Wales team vs SA

So, the warmups are over, who should be in the team to face SA in our first pool game for the WC?

Id go for...

1. Paul James
2. Huw Bennett (cant believe it)
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies (last chance)
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Ryan Jones
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathon Davies
14. George North
15. Rhys Preistland

16. Richard Hibbard
17. Ryan Bevington
18. Luke Charteris
19. Toby Faletau
20. Tavis Knoyle
21. Stephen Jones
22. Leigh Halfpenny



23. Gethin Jenkins (inj)
24. Craig Mitchell
25. Lloyd Burns (id prefer someone who can throw)
26. Martyn Williams
27. Josh Turnball/Jonathon Thomas/Andy Powell
28. Lloyd Williams
29. Lee Byrne
30. Scott Williams

I can't see Davies being in the starting XV from his showings in these past 3 games, or any game he's played for Wales on the matter. I guess it depends whether Hook plays fly-half or centre. It appears we have no stand out number 8 either, so it won't be easy guessing who Gats will pick there.

I'd start Halfpenny at 15, Scott Williams to bench, Priestland in squad. Jenkins could take the bench spot from Bevington if he proved himself in training.

Jenkins is injured for the SA game, that why he isnt in the team.

I think Faletau is nailed on for the no 8 jersey. Byrne was awful today, way off the pace and Halfpenny did well when he switched. Bradley has slipped down so Charteris to come in after a good showing last week. Obviously this is a 17-13 split which is caused by Gethins injury if he was fit, Bevvington would miss out and Brew would go.

1. Paul James
2. Huw Bennett (cant believe it)
3. Adam Jones
4. Charteris
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathon Davies
14. George North
15. Halfpenny

16. Richard Hibbard
17. Ryan Bevington
18. Craig Mitchell
19. Ryan Jones
20. Tavis Knoyle
21. Rhys Priestland
22. Scott Willliams


23. Gethin Jenkins (inj)
24. Bradley
25. Lloyd Burns
26. Justin Tipuric
27. Josh Turnball
28. Stephen Jones
29. Lee Byrne
30. Llotd Williams

1. Paul James
2. Huw Bennett/Richard Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (capt)
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Shane Williams
12. Jonathan Davies
13. Jamie Roberts
14. George North
15. Lee Byrne/Rhys Priestland

16. Hibbard/Bennett (Whoever doesn't start)
17. Ryan Bevington
18. Luke Charteris
19. Martyn Williams
20. Tavis Knoyle
21. Rhys Priestland/Stephen Jones
22. Aled Brew/Lee Byrne

23. Lloyd Burns
24. Gethin Jenkins
25. Ryan Jones
26. Josh Turnbull
27. Justin Tipuric
28. Lloyd Williams
29. Stephen Jones/Leigh Halfpenny
30. Lee Byrne/Scott Williams

Hibbard surely cant go after today can he?

His throwing in was awful - worse than Burns last week - and he is so far away from being fit that he was blowing hard after 10 minutes. A couple of weeks of fitness training will not be enough for that. Feel sorry from the lad, he has worked hard to get over his injuries, but he has run out of time for this WC.

He is young, so his time will come.

I agree Wales606 after the warm up games the team picks itself, though I think we need Faletau not Ryan Jones to be honest.
Faletau is making a lot of meters getting over the line and works much harder in defence, we missed him today.

1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Bradley Davies
5 Alun Wyn Jones
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Sam Warburton
8 Toby Faletau
9 Mike Phillips
10 Rhys Preistland
11 Shane Williams
12 James Hook
13 Jamie Roberts
14 George North
15 Leigh Halfpenney


16 Richard Hibbard
17 Gethin Jenkins
18 Ryan Jones
19 Josh Turnball
20 Tavis Knoyle
21 Stephen Jones
22 Scott Williams

Dont see a place for JD2 he just hasnt convinced me as yet so Gatland will more than likely use Hook in the centre but instead of priestland id imagine he will use Jones but i hope not.

ML wrote:Hibbard surely cant go after today can he?

His throwing in was awful - worse than Burns last week - and he is so far away from being fit that he was blowing hard after 10 minutes. A couple of weeks of fitness training will not be enough for that. Feel sorry from the lad, he has worked hard to get over his injuries, but he has run out of time for this WC.

He is young, so his time will come.

Who else could you take? Aren't we going to be needing 3 hookers on the plane? One starter, one on the bench and one back-up option.

