Wales v England

[TRF_Cymro]

Hardly, he had to have a Dr help him
Overrated sh!te can't even walk in a straight line!

Roids taken its affects :lol:

 

[dullonien]

Going back to the backrow for a minute. I was hugely impressed with Turnbull for the Scarlets on the weekend yet again. He's been brilliant all season, bar the Ospreys v Scarlets game, where the entire Scarlets pack were bullied off the park. His work-rate is phenomenal, he does all the donkey work, yet still appears on shoulders offering support and get's back to cover kicks when needed. What do people see as his chances of making the Welsh squad, and possibly even the 22/23 for the England game?

For me, Lydiate, Warburton and Turnbull are currently our best backrow players, and I was thinking how they could possibly line-up in the same starting 15. Warburton excelled at 8 at the U20 WC, whilst international rugby is of course very different, I think he could make a great 8, with Turnbull playing 7. This is probably a stupid idea, as shifting players out of position isn't always the best thing to do, especially when Warburton has played so well on the openside flank recently for Wales. However, without a stand-out 8, other than Powell, maybe something like this would work?

How the hell have we gone from being in the sh*t when Martyn Williams used to get injured to having Warburton, Turnbull and Tipuric all possibly better options than Williams himself. There's still Ben Lewis to think about if he's ever not injured. Can we please produce similar strength at tight-head and fullback?

 

[Draggs]

Turnbull played his way into the squad this weekend, IMO.
We have some quality backrow options over the next few years: Lydiate, Warburton, Tipuric, Turnbull, Morgan (please!), Faletau, McCusker.
I could see Ryan and Turnbull as bench over, RJ to cover SR and 8, Turnbull for 6 and 7.

Warburton might be a bit small for an intenational 8. I'd start Powell there for the first match. I hope Delve does well in Melbourne and gets a contract in Wales.

We have some options in the front row, we just have to exercise them.
Geth (injured)
Adam (?)
Paul (Massive improvements over the past 12 months)
Duncan (Hitting good form recently)

Then we have others like Yapp (once decent, off form since injuries), Eifion (Improved fitness, but injured), Craig Mitchell (decent, needs more playing time), Scott Andrews (potential, should have played in November), Bevington, and perhaps Simon Gardiner in a few years.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I thought the Welsh squad was being announced today...?

As an englishman, and assuming injuries to North, Henson, Bishop and Adam Jones, my Wales team would be:

1) Duncan Jones
2) Mathew Rees
3) Paul James
4) Bradley Davies
5) AWJ
6) Lydiate
7) Warburton
8) Powell
9) Peel
10) S.Jones
11) Shane Williams
12) Davies
13) Roberts
14) Halfpenny
15) Hook

 

[dullonien]

Gatland delayed naming his squad untill after the next round of Heineken matches I believe.

Your starting 15 looks close to what I want to see, apart from Hook at fullback. Imo, Roberts and Davies should form the midfield as you have (but other way round), Halfpenny at fullback, unless Byrne has a stormer next week, and Stoddard in at 14. But we'll probably see the team you've selected above, except with Phillips at 9 and possibly Ryan Jones at 8.

It's gonna be interesting who misses out in the backrow. It may be a little early for Tipuric, so not really expecting him to make it. Personally, I'd drop Jonathan Thomas and rely on Powell, Faletau and Ryan Jones to contest the 8 spot. Jonathan Thomas' one suppod advantage is his lineout ability, but I've seen nothing special from him in the lineout for Wales or the Ospreys recently, so I honestly don't see why he deserves a place ahead of those named above, especially when Ryan Jones now offers more versitality.

 

[Peat]

I'd try Warburton at 8.

Honestly, I'd probably try the crack on the cornflakes idea of Henson at 8 given Wales' choices there...

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I'd try Warburton at 8.

Honestly, I'd probably try the crack on the cornflakes idea of Henson at 8 given Wales' choices there...

He's not an 8, he did play there at U20 level but found it a struggle.

 

[Peat]

I could have sworn I've seen him have a good game at 8, and he carries well.

Anyway, most of Wales' 8s seem to struggle with the position, at least he's a good player...

 

[cyRil]

We couldn't rub two decent backrowers together 6 months ago... Now we have Lydiate, Warburton, Tipuric, Nugget, Ryan, Powell, Faletau, McCusker and Turnbull all vying for 3 positions! Can't wait for Ben Morgan to qualify for Wales either!!

 

[Peat]

Cyril, quite a few of the players you name were around more than six months ago, if you couldn't find two clearly you think some of them have had massive recent improvements...

