Wales Summer Tour 2012

[dullonien]

Good spot Dunc. Don't understand leaving Mitchell out. He's by far our second best out and out tighthead, and should be being developed. His decision to leave the O's shouldn't be viewed harshly, because he's now playing week in week out in arguably the strongest scrummaging league in the world, and imo has improved as a player. If Gill is included, then so should Mitchell and arguably Powell considering our lack of depth at 8, and his good form.

I can't see Alun-Wyn and Ian Evans starting against the BaaBaa's Dunc, they'll be going to Aus as our first choice lock pairing. I'd expect to see Charteris and Brad starting with one of Turnbull, Shingler or Ryan as emergency backup.

 

[Me 1]

From what I can gather Warburton and Tipuric will be going down early. There are fitness worries over Jonathan Davies and Matthew Rees so they probably will too. Scott Williams also has injury worries but I'm not sure if they'll take him down.
Predicted squad v. Baabaa's
1. Ryan Bevington
2. Ken Owens
3. Paul James
4. Luke Charteris
5. Ian Evans (Won't be available for the first Aussie test as he's getting married, so he'll probably stay behind for this)
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Turnbull
8. Ryan Jones
9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar (did I just type that)
11. Aled Brew
12. Ashley Beck
13. James Hook
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Liam Williams
16. Richard Hibbard
17. Rhodri Jones
18. Bradley Davies
19. Martyn Williams
20. Lloyd Williams
21. Andrew Bishop
22. Harry Robinson

 

[Tadginator]

Very pleased to see Harry robinson and dan biggar back in the squad. good squad, lots of reentries and deserved call ups

 

[dullonien]

From what I can gather Warburton and Tipuric will be going down early. There are fitness worries over Jonathan Davies and Matthew Rees so they probably will too. Scott Williams also has injury worries but I'm not sure if they'll take him down.
Predicted squad v. Baabaa's
1. Ryan Bevington
2. Ken Owens
3. Paul James
4. Luke Charteris
5. Ian Evans (Won't be available for the first Aussie test as he's getting married, so he'll probably stay behind for this)
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Turnbull
8. Ryan Jones
9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar (did I just type that)
11. Aled Brew
12. Ashley Beck
13. James Hook
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Liam Williams
16. Richard Hibbard
17. Rhodri Jones
18. Bradley Davies
19. Martyn Williams
20. Lloyd Williams
21. Andrew Bishop
22. Harry Robinson

That looks spot-on tbh.

It's not a bad looking team considering it's completely second-choice (other than Ian Evans, but you're probably right that he'll play this game as he's missing the first Aussie test). The pack is still very strong imo, with an excellent front-five, and a decent loose-forward trio, even if it is missing an out-and-out openside.

The backs are lacking a little experience in places, but those in-experienced players are hugely talented and in great form for their regions.

All that, and the bench is still pretty strong imo. Not bad, and something we could have only dreamt about only a few years ago.

 

[Draggs]

On current form, Matthew Rees shouldn't make the 22. Kenny and Dickie Hibbard are the in form hookers.
Rhys Gill over Craig Mitchell is astounding.
Ian Evans and AWJ both have to attend weddings on the weekend of the first Aussie test (not to each other...) so could play the Barbarians match if Howler decides to send Bradley and Luke early.
Back row is pretty much what I would pick, maybe include Andy Powell.

Surprised to see Will in, as much as I am a fan of his, he is just getting back from injury. Brew I won't bother commenting on. I would have selected Adam Hughes and Richard Fussell ahead of them.
Still weak at fullback. Liam Williams isn't a bad player, I just think he lacks the physicality needed for a top-flight fullback.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I can't see Alun-Wyn and Ian Evans starting against the BaaBaa's Dunc, they'll be going to Aus as our first choice lock pairing. I'd expect to see Charteris and Brad starting with one of Turnbull, Shingler or Ryan as emergency backup.

Nope, neither are flying out due to family weddings. (Ianto's getting married on the 8th, AWJ's sister is on the 1st.) Howley said both'll play against the Baa Baas and niether'll start the first test.

With regards to Matthew Rees, I'd probably lump him on the bench against the Baa Baas to try and get him some gametime before hand, as Ken should really be our first choice hooker and, as such, with the test tem in Australia.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales have added a fixture against the Brumbies during midweek.

http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/164062.html

 

[dullonien]

Nope, neither are flying out due to family weddings. (Ianto's getting married on the 8th, AWJ's sister is on the 1st.) Howley said both'll play against the Baa Baas and niether'll start the first test.

With regards to Matthew Rees, I'd probably lump him on the bench against the Baa Baas to try and get him some gametime before hand, as Ken should really be our first choice hooker and, as such, with the test tem in Australia.