Is Owens injured?

If he isnt, I would take HB, Owens and then Burns. If he is, I would be phoning Cardiff.

In fact personally I would be taking T Rhys Thomas as number two to HB and maybe Gareth Williams as number 3 if owens is injured.

ML wrote:Is Owens injured?

If he isnt, I would take HB, Owens and then Burns. If he is, I would be phoning Cardiff.

In fact personally I would be taking T Rhys Thomas as number two to HB and maybe Gareth Williams as number 3 if owens is injured.

I agree that TRThomas should have been looked at since his form was excellent at the end of the season and he has international experience, he would certainly be ahead of Burns and Owens in my book.

Hibbard had a bad day today, hopefully he will improve after his injury. (though I thought he limped off today :/)

However, I am amazed that we have to say Huw Bennett - 1st choice - - Saviour...

there's no point JD2 being on the pitch if Roberts is at 12, with Henson injured it's now a real problem for Wales, there's no creativity there at all, same if JD2 goes to 12 and Roberts to 13, no point. But put Hook at 13 and Priestland has to go to 10, so that means either an out-of-form Byrne at 15 or an inexperienced 1/2p. Stoddard's and Henson's injuries are now coming home to roost.

Roberts is so much more dangerous in the outside channel - he runs better lines, gains more yards, offloads more easily there.

Henson would have been an ideal foil for him, but we are where we are, and Wales showed a willingness to change positional set up today, so lets hope Gatland/Howley can find a way to get Roberts running the outside channel more often.

mpc28 wrote:1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Bradley Davies
5 Alun Wyn Jones
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Sam Warburton
8 Toby Faletau
9 Mike Phillips
10 Rhys Preistland
11 Shane Williams
12 James Hook
13 Jamie Roberts
14 George North
15 Leigh Halfpenny

Sounds a good XV to me. Bradley Davies needs to start proving his worth but otherwise I like the look of it. Hook and Roberts is the centre pairing for me, playing outside Priestland. I still think Jon Davies is a quality player, but he and Jamie Roberts just don't work together. It's one or the other in midfield with a creative 12.

Great team Luckless

Thanks, but it wasn't mine!

I know - it's ours

Faletau played in both England games and he was very poor how many times did he drop the ball, lost the ball at the back of the scrum and poor passes. Yes he made a lot of tackles and looks a good disruptive player maybe he should be a 6 cover but not 8 he currently does not have the skills for 8 for a scrum gonig backwards, he may be OK against Fiji.

I agree with the original team posted the only comment is regarding the bench, why have S Jones when Preistland is on the pitch to cover 10, I would have Scott Williams with pace and skill.

glamorganalun wrote:Faletau played in both England games and he was very poor how many times did he drop the ball, lost the ball at the back of the scrum and poor passes. Yes he made a lot of tackles and looks a good disruptive player maybe he should be a 6 cover but not 8 he currently does not have the skills for 8 for a scrum gonig backwards, he may be OK against Fiji.

I agree with the original team posted the only comment is regarding the bench, why have S Jones when Preistland is on the pitch to cover 10, I would have Scott Williams with pace and skill.

True. I havent been impressed with Faletau against England. R.Jones is a better bet with his experience and workrate.

Unfortunately I didn't see todays game, but it seems Wales should be pretty satisfied with what they have achieved with their warm up matches. I don't think there was any doubt that Wales would have won today.

Looking forward to meeting you guys in our opening match.

We are 2 traditional rugby nations and as always looking forward to it. I see it as SA by 15 points

tbf powell played well- not starting no 8 but he made hard yards and tackling was good.

would also be tempted to give knoyle the 9 shirt but...

I would go for :

James (Jenkins injured no game time)
Bennett (ouch that hurt)
A Jones
AWJ
Charterris (Davies not been on form)
Lydiate
Faletau (R Jone carrying knock no game time)
Warburton (c)

Knoyle
Hook

S Williams
Roberts
Sc Williams (Davies off form Henons injured no game time)
North
Priestland (Byrne was poor)

Bevington (Don't think Jenkins will be fit in time)
Burns
Davies
R Jones

Phillips
Halfpenny
S Jones

Hooker and full-back are looking like real problem areas.

