Please don't let it be Jonathon Thomas

Looks like Ryan Jones might be out of the world cup...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2011/09/09/breaking-news-ryan-jones-facing-world-cup-heartache-91466-29391383/

At the beginning of the week he was the most likely out of Gethin Jenkins and Stephen Jones to be fit for this weekend and now he is "miles away" from being fit so what does that mean for the other 2! But then again it is an Andy Howell story so who knows.

Hang on JT had a great game for the Ospreys against Leinster!!!! If he had played like that all season he would have been in the 30 already. I just hope it wasn't a one off performance.
Jones I think will be a big loss, but as MPC said, it is a Andy Howells story so who knows???

Somebody isnt telling the whole story. Why did he take them if there is no chance of them being fit?

If a replacement is needed though it has to be out of Delve and Turnball surely with the front runner probably Turnball as he can play lock aswell as backrow.

would love to see Delve get the nod, but we all know he shagged bennett roughly which is why Gats doesnt like him.

TBJ9625 wrote:Hang on JT had a great game for the Ospreys against Leinster!!!! If he had played like that all season he would have been in the 30 already. I just hope it wasn't a one off performance.
Jones I think will be a big loss, but as MPC said, it is a Andy Howells story so who knows???

I'm sorry but I disagree. Everytime JT had the ball he went backwards. He was totally carried by his team.

McKay your allowed your opinion, I have mine and that's ok. I would go with Delve as my replacement as he has been awesome this season and knows how to face the SH teams.

While walesonline wouldn't threaten any awards for most reliable website, if Jones is out I'd rather Nugget, Turnbull or Tipuric stepped in than Thomas. We need another openside.

TBJ9625

Of course I wouldn't wish to impinge on anyones right to free speach. I'm right though

I have been impressed with Tipuric. He's certainly athetic. I wouldn't want to see Nugget as I think he's done now. Stuck on 99 caps. Turnbulll or Tipuric for me

I rate Tipuric higher than Turnbull, I think he reads the game better? As for Nugget I agree with you but also feel sorry for the fella. He retired after the last world cup and only stayed on because Gats said he wanted him for this one!!! He may still go for JT though as he covers lock, 6 and 8???

If I was Welsh I'd want Martyn Williams out there, judging by the start to the RWC the refs are going to allow some slowing of the ball and the old ginger openside is a menace at the breakdown.

Nugget showed what he was still capable of against the Pumas. I was astonished when Gats left him out of the squad after that performance. Sure Warburton is first choice but I'd consider Williams as an impact sub, alongside Turnbull and Tipuric of course.

Williams is the only one I would feel confident with coming off the bench for Warburton in a close/important match.

Problem here is that Ryan was also covering the 2nd row.

If he goes then we only have 3 locks out there and not even someone who could do an emergency job.

If Gats goes for a like for like replacement then JT could well get in as he also covers lock, 6, 8 and even 7 at a push (he has played there before).

It is strange though that for the last 2 games Ryan has almost made it and now looks weeks away.

If that's the case then he has to go home, which is a shame for him as the same happened for him with the Lions, but we can't afford to carry anymore players. Gethin and S Jones are also injured and Byrne seems to be have been chosen as the team hairdresser and fake tan applier.

andy powells minder wrote:Somebody isnt telling the whole story. Why did he take them if there is no chance of them being fit?

i agree....this goes deeper....it illustrates Gats has his own agenda. You leave MW at home and take a crocked back rower, you also take a prop who hasn't played for 9 months...SJ i can understand but i just don't buy that RJ has a strained calf...and why is that Wales keep crcoking calves....also why can't we stop getting injured...Stodds, Gayson, Jones, Rees, Jones, Delve, Geth, 1/2...fed up with it

This should motivate all possible replacements to play out of their skin this weekend.I hope Turnbull has a stormer!

To be honest, this is exactly what Wales have been lacking - strength in depth!!!
Whoever goes won't strenthen the squad!

"and why is that Wales keep crcoking calves....also why can't we stop getting injured...Stodds, Gayson, Jones, Rees, Jones, Delve, Geth, 1/2...fed up with it."

