Where are the Welsh back-rowers?

[TRF_Cymro]

For a country that has produced some of the finest back-rowers that the world has ever seen, such as Scott Quinell and Mervyn Davies, is currently suffering a small crisis in ensuring the next crop of young guns are up to standard.

The likes of Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones and maybe not even Jonathan Thomas will be around by the time the 2015 World Cup kicks off in, and there is a growing concern at the dearth and quality of the up and coming replacements. The first seeds of revival have been seen with Sam Warburton at the Blues and Toby Faletau at the Dragons, but the rest are either lacking in that x-factor to make it at the top level, or only getting game time in the Welsh Premiership, and thus stunting their progression as players.

The most worrying statistic of all is the amount of Welsh-qualified players that started in the back-row during last weeks games in the Magners League. Out of the 12 available slots between the four regions, six were taken up by overseas players. This is not a knee jerk reaction, as this sort of Welsh to overseas player balance is very much a regular occurrence.

http://www.heavensgame.com/magners-league/where-are-the-welsh-back-rowers

Interesting read

 

[richm1991]

It is, it fails to point out though that the likes of jerry collins & marty holah can help to develop the younger generation of back row forwards.

 

[dullonien]

But why haven't we seen anything of Ben Lewis since returning from injury. Anyone seen him play in the premiership? Maybe it's just taking him time to recover from being out for so long.

I feel we have enough quality coming through at 6 and 7 with the likes of Warberton, Lydiate, Turnball, McCusker etc. But there's almost no-one coming through at 8. It's been great to see Faletau have a run of games and showing that he's capable of pushing for a spot in the next few years, but there's no-one at the Scarlets pushing Lyons, Smith is not good enough at the Ospreys to seriously challenge Ryan Jones, who himself isn't playing all that well. The Blues have Powell, who's going downhill. The Dragons appear to be the future for 8, with both Faletau and Lewis Evans both looking like prospects, but that's not enough.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Talented young Welsh backrows. Like Rhys Ruddock?

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/6nations/2009/gallery/game3/image012.jpg

 

[dullonien]

hahaha very good snoop

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A little more seriously, Faletau at the Dragons and McCusker at the Scarlets strike me as very talented players. I don't pay enough attention to Welsh club rugby to give a proper in depth opinion on either though.

 

[lucky number 7]

i faleutu the huge 8 for the welsh under 20s? if so the guy is a unit

 

[dullonien]

Yup, that's him. He's the son of former Tongan international Kuli Faletau who played for one of the Welsh clubs back in the 90's, can't remember which club. The family stayed in Wales, not sure if Toby Faletau was born in Wales, but he has been brought up in Wales, so considers himself Welsh. He's put in some good performances in the last 4-5 games he's started for the Dragons. He's also proved a useful lineout option.

Apparently Mama Molitika's son is also a very promising young backrower who again considers himself Welsh.

 

[lucky number 7]

well in that case wales have about 10 years of quality work from that guy at no8 to look forward to

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Apparently Mama Molitika's son is also a very promising young backrower who again considers himself Welsh.

Its his nephew Haloti Molitika ... already pledged himself to Tonga and played against Wales in the U20 World Championship the other year.

 

[dullonien]

Oh, my mistake.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Saw him play for Hartbury against Cardiff Uni two years ago and boy was he big then. Pity he has decided to go with Tonga instead of Wales. Played for all the Welsh age levels bar U20. Now with Worcester Academy.