Combined England & Wales XV

After enjoying the bickering thread, I got thinking what would be the make-up of the side if you made a combined XV from the two starting XVs tomorrow.

I am a proud Englishman, but have to admit it became an exercise on how many England players would get in the Wales team

Tougest calls were Priestland v Farrell, going for Priestland mainly because Farrell is unproven as an international 10, and Lydiate v Croft, and I went for Lydiate just because he has been so outstanding in the last 6 months.

blimey, i think there's a few eng forwards good enough to be in there.

And Manu would be for me.

Jones Ovens Jenkins
Davies AWJ
Lydiate, Warburton, Morgan
Phillips
Shingler
Roberts
Jiffy
North Halfpenny Cuthbert

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Jones Ovens Jenkins
Davies AWJ
Lydiate, Warburton, Morgan
Phillips
Shingler
Roberts
Jiffy
North Halfpenny Cuthbert

Well there are certainly plenty of players who qualify for England in that list

BigFellasAfro wrote:After enjoying the bickering thread, I got thinking what would be the make-up of the side if you made a combined XV from the two starting XVs tomorrow.

I am a proud Englishman, but have to admit it became an exercise on how many England players would get in the Wales team

Ashton------------Foden-------------North
Roberts-----------Davies
--------Priestland
Phillips

Warburton------Faletau----Lydiate
Wyn Jones---Botha
Jones----Hartley----Jenkins

I'm not sure the Welsh mid-field can unleash Foden and Ashton as well as the English midfield. I'm also not sure about the discipline of the Welsh back row, I'd be inclined to go for the more controlled and structured English trio. Philips at 9? No way, I don't even think the Welsh think that is a good idea. Front row - not convinced, I think the English props are superior right now.

Peter loves this England team.

They are getting so written off it's going to be very amusing if they win.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Jones Ovens Jenkins
Davies AWJ
Lydiate, Warburton, Morgan
Phillips
Shingler
Roberts
Jiffy
North Halfpenny Cuthbert

I agree accept I'd have Toby in for Morgan and priest land in for shingles reject.

It was a bit of a joke

Realisticaly youd have Ashton in there I guess, Tuilagi at 13.

I personaly would have Flood ahead of Preistland but it appears everyone hates him now.

Hartley ahead of Ovens.

Currently theres no question Halfpenny is outperforming Foden ( who seems immune to the sort of criticism Youngs gets despite an error strewn game against Italy in which he resembled the worst of James Hook)

Faletau ahead of Morgan of course.


So really, only Hartley, Flood, Tuialgi , Ashton from England right now. That may well change after this game.

trebellbobaggins wrote: Peter loves this England team.

They are getting so written off it's going to be very amusing if they win.

As a Wales supporter I won't say amusing, but it would certainly not surprise me to get surprised at a 6Nations match result.

I am confident that we could win well, but I am not certain that we will win at all.

i think it's pretty much a given but you never know.

Given another year or two it'll be much close but right now the Eng team are not ready.

Personally:

Halfpenny
North
Tuilagi
Davies (see what I did there)
Ashton
Flood
Phillips

Jenkins
Hartley (an indictment on the other available hookers)
Jones
Jones
Evans
Lydiate
Wood (if he were fit) so Warburton
Faletau.

You couldn't pick Hartley over Matthew Rees, not in a sane world.

Can you imagine facing a centre pairing of Roberts and Tuilagi??

Matthew Rees isn't fit cariad.

Davies and Tuilagi would make the better pairing in my view, but there you have it, 'tis a space for opinions after all.

Can you imagine facing a centre pairing of Roberts and Tuilagi??.

Ask the Aussies after the next Lions tour. Though replacing Roberts with Davies could also work very well.

I would pick JD2 over Roberts every day of the week. He brings so much more to the party than Roberts. And yet he seems to get left out by so many of these Lions teams or combined teams. In the same vein Lydiate is the second name down for the forwards after our much loved number 3.

The problem with Roberts is that he always seems somewhat one dimensional. He is very good at boshing up the middle - and can be very effective in the right game - but for such a bright guy he doesnt seem to show much else.

Davies does seem to be coming on very nicely. A bit Shanklin like - does a lot of very good things without getting noticed much.

15. Fodpenny
14. Ashbert
13. Tuilies
12. Robbitt
11. Northle
10. Floodland
9. Phillipson
8. Morgatau
7. Warshaw/Robberton
6. Cryfiate
5. Wyn Bothas
4. Parlvans
3. Jole
2. Harwens
1. Jenkinsiero

good

btw I wasn't actually saying I'd necessarily pick Roberts/Tuilagi, just that it would be a horrendous prospect to face up to two centres well over 17 stone. I think JD2 has shown more at international level than Tuilagi so far, although obviously Tuilagi has a lot of potential if used in the right way.

