Wales squad for Australia to be announced Sunday

[TRF_Cymro]

Watch out now ... could see Rhys Thomas at 3

 

[Draggs]

Watch out now ... could see Rhys Thomas at 3

No chance. I think Gatland would rather send McBryde onto the field than Rhys Thomas.
That being said, it could be cai griffiths.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Duncan Jones got a mauling today.

Would see Bevington infront him anyway.

 

[Draggs]

my word that is a massive unavailable list this match will test depth big time, taking that into account my team to face Australia

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Rhys Thomas (I don't want to select players like Andrews who struggle to get a game for their region so Thomas is the only really option left)
4. Bradley Davies
5. Paul ***o (on good form for the Blues)
6. Ryan Jones (considered Shingler at 6 with Jones at lock)
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Jason Tovey (Biggar was poor today)
11. Shane Williams
12. Ashley Beck (more potential than off form Jonathan Davies)
13. Scott Williams
14. Alex Cuthbert (better finisher than Brew or James, don't think he's good but the best out of the options)
15. Chris Czekaj (not really an international full back, but on better form than Fussell currently and better than Thomas)

16. Richie Hibbard
17. Duncan Jones (ahead of Bevington as Duncan Jones has been on good form this season and Bevington has hardly played)
18. Aaron Shingler (been impressed with him, strong ball carrier and tackler)
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Richie Rees
21. Dan Biggar
22. Ashley Smith (very underrated player who's on good form)

I wish this was a Welsh XV match at least.

You could potentially add:
3 Adam Jones
5 Luke Charteris
6 Dan Lydiate
10 Rhys Priestland
12 Jamie Roberts
15 Leigh Halfpenny

These all have a chance of making the match. I have no idea of the extent of Aaron's injury, but I would be fine with seeing him in.
***o has no chance. Scrums are poor when he plays and I would rather give someone else a shot. Ian Evans has been decent, not stellar, but might be worth a one-off chance.
I'll say Lou Reed for no other reason than cyRil... Adam Jones anyone? Not outstanding either, but doesn't let the Dragons down and I think he would give it his all.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

no, it's Jarvis who got a mauling, when Duncan Jones and Cai Griffiths played early season both were dominating scrums, Bevington is more effective in the loose than Jones though but Jones is a better scrummager, if you could combine the two of them you would have a very good player

I agree about ***o actually, although he did have a good match against RM92, there would be more point in selecting Evans or Reed

Ok ... even the commentators on Sky and S4C said the same and both said that the scrums got slightly better when Bevington got on.

I must have been seeing things then ... because Duncan's face was spending a lot of time in the mud.

 

[Draggs]

Duncan won't get a look. Given the choice between an older or younger player, Gatland will go with the younger (which is sensible).
If Halfpenny is out I might go with Czekaj given that the only other person who could compete (Martyn Thomas) is just back from injury.
Liam Williams should certainly be involved with the squad. He has done well stepping up from LV to Pro12 and now Heineken Cup. Looks eager and dangerous.

 

[dullonien]

Yeh, please no ***o. Not a bad player, but he's not Welsh, and is too old to bother with. He's not even been on good form, apart from last weeks game against Racing. James Down was selected ahead of him for that match, which says a thing or two about his recent form. I'm not quite sure who to pick at second-row if Charteris is out aswell, the easy option would be to shift Ryan Jones across, but we're also short of blindsides if Lydiate, McCusker and Turnbull are out. I don't want to have to resort to Jon Thomas. Shingler could be an option, but I think he needs more time at the Scarlets first. Shifting Warburton across one and playing Tips at 7 could be an option, but I'm not sure if it's a good one. Ian Evans could come back in, but I still haven't seen enough from him to suggest he's ready for international rugby again, although he is getting there very slowly. Hopefully Lydiate or Charteris, or both are fit.

I thought Jon Davies was excellent against Northampton yesterday. I like Ashley Beck, but for the time being Davies is the best option is Roberts is out. I'd still probably put Davies at 13 if Roberts is fit, because he's slowly but surely growing into international rugby, and when he reaches his regional form, he's going to be a great asset. Scott Williams is a good option aswell, and wouldn't mind seeing him at 13. Beck will get his chance, but not quite yet.

I'm not a fan of Czekaj either. He's had somegood games at fullback for the Blues, but he's also prone to some shockers. I think Martyn Thomas and Liam Williams are better, natural fullback options. Fussell has a similar problem to Czekaj, although tends to go from good to bad 20 times a match.

