Team for the Aviva stadium 5/2/12

Wales team
15-9
Halfpenny, Liam Williams, North, Roberts, Brew, Jones, Phillips
1-8
Jenkins, Hibbard, Jones, Ryan Jones, Gough, Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau
16-23
James, Rees, Mitchell, Brad Davies, JT, Lloyd Williams, Priestland, Jonathan Davies.

1 We have to sort out our midfield. Davies and Roberts are 12's and Scott Williams doesn't have the flair to partner either.
2 Phillips loves playing Ireland and they hate him playing them. Jones' game management will be vital in the first half.
3 Brew is seriously under rated.
4 There is a bit of a crisis in the second row, but Gough can play his heart out for a half at least.

I wouldnt move North to centre just yet....he's causing teams huge problems from the wing at the moment...keep him there...and maybe look to alter the centre....but too be honest i wouldnt change too much....

Where is bradley and is evans injury going to rule him out?

Good point. Impact sub.

Who would you suggest at 13 then, Beck?

George North isn't ready for international rugby at centre yet. His hands and distribution aren't good enough. I think we should try him there during the summer tour to Aus.
Its pretty obvious Jonathan Davies or Scott Williams will partner Roberts unless Henson is on form.
If Lee Byrne is released then i wouldn't be surprised to see him at fullback and Halfpenny and North on the wings. I wouldn't trust Liam Williams with a start during the 6 nations just yet he hasn't really shone for the Scarlets.
I'd like Hibbard to be involved i rate him very highly but i think Rees should start.
If we start with a second row of Ryan Jones and Gough we will be destroyed in the lineouts, i doubt Gatland would start with that combo.

Fair enough, but I wasn't trying to second guess Gatland. I'm putting forward the team I would pick. Gough is capable jumping number 2, just we hardly ever throw it there. Jones and Lydiate would lift Faletau at the tail. Anyway the line is easy, just throw it to the bloke standing one up from POC until he susses ot and then lob it over him.

I don't agree on North and let's face it our inside centre thinks distribution is something DHL do, another crash ball man on his shoulder won't hurt, at least it will keep the Irish guessing a little. Their midfield will be new so I could see an argument for starting Davies as he has played with Roberts a few times now. He's in the DHL camp as well mind.

As to Liam Williams, the guy has a hunger and is grease lightening. Stoddart with a little more brains if you like.

I couldn't care less if Byrne is released Halfpenny is clearly our best full back. If he choses to counter he has two wingers who would relish it.

No Turnbull?

That seems a peculiar team in some ways.

The calls I don't understand:

- Hibbard over Matthew Rees
- North at 13
- Inclusion of Liam Williams

BTW Wales really do have a second row crisis. I'd have thought your best team maybe:

01 Jenkins
02 Rees
03 Jones
04 Davies
05 Gough
06 Lydiate
07 Warburton (c)
08 Falatau
09 Phillips
10 Jones
11 Halfpenny
12 Roberts
13 Davies
14 North
15 Priestland

Jones at 10? Not Priestland? Notice no one is questioning this, is his form poor for club at the mo?

He's only played 3 games for his region Carpe, brilliant against Saints, not very good against Munster at home, and he only played half of the away match at 10 (1st half he was at FB)

Stevo looked better then him in both the Munster games.

Thanks Rugby, must start watching the Rabo more. Thought he looked v good over the warm ups and RWC but you guys know better than me and you can't deny Jones' class!

He looked superb in the world cup, but he is still coming back from a shoulder injury I believe, plus, he has to get used to playing behind a not so dominant pack now! Stevo's had far more experience then him at that

Consistency is what's needed in Priestland's game. It'll come. Either would be a good choice for Wales.

(and you won't have seen him in the Rabo even if you had watched, he's only played for us in the Heineken so far this season! at least I think that's right...)

Jones and Gough in 2nd row you serious?

Only problem is you showed Ireland how you want to play them at the WC. They now know where you're going to grab them...! They know you won't be as 'fit' as last time, given that the ice-room Poland trip will be a distant memory by then. They'll have watched the video over and over again by then.

If Kidney uses the time well and more importantly, if he uses the right stormtroopers for the right job, Ireland will be more than ready for the rematch.

Secret,

Gatland wants to take them back to Poland before 6 Nations so distant memory.

It will be hard ask and fitness won't be only thing to decide though.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Secret,

Gatland wants to take them back to Poland before 6 Nations so distant memory.

It will be hard ask and fitness won't be only thing to decide though.

Does he indeed??? Interesting (spoken in my best Bond baddy accent) Must get on to Kidney so that when your boys are about to go into the freeze they'll meet 30 or so greenish hued iceblocks coming out

Gough isnt going to play for Wales again, Henson is the only answer to our centres lacking creativity. Brew is underated but Cuthbert is special. North is only 19 and learning how to play on the wing and he doesnt add anything to the creativity in midfield and he has no kicking game.

1. Gethin
2. Smiler
3. Adam
4. Bradley(if AWJ isnt fit but its looking good at teh moment)
5. I Evans
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau.
9. Phillips (has a release clause so should be ok)
10. Priestland
11. Cuthbert
12. Roberts (or Henson)
13. JD or Roberts
14. North
15. Halfpenny

reps

P James, Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Ben Morgan, Lloyd Williams, Biggar, Sc Williams

TycroesOsprey wrote:Gough isnt going to play for Wales again, Henson is the only answer to our centres lacking creativity. Brew is underated but Cuthbert is special. North is only 19 and learning how to play on the wing and he doesnt add anything to the creativity in midfield and he has no kicking game.

