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- Nov 2, 2006
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- Country Flag
How do we all see Wales' chances going into the AI's? With Gatland on Lions duty, Howley will take control, which imo will benefit Wales, as it allows for a new voice in the form of Mark Sherratt to join the squad. Not a fan at all of Howley as an attack coach, but he performed well as the head honcho last time round, which suggests he may be better at overseeing than he is at being an attack coach.
There's question marks surrounding the availability of the English based players for the first game v Aus. Will Faletau still be crocked? Will Howley make some changes that many of the public have been crying out for? This is what I'd pick, based on having the English players available:
01 Gethin Jenkins. Still going strong, and with Rob Evans injured, should certainly be first choice. Nicky Smith has returned to the form which saw him earn his first cap, but a bench spot makes more sense.
02 Ken Owens. Baldwin has lost his starting spot at the Ospreys to Sam Parry, so it'll be interesting if that affects his Wales cause. Owens should retain his starting spot after his exploits in the summer.
03 Samson Lee. Looked far more solid in the scrum v's Sale yesterday. Needs a run of injury free game time now to hopefully show that there's more to him than simply a scrummager. Still not to much backup available. Been a little disappointed that Dillon Lewis hasn't had much of an opportunity at the Blues this season, so he can't be seen as a credible option. Francis may or may not be available, but in any case he feels distinctly like a stop-gap option. Andrews is improving in the scrum under Wilson at the Blues, but it'd be a bit of a miracle if he managed to make him an international standard scrummager.
04 Luke Charteris/Bradley Davies. Still like the balance of Alun-Wyn and Charteris together, but Cherteris may not be available. Davies is growing into his Ospreys role, whilst Thornton has had an impressive start to the season, very much in the mold of AWJ.
05 AWJ. After looking a little tired at times last season, he's looking back to his best again now.
06 Ross Moriarty. Impressed me out in NZ, and has been playing well in a struggling team at Gloucester. Adds aggression and a carrying presence that we need more of. If he isn't available, then there's the likes of Lydiate, King, or playing dual opensides with Jenkins, Warbs or Navidi playing at 6.
07 Justin Tipuric. Should be a starter. Offers too much to only be used as an impact sub. In the form of his life following his concussion layoff. Crazy stats doing the rounds after the first three Pro12 games, of him making 70 tackles, missing none. Shows that he does the unseen stuff as well as scoring 60m try's etc.
08 Dan Baker. I expect Faletau to still be out, and we really need to develop some backup. Baker is back playing well, offering some good go forward. Other options include King and Navidi, or shifting Moriarty.
09 Rhys Webb. Class player who's been in top form for the Ospreys this season. Gareth Davies had a great game yesterday, but still takes the wrong decision on occasion, such as kicking the ball after Jon Davies' break and Scott Williams' round the back pass in the game v Sale.
10 Sam Davies. Screw it, get him in there. If we want to get the best out of the likes of North, Liam Williams and our centers, then Davies is the one to guide Wales imo. His variety of play is far superior to Biggar's, and he fits the modern game like a glove. Biggar would be a great option to have on the bench. Problem is, it royally screws over the Ospreys, losing both of their 10's. Anscombe, Patchell and Owen Williams are decent option too.
11 Leigh Halfpenny. Will be nice to have him back. His solid all-round game helps to balance the backline. Wouldn't mind if he's retained at fullback, but Liam deserves to continue there imo. Eli Walker has put in a string of consistently excellent displays for the Ospreys this season, combining solidity in defense, with some electric running. Watch out for Keelan Giles, could be offered an opportunity at some point in the AI's.
12 Scott Williams. Had an indifferent start to the season, but showed real class v Sale and the sort of variety we need if we are to develop our attacking game. Mind, I'd be interested to see how Roberts could be brought into the game by Sam Davies. His pull back passes on the gain-line could really suit Roberts. I'd like to see Beck back involved at some stage, but after such a horror run with injuries, he needs to concentrate on getting some game time at the O's.
13 Jon Davies. Another player to have had an indifferent start to the season, but hopefully turned the corner now.
14 George North. Been showing some great form for Northampton of late. Cuthbert is returning to some form, whilst Tom James has had a great start to the season, but it has to be North if available. Nice to see a little depth developing on the wings. With a little luck we'll have a few good options available on both wings soon.
15 Liam Williams. Become a really reliable performer, and deserves to play at fullback where he makes most impact in a game.
16 Scott Baldwin/Sam Parry. Most likely to be Baldwin, but I like Parry myself. Dacey is another option who's been playing well for the Blues.
17 Nicky Smith. Big future for this talented youngster. Imo he'll be Wales first choice when Jenkins finally calls it quits.
18 Tomas Francis. If he's available that is.
19 Bradley Davies/Luke Charteris. If Charteris isn't available, then Rory Thornton.
20 Sam Warburton/Ellis Jenkins. Plenty of options here, with James Davies another. Navidi would provide good bench cover too, covering all three backrow positions with aplomb.
