Wales Summer Tour 2012

[TRF_Olyy]

Do you think that Gatland will choose Henson for the Wales squad?
There's also talk that Jon Davies will miss the tour with a hernia, which would be bad news as that's both starting centres out.
And then there's still the possibility Warburton won't make it (though apparently it's looking better now).

I wonder if Marc Jones will cross Gatland's mind - I'd presume not as he's at Sale, but he selected Powell when he was here (and Peel for about 12seconds at one point too). He's said his dream is to play for Wales (though that's the same for all Welsh players), and will probably move back to Wales at the end of next season to try and achieve this (many thought he'd go this season, but then he signed a 1yr extension).
Nick MacLeod could do a job on the bench covering 10/12/15 for the BaaBaas game, but that'll never happen
Gatland will need to try someone new though, with Wellies off to England (and old as anything) - Is Tovey still injured? Maybe Biggar will finally make the right impression on the big stage.

 

[SelimNiai]

Do you think that Gatland will choose Henson for the Wales squad?
.

I bloomin well hope not. Take people who deserve to go

 

[dullonien]

I bloomin well hope not. Take people who deserve to go

He'll play in the BaaBaa's game, who else is there, especially if Jon Davies is out. I don't think many of the other centres are up to scratch really. Bishop, Hewitt, Evans, Maul, Riley etc. Ashley Smith is the only one, but he's had a tough year or so with injuries, and hasn't impressed me all that much recently.

 

[SelimNiai]

Henson isn't up to scratch either

 

[dullonien]

Henson isn't up to scratch either

Who would you play if two completely separate squads are being picked?

I'd trust Henson is a Wales shirt above those I mentioned, and I'd expect the Welsh coaches to whip him into shape. He was given very little opportunity in a Blues team where pretty much every player (bar Halfpenny) was under-performing, due to **** poor forwards and a management team who has no clue.

 

[SelimNiai]

There isnt anyone, thats what depresses me that Henson will go despite everything he's done,

 

[psychic duck]

Do you think that Gatland will choose Henson for the Wales squad?
There's also talk that Jon Davies will miss the tour with a hernia, which would be bad news as that's both starting centres out.
And then there's still the possibility Warburton won't make it (though apparently it's looking better now).

I wonder if Marc Jones will cross Gatland's mind - I'd presume not as he's at Sale, but he selected Powell when he was here (and Peel for about 12seconds at one point too). He's said his dream is to play for Wales (though that's the same for all Welsh players), and will probably move back to Wales at the end of next season to try and achieve this (many thought he'd go this season, but then he signed a 1yr extension).
Nick MacLeod could do a job on the bench covering 10/12/15 for the BaaBaas game, but that'll never happen
Gatland will need to try someone new though, with Wellies off to England (and old as anything) - Is Tovey still injured? Maybe Biggar will finally make the right impression on the big stage.

Marc Jones in my opinion deserves a squad place, his work in the loose impressed me when I saw him play this season, but I doubt he would get a look in for the Sale reason

I also think Eifion Lewis-Roberts deserves a recall, he could be a good #17 as he covers both sides to a decent standard, he must be annoyed that John Yapp has 21 caps including some starts at tighthead, whilst Lewis-Roberts just has had one bench appearance

as for possible centre options, I wouldn't mind seeing Adam Hughes at #13

to be honest though, I would rather have more of a mixture of players for this Barbarians match, it would be better if they played an experimental side away to Samoa/Fiji or Tonga the week before the Australia match

 

[dullonien]

There isnt anyone, thats what depresses me that Henson will go despite everything he's done,

I don't want to turn this thread into a Henson thread, but all he's done? He's done a lot less than plenty of other players. He's had a few drunken antics (train incident, Cardiff incident, plane incident), but never anything really bad like you hear of some players who get arrested for assault etc. The media have blown plenty of Gav stuff out of the water. Other than that, he's basically not been as commited as some would like, but ultimately that's his decision. If he wasn't enjoying his rugby (and probably depressed), then it's his right to take a break at the end of the day. Breaking up with the mother of your child can effect people in different ways, and it's plain to see that he took it very hard.

