Wales Tour 2013: Japan

[TRF_Cymro]

I think Phil and Gareth are holding him back for this season. With Roberts going I hope he gets time. Hewitt and Evans all week every week

Correct.

Also his 7s contract with Wales has limited his availability with the Blues, add to that the chances he has had, he hasn't looked great to be fair to the lad. I expect him to come through next season.

 

[Draggs]

That would be Aled Brew who has scored once for BO?
No chance.

Also, please don't do 'Gatland' this and 'cementball'. Every team has a playing style, our sucks, but so do others without having a name. What about StAndreball?

James at the scrum would be good. I still hope he would tour for the Lions, being one of the top two home nations LH.

 

[psychic duck]

That would be Aled Brew who has scored once for BO?
No chance.

How many has Liam Williams been scoring lately?

 

[Draggs]

How many has Liam Williams been scoring lately?

None, and you know I don't rate him.
Like I said, that team wasn't necessarily what I'd pick, it was a combination of a few I like with what we will probably see.
SanJPR will probably go, regardless of his 'form'. I preferred Dale Ford in 2011 anyways.

 

[dullonien]

Eli Walker will miss the tour of Japan after undergoing back surgery. Link

Damn, I was really looking forward to seeing him play for Wales. Hopefully he'll be raring to go next season and continue where he left off this season, ripping defences to shreds.

 

[psychic duck]

Eli Walker will miss the tour of Japan after undergoing back surgery. Link

Damn, I was really looking forward to seeing him play for Wales. Hopefully he'll be raring to go next season and continue where he left off this season, ripping defences to shreds.

A shame that.

That means now with likely Lions call ups, and with a lack of depth at wing there will likely be two pretty average wingers now.

Liam Williams, Harry Robinson and Tom Prydie back three combination (guessing who the coaches will pick there) isn't too frightening. Japan will have better wingers than that.

 

[Draggs]

Prydie is hit and miss, done well for the most part for us. His boot offers some tactical kicking from put wide and coverage at the back.
Robinson has the potential, just needs to be managed better.
Liam Williams, well...

 

[psychic duck]

Prydie is hit and miss, done well for the most part for us. His boot offers some tactical kicking from put wide and coverage at the back.
Robinson has the potential, just needs to be managed better.
Liam Williams, well...

I don't think Prydie will make international. I think he will settle to be a decent regional player (more that can be said for how Kristian Phillips is turning out) with the Dragons, he simply doesn't have the pace or power that North or Cuthbert do and I don't see him overtaking them in his career, add to that there is Eli Walker coming through of course. All those wingers are very young. I'd imagine Prydie wouldn't mess up if he got a chance, but equally wouldn't set the world alight either.

People have been giving Cuthbert stick over his defence. But in reality it isn't as bad as some others, and is not comparable to Ashton's defence and is better than Zebo's defence. Another who he is better than is Harry Robinson in defence who tackles far too high (see below), and doesn't make up for his weakness in attack. He looked far better at U20 than he ever did at the Blues by the way.

Liam Williams is the opposite really. A stronger sturdier option in defence, but offers no excitement in attack. Out of the three big wing qualities, pace, power, agility/jinkiness, he doesn't really stand out in any of them, and is pretty average.

 

[Draggs]

Robinson bottled Howlett up in Cork a few months back.
Harry looks to give it a go and has the footwork. 18 months back I'd have put Eli nowhere near the level that he is at. Not ready to write Harry off.

Prydie is tough. I think he will get a few more caps over the years, but not as a regular. Maybe for the Friday night ****wits in November and the occasional Barbarians/Summer match. I like Owen Williams more, personally. Good power and pace, just needs to stay fit.

Look at this from Allen, very nice pace and awareness:


Reminds me of Jamie Roberts when he came onto the scene. Also a converted fullback from Cardiff...

 

[RugbyKing]

I don't think Prydie will make international. I think he will settle to be a decent regional player (more that can be said for how Kristian Phillips is turning out) with the Dragons, he simply doesn't have the pace or power that North or Cuthbert do and I don't see him overtaking them in his career, add to that there is Eli Walker coming through of course. All those wingers are very young. I'd imagine Prydie wouldn't mess up if he got a chance, but equally wouldn't set the world alight either.