Edit. In regards to Duncan Jones. I'd have Bevington in front of him, and I don't understand why the Ospreys don't aswell. Bevington is already a very good prop imo, and is only going to get better. He's not a destructive scrummager yet, but he can hold his own against most opposition. His work around the park is excellent. He's the future, and will take over from Gethin Jenkins in a few years time, give him gametime, plenty of it!

 

[Me 1]

Would Craig Mitchell be available for this match? I know the ones based in France aren't available but what about in England.

As for the squad: Best possible
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Rhys Priestland
11. Shane Williams
12. Jonathan Davies
13. Jamie Roberts
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Worst possible:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Craig Mitchell/Rhys Thomas
4. Bradley Davies
5. Ryan Jones
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Jason Tovey
11. Shane Williams
12. Jonathan Davies
13. Scott Williams
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Liam Williams

As the Jones' start to end their careers with Wales, we see a new monopoly on the Wales team from the Williams'.

I'm guessing everyone thinks Warburton should remain as captain?

 

[dullonien]

Would Craig Mitchell be available for this match? I know the ones based in France aren't available but what about in England?

Considering that Premier Rugby Limited are complete w***ers at the best of time, and this match is just a WRU cash-in disguised as Shane's final hoorah, I'd say a definite no, and rightly so this time, the clubs deserve their players for once.

Hopefully your 'best possible' team can take the field, but in reality we're probably looking at something in between that and your 'worst possible' team, which isn't too bad atall imo.

Yup, Warburton should remain as captain. I always only really saw Matthew Rees as a stop-gap captain untill someone genuine emerged, and Warburton is that man. His red-card shouldn't change a thing, because the reality is that it should make him a better player and captain in the long run. He's articulate, calm under media pressure, a great role model (again the red-card shouldn't change people's opinions of him), and he's a true leader on the field. He has the making to be one of the top Captains, as well as one of the best players in the world. Rees is another leader, but I never thought he was quite as ease with the media, certainly doesn't come across as intelligent as Warburton, but that could simply be his accent clouding my judgement.

In Rees, Warburton and Roberts, there are three distinct leaders in the team, each covering specific roles (Rees - front 5, Waburton - overall captain, Roberts - backs) which covers the entire team. All three conduct themselves extremely well both on and off the field, and are capable of having big influences on any game they play. Of course the likes of Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Ryan Jones (when selected) are also capable of leading by example. The backs look set to be full of youngsters post Shane Williams, so not quite as many experienced heads there, but I'm sure the leaders will emerge, with the likes of Lloyd Williams and Priestland quite vocal in their roles, and North and Halfpenny able to impact a game in such a huge way.

 

[Patolski]

Not gonna lie, welsh rugby is where its happening in europe.

 

[Darwin]

Its more of looking at our team what what we have available.
Missing our first choice tighthead prop, lock, blindside flanker, scrum half, outside half, inside centre, right wing and fullback is kind of a bad thing.
I hope Priestland's shoulder injury isn't bad as some have said. Likewise, sounds like Adam has a decent chance of making it.

Australia is hardly at full strength either though - they are missing their first choice loosehead prop, lock, blindside flanker, outside half, inside centre, wing and fullback (as well as numerous key back-up players). With both teams missing so many key players I expect it could well be a close match, though Australia might have the edge as they do have a warm-up game the week before versus the Barbarians, which they can use to build combinations.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've just read that John Thomas is an injury concern as well,
Who would play blindside if he's out as well?
Ryan Jones is likely to play lock, Lydiate may be out, JT may be out, McCusker may be out, Powell unavailable

 

[dullonien]

Add Turnbull to that list. We're down to the bare bones really, especially as Ben Morgan and Pretorius aren't quite Welsh qualified either. The only options I see are Lewis Evans, Aaron Shingler or shifting Warburton to accommodate Tipuric. Still leaves a big hole on the bench aswell. Gough or Ian Evans could always come into the second row and do a job, allowing Ryan Jones to play blindside. I'm expecting Shingler or Lewis Evans to be involved somewhere tbh, both have alot of potential and Gatland is always willing to give someone promising a shot.

 

[SelimNiai]

http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/sam-tomkins-set-to-make-unprecedented-appearance-for-the-barbarians

Intresting move, a tester for future move perhaps. Think he'll play 9 or a wing, don't know if he has a kicking game on him as he never uses it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What the...?