Touché. I mean, it's not as if anyone ever got injured before Gatland and his henchmen showed up...

What is he hiding? Maybe he's a mole sent by the AB's to inject calf-ravaging fluids into every man who would have sprouted into a WC winner!

Or maybe they're not injured at all, they're being kept in a secret base located beneath Welsh HQ to moniter for UFO activity!

Only one thing we know, Gats does indeed have his own agenda and winning isn't part of it

its a bit flipping late to be asking a losing coach how to win RWC...Gats may be in his last few games ...he wins a GS in 2008 and we have just stalled ever since...no player developemnt because he know he can't afford to do it during 6ns hence why the likes of RP and TF only just getting games now....in the rwc!!

Bring on Dai Young

can delve play second row aswell as that could be something to help him considering he is only in aus

Knowsit17 wrote:"and why is that Wales keep crcoking calves....also why can't we stop getting injured...Stodds, Gayson, Jones, Rees, Jones, Delve, Geth, 1/2...fed up with it."

Touché. I mean, it's not as if anyone ever got injured before Gatland and his henchmen showed up...

What is he hiding? Maybe he's a mole sent by the AB's to inject calf-ravaging fluids into every man who would have sprouted into a WC winner!

Or maybe they're not injured at all, they're being kept in a secret base located beneath Welsh HQ to moniter for UFO activity!

Only one thing we know, Gats does indeed have his own agenda and winning isn't part of it

I bet of they are monitoring UFO activity you will come up on their radar

In all honesty though, Geth is more than just "a prop who hasn't played for 9 months". When fit, he's the best loosehead in Wales and I would have taken him likewise, worth the risk imo.

The bottom line is the Welsh fitness coaches have flogged the players and older players are much more susceptible to calf injuries. The result is several of them are now injured from their foolishness (Stephen Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Ryan Jones).
Someone in the press will put the pieces together soon, and a big fuss will be made of it.

I hope Martyn williams gets a call up to be honest. We have Powell and Faletau for no8, so we dontt need another no8.

Yes i knows it , you knowsit but with 10% of our squad unift and them being specialists positions it makes me clench....we could have a huge crisis if we get many ore injruies and have no dpeth in our squad...i know all players are in the frame and mw, jt etc will have bags packed but it smacks of naivety to pack geth off to NZ when he is so far off match fitness

i forgot hibberd! that is 10 players

AlynDavies wrote:The bottom line is the Welsh fitness coaches have flogged the players and older players are much more susceptible to calf injuries. The result is several of them are now injured from their foolishness (Stephen Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Ryan Jones).
Someone in the press will put the pieces together soon, and a big fuss will be made of it.

I hope Martyn williams gets a call up to be honest. We have Powell and Faletau for no8, so we dontt need another no8.

Cant see Williams being called up as he covers none of the positions that Ryan Jones does so it would be pointless and leave us short in other areas, i'd expect it to be Turnball as he offers cover around the back row and at lock also.

SO it looks like R Jones is out before even getting on the paddock, I would never wish injury on anyone BUT I did mnetion before the risk of taking playres carrying knocks and not having any (or little) game time and we took 3.

There were fully fit players left home who could and probably should have been taken.

Lets be honest we (fans) haven't been told the truth at all even through the warm up games about the state on injured players.

As for it not being JT then as much as I would scream I expect it to be him due to fact like Ryan he plays 2nd and back row.

Who else would be in contention:

Turnbull, McCusker and Delve I presume

[quote="bedfordwelsh"]Lets be honest we (fans) haven't been told the truth at all even through the warm up games about the state on injured players.


They keep contradicting themselves aswell, at the beginning of the week Ryan Jones was the most likely out of the injured 3 to be available for the SA game and now he is "miles away" from being fit, also with the Stephen Jones injury they said that they didnt risk playing him against England as he had a tight calf and they didnt want him to tear it as that would mean 6 weeks out yet 6 weeks down the line or however long its been since the game at twickenham he still isnt fit.