Yeh, sorry, didn't realise that until after. Disappointing that neither will be available for the first test, that's a big loss imo because both are in tremendous form. They complement each other so well too. Bradley Davies hasn't been in the greatest of form lately, so not overly confident with him starting. Hopefully Charteris can perform like he did in the World Cup.

Agree with both of you about Rees. I'd say it's 50/50 between Owens and Hibbard for the no.1 hooker, both are in good form. If Alun-Wyn and Ian Evans were starting, I'd probably go with Hibbard due to the understanding they have at the lineout (it's generally been going very well for the O's), but as neither lock will be there, Owens might be the better option.

Wales have added a fixture against the Brumbies during midweek.

http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/164062.html

Awesome. More gametime for the young players going is always good. This should be a cracking tour.

 

[psychic duck]

if they think Rhodri Jones is good enough for the squad and think he is a long term option at tighthead (presuming he's been selected as a 3)

then he should start against the Barbarians, as it is a match where things like that can afford to be tested as there is not so much at stake

there is four Welshmen in the Barbarians squad so far by the way, at the moment the squad has these players

1.
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. John Afoa
4. Brad Thorn
5.
6. Lewis Moody
7. Akapusi Qera
8. George Smith
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Stephen Jones
11. Shane Williams
12. Maxime Mermoz
13. Mike Tindall
14. Iain Balshaw
15. Cédric Heymans

16.
17.
18.
19. Josh Navidi
20. Dwayne Peel
21. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu
22. Damien Traille

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Rhodri Jones won't make a good tighthead purely because he has a longish back. He has looked for more comfortable at loosehead than at tighhead, saying that he could develop into a tidy tighthead but really his future is at loosehead.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

20. Dwayne Peel

Are you sure you're not thinking of last year?
I've not heard that, and he's hobbling around on crutches atm anyhow.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Are you sure you're not thinking of last year?
I've not heard that, and he's hobbling around on crutches atm anyhow.

Peel will only be selected if fit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17897242

 

[Draggs]

Just seen that James O'Connor has been ruled out. Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes at first and second five then?

It seems likely that James Hook will be at 10 for the Barbarians match. The first training run was today at judging only on pictures, he seemed to be quite involved.
When the squad is trimmed from 38 to 34, I wonder who will drop out.
I can see one of Gill/Bevington, Turnbull/Shingler, and two of Bishop/Brew/Harries going.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

From the training photos:

Orange bibs- James Hook, Paul James, Ken Owens, Rhodri Jones
Green bibs- Martyn Williams, Aled Brew, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris
Red bibs- Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert, Richard Hibbard

I was ready to read something into Hook, James, Ken and Jones starting against the Baa Baas but then realised it otherwise seems to be random, as I'd assume Phillips, Priestland and Halfpenny will fly out no matter what. Never mind.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

What's this doing on the second page? Bump.

Considering Biggar, Bevington, Warren, Harries and Martyn have been cut and Ianto and AWJ aren't flying out, what sort of bench are we looking at for the first test, imagining it's the XV who flew out starting? I'd imagine we'll see Rees, James, Ryan, Tipuric, Lloyd, Hook and Scotty (With Davies/Beck starting) although the likes of Harry Robinson, Bishop and Brew may be pushing for that bench spot, regardless of whether or not Scott/Foxy's injured. I'd imagine if one of the centres is ruled out Bish'll come in.

 

[Draggs]

What's this doing on the second page? Bump.

Considering Biggar, Bevington, Warren, Harries and Martyn have been cut and Ianto and AWJ aren't flying out, what sort of bench are we looking at for the first test, imagining it's the XV who flew out starting? I'd imagine we'll see Rees, James, Ryan, Tipuric, Lloyd, Hook and Scotty (With Davies/Beck starting) although the likes of Harry Robinson, Bishop and Brew may be pushing for that bench spot, regardless of whether or not Scott/Foxy's injured. I'd imagine if one of the centres is ruled out Bish'll come in.

My 22:
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 200"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Wales
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Leigh Halfpenny[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Alex Cuthbert[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Jonathan Davies[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Ashley Beck[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]George North[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Priestland[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Mike Phillips[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Gethin Jenkins[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Ken Owens
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Adam Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Bradley Davies[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Luke Charteris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Dan Lydiate[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Sam Warburton[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Toby Faletau[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Richard Hibbard[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Paul James[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Ryan Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Justin Tipuric[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Webb[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]James Hook[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Scott Williams[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[cyRil]

Easily the best squad we've ever sent down on a summer tour. That bench looks really strong too. COMEONBOYS****ING YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Ashley Beck

 

[dynamicdave]

Uh oh!

 

[Pikachu]

Can't wait for the match with no JOC/Beale/Horwill there's never been a better chance to beat the Aussies!