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wales backline?

I think Stoddart should come back into the team when he's healed up. He looked really good at fullback before injury.

He did. Definitely more to come from Morgan in the red shirt.

Regarding some of the younger players, this is where we would really benefit from a Wales A side. We would be able to give Mitchell/Andrews some game time, as well as Ken Owens.
We need another second row, Ian Evans has looked decent lately, lets see if he can stay fit.

We don't have three opensides. Turnbull isn't an openside. He is a blindside playing openside. As far as hooker goes, 4 is a bit much, but we need Ken Owens to get some more time with the national team.
 
We don't have three opensides. Turnbull isn't an openside. He is a blindside playing openside. As far as hooker goes, 4 is a bit much, but we need Ken Owens to get some more time with the national team.

I'd rather have someone who actually plays 6 at regional level, McCusker maybe?
 
I'd rather have someone who actually plays 6 at regional level, McCusker maybe?
See, I've felt that McCusker is more of an openside than Turnbull. He is quicker and while he lacks the fetching skills needed, he is a better option as an openside supporting runner. He was in great form until his injury last season and I hope he can get back to that level.
 
See, I've felt that McCusker is more of an openside than Turnbull. He is quicker and while he lacks the fetching skills needed, he is a better option as an openside supporting runner. He was in great form until his injury last season and I hope he can get back to that level.

McCusker might be playing blindside because he is a good lineout option. I know it's not unheard of for opensides to jump but they tend to hang around the back of the lineout to cover any breaks. And I suppose Turnbull is a better fetcher(not the best though). But yes McCusker is a much better runner, I believe he is the fastest forward in Wales(not sure if that's true). Turnbull did play blinside at junior level and kept Lydiate out of the team so maybe you have the right idea Draggs.
 
McCusker might be playing blindside because he is a good lineout option. I know it's not unheard of for opensides to jump but they tend to hang around the back of the lineout to cover any breaks. And I suppose Turnbull is a better fetcher(not the best though). But yes McCusker is a much better runner, I believe he is the fastest forward in Wales(not sure if that's true). Turnbull did play blinside at junior level and kept Lydiate out of the team so maybe you have the right idea Draggs.

I wouldn't doubt it, but Bevington has some good pace and Geth is no slouch. I'd like to see McCusker get some gametime at openside and be involved in a Wales A setup. Might as well go ahead and post a Wales A team... ;)

01 Ryan Bevington
02 Ken Owens
03 Scott Andrews
04 Ian Evans
05 Macauley Cook/Lou Reed
06 Rob McCusker/Josh Turnbull
07 Justin Tipuric
08 Ben Morgan
09 Tavis Knoyle
10 Jason Tovey
11 Eli Walker
12 Dafydd Hewitt
13 Scott Williams
14 Hanno Dirksen
15 Tom Prydie

16 Lloyd Burns
17 John Yapp/Sam Hobbs
18 Lou Reed/Macauley Cook
19 Andries Pretorius
20 Rhys Webb
21 Dan Biggar
22 Richard Fussell
 
Bit harsh for Scott Williams to be dropped to the A team... although given Roberts has to start, having Hook, Davies and Scott Williams vying for one center position may be a little OTT. Unless Hook plays more flyhalf and gets taken as the second 10, with Scott Williams on the bench covering centers. That could work.
 
Bit harsh for Scott Williams to be dropped to the A team... although given Roberts has to start, having Hook, Davies and Scott Williams vying for one center position may be a little OTT. Unless Hook plays more flyhalf and gets taken as the second 10, with Scott Williams on the bench covering centers. That could work.

That did occur to me but I feel that Scott would benefit more from 70 minutes playing for Wales A every game then perhaps 10 minutes in a few Six Nations games.
I hope we develop him as an outside centre, he could work very will with Roberts or Henson. I really want to see Scott Williams be more involved in the Welsh setup. He is a powerful runner with enormous potential.

Hook will be considered a 10 or not considered at all. No chance he will play midfield at USAP with Mermoz/Marty there.
 
Dafydd Hewitt isn't as bad as many say.
Regarding Smith and Beck, I agree. In all honesty, I forgot about them! I'd put either of them in the squad.

As far as the young wingers go, I'd rather give them a shot than players such as James, Czekaj, Brew who aren't really up to this level.
I am banking on Walker, Prydie, etc getting more gametime with their regions this season, before the A side is formed.
 
I don't see why names such as Cuthbert, Walker, Prydie and K Phillips keep being mentioned, they have achieved nothing at regional level

and regarding your Wales A team Draggs. Dafydd Hewitt? he's crap. Ashley Beck is far better so is the underrated and under appreciated Ashley Smith

Agree with all of that really. Whilst I see big potential in Cuthbert, Prydie and Walker, all three need regional experience against full strength sides, not the weakened teams in the Pro12 at the moment. Saying that North was handed his international debut after just a handful of regional games, so if one of those three impresses like North did over a run of games, why not get them into the Welsh squad to see what they're capable of? I'm not expecing too much from Phillips tbh despite being quite excited about him a couple of years ago.

I'm not a fan of Hewitt atall either. Regional player at best, along with Gavin Evans and Gareth Maul, possibly Riley aswell. I'm still not totally convinced by Ashley Smith, sometimes he looks very good, others quite average. I think Beck has got a big future, and I think he'd benefit massively being involved in the Welsh squad just like Scott Williams has.
 
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Who's the winger with the longish hair who plays for Scarlets?
He seems pretty good, from what I've seen of him (admittedly mostly in the LV=)
 
Who's the winger with the longish hair who plays for Scarlets?
He seems pretty good, from what I've seen of him (admittedly mostly in the LV=)

Liam Williams? Think we'll have to quite a bit more of him before we can talk about Wales selection tbh.
 
From what I have seen of Hewitt, he isn't the best player but for a while he seemed to be the only player trying to do something in the Blues backline.
How about Adam Hughes? I see him as a 13 but he could cover 14 until we get a proper wing in place.

Like I said, Cuthbert and the rest of the lot are only potential wing candidates. I hope they get some more time for their respective clubs.
 
Liam Williams? Think we'll have to quite a bit more of him before we can talk about Wales selection tbh.
True true, I didn't mean that he should be in line, just that he looks to have potential
 
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