Early 6 Nation Bolters

OK so I know its not the New Year yet but we just had the European double headers and some big derby games to come but are there any bolters putting their hands up for inclusion in the Welsh (Or your own Country) Squad for 6 Nations, training or full squads.

For me I think there are a few early hands gone up:

Adam Jones & Lou Reed - With Charteris out for 6 Nations, AWJ doubtful and Evans going off there is great opportunity for one of these guys to have a great crack and the squad. Both have been in top form for the Dragons and Scarlets respectivley.

Ashely Beck & Adam Hughes - We don't seem to have a natural 13 in the squad and these guys again been in very good form.

Martyn Thomas - If Byrne not on form or not available then I hope Gatland picks a natural XV as opposed to using Priestland as cover for Halfpenny.

I have not included players like, L Williams, L Evans, Tovey, Tipuric and the like as they have been on verge or latest squad or in it so their call ups wouldn't be seen as that big of a surprise to me.

For Ireland:

BOD's injury creates an opportunity in the centres and I think O'Malley, Spence and Cave, who have all impressed this year, will all feature in the training squad at least.

Devin Toner has been in a revelation this year and along with O'Connell has been the form Irish second row. Dan Touhy may make the training squad.

In the back row Peter O'Mahoney and Niall Ronan have impressed for Munster.

Finally Luke Fitzgerald has looked sensational at times so has a great chance of elbowing his way back into the national side.

bedfordwelsh wrote:OK so I know its not the New Year yet but we just had the European double headers and some big derby games to come but are there any bolters putting their hands up for inclusion in the Welsh (Or your own Country) Squad for 6 Nations, training or full squads.

For me I think there are a few early hands gone up:

Adam Jones & Lou Reed - With Charteris out for 6 Nations, AWJ doubtful and Evans going off there is great opportunity for one of these guys to have a great crack and the squad. Both have been in top form for the Dragons and Scarlets respectivley.

Ashely Beck & Adam Hughes - We don't seem to have a natural 13 in the squad and these guys again been in very good form.

Martyn Thomas - If Byrne not on form or not available then I hope Gatland picks a natural XV as opposed to using Priestland as cover for Halfpenny.

I have not included players like, L Williams, L Evans, Tovey, Tipuric and the like as they have been on verge or latest squad or in it so their call ups wouldn't be seen as that big of a surprise to me.

Cant the Welsh be a bit more creative with their names

Lou Reed? He's been injured most of this season and been playing for Llanelli RFC. Yesterday was his first start for us in ages, and whilst good, I don't somehow think he's international standard, so he's not a bolter for me, sorry.

rugby,

What about Welch then is it? I have heard a lot about these guys previously and with our possible injury crisis in the 2nd row will either have a chance?

Lou Reed, walks a bit on the wild side does he?

umm, Welch, I'm not 100% sure he's WQ yet, tis either this season or last season he qualified/qualifies through residency. I just don't think either are international standard. There's a reason why the Scarlets have needed to recruit in the 2nd row for the last few seasons, just don't have the funds for it!

I think if any, Reed will be called upon as he's trained with the squad before. I was about to say that there must be better options but then, I actually don't think there are. 2nd row is not a position where we have a lot of depth, although backrowers like McCusker and Jones can play there if needed.

rugby,

I think we have a few in Davies, AWJ, Charteris and Evans but two if not 3 of them are injured.

R Jones could cover there but would not like to start him there at international level.

Adam Jones had been going very well for Dragons and one of the young ones at the Blues was going well Downes I think but had nasty injury few weeks back

I'm gutted for Ian Evans if he's seriously injured

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Lou Reed, walks a bit on the wild side does he?

I though he was a Rock 'n' Roll Animal.

For England, there are a few, off the top of my head:

Jamie Gibson: mainly due to the fact that he can play no.8 (or anywhere else across the backrow) and England seriously lack in this area.

Christian Wade: Has a lot of competition in Sharples, Monye, Short and May (some of who could conceivably be bolters themselves!)

I agree about Wade.

As for other bolters, one of Wallace or Guest could potentially slip in to the side. Guest as an out and out 8 and Wallace as a classic fetcher.

Elliot Daly? Not sure why really, but that was a monster kick he produced on Friday.

Or Freddie Burns.

If Hodgson isn't picked then for me it's between him and Lamb for the back up to Flood and I think Burns pinches it.

I think they are likely to bring in 3 fly halfs out of necessity rather than choice. They need Flood plus Hodgson for match days but need one other 10 training with the squad. Based on previous Saxons squads you'd say Clegg but as he isn't getting game time either Burns (more likely) or Farrell (doubt Farrell snr would do over his own club like that though).

Yea Clegg must be getting pretty annoyed about all the bench warming he's been doing lately, I hope he'll start in the new year for the LV matches and some of the simpler prem games. Otherwise we may find he's off and we have a lack of back ups to Evans.

munkian wrote:I'm gutted for Ian Evans if he's seriously injured

Munkian all I heard was that he went off with foot in a pot not heard anything since.

For England Christian Wade, Feddie Burns, George Robson.

For Scotland :-

Gregg Laidlaw
Duncan Weir
Dave Denton
Stuart Hogg

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:For Scotland :-

Gregg Laidlaw
Duncan Weir
Dave Denton
Stuart Hogg

Agreed apart from Hogg, think Ramont will be 15. If he survives the 1872 on the wing.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

munkian wrote:I'm gutted for Ian Evans if he's seriously injured

Munkian all I heard was that he went off with foot in a pot not heard anything since.

I heard he has a fitness test this week...!

Got to feel for the lad, he has had terrible luck with injury

morning mm,

Lets hope its not serious then, he had very good game against Australia and with Charteris out AWJ doubtful then I guess he would be in pole position for 2nd row slot.

although I don't wanna get involved in a Robshaw debate, you can't argue with a backrow that beats Toulouse.... in Toulouse..... and they're all English.