Also, keep your thieving poaching hands off of Ben Morgan. I hope Johnno does the sensible thing and gives him a Saxons cap in the summer just to tell you boys to do one

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Also, keep your thieving poaching hands off of Ben Morgan. I hope Johnno does the sensible thing and gives him a Saxons cap in the summer just to tell you boys to do one

Haha, would love it
Though the chances of him playing for England in the next 10years would be very slim, can't have Wales thinking they can pinch our players

 

[Peat]

I dunno. I haven't see a whole lot of him, but England aren't exactly overflowing with young 8s. There's Jordan Crane, who I don't think is international quality, Carl Fearns who seems an early candidate to be the Phil Dowson of his generation, Tom Guest who isn't that young... uhm... I forget the names of the U20 8s from last year, largely because they've sodding disappeared too. Anyone who's getting serious plaudits and gametime in a major league at 8 aged 21 should interest Johnson and have a genuine chance of an international career.

 

[cyRil]

Cyril, quite a few of the players you name were around more than six months ago, if you couldn't find two clearly you think some of them have had massive recent improvements...

Well, that's exactly what I think!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

So apparantly Adam Jones is out for the whole six nations, as is Tom Shanklin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9364845.stm

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sheesh, didn't think Adam was out for the whole thing
Hadn't heard about Shanklin either

Gareth Maule in a shock call up? He's been on good form for Scarlets, and with Shanklin and Bishop (and Henson, I suppose) that's three 13s missing

 

[TVH11]

well the 6 nations is well and truly out of reach now for us (as if it wasn't before). Our boys are dropping like flies; just our luck for our two starting front rows to be out for the whole tournament. I guess in some ways, all these injuries will help bring some "coverage" through in some way. At least after 5 absolute pastings the new players will then know what a wooden spoon feels like, and definitely wont wanna bow out of the world cup in the groups.
I really do hope that Jon Davies will have his chance in the 6 nations, looks very good at regional and hasn't had a proper opportunity at international level yet. Saying that given the injuries, He's without a doubt the most likely (and most deserved) candidate to partner Roberts in the centre.
Shane hopefully will have a run out against Toulon next week, we defo need his experience and spark (cause we looked a team with no creativity in the autumn when he had to withdraw). That said, i'd rather him get back to full fitness for the world cup, and start breeding youngsters ready for the championship. Its going to be his last hurra!!! and if we do not find someone with his unpredictability after that, its gonna be the 90's all over again.
With all these injuries, i feel that Gatland is gonna have to use the tournament as a development process - Back to the good old Steve Hansen days (Its the performance not the result). Here we go again I guess

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Sheesh, didn't think Adam was out for the whole thing
Hadn't heard about Shanklin either

Gareth Maule in a shock call up? He's been on good form for Scarlets, and with Shanklin and Bishop (and Henson, I suppose) that's three 13s missing

If they had to throw someone up there, Ashley Smith would be the option I feel!

well the 6 nations is well and truly out of reach now for us (as if it wasn't before). Our boys are dropping like flies; just our luck for our two starting front rows to be out for the whole tournament. I guess in some ways, all these injuries will help bring some "coverage" through in some way. At least after 5 absolute pastings the new players will then know what a wooden spoon feels like, and definitely wont wanna bow out of the world cup in the groups.
I really do hope that Jon Davies will have his chance in the 6 nations, looks very good at regional and hasn't had a proper opportunity at international level yet. Saying that given the injuries, He's without a doubt the most likely (and most deserved) candidate to partner Roberts in the centre.
Shane hopefully will have a run out against Toulon next week, we defo need his experience and spark (cause we looked a team with no creativity in the autumn when he had to withdraw). That said, i'd rather him get back to full fitness for the world cup, and start breeding youngsters ready for the championship. Its going to be his last hurra!!! and if we do not find someone with his unpredictability after that, its gonna be the 90's all over again.
With all these injuries, i feel that Gatland is gonna have to use the tournament as a development process - Back to the good old Steve Hansen days (Its the performance not the result). Here we go again I guess

Not going to lie thats a s*** attitude to take, we ain't lost a game yet and already written off by our own set of fans. Losing Gethin and Adam is a blow, you might not get the onfield run around ability with Paul James as you do with Geth but you get a better scrummager. The loss of Adam is key. But its time for someone to step up and make a mark, the loss of Shanklin and Bishop can be replaced, they are not the be all and end all of players. The players are there, Gatland has to get the right players, tactics and motivation correct, the wooden spoon may well be there but anything can happen. I don't think we will finish last, but we are going to end up around the 4th position mark.