Realistically, it seems the only choice at 15 at this stage is Byrne and Priestland. Halfpenny has not played for some and is, I think, too small, so it would be a huge ask for him.

honestly I think a back three of Shane, Goorge and 1/2p is our most potent attacking unit. Lee's defence is good, he is a natural full back and has played there throughout his career so far. Byrne was so far off the pace yesterday, the only otther opton is Priestland at full back, but I would like him to be on the bench covering fly half.

If you look at the combinations we could play, that back three is going to be devestating in attack and solid enough in defence.

Bedford - that would be my team - only concern would be Charteris having the grunt of Bradley, otherwise I would like to see that team given a chance - Phillips has shown well recently but Knoyle is learning all the time plus he's a Glynneath boy - Nice one

Bedford:

I can't see that team starting against SA, Bryne will be FB, Phillips at scrum half, R Jones at 8, B Davies at 4, Davies at centre (he was poor against Arg), S Williams on the bench, and Preistland also on the bench. Preistland did not play 15 during any of the games, I was not impressed dropping a simple up and under playing 10 in the first England match. I have a feeling 1/2 Penny will be FB cover.

We need an experienced team against SA we can't have our number 8 dropping the ball and losing control behind the scrum, he also looked lost at times in the second game, his time will come, maybe Fiji as their scrum is not as strong as SA and Samoa.

glamorganalun wrote:Bedford:

I can't see that team starting against SA, Bryne will be FB, Phillips at scrum half, R Jones at 8, B Davies at 4, Davies at centre (he was poor against Arg), S Williams on the bench, and Preistland also on the bench. Preistland did not play 15 during any of the games, I was not impressed dropping a simple up and under playing 10 in the first England match. I have a feeling 1/2 Penny will be FB cover.

We need an experienced team against SA we can't have our number 8 dropping the ball and losing control behind the scrum, he also looked lost at times in the second game, his time will come, maybe Fiji as their scrum is not as strong as SA and Samoa.

Alun,

You may well be right but R Jones hasn't played at all either these games and is still carrying a knock.

Byrne was awful on Saturday whilst JD2 hasn't been on form during the games.

People seem to be giving Faletau a really hard time, but (having only watched the England game live) Faletau looked very solid in defence, putting in some really good tackles, made yards everytime he had the ball and passed the ball well. Fair enough he looked fluster at the back of a disintigrating scrum, but i thought he looked very good.

Bedford - I think Phillips will start against SA because 1.he's started showing form 2. he has the physicality to protect the flyhalf, which will be very important against a physical boks side, something I don't think Knoyle has yet and 3. He's a Gats fav.
Also, as RubyGuby says, worried if a 2nd row of Chateris and AWJ has enough grunt, although after the last games they are the form 2nd rows.

GlamAlun - Priestland would (and has) done very well at FB, and all last season for the Scarlets has been very steady under the highball and very good at coming into the line at pace at good angles. He's my choice for FB, though after the half 1/2penny played I'd be happy with only a slight worry if he played there.

I think we all know what team gatland will pick but thats the team I would pick.

With regards Phillips I just think we need quick ball which we don't get with him.

yes he takes on the back opposing back row forwards but with lydiate and Warburton now becoming waht it a very good combo they are more than capable of doing that job and allowing our No9 to be more of a No9 that na extra flanker.

Here's the side I think he'll play and I don't have problems with it.

I would go for :

James
Bennett (Has shown well of late)
A Jones
AWJ
Davies
Lydiate
Faletau (He looks awkward and people are being overly critical here V powerful)
Warburton (c)

Phillips (Knoyle is the perfect Foil)
Hook

S Williams
Roberts
Sc Williams (Has impressed in every game and offers more than JD at the moment)
North
Priestland (A solid player who has a great game awareness unlike Byrne)

Bevington
Burns (not my choice, Owens, TRT, Mefin even - Burns not at the races for me)
Charteris
R Jones

Knoyle
Halfpenny
S Jones.

Come on Walesssssssssssss

Ruby,

That looks like a strong team with a very strong looking bench (bar the front row)

However, I would still start JD2 against SA as it would be too much of a risk to give S.Williams his first start then, plus JD2 is at least a strong defender, and he does have pace and power. Sc.Williams is too inexperienced.

Agree with Wales606.

not sure what's wrong with JD2, I expected really good things from him when he burst on the scene, but he seems to be very stiffled or maybe even crippled with a fear of making any mistakes.

I hope he can find some form as if he does he could be a very exciting player. If he doesn't in the SA game I expect SW to start all the other games.