Martyn Thomas and Josh Navidi

Josh Navidi was quoted by justin Burnell as outplaying Justin Tipuric on the weekend, wich i agree he didhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2012/01/03/blues-coach-justin-burnell-warns-sam-warburton-he-faces-big-challenge-from-josh-navidi-91466-30049160/ . A 21 year old openside, Burnell called him 'a great advert for welsh rugby' and tipped him for future honours. Do we agree?
I myself has also been wondering about Dragons fullback Martyn Thomas, who every tme i see him play does something outstanding, be it flck-pass or high ball take, yet does not see to be in international recognition. personally wold have him in a wider training squad. again, does the 606v2 board agree with this?

Navidi has had some good games for the Blues this season, but hes not yet better than Warburton in terms of fetching or defence, but he is quick - almost completely humiliated Tommy Bowe on the weekend with his line break.

I think he'll be ready by next season, but hes in my opinion still behind Warburton, Tipuric and Turnbull/Edwards.

Martyn Thomas I feel sorry for, because I was sure he was going to be called up to the Wales squad just before his horrific leg injury, and as he returned and was starting to look good again he broke it a second time. He's still young though and I do believe he could be an option at full back if he maintains his form.

I'd love to see Martyn in the Welsh squad - shown a hell of a lot of character to come back after two horriffic injuries and keep playing exciting running rugby

Martyn Thomas is a good regional player but I wouldn't have confidence in him at international level. I'd be happy if he was given a shot and proved me wrong, though.

To be honest looking at the regions at the moment I would be happy to see Matyn Thomas and Barry Davies in the welsh squad as the fullbacks. However I would be suprised if either of them did get called up, as Henson is playing fullback at the Blues, so I assume he would be called up as Gats likes him, and then Priestland, Halfpenny and a few other can cover there too.

As for Navidi, he is a tidy little player, but I think he is not amongst the best four or five opensides at the moment. Which goes to show we were worrying about nothing when we all were panicing about Martyn William retiring.

I'm a big fan of Tips, but he was outplayed by Navidi. Navidi used to live in my street, i remember quite small as a boy didnt think he'd turn out as big as he is now. Another Brynteg Comprehensive boy making his mark, WRU should be paying the school for producing so many rugby players

luckless_pedestrian wrote:Martyn Thomas is a good regional player but I wouldn't have confidence in him at international level. I'd be happy if he was given a shot and proved me wrong, though.

It wasn't that long ago that people were saying the same about Stoddart. He is Martyn Thomas is a great looking player and if he can stay injury free he'll get his chance.

That's true, Mckay. I'd love him to get the chance to show what he can do, and it's not as if we've got a load of good full backs to choose from in Wales.

Navidi needs to ditch the dreads and Martyn Thomas is too injury prone.

He'd only need a haircut if Chris Ashton was on the opposing team

haha good one munkian!

I agree that Josh Navidi needs to get himself down to the barbers. He probably thinks he's rocking the George Smith look. but he looks more like a new age vegan who could do with a wash. Handy rugby player, all the same.

Which is why he doesn't need the dreads to stand out. Leave it longish and dye it blond if he as to, but it is not the image for a pro.

you old fogies! let the boy have his hair however he wants. it takes great dedication to grow and maintain dreadlocks, a fair few of my friends have had/still have them.

how does "the look of a pro" go? someones gonna have to explain it to me.

I think his hair looks pretty good, might not do him favours where the ref can identify him more easily, but he looks like the predator so I'll let it slide.

Comfort wrote:you old fogies! let the boy have his hair however he wants. it takes great dedication to grow and maintain dreadlocks, a fair few of my friends have had/still have them.

how does "the look of a pro" go? someones gonna have to explain it to me.

as Frankie said to Mia Farrow: "baby, if you gotta ask the question, you aint ever gonna understand the answer"

as a 63 yr old rastafarian called desmond once said to me "live by de dread, die by de dread" - true story.

the funny thing is his parents own a hairdressers on my estate

Ah, well that explains it. He's rebelling against his parents.

What ethnicity is he? Navidi is a rather exciting name. Armenian, Italian?

BridgendBoyo wrote:the funny thing is his parents own a hairdressers on my estate

Desmond's ?

He's had dreads for years as far as I know - he was born in Wales like

Comfort wrote:as a 63 yr old rastafarian called desmond once said to me "live by de dread, die by de dread" - true story.

Quote of the century.

gowales wrote:What ethnicity is he? Navidi is a rather exciting name. Armenian, Italian?

His father is Iranian. They also own a gym on my estate, theres always loads of rugby players there. On the walls there are pictures of his dad who used to wrestle for Iran

Like a said he a Brynteg boy. He won a scholarship to play in New Zealand, but didnt make it there. Another Brynteg boy, Rhys Llewelyn went as well, he made it, and was playing for the NZ under 20's

Nice i thought he had something else in him.

I like M Thomas and think if he stays injury free and maintains his form this season then he should definately be looked at during the Oz tour -

for me unfortunately I think Navidi is behind a few other 7's/flankers for Wales, as I like him as a player and the fact that an Iranian/Welsh boy has got dreadlocks, good on him

i agree. Martyn's been on the international radar for quite some time now, however, he seems to suffer from injuries around the squad announcements....
hopefully if he stays injury free, he could be included in the 6n training squad as i know gatland is a fan of him!
also agree with Josh, hes a cracking player!!