21 Gareth Davies.
22 Dan Biggar.
23 Jamie Roberts/Cory Allen.
There's question marks surrounding the availability of the English based players for the first game v Aus. Will Faletau still be crocked? Will Howley make some changes that many of the public have been crying out for? This is what I'd pick, based on having the English players available:
01 Gethin Jenkins. Still going strong, and with Rob Evans injured, should certainly be first choice. Nicky Smith has returned to the form which saw him earn his first cap, but a bench spot makes more sense.
02 Ken Owens. Baldwin has lost his starting spot at the Ospreys to Sam Parry, so it'll be interesting if that affects his Wales cause. Owens should retain his starting spot after his exploits in the summer.
03 Samson Lee. Looked far more solid in the scrum v's Sale yesterday. Needs a run of injury free game time now to hopefully show that there's more to him than simply a scrummager. Still not to much backup available. Been a little disappointed that Dillon Lewis hasn't had much of an opportunity at the Blues this season, so he can't be seen as a credible option. Francis may or may not be available, but in any case he feels distinctly like a stop-gap option. Andrews is improving in the scrum under Wilson at the Blues, but it'd be a bit of a miracle if he managed to make him an international standard scrummager.
04 Luke Charteris/Bradley Davies. Still like the balance of Alun-Wyn and Charteris together, but Cherteris may not be available. Davies is growing into his Ospreys role, whilst Thornton has had an impressive start to the season, very much in the mold of AWJ.
05 AWJ. After looking a little tired at times last season, he's looking back to his best again now.
06 Ross Moriarty. Impressed me out in NZ, and has been playing well in a struggling team at Gloucester. Adds aggression and a carrying presence that we need more of. If he isn't available, then there's the likes of Lydiate, King, or playing dual opensides with Jenkins, Warbs or Navidi playing at 6.
07 Justin Tipuric. Should be a starter. Offers too much to only be used as an impact sub. In the form of his life following his concussion layoff. Crazy stats doing the rounds after the first three Pro12 games, of him making 70 tackles, missing none. Shows that he does the unseen stuff as well as scoring 60m try's etc.
08 Dan Baker. I expect Faletau to still be out, and we really need to develop some backup. Baker is back playing well, offering some good go forward. Other options include King and Navidi, or shifting Moriarty.
09 Rhys Webb. Class player who's been in top form for the Ospreys this season. Gareth Davies had a great game yesterday, but still takes the wrong decision on occasion, such as kicking the ball after Jon Davies' break and Scott Williams' round the back pass in the game v Sale.
10 Sam Davies. Screw it, get him in there. If we want to get the best out of the likes of North, Liam Williams and our centers, then Davies is the one to guide Wales imo. His variety of play is far superior to Biggar's, and he fits the modern game like a glove. Biggar would be a great option to have on the bench. Problem is, it royally screws over the Ospreys, losing both of their 10's. Anscombe, Patchell and Owen Williams are decent option too.
11 Leigh Halfpenny. Will be nice to have him back. His solid all-round game helps to balance the backline. Wouldn't mind if he's retained at fullback, but Liam deserves to continue there imo. Eli Walker has put in a string of consistently excellent displays for the Ospreys this season, combining solidity in defense, with some electric running. Watch out for Keelan Giles, could be offered an opportunity at some point in the AI's.
12 Scott Williams. Had an indifferent start to the season, but showed real class v Sale and the sort of variety we need if we are to develop our attacking game. Mind, I'd be interested to see how Roberts could be brought into the game by Sam Davies. His pull back passes on the gain-line could really suit Roberts. I'd like to see Beck back involved at some stage, but after such a horror run with injuries, he needs to concentrate on getting some game time at the O's.
13 Jon Davies. Another player to have had an indifferent start to the season, but hopefully turned the corner now.
14 George North. Been showing some great form for Northampton of late. Cuthbert is returning to some form, whilst Tom James has had a great start to the season, but it has to be North if available. Nice to see a little depth developing on the wings. With a little luck we'll have a few good options available on both wings soon.
15 Liam Williams. Become a really reliable performer, and deserves to play at fullback where he makes most impact in a game.
16 Scott Baldwin/Sam Parry. Most likely to be Baldwin, but I like Parry myself. Dacey is another option who's been playing well for the Blues.
17 Nicky Smith. Big future for this talented youngster. Imo he'll be Wales first choice when Jenkins finally calls it quits.
18 Tomas Francis. If he's available that is.
19 Bradley Davies/Luke Charteris. If Charteris isn't available, then Rory Thornton.
20 Sam Warburton/Ellis Jenkins. Plenty of options here, with James Davies another. Navidi would provide good bench cover too, covering all three backrow positions with aplomb.
21 Gareth Davies.
22 Dan Biggar.
23 Jamie Roberts/Cory Allen.
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