Wales Squad For AI

[dullonien]

All teams should be looking at how to improve, even the All Blacks, and Wales are no exception. Even though the defeats to Australia were close, questions needed to be asked as to what went wrong and what needs to change to become a top side.

I agree.

The problem was that we didn't play as well as we could have. We weren't as good as in the 6 nations, and tbh in the 6 nations we weren't as good as we were in the WC. If Austrailia had played out of their skins to beat a Welsh side playing well then I would have accepted the losses and accepted that Aus were simply better than us on the occasion.

However the fact that Wales really didn't play all that well and lost by such narrow margins is just extremely frustrating and disappointing. Very few of the Welsh squad can look back and be totally pleased with their performances, Halfpenny being the obvious exception. And that is what's not good enough, and that is why every Welsh fan has the right to expect more. Considering how close we did get in Aus without playing particularly well, I think demanding a win against them at home is realistic and acceptable, as is beating both Samoa and Argentina. No Welsh fan should expect us to win against NZ, but we should be optimistic about our chances if we play to our best.

 

[j'nuh]

Not that any one person is to blame, but I think playing a form fly-half is going to be key to reigniting the WC form for Wales. A lot of the success of the WC had to do with Priestland being in the form of his life. His distribution was key and he brought his whole backline into play. I'm still a massive fan of his, and think he can get back to that style of play (and when he does, he'll be one of the best attacking flyhalves in the world), but I think Wales need to be realistic about where he is at the minute. It isn't just the fact that he isn't kicking penalties well, which is irrelevant for Wales anyway - it's that he's not lining up the attacks in the same way that he used to. Biggar brings a different style of play. I don't think he'll distribute as tactically succinctly as Priestland did in the WC, but his kicking from hand is fantastic at the minute, and he'll keep the pressure on opposition, get Wales into decent attacking territories, and let the people outside him execute the set moves/attack.

I think it's a mixed bag in how players have developed since the WC. A lot have improved: J Davies, Halfpenny, Lydiate, AWJ, Tipuric, Biggar, Cuthbert. A few may have gone backwards by varying amounts: Jenkins (apparently), Priestland, Warburton, Faletau, Evans. I think Howley should strive to work his tactics around the players that are in form, rather than hoping that players who delivered in the WC will continue to deliver, even when not as in-form.

So I think Wales should play a physical team, kick for territory, and unleash the backline in the right areas, with the midfield (Beck, Davies and Scott Williams) orchestrating the backline instead of it coming through the flyhalf as it did with the WC.

 

[Big Ewis]

Interesting output on here...can't wait to see what the Welsh are able to do this time around.
Forums are great, and it's fantastic to discuss sports (not being sarcastic) - but ya just never, ever...EVER know, now do you ?...
Especially with our current teams in Europe, really not sure what to expect.
France hasn't played a srs team since the 6N and we totally under-performed for our team on paper. No idea what to expect the next few weeks. England is brand new as well, but it's Twichenham and they're always specially tough at home...Wales: under scrutiny atm, they may get right back in that groove that they showed during the RWC and winning the Grand Slam or they may just as well suffer the effects of the SH teams...

Just can't wait !!

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

...And now Jonathan Davies looks like he's going to miss the first game as well, if the Western Mail are to be trusted (And then aren't). Doesn't this always happen? Clean bill of health, looking strong, until the week beforehand, then BAM! we're playing Sam Hobbs at tighthead with Jamie Robinson waiting by the phone for his recall.

 

[Draggs]

Not to worry.
12 Beck, 13 Roberts. Beck is better at setting up his outside backs than Davies (Davies-Roberts was awful in 2011).
I think they'll go with Scott Williams, but I personally wouldn't. There is a very reliable centre playing for the Blues, Dull, can you help me out?

 

[welshglory]

Solid and reliable, with leadership qualities. Oh and he's got a nifty hair cut as well.

















I agree Draggs, i think a Beck-Roberts partnership has a lot of potential to be devastating. We saw a little of it with Henson-Roberts in that world cup warm up match against England.
At least Beck can offload and complete a simple draw and pass... something which Roberts and Davies, or Williams for that matter cannot.

 

[Draggs]

Bad player, good hair.

 

[Draggs]

Apparently the WRU inquired regarding the fitness of Tom Prydie, Sam Parry, and Phil Price (!).

Anyone consider Adam Hughes for Wales? Better than Adam Warren (one cap), Gavin Evans (one cap), and Dafydd Hewitt (2010 AI Squad).
I'd also consider him in better form than Scott Williams. What a shame Tuilagi has been capped.

 

[psychic duck]

Apparently the WRU inquired regarding the fitness of Tom Prydie, Sam Parry, and Phil Price (!).

Anyone consider Adam Hughes for Wales? Better than Adam Warren (one cap), Gavin Evans (one cap), and Dafydd Hewitt (2010 AI Squad).
I'd also consider him in better form than Scott Williams. What a shame Tuilagi has been capped.

