Wales Test XV and Brumbies XV

So the serious business is almost here, the Scots kick off the Summer Internationals on Tuesday with Wales playing the first test next week. There are still some question marks as to who will play in the centre with Bishop and Hook having solid games today and still some concern over the fitness of JD and Scott Williams but Beck will I think miss out if the scarlets pair are fit. The forwards for next week at least pick themselves, however Ian Evans was immense again today and he and AWJ will be pushing for a test spot in the second. Rhodri Jones had a good day at the office today and whilst he was only on for 45 mins the welsh scrum held up pretty well and it was only after he went off that Duncan started to really beast Paul James who switched. Smiler had a bit of a mare throwing in and our lineout wasnt as solid as in the six nations. Howley has cut the players expected although I thought Biggar would go as third choice ten I guess he can be on a plane quick enough if there is a problem. Lloyd Williams wasnt at his best today and Webb was nervous at first before settling its going to be a good little battle between the two for a bench spot. As it stands I think the Test team and midweek side is looking somthing like this.

Test XV (First Test)

1. Gethin
2. Owens
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley D
5. Charteris
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Phillips
10. Priestland
11. North
12. JD
13. Sc Williams
14. Cuthbert
15. Halfpenny

16. James
17. Rees (tough call here and Hibbard may overtake him by the end of the tour)
18. AWJ (Again a tough call as Ryan J could be picked for his versitality)
19. Tipuric

20. Lloyd Williams (Webb could easily get in though after today)
21. James Hook
22. Beck (hard call as Hook can cover centre but I think he willl get a bench spot at least)


XV vs The Brumbies

1. Gill
2. Hibbard
3. Rh Jones
4. Ian Evans (As it stands but could well be Bradley by the Brumbies game)
5. AWJ (Again could be Charteris given the strength in the second row)
6. Turnbull
7. Tipuric
8. Ryan Jones
9. Lloyd Williams ( Webb may have taken his place)
10. Hook
11. Brew
12. Beck
13. Bishop
14. Robinson
15. Liam Williams

16. James
17. Rees
18. AWJ
19. Shingler
20. Webb
21. Priestland
22. Scott Williams

All good points there mate. Good read

Not far off!

Hmmmm,

Based on today, I would put Webb as second choice (despite being a big Williams fan and a Blues supporter) - I hope Williams comes back, but his form is not good at the moment.

Smiler had a real shocker - I missed him dislocating his finger, but its clear he should have been subbed a LOT earlier. Hibbard has been in fantastic form. I think the first choice position is now Owens to lose, Rees' experience probably tips him for the bench for the first test - assuming his throwing is back in training.


1st XV
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Luke Charteris (AWJ was anonymous today, he has a chance to prove his is still Wales' no1 lock and to start the second test with the superb Ian Evans)
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Scott Williams
13. Jonathon Davies (keep him at 13)
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Matthew Rees
17. Paul James (can't wait for 23 man benches - Gill and Mitchell please)
18. Alun Wyn Jones (only just ahead of Ryan despite being a specialist)
19. Ryan Jones/Justin Tipuric (hardest decision to make on the entire teamsheet, I refuse to make it)
20. Rhys Webb
21. James Hook (covering 15 aswell as 10 so back 3 is covered)
22. Ashley Beck (give him a good 30 minutes)


Brumbies 22

1. Rhys Gill
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Rhodri Jones
4. Bradley Davies (Brumbies is after the 1st test?)
5. Aaron Shinger (player there today)
6. Josh Turnballover
7. Justin Tipuric (Captain?!)
8. Ryan Jones (off at 50, Shingler to 6, Turnball to 8, AWJ on)
9. Lloyd Williams
10. James Hook
11. Aled Brew
12. Ashley Beck
13. Andrew Bishop
14. Harry Robinson
15. Liam Williams

16. Matthew Rees
17. Paul James
18. Alun Wyn Jones
19. ??? I wouldn't risk any first teamers
20. Rhys Webb
21. Rhys Preistland (Biggar should be on tour just to fill this jersey if necessary)
22. again, I don't want to risk/play a first teamer in a midweek game.

I didn't think Smiler had a bad game the line out was fine in the first half, it went to bits when AWJ (who was leading the lineout) went off. The lineout was hit and miss when Hibbard came on also.

Also, you can't allways blame the hooker when the lineout goes wrong. On at least one occasion, the lifters got the timing completly wrong.

Where Rees did shine was in the scrums, despite having a 20 year old tight head as his loose head, Wales scrum did not get destroyed, as certainly I expected. In fact the scrum was in more trouble when James & Hibbard came on in the second half.

Against Australia (and with Adam Jones in the side) I would be happy with either Owens or Hibbard starting. But against a strong scrum (or if Adam is not playing), Rees and Bennett are better choices.

The game certainly showed an array of talent we have pushing for recognition in Wales. A good pool of players.

Matthew Rees apparently dislocated his finger early on and that may have effected his throwing.

I agree too that Webb seems to have proved a better second choice than Lloyd Williams.

It's great isn't it...!

Next season we will have Williams, Webb, Knoyle and Davies all fighting it out for the scrum half spot behind Mike Phillips. This competition is great for the players and for Wales.

1st Test-

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Priestland
11. George North
12. Ashley Beck
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Ken Owens
17. Paul James
18. Ryan Jones
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Rhys Webb
21. James Hook
22. Scott Williams

Midweek game-

1. Rhys Gill
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Paul James
4. Bradley Davies
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Turnbull
8. Ryan Jones
9. Rhys Webb
10. James Hook
11. Aled Brew
12. Scott Williams
13. Andrew Bishop
14. Harry Robinson
15. Liam Williams

16. Ken Owens
17. Rhodri Jones
18. Ian Evans
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Lloyd Williams
21. Rhys Priestland
22. Leigh Halfpenny

knpwsit,

Like both teams but I would probably start Tipuirc and Owens against the Brumbies

Agreed Bedford.

Tuperic was superb yesterday.

bedford, I certainly wouldn't complain if they did but I consider Owens and Tips more likely to feature in the tests than the midweek game, which is why I'd have them both benched as emergency strength against the Brumbies. I see that game essentially as the opportunity to give a shot to those who are unlikely to feature against the Aussies, which is why I have Turnbull and Hibbard to start. That way everyone in the squad should get some gametime.

Owen is starting hooker surely

Not definitely. Good player but Rees has his merits too. Especially in the scrum.

It's mad looking at these teams that even where people have disagreed there's not much difference between the players/teams and all look pretty strong