There's a lot to be said for having good combinations.
If Danny Care is still in with a shout of starting, we could probably do worse than a Robshaw, Skinner, Easter back row.

Once the combination becomes stable, you can look at introducing a new 8 to replace Easter etc.



Also, It'll hopefully mean that Quins start losing

For England....

Wade (Wing)
Sharples (Wing)
Garvey (SR)
Grey (Hooker)

And a biased one:
James Fitzpatrick (12)

Am i the only one not really seeing the Robson thing? Just looks a little too lightweight / Small for an International SR....

Parling the Tigers lineout operator will be back playing in January, England could use his set piece skills and athleticism. I just hope the don't select him and Deacon. Would be nice if we could keep half of the first team in tact.

Brad Barritt will earn his first cap for England and I think one of Strettle or Short is likely to come back into the fold.

I can't agree re Toner - Ryan will pack down with POC in the first game.

I agree Geoff but Toner has been far more impressive than Ryan in recent weeks.

Ryan has gone backwards in the past 2 games and is in danger of losing his Munster spot to O'Callaghan again.

Toner deserves a bench spot at least on current form but I doubt he'll get it.

At least we have some options now with Touhy, DOC, Toner and Ryan all competing to partner POC.

For England -
A lot of the names that people are mentioning, I would like to see them in the Saxons for a season. Let them get exposure to the system and then, if they maintain form give them a full cap.
Those being - Wade, Garvey, Freddie Burns. People mentioned Guest, but he needs game time coming back from injury - again, could be a Saxon.

(Robson and Grey I think may have already been in the Saxons) - could be on Lancasters radar.
I would assume that, with Lancasters previous job and insight - if he brings in any new players it will be those that he knows from the Saxons.
I remember from previous interviews that he thought very highly of Dowson (although not really in form at the moment).

I expect some promotions to come from the 2010 Saxons squad -
Goode
36
Fearns
Attwood
Paice
Trinder
Gaskell
Gibson
Grey
Crane
JTH
Kieran Brooks
Narraway
Mullan
Young
Brown
Benjamin
Paul Hodgeson
Clegg
Tom Johnston
Webber

For France:

expect to see most of the players that were in NZ with hopefully the inclusions of some of the following "form" players / Lievremont rejects :
- centres : definitely Fofana + Fritz and possibly Yann David or Bastaraud (if his fitness improves) - rougerie should still be there
- Malzieu could get another chance on the wing - poitrenaud injured so dont see much change in the backs
- Dupuy should be the back-up scrum half
- Wisniewski would be the back up 10 (sadly there is only 2 french flyhaves getting regular 1st team rugby in france) - beauxis (if mcallister continues is poor form after the quins game) and bernard (castres) are not far away
- back row : Nyanga in, lakafia out - obviously dusautoir/hari/bonnaire/picamoles still around
- locks : Maestri could be paired with Papé, nallet out
- front row : Ric should be tried - barcella/ducalcon are out of form - domingo still injured so dont seem much change from the old poux/servat/max front row.

"I expect some promotions to come from the 2010 Saxons squad - "
Goode - out of form
36 - not fully fit but showed good form when he was, needs lots of games to stand a chance
Fearns - injured
Attwood - struggles to hold place in team when Hooper is fit though I've no idea why as he is easily Bath's best lock, should get called up
Paice - possibly but not really that good
Trinder - Manu's back up
Gaskell - lightweight and not that impressive for the Saxons
Gibson - young and talented probably to stay with the Saxons
Grey - likely call up due to excellent form
Crane - injured out for the season
JTH - injured
Kieran Brooks - injured
Narraway - too much mouth when not selected because of injury and not in good enough form
Mullan - injured but could slip in if fit by the tournament kick off
Young - 3rd choice at Tigers
Brown - likely back up to Foden
Benjamin - sadly not but is looking good for Wuss
Paul Hodgeson - doubtful there's better and younger 9s
Clegg - can't get a game for Quins
Tom Johnston - could well be in with a shout if he puts in a couple of good performances
Webber - likely to be added due to ability and short of other hooking options

for england.
I expect Burns, Garvey, Short and Doran Jones.

maestegmafia wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

munkian wrote:I'm gutted for Ian Evans if he's seriously injured

Munkian all I heard was that he went off with foot in a pot not heard anything since.

I heard he has a fitness test this week...!

Got to feel for the lad, he has had terrible luck with injury

I've got a 2008 signed grandslam team photo on my work desk and he's towering above everyone whislt stood in the backrow.

The squad looks completey different now - no Popham, Peel, Shanklin, Delve, Mark Jones or..... Gareth Cooper

Though if Cardiff sign Delve he'd be back in contention, good to have competition for 8

for ireland should be looking at o mahony (now injured), toner, cave or o malley.

however i doubt any will make the 22 v wales they may feature later. we have a serious panel of players but we are not sure how to get the best out of them and our backplay flatters to deceive. hopefully this changes in the 6 nations but im not holding my breath

munkian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

munkian wrote:I'm gutted for Ian Evans if he's seriously injured

Munkian all I heard was that he went off with foot in a pot not heard anything since.

I heard he has a fitness test this week...!

Got to feel for the lad, he has had terrible luck with injury

I've got a 2008 signed grandslam team photo on my work desk and he's towering above everyone whislt stood in the backrow.

The squad looks completey different now - no Popham, Peel, Shanklin, Delve, Mark Jones or..... Gareth Cooper

Though if Cardiff sign Delve he'd be back in contention, good to have competition for 8

Mate most of those lads have been out of the squad for well over a year.

The quicker that the regions swap poor foreign players for decent welsh ones we will be laughing.