Wales team for saturday

Wales team to face Australia

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Liam Williams
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Mike Phillips

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Scott Andrews
4. Ian Evans
5. Luke Charteris
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Sam Warburton (captain)
8. Toby Faletau

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens
17. Ryan Bevington
18. Samson Lee
19. Ryan Jones
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Tavis Knoyle
22. Dan Biggar.
23. Scott Williams


Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/11/29/new-look-pack-to-line-up-for-wales-in-crucial-australia-clash-91466-32331363/#ixzz2DcJZp8ok

OK so who's the luckiest and unluckiest amongst this lot??

biggar aside its about as good as we can put out

I suppose the teams as expected - I would have liked Biggar in at 10 (def the unluckiest player - injuries and selection) and Liam Williams at FB and Halfpenny on the wing.

Not too much to complain about - front row very threadbare, an argument for Scott W to be in instead of Roberts - but hardly a terrible choice. Everyone else picks themselves except at 7, where I still think Tupric can feel a bit hard done by

When are the Ockers announcing? Anybody know

I think Roberts can consider himself lucky and Scott Williams unlucky. Roberts is not as good a player as SW. SW is faster, more aggressive and scores tries, something Roberts has forgotten. SW also works better with Jon Davies.

Priestland is given yet another go but with Hook back in France and maybe Biggar not 100% I am not surprised. I would much rather see Biggar there and he deserves to be.

Other than that it's about all the players we have left. Ryan Jones maybe unlucky but again I suspect he is not 100% either and Shingler had a good game last week.

With Ian Evans, Charteris and Shingler we have some serious lineout options so I hope we use them wisely and also Wales what about a bit of old fashioned challenging their lineout.

Not a bad looking back row at all. As already been said the team is pretty much as expected, heapsa talents in there, and Jamie Roberts is due a stormer of a game after short one last weekend. Be a good Saturday!!

If we can carry the same intensity as last week into this game, cut down the missed first up tackles and stop making basic errors, then even without my coloured specs on, we've got a chance, havent we???? Or is it just too many ifs in a row

Priestland still in, really for the love of god how crap does he have to get before he is dropped.

Admittedly at worst he would have been on the bench but how Biggar hasn't started god knows, I hope (but doubt) that if Priestland balls up like last week that they have they guts to haul him off, damage to his confidence or not.

Good to see they stuck with Shingler but Scott Williams can count himself unlucky to.

Priestland bring Sweeney

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Priestland, he knows his performances have been poor but he's still getting selected.

In all seriousness if he has another shocker someone better get that psychologist onto him ASAP because he looks on edge.

I'm guessing that Biggar isn't fit enough/hasn't trained long enough otherwise he'd be starting - unless something changes though Biggar will be the main 10 going into the 6N's and Priestland can drop out of the limelight for awhile - which he desperately needs.

IronMike wrote:I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Priestland, he knows his performances have been poor but he's still getting selected.

In all seriousness if he has another shocker someone better get that psychologist onto him ASAP because he looks on edge.

I like it - it'll just be like bringing on a physio to massage someone's hamstring - the psychologist can run on, do his thing just before Priestland kicks and then run back off again!

WALES v AUSTRALIA

15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,060)? DoB: 22.12.88. 5'10" / 1.77m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs? International record: 38 caps (W 17, L 21; 208 pts - 11T, 12C, 43PG)

14 Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,089)? DoB: 05.04.90. 6'6" / 1.98m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs? International record: 12 caps (W 5, L 7; 25 pts - 5T)

13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,066)? DoB:05.04.88. 6'1" / 1.86m. 16st 8lb / 105kgs? International record: 30 caps (W 16, L 14; 40 pts - 8T)

12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,057)? DoB: 08.11.86. 6'4" / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 47 caps (W 23, L 24; 25 pts - 5T)

11 Liam WILLIAMS (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,095)? DoB: 09.04.91. 6'2" / 1.88m. 13st 6lbs / 86kgs? International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)

10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,080)? DoB: 09.01.87 1.82m / 6'0". 15st 0lbs / 95kgs? International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 53 pts - 1T, 12C, 8PG)

9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE - Cap No 1,022)? DoB: 29.08.82. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs? International record: 71 caps (W 33, L 36, D 2; 40 pts - 8T)

