Wales Team, Six Nations 2013

[psychic duck]

People tend to have short memories or just can't remember.

When Spratt was capped for Wales he was infact in some fine form for the Ospreys. He therefore earned his caps. If you care to disagree with me then fine, but I remember it pretty well to be honest.

You're right. I don't remember Spratt ever really having much impact at all for the Ospreys. I checked his record, he just started 4 games in the 2008/09 season before that tour. He was talked about by press simply for his move to Taranaki at one point, he came back and but didn't crack the Ospreys team, nor London Irish, nor Ospreys again this season. I haven't seen a lot of him play, but the fact Tom Isaacs is ahead of him says a lot.

Duck I can name you a dozen players worse off than Spratt ... Jason Jones-Hughes instantly comes to mind.

I said in the Gatland era he is one of the worst.

Fussell for me is not good enough for Wales. I don't care about the stats or the .gif files banded about. He simply lacks the quality. He lacks some of the basic skills required such as passing a ball for instance, the .gif posted will show him passing but there have been times where he hasn't passed and blown opportunites for the Ospreys. But then where are those .gifs? Liam Williams does have something about him but I think he needs to go back to regional rugby and discover some form.

Nobody is saying Fussell would take international rugby by storm. But the fact is that he is playing much better than Liam Williams. He deserves to be rewarded for his form as second best Welsh full back. Fussell has been playing well for the past 6 months, and is much better attacking and making breaks than Liam Williams, what is it Williams has done to justify his selection?

Also passing is not a skill I thought of him as lacking. Watch this clip from Sunday, draws the Leicester defender well and gives Eli Walker a good run which created a 5 metre lineout for the Ospreys. Also there is of course that try created against Leinster.

Tell me when you remember him "blowing opportunities" recently for the Ospreys and I will try and find it. He has better passing than Scott Williams who is in the squad anyway, and Williams plays a position where it is more important.

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[Ospreylian]

One of the reasons why I'm sort of ok with Liam Williams over Fussell is that Fussell is going on 29 years of age now. Williams is 21. It seems the thinking of the Welsh management may be that they wish to develop him in the Welsh squad. And I can see the benefits in doing this. I do think he is an exciting prospect, and I also agree that he has a fair few aspects of his game that he needs to work on. But his form has slipped with the rest of the Scarlets' performances.

At the beginning of the season everyone was saying that Williams was playing great rugby, and he was. He was one of, if not the best in Wales under the high ball, and his kicking game was superb. But I think some room should have been made for Fussell. He has too much class to be ignored really.

But, nobody is going to dislodge Halfpenny at the moment, if we're honest. He is the best player in the Wales starting line-up in my opinion.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I wonder who will play 10 during he championship? Biggar, Hook, Patchell or Priestland?

 

[Ospreylian]

I wonder who will play 10 during he championship? Biggar, Hook, Patchell or Priestland?

Well, seeing as Priestland is injured and Patchell wasn't announced in the squad, I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it will be either Biggar or Hook!

 

[j'nuh]

He is the best player in the Wales starting line-up in my opinion.

Some would say the best fullback in Europe.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Who was the worst call up then? Spratt must be up there in terms of a worst Wales XV, certainly from players of the Gatland era.

Oi, I'm not having anyone take a pop at my precious Spratty for at least the next 20 minutes, you hear me?

Otherwise: Interesting squad. Not sure Pretorious is good enough to make up for his lack of a valleys accent, while Coombs is very left field. I've actually got a good feeling about him, though. A Paul james-ish player who raises eyebrows initially, but then we begin to wonder what we ever did without him. Of course, I'm probably wrong, but there we go. Not sure about Byrne. The other three new caps are very well-deserved.

 

[Ospreylian]

Some would say the best fullback in Europe.

Yeah, and others (i.e. those who are slightly deluded) would give that ***le to Ben Foden...

 

[j'nuh]

Yeah, and others (i.e. those who are slightly deluded) would give that ***le to Ben Foden...

Halfpenny wishes he could have the flair and defensive skill which Ben Foden has. What does Halfpenny have? Some meaningless swirl. Idiot.

 

[Thingimubob]

Halfpenny wishes he could have the flair and defensive skill which Ben Foden has. What does Halfpenny have? Some meaningless swirl. Idiot.

How any triple crowns and Grand Slams has Foden saved ? don't be insulting the majestic swirl! haha I jest! Foden is a cracking player, though I feel him and Halfpenny play in a bit of a different style.
However, when it comes to the Lions, between Foden, Halfpenny and Kearney, we're pretty damn sorted for fullback...

 

[Ospreylian]

Foden = BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD... EVER.

Debate...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Foden could kick goals, and nothing else, then maybe he'd be the best FB in the world too.

 

[Ospreylian]

If Foden could kick goals, and nothing else, then maybe he'd be the best FB in the world too.

I think you'll find that Halfpenny not only kicks goals, but does a spinny thing out of tackles. Bet Foden wishes and dreams he could do that.

 

[Gavin]

I think you'll find that Halfpenny not only kicks goals, but does a spinny thing out of tackles. Bet Foden wishes and dreams he could do that.

Is the reason why Foden doesn't do the spinny thing because he already knows how to evade tacklers?

 

[Ospreylian]

But even having said that, Halfpenny is still nowhere near the quality and brilliance that is the world's greatest ever player in the world ever, Ben Foden

 

[Ospreylian]

Is the reason why Foden doesn't do the spinny thing because he already knows how to evade tacklers?

Are you suggesting that Foden can side-step AROUND the tackler? Or perhaps even speed past them? or maybe even perform a "hand-off" on them?

Don't be preposterous!

 

[psychic duck]

I think you'll find that Halfpenny not only kicks goals, but does a spinny thing out of tackles. Bet Foden wishes and dreams he could do that.

That's true. Halfpenny doesn't normally sidestep the tackler conventially, he kind of runs at them and then bounces off them and spins around.

 

[Teh Mite]

Foden = BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD... EVER.

Debate...

Wut? Not Henson?

 

[j'nuh]

Wut? Not Henson?

Henson is the best fullback in the world. Debate.

 

[Teh Mite]

Undeniable!

 

[Ospreylian]

Henson is the best fullback in the world. Debate.

Hmmm... interesting. I mean, let's summarize his primary attributes at fullback:

1. He has a little more speed, pace and acceleration than Foden
2. His passing game is better than Kearney
3. He is a better defender than Mike Brown
4. He is a better kicker than Halfpenny

However, and this is a big however...

He needs to learn the tricks of the trade of the spinny-out-of-a-tackle-thingamabob before he can put his hand up as a potential world-class fullback.
At present, only Halfpenny is capable of such feats of brilliance.