Welsh World Cup Squad - Centers

Now this might well cause a few interesting posts, as imagine there are plenty of contentious issues here.

Wales centers have not worked since Gavin Henson and Tom Shanklin last played together in 2008, fact. There is plenty of good centers, though all predominantly inside centers by trade.

We have the creatives like Hook, the grafters like Andrew Bishop and Scot Williams, the illusive runners like Jon Davies the bulk like Jamie Roberts and the unknown in Gavin Henson.

We have it all, apart from every single one of those players has spent the majority of their time in inside center birth not the outside one. All are pretty different players, some have had great form this season others have hardly played a handful of games. Some are in on reputation others on their unknown qualities.

I am also going to add George North to the mis, due to the lack of outside center talent, he is prospectively the guy who could fill the boots.

I would guess that we are likely to take four centers, with one or two of those as utility choices.

Jamie Roberts (Blues) 2008 - 29 Caps (10 Points) Lions 2 Caps

Andrew Bishop (Ospreys) 2008 - 15 Caps

Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) 2009 - 12 Caps (10 Points)

Scott Williams (Scarlets) 2011 - 1 Cap

James Hook (Perpignan) 52 Caps (277 Points)

Gavin Henson (Unattached) 31 Caps (130 Points) Lions 1 Cap

George North 2010 - 5 Caps (15 Points)

Well I went for Hook Roberts Davies and Williams.

I just couldn't bring myself to click the Henson button though would love to be proved wrong in the warm up games.

Did think about North to and do like the idea of him as a centre but let him get bit more experience first and we have Roberts to do the bashing at the mo

bedfordwelsh wrote:Well I went for Hook Roberts Davies and Williams.

I just couldn't bring myself to click the Henson button though would love to be proved wrong in the warm up games.

Did think about North to and do like the idea of him as a centre but let him get bit more experience first and we have Roberts to do the bashing at the mo

Currently Henson is the most popular... I think he will go...

I went for Roberts, Davies and Williams (as I've already picked Hook at FH). Think there's a good mix of pace, strength and skill there, all though it's a risk with Williams as he's so inexperienced.

RD

I've liked Scott Williams since the under 20s but I agree that he is too young.

Just for a little fun:

10: S. Jones
11. S. Williams
12: Henson
13: Roberts
14: Halfpenny
15: Hook

Replacement backs:

Davies, North and Byrne

Barry,

Not Hook at XV pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I would rather see Preistland Roberts or Halfpenny there if its not Byrne

How many centres are we looking at taking?

I went for Roberts, Davies, Williams and Henson. I picked Hook as a 10 so he'll be there as cover too.

Roberts will always be first choice for his direct running - if he could add more offloads to his game a la SBW then he'd really be a force to reckon with.

Davies has looked solid and reliable whenever he's played - albeit not exactly spectacular. In a choice between him and Bishop I think he gives you a bit extra. Could probably do with someone more creative alongside him though.

Williams - was impressed with his form for the Scarlets at the end of the season and looked sharp when he came on against the Baa-Baas. I don't agree with him being too young - if he's good enough, he's old enough and what better way to gain some experience? Plus I don't believe there are any better arguments to take any of the others ahead of him?

Finally - Henson. We all know what he can do when he's on form and I think he's worth taking a risk on as long as he's given some game time ahead of the World Cup to build his fitness. I think we need to include another creative player in the centres - we can't rely on Hook for everything - and I think Henson is the only option.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Barry,

Not Hook at XV pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I would rather see Preistland Roberts or Halfpenny there if its not Byrne

Bedford, ahh relax man, I did say: ''Just for a little fun''

I wanted Hook on the pitch somewhere, I just threw caution to wind and bagged him a No.15 jersey.

i voted for hook on the flyhalf poll.

i think hook and jd2 is our best center pairing. roberts would be a great impact player for center or wing. he would worry the opposition if he came on in the last quater.

bishop is our cover at center. henson included in squad as center and fb cover.

a good back line for any pool game.

rees.
jones
shane
hook
jd2
north
byrne (replace with preistland if byrne is playing pants)

phillips (last quater impact) roberts (last quater inpact) preistland (fh and fb cover)

henson has to go. world class, no fuss player who is well rested!!!

dogtooth, I really like the look of that lineup.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:dogtooth, I really like the look of that lineup.

thanks lucks.

i think it would function very well as a back division. some sensible, cool heads -eg wellies, some out of the box players, eg shane. youth, experience; pace and power.

it is really worrying that this sort of selection seems so obvious and gats always goes with something else.

this is what gats will actually go for

phillips
jones
shane
henson
roberts
north
hook

rugbydreamer wrote:I went for Roberts, Davies and Williams (as I've already picked Hook at FH). Think there's a good mix of pace, strength and skill there, all though it's a risk with Williams as he's so inexperienced.

+1

dog,

I don't think he will pick Hook at XV if Byrne is fit.

I want Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams I cant wait to see them next season for the Scarlets. that is Wales centre pairing for a few seasons I think!

jon davies and roberts will go, thats obvious, henson is someone who gatland has always liked and he will get gametime in all the other matches and may well be in the mix, and then i went for andrew bishop, as he is solid for wales, tackles well gets over the gain line.

Hook i put at 10, north not enough xp, scott williams looked very good agaisnt the ba ba's but i think his lack of xp will mean he wont be on the plane, although many would question if even though his lack of xp he deserves to be there more than henson-but thats a different debate

davies and roberts are certs to go, hook can also cover centre as can north.

If we take a punt it will be henson or williams of we are safety first it's bishop,

I'd be bold and pick the young kid williams but if henson is fit gats will take him

I would have Hook at 10 but he is also the most creative centre so he can cover that position hence I would select 3 centres Roberts, Davies and Henson. I suspect Henson has enough time to get up to speed he has far more talent that the other centres. With Hook at 10 and Henson at 12 and Davies/Roberts at 13 they should keep the opposition on their toes rather than the slow predictable Jones at 10 resulting in pressure on the centres (as he is no threat in attack). I would have Tovey as cover for Hook if fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3fPxh9HtM&feature=related

hensons lazy running could work for wales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8tp-AJgqdk&feature=related

its sad dogtooth to see what he is capable of, and yet here we are debating whether he should be going to the wc or not

I chose Davies and Roberts as I think with the right service and with Roberts being used more than just a crash ball merchant that could be a very dangerous midfield - with Davies acceleration and quick hands.

Didn't realise that we were voting for more than 2, the other ones are tricky as do you take Williams with little xp, Henson with little game time/form and his head up his recharge socket or the dependable, ok Bishop who also hasn't played a huge amount.

I think it depends on how Henson (and Williams?) do in the warm up games - but I'm not expecting much from Henson so I guess Williams gets it just above Bishop.

I'd take Roberts, Davies and Henson as specialist centres, and have Hook and North as offering cover.

No to Bishop. Too average.

I went for Davies and Williams though I daresay I'd probably add Gareth Maule, Ashley Beck and Ashley Smith to that list too. Some for the future there. Didn't go for Roberts as I am adamant that guy should be played at full back.

That must be the most accurate poll result on here!

lol. I thought mm took his daily post to a new level, on about centres for 2015! Stop digging up old posts!

OK, if you stop repeating repeating yourself.