starting 15 vs Aus, 1st test

Following on from Idris' thread on whether Byrne would make the starting 15, I though I'd let you guys vote on who would you like to see start the first test, presuming we don't pick up any more injuries going into the tour from now until the end of the season (Touch wood). Some are obviously obvious in the forwards but the backs maybe a bit different. Over to you.

You need to put it as multiple choice

Let us know when you manage to get this up and running, sure to be interesting.

Cheers guys, i've sent a pm to billy so i'll let you know when it get's going. I always man sausage up the poll!!!

Shame mate after all your hard work.

Just looking at the list you have made, and i cannot see Stephen Jones on the LIST.
Just wandering if he will go on the tour to Auatralia, or is his international days over?

majesticimperialman wrote:Just looking at the list you have made, and i cannot see Stephen Jones on the LIST.
Just wandering if he will go on the tour to Auatralia, or is his international days over?

I think he's done, great servant for Wales but i'm sure Gatts will be looking to the future now.

martyr_94 wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Just looking at the list you have made, and i cannot see Stephen Jones on the LIST.
Just wandering if he will go on the tour to Auatralia, or is his international days over?

I think he's done, great servant for Wales but i'm sure Gatts will be looking to the future now.

Didn't look great for scarlets, team were more fluent with Priestland.

Cheers krd...!

Tough choice between Beck and S.Williams - Since it is the first test, I said S.Williams, with Beck off the bench to prove himself in the 2nd half.

Cheers kiwi and billy, let's get this show on the road then

Is Stoddart fit?

I went for

Jenkins - Owens - Jones
R Jones - Evans
Lydiate - Faletau - Shingler (i believe Warbs may be unfit)

Phillips - Priestland
Beck (would go for Maule, but not an option) - Davies
North - Halfpenny - Cuthbert

Apparently Stoddard won't play for the Scarlets again this season, I think he had an injury set back, and although I rate him highly I can't see him going on the Oz tour without having played all season (especially with the strength and depth).

I went for pretty much the GS team with Beck instead of Roberts - I was tempted to pick Liam Williams at FB and Halfpenny on the wing, but then this is the 1st game...

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I went for

Jenkins - Owens - Jones
R Jones - Evans
Lydiate - Faletau - Shingler (i believe Warbs may be unfit)

Phillips - Priestland
Beck (would go for Maule, but not an option) - Davies
North - Halfpenny - Cuthbert

Maule over Beck?
Shingler over Tipuric?

Earning the "scarlet" in your name then.

I didn't pick him but I would be tempted to bring Byrne back at FB due to his form in France. 1/2p moves back to the wing and then Byrne back to full back. But you can't drop Cuthbert after his 6N can you. Great to think we have this strength in depth with people like Williams, Robinson and Morgan Stoddard all in the frame.

It does seem like ages ago when we were relying on T James and K Phillips!

What's happened to Fish at the Blues? I'd imagine he'd get lots of gametime next season with Blair leaving.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:It does seem like ages ago when we were relying on T James and K Phillips!

What's happened to Fish at the Blues? I'd imagine he'd get lots of gametime next season with Blair leaving.

Fish has fallen out of favour this season (he hasn't played, despite Blair and Halpenny missing most of the season) - I imagine Czekaj and Halfpenny will be at FB, perhaps if Czekaj gets injured Fish will have a chance.

Yeh Fish never looked like he could cut it at the highest level. Tom James picked up rugby quite late, and I think that lack of natural talent or experience of playing rugby all your life shows in some of his handling errors. That's not to say he's been a failure because I think he's a decent player, fast and strong but I don't think he'll get back in the international fold, not to mention the fact he stormed out of a training camp, Gatland won't forget something like that.

wales606 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I went for

Jenkins - Owens - Jones
R Jones - Evans
Lydiate - Faletau - Shingler (i believe Warbs may be unfit)

Phillips - Priestland
Beck (would go for Maule, but not an option) - Davies
North - Halfpenny - Cuthbert

Maule over Beck?
Shingler over Tipuric?

Earning the "scarlet" in your name then.

Forgot Tipuric (d'oh), yeah he would be in there before shingler. Personally I would have Maule in over Scott Williams too, as much as i prefer Maule as a partner for Foxy. Also I put Cuthbert in over Liam Williams which I wouldn't have done before the 6Ns. So it aint totally just down to me wearing scarlet shades.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

wales606 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I went for

Jenkins - Owens - Jones
R Jones - Evans
Lydiate - Faletau - Shingler (i believe Warbs may be unfit)

Phillips - Priestland
Beck (would go for Maule, but not an option) - Davies
North - Halfpenny - Cuthbert

Maule over Beck?
Shingler over Tipuric?

Earning the "scarlet" in your name then.

Forgot Tipuric (d'oh), yeah he would be in there before shingler. Personally I would have Maule in over Scott Williams too, as much as i prefer Maule as a partner for Foxy. Also I put Cuthbert in over Liam Williams which I wouldn't have done before the 6Ns. So it aint totally just down to me wearing scarlet shades.

Beck has been the form 12 in Wales all season - Maule has been reserve at the scarlets and hardly doing anything special, solid, but unspectacular...might aswell put Hewitt at 12 in that case.

martyr_94 wrote:Yeh Fish never looked like he could cut it at the highest level. Tom James picked up rugby quite late, and I think that lack of natural talent or experience of playing rugby all your life shows in some of his handling errors. That's not to say he's been a failure because I think he's a decent player, fast and strong but I don't think he'll get back in the international fold, not to mention the fact he stormed out of a training camp, Gatland won't forget something like that.

Not saying James is terrible - I think he's a good regional standard player and has done well for the Blues this season - but he has a lot of 'brain fart's' when potential overlaps are on or opportunities are presented, and it's these things that IMO mean he'll never be international standard, but merely be a very good player for the Blues squad.

Wales606 - I just like to see centre partnerships as opposed to two centres who are meant to be really good, but that do not work together that well. I would expect it to be Beck and Davies starting the match, with Hook as the cover on the bench. However I do believe that Maule is a real grafter in the centre and does a heap of work that goes unrecognised, I think of him as a bit of a Shanklin to be honest (and I liked Shanklin). He has gotted a lot of game time this season, with Davies and Williams being on international duty, and has seemed to work well with Davies (when he has been available) and Warren (or who ever else has been paired with him). But like I said I would expect Beck to start there.