I hope Radike Samo demolishes him.


Wing is most likely as it has the least amount of pressure (of knowing the game) on it - Don't think he'd fair too well at a scrum if he was playing 9

 

[dullonien]

In what way was Jon Davies aweful against Northampton? I only saw the highlights, because I don't have sky, and the stream I was using was rubbish, so genuine question. From the highlights, he was solid in defense, and offered a target in attack. Scott Williams was better granted, as he went through a ton of work in defense especially, making big hits and ripping the ball a couple of times. I'd be perfectly happy with a Roberts - Williams centre partnership, but if Roberts is out, then it has to be Davies and Williams.

Fussell was very solid on the wing. He might still make a good fullback, but he needs more time. I think Liam Williams could well step up to international rugby. I know it's quick, but some players are just capable of making the step-up despite limited experience or age. Everyone might not agree, but I'd have him iver Czekaj and Fussell in a heart beat.

Bevington is much, much better than Yapp ever was. He can actually scrummage for one thing. Duncan Jones is still a good regional player, but Bevington is still better imo. The fact that Bevington went to the WC in front of Duncan shows how Gatland views things aswell. There's probably not much in it, but in a 50-50 call, I'd always choose the younger player, even if some would prefer experience.

Agree about Shingler, very similar to a 2003 Jon Thomas. Hopefully he realises some of his potential unlike Thomas.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

FORWARDS: Scott Andrews, Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Danny Lydiate, Matthew Rees, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (Captain)

BACKS: Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Tavis Knoyle, George North, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams, Shane Williams

 

[Me 1]

Dan Biggar

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Surprised to see Ian Evans tbh. We know he's got the potential but I think he has a little bit further to go before he reaches international level again. Lewis Evans is an interesting call, looks like a good player, so I won't complain, would rather Aaron Shingler but that could be my bias talking. Although, I would rather Tavis Knoyle be replaced with either Rhys Webb or Gareth Davies(can be awful at times though). Good to see Cuthbert having a go to.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Fair play. Would have had Aaron Shingler over either Evanses, but I'm glad Lewis Evans is getting some recognition, as he's had an excellent season so far- You'd hardly know Lydiate has only played one game for the Dragons. Actually, I disagree on Cuthbert, too. He's looked good for the Blues, but has nothing of the class or balance George North looked to when he was first spotted for the Scarlets. Glad about Liam Williams, though. He may well be our back-up fullback for some time, if he keeps developing as he is- More of a traditional 15 than Stoddart (Who, although I'm a big fan of him, is almost solely a counter-attacker, although people said the same of Ben Foden a few years ago) and certainly better than Fussell (Certainly as a fullback) and Czekaj. Shame Dan Gish hasn't been given an opportunity with the Blues.

 

[dullonien]

Biggar is the only one I don't like being included, would much rather Tovey. The call between Lewis Evans and Aaron Shingler was probably quite tight, I'm just glad one of them is involved. I'm glad that Ian Evans is back involved. He's not back to his previous level, but maybe some time with Gatland and co will fast track him. After two+ years of injury nightmares, I think being back involved with Wales will give him a great boost that could boost his performances aswell. I'm hugely glad Liam Williams has been selected, and I applaud Gatland for once again giving a rookie a chance to impress in camp. Whilst Cuthbert is no North, he's still got alot of potential. He's not just a big lad, he's genuinely quick aswell. He might lack North's agility, but what other player of their size can change direction like North. Ultimately, I think we need to asses Cuthbert seperately to North, otherwise it's unfair on Cuthbert.

Anyone else think Phillips, Hook, Byrne and Mitchell might live to regret their decision to move out of Wales. If Liam Williams goes well, Byrne will fall even further down the pecking order. Phillips could easily see Lloyd Williams overtake him. Mitchell should have stayed in Wales, even if he wanted to move from the O's to get more gametime. He wasn't an established Wales player, and he could also loose his spot. I understand why Hook left the O's, but again maybe going to the Blues would have allowed him to play 10 and continue to play for Wales uninterupted. Hoom wouldn't get a starting spot at the moment that's for sure.

Overall, I'm very happy with the squad. It shows that Gatland is continuing from where he left off in regards to selection, going for the form players (even Biggar has been on form if you take out yesterdays performance). Hopefully all, or at least most of the injured players he's named will be fit.