[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Wales

[Draggs]

North's a no, but we should have Jamie, Lydiate (Fitness providing), Phillips and Owen Williams available. I'd agree with Thingimubob's Probables back three, and hope Leciester do the right thing for the game and for Owen Williams' development as a player (Especially considering how readily Cockerill has admitted he'd like to see Williams play for Wales) and let him start for the Possibles.

Williams isn't available. PRL will not release players outside of the window unless an agreement is made, such as with the RFU.
It remains to be seen as far as the French players go, because it comes down to contracts.

How in the hell did we send two props???

 

[Thingimubob]

With the trial a week away now, anyone got any line ups for the two sides before they're announced? Assuming they will be around Wednesday-ish, but here's my updated crack at it! Also, assumed that French based players will be available (not 100% though, especially with the Racing-Metro players) and also that the PRL will not budge and no English based players will be available.

Probables vs Possibles
15. Liam Williams vs Jordan Williams
14. Alex Cuthbert vs Tom Prydie
13. Jonathan Davies vs Cory Allen
12. Jamie Roberts vs Steven Shingler
11. Hallam Amos vs Harry Robinson
10. Dan Biggar vs James Hook
9. Mike Phillips vs Gareth Davies
8. Toby Faletau vs Dan Baker
7. Aaron Shingler vs Josh Turnbull
6. Dan Lydiate vs Bradley Davies
5. Luke Charteris vs Ian Evans
4. Alun Wyn Jones vs Andrew Coombs
3. Adam Jones vs Rhodri Jones
2. Ken Owens vs Matthew Rees
1. Gethin Jenkins vs Paul James

Bench
16. Scott Baldwin - Kristian Dacey
17. Owen Evans - Phil Price
18. Samson Lee - Aaron Jarvis
19. Jake Ball - Macauley Cook
20. Josh Navidi - James Davies
21. Rhodri Williams - Lloyd Williams
22. Sam Davies - Matthew Morgan
23. Gavin Henson (???) vs Jonathan Spratt

Had to add Henson onto the bench as North playing in the AP Final means there isn't another back for that last bench spot in the squad. 7 for the possibles is a 50/50 for me atm, but the set up know Shingler better than Navidi, so can see that being a factor in selection. Also, back row for the Possibles is a guess at what McBryde might go for, especially with the Gatland and co's comments on trying out Bradley Davies at 6. On the flip side, if they do that, baffled why Jake Ball isn't in the Possibles team? He's almost pretty much a nailed on pick for the touring squad, why not give him a run against the older more established boys in the Probables, especially with a second row shifted to 6?

Benches are interesting, couple of weak spots for both. Could've been really strengthened by the inclusion of the English based lot though, maybe even still can if some sort of (unlikely) deal is struck.

 

[Thingimubob]

Sorry for the double post but a number of Welsh players not looking too happy at potentially missing the trial match:

Paul James worried about losing his tour spot:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27556040

Gavin Henson trying to get Bath to release him:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/gavin-henson-please-release-me-7168961

Key thing I keep seeing is "clubs don't have to release players" does that imply that they can if they want to, or are they simply not allowed to under their agreement? Just frustrating when most of these players won't even be playing/training for anything at their clubs!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not allowed, fullstop. If they do so then they face, at a minimum, a £60k fine per player.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Hallam Amos is out with a shoulder injury. Considering Hanno Dirksen and North are also unavailable, who is there to pluck to start on the wing, other than shifting Sanjay and putting Sam Davies in at 15? Is it Will Harries time?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Hallam Amos is out with a shoulder injury. Considering Hanno Dirksen and North are also unavailable, who is there to pluck to start on the wing, other than shifting Sanjay and putting Sam Davies in at 15? Is it Will Harries time?

Damn, are things THAT bad ITO injuries for the tour?! Such a pity, we also have some players out but at least for the most part we have 2nd choice players available and in two cases most fans would prefer them to start in any case and it would have been great if they could start against a fully fit and firing Wales.

Hanno Dirksen is a suspiciously SA sounding name... though I can't say that I've heard of him.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Damn, are things THAT bad ITO injuries for the tour?! Such a pity, we also have some players out but at least for the most part we have 2nd choice players available and in two cases most fans would prefer them to start in any case and it would have been great if they could start against a fully fit and firing Wales.

Hanno Dirksen is a suspiciously SA sounding name... though I can't say that I've heard of him.

Born in SA, raised in the USA (played for their age grade teams), ended up in Wales

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Born in SA, raised in the USA (played for their age grade teams), ended up in Wales

Wow, guy got around. Good luck to him in any case; can't remember when last I saw a white wing get a chance in SA.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

North is available for the tour, just not the pre-tour-trial-game that Wales are having, so it's not as bad.

 

[Thingimubob]

Bloody hell. Was looking forward to seeing Amos on Friday, almost certainly would've toured too! How come Dirksen is unavailable, haven't heard anything about him being injured at all?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

North is available for the tour, just not the pre-tour-trial-game that Wales are having, so it's not as bad.

Oh, good. Thanks.

 

[Thingimubob]

Teams announced:

Probables

Liam Williams (Scarlets); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jordan Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Lewis Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff Blues).

Possibles


Dan Fish (Cardiff Blues); Kristian Phillips (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Steven Shingler (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues); James Hook (Perpignan), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Capt) (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Dan Baker (Ospreys).
Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Owen Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Macauley Cook (Cardiff Blues), James Davies (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Morgan (Ospreys), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What is the bloody point in this?
Probables running in tries for fun, barely any competition, Jamie Roberts and Ken Owens off injured (so far).

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pointless game thought it would have been tighter.

 

[psychic duck]

What is the bloody point in this?
Probables running in tries for fun, barely any competition, Jamie Roberts and Ken Owens off injured (so far).

And now Samson Lee hurt as well. Only an idiot would organise this ...

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just shows the lack of depth I think.

It would be fairly one sided in most countries - but this is just not a contest.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Otherwise we'd be going into a game against South Africa with 14 of our starting 15 having not played rugby in at least six weeks. This, or a similar game against the BaaBaas, had to be played.

Somewhat underwhelming as a match. Ellis Jenkins was outstanding, though, and Jon Davies is such a high-class player- Man of the Match and a hattrick without even trying. Will be interesting to see the squad named tonight. Matthew Morgan was also delightful to watch.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Well this game has achieved nothing except to demoralise the possibles and injure some probables.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Otherwise we'd be going into a game against South Africa with 14 of our starting 15 having not played rugby in at least six weeks.

Isn't that preferable to going in with only 13 of them fit?

England are going in to the first test with players who haven't played in the same amount of time, but haven't organised a game beforehand

 

[psychic duck]

Otherwise we'd be going into a game against South Africa with 14 of our starting 15 having not played rugby in at least six weeks. This, or a similar game against the BaaBaas, had to be played.

Nope, utterly pointless match. Players have had a long hard season with a few going on Lions last year and could have done with some rest. They play Southern Kings prior to the Test Matches anyway.