Wales 2018/2019 - Fixture list included and squad to be added

Never too early right? Warren Gatland, one of the leading coaches in world rugby, will step down after the 2018/19 season with fellow Kiwi and current Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac succeeding him. Gatland is Wales’ longest serving head coach in the professional era.

2018 AUTUMN TESTS

(at Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Saturday, 3 November

Wales v Scotland (14:45 GMT)

Saturday, 10 November

Wales v Australia (17:20 GMT)

Saturday, 17 November

Wales v Tonga (14:30 GMT)

Saturday, 24 November

Wales v South Africa (17:20 GMT)

2019 SIX NATIONS

Friday, 1 February

France v Wales (Stade de France; 20:00 GMT)

Saturday, 9 February

Italy v Wales (Stadio Olimpico; 16:45 GMT)

Saturday, 23 February

Wales v England (Principality Stadium; 16:45 GMT)

Saturday, 9 March

Scotland v Wales (Murrayfield; 14:15 GMT)

Saturday, 16 March

Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium; 14:45 GMT)

2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP WARM-UPS

Sunday, 11 August

England v Wales (Twickenham; ko tbc)

Saturday, 17 August

Wales v England (Principality Stadium; ko tbc)

Saturday, 31 August

Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium; ko tbc)

Saturday, 7 September

Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium; ko tbc)

2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP - Pool D

Monday, 23 September

Wales v Georgia (Toyota Stadium, Toyota City; 11:15 BST)

Sunday, 2 September

Wales v Australia (Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo; 08:45 BST)

Wednesday, 9 October

Wales v Fiji (Oita Stadium, Oita; 10:45 BST)

Sunday, 13 October

Wales v Uruguay (Kumamoto Prefectural Athletic Stadium, Kumamoto City; 09:15 BST)

*Note that dates and times are subject to change

Not out of ordinary to hope for an autumn clean sweep and if we are to do well at the World Cup then that way of thinking becomes necessity. Australia will be our toughest game, SA will be twice as good as the last 5 SA teams we’ve played against. 6N starts with two away games with France up first - that I think we can win but need to move away from the attritional play, it didn’t work last season. Should be a close tournament with also what I suspect will be an improved Italy. Those RWC warm-ups will be brutal, but if held in August then all teams should be at full strength injuries permitting. Pretty good preparation, but need to win all home games at least.

If the World Cup fixture list is correct then it works in our favour. Hopefully we go in on the back of some momentum, we face a tough but very winnable game first up. Short turnaround between Fiji and Uruguay, but Uruguay is the team you’d like to make changes against. I think we should make some wholesale changes for that, perhaps a similar team to what recently faced off against the Puma’s. We should still get maximum points.

My extended Wales squad for the entire season (players added and removed at Gatlands discretion at different points throughout the season).
Prop: Rob Evans, Nicky Smith, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Tomas Francis, Leon Brown, Dillon Lewis
Hooker: Ken Owens, Elliott Dee, Ryan Elias, Scott Otten
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Cory Hill, Jake Ball, Adam Beard
Back row: Aaron Shingler, Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ellis Jenkins, Ollie Griffiths
Scrum half: Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Jonny Evans, Rhys Webb
Outside half: Rhys Patchell, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Jarrod Evans, Dan Jones
Centre: Hadleigh Parkes, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Scott Williams, Cory Allen
Back three: Liam Williams, George North, Steffan Evans, Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Dafydd Howells, Leigh Halfpenny

Actual squads to be added below each time they are announced.


Under Armour Series: Wales v Scotland, Australia, Tonga & South Africa
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Dates: Saturdays 3, 10, 17 & 24 November

Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs: Aled Davies (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors), Steffan Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers), Luke Morgan (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens).
https://www.606v2.com/t67927p50-wales-2018-2019-fixture-list-included-and-squad-to-be-added#3743020

Tried to leave out Rhys Webb but couldn’t do it. He won’t be around. Will Johnny McNicholl be around?

Will we have a squad for the AI's with all the injuries we have ?

LordDowlais wrote:Will we have a squad for the AI's with all the injuries we have ?

Yeah it will be most of who I’ve listed.

Rob Evans
Ken Owens
Jonathan Davies
Scott Williams
Jake Ball

All went off injured within the first two weeks of the season for a start.

Although it does look as if Rob Evans will not need surgery on his shoulder. There are a few others as well.

As far as I know only Shingler will miss the autumn. Not sure about Scott Williams, wouldn't start him anyway.

More injury worries:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45558032

Personally I'm not worried about James Davies given the open-side options that Wales have, but it should be a concern for Pivac now that another one of his players is down.

mikey_dragon wrote:Personally I'm not worried about James Davies given the open-side options that Wales have, but it should be a concern for Pivac now that another one of his players is down.

