Wales all-time professional 15

who would make the Wales all-time pro 15?

i'd go with
1. Jenkins
2. Garin Jenkins
3. A.Jones
4. G.Llewellyn
5. A.W-Jones
6. R.Jones
7. M.Williams
8. S.Quinnell
9. M.Phillips
10. N.Jenkins
11. S.Williams
12. J.Roberts
13. T.Shanklin
14. G.Thomas
15. L.Byrne

honourable mentions to Stephen Jones, Charvis, Peel, Kevin Morgan, JD2, Gough, Halfpenny and North. im sure in time most of the younger honourable mentions will earn their place in this side as the potential is high.

Not sure that Garin Jenkins (no Lions apearances) should be ahead of Rees (first choice Lions hooker).

On the same theme Neil Jenkins played 15 for the Lions, Steve Jones played all six tests over two tours at 10.

Others I am not sure about are G (I assume its Gareth) Llewellyn and should Shanklin be ahead of Bateman?

Given their performances in the World cup and Grand Slam, you would not go far wrong selecting the current Wales first choice 15.

Interesting post Pot and some debate sure to follow, I would have Bateman in anyo f my all time Welsh side amatuer or pro, in fact I would go for a centre pairing of Gibbs and Bateman. Here is mine

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Garin Jenkins
3. A.Jones
4. Gareth Llewellyn
5. A.W-Jones
6. C Charvis
7. M.Williams
8. S.Quinnell

9. D Peel
10. N.Jenkins
11. S.Williams
12. S Gibbs
13. A Bateman
14. G.Thomas
15. K Morgan

Bench - Duncan Jones, M Rees, R Jones, I Gough, R Howley, S Jones, J Roberts

I'd def have S Jones over Jenkins, I reckon Howley over Phillips, Charvis against R Jones is a very difficult one, I'm siding with Ryan though. M Rees over G Jenkins and Byrne over K Morgan - but very good team though

Not a bad team

I would have Howley at 9 with peel on the bench

I know Johnathan Davies only played two seasons of professional rugby union and that was at the end of his playing days but I would pick him at 10.

Priest,

Like I said should get some debate going, for me Jenkins was the best we have had for a long time and played so flat that his centres had to hit the ball hard and at pace, that with his kicking gives him knod for me.

Agree Charvis v Jones was my toughest call but thought Charvis had more dog about him.

Likewise why I went for Jenkins over Rees.

Morgan just had that extra bit of pace Byrne doesn't but I guess you lose out on hos boot.

ieuan wrote:I know Johnathan Davies only played two seasons of professional rugby union and that was at the end of his playing days but I would pick him at 10.

So would I. That way we wouldn't have to listen to him commentate.

I was also tempted to put Ieuan Evans in even though he only played a few years at pro level and move Gareth T to 15.

Good call Priest Evans again would be close to any Welsh 'best' of side.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Priest,

Like I said should get some debate going, for me Jenkins was the best we have had for a long time and played so flat that his centres had to hit the ball hard and at pace, that with his kicking gives him knod for me.

Agree Charvis v Jones was my toughest call but thought Charvis had more dog about him.

Likewise why I went for Jenkins over Rees.

Morgan just had that extra bit of pace Byrne doesn't but I guess you lose out on hos boot.

Can't argue with any of them, it is really close decisions on each, though I never really liked Morgan as much as some of our other FBs

Morgan was at his best in 05 but was blighted by injuries and did seem a little lightweight and was maybe to brave for own good.

Glad to see that Ieuan Evans is getting some well-deserved consideration.

Is there no room for the Henson of 2005? Despite his subsequent fall from grace he was exceptional in his early years.

Henson has never been consistently good enough imo, Roberts, Gibbs, Bateman and Shanklin all served Wales better

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I was also tempted to put Ieuan Evans in even though he only played a few years at pro level and move Gareth T to 15.

I forgot all about Ieuan Evans. I would have him at 14 and G Thomas at 15 too. I don't think Byrne is good enough to feature in any Great Wales side apart from a couple of seasons of playing brilliant rugby he has been pretty average.

Not sure i would have Henson anywhere near the team. Two words sum up his rugby career "if only" If it wasn't for a whole host of injuries and lack of common sense and passion for the game he might of been in this team he might of been one of the greats of the game but he isn't

On second thoughts I would plump for a back 3 of

Williams
Thomas
Evans

Why has nobody given a mention to Rhys Williams, that boy was electric at fullback and was much better than Kevin Morgan, I remember his length of the field intercept try at Murrifield during the 2005 grand slam, boy could he shift.

LD,

Another like Morgan I guess bit lightweight and injury prone maybe.

dont really see how you can dismiss players for being "abit lightweight" when arguably Wales' 2 best players in the professional era have been Shane Williams and Martyn Williams who despite being smaller than the average player in their positions have been world class.

bedfordwelsh wrote:LD,

Another like Morgan I guess bit lightweight and injury prone maybe.

