Wales Training Squad

[chippieolamus]

I don't know about the Cheifs, but surely their pack was at least able to stand their ground? I can't see Fiji's front 5 being able to compete at all - just look at Australia over the last few years, they've lost 2 years in a row to England despite having a superior backline. Why? Because England's pack were able to bully them and starve them of ball. Very few teams are able to compete when they lose the forward battle comfortably, as I would expect Fiji to against the other 3.

 

[goodNumber10]

I think i've heard this argument before. You can't win without the ball right?
But the Chiefs won two Super XV ***les with the worst stats of all for possession. How?
Through having awesome backs and their counter attacking prowess. The key to success is largely what you do with the ball when you've got it. Their ability to scramble in defence also a factor which I think Fiji will excel at. They are awesome on the counter attack.

Exactly - it's all about efficiency. If you get the ball four times and score four tries and the opposition have the ball 20 times and score one you win.

 

[bw245]

Just seeing pics of Wales training in Switzerland. Looks intense but the views are incredible!

 

[Maverick1987]

Anyone heard anything about Webb being injured in training ? Needs surgery on a wrist . I've heard it from a fairly unreliable source mind ...,,

 

[GeorgeFisher7]

England fan here but Dan Lydiate is my favourite player in the world, looking forward to seeing him play. Real back row player with good intentions and a bright future

 

[bw245]

If Webb is injured it wouldn't surprise me. Think they're going a bit heavy on the training.

 

[MojoPin]

If Webb was injured I think it would probably be news already - Welsh regional press are usually pretty good at picking these things up very quickly. Would be a big loss if true though as Webb is playing superbly at the moment! There are some very capable backups, but still...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I don't know about the Cheifs, but surely their pack was at least able to stand their ground? I can't see Fiji's front 5 being able to compete at all - just look at Australia over the last few years, they've lost 2 years in a row to England despite having a superior backline. Why? Because England's pack were able to bully them and starve them of ball. Very few teams are able to compete when they lose the forward battle comfortably, as I would expect Fiji to against the other 3.

I'm going to say this not to argue but to get others opinions on this....

I haven't rated the Austrian backline the last couple of years. There has been loads of fancy lateral play and loads of different combinations (much like England have really), but they haven't been the Australia of old.

I'm hoping this will change though as they are a great team to watch.

 

[dullonien]

Yeah, doesn't appear as if Rhys Webb os injured, I hope not anyway!

Of course Rhodri Jones is out of the WC though, which is another blow at tighthead. Hopefully Francis makes a smooth transition to international rugby as I wouldn't want to go into the wc with a half fit Lee, Jarvis and Andrews as our only options!

 

[MojoPin]

I'm going to say this not to argue but to get others opinions on this....

I haven't rated the Austrian backline the last couple of years. There has been loads of fancy lateral play and loads of different combinations (much like England have really), but they haven't been the Australia of old.

I'm hoping this will change though as they are a great team to watch.

I can see what you mean - there are a few notable exceptions but think you do have a point. However, they always seem to be able to beat Wales when it counts so hey, there's gotta be something there, and then there's the win over SA, jhowever much of an unexpected reversal that may have been. If not the backs then, what do you think gives them the edge over a team like Wales in so many matches?

I still feel like I don't know what to expect from them when the time comes - just hoping Wales are up to the challenge! If there was ever a time to break that losing streak, this is it. So excited but bloody hell, I feel stressed about it already...get the feeling pool A is just going to be another level of intense for everyone concerned!

 

[Bluemoon]

I agree. Wales have to break this cycle at some point, so why not when it actually matters. Wales looked very good following their preparation in the last World Cup. They did fall apart a bit in the 3rd place game, but I think the momentum was lost against France.

I'm not always sure the November internationals really count as when it matters!

We'll see. Wales have Australia first, before England. So I'm hoping for a great game.

 

[Maverick1987]

I agree. Wales have to break this cycle at some point, so why not when it actually matters. Wales looked very good following their preparation in the last World Cup. They did fall apart a bit in the 3rd place game, but I think the momentum was lost against France.

I'm not always sure the November internationals really count as when it matters!

We'll see. Wales have Australia first, before England. So I'm hoping for a great game.

England play Wales in the second game after playing Fiji and Uruguay respectively . Wales don't play Australia till the last game is the group

 

[Bluemoon]

England play Wales in the second game after playing Fiji and Uruguay respectively . Wales don't play Australia till the last game is the group

Not sure what happened there. Must have read my fixture list backwards!

 

[AzaMatt]

Yeah, doesn't appear as if Rhys Webb os injured, I hope not anyway!

Of course Rhodri Jones is out of the WC though, which is another blow at tighthead. Hopefully Francis makes a smooth transition to international rugby as I wouldn't want to go into the wc with a half fit Lee, Jarvis and Andrews as our only options!

i really hope webb isnt injured, im sure we would of heard by now if that was the case. i agree its a shame about rhodri but ive got a feeling francis is going to be a big discovery for us.

 

[dullonien]

What starting 15 would people want to see next Sat? Mine would be:

01 Nicky Smith. Huge potential. I think he could make an impact this WC.
02 Ken Owens. Needs some game time to get back to his best.
03 Thomas Francis. Let's see if he can step-up to international rugby.
04 Jake Ball. I think we should rest AWJ.
05 Luke Charteris. Give the front row some ballast.
06 Ross Moriaty. Again, let's see if he can step-up.
07 Justin Tipuric. Balances well with a physical pair next to him.
08 Dan Baker. Needs testing.

