Wales Team announced (Honest this time)

Warburton Back to Lead Wales

Sam Warburton returns to captain Wales in one of three changes made to the side which triumphed over Scotland last time out for the RBS 6 Nations third round visit to Twickenham on Saturday.

Ospreys second row Alun Wyn Jones comes straight into the starting line-up against England, after completing his return from a toe injury to join up with the squad earlier this week and will win his 60th cap. That means last week’s captain, his regional colleague Ryan Jones, moves to the bench, with Sale Sharks back row Andy Powell missing out. Finally, Scarlets hooker Ken Owens makes his first start for his country in place of injured Osprey Huw Bennett (calf).

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Michael Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Danny Lydiate, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams

The discussion of the team is going on, on another thread, may be should be moved to this link. As stated previously R Jones and R Hibbard should start based on form and returning players should start from the bench. For me R Jones was the best forward in both Wales games playing 6 and 4, some reward for consistency!

i see your point alun, but alyn wyn is a lineout specialist....something which we are going to need with a inexperienced hooker against the likes of croft et al...

i agree its harsh on jones tho, but it keeps that back five on their toes

Very strong yet balanced team

And we used to have exclusive threads for team announcements - not tacked on to others ?

Not sure you can argue putting our 1st choice 2nd row back in ahead of someone who was playing out of position (regardless of how well he played there!).

R Jones is unlucky not to be starting, but when you look at our backrow, it's hard to see who he could replace, certainly not Lydiate who got MotM last game out.

And Hibbard? He's been criticised for his fitness all season, and I've not seen anything from him that makes him any better than Owens. Owens is being rewarded now with a start, it's up to him whether he makes the most of this opportunity now that Rees and Bennett are out.

That's my take on it anyways

I'm really happy with this team. Just don't want us to try and force things again like we were doing in the 1st half against Scotland.

And Jones will be raring to go from the bench and can cover several postitions

Not happy.

Someone think of something to cheer him up ?

Um....

I'm eating my lunch FFS Triangulation

Will one of these help, Triangulation?

Hard on Ryan but Wyn Jones in as a specialist to shore up the lineout and increase the anthem decibels with Ryan giving more options from the bench.

No arguments with that selection really and no excuses either , it will not be pretty nor easy and I don't like being the bookies favourite but that is the team to do it.

Yeah even as one of his biggest critics its harsh on R Jones but AWJ not a backward selection and Jones might well feel he has a point to prove off the bench.

Afternoon Bedford - no point to prove for me - the number 1 choice 2nd row is back - nuff said for me but Ryans been great

Hi Ruby,

I thought AWJ might have been used off the bench but great to have him back and at least we not have to worry with buggy boy coming off bench now.

I know but I can see someone on a golf cart going down the M25 on Saturday

RubyGuby wrote:I know but I can see someone on a golf cart going down the M25 on Saturday

Well it won't be me as I am staying in London for the weekend, unless I am really lost

If we win I can guarantee you will be really lost mate - av a good one

I must admit after years of leaving there with head bowed all through the nineties my head was held high in 08 and i didn't laugh at or ridicule any of the losing fans - Well not much lol.

Think i might be watching this one from behind the sofa, got that feeling of impending doom in the pit of my stomach. Pass the bucket Tri!

GavinDragon wrote:i see your point alun, but alyn wyn is a lineout specialist....something which we are going to need with a inexperienced hooker against the likes of croft et al...

i agree its harsh on jones tho, but it keeps that back five on their toes

How come Wyn-Jones is classed as a lineout specialist? It's been a weaker area for Wales over the last few years and he has been part of that. Don't get me wrong, he's a decent lock but I'm not convinced he will suddenly fix the lineout just by being back in the team. The good news for you is that our lineout isn't great and I've a feeling that both sides will probably just end up securing slow ball by taking the ball at the front for the most part.

Agree it is very harsh on Ryan Jones but isn't he carrying an injury anyway? That could have helped Gatland's decision because on form alone he deserves to be starting.

The expected team as far as most have been predicting!

Going to be an interesting game at Twickers but I'd predict Wales by 5-10 points. Only weakness I can see is the line-out so hopefully Tom Croft can target that better than he has been of late!

I wonder if all fit and available what our first choice locks would be. I thought Bradley was immense against the Irish.
A combination of Bradley and Charteris for me.

Delighted with this team. Should beat the English, however I can't take anything for granted. It doesn't feel right going to HQ as favourites somehow.

Ian Evans has been immense in the frst 2 games and I would see him as undroppable at the moment - Can you imagine him and Charetris - 6 10 and 6 8 - that is something to behold. Bradley and AWJ will have a say in things however but its a good boiler house all round.

I honestly think that despite Charts heroics at the RWC, Ianto would have been pushing for a starting place anyway. I think AWJ and Ianto are our first choice locks, but with Bradley and Charts to come back its strength in depth at lock I dont think I have ever seen in a wales squad.

Sorry Tycroes - Charteris has been head and shoulders (no pun) above the others with his overall work rate which has come on leaps and bounds and I think him alongside Ianto would give us 2 monsters - AWJ is not that great in the lineout IMO

I would have said that AWJ and Charteris would have started in Ireland if both had been fit.

AWJ and Charteris were first choice before Ianto filed in and filled his boots - great problems to have lads and in Gatts we trust

I am suprised that Ryan Jones has been dropped for Awj to be honest.

Would of thought that he would stucked with Ryan Jones put and AWJ on the bench.

Its for his Lineout skills.

Have always thought that Evans could be the 'enforcer' we have needed in the 2nd row but was bit injury prone and little bit lose on his discipline.

If those problems are behind him then I think our 2nd row will be Evans and then a choice between the others.

