Wales vs England - 13/08/2011 - RWC Warm Up

[jovialjonny]

Why are you welsh lads so loyal to Henson?

I class him as cyanide to team spirit,any remnance of the skills he once had just isn't worth the trade off of putting such a poor team player into what becomes a tight knit group in a long tournament.

He's shown time and again he puts himself above his team,hence his little anelka-esque drive to play as a mercenary for any side that will take him. Now all have copped on which is why he remains without a club.

I'd never wish an injury on a player but the welsh camp dodged a bullet on this one. I dunno what he did to even deserve a place back in the squad.

 

[JW.]

I agree. Don't know how he got to play for Wales but he didn't deserve that spot. He isn't a teamplayer, as he has shown at Toulon. He always reminds me of a football/soccer player.

 

[dullonien]

So then, from what Gatland said post match, what team do people expect/hope to see v Argentina. As I said earlier, the big test is gonna come from up front, especially the scrum, so that area of our game needs to be strengthened, and luckily we have one of the best prop pairings in world rugby ready to step in. Gatland suggested that Martyn Williams will get an opportunity, and I wouldn't be atall surprised to see a completely different backrow and possibly second row next week. Behind the scrum, I'm expecting a new halfback combination, and if Stephen Jones is fit, then I think we could see Hook at centre alongside Scott Williams or Jonathan Davies. Halfpenny and Byrne are fit and will play. So with all that in mind, this is the team I'm expecting to see:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Richard Hibbard / Ken Owens
03 Adam Jones
04 Ryan Jones
05 Bradley Davies
06 Josh Turnbull
07 Martyn Williams
08 Gareth Delve

09 Tavis Knoyle
10 Stephen Jones
11 Shane Williams (needs more gametime imo)
12 Jon Davies
13 James Hook
14 Leigh Halfpenny
15 Lee Byrne

16 Ken Owens / Huw Bennett
17 Paul James
18 Alun-Wyn Jones
19 Sam Warburton
20 Lloyd Williams / Mike Phillips
21 Scott Williams
22 Rhys Priestland

 

[TVH11]

Even though the above would be seen as experiental, its certainly a strong one. Hope shane plays, he needs more gametime and it woud "unofficially" be his last game ine the welsh shirt in Wales; and im going so i wanna watch him live for very last time in welsh shirt - seeing him "relax" in my local just aint the same.... Hahaha
Maybe hooky at 10, although i think 12 would be beter due to ours needs for a creative inside center =D

Good job Dull, gatland should use u as selector =D

Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Rees is officially out of the WC now, as he needs to have surgery on his neck:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/14498612.stm

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Matthew Rees has today been ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup after failing to fully recover from a persistent neck injury.

The Scarlets hooker has been undergoing intensive treatment with the aim of managing the injury, but it has now been decided he will undergo surgery.

“The safety and longevity of Matthew’s career is paramount, we are all very disappointed that Matthew will not be with us in the World Cup but his health is at the fore of our decision,†said Prav Mathema, national medical performance manager for the Welsh Rugby Union.

“Matthew will not be available for selection after losing his race for fitness from a persistent neck injury.

“Following a series of injections and intensive treatment and rehabilitation the decision has been made to omit him from the squad to allow him to undergo surgery.

“The medical teams of both the Scarlets and the WRU concluded unanimously to proceed with surgery.â€

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard has been officially added to the squad after fully recovering from shoulder surgery and reaching full fitness whilst in training at national squad headquarters.

Hibbard will now join fellow Osprey Huw Bennett, Dragon Lloyd Burns and Scarlet Ken Owens in contention for selection to play against Argentina in Wales’ final RWC warm-up match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).

Tickets for Wales' final RWC warm-up game against Argentina on Saturday, 20 August, are still available on the WRU’s ‘buy one get one free’ offer at prices from £25 at www.wru.co.uk/tickets or by calling the ticket hotlines 08442 777 888 or 02920 230130.

WRU Media​

 

[Logorrhea]

Absoltuely huge loss that. Thats one position where Wales simply have no depth. Shame.

 

[Me 1]

This is terrible news! Hopefully Hibbard and Bennett will play well in his absence but to loose our captain so close to the world cup is awful. Warburton will have to continue and to be fair he's done a good job, but is the world cup a step to far for him?

 

[dullonien]

Oh cr*p. Rees is a massive loss.

I feel Gatland has to give gametime to Hibbard and Owens next week now, because Burns was a bit of a disaster against England. If Hibbard can continue his Ospreys form, and throw accurately into the lineout, then Rees won't be missed too much, because Hibbard is better at every other aspect of the game. He carries very well, tackles hard and is Wales' best scrummaging hooker. Bennet has been playing better than I've seen for a long, long time, so it'll be between him and Hibbard for top spot. It's stupid that Gatland snubbed Ken Owens for so long, I'd feel alot happier if he already had a few games under his belt. At least Warburton has shown great promise as Captain in the last three games, so I now expect to see that continue into the World Cup.