People have been giving Cuthbert stick over his defence. But in reality it isn't as bad as some others, and is not comparable to Ashton's defence and is better than Zebo's defence. Another who he is better than is Harry Robinson in defence who tackles far too high (see below), and doesn't make up for his weakness in attack. He looked far better at U20 than he ever did at the Blues by the way.

Liam Williams is the opposite really. A stronger sturdier option in defence, but offers no excitement in attack. Out of the three big wing qualities, pace, power, agility/jinkiness, he doesn't really stand out in any of them, and is pretty average.

I just wonder Duck, I see you on the forum and you have many of those moving pictures of all players. I guess, how do you use them? I much admire those, they help show things clear.

 

[Draggs]

Little Will showed you don't need stilts or a wholly dominant pack to give it a go.
Considering Walker will most likely miss the tour, I'd love to see him tour. Scarletfever are now trying to target him, bog off!

Who are the other regional wings?
North (Probably Lions)
Williams (Will probably go to Japan)
Fussell (Will probably go to Japan)
Czekaj/James (No chance)
Cuthbert (Lions maybe?)
Halfpenny (LIONS)
Williams (Could go to Japan)
Prydie (Possible)
Daniel Evans (Unlikely)

YOU KNOWZ IT

 

[psychic duck]

Little Will showed you don't need stilts or a wholly dominant pack to give it a go.
Considering Walker will most likely miss the tour, I'd love to see him tour. Scarletfever are now trying to target him, bog off!

Who are the other regional wings?
North (Probably Lions)
Williams (Will probably go to Japan)
Fussell (Will probably go to Japan)
Czekaj/James (No chance)
Cuthbert (Lions maybe?)
Halfpenny (LIONS)
Williams (Could go to Japan)
Prydie (Possible)
Daniel Evans (Unlikely)

YOU KNOWZ IT

ScarletFever also targeting Coombs btw (http://www.scarletfever.org/forum/coomb-signing_topic36623.html).

Can't see Harries going tbh, not reached his best since coming back from a long injury, and is the complete opposite to the coaches fondness of selecting huge wingers who are just out of school. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some random Principality Premiership wing plucked out like Prydie/Kristian Phillips/Harry Robinson for the tour ahead of Harries or Fussell who don't fir the coaches criteria of being a kid or being massive.

I've always had a soft spot for Harries though, he can't tackle but has nice footwork and was superb in his pre-injury spell at the Dragons.

 

[Draggs]

Harries outgunned SanJPR at MS.
Saw the Coombs thing a month or two ago. If the Turks sign Coombs I'll be ******. People ***** about us having no forwards... Charter, Coombs, Lydiate, Evans, Faletau isn't a bad tight five!!! We could have had it...
Harries in 2010 was the form Welsh wing. His issue was a few injuries since then, and being rotated between wing, FB, and bench.

 

[Big Ewis]

anyone think Wales will reach triple digits ?
The scrum is going to be atrocious to watch.....can you just imagine it ?

 

[dullonien]

Harries has been poor since his injury, but we are running out of options. I'd play Liam Williams ahead of him though.

 

[Draggs]

Harries has been poor since his injury, but we are running out of options. I'd play Liam Williams ahead of him though.

Numerous injuries and squad rotation hasn't helped. He was pretty decent against the Turks. Had one over Liam.

 

[dullonien]

Numerous injuries and squad rotation hasn't helped. He was pretty decent against the Turks. Had one over Liam.

Certainly, but it doesn't say much for the quality of wingers behind first choice. Such a pity Eli Wales is injured. It'll also be good when Dirksen qualifies, providing he returns to the same standard quickly.

I wasn't that impressed with the U20 wingers this season (Robinson looked good when he played though), so not sure about the quality coming through either.

 

[psychic duck]

Aled Brew is far better than all of these wingers mentioned.

Dirksen shouldn't be allowed to play for Wales.

 

[Draggs]

Brew has done nothing with Biarritz, Being so far away, he doesn't have a chance.
I thought Aaron Warren looked decent.

Rumour is that Dafydd Howells has caught the eyes of the staff. He is just out of primary school so I can believe it.

 

[dullonien]

Dirksen shouldn't be allowed to play for Wales.

Pah! He's a classy player. Every other country does it, so I will have no problem seeing Dirksen in a Welsh shirt if he chooses. He's learning Welsh as well, so he's making a big effort to integrate.