1. Gethin
2. Smiler
3. Adam
4. Bradley(if AWJ isnt fit but its looking good at teh moment)
5. I Evans
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau.
9. Phillips (has a release clause so should be ok)
10. Priestland
11. Cuthbert
12. Roberts (or Henson)
13. JD or Roberts
14. North
15. Halfpenny

reps

P James, Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Ben Morgan, Lloyd Williams, Biggar, Sc Williams

Yup i agree thats the team i would have, with our current injuries. Ben Morgan's a good shout he'd give add real competition for Faletau at no.8. I don't know if i'd like to see Biggar on the bench though.

Wellies aged 90 before Bugger I missed

I would say JD2 is the most important player in the backline at the moment.

JD2 ?

I would love AWJ and Ianto, but are either going to be fit?

Priestland is a lady garden. If you can't see howuch damage he did us in the Aussie game and in the Munster game then I'm sorry I can't help you.

If Priestland has Phillips inside him then he will do well. If Lloyd Williams starts we'll see the same thing we saw against Australia.

That's an interesting theory, but he had Gareth Davies inside him in the Munster game who also keeps back rows guessing and he was still poopie. His shoulder is padded to the max, I don't think it's doing him any favours to play crocked as he's a confidence player.

I think Wales physicality in the backline will cause Ireland all sorts of problems again - especially without BOD.

What hope is there of getting the Lions front row together for Wales- one is always injured at least (saw Adam Jones in Cardiff last night shopping - everyone else had fleeces and coats on - Adam had a tee shirt, cut off beach trousers and flip flops- he'll have flu at the very least)

Cuthbert and North on the wings are giants, the Centres are huge and hopefully Priestland will be back on form.

Shaun O'Brien looks to be having a quiet time of it lately and Ireland are always just one prop short of a front row crisis.

More confident of Wales now than have been for a while and the future looks even brighter to be honest.

stevetynant wrote:
More confident of Wales now than have been for a while and the future looks even brighter to be honest.

Funny, but that's how I feel about Ireland. One is certain, it'll be one hell of a game.

Aye, can't wait. Red Stag has sorted a tour for us. There'll be pints and flirting.

THERE IS NO AVIVA STADIUM - ITS LANSDOWNE ROAD IF YOU PLEASE
MERRY SECULAR NON DENOMINATIONAL SEASONAL HOLIDAY

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Ian Evans
6. Danny Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Tobias Faletau
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Rhys Priestland
11. Alex Cuthbert
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Subs: Ryan Jones, Ben Morgan, Craig Mitchell or Paul James or Duncan Jones or Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jonothan Davies.

Scott is a better passer of the ball than JD2 who seems to always have a better game coming off the bench. Ryan Jones is in some fantastic form, he could easily start. The team is picked in the hope that Ian and Georgies injuries are not too bad.

Cuthbert's a donkey.

Glas a du wrote:Cuthbert's a donkey.

Well we need something in the side that can kick

Toupe, Sir!

Gethin at 12 , hell of a step and can kick

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Matthew Rees
3. Adam Jones
4. Bradley Davies
5. Ian Evans
6. Danny Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Faletau
9. Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Priestland
11. A N Other (who ever takes their chance over coming weeks)
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jon Davies
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Subs: Ryan Jones, Ben Morgan, Paul James, Richard Hibbard (but expect it to be Bennett), Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams

Get Ben capped ! Give Toby a rest for at least one game

When does Morgan actually qualify and does he 'qualify' by just being on bench or does he actually have to get some gametime to qualify?

In January I believe , I think even subs get capped don't they ? You can get world cup medals by just sitting on the bench

Think you need gametime to qualify? to earn the full cap?

Not sure though.

And I think he qualifies either Jan or Feb. Would be cutting it quite fine anyway.

If he does pick Wales, I can see him earning his first cap on the summer tour instead.

munkian,

Only subs that are used get capped surely? Won't meant is would he be considered as 'qualified' if he sat on the bench but was an un-used sub.

rugby,

I think if he does qualify in time then I reckon he will get some game time in 6 Nations so then he is tied to us.

One more question is Gatland allowed to name him in the squad in anticipation of him qualifying? That is of course if Morgan has indicated he would accept an invite to play for us.

I don't know Gatland seems pretty keen to get him involved. As i understand it when its been three years since you did whatever it is that you have to do to register then you are available to be selected and if thats a week before the squad announcement or a day it doesn't matter.

Maybe Gats will either leave a slot open or delay naming his squad until Morgan qualifies.

To beat these Wales teams...

Healy-Best-Ross

Our best scrummaging front row and realistically best in the loose too. Well balanced and high work rate from all.

O'Connel-Ryan

Ryan adds a bit more dynamism than O'Callaghan which is needed against Wales as we learned in the RWC.

Ferris-Heaslip-SOB

SOB has become a better "seven" since the RWC in his performances, less power house runs and more turnovers. Our best backrow but we can't rely on them to carry the rest of the team.

Murray-Sexton

Sexton must play because he mixes up his game more than ROG and is much harder to defend against. With him there our attack won't be nullified so easily.

Darcy-Bowe

Bowe in there will add physicallity instead of Earls. He also will offer more direct running and gives Sexton a target. His support lines are excellent as are his offloading skills. We need a strike runner in midfield.

Fitzgerald-Kearney-Trimble

All three are in good attacking form at the moment. Kearney helps us win any kicking battle. Trimble brings more physicallity and can deal with North and Fitz is looking dangerous of late.

Pete,

Its going to be a very close game and sides look pretty even, your 2nd row has the upper hand (most do against us).

The Irish will be smarting after the WC and its going to be a cracker, if we can get an away win it would set us up really well but I think thats a big IF.