Good luck Martyn Williams

First topic message reminder :

Legend of a guy and player. Started his career when Wales were diabolical, but finished it when they were a professional outfit.

The nicest international player I've had a chat with. I hope he gets a cap for Wales against Baabaa's, but I know he would only want a cap on merit. It would be nice to see him get 100 though!

I like the postcode myself

RubyGuby wrote: I like the postcode myself

He is moving up the road after the Baabaas game.

No 100 is Over the hill I think

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Smirnoff - this is one of those we will never really see eye to eye on I think. I think Turnbull is a brilliant scavenger of the ball, and wins more than his fair share of turn overs. He is a very strong runner with ball in hand, and quite often works as a link man between backs and forwards. Due to the fact he is not getting slow due to age, and being caught more often than not doing naughty things at the break down, I would put him above Williams.

That said it is a tough call between him Shingler, as Aaron has to be one of the quickest backrow forwards I have seen, and has brilliant hands too.

Don't get me wrong I really like Turnbull and think he's a very good player and expect him to win lots of caps but I feel he's still not back to the form he showed pre injury where he was very very unlucky not to win more caps and establish himself in the Wales squad - next season I'm excited to think of the Scarlets backrow with an onfire Turnbull, McCusker, Shingler, Murphy and Gilbert to choose from!

I'm just baseing it on this season and comparing the recent form of Williams and Turnbull and think Williams comes out on top and seeing as Warbs/Tipuric don't seem to be considered, then Williams is the next best 7 (though Shingler seems to have been chosen ahead of Turnbulll/Williams even though he's not a 7 )

I don't actually think Turnbull is international class - Along with McCusker they are very good regional players but Shingler takes it to another level and for me the others will turn out to be journeymen - sorry

RubyGuby wrote:I don't actually think Turnbull is international class - Along with McCusker they are very good regional players but Shingler takes it to another level and for me the others will turn out to be journeymen - sorry

I strongly disagree I don't think there's much difference at all between Shingler, Turnbull and McCusker so to say one has got it is to say all have - though McCuskers hasn't really got over his injuries.

Turnbull is very good and was unlucky not to have cemented a place behind Warbs last season.

Happy to disagree on this one

Lads it is just wonderful to think that when we were all worried about potential injury to Martyn Williams ruining our chances along came so much talent in one fell swoop.

Now we have a World Class Warburton backed up by, Tuperic, Turnbull and Navidi. Not a bad position to be in. Not many other countries have such classy depth.

Its Navidi and he's a long way from international class - Also a mention for Lewis Evans who packs a lot of power

RubyGuby wrote:Its Navidi and he's a long way from international class - Also a mention for Lewis Evans who packs a lot of power

This season he has shown he is not so far from International call up, squad anyway.

~I read in his autobiography he intends to pursue a career in the finance industry / banking when he retires. I'm gutted his knowledge won't be used in the development and coaching of Welsh players.

AlynDavies wrote:~I read in his autobiography he intends to pursue a career in the finance industry / banking when he retires. I'm gutted his knowledge won't be used in the development and coaching of Welsh players.

His Biography was written five or six years ago, he may have changed his mind now?

It looks as if Wales will be putting out a second team against the Baa Baas while the first team departs to Aus a week before the game at the MS. This short changes the paying pubic who may have bought tickets in advance of this news. Good luck to Martin but this news devalues caps for this game. The WRU should offer money back to the public as the B team will be playing the BaaBaas.

alun,

I couldn't agree with you more, they ar plugging this game quite a lot and I think its wrong if they are billing it as a chance to see the GS heroes and then not many of them be playing.

I am glad and saddened at the same time about Nuggett getting his cap and I feel it does de-value it a bit and if he got it h should of got it on merit.

I was hoping they would put a strong side out and get the 'tour' off to a winning start. Its not to say they won't but would rather see a full strength side out there

Dontheman wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I don't have a problem with it rubyguby, I just don't understand why.

Think you do have a "problem" with it, mate

You do?

because I question why it is done?

Nugget was good enough to play for Wales 99 times on merit. He is now way past his best and not good enough any longer, hence he has retired!

The only reason that he being selected is to sell tickets for what will be a "b" team game with all of Wales best players having left for Australia. It is simply and unashamedly a marketing ploy, yet another retirement game!

I agree with other posters; Warburton, Tipuric, Shingler, Turnbull, Evans and Navidi are all now better players.

Getting picked for your country should mean that you are the best available player in your position, not just a ploy to sell some tickets. This just devalues the honour of being capped for your country.

Cannot see any harm in having Nugget in the squad.
Caps have been awarded against all sorts:Ivory Coast,Portugal,USA,Scotland...so why not the BaaBaas?

Evening Taffin, how are you mate?

Still a grumpy aged git with a hint of good humour!Hope all is well me old Saffer!

All good this side mate.

Keep it that way,boyo!

Why couldn't they just have organised a game against Georgia or something and made it a proper international, the Babas are slowly becoming a farce

go,

I am guessing because the Baa Baas with Shane and Wellies in the side is a far bigger crowd puller than Georgia.

Yea i'd think so as well, money talks i guess. I hope in a few years when the tier 2 sides become more competitive we can just scrap the Baa Baas altogether though, it really is pointless nowadays, especially if we want the world to recognise rugby as a global professional sport

I don't think they are pointless as such because they are generally priced accordingly which allows people to go that may not be able to afford (or get hold of) tickets for the AIs or 6 Nations but they are not what they were in the amateur era.

I just don't think the public is particularly interested anymore, the attendances for the last couple of years in any country haven't been great and for us anyway it just seems to be used for commercial and sentimental reasons. Not that i have a problem with Martyn receiving his 100th cap however

I think if the Baa Baas were more cleverly selected and umbrella professional players organisations allowed players to be released for BaaBaas duties then the BB game would flourish and once again be a high point.

In the seventies the bbs were selected of the best fifteen British and Irish players. It was often more like a lions xv.

That made them a great challenge for touring sides.

More of that please Mr. Steele-Bodger.

Yeah I agree with Meas that in that the layers selected now seem to be more of the foreign varierty rather than the home grown players I certainly grew up with in the 70's.

A lot of this I know is now down to the game being proffesional and clubs not having to release players.