Plenty of team-mates have commented about Gav's commitment in training etc. so it's not that he's not been giving his all. The most recent problem at the Blues seems to have stemmed from frustration, and who can blame him. He was in the wrong, I think everyone accepts that, but maybe it's about time someone actually tried to help him. Plenty of people attack the celeb side of his lifestyle, but if we think about it rationally, he's being very clever in securing a 'career' after his rugby playing days are over. Others train to become doctor's or lawyers (which also takes up a substantial amount of their time, but no-one comments about that), he doesn't have the brains for that. Some go into coaching or punditry, but I don't think that's an option for him. He saw an opening, and he went for it. It'll ensure he's got money for the rest of his life, and can care for his children. Maybe not something I particularly like (in fact I hate the whole celebrity thing), but good on him I say for building himself a 'career' of some sorts to fall back upon in future.

He's got his issues, and that's a pitty, but if Gatland think's he's the best man for the job, then I'll agree with that. If he also decides that he's has enough chances, then fine.

 

[psychic duck]

I don't want to turn this thread into a Henson thread, but all he's done? He's done a lot less than plenty of other players. He's had a few drunken antics (train incident, Cardiff incident, plane incident), but never anything really bad like you hear of some players who get arrested for assault etc. The media have blown plenty of Gav stuff out of the water. Other than that, he's basically not been as commited as some would like, but ultimately that's his decision. If he wasn't enjoying his rugby (and probably depressed), then it's his right to take a break at the end of the day. Breaking up with the mother of your child can effect people in different ways, and it's plain to see that he took it very hard.

Plenty of team-mates have commented about Gav's commitment in training etc. so it's not that he's not been giving his all. The most recent problem at the Blues seems to have stemmed from frustration, and who can blame him. He was in the wrong, I think everyone accepts that, but maybe it's about time someone actually tried to help him. Plenty of people attack the celeb side of his lifestyle, but if we think about it rationally, he's being very clever in securing a 'career' after his rugby playing days are over. Others train to become doctor's or lawyers (which also takes up a substantial amount of their time, but no-one comments about that), he doesn't have the brains for that. Some go into coaching or punditry, but I don't think that's an option for him. He saw an opening, and he went for it. It'll ensure he's got money for the rest of his life, and can care for his children. Maybe not something I particularly like (in fact I hate the whole celebrity thing), but good on him I say for building himself a 'career' of some sorts to fall back upon in future.

He's got his issues, and that's a pitty, but if Gatland think's he's the best man for the job, then I'll agree with that. If he also decides that he's has enough chances, then fine.

No, he would be better advised to add to his legacy on the pitch, and then he could do as many reality shows as he wanted after his career and could possibly get better offers also

he only has about 15 years as a pro rugby player, and how much of that has he wasted

 

[dullonien]

No, he would be better advised to add to his legacy on the pitch, and then he could do as many reality shows as he wanted after his career and could possibly get better offers also

he only has about 15 years as a pro rugby player, and how much of that has he wasted

Do you say the same about Roberts training to become a doctor etc.?

Yes he appeared on reality shows during his time off from rugby, but that time off wasn't just so he could persue his celeb career, it also had a lot to do with his constant injuries, his reduction of passion for the game and his split with Church. Unlike most other jobs, you cannot continue to be a professional athlete unless the desire and drive is there, and it was obviously missing at that point in time in Gav's case.

The reality is that if Gav had waited until after his playing career, I doubt anyone would want too much to do with him. His partnership with Church is what catapulted him into the national tabloid world (rugby alone wouldn't get him much attention outside Wales), and due to his split with Church, his stock would have fallen, but he made sure it didn't. The celebrity world is hugely fast paced, he'd have missed it completely if he had waited. Maybe he knew this, and his time off from rugby was more to do with this than I think, but it was a combination of things imo.