Edit. TVH11, remember it'll almost certainly be Martyn Williams' last game in the Millenium aswell. Hopefully it will be a great send-off to two of the best Welsh players of the past decade. In fact, after thinking about it, if Stephen Jones recovers, it could potentially be his last home game aswell, although realistically I expect to see him continue for another couple of years, but with the emergence of Priestland and Hook playing 10 in France, it all depends if he's needed, and whether Gatland (or the new coach) will want to continue building for the future and drop him in favour of the younger players.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

The way Gatland, amongst others, have been talking about Matthew Rees, I'm readying myself for this being his retirement. He's in major discomfort, and we've repeatedly been told "It's about the health of the indivdual, not about Wales or the Scarlets". It's a huge blow for Wales, but absolutely the right call considering the amount of pain he's in. (He apparently hasn't been able to sleep at night for a number of weeks) I can but wish him a speedy recovery.

I'm glad Martyn's going to get a game. Hopefully he can get himself on the plane, he's been a favourite of mine since I first gained an interest in Rugby, and to see him go out with a wimper would be such a shame...

Tav'd better play, too. The boy deserves it. Whilst I felt Phillips somewhat showed his worth defensively on Saturday, I'd still rather have Tav start, or Peel, who I'd assume will play in some way, shape or form, considering he is ocne more 'Avalible for selection'.

 

[Thingimubob]

The way Gatland, amongst others, have been talking about Matthew Rees, I'm readying myself for this being his retirement. He's in major discomfort, and we've repeatedly been told "It's about the health of the indivdual, not about Wales or the Scarlets". It's a huge blow for Wales, but absolutely the right call considering the amount of pain he's in. (He apparently hasn't been able to sleep at night for a number of weeks) I can but wish him a speedy recovery.

I'm glad Martyn's going to get a game. Hopefully he can get himself on the plane, he's been a favourite of mine since I first gained an interest in Rugby, and to see him go out with a wimper would be such a shame...

Tav'd better play, too. The boy deserves it. Whilst I felt Phillips somewhat showed his worth defensively on Saturday, I'd still rather have Tav start, or Peel, who I'd assume will play in some way, shape or form, considering he is ocne more 'Avalible for selection'.

Apparently Peel is injured too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/14510464.stm - Might even miss the World Cup entirely. Does make me wonder if Gatlands annoyed at Sale, wouldn't have happened if he'd been released earlier to train with Wales. Meh, not much to be done about it now I guess.
Like the look of Dulls team anyway, strong front row, tidy second row, back row is promising with a fair bit of experience between Martyn and Delve and that is a very good looking backline! Would maybe consider resting Shane or having him on the bench and having North there instead, he looked a bit rusty in the first England game and barely got the ball in the 2nd, so could be worth him having more gametime.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently that finger injury doesn't exist - was at some Sale thing last week and said it was fine

 

[dullonien]

Apparently Peel is injured too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/14510464.stm - Might even miss the World Cup entirely. Does make me wonder if Gatlands annoyed at Sale, wouldn't have happened if he'd been released earlier to train with Wales. Meh, not much to be done about it now I guess.
Like the look of Dulls team anyway, strong front row, tidy second row, back row is promising with a fair bit of experience between Martyn and Delve and that is a very good looking backline! Would maybe consider resting Shane or having him on the bench and having North there instead, he looked a bit rusty in the first England game and barely got the ball in the 2nd, so could be worth him having more gametime.

Which one looked a bit rusty Thingimubob, Shane or North? I thought North had two very good games against England, and has possibly secured himself a starting spot at the WC in front of Halfpenny (unless Halfpenny has a blinder next week). Shane has looked off the pace in the two games, and that's why I'd give him another full game. Then again, he can just spark into life at any point really.

I personally can't see Peel being involved tbh. Therefore, contradictory to my team above, I think Lloyd Williams will probably have some gametime next week off the bench. He can't go to the WC uncapped!

 

[TVH11]

Yer think Shane needs gametime. Also totally agree Dull, keep on forgetting its Martyn's "last" one too. I think Shane will play, has a tidy scoring record against Argentina too.

Huge loss with Rees being ruled out. I know gatland doesn't like "small" players but surely this means Ken Owens gets a chance?? To my knowledge he's the most accurate hooker in wales throwing in, and is quite good round the field.

 

[McTallshort]

Good win for Wales, with Davis, Jones and Jenkins back their set piece should now be sorted despite the bitter disappointment of losing Rees and I wouldnt worry at all about losing Henson though as they have better opinions, Hook being on of them.

As for my beloved England...Well were to start the front five are fine with strength in depth even with Lawes being a bit rusty. The backrow is good man for man but they really miss Moody at the break down, the likes of Wood and Easter need to get there heads in the way of the like of warburton even if it means they are not 'set' for there next pre-ordained pod. The Scots will murder us with their backrow come world cup time if we just expect the ball to come back after the tackle this isnt rugby league! The half backs only concern me because Youngs has no game time, Wilkinson and Flood will be fine in the group stages and if we get past those I will be happy as I dont currently see us beating any of the top SH or even NH teams the way things are.

Now for the centres...oh god we probably have in Hape and Tindell the most uninspiring centre partnerships in the....well world only Italy and possibly Scotland have a worse midfield, god only knows how we beat France in the 6N. Tindell is solid in defence and a good head to have on the pitch so I can see why he is playing but Hape!!! why! please Martin why!, you are right we dont see what he does well....because he doesnt bloody do anything! If Flutey was on form (which he isnt) then he would fit the bill I suppose and if Manu had say more than 10 caps under belt (which he hasnt) then he would but all three are preferable to Banahan who is probably a nice lad but not an international rugby player. The back three are ok as long as Ashton is fit and I would like Sharples to at least get a proper go but then thats about as likely to happen as: England World champions 2011.....