1 Gethin JENKINS (TOULON - Cap No 1,006)? DoB: 17.11.80. 6'2" / 1.88m. 19st 1lb / 121kgs? International record: 93 caps (W 41, L 50, D 2; 20 pts - 4T)

2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,033)? DoB: 09.12.80. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs? International record: 56 caps (W 23, L 32, D 1; 10 pts - 2T)

3 Scott ANDREWS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,083)? DoB: 01.08.89. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 7lbs / 117kgs? International record: 4 caps (L 4)

4 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,045)? DoB: 04.10.84. 6'8" / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs? International record: 25 caps (W 12, L 12, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)

5 Luke CHARTERIS (PERPIGNAN - Cap No 1,030)? DoB: 09.03.83. 6'9" / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs? International record: 39 caps (W 18, L 21)

6 Aaron SHINGLER (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,090)? DoB: 07.08.87. 1.96m / 6'5". 16st 8lbs / 105kgs? International record: 3 caps (W 2, L 1)

7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN - Cap No 1,070)? DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6'2". 16st 4lbs / 103kgs? International record: 33 caps (W 15, L 18; 10 pts - 2T)

8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS - Cap No 1,082)? DoB: 12.11.90. 1.87m / 6'2". 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 20 caps (W 10, L 10 - 2T)

REPLACEMENTS

16 Ken OWENS (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,088)? DoB: 03.01.87. 6'1" / 1.86m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs? International record: 9 caps (W 5, L 4)

17 Ryan BEVINGTON (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,081)? DoB: 9.12.88. 6'0"/1.82m. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs? International record: 8 caps (W 3, L 5)

18 Samson LEE (SCARLETS - Uncapped)? Dob: 30.11.92. 1.80m / 5'11". 18st 2lbs / 115kgs? International record: Uncapped

19 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,029)? DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 17st 12lbs / 113kgs? International record: 69 caps (W 34, L 33, D 2; 10 pts - 2T)

20 Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,087)? DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6'2" 15st 13lbs / 101kgs? International record: 9 caps (W 4, L 5)

21 Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,076)? DoB: 02.06.90. 6'1" / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs? International record: 9 caps (W 3, L 6)

22 Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,063)? DoB: 16.10.89. 6'2" / 1.88m. 14st 1lbs / 89kgs? International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 5, D 1; 54 pts - 9C, 12PG)

23 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,084)? DoB: 10.10.90. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs? International record: 16 caps (W 8, L 8; 30 pts - 6T)

Only 3 players who havent scored a try for wales in that team, tighthead prop Scott Andrews (4 Caps), lock Luke Charteris (39 Caps) and blindside Aaron Shingler (3 Caps).

Thats pretty positive.

Nice stat MM

Im sitting at the airport in Venice, done some Xmas shopping and flying home to see my family this weekend.

I couldn't be in a better frame of mind right now.

Hense the optimism.

I just hope they do us proud and play as well as they can. Be great to see Charteris, Andrews and Shingler as the scorers after the stat above.

C'Mon Wales...!!!

maestegmafia wrote:Im sitting at the airport in Venice, done some Xmas shopping and flying home to see my family this weekend.

I couldn't be in a better frame of mind right now.

Hense the optimism.

I just hope they do us proud and play as well as they can. Be great to see Charteris, Andrews and Shingler as the scorers after the stat above.

C'Mon Wales...!!!

Big tough rugby bloke, Venice is my fav city, managed to spend about 4 new years eves there on the trot, love it. best thing is you cant get lost, even managed to find an oirish bar there to watch rugby in

Liam is a good old boy and a good FB, but are we so short of wings that we have to play a fullback out of position. Liam is a good open field runner and can cut a nice angle entering the line but he is well short of the basic footspeed required from a winger at this level. I am sure he will not let anone down more of a comment upon lack of depth in that position

I predict we will complete the white wash this weekend just like the tour to Australia. The opposition know they don't take out Preistland to ensure victory, Wales were winning when Biggar was playing but Preistland helped turned victory into defeat.

Every outside half in Wales, down to about League 6 West, must have thought they were in with a shout.

Tipuric might consider himself unlucky not to start, but he was being, literally, thrown out of the way at rucks by the All Blacks. A backrow including both him and Faletau is very lightweight at test level. Ryan Jones should have started at 6 or 8.

