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Wales Rugby World Cup 2011 thread

Draggs

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Any ideas about the 30 man squad?
I'd like to see something like this:



Our 1st XV would be this:
Jenkins, M Rees, AR Jones, AW Jones, B Davies, Lydiate, Warburton, R Jones; Peel, Hook, Williams, Henson, J Roberts, Halfpenny, Byrne

Hibbard, James, Charteris, One of thee backrowers, Phillips, S Jones, J Davies
 
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This shows how weak we are at full back, our only choice has been terrible this year so I would give Stoddart a chance based on his form.

1st XV would be this:
Jenkins, M Rees, AR Jones, AW Jones, Charteris, Lydiate, Warburton, R Jones; Peel, S Jones, Williams, Hook, J Davies, North, Stoddart

I just hope our front three are fit for the whole tournament.
 
I loved your first team there man. I'm thinking exactly the same, aswell with Stoddart at the back, I know Jamie Roberts can be a good full back but to be honest I really don't want to take him out of the centre (not too sure about Jonathon Davies), could have Halfpenny at the back as well I guess
 
Stoddart at fullback? His tackling might have improved but surely not that much.
Bradley Davies over Charteris as well. Bradley has been improving and while he might not have had the best Six Nations, he is still our best choice second row.
 
Will Dan Lydiate start at the World Cup? He's never really impressed me on the international stage.

I think so.
He has been in good form for the Dragons and steadily improving for Wales over the November tests and Six Nations.
The only other blindsides are Powell, Ryan Jones (both debatable), JT (NO!), McCusker (better openside).
 
Really?
I thought he was the best blindside in the last six nations, or level with Wood

Certainly one of the few positives for Wales.
I am honestly stunned at how far he has come, considering he could have been paralysed with a neck injury a few years back, and then a shoulder injury after Jerry Collins pulled him out of a ruck illegally.
 
Lydiate has, after Warburton, has been Wales' player of the season.

My squad would be along the lines of:

Props: Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Adam Jones, Craig Mitchell
Hookers: Matthew Rees, Richard Hibbard, Ken Owens (Unless Llyod Burns can get his place nailed down Vs the Barbarians, or Kenny isn't fully fit.)
Locks: Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris
Flankers: Danny Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams, Josh Turnbull
No. 8s: Ryan Jones, Toby Faletau
Scrum-Halves: Dwyane Peel, Richie Rees, Tavis Knoyle/Mike Phillips
Fly-Halves: James Hook, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland/Nicky Robinson
Centres: Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Gavin Henson
Wingers: Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, George North
Fullbacks: Lee Byrne, Morgan Stoddart

On stand-by should be John Yapp/Ryan Bevington, Andy Powell, Rob McCusker (Though it'll no doubt be Jonthan Thomas), Tav/Phillips, Dan Biggar, Nicky Robinson, Aled Brew.

First XV would be as follows:
G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, AW Jones, B Davies, D Lydiate, S Warburton, T Faletau/R Jones; D Peel, J Hook; S Williams, G Henson, J Roberts, L Halfpenny, M Stoddart/L Byrne

Bench: P James, R Hibbard, L Charteris, Big Tobe/Ryan, R Rees, S Jones, M Stoddart/L Byrne

I just fear it's too late for Nicky Robinson to be brought in.
 
Been thinking ... (dangerous I know) ... Wales will not go to the WC with 4 props ... they will surely go with 5.

If you look at the 2007 RWC Squad:

Wales' 2007 30-man World Cup squad:

Backs: Gareth Cooper, James Hook, Dafydd James, Mark Jones, Stephen Jones, Kevin Morgan, Sonny Parker, Dwayne Peel, Mike Phillips, Jamie Robinson, Tom Shanklin, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Thomas (capt), Shane Williams.

Forwards: Huw Bennett, Colin Charvis, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Chris Horsman, Will James, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Duncan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Michael Owen, Alix Popham, Matthew Rees, Jonathan Thomas, T Rhys Thomas, Martyn Williams.

they had 4 saying that the 2003 squad also only have 4 props 1999 you had 4 / 5 props depending on how you classify Andrew Lewis. Personally I think Wales will take 5 props because of the physical nature of the front row.
 
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Random question: I see most people are picking 3 locks and 6 loose-forwards; I assume Ryan Jones would cover lock? Has he played much lock at club level? (genuine question, I don't get a chance to watch any NH club rugby). I know Jonathan Thomas is generally not well liked around here, but I'm assuming that Gatland will take him as lock/loose-forward cover (whether he deserves to be their or not...)?
 
Random question: I see most people are picking 3 locks and 6 loose-forwards; I assume Ryan Jones would cover lock? Has he played much lock at club level? (genuine question, I don't get a chance to watch any NH club rugby). I know Jonathan Thomas is generally not well liked around here, but I'm assuming that Gatland will take him as lock/loose-forward cover (whether he deserves to be their or not...)?

Jones has spent time at lock this season, personally if Falatau has a monster of a summer test series then it will be hard to see past him at 8. Jones has looked decent at lock but offers a different type of game to that of Faletau. As for Thomas he is a better lock than a backrower.
 
Jones has spent time at lock this season, personally if Falatau has a monster of a summer test series then it will be hard to see past him at 8. Jones has looked decent at lock but offers a different type of game to that of Faletau. As for Thomas he is a better lock than a backrower.

Yeah, Ryan was shifted to Second Row during his drop in form this season, but showed a bit of a return during the Six Nations.
I think Faletau is just a different kind of eight and could certainly start v Fiji and Samoa where we need intense and powerful ball carriers.
Hopefully we have Morgan next 6N so he and Faletau can put some pressure on the spot.

Now we just need Martyn Thomas to remain fit and Dan Evans to rediscover his form!
 
Rhys Priestland would be a better call at 15 than Dan Evans, who I honestly can't see working his way back up from Llanelli RFC's bench to the Welsh side. His namesake Fish, however, could find himself capped within 12 months.
 
Any idea when the team to face the Baa Baas is being named? It's normally Tuesday or Wednesday, but I haven't heard anything.
 
Wales 45-man preliminary squad:
FORWARDS:
Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets).

Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues).

Luke Charteris (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Lou Reed (Scarlets).

Gareth Delve (Melbourne Rebels), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Sam Warburton (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues).

BACKS:
Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues).

Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Jason Tovey (Dragons), James Hook (Perpigan).

Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Gavin Henson (Unattached), Jamie Roberts (Blues).

George North (Scarlets), Aled Brew (Dragons), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys).

Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

Leigh at FB is surprising. JT, Andy Powell, and Bennett is shocking to say the least, along with the other bolded players.
Good to see Tovey in at least.
 

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