Wales vs BaaBaas

[TRF_Cymro]

http://captaintrolley.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/the-gatland-experiment/

Much love

 

[dullonien]

You raise some interesting points in your blog Cymro. I hope you're right about the inclusion of Phillips'. I'm sure Gatland wants to see if he can regain form before the WC, because he can be a great weapon when playing well. There's obviously massive problems behind closed doors between Phillips and the Ospreys coaching staff, so maybe Gatland thinks that Phillips can regain some form within the Welsh squad instead. Last chance saloon me-thinks, along with Henson.

Whilst I don't see the point of Bennett, the reality is that behind Rees and Hibbard we're suddenly running short of Hookers. Ken Owens is injured, and I doubt Gatland wanted to include two uncapped players in Burns and Emyr Phillips (who's put in some good performances for the Scarlets). Gareth Williams has gone backwards at a rate of knots this season, and I'd probably even put Bennett ahead of him now! Rhys Thomas seems to be injured as he hasn't featured for the Blues for a while. To me it again looks like Gatland is pitting Bennett against Burns for the final Hooker spot at the WC (if he takes 3), or at least I hope that's what's happening!

Finally, I think you need to have another proof read of your blog entry, there's a few words slipped in in the wrong places. Good work though, enjoying your stuff.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Ken Owens isn't injured- He played 15 minutes on Friday for the Scarlets and played the Llanelli in the Welsh Prem the week before. He should have been in ahead of Bennett. While I can understand the risk of having two uncapped hookers in the squad to a degree, they're still better than Bennett, so should be selected. It's the whole Gareth Cooper debate from last year all voer again.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Gavin Henson's Wales inclusion embarrassing says Owen

 

[dullonien]

Everything Owen says is true, however international rugby isn't always about being fair. They are professional players and in a professional world, not everything is fair. The fact of the matter is that none of the centres tried in the past two years have really claimed the shirt for their own (bar Jamie Roberts for a time). Whether that's because of them, the players inside and outside them or the tactics, I'm not entirely sure. However now with a couple of absenties, I don't see any problem with selecting Gav to see what he can offer this team. As I've said before, it's almost a shot to nothing. He doesn't perform, we'll know for certain, with no what if's in our minds (and Gatland's mind). However if he performs, then we suddenly have a very good player back involved, contesting for the 12 shirt. Maybe he doesn't deserve the shot, but beggers can't be choosers, and at this current moment, with no time to develop a youngster in time for the WC, we can't be ignoring potentially quality players in order to be fair to others who themselves haven't prooven anything on the international stage.

This may be a bit harsh on players like Bishop, Smith, Hewitt, Maul etc, but time has just about run out for this WC, and we need our best players involved, and if Gavin can apply himself, and rediscover the kinda form he showed in '05 and '08, then he'd be a majour boost to our WC chances imo. Alot of this may be based on out of date evidence, but tbh I was impressed with the way Henson was able to come back from almost two years out of the game and put in some very solid performances for Toulon against top quality opposition. They weren't outstanding performances, but they were something to build upon. Last chance saloon for him imo. If he doesn't perform in this match, then I don't think we'll see him figure in the rest of the Summer warm-up games, where Gatland will instead prefer to pick two of Hook, Roberts and Davies and try and develope some kind of cohesive partnership before the WC.

Edit. It's also not as if Gav is a blatant exception to an otherwise on form squad. Gatland looks like he's also giving last chances to Mike Phillips and Huw Bennett to see if they can up their game and push for a WC squad place. As Gatland himself said, the squad that's been selected has been selected for a number of different reasons. Some players are being rewarded for excellent form of late, others are being given chances which didn't come during the 6 nations, despite being in the squad, and others have been selected to see if they still have what it takes, and up their game after a prolongued period of poor form or absense.

 

[cyRil]

Gavin Henson is the best Welsh centre there is. If he's available, bloody pick him. Without him we're a clueless bunch of gyppos, as we have shown over the last 2 years.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Warren Gatland Live Interview With The Fail

Taken from the Fail's Website.

