Wales Six Nations Squad 2012

[TRF_Cymro]

I disagree, a squad with merit would have Dwayne Peel, much better than Webb who is very inconsistent and as Draggs often says can't string two games toghether, but Gatland seems to have had enough with the constant battling with PRL that goes with Peel, Powell and Mitchell have managed to get selected despite that though, strange

apart from that not many complaints, I don't mind Rhodri Jones and Harry Robinson in the squad for experience, but I would rather they would both start playing more regional rugby before they start international matches, I haven't seen much of either and don't know whether they are good, but Rhys Thomas (who is not great) is keeping Jones out of the Scarlets side, and James/Czekaj/Mustoe are all preferred ahead of Robinson, maybe being selected for Wales will encourage Burnell/Davies to give them a go although that didn't work for Prydie and K Phillips

I'm not critising Robinson, but surely if he is good enough for the Wales squad he's good enough to be selected ahead of Mustoe etc, anyway we'll see, I hope he will be a useful alternative to picking two giants on the wing

as for Henson, I think a camp in Poland would do him some good, but I will be annoyed if he gets selected ahead of Scott Williams, Davies or Beck after three matches where he's done just okay, whilst particularly the latter has been on good form all season, and the other two had decent World Cup's

@Dullonien: I agree good that Andrews didn't get another call up

also Dullonien can you answer these questions?

has Rhodri Jones faced up well against many international standard front rows in his short career so far? or at least done better than Andrews

how many of the following do you think should be starting at their regions? Rhodri Jones, Prydie, K Phillips, Harry Robinson

Disagree on one player ... who I later go on to mention being inconsistent at times and that Peel was unlucky as always not to be selected :S

Kristian Phillips has not developed as much as he should have and Wales are not rushing Prydie back into a more competitive environment until they are happy that his injured leg is fully recovered.

Rhodri Jones has played against some decent front rows and more than held his own: http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/rugby/people.php?player=94635&includeref=dynamic

 

[Me 1]

Pretty happy with that squad (Happier than I would be if I were an Irishmen looking at their squad anyway:lol, disagree on a few selections however.

Not a big fan of Rhys Webb, too inconsistent. Peel's better but is 31-ish so maybe his time has passed (not necessarily though). Can't explain the inclusion of Mungo, would have much rathered Shingler or McCusker. Wanted Nipper there to but it would mean he gets more game time at the Ospreys so could be a good thing.
Happy at the inclusion of Beck, Robinson and Owens Dactually happened with no injuries!)

 

[dullonien]

also Dullonien can you answer these questions?

has Rhodri Jones faced up well against many international standard front rows in his short career so far? or at least done better than Andrews

how many of the following do you think should be starting at their regions? Rhodri Jones, Prydie, K Phillips, Harry Robinson

Rhodri Jones was drafted into the Scarlets Heineken Cup squad last season when they were suffering with 3 tight heads on the injury list. He held up rather well for such a young prop, very solid. Better scrummager than Andrews, who's really struggling in that department. Rhodri could certainly do with playing more for the scarlets, but they prefer Rhys Thomas, and I'm not really sure why, maybe because they payed big bucks for him? I think Gatland has done the right thing in bypassing Rhys Thomas and seeing the potential in a youngster like Rhodri.

I certainly think Harry Robinson should be getting more gametime at the Blues ahead of Czekaj and maybe James. I feel Mustoe is underused aswell. I don't necessarily believe he deserves to start every game (same with Rhodri Jones), but simply more gametime would help. As for Phillips and Prydie, that's difficult. I don't think Kristian is up to scratch for regional rugby, but Prydie has proven he's capable. However, Prydie seems to mainly be playing wing for Swansea, and the O's have Bowe and Shane in their team. I would like to see the O's give Prydie a propper chance at fullback in front of Barry Davies and Fussell though.

 

[psychic duck]

Rhodri Jones was drafted into the Scarlets Heineken Cup squad last season when they were suffering with 3 tight heads on the injury list. He held up rather well for such a young prop, very solid. Better scrummager than Andrews, who's really struggling in that department. Rhodri could certainly do with playing more for the scarlets, but they prefer Rhys Thomas, and I'm not really sure why, maybe because they payed big bucks for him? I think Gatland has done the right thing in bypassing Rhys Thomas and seeing the potential in a youngster like Rhodri.
.

good to hear he's an improvement on Andrews

regarding Rhys Thomas he's rumoured to be on his way to Worcester, if true, it could give Rhys Jones a chance to become a regular, unless then Deacon Manu is preferred
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/9474596.Prop_Rhys_cagey_over_link_to_Warriors/
[URL]http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Davies-keen-hold-star-men/story-14455596-detail/story.html[/URL]

 

[Bluemoon]

Nice to see Harry Robinson there. Gatland showing once again that he has more vision than the idiots in charge at the region (same goes for the Henson scenario). It beggars belief that the Blues still haven't given Robinson a genuine chance. As for their obsession with Gavin Evans, does anyone think that he even entered the thoughts of Gatland and co? No, because he's a sub-par player!

Spot on. A lot of Blues fans are questioning this week in week out. This week I think the management stepped into the unprofessional waters by publicly announcing Henson won't play. Who gains from this knowing he will be in the spotlight?? Henson will play at some point Sunday.

Welsh squad looks quite strong barring any injuries in key positions.

