Wales Tour of Japan

I know there was a thread on this somewhere, but it's been swamped.

Wales Lions - likely replacements

Halfpenny - Liam Williams
Cuthbert - Walker, Robinson
Davies - Williams, Maule
Roberts - Beck, Hewitt
North - Owen Williams (gutted for Mike Poole)
Phillips - Aled Davies, Tavis Knoyle
Jenkins - Gill
Hibbard - Myhill
Jones - Mitchell
AW Jones - Lou Reed
Ian Evans - King, Kohn
Lydiate - Ieuan Jones
Warburton and Tipuric - Thomas
Faletau - Bearman

What do you think? Anybody else you'd like to see tour Japan?

Wales Training Squad:
Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Sam Hobbs (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues), Josh Navidi (Blues).
Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Aled Davis (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).

LATEST WRU PRESS RELEASE:




Wales Training Squad Update

Wales have called Cardiff Blues outside half Rhys Patchell and Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Sam Parry into their training squad for the tour of Japan but Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland has been ruled out of the tour.

Priestland aggravated his Achilles tendon in the warm-up of the Scarlets’ RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final on Friday evening and will miss the two-test tour.

Patchell, 19, who has scored 147 points in 22 appearances for the Blues this season and Haverfordwest born Parry, joined up with the training squad when they met for the first time this morning.

Ken Owens, Scott Williams and Liam Williams who picked up knocks in the defeat to Ulster, will continue to be monitored by the National Squad medical team.

Rhys PATCHELL (CARDIFF BLUES - Uncapped)
DoB: 17.05.93. 6’2” / 1.88m. 14st 13lbs / 95kgs
International record: Uncapped

Sam PARRY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS - Uncapped)
DoB: 17.12.91. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 11lbs / 107kgs
International record: Uncapped.

Further update:

Scott Williams out. Will not be replaced in the squad.

Further update:

Ken Owens confirmed out, won't be replaced. 27 man squad TBA.

Cheers Munkian:

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WELSH RUGBY UNION:
WALES ANNOUNCE JAPAN TOUR SQUAD

Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies will lead Wales in the forthcoming two-test tour of Japan.

The 26-year-old was named captain as Head Coach for the Japan tour Robin McBryde reduced his initial training squad down to a 27-man touring party.

The squad includes nine uncapped players including Ospreys duo Dafydd Howells and Dan Baker and Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell.

Props Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues) and Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs) who all featured for Wales in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations are joined by Saracens’ Rhys Gill and Rhodri Jones (Scarlets).

Uncapped pair Emyr Phillips (Scarlets) and Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) are named as hookers.

Davies returns to the squad after missing the Six Nations campaign due to injury and is named alongside Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Lou Reed (Blues) and James King (Ospreys).

Baker, 20, who featured 25 times for Swansea in the Principality Premiership this season, joins Scarlets duo Aaron Shingler and Rob McCusker and Blues captain Andries Pretorius.

Lloyd Williams (Blues) and Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets) are named at scrum-half alongside Dan Biggar (Ospreys) and Patchell at fly-half.

In the backline Ospreys trio Ashley Beck, Jonathan Spratt and 18-year-old Howells are joined by Blues duo Owen Williams and Harry Robinson, Liam Williams (Scarlets), Tom Prydie (Dragons) and Steven Shingler (London Irish).

Wales face Eddie Jones’ Japan in Osaka on June 8th and then in Tokyo on June 15th and McBryde has been impressed with his squad over the past ten days.

“We’ve had the training squad together for more than a week and we’ve been impressed,” said McBryde.

“They have really put the effort in and stepped up as we have asked them to. Everyone in the training squad put their hand up for selection making our jobs much harder.

“It’s a chance for these players now to experience the international test environment and put their marker down.
Wales Squad:

Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues).

Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).

I want Owen Williams the fly half to go and get capped, to be on the safe side.

Coombs.

Samson Lee without a doubt.

Paul James, garin Evans, king

That would be my starting team & squad.