Yes, I agree, but he was better than Morgan.

LordDowlais wrote:Why has nobody given a mention to Rhys Williams, that boy was electric at fullback and was much better than Kevin Morgan, I remember his length of the field intercept try at Murrifield during the 2005 grand slam, boy could he shift.

Is Rhys Williams and professional rugby player in the same sentance an oxymoron?

Great runner but no defence whatsoever, if fact he did not do tackling. So can he be considered a professional rugby player?

15 Gareth Thomas
14 Ieuan Evans
13 Alan Bateman
12 Scott Gibbs
11 Shane Williams
10 Neil Jenkins
9 Robert Howley
8 Scott Quinell
7 Martyn Williams
6 Colin Charvis
5 Alun Wyn Jones
4 Gareth Llewellyn
3 Adam Jones
2 Garin Jenkins
1 Gethin Jenkins

Gareth llewellyn! lets not be silly about this. I'd rather have rob sidoli than him. I know hue win a million caps for Wales but that says more about the alternatives than it does about him. He is not what I'd call the epitome of professionalism. In fact I'd take any of the second rows over the last five years over him other than will James.

mckay1402 wrote:Gareth llewellyn! lets not be silly about this. I'd rather have rob sidoli than him. I know hue win a million caps for Wales but that says more about the alternatives than it does about him. He is not what I'd call the epitome of professionalism. In fact I'd take any of the second rows over the last five years over him other than will James.

I think it is just for nostalgia I would have Chris Wyatt in front of him, and he was on twenty fags a day

Jenkins
Rees (09)
Jones (12)
AWJ (11)
Charteris (11)
Lydiate (12)
Warburton (11)
Quinnell (99)
Howley (99)
Priestland (11)
Williams(08)
Henson(05)
Davies (12)
North (11)
Byrne (08)

Davies and Bateman are a very close call at thirteen. Massive compliment to how well Davies has played.

maestegmafia wrote:Davies and Bateman are a very close call at thirteen. Massive compliment to how well Davies has played.

And just think before, and after, the WC there were loads of fans on here saying that JD2 was pants and there were much better centres around in Wales, and that he couldn't even pass!

LordDowlais wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:Gareth llewellyn! lets not be silly about this. I'd rather have rob sidoli than him. I know hue win a million caps for Wales but that says more about the alternatives than it does about him. He is not what I'd call the epitome of professionalism. In fact I'd take any of the second rows over the last five years over him other than will James.

I think it is just for nostalgia I would have Chris Wyatt in front of him, and he was on twenty fags a day

I would have Chris Wyatt in the team somewhere, except for they want the All Time Professional XV, where as Wyatt would captain the All Time Unprofessional XV.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Davies and Bateman are a very close call at thirteen. Massive compliment to how well Davies has played.

And just think before, and after, the WC there were loads of fans on here saying that JD2 was pants and there were much better centres around in Wales, and that he couldn't even pass!

I think JD is a perfect outside centre, great pace, very strong with ball in hand, fantastic hand off, good rugby brain, has all the skills. I would like to see Scarlets play him in the 13 shirt more often.

Wales and Scarlets have plenty of 12s, Davies is the fastest of the bunch and has adapted to the 13 role really well for Wales. He can interchange and pop up on the wing as well, plenty of pace... Would love to see him with Beck inside in Oz

I think Davies can play either 12 or 13 already, and will only improve with the way the Scarlets use him - interchanging with S Williams/Maule between the 12 and 13 channels depending on the circumstances

I'd also be interested to see him and Beck together either for the Barbarians game or on the Oz tour.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I think Davies can play either 12 or 13 already, and will only improve with the way the Scarlets use him - interchanging with S Williams/Maule between the 12 and 13 channels depending on the circumstances

I'd also be interested to see him and Beck together either for the Barbarians game or on the Oz tour.

I have always been a fan of the more creative inside centres. He has a good mentor in Nigel Davies, he was a cracking player in his day.

I was just wondering who my non pro era team would be.. For certain they would be miserly in stature compared to their modern counterparts.

1.
2. Windsor
3. Price
4. Thomas
5. Norster
6. Morris
7. Taylor ( though it was probably Dai Jones but that's only from what my grand father told me)
8. Merv
9 Gareth
10. Barry
11. Maurice Richards
12. John Dawes
13. Bleddyn Bowen
14. Gerald
15. JPR

Maes,

You would have to go with the Viet Gwent en masse IMO also Bateman played in both eras so I would have him at centre anyday.

Personally I think Bennett was a better all round 10. Certainly a better defender and no slouch in the runnning and kicking departments either.