Welsh squad announced for SA tour.

[dullonien]

Well, the squad was announced this morning, with the biggest talking point being the omission of Colin Charvis. That leaves Wales without a specialist openside for the tour, suggesting Gatland will play an absolutely massive backrow of Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas and Gareth Delve.

Backs: Morgan Stoddart, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury, Gareth Cooper.

Forwards: Ryan Jones (captain), Dafydd Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Gareth Delve, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett.

There's a return for Dafydd Jones (who could also substitute at 7 if needed). Uncapped Warren Furry tours along with the giant Cardiff Blues second row Bradley Davies (6'6", 19st +)

Who will fill the no 12 shirt in the absence of Gavin Henson. I thought calling up Andrew Bishop was a good move, but he hasn't been included in the final squad. That leaves us with Sonny Parker (god no, not again!), moving James Hook or moving Stephen Jones. I think moving Jones is the best bet.

 

[dullonien]

Well, BBC messed up, Andrew Bishop's name has been added to the list. So we now have a proper 12 to replace Henson. Few.

 

[Sir Speedy]

I hope Warren Fury starts at scrum-half, I haven't seen anything good from Williams all season and Fury could turn out to be a class-act.

 

[Cymro]

Andy Williams is a good scrum half and has had a difficult season because the pack at the Dragons aint always preformed.

Suprised that Tom Cheeseman was overlooked! And the same with Deniol Jones!

Good to see young Bradathon there!

Will wee see Alun Wyn Jones play 6? JT at 7?

Or Ryan at 6, JT at 7 and Delve at 8?

 

[Sir Speedy]

Andy Williams is a good scrum half and has had a difficult season because the pack at the Dragons aint always preformed.

Suprised that Tom Cheeseman was overlooked! And the same with Deniol Jones!

Good to see young Bradathon there!

Will wee see Alun Wyn Jones play 6? JT at 7?

Or Ryan at 6, JT at 7 and Delve at 8?
[/b]

I would have thought:

8) RJ
7) JT
6) Delve
5) Ian Evans (due to his height and ability in the lineout)
4) Ian Gough (due to his powerful prescence)

 

[dullonien]

I would have thought:

8) RJ
7) JT
6) Delve
5) Ian Evans (due to his height and ability in the lineout)
4) Ian Gough (due to his powerful prescence) [/b]

Leaving out Alun-Wyn, interesting.

My starting IV from the squad would be:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Huw Bennett
03 Adam Jones
04 Ian Gough
05 Alun-Wyn Jones
06 Ryan Jones
07 Jonathan Thomas
08 Gareth Delve

09 Andy Williams
10 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
12 Andrew Bishop
13 Tom Shanklin
14 Tom James
15 Jamie Roberts

 

[danny]

<div class='quotemain'>I would have thought:

8) RJ
7) JT
6) Delve
5) Ian Evans (due to his height and ability in the lineout)
4) Ian Gough (due to his powerful prescence) [/b]

Leaving out Alun-Wyn, interesting.

My starting IV from the squad would be:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Huw Bennett
03 Adam Jones
04 Ian Gough
05 Alun-Wyn Jones
06 Ryan Jones
07 Jonathan Thomas
08 Gareth Delve

09 Andy Williams
10 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
12 Andrew Bishop
13 Tom Shanklin
14 Tom James
15 Jamie Roberts
[/b][/quote]
Looks a decent side, they just have to try to catch the Boks cold in the first test . My only concern is the lack of balance in the back row. The breakdown is always crucial but away in the SH even more so. JT is not an open side, who is the best openside prospect in Wales at the moment?

 

[Cymro]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>I would have thought:

8) RJ
7) JT
6) Delve
5) Ian Evans (due to his height and ability in the lineout)
4) Ian Gough (due to his powerful prescence) [/b]

Leaving out Alun-Wyn, interesting.

My starting IV from the squad would be:

01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Huw Bennett
03 Adam Jones
04 Ian Gough
05 Alun-Wyn Jones
06 Ryan Jones
07 Jonathan Thomas
08 Gareth Delve

09 Andy Williams
10 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
12 Andrew Bishop
13 Tom Shanklin
14 Tom James
15 Jamie Roberts
[/b][/quote]
Looks a decent side, they just have to try to catch the Boks cold in the first test . My only concern is the lack of balance in the back row. The breakdown is always crucial but away in the SH even more so. JT is not an open side, who is the best openside prospect in Wales at the moment? [/b][/quote]

Good starting team there!

The best prospect danny is Ben Lewis and Robin Sowden-Taylor both of whom are injured! Unfortunately

 

[danny]

There`s not too many option then. Keeping the back-row injury free is a must if Wales are to compete. I`ve no doubt Wales will score tries against the Boks its probably going to come down to the Welsh defence standing firm.With Shaun Edwards organisation Im sure they have a pretty good chance.

 

[dullonien]

Options are very bare at openside, but I'm confident Jonathan Thomas can do the job. He's played there many a time in the past, holding up well. South Africa don't play a traditional 7 either, more two 6.5's for both flankers.

The rest of the pack is the same as the 6 nations (though I would personally of had Hibbard no 1 Hooker, Bennett second). We've got plenty of players able to do the hard yards, but will really miss the constructive and link play Martyn Williams offers.

The backline should have no problems in defense, but we might miss the straightening of the line Henson offers. Bishop is a great prospect, a very solid player, but he's not in the same league as Henson. Will Wales resume crabbing across the field, like they did in the absense of Henson during the world cup etc.

I'm glad they have the warm up game on sat v World IV to help the new players gel, and try some new moves etc. I'm going btw, anyone else? Should be a good day out.

 

[Cymro]

Options are very bare at openside, but I'm confident Jonathan Thomas can do the job. He's played there many a time in the past, holding up well. South Africa don't play a traditional 7 either, more two 6.5's for both flankers.