Rhys Gill is an interesting selection. Quite beefy these days but not sure of his scrummaging ability. He was weak in that department at Cardiff.

 

[psychic duck]

Rhys Gill is an interesting selection. Quite beefy these days but not sure of his scrummaging ability. He was weak in that department at Cardiff.

I saw Gill do very well in the scrum against Biarritz last week, held his ground against Adam Jones before that (perhaps arguably one of the best tightheads in the world at the minute), Gill fully deserves his call up in my opinion, Cardiff should have kept him and shipped on Yapp imo

 

[Ozzay]

I thought I read the squad would be trimmed, couldn't of, I don't think we'll see Harry Robinson, I think gats just brought him into have a look, unless we got nothing to play for and he might stick him in.reasonably happy with the squad, beck and gill deserve their place, would have had Shingler in and Gareth Davies over Webb IMO.

 

[Tadginator]

If it's the same Harry Robinson then he should definitely be picked on his sevens form where he's had lots of gametime for wales. He's scored some brilliant individual tries

 

[Ospreylian]

Squad for opening match against Ireland should be:

1. G Jenkins 2. M Rees 3. A Jones 4. B Davies 5. R Jones 6. D Lydiate 7. S Warburton (c) 8. T Faletau
9. M Phillips 10. R Priestland 11. George North 12. A Beck 13. J Hook 14. L Halfpenny 15. L Byrne

Bench: 16. P James 17. H Bennett 18. I Evans 19. J Tipuric 20. Lloyd Williams 21. G Henson 22. J Davies

 

[Stoney21]

Ospreylian out of interest have you left Roberts out because he isn't going to be fit (i haven't heard this for definate yet) your not a fan or just believe the other players you have chosen are better? otherwise not far off what i would go for. pack pretty much picks itself with second row the only debate.

 

[Melhor Time]

Secondrow looks like being the weakness.

Assuming Roberts is on the sidelines I´d like to see:

14 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) 15 Lee Bryne (Clermont) 11 George North (Scarlets)
13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) 12 James Hook (Perpignan)
10 Rhys Preistland (Scarlets) 9 Mike Phillips (Bayonne)

7 Sam Warburton (capt, Cardiff Blues) 8 Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons) 6 Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons)
5 ??? 4 Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues)
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys) 2 Matthew Rees (Scarlets) 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)

 

[Draggs]

Lydiate injured his ankle today. Hook and Priestland also came off. I really do hate the last two rounds of the HC/Amlin.
Shingler with a 80m intercept though, so it's not all bad.

 

[wlshby09]

Even worse when Gethin goes off injured. Seriously he can't string 5 games together without injuring himself. Has he ever started a 6 nations!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales' RBS 6 Nations training squad will be just one player short of their full contingency tonight (Monday) after gathering for duty in Gdansk, Poland ready for a week of intense training ahead of their opening clash with Ireland a week on Sunday.

Prop Gethin Jenkins is the only absentee from the 35-man squad announced last week - he remains at home in Wales due to a knee injury he picked up during the Blues' victorious Heineken Cup clash with Racing Metro on Sunday - but it is hoped he will travel to the Cetniewo Camp in Gdansk to meet up with his international colleagues before the week is out.​

Training begins in earnest tomorrow (Tuesday), with Monday used primarily as a travel and recovery day, although it did include the cryotherapy sessions which are being utilised by Wales at the Olympic sports village to aid the recovery process, both from injury and training.​

Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland (knee) and Dragons back row Dan Lydiate (ankle) both also left the pitch during their respective European matches this weekend, but both players will train in Poland whilst managing their injuries.​

Blues centre Jamie Roberts (knee) is progressing well, he will also continue his rehabilitation on Eastern European soil.​

Clermont full-back Lee Byrne, who left the field of play with a problem with his thumb at the weekend, has sustained no lasting damage and he is able to take a full part in what will be a tough week this week.


​

Simon Rimmer​

​

 

[Draggs]

Oh, arse. Every year.
So, Gill or Bevington starting? I would be willing to try either just to see what they offer, provided James is on the bench.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

What's wrong with Paul James? He's proven himself to be international-class before, and is our natural stand-in for Geth.

 

[Draggs]

Absolutely nothing. I rate James quite highly, as my previous posts have said.
I just feel that we could use this opportunity to test someone new.

 

[dullonien]

We all know what James can do, and unfortunately for him, his best position is on the bench so that he can cover both sides of the scrum if there's an injury. He's not a natural tighthead, so if Jones get's injured, I'd prefer him to be fresh from the bench, rather than shifting across from looshead.

I think Bevington's shown some really good glimpses of what he can offer for the Ospreys this season, and I feel he should get the nod if Gethin is ruled out. He's a like for like replacement, in that he offers alot around the park like Gethin. His scrummaging might not be as strong as James or Gill's, but he won't get bullied in that aspect either.

 

[Draggs]

Yes, agree entirely Dull.
I wish Bevington had some more time with the Ospreys. He would probably start at the Scarlets or with us!
Not sure where the turks see Rhodri Jones' future. We have prospects on both sides, but I do feel we could do with a good tighthead backup as soon as possible.
What side can Will Griff John play? He seems to be a pretty big lad who did well in the U20's.

 

[dullonien]

What side can Will Griff John play? He seems to be a pretty big lad who did well in the U20's.

Honestly can't remember. With a name like that, he's bound to make it though.