The Lions centre pairing may well include BOD - depends on fitness and form, but if anywhere near his best, he'd be number 1 choice at 13.

Ashbert would be some player!

I know right, imagine Cuthbert with that acceleration in broken play... and that swan dive!

My favourite is Jenkinsiero.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Foden ( who seems immune to the sort of criticism Youngs gets despite an error strewn game against Italy in which he resembled the worst of James Hook

Foden has one bad game after being Englands best player for the last 18 months yet deserves the same criticism as Youngs who has been off form since the Ireland game last year? Not all Youngs fault as he has been handled poorly at times but still think that your Tigers bias is coming out there a little Mr Wheeler

Davies and Tuilagi are ideal candidates to make the Lions centre partnership. I think Davies is the best player for Wales currently, and Tuilagi is an immense player who terrifies any opposition.

Shwmae Rory.

BlueNote wrote:btw I wasn't actually saying I'd necessarily pick Roberts/Tuilagi, just that it would be a horrendous prospect to face up to two centres well over 17 stone. I think JD2 has shown more at international level than Tuilagi so far, although obviously Tuilagi has a lot of potential if used in the right way.

The Lions centre pairing may well include BOD - depends on fitness and form, but if anywhere near his best, he'd be number 1 choice at 13.

Not a chance. I hope he doesn't play 13 when he returns to Ireland either. If the management were smart, they would put him at 12 to help bring in his replacement. Plus our options at 12 aren't very good. He may get to start at 12 for the Lions therefore.

You couldn't have Flood in there as the question was picking the team from tomorrow's starting XVs.

And therefore you have to also have Phillips above Dickson surely?

15 1/2p
14 Ashton
13 Roberts
12 Davies
11 North
10 Priestland
9 Phillips
8 Ben Morgan
7 Warburton
6 Faletau
5 Botha
4 AWJ
3 Adam Jones
2 Hartley (assuming Rees isnt fit)
1 Gethin Jenkins

Faletau is an 8 and Lydiate got MOTM in his last outing, what sense would it make to drop the latter for the former?

None, but not only are the usual selection threads divorced from reality (as in they matter not a jot) but this one is even less relevant as a combined team is not likely to happen.

Knowsit17 wrote:Faletau is an 8 and Lydiate got MOTM in his last outing, what sense would it make to drop the latter for the former?

I think Faletau would make a better flanker as he hasn't been all that effective as a ball-carrying, go forward 8, but he has a huge work-rate. Plus Lydiate really did not deserve MOM. Even in the welsh backrow Faletau played better than Lydiate did.

True he hasn't been at his very best yet but on his day Faletau can be a powerful ball carrier (look at the RWC and many games he's had for the Dragons). I'd be surprised if he doesn't show improvement before the end of the tournament. In any case, he's another in the freakishly young department who still has a lot of developing to do in his career.

True he was better at the RWC in his carrying, but even then he was knocked back a fair few times. For the dragons his carrying is a lot better yes, but there is a bit of a jump from there to international rugby. I have always thought he looks a bit small for 8 anyway, I still think his best position would be at flanker. I also believe he started out as a flanker, correct me if i'm wrong.

From what I can tell having combed the archives, Faletau played his first couple of games for the Dragons alternating between flanker and 8, although he was converted to a fulltime 8 almost immediately and that's where he really started making a name for himself.

And do you think Faletau will be able to compete with the other giants at 8? Read, Parisse, Picamoles, Harinordiquy and Heaslip for example. Not to mention up and coming 8s like Denton!

I'm still on the fence as far as that goes. As I've said he's still very young, although I may point out that of the other 8's you mentioned he's had good games against Heaslip and Harinordoquy already in NZ. Toby's the stand-out candidate for Welsh number 8 as it stands and has much ahead of him that remains to be seen.

I may also point out that Parisse isn't best known for his carrying but also for his technical skills (passing, offloading, efficiency under the high ball etc). I he can be mentioned as a top 8, what's to say Faletau won't be eventually?

Ultimately it's still in the air.

Ashton isn't good enough to get into either team. Over rated to say the least.

nicely under stated loose.

Much as I highly rate this welsh team at the minute.....I need to voice an opinion that might get me shot down in flames but that has been brushed upon in this topic. *gulp* whispering now....I don't think falateu is that good of an 8..........sorry

How the hell you have Botha in there is a mystery.