 

[TVH11]

With Jon Davies looking like he's gonna miss the summer tour, would it be unrealistic to see Ashley Beck given an oppertunity. He's arguably the in form inside center of the season in Wales (forgive me If I'm wrong). I'd love the see the Orange One in a Welsh shirt again, but unfortunetely I cant see anyone taking the gamble on him now, which is a darn shame Ah well. Looking forward to seeing Shane Line up against his former team mates

 

[dullonien]

With Jon Davies looking like he's gonna miss the summer tour, would it be unrealistic to see Ashley Beck given an oppertunity. He's arguably the in form inside center of the season in Wales (forgive me If I'm wrong). I'd love the see the Orange One in a Welsh shirt again, but unfortunetely I cant see anyone taking the gamble on him now, which is a darn shame Ah well. Looking forward to seeing Shane Line up against his former team mates

I'd start Beck even if Jon Davies is fit, play them together. Beck is the form centre in Wales, and is playing better than Scott Williams.

 

[psychic duck]

has anybody else noticed the good form of Ryan Bevington lately?

he's looking very strong at the scrum and the loose, I think he could very definitely be successor to Jenkins

very good for Wales to have three looseheads, and two tightheads of international standard

how many nations can say they have a third choice loosehead prop as good as Bevington?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be fair, who else would they send other than Beck?
If both Davies and Roberts are out then Beck/Williams will have just become the first choice centre partnership, won't they?
Unless Henson is used.


Oh, and there's Hook as well. Forgot about him - presumably Hook/Williams with Beck at 21.

 

[cyRil]

has anybody else noticed the good form of Ryan Bevington lately?

he's looking very strong at the scrum and the loose, I think he could very definitely be successor to Jenkins

very good for Wales to have three looseheads, and two tightheads of international standard

how many nations can say they have a third choice loosehead prop as good as Bevington?

Georgia?

 

[TVH11]

Also I have began to develop an obsession with the Ospreys' Hanno Dirksen. Sure I've read somewhere he wants to qualify for wales (despite being SA raised in US or something along those lines). He's a very raw talent, but certainly showing some promice. Needs to learn how to tackle though. That Powerbomb on the weekend was extremely fun to watch but potentially dangerous.

 

[psychic duck]

Georgia?

not at loosehead prop yet ...

at tighthead prop Georgia has three of the best props in the Top 14 in Jgenti, Zirakashvili (who's on great form at the minute) and Kubriashvili, all of those props would start for most 6 Nations countries with the exception of Wales, so I would say Georgia has the strongest tighthead depth in the world

at loosehead there is Kakovin and Khinchagishvili, the first of whom is quality and one of the best in the Top 14, and has been signed by Toulouse, and Khinchagishvili is very good too, but third choice Anton Peikrishvili of Castres however I wouldn't consider ahead of Bevington ... however Georgia has a very young rising star called Zurab Zhvania, he's only about 21 and has been one of the best domestic props in Georgia, so as a result Stade Français have signed him, he could also be very good one day

but that's in the future, at the present I would say Wales have the best depth at loosehead in the world

note that Argentina's depth has decreased, they had a mad generation born in the 1970's where nearly every prop they had was world class (Grau, Reggiardo, Scelzo, Roncero, Hasan) all were available at the same time, however soon Roncero will be the last of those to retire and the 1980's generation has had notable duds such as Juan Gomez and Juan Pablo Orlandi, next season there will just be Juan Figallo and Marcos Ayerza who are world class, and the only other good prop being Maximiliano Bustos of Montpellier, a notable loss of depth in props since all the names mentioned above were all playing

 

[welshglory]

We could very well see North at 13. Gatts has already said that he sees him as a potential centre, so with JD out and S Williams looking unlikely the chances are we will see him tried out there.

Hook will cover 10/12/15 because we don't have any decent fullbacks other than Halfpenny and Byrne. I think we'll see Henson, especially now that JD's out. Shingler could be a wild card although i doubt it, it might cause friction within the camp, maybe wait another year. We could see Adam Hughes or another 10 or 15 to cover for Hook playing at 12.

 

[j'nuh]

The Welsh coaches were saying in the six nations that they were very close to picking Beck. Pretty certain he'll start in the summer.

 

[Draggs]

Foxy and Warburton are touch and go for the tour.
I really don't want to head to Australia with Beck and Williams our first choice centres.

Howley will coach us as well. I expect he will recieve a text from Gatland two days before each match with the team