He seems alot more disciplined than Bradley

I think this probably the best side we could have put out to be honest. You can see why Ian Evans and Alyn Wyn Jones have been picked as we need a stronger than normal line out. No excuses if we loose this one, but with the Twickers factor and the fact that "I am only interested how my hair looks" Walsh is reffing it will take an extra couple of inches from our boy's and it's the couple of inches that will win what will be a very close encounter.

Oh God, both teams look out if Walsh is reffing ' He'll do something stupid right about....now!'

Apparently, he's on two strikes - another goof and he's dead as disco

I agree with Bedford, R Jones on the bench does gets rid of Powell, I have always been Powell's biggest critic but he did quite well in the RWC but he was krap against England last year, he was replaced by R Jones with a big cheer from the crowd (in relief). This was another game Gatland did not pick on form. Gatland picked a really poor team against England two years ago,we could and should have won with better team selection e.g., T James, G Williams, G Cooper all sub'ed and they were picked again for the next game against Scotland to confirm they were krap and sub'ed again!

The team picks itself.

AWJ would be first choice so no worries there, Ryan will come on at some point.

Anyone know what's up with Matthew Rees?

Leg strain still I think

It's a good selection from Gatland in my view. Whilst I've always rated Hibbard I think Owen played very well from the bench against us and on that basis is a good call. I also like that he's benched Ryan Jones. He isn't a lock, he's an 8 or a 6, and Gatland has appreciated that. Yes, his performance in the loose was very good, as you'd expect from a back row player, but Wales did not dominate the scrum as I thought they would, and were a bit of a mess at the lineout. You need specialists in specialist positions. AWJ is a top class lock, and Ian Evans is progressing nicely. It's the right call, and it shows strong selecting skills from Gatland. Jones isn't good enough to get into the side at 6 or 8 as there are very good players in those positions, so the bench is the right place.

Just goes to show the depth developing in Welsh rugby, that a player like Ryan Jones can't get into the side on merit.

This is exactly the position Wales want to be in with regards to selection, yes Ryan played well, but if he cant oust another player in any position then he goes to the bench, or until a time when he can claim a position for himself. The competition in the back row must be immense.

Anyone else surprised that he's chosen Tupric on the bench instead of Shingler?

I know Tupric is a better 7, but Shingler did pretty well there against Scotland and can cover 6 and at a push 4 & 5 whereas Tupric can only really play 7. I know we've got Ryan on the bench but it's good to have more cover.

I see Gatland his showing his lack of man management skills and having a big mouth and head regarding players being disappointed about not being selected, what does he expect? Gatland says one minute players are picked on form and then when players are on form he picks players coming back from injury. He should be pleased he is being questioned why they are dropped out of the squad or to the bench, it shows they care, no not Gatland, he blabs to the press like a small kid, the guy is a bully he uses the press to put down any body that questions him in stead of dealing with the issue and keeping it in house in a professional manner. The interview with Gatland shown on wales online implies R Jones approached him after the announcement , if I was in his position I would want to know what I had to do to get in the team and the same goes for Gill, Shingler and Powell, that is part of being a manager i.e., communications, if Gatland is not up to it he should stay away from the press etc and take on an expereinced manger. The utube spoof posts of Gatland as A Hitler I suspect is appropriate.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/02/22/warren-gatland-warns-axed-players-sulking-will-not-be-tolerated-91466-30378136/

I think the what they have to do bit is easy, they have to be consistently better than those who have been picked ahead of them which they are not.

Is R jones our best no6 - No

Is he our best 2nd row - No

He is very good at both positions but not the best we have at either, likewise Powell and Tipuric.

Bedford;

I am having a go at Gatland's man management and the use of the press when issues should be kept in house. What you say is your opinion but the player/s have to be able to ask what he/they have to do to get in the team. In Ryan's case he was probably the best back row player against Ireland and the stats show he out played I Evans (tackles, hitting rucks, line out and kick off takes) in the second row against Scotland! You should know better than most that Gatland took an age to select any Dragons players based on form now you have players in the team form goes out the window!

alun,

Its nothing to do with having players in the team form goes out of the window.

It was injury that ruled Lydiate out of the opening game not lack of form, his form at 6 has been as good this season and the last.

I agree that Jones has had two great games and I would have left him in the 2nd row ahead of AWJ who hasn't played that much of late.

But even if Lydiate and AWJ have been selected over Ryan because of form (which I don't believe AWJ has been as he hasn't played) it's still bad man management of Gats to come out in the press and criticise Ryan. It should have been dealt with in-doors and he should have sat down with Ryan and said told him why, when he was one of the best fowards in the last 2 games, he is being dropped, and what he needs to do to get back in the team (and it's no good saying that it's coz Lydiate/AWJ are better players as thats a huge de-motivator for Ryan and basically means that no matter how well he plays he won't be selected).

PS I agree that Lydiate is our best 6 and AWJ is a specialist lock so is going to be favoured - I just think that it could have been handled better.

Stephen Jones in place of James Hook, a good choice in my opinion.To behonest i dont think he should of been dropped in the first pace.

I would of thought that Gatland, would give SJ the choice on when he should/should not retire from international rugby. This may well be his last 6ns, but it is not over till the fat lady sings.

My take on both sides is that its going to be fairly evenly matched. I favor Wales as they look the more inform team with the momentum of also scoring tries (England too but from chargedowns, not their own creation).

I imagine a game similar to Wales match against Scotland with a very tight first half but Wales edging the last 20 minutes.

I think that Ryan Jones can feel somewhat hard done by as he has played very well so far and i believe that Stephen Jones would have been a better option from the bench from the start than James Hook.