Well he is deffo out now anyway, so that is one option less:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45640876

Also, you can cross Rhys Webb of that list as well. The WRU have blocked any potential call up for him whilst he is playing in France.

Not a bloody 2 way Wales game as warm up again.

Sorry...hate those games. Wales are too good to toy with so close to a WC. We should be playing 'warm up' games not high tension, hard hitting, close rivalry war.

SecretFly wrote:Not a bloody 2 way Wales game as warm up again.

Sorry...hate those games.  Wales are too good to toy with so close to a WC.  We should be playing 'warm up' games not high tension, hard hitting, close rivalry war.

Tend to agree. England and Ireland twice before a World Cup is silly. There’ll be battered bodies afoot. I expect we’ll be rotating in some of those games, likely the ones at home (like the last World Cup).

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45641923

Getting told that you’re crap by Rob Howley has to be the lowest point in a players career.

mikey_dragon wrote:https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45641923

Getting told that you’re crap by Rob Howley has to be the lowest point in a players career.

thats not what the article says at all.

Dan Evans great player but is he as good as the players ahead of him? No.

maestegmafia wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45641923

Getting told that you’re crap by Rob Howley has to be the lowest point in a players career.

thats not what the article says at all.

Dan Evans great player but is he as good as the players ahead of him?  No.

You two stop that nonsense.

I have Howley's exact comment on the situation and it's been blown out of all proportion.

All he said was: "Dan Evans great player but is he as good as the players ahead of him? No."

Broken arm for Faletau looks set to rule him out of the AIs

The injury list is ever growing. We wont be seeing him in the 6N either by the looks of it.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45801377

Good news. Anyone know if Aled Davies was at the meeting?

He was never this injured when playing in Wales. Not a criticism of Bath or the English prem, but whether it’s the training or intensity or whatever it certainly seems to be translating into more injuries for Faletau. Age I guess too, but he’s still relatively young.

mikey_dragon wrote:https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45801377

Good news. Anyone know if Aled Davies was at the meeting?

Sam Davies will have a tough job getting in ahead of Patchell, Biggar and Anscombe.

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/45801377

Good news. Anyone know if Aled Davies was at the meeting?

Sam Davies will have a tough job getting in ahead of Patchell, Biggar and Anscombe.

I think that's Mikey's point. He's not a fan of Sam Davies so he's glad he was left out of the meeting!

I think those three are good options to have, with two being able to move to 15. Not sure what's happened to Owen Williams, seems to have slipped away. Not considering Priestland either.

Owen Williams is a solid club player, but no where near good enough to be playing for Wales.

UNDER ARMOUR SERIES (Taken from WRU site)

FORWARDS (20):
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (27 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (9 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (21 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (10 Caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (57 Caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons) (3 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (33 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (5 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (28 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (4 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (64 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (18 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (117 Caps) (CAPTAIN)
Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (8 Caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (62 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (23 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (1 Cap)

BACKS (17):
Aled Davies (Ospreys) (11 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (33 Caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (18 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (62 Caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (10 Caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (65 Caps)
Tyler Morgan (Dragons) (4 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (8 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (6 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors) (4 Caps)
Steffan Evans (Scarlets) (10 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (78 Caps)
Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers) (*UNCAPPED)
Luke Morgan (Ospreys) (*UNCAPPED)
George North (Ospreys) (76 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (48 Caps)

Players not selected due to injury: Seb Davies, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Owen Lane.

Never heard of Jonah Holmes.

Feel sorry for Ollie Griffiths. If there was a Dragins backrower to miss out, I would have swapped him for Wainwright.

I had a feeling Ellis Jenkins would get in ahead of him.

Lydiate?! Can't say I've seen too much of the Ospreys lately but is Lydiate really playing that well?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I had a feeling Ellis Jenkins would get in ahead of him.

I’d agree with Jenkins being in too, I would take issue with Lydiate (probably) or as I’ve said Wainwright, then Moriarty.

Why no Webb if gatland can pick holmes?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Why no Webb if gatland can pick holmes?

Probably because he joined Leicester from Leeds before the rule came into place.

Weird selection though, a second string player for a poor team outside of Wales, who barely qualifies for Wales. Unless there is a major injury crisis amongst back 3 players in Wales, this is a real kick in the teeth for real Welsh players.

I haven't seen much of the Ospreys but I hear Tipuric is playing well again, so it's just Griffiths's bad luck there are two very good opensides ahead of him.

Jonah Holms must qualify through heritage!
Must admit for some reason I thought he was Australian - although looking at his wiki page he's a stockport lad.

propdavid_london wrote:Jonah Holms must qualify through heritage!
Must admit for some reason I thought he was Australian - although looking at his wiki page he's a stockport lad.  

