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Well, not long now untill the Autumn Internationals kick off, and with a few weeks of the new season passed, which players are putting their hands up to be involved?
The Blues and Scarlets are going well so far, whilst the Ospreys are a little up and down and the Dragons have been hit with injuries.
I feel Gatland needs to pick a bigger squad than he usually does, as we need to develop a few players in certain positions, so I'll pick the squad I'd personally go with:
Props: Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Adam Jones, Craig Mitchell, with one of Yohn Yapp, Scott Andrews, Rhys Gill or Iestyn Thomas aswell. Rhys Thomas has an outside chance if he plays a couple of good games for the Scarlets.
Hookers: Mathew Rees, T Rhys Thomas, Ken Owens would be my choice, although Gatland loves Bennett, then there's Hibbard aswell.
Second Rows: Bradley Davies, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Ian Gough. I don't think Deiniol Jones is up to it at international level. Is there space for one of the Scarlets boys?
Backrow: Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Sam Warberton, Dan Lydiate, Rob McCusker. This is where I'd introduce a couple of youngsters. We know what Martyn Williams gives us, so start Warberton in all but one game. Give McCusker a go at 8, and give plenty of gametime to Lydiate. I thought Ryan Jones made a bit of a difference for the O's last night, so I'd be tempted to go for a backrow of Lydiate, Warberton, Ryan Jones in the first game.
Scrum Half: Mike Phillips, Richie Rees, Tavis Knoyle. Not sure now Peels going, but he's fallen down the pecking order. Wayne Evans gone backwards imo, no Cooper for the love of god. Lloyd Williams would be next in line for me, he looks something special.
Outside Half: Stephen Jones, Dan Biggar, Ceri Sweeney. I think Gatland will have a tough decision to make here. Stephen Jones is obviously our best 10, but we need competent backup if he get's injured so I'd use the AI's to find that. Biggar has had an indifferent start to the season for the O's, whilst Sweeney has looked very good. Do we give another shot to Sweeney? He certainly suits the way Wales should be trying to play, and he's solid in defense. Tovey is unlikely to get a chance after getting injured.
Centres: Hook, Jonathan Davies, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin. Hopefully Hook is back in time, because he's the spark we need in the centre. If he is, I'd go with a Davies 12 - 13 Hook midfield, if not then try a Davies 12 - 13 Bishop. By all accounts Jamie Roberts is making a quicker than expected recovery, so don't rule him out just yet!
Back Three: Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Lee Byrne, Chris Czekaj, Will Harries, Aled Brew, George North would be my pick. I'd include North for expreience reasons, maybe not play him, but give him a taste of squad life. Czekaj would be my bench choice, as he's easily our second best fullback. I'd actually be tempted to start him v Aus to give a kick up the arse to Byrne! Tough on Prydie who's done nothing wrong, but he needs regional gametime. I'd have Fussell next in line.
The Blues and Scarlets are going well so far, whilst the Ospreys are a little up and down and the Dragons have been hit with injuries.
I feel Gatland needs to pick a bigger squad than he usually does, as we need to develop a few players in certain positions, so I'll pick the squad I'd personally go with:
Props: Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Adam Jones, Craig Mitchell, with one of Yohn Yapp, Scott Andrews, Rhys Gill or Iestyn Thomas aswell. Rhys Thomas has an outside chance if he plays a couple of good games for the Scarlets.
Hookers: Mathew Rees, T Rhys Thomas, Ken Owens would be my choice, although Gatland loves Bennett, then there's Hibbard aswell.
Second Rows: Bradley Davies, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Ian Gough. I don't think Deiniol Jones is up to it at international level. Is there space for one of the Scarlets boys?
Backrow: Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Sam Warberton, Dan Lydiate, Rob McCusker. This is where I'd introduce a couple of youngsters. We know what Martyn Williams gives us, so start Warberton in all but one game. Give McCusker a go at 8, and give plenty of gametime to Lydiate. I thought Ryan Jones made a bit of a difference for the O's last night, so I'd be tempted to go for a backrow of Lydiate, Warberton, Ryan Jones in the first game.
Scrum Half: Mike Phillips, Richie Rees, Tavis Knoyle. Not sure now Peels going, but he's fallen down the pecking order. Wayne Evans gone backwards imo, no Cooper for the love of god. Lloyd Williams would be next in line for me, he looks something special.
Outside Half: Stephen Jones, Dan Biggar, Ceri Sweeney. I think Gatland will have a tough decision to make here. Stephen Jones is obviously our best 10, but we need competent backup if he get's injured so I'd use the AI's to find that. Biggar has had an indifferent start to the season for the O's, whilst Sweeney has looked very good. Do we give another shot to Sweeney? He certainly suits the way Wales should be trying to play, and he's solid in defense. Tovey is unlikely to get a chance after getting injured.
Centres: Hook, Jonathan Davies, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin. Hopefully Hook is back in time, because he's the spark we need in the centre. If he is, I'd go with a Davies 12 - 13 Hook midfield, if not then try a Davies 12 - 13 Bishop. By all accounts Jamie Roberts is making a quicker than expected recovery, so don't rule him out just yet!
Back Three: Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Lee Byrne, Chris Czekaj, Will Harries, Aled Brew, George North would be my pick. I'd include North for expreience reasons, maybe not play him, but give him a taste of squad life. Czekaj would be my bench choice, as he's easily our second best fullback. I'd actually be tempted to start him v Aus to give a kick up the arse to Byrne! Tough on Prydie who's done nothing wrong, but he needs regional gametime. I'd have Fussell next in line.