leading the likely starters.

 

[Cymro]

The front row should be Jenkins, Ford and Murray! With Flannery close to pushing Ford at Hooker!

 

[shazbooger]

What about yer man Hartley (?) the English sub? The Lions always throw up at least one surprise player. I havent seen enough of him, any GP followers here care to furnish me with their opnions?

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Mar 2 2009, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

What about yer man Hartley (?) the English sub? The Lions always throw up at least one surprise player. I havent seen enough of him, any GP followers here care to furnish me with their opnions?[/b]

I know ive been talking about him but he aint had game time for England, I think hes better than Mears but Johno thinks otherwise!

 

[dullonien]

Considering Wales' turnaround in linout fortunes, Rees has also gotta be in with a shout at hooker. I'm not a huge fan of his (when a hooker throws more dummy's than James Hook, somethings wrong), but there's still no stand-out. Personally I'd go for Ford/Hartley as there's gonna be enough Welsh/Irish players in the team already.

 

[An Tarbh]

if there's no obvious candidate then the Welsh or the Wasps option will be taken, giving Rees a more than decent chance of starting the first test.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Backs (17): Byrne, Kearney, Armitage; Bowe, Sackey, S Williams, Fitzgerald; O'Driscoll, Shanklin, Roberts, Henson; S Jones, Hook, O'Gara; Phillips, Blair, Peel.

Forwards (19): Jenkins, Sheridan, Murray, A Jones, Vickery; Flannery, Ford, Mears; O'Connell, Wyn Jones, Hines, O'Callaghan; R Jones, Ferris, Haskell, M Williams, D Wallace, Powell, Heaslip.[/b]

From Bryn Palmer of the BBC link

I reckon he's got the squad just about right based on what we've seen so far, and who McGeechan and Edwards are likely to pick.

I'd obviously take out T<strike>itus</strike>ommy B<strike>ramble</strike>owe and put Halfpenny in instead since he's got to start on the wing, but otherwise that squad looks like the best we can muster.

 

[shazbooger]

Agree with Bowe. I like him, and remember he can play pretty much anywhere outside of 10 (good for touring), but can understand why others dont.

The Evans brothers dont get a mention. I know there is a lot of hype around them at the moment but they look lively. Wouldnt rule one of them out.

As for Halfpenny ....... not a bad player but hardly standing out above the likes of Cueto, Fitzgerald, Kearney, or Armitage.

(Did you see Bramble over the weekend? Played out of his skin!)

 

[cyRil]

GG, what have you got against Bowe?
As for Halfpenny starting, I think he'll be lucky to make the tour!

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Mar 4 2009, 01:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

GG, what have you got against Bowe?
As for Halfpenny starting, I think he'll be lucky to make the tour![/b]

I would have thought that Bowe would be ahead of Halfpenny in the pecking order, his poorest performance may well have come against England but he still offered more than Cueto and Sackey combined.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Mar 4 2009, 12:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

GG, what have you got against Bowe?
As for Halfpenny starting, I think he'll be lucky to make the tour![/b]

Ok, I am being a little harsh on him, but I think that's because other people overrate him in my opinion.

Basically, I think he's a solid player with nice hands. But nothing more. I don't rate his speed (shown when he was caught by about 5 Italians while scoring his try/ not scoring from O'Leary's kick through); I don't rate him under the high ball, I don't rate him too highly defensively and I think he tries too many impossible offloads (resulting in one horrendous forward pass which wasn't picked up...)

Also, I think there are better options. Shane Williams we know about. Halfpenny has shown he's a great finisher, mazy runner and has a good kicking game. Fitzgerald is vastly superior of the Irish wings; he's quicker, he picks nice angles. And of the remaining wingers... I'd take Sackey but Cueto, and Thom Evans are certainly better players than Bowe too imo.