The rest of the pack is the same as the 6 nations (though I would personally of had Hibbard no 1 Hooker, Bennett second). We've got plenty of players able to do the hard yards, but will really miss the constructive and link play Martyn Williams offers.

The backline should have no problems in defense, but we might miss the straightening of the line Henson offers. Bishop is a great prospect, a very solid player, but he's not in the same league as Henson. Will Wales resume crabbing across the field, like they did in the absense of Henson during the world cup etc.

I'm glad they have the warm up game on sat v World IV to help the new players gel, and try some new moves etc. I'm going btw, anyone else? Should be a good day out. [/b]

A World 4, Wales must e dreaming

I reckon Wales will put a good account for themselves out in South Africa, also some may be started to be judged by two possible backroom staff for the Lions Tour

 

[Sir Speedy]

"A World 4, Wales must be dreaming"

Gratz for pointing that out, picky Roman Numeral person.

 

[Thingimubob]

Shane's Team for saturday:
Shane Williams XV: Morgan Stoddart (Llanelli Scarlets); Tom James (Cardiff Blues), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Andy Williams (Newport-Gwent Dragons); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements (from): Warren Fury (London Irish), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Matthew Rees (Scarlets).

Justin Marshall squad: Justin Marshall (New Zealand), Ryan Powell (Wales), Ceri Sweeney (Wales), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Elvis Seveali'i (Samoa), Ollie Smith (England), Lome Fa'atau (Samoa), Uche Oduoza (England 7s), Paul Emerick (USA), Freddie Tuilagi (Samoa), Deacon Manu (Llanelli Scarlets), Allan Jacobson (Scotland), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), Ed Shervington (Ospreys), Kevin Yates (England), Justin Va'a (Samoa), Justin Harrison (Australia), Maama Molitika (Tonga), Opeta Palepoi (Samoa), Hale T Pole (Tonga), Marty Holah (New Zealand), Filo Tiatia (New Zealand), Isaac Feaunati (Samoa).

Interesting choices, nice to see Tom James starting at 14, been wanting that for a while. Nice to see that a lot of Justins team are familiar faces, like there's a few Welsh Players, and a few SH players who play for the Welsh region. If Stoddard performs well, then he could take the no.15 shirt for the first test, if he doesn't than Jamie Roberts will get it.
anybody know if they're selling tickets at the door?

 

[Cymro]

Shane's Team for saturday:
Shane Williams XV: Morgan Stoddart (Llanelli Scarlets); Tom James (Cardiff Blues), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Andy Williams (Newport-Gwent Dragons); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements (from): Warren Fury (London Irish), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Matthew Rees (Scarlets).

Justin Marshall squad: Justin Marshall (New Zealand), Ryan Powell (Wales), Ceri Sweeney (Wales), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Elvis Seveali'i (Samoa), Ollie Smith (England), Lome Fa'atau (Samoa), Uche Oduoza (England 7s), Paul Emerick (USA), Freddie Tuilagi (Samoa), Deacon Manu (Llanelli Scarlets), Allan Jacobson (Scotland), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), Ed Shervington (Ospreys), Kevin Yates (England), Justin Va'a (Samoa), Justin Harrison (Australia), Maama Molitika (Tonga), Opeta Palepoi (Samoa), Hale T Pole (Tonga), Marty Holah (New Zealand), Filo Tiatia (New Zealand), Isaac Feaunati (Samoa).

Interesting choices, nice to see Tom James starting at 14, been wanting that for a while. Nice to see that a lot of Justins team are familiar faces, like there's a few Welsh Players, and a few SH players who play for the Welsh region. If Stoddard performs well, then he could take the no.15 shirt for the first test, if he doesn't than Jamie Roberts will get it.
anybody know if they're selling tickets at the door? [/b]

Best bet mate is give a ring to ticketline, their office is right next to the stadium, they will have tickets there!

 

[danny]

My mate`s going and he said you can buy a ticket on the day. have a good day! :cheers:

 

[dullonien]

Cheers danny, looking foreward to it.

I was hoping for a better world XV. the way Marshall was talking about it on Scrum V a couple of weeks back, it sounded as though more of the SH stars playing in the NH were interested. I was hoping for the likes of Regan King, Luke McAllister, Carlos Spencer etc.

It should still be great. Should be nice to see an all out attcking game with Shane playing.

Cymro, the problem with judging the full back position on this game is it'll be all out attack. Stoddard won't be tested like he would in a full international, especially positional wise. This game plays into Stoddard's hands. I mean, he's been an attacking god recently lol.

 

[Cymro]

Cheers danny, looking foreward to it.
Cymro, the problem with judging the full back position on this game is it'll be all out attack. Stoddard won't be tested like he would in a full international, especially positional wise. This game plays into Stoddard's hands. I mean, he's been an attacking god recently lol. [/b]

Sorry what?

Ive said nothing about Stoddart in here!

 

[dullonien]

Oops, I meant Thingimubob.

 

[shtove]

Expectations are down a bit for this tour because of injuries, but that gives Gatland a chance to show what he really brought to the party in the 6N.

SA will probably be in chaos, so I'll be disappointed if Wales don't take one win.

What TV channel will the matches be on?

Anyway, all the tours look interesting for the NH teams - see if there's depth to their squads.

 

[Cymro]

Expectations are down a bit for this tour because of injuries, but that gives Gatland a chance to show what he really brought to the party in the 6N.

SA will probably be in chaos, so I'll be disappointed if Wales don't take one win.

What TV channel will the matches be on?

Anyway, all the tours look interesting for the NH teams - see if there's depth to their squads. [/b]

S4C in Wales and Sky are also hosting this!