Did ask a few questions but they were not passed on :lol: ... probably to controversial

Comment From Warren Gatland
Hello guys, Warren Gatland here, ready for your questions.
12:02


Comment From T. Beer
Hi, Warren, thanks very much for taking the time to do this. With so much new blood in the Barbarians side, will some of these players have had enough international rugby for world cup selection?
12:03


Warren Gatland:
When we picked the team for the Baabaas we only intend to select one or two youngsters for the starting line-up and one or two youngsters for the bench.
12:03


Comment From DiscoBra
What is the dressing room's verdict on Gavin Henson inclusion in the squad? Surely not everyone can be pleased?!
12:05


Warren Gatland:
We will have to wait and see what the reaction will be when the squad meets up, but I have spoken to a few players and they were happy enough with the reasons behind Gavin's inclusion in the squad for this game.
12:05


Comment From Scarlet_Matt
Hey Warren, in light of Gavin Henson's squad selection, does this finally put to bed the implication of the so called ''Gatland Law'' i.e. only players plying their trade in Wales (and in form) will be selected for international honours?
12:09


Warren Gatland:
Ideally, we want players to play in Wales, but we have never said that playing outside of Wales that they would be totally excluded from the squad. In the long term, I do agree with what Scott Johnson has talked about and what is happening in England after the next World Cup. There are a number of issues what we in Wales have to agree on, for example, the number of foreign players here, before we can agree on that. What happens to a player who has to leave Wales because he cannot get a contract here, like Rhys Gill at Saracens, who then plays well enough to be considered for Wales?
12:09


Comment From Scarlet_Matt
Hey Warren, I would like to know what efforts (if any) have been made to persuade Scarlets' Ben Morgan to choose Wales for future international call ups as oppsed to England? thanks
12:12


Warren Gatland:
I have met Ben and I do know that Martin Johnson has rung him to ask him to make himself available for the England Saxons this summer, but I have told Ben he should wait until he qualifies for Wales in January. That will give him a choice of England or Wales. I spoke to Ben after the Scarlets win over the Blues and told him he would have been selected for this Wales squad to play the Baabaas, if he was qualified for Wales.
12:13


Comment From Mark
Hi Warren, Why Sam Warburton ahead of Alun Wyn Jones as captain? Cheers
12:15


Warren Gatland:
I could have given the job to Alun Wyn but we wanted to develop some leadership within the group of talented youngsters we have in Wales. During the last couple of campaigns, Alun Wyn has the job of calling the lineouts, which has seen a huge improvement, and I want him to focus on that role with Wales. He doesn't call the lineouts for the Ospreys.
12:15


Comment From Gareth in Australia
What does Mike Phillips have to do to be dropped?
12:18


Warren Gatland:
We don't have a lot of depth and experience at scrum-half and we know there are aspects of his game which need to improve and we are hoping this will happen during the build up to the World Cup. Dwayne Peel was not available for this game because he was not released by PRL.
12:18


Comment From Paul
Do you intend to keep the same backroom coaching team after the World Cup? If not, who is going?
12:20


Warren Gatland:
I do believe you need to freshen up coaching teams, so there may be one or two changes but if we don't make the quarter-finals, Gatland will be the first one gone.
12:20


Comment From T. Beer
Is the problem of somewhat dire performances at club level for the players affecting their international confidence, or are they able to fully separate the two when it comes to Wales games.
12:23


Warren Gatland:
Sometimes players come to us full of confidence which is great and the opposite can also be a positive aswell if their region isn't going well because the change of enviroment can have a positive affect. You always hope that a player pulling on the red jersey for Wales shouldn't lack any confidence or desire.
12:23


Comment From Richy
Warren do you worry about the lack of creativity the side are showing at present? Not only behind but as a team as a whole. Is Gavin Henson the answer? {sorry to bring him up} Also how will you be looking to impove the sides discipline off the back of the 6 Nations?
12:27


Warren Gatland:
Firstly, discipline was an issue for us during the Six Nations, with yellow cards and the penalties we gave away, and it is something which is a major focus for us over the next few months. I agree we do need to be more creative and Gavin is certainly an option. We concentrated on some real basics during the last campaign together, two-on-ones, seven-on-threes and getting players to convert the opportunities we create during games. As a national coach, you hope players come in at this level already adept at these skills.
12:27


Comment From DomZ
For the England matches will you be fielding full strength teams? I remember us getting humuliated by them before the last World Cup because we fielded a 2nd/3rd string, and it didn't help with confidence
12:29


Warren Gatland:
They will be very close to full strength sides and I agree that good performances in these games will give us confidence going into the World Cup.
12:29


Comment From Clive
No question of talent in the Welsh squad but the team spirt dosn't seem to be there, do you agree
12:32


Warren Gatland:
Clive, I disagree that there is a lack of team spirit in this squad.....and question how you come to that assumption unless you are on the inside of the squad. If you spoke to players in teams that I have been involved in in the past one of the things they would say is that a good team spirit has always been a big part of what I do.
12:32


Comment From Guest
Warren following your inclusion of oversees players such as Henson does this mean you will consider Gareth Delve who has been playing well in OZ? If so was he considered for the Baabaas match?
12:34