15 Lee Bryne
14 Harry Robinson
13 James Hook
12 Scott Williams
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Bigger
9 Dwayne Peel (vc)
8 Ryan Jones (c)
7 Josh Navidi
6 Aaron Shingler
5 Luke Charteris
4 Bradley Davies
3 Sampson Lee
2 Ken Owens
1 Paul James

16 Ashley Beck
17 Rhys Priestland
18 Lloyd Williams
19 James King
20 Andrew Coombs
21 Crag Mitchell
22 Matthew Rees
23 Ryan Bevington

------------------------
24 Jack Dixon
25 Steffan Jones
26 Tom Prydie
27 Cory Allen
28 Sam Lewis
29 Kirby Myhill
30 Lloyd Peers
31 Andries Pretorius
32 Sam Hobbs
33 Liam Williams
34 Scott Andrews

glamorganalun wrote:

Shifty wrote:That would be my starting team & squad.

15 Lee Bryne
14 Harry Robinson
13 James Hook
12 Scott Williams
11 Eli Walker
10 Dan Bigger
9 Dwayne Peel (vc)
8 Ryan Jones (c)
7 Josh Navidi
6 Aaron Shingler
5 Luke Charteris
4 Bradley Davies
3 Sampson Lee
2 Ken Owens
1 Paul James

16 Ashley Beck
17 Rhys Priestland
18 Lloyd Williams
19 James King
20 Andrew Coombs
21 Crag Mitchell
22 Matthew Rees
23 Ryan Bevington

------------------------
24 Jack Dixon
25 Steffan Jones
26 Tom Prydie
27 Cory Allen
28 Sam Lewis
29 Kirby Myhill
30 Lloyd Peers
31 Andries Pretorius
32 Sam Hobbs
33 Liam Williams
34 Scott Andrews

This team should have a warm up game game against the lions, it will be a close game, good squad selection.

Give a few youngsters a good go.
I would like to see
Rob Evans
Samson lee
Eli Walker
Ales Davies
Cory Allen
Jack Dixon
Jake Ball
Aled Davies

Only think we should take a handful of experienced players. Ryan Jones will be on standby list for lions.
So just a few players like paul james, matthew rees, bradley davies could be leaders. Matthew Rees for captain

Lets hope Kohn gets nowhere near another Welsh squad especially when we have Coombs and Davies around.

Jhamer25 wrote:Only think we should take a handful of experienced players. Ryan Jones will be on standby list for lions.
So just a few players like paul james, matthew rees, bradley davies could be leaders. Matthew Rees for captain

I really don't think Japan is the place to be blooding kids. I'd take the strongest and most experienced team we can and hope for the best.
They days of 98-0 wins are gone I'm afraid their like a pacific island nation these days.

Japan will be playing a lot of rugby though in the coming weeks.

20 April 2013 Japan 121 V 0 Philippines
27 April 2013 Hong Kong 0 V 38 Japan
4 May 2013 Japan V South Korea
10 May 2013 United Arab Emirates V Japan
25 May 2013 Japan V Tonga
1 June 2013 Fiji V Japan
8 June 2013 Japan V Wales
15 June 2013 Japan V Wales
19 June 2013 Japan V Canada
23 June 2013 Japan V United States

7 Days before they play us their going to Fiji to play Fiji which won't be too much fun. Then 4 days after the second test they play Canada, which will surely test them!

You do wonder what kind of shape Japan might be in by the time they play us and how many bumps and bruises they might have!

A bit of ballence is needed, a few youngsters have put their hands up for selection with their Rabo form. IMO Patchell and Lee deserve to go based on form. Owen Williams, fly half, needs to tour to ensure he is kept on the radar next season. And maybe some players like Priestland and B Davies could do with the summer of to ensure they are ready for next season.

Jhamer25 wrote:Give a few youngsters a good go.
I would like to see
Rob Evans
Samson lee
Eli Walker
Ales Davies
Cory Allen
Jack Dixon
Jake Ball
Aled Davies

Only think we should take a handful of experienced players. Ryan Jones will be on standby list for lions.
So just a few players like paul james, matthew rees, bradley davies could be leaders. Matthew Rees for captain

Standby players will need to keep fit for the potential Lions call up also Japan is not so far from Australia.