 

[TVH11]

hahahaha TBH i'm still optimistic. May plan is to be extremely negative; allow english fans into sense of false sense of security and then (hopefully) laugh on Feb 5th at some of their comments in retrospect. But looks like plan has backfired and my own country men have their pitch forks out
I agree with the Shanklin/Bishop loss, Jon Davies is definitely the man to be with Roberts (regardless of their injury or not in some peoples eyes - not agreeing or disagreeing). In all seriousness Adam's loss is the biggest of all. England's backs looked good in the autumn, and our main threat would have been the scrum (which imo was 1 of the positives in the autumn). The fact that Adam and Gethin are both out will make our "initial" game plan a lot harder (anytime you lose a starting player to injury will mess things up). I'd say that Paul James will take up the tight head spot in place of Adam, and in all fairness to him he's been solid when played there. Who will play loose head is a bit of a mystery to me; a few years ago i'd say Duncan but he rarely gets game time these days (it seems like that anyways) so i don't know if Gatland will gamble with it. Jon Yapp another i'd say, but i see he's been playing tight head for Cardiff, so i guess Yapp on the Tight and James on loose?? I remember the commentry team with S4C applauding Iestyn Thomas a few months ago, hows his form??
Also can't recall it being said yet but where does everyone see Ryan Jones playing??? Been playing second row for the O's, and those games have been arguably his best performances. I wouldn't break up Brad Davies and AWJ's Partnership, and also the young backrow been playing okay (especially with Toby F with the Dragons).

 

[TRF_Cymro]

hahahaha TBH i'm still optimistic. May plan is to be extremely negative; allow english fans into sense of false sense of security and then (hopefully) laugh on Feb 5th at some of their comments in retrospect. But looks like plan has backfired and my own country men have their pitch forks out
I agree with the Shanklin/Bishop loss, Jon Davies is definitely the man to be with Roberts (regardless of their injury or not in some peoples eyes - not agreeing or disagreeing). In all seriousness Adam's loss is the biggest of all. England's backs looked good in the autumn, and our main threat would have been the scrum (which imo was 1 of the positives in the autumn). The fact that Adam and Gethin are both out will make our "initial" game plan a lot harder (anytime you lose a starting player to injury will mess things up). I'd say that Paul James will take up the tight head spot in place of Adam, and in all fairness to him he's been solid when played there. Who will play loose head is a bit of a mystery to me; a few years ago i'd say Duncan but he rarely gets game time these days (it seems like that anyways) so i don't know if Gatland will gamble with it. Jon Yapp another i'd say, but i see he's been playing tight head for Cardiff, so i guess Yapp on the Tight and James on loose?? I remember the commentry team with S4C applauding Iestyn Thomas a few months ago, hows his form??
Also can't recall it being said yet but where does everyone see Ryan Jones playing??? Been playing second row for the O's, and those games have been arguably his best performances. I wouldn't break up Brad Davies and AWJ's Partnership, and also the young backrow been playing okay (especially with Toby F with the Dragons).

All depends what Gatland and McBrydie decide whats the best option for Wales at props, you feel that James will play at loosehead and either Scott Andrews / Craig Mitchell will play losehead. However Paul James has played at 3, but not that recently, so you could see Duncan Jones at 1 and James at 3. All depends what Gatland feels is the best option.

 

[dullonien]

Adam's a massive loss no doubt. However trying to be slightly positive, we were never going to demolish England's scrum in the first place, I saw it as being quite evenly matched. So we now need someone to come in on the tight and do a job, lock the scrum. Paul James is capable of doing that imo, so he now has to come in at 3. That then leaves a hole on the loose, but Duncan Jones is really starting to play well, he was very good when he came on against LI, with strong scrummaging and great open play. Not as good as Gethin and Adam, but not too shabby either, should hold their own.

Iestyn Thomas could be in Gatland's thoughts, but I think he'll go for a youngster or Yapp (hopefully not) instead.

Our biggest concerns are our missfiring lineout on occasion (much more important than the scrum in todays game), our lack of cutting edge in the backline, and the basic errors we've been making. Sort those three things out and the loss of Gethin and Adam shouldn't be game defining.

Ryan Jones will probably be viewed as an 8 by Gatland, who can move forward towards the end of the game to make room for an impact player like Powell, or a versitile sub who can cover 4, 5, 6 and 8.

Shanks and Bishop aren't big losses. Shanks has played well recently for Wales, but his lack of vision and distribution has been an hindrance at the same time. Roberts and Davies returning more than makes up for their loss, and I also expect to see them two pairing up in midfield, with Hook another versitile sub covering 10, 12, 13 and 15.

England are having their fair share of injury woes aswell, now missing Croft (I presume) and Moody from the backrow, and Lawes from the engine room. Three big players for them. Shane and Ashton both appear to be in a race against time to make it aswell.