 

[Draggs]

Adam Lomu!
In all fairness, Southwell is one of the worst fullbacks I have ever seen.
How is he the captain of the Wasps?

Hughes also offers a backup, backup kicker, if needed.

 

[psychic duck]

Adam Lomu!
In all fairness, Southwell is one of the worst fullbacks I have ever seen.
How is he the captain of the Wasps?

Hughes also offers a backup, backup kicker, if needed.

Adam Hughes is underrated in my opinion, he just suffers from less recognition because he plays for a less successful Welsh side. If he was in the Scarlets squad I bet people would be hyping him up.

 

[Thingimubob]

Always rated Hughes, really hoping he gets a shout in Japan! Draggs: Tuilagi, really? I dont rate him at all, he never passed the ball and its only every now and then that he really shows his carrying power.

Gavin Evans though, cracking hair cut. May even get one like it myself. Also, do I sense a rising Ed Fairhurst-esque cult to Gavin Evans here...?

 

[Draggs]

Tuilagi was more tongue in cheek. Had a blinder last weekend, mind.
Hughes is powerful for a 'short' centre (packs a hell of a punch, very strongly built).
How Adam Warren is capped is baffling. I can't ever recall saying that he even had a good game once (not saying he is awful, just not noteworthy). He is a Scarlet so...

Compare Evans' hair to the likes of Marler. Certainly in a different class.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Apparently the WRU inquired regarding the fitness of Tom Prydie, Sam Parry, and Phil Price (!).

Anyone consider Adam Hughes for Wales? Better than Adam Warren (one cap), Gavin Evans (one cap), and Dafydd Hewitt (2010 AI Squad).
I'd also consider him in better form than Scott Williams. What a shame Tuilagi has been capped.

Parry is a good little player but Emyr Phillips is a better hooker in my opinion. Parry is another year or so away in development terms but then again is it worth him getting some experience? God help us if Phil Price is included ...

Warren to be fair had a good little spell leading to his call up, granted Hughes should be given favour as he is playing far more regularly. I think what holds Hughes back is that he at times drifts in and out of the game ... sometimes through no fault of his own. But granted he should be called up.

 

[Draggs]

186cm and 107kg, so not little! (Being pedantic, my apologies)
I wouldn't mind Parry being included in some training activities with Wales, it will only help him.

Hughes has had the misfortune of having an inconsistent midfield (Smith, Leach, Tuilagi all inside) and a poor pack.
I haven't seen much of Emyr Phillips, but I think the turks would have a coronary if they lost three hookers.
Scott Baldwin would have been my pick, had he not been injured.

 

[psychic duck]

Hughes has had the misfortune of having an inconsistent midfield (Smith, Leach, Tuilagi all inside) and a poor pack.

Indeed. With Tuilagi at 12, you can virtually guarantee that the 13 and wingers won't get any ball for the entire match unless Tuilagi is in a ruck. Tuilagi literally NEVER, EVER passes.

 

[Draggs]

Indeed. With Tuilagi at 12, you can virtually guarantee that the 13 and wingers won't get any ball for the entire match unless Tuilagi is in a ruck. Tuilagi literally NEVER, EVER passes.

He did have a good match against Bayonne, for once.

 

[dullonien]

There is a very reliable centre playing for the Blues, Dull, can you help me out?

Don't you dare joke about that!

If Davies is out, I'd be very interested to see a midfield combo of Beck and Roberts. If Biggar is playing 10 anyway, having a slightly more creative 12 in Beck would be beneficial in order to get Roberts and the outside backs into the game. The only problem is that in the past Roberts hasn't handled the switch to outside center all that well, but I do think that with Beck inside him he could be very potent from one further out. Beck has got a great ability to offload in the tackle, so if Roberts can read that and run good angles off him, he could cause some serious damage.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

186cm and 107kg, so not little! (Being pedantic, my apologies)
I wouldn't mind Parry being included in some training activities with Wales, it will only help him.

Hughes has had the misfortune of having an inconsistent midfield (Smith, Leach, Tuilagi all inside) and a poor pack.
I haven't seen much of Emyr Phillips, but I think the turks would have a coronary if they lost three hookers.
Scott Baldwin would have been my pick, had he not been injured.

Not been keen on Baldwin. Parry and Phillips for me are better options.

 

[Draggs]

Not been keen on Baldwin. Parry and Phillips for me are better options.

No? He think he has shown up well so far, but I'll take a hooker's input at higher value than my own.
Myhill should shift to the Blues. He won't get in ahead of Rees or Owens for the Turks; Hibbard or Baldwin for the jacks; and everybody at Rodney would rip up their tickets if Jabba was dropped.
Blues have Breeze and that scouse. Dacey and Williams haven't really been given a shot. While we are on the topic of the Blues, if Screech, Cook, or Hill want guaranteed match time, call Darren Edwards.