Toyed with this earlier

Paul James Ken Owens Samson Lee
Bradley Davies Andrew Coombes
Lewis Evans Shingler McCusker (?)
Alled Davies
Biggar/Patchell
Walker Scott Williams Bishop Robinson
Sanjay

Though I forgot about Ryan Jones ! And Navidi

I wouldn't mind a game against the Philippines.

Strongest team would be

1. Paul James
2. Ken Owens
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Andrew Coombes
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Navidi
8. Ryan Jones
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
11. Eli Walker
12. Ashley Beck
13. Scott Williams
14. Liam Williams
15. Lee Byrne

16. Rhys Gill
17. Craig Mitchell
18. Matthew Rees
19. James King
20. Andreus Pretorious
21. Aled Davies
22. Rhys Patchell
23. James Hook

Yes

I really don't think Japan is the place to be blooding kids. I'd take the strongest and most experienced team we can and hope for the best.
They days of 98-0 wins are gone I'm afraid their like a pacific island nation these days.

Japan will be playing a lot of rugby though in the coming weeks.

20 April 2013 Japan 121 V 0 Philippines
27 April 2013 Hong Kong 0 V 38 Japan
4 May 2013 Japan V South Korea
10 May 2013 United Arab Emirates V Japan
25 May 2013 Japan V Tonga
1 June 2013 Fiji V Japan
8 June 2013 Japan V Wales
15 June 2013 Japan V Wales
19 June 2013 Japan V Canada
23 June 2013 Japan V United States

7 Days before they play us their going to Fiji to play Fiji which won't be too much fun. Then 4 days after the second test they play Canada, which will surely test them!

You do wonder what kind of shape Japan might be in by the time they play us and how many bumps and bruises they might have!

Ok true they are not going to be push overs but they aren't going to be hard to beat ither with a good scrum and dominente pack we could beat them quite soundly. Look at this pack i have come up with for a minute. Young and dominent.
1. Rob Evans
2. Matthew rees (captain)
3. Samson Lee
4. Jake Ball
5. Bradley Davies
6. Ryan Jones
7. Navidi
8. Morgan Allen
Rob evans and samson Lee although very young have dominated every scum i have seen them in. Wales U20's world cup they were knwn as the most domientn scrum in the championship. They smashed the New Zealand scrum to pieces and was what i believe the main reason they beat the baby blacks.
A pack along those lines could win it for us.

Patchell will be in the JWC

As much as players like Jones, Davies, James and Hook etc would want to tour do we gain much from them touring.

Whilst I understand the need for experience we all know what they are capable of.

Really exciting backs.

Is the Squad announced today?

Even without the bias of having my Dragons hat on I really do hope Adam Hughes gets to tour.

Wales Training Squad:
Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Sam Hobbs (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues), Josh Navidi (Blues).
Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Aled Davis (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish


No Adam Hughes or Lewis Evans

Glad Aled Davis is getting a crack though ! And McShingler ? Hmmm

munkian wrote:Glad Aled Davis is getting a crack though ! And McShingler ? Hmmm

Rhodri Jones as a tighthead, but no Samson Lee? Also no Owen Williams.

Away with the u20s squad maybe ?

Lou Reed in over Lloyd Peers and Richard Kelly?

Certainly no need for Pretorious to travel either!

munkian wrote:Away with the u20s squad maybe ?

Good point.

A fairly balanced touring party to build the youngsters without losing some of the experienced heads...

Glas a du wrote:

munkian wrote:Away with the u20s squad maybe ?

Good point.

Samson is too old now, so bad point

I think there is a bit of keeping the squad together as much as possible with this selection. I would like to have seen a bit more youth in there, maybe Jake Ball etc. But maybe it is a confidence building exercise for the fringe players.

I would have liked to Have seen Dan Evans, Jack Dixon, Adam Hughes, Hallom Amos, Steff Jones from the Dragons but some of those may well be in the U20s tour

Check their ages, the pedantry Police will be checking

I was talking about Owen Williams. I presume Samson is over looked as he has been playing a lot of top class rugby for a young man with his knee strapped.