Apparently he has a Welsh grandparent.

Fair enough - he's looked good in a bad Tigers side the few times I have seen him play.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I haven't seen much of the Ospreys but I hear Tipuric is playing well again, so it's just Griffiths's bad luck there are two very good opensides ahead of him.

Only 5 back rowers is a bit mad though, especially when Griffiths can play 8.

propdavid_london wrote:Jonah Holms must qualify through heritage!
Must admit for some reason I thought he was Australian - although looking at his wiki page he's a stockport lad.  

Born in Stockport, raised in West London and had an uncle who won a couple of Olympic goods alongside Steve Redgrave.

He is an exciting back up for us. Has scored a fair few tries in not that many appearances. Struggled against Worcester, but MotM in first start at FB against Saints at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago.

Holmes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4BYGp9cc0I

LondonTiger wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Jonah Holms must qualify through heritage!
Must admit for some reason I thought he was Australian - although looking at his wiki page he's a stockport lad.  

Born in Stockport, raised  in West London and had an uncle who won a couple of Olympic goods alongside Steve Redgrave.

He is an exciting back up for us. Has scored a fair few tries in not that many appearances. Struggled against Worcester, but MotM in first start at FB against Saints at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago.

At 25 years of age, although he is not ancient, I wonder how he has not caught the eye earlier. I would have much rather his spot be given to a young Welsh player from one of the regions. I think we are just capping him for capping him sake.

LordDowlais wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Jonah Holms must qualify through heritage!
Must admit for some reason I thought he was Australian - although looking at his wiki page he's a stockport lad.  

Born in Stockport, raised  in West London and had an uncle who won a couple of Olympic goods alongside Steve Redgrave.

He is an exciting back up for us. Has scored a fair few tries in not that many appearances. Struggled against Worcester, but MotM in first start at FB against Saints at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago.

At 25 years of age, although he is not ancient, I wonder how he has not caught the eye earlier. I would have much rather his spot be given to a young Welsh player from one of the regions. I think we are just capping him for capping him sake.

Like who ?

Dafydd Howells, Ashton Hewitt, George Gasson, Jarrod Rosser, Ryan Conbeer, Ashley Evans, Morgan Griffiths, Tom Williams.

Or if not a winger, Cory Allen has been playing well this season, give him another chance.

Look, I know most of the players listed are a bit wet behind the ears, and I do not know what the injury status is with some of them, but Gatland has history of bringing young players into the fold to expose them to international levels.

I would rather us do this than go down the granny gate route, unless it was absolute necessary.

It's not granny gate. he really does have Welsh grand parents.

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's not granny gate. he really does have Welsh grand parents.

Yes I know, I just do not like it.

Horse has bolted a long time on that one!

LordDowlais wrote:Dafydd Howells, Ashton Hewitt, George Gasson, Jarrod Rosser, Ryan Conbeer, Ashley Evans, Morgan Griffiths, Tom Williams.

Or if not a winger, Cory Allen has been playing well this season, give him another chance.

Look, I know most of the players listed are a bit wet behind the ears, and I do not know what the injury status is with some of them, but Gatland has history of bringing young players into the fold to expose them to international levels.

Evidently he doesn't think any of them are as good as Holmes at the moment (if they're available).

Ashton Hewitt's injured.

Also, isn't 'bringing young players into the fold to expose them to international levels' exactly what Gatland's doing here?

I assume it’s a Paul Turner special, to entice him to move to a Welsh pro team. I suspect he might not get capped (other than possibly in the Tonga game), unless he really impresses in training. Impressing in training is normally a Gatland thing for out of form players though, so who knows.

On Griffiths' non selection, Gatland has said that the Dragons need to win more games, yet he's selected 6 other Dragons. The man chats utter poopie some times.

“The answer to him (Ollie Griffiths) would be to just keep doing what he is doing, keep playing well and competing on the ball… and get the Dragons winning more. That makes a difference,” said Gatland.

“If you look at the squad that we have selected we have picked a tighthead, a hooker, a second row and two back rowers already, so if you pick three of the Dragons back row then you say ‘hang on, you’ve got a lot of representation in the national squad, you’ve got to start performing."


https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16986368.gatland-dragons-need-to-win-more-games-to-earn-more-wales-call-ups/


He seems to be saying that he can't select Griffiths because he is selecting Wainwright and Moriarty. Go figure, as they say.

Bit of a kick in the nuts to praise him and then not pick him. I get that six is probably a high representation, but it’s not really in the back row we’ve been struggling and he is the best one we have (and best in form).

Seemingly Jonah Holmes used to beat Christian Wade at sprints up to 40m and is no slouch at 100m either.