Who replaces who?

Wales have been very lucky this year. I think we have found more than adequate replacements for Williams and Jones in Warburton and Priestland.

Who do you guys think will be the long term star to replace the following guys?

Shane Williams
Adam Jones
Gethin Jenkins
Matthew Rees

If we want to continue our awesome rise we need to find these guys now especially for the front row.

Shane Williams - Immediately I would say Priestland

A Jones - will be 34 at next WC so in prop years could still make it but I guess Mitchell, Gardiner and for me Lewis-Roberts

Jenkins - Might still be around at 35 but I guess Bevington is the one being groomed

Rees - Burns should be stuck with and developed but we also have Hinbbard, Owens and Emyr Phillips (I think)

Priestland dancing on the wing?

Shane - as long as Halfpenny is 15 and North 14, it could be Stoddart, Brew, Phillips etc.

Adam - don't know yet. Someone will come.

Jenkins - James, Duncan and Iestyn Thomas can scrummage better than him now. Bevington.

Rees - I think that if Bennett continues his form Rees will struggle for his place. This position is probably the least of our worries.

Surely "Who Replaces Whom"?

Ah, the game is still one for pubic schoolboys north of the Borders.

Glas a du wrote:Ah, the game is still one for pubic schoolboys north of the Borders.

Me? Seriously? Nope, I went to my regular local comprehensive.

Shane Williams - Immediately I would say Priestland

Doh just read own post meant Stoddard

Adam Jones is getting better and better. So long as he can keep his fitness up then theres no rush to replace him.

34 for a prop is not specifically old....and thats in four years time....

Personally I think hooker is a major problem for us. England's dwarf buddies could cause us trouble in the lineout.
I am hoping Ken Owens will step up.

George Carlin wrote:Surely "Who Replaces Whom"?

Ah he beat me to it




Pretentious? Moi?

Shane Williams - Short term Aled Brew, or Morgan Stoddart at fullback with Halfpenny on the wing again. Long term would not be willing to guess as there are a number of good young wingers coming through.

Adam Jones - Paul James for the short term (and Rhys Thomas if needed), and I would hazard a guess at Scott Andrews (or is it Hobbs can't ever get them the right way around), Craig Mitchell and Simon Gardener battling it out.

Gethin Jenkins - Not too sure again the other one of Hobbs/Andrews and Bevington look obvious, with Rhodri Jones being a rather young option too

Matthew Rees - Short and long term Ken Owens.

The other prop to watch closely is the comeback of Eiffon Lewis-Roberts at Toulon this season. Fitness permitting he's an awesome force, and only 29 I think.

fES,

I agree and such a shame none of our regions snapped him up, hopefully playing in France won't hamper him too much.

SS,

You will obviously be better placed to comment but Stoddart has never filled me with confidence at XV so would play him on wing and leave Halfpenny XV

Bedford - just thinking about it I would remove Stodds from the list. I believe he is out for best part of the season (i may be wrong) and he ain't a spring chicken himself (bout 27 I think) so maybe his time has passed. That said I did rate him highly as an attacking wing/fullback.

How about young Eli Walker to replace Shane Williams?

I'd have thought Aled Brew deserves a shot at the wing slot eventually vacated by Williams. Not a like for like, but he's a decent athlete and proven club try scorer. What's happened to Fussell?

Not popular with the purists, but Scott Williams could be given some game time on the wing if he can't shift Roberts or JD from the centres. He's a good balanced runner.

fES,

Its not that bad an idea with regards Sc William and us down at Dave will always argue Brews case but I don't think he will ever tie down a full time slot and will be more of a squad player.

Scott has filled in on the wing for the Scarlets when it has been needed, but to be honest I am not one for shuffling players into any old shirt just to get them on the feild (Hook). Just thinking about players that could be shuffled. When Shane goes Halfpenny could go back to the wing and then there would be space for Martyn Thomas or Jason Tovey (out of position I know) at fullback.

If Byrne returns to fitness and form, then the obvious move would be to get Halfpenny back onto the wing. It's take some performances thought from Byrne to convince me he's back. He hasn't looked himself for some time now. Shame, an awesome player in his pomp.

fEs - To be honest I have a feeling that Byrne may well end up out of sight and out of mind in France, unless he gets rave reviews (like Steve and Thomas did). I have a sneaky feeling that the same may well happen with Hook too.

It's a tricky one the whole France issue. Scotland has long had to accept that top players will court big money moves abroad and hasn't been able to afford to ignore those players, yet so far Ireland and Wales have largely been able to keep their top talent at home. For Wales that seems to be waning slightly, and although you guys have some great talent still in Wales (and enough to form a competitive squad), there's absolutely no doubt that in Hook and Byrne you're losing two potentially top class players.

As you say, what I think is true, is that players abroad will have to shine that bit brighter to convince Gatland to bring them into the fold. The treatment of Dwayne Peel and Gareth Delve shows he's pretty serious about picking players based in Wales.

SS,

If Martyn Thomas can stay injury free and get a good run of games and form under his belt then I like sound of a Halfpenny Thomas North back three.

bedfordwelsh wrote:SS,

If Martyn Thomas can stay injury free and get a good run of games and form under his belt then I like sound of a Halfpenny Thomas North back three.

With Thomas injury record he may well find it difficult to get a run of caps - I wish he could get a run of more than about 3 games at the moment.

Shane Williams - Cuthbert, Kristian Phillips, Prydie, Walker, Fish, James
Adam Jones - Mitchell, Gardiner, EL Roberts, Jarvis
Gethin Jenkins - Bevvington, Scott Andrews
Matthew Rees - Hibbard, Owens

TycroesOsprey wrote:Shane Williams - Cuthbert, Kristian Phillips, Prydie, Walker, Fish, James
Adam Jones - Mitchell, Gardiner, EL Roberts, Jarvis
Gethin Jenkins - Bevvington, Scott Andrews
Matthew Rees - Hibbard, Owens

Andrews???? Please No.

What about Gill at Saracens and I would relly like to know whats gone wrong with Gustafson.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Shane Williams - Immediately I would say Priestland

Doh just read own post meant Stoddard

How about hook, hasn't played there has he?

bedfordwelsh wrote:

TycroesOsprey wrote:Shane Williams - Cuthbert, Kristian Phillips, Prydie, Walker, Fish, James
Adam Jones - Mitchell, Gardiner, EL Roberts, Jarvis
Gethin Jenkins - Bevvington, Scott Andrews
Matthew Rees - Hibbard, Owens

Andrews???? Please No.

What about Gill at Saracens and I would relly like to know whats gone wrong with Gustafson.

Gill and Gustafson are LHPs, we have loads of good LHP, we dont have many THPs though.