Tavis Knoyle must always consider himself lucky to get this close to international rugby. The luck must run out soon and he'll have to pay for a ticket like everyone else.

Other than that, as said above, pretty much the best we can put out.

[quote="Smirnoffpriest"]I'm guessing that Biggar isn't fit enough/hasn't trained long enough otherwise he'd be starting -

Priest,

I never buy into that, for me if you are fit enough for the bench you are fit enough to start, after all look how quick the replacements came on last week.

Andrews and Shingler play a full game bar minute or so.

andy powells minder wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Im sitting at the airport in Venice, done some Xmas shopping and flying home to see my family this weekend.

I couldn't be in a better frame of mind right now.

Hense the optimism.

I just hope they do us proud and play as well as they can. Be great to see Charteris, Andrews and Shingler as the scorers after the stat above.

C'Mon Wales...!!!

Big tough rugby bloke, Venice is my fav city, managed to spend about 4 new years eves there on the trot, love it. best thing is you cant get lost, even managed to find an oirish bar there to watch rugby in

Great spot, rugby centre of Italy, Benetton Treviso up the road, loads of clubs and some great rugby pubs too. I watched last weekend Italy vs Aussies and Wales vs ABs at "the black stuff" in udine. Great town too.

Surely there has to be a question over Jamie Roberts. Is he 100/% match fit?

I guess Priestland is still in there because Wales have no one else to bring in at short notice.

dragonbreath wrote:Liam is a good old boy and a good FB, but are we so short of wings that we have to play a fullback out of position. Liam is a good open field runner and can cut a nice angle entering the line but he is well short of the basic footspeed required from a winger at this level. I am sure he will not let anone down more of a comment upon lack of depth in that position

My problem with Williams, he showed up well but he went for 4 high balls and knocked on all of them, he is suposed to be a full back! I like his attitude but needs to work on the basics before the 6N. Dan Evans or Prydie should be ahead of him or even Stoddart.

majesticimperialman wrote:Surely there has to be a question over Jamie Roberts. Is he 100/% match fit?

I guess Priestland is still in there because Wales have no one else to bring in at short notice.

Roberts must be 100% otherwise Scott Williams would be picked instead.

Priestland has Biggar as back up. A player most people think is better.

It could be worse for Wales I suppose we could have Priestland at 10 and Richard Fussell at 15!

Priestland or Farrell. You'd take Priestland.

Do you reckon Priestlands therapist straps him to a chair ,sellotapes his eye lids open ,in front of a 90" screen and makes him watch this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dPDO3Tfab0

I would have started with Scott Williams this week anyway regardless of Roberts' fitness.

Nice to hear talk of Venice. We are booked in for 3 nights in late March to also take in the Treviso - Blues match. Have just booked my Italy v Wales tickets online with Listicket. They now let you print your tickets out - wish Ticketmaster did that. Frankly, I won't use it, as they offer the worst not the "best available". The new WRU ticket shop is the place.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I would have started with Scott Williams this week anyway regardless of Roberts' fitness.

Agree, what has Roberts done this season, he goes off injured holding ice on his leg as if hit with a sledge hammer and come Monday morning he is back fit as a fiddle (to pick up another pay cheque?) and not for the first time. Roberts is gaining a reputation of being paid the most per minute, he only completed two games with the Blues last season, not bad money if you can get it.

I thought Wales looked much better with Scott Williams, he has more strings to his Bow and stays on the park longer.

dragonbreath wrote:Liam is a good old boy and a good FB, but are we so short of wings that we have to play a fullback out of position. Liam is a good open field runner and can cut a nice angle entering the line but he is well short of the basic footspeed required from a winger at this level. I am sure he will not let anone down more of a comment upon lack of depth in that position

Liam is a winger as well as a fb, just like halfpenny and has played there a decent amount for the scarlets

[quote="bedfordwelsh"]

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I'm guessing that Biggar isn't fit enough/hasn't trained long enough otherwise he'd be starting -

Priest,

I never buy into that, for me if you are fit enough for the bench you are fit enough to start, after all look how quick the replacements came on last week.

Andrews and Shingler play a full game bar minute or so.

Normally id agree with you, but if biggar is fully fit ud think hed start while if he hasnt trained, isnt fully fit, i reckon hed still be preferrable on the bench to playintg wth only 1 fh in the match 22