Warren Gatland:
Gareth will be considered and we were only talking about him the other day. We have watched a number of his games for the Rebels and he is playing well for them at the moment. He wasn't considered because of the Super 15.
12:34


Comment From Black Dragon
Hi Warren; are there any welsh youngsters not currently involved in the senior set-up that you are expecting big things of next season. There seems to be quite a few starting to make the grade at senior level.
12:37


Warren Gatland:
Probably the one player who can make an impact in next year's regonal games, if he gets a chance, is Lloyd Williams of the Blues. There are a number of very talented young players coming through the system and they need to play regularly.
12:37


Comment From Paul
Warren, What do you want the Gatland legacy to be?
12:40


Warren Gatland:
Hopefully, I will have made a difference to Welsh rugby and left a better position than when I arrived. One of things I love about Wales is how knowledgeable and opinionated they are about the game. I respect that but remember selection and playing styles are all a matter of opinion.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbyn...atland-webchat-noon-wednesday-91466-28667205/​

Couple of interesting points, especially on who Galtand rates for the future and the future of Ben Morgan.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Love the bluntness of the Peel question
Didn't realise Peel hadn't been released, doubt Sale would give a hoot, but PRL is a whole different kettle of fish

Will be interesting to see if Morgan does go for Saxons over the summer - I reckon he'll stick it out for Wales

 

[Draggs]

Peel and Iestyn Thomas in for Barbarians.
Should be a few interesting encounters (Warbs v Nugget; Tighthead v Thomas; Phillips v Peel)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Strange how Gatland said no Peel because he wasn't available, then he's in for BaaBaas :lol:
Hopefully he tears Phillips a new one

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Strange how Gatland said no Peel because he wasn't available, then he's in for BaaBaas :lol:
Hopefully he tears Phillips a new one

The PRL were not willing to release him for Wales.

 

[Draggs]

Strange how Gatland said no Peel because he wasn't available, then he's in for BaaBaas :lol:
Hopefully he tears Phillips a new one

My guess would be time commitments needed for Wales are much more than the Barbarians, or that the Barbarians are a club side.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

So what are we looking at regarding the Barbarians now?

1. Iestyn Thomas
2.
3. John Hayes
4.
5.
6. George Smith
7. Martyn Williams
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Dwayne Peel
10. Ruan Pienaar
11. Paul Sackey
12. Francois Steyn
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
14. Ian Balshaw
15. Cedric Heymans

 

[psychic duck]

what the hell is this stupid player release rule joke?

Sale will have finished their season weeks ago by the time of the match, I'm sure Peel wants to play for Wales and I doubt Sale object to his wishes, so why can't he just PLAY! He's better than Phillips

what would happen if Peel just ignored that stupid rule and played anyway?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

what would happen if Peel just ignored that stupid rule and played anyway?

Barbarians would be without a scrumhalf, for a start

I reckon the PRL would throw a fit and fine or ban him from Aviva rugby for however long

This could work out in his favour though, as having him and Phillips on the pitch at the same time will allow direct comparison between the two

 

[Draggs]

So what are we looking at regarding the Barbarians now?

1. Iestyn Thomas
2.
3. John Hayes
4.
5.
6. George Smith
7. Martyn Williams
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Dwayne Peel
10. Ruan Pienaar
11. Paul Sackey
12. Francois Steyn
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
14. Ian Balshaw
15. Cedric Heymans

Looking forward to Foxy running around Bastareaud. Hopefully Balshaw will decide to kick in front of Mike again, nothing went wrong last time. (Watched him last week, classic Balshaw!)

 

[mikefoot1]

This has proberly been covered but I'd love to see Gavin Henson (12) and Jamie Roberts (13) try a pairing in the centre. Roberts can have brilliant games at 13 aslong as he has someone who is creative enough to use him, (maybe not the best example) but he played 14 in the blues vs scarlets game not so long ago and was able to do some really damaging runs as the blues used him creatively.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

This has proberly been covered but I'd love to see Gavin Henson (12) and Jamie Roberts (13) try a pairing in the centre. Roberts can have brilliant games at 13 aslong as he has someone who is creative enough to use him, (maybe not the best example) but he played 14 in the blues vs scarlets game not so long ago and was able to do some really damaging runs as the blues used him creatively.

Roberts is not in the squad

And no one knows how up to speed Henson is with international rugby.

 

[mikefoot1]

Roberts is not in the squad

And no one knows how up to speed Henson is with international rugby.

hahaha Ah fair! that would proberly explain it :L Can't we just poke him with a cattle prod or something?

 

[Amobokoboko]

Curious about the full Baabaas squad.