09 Gareth Davies. Needs game time to prove himself at this level.
10 ???. I'm really not sure. Do we test Anscome or Patchell, give Hook another chance, or give this side a controlling influence in Biggar?
11 Eli Walker. Need testing really.
12 Jamie Roberts. Can't throw in too many inexperienced players into the backline.
13 Tyler Morgan. Could be a great foil for Roberts. Needs testing at this level.
14 Alex Cuthbert. Need to see whether he can recapture some form for the WC.
15 Hallam Amos. Halfpenny needs protecting, Amos needs testing. Matthew Morgan could be another option.

 

[Bluemoon]

What starting 15 would people want to see next Sat? Mine would be:

01 Nicky Smith. Huge potential. I think he could make an impact this WC.
02 Ken Owens. Needs some game time to get back to his best.
03 Thomas Francis. Let's see if he can step-up to international rugby.
04 Jake Ball. I think we should rest AWJ.
05 Luke Charteris. Give the front row some ballast.
06 Ross Moriaty. Again, let's see if he can step-up.
07 Justin Tipuric. Balances well with a physical pair next to him.
08 Dan Baker. Needs testing.

09 Gareth Davies. Needs game time to prove himself at this level.
10 ???. I'm really not sure. Do we test Anscome or Patchell, give Hook another chance, or give this side a controlling influence in Biggar?
11 Eli Walker. Need testing really.
12 Jamie Roberts. Can't throw in too many inexperienced players into the backline.
13 Tyler Morgan. Could be a great foil for Roberts. Needs testing at this level.
14 Alex Cuthbert. Need to see whether he can recapture some form for the WC.
15 Hallam Amos. Halfpenny needs protecting, Amos needs testing. Matthew Morgan could be another option.

I like this side. I'd like to see Anscombe at 10 to see what he is made of with a decent pack in front of him. Gatland was keen to get him over here, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see him at both 15 and 10 during the warm ups. I agree with your Tom Francis comment as well. If he can play well in the warm ups, I would start with him over Lee for the first game, perhaps giving Lee 20 mins at the end of the first pool game. We are desperate for decent cover in that area.

Perhaps we might see Bradley Davies in the second row at some point as he's been away from Wales in a while? If history has told us anything, Gatland and co may go with a different XV for each half? Partcularly if you believe the rumours that the squad will be cut following the game.

 

[AzaMatt]

What starting 15 would people want to see next Sat? Mine would be:

01 Nicky Smith. Huge potential. I think he could make an impact this WC.
02 Ken Owens. Needs some game time to get back to his best.
03 Thomas Francis. Let's see if he can step-up to international rugby.
04 Jake Ball. I think we should rest AWJ.
05 Luke Charteris. Give the front row some ballast.
06 Ross Moriaty. Again, let's see if he can step-up.
07 Justin Tipuric. Balances well with a physical pair next to him.
08 Dan Baker. Needs testing.

09 Gareth Davies. Needs game time to prove himself at this level.
10 ???. I'm really not sure. Do we test Anscome or Patchell, give Hook another chance, or give this side a controlling influence in Biggar?
11 Eli Walker. Need testing really.
12 Jamie Roberts. Can't throw in too many inexperienced players into the backline.
13 Tyler Morgan. Could be a great foil for Roberts. Needs testing at this level.
14 Alex Cuthbert. Need to see whether he can recapture some form for the WC.
15 Hallam Amos. Halfpenny needs protecting, Amos needs testing. Matthew Morgan could be another option.

All great points, we definatly need to wrap halfpenny, Webb, AWJ and Biggar in wool for the time being. Although Williams/Amos/hook can cover fullback I feel halfpenny is more solid in defence which we will need against the Aussie backs. I wouldn’t like gats to select biggar at 10 for this match, perhaps the return on 29th when the slightly more settled side should appear. If something happens to biggar, AWJ or Webb in the meantime then we'll be in trouble. I think Gareth Davies will have an excellent game and I’m sure Francis will surprise us all at international level, don’t watch the Aviva all that much but from what I’ve seen he is great in the scrum which is what we need. Smith has been great for Ospreys too so he might really start pushing James and Jenkins for their position. I think you might be spot on with the overall selection though

 

[dullonien]

If history has told us anything, Gatland and co may go with a different XV for each half? Partcularly if you believe the rumours that the squad will be cut following the game.

I'm not too sure. There's a bunch of players who have close to zero chance of making the final cut, so I don't see a point in giving them a run-out. Players like Thornton (not ready yet), Dacey (won't oust Owens, Hibbard or Baldwin), Dixon (too similar to Roberts and 13 is where we need cover) etc. etc. Being involved in the WC training camps will have helped their development, but the warm-ups need to be used to develop combinations, and test some players who have genuine chances of making the final squad.

 

[AzaMatt]

just read that North wont be playing this weekend, so that leaves 2 wings up for grabs. Cuthbert and Amos/walker. i think he may go with walker for contrast as cuthbert is the big lad and walker has the fancy footwork

 

[ZeroTwo]

just read that North wont be playing this weekend, so that leaves 2 wings up for grabs. Cuthbert and Amos/walker. i think he may go with walker for contrast as cuthbert is the big lad and walker has the fancy footwork

Not so sure. He placed faith in Cuthbert/North for so long, clearly variety between wings is not something he values too highly.