JONNY EVANS JONNY EVANS JONNY EVANS!!!!!!

Wtf!!? Why hasn't Jonny Evans been selected?!?!?!
What a joke!


- Amos, Dixon and Ieaun Jones will be at the u20 WC

Who's Johny Evans?

Dragons 10/15

Thought Cudd might have got a shout too

I can see why he has left out paul james, hook, matthew and ryan all are experienced players and don't need to prove anything in Japan. Also they all have a chance of being a back up.
I'm glad that Aled Davies, Rhys Gill, Owen Williams and steven shingler are in.
Also i am so glad Dan Baker is in, I was hoping either him or morgan allen of osrpeys would go but didn't think either would. he had bags of talent and i hope he gets a good go out for them. reminds me of picomoles (advise you to look him up if you havent' seen him yet)
Glad he has avoided U20's players as they are needed for the U20's world cup.
Dont like playing James king in second row, he is a flanker as he is athletic/mobile and not big enough for second row. Would have liked to have seen either Jake Ball or lloyd pears instead.
Dont get the choice of rhodri for tighthead as well (looks like they are still trying to convert him), should definitley be samson and would have liked Rob evans instead of sam hobbs.
But a good team overall
7/10 from me robin

Some strange selections, Dafydd Howells is just 18 and I don't think he has played for the Ospreys yet. Harry Robinson is the only other wing in the Squad. Both Prydie and Liam Williams can play there but are much better at 15. It looks like Shingler Jr has also been taken as a 15, so three 15s and one and a bit wings!

I agree with other posters taking Rhodri Jones to play out of position as a tight head and leaving out Samson Lee is plain stupid!

Jonny Evans has been the form 9 all season..
I just can't get my head around this!!

Never heard of Howells?

Back 3 looks light, pity Byrne is too old to make the next WC

Glad Owen Williams is going as a centre

Not sure why Lewis Evans and Samson Lee have been excluded

Knoyle?!

1. Bevington
2. Owens
3. Andrews
4. Davies
5. Coombes
6. Shingler
7. Navidi
8. Baker (it will be McCusker or Pretorious though)
9. Williams
10. Biggar
11. Robinson (:/)
12. Beck
13. Williams
14. Prydie
15. Williams

16. Phillips
17. Gill
18. Mitchell
19. King
20. Pretorious (light in second and backrow replacements)
21. Davies
22. Preistland
23. O.Williams

youngguns6 wrote:Jonny Evans has been the form 9 all season..
I just can't get my head around this!!

It's a shocking omission. Never mind how well he's played this season and last, they say they have an eye on development with this tour, but they're taking Lloyd Williams and Tavis Knoyle! If those two still need developing, then what hope is there for them?

Tavis Knoyle has been called up to the 7s squad this weekend - assumable because he isn't going to get gametime at the Scarlets before Japan.

Interestingly Owen Williams (blues) has also been called up, which is strange as he would have started for the Blues this weekend

Jonny Evans must be gutted!!!

Lewis Evans has been seen as sub par by Gats I think!!!

I can understand no Lee as with Mitchell, and Andrews will he be ready come 2015? I think he'll be too young at what 23?

I'm a little shocked by no Allen, his 7's form is excellent, and he needs 15 gametime as next season he'll bve starting centre at the Blues I think!

Pretorious is a waste of a call up IMHO!!

Glad O. Williams, and Shinglar have been given call ups though!!

Lloyd WIlliams, Harry Robinson are not int quality though, neither are even club quality!!!

Who is Johny Evans?

Who are you Glas? Robin McBride?

The bait didn't work first time, so not sure why you tried it again?

To see if someone would say why it is such a travesty of justice, rather than just say that it is. Does that make sense?

Firstly, because his form dictates he should be selected. Secondly, there's two Turk scrumhalves in there, which in itself is a bit wrong (unless there is no other option available). Knoyle or Davies shouldn't be in the squad in my opinion. I would say Knoyle shouldn't be in there.

But Jon Evans has been playing very well in an under performing Dragons team and probably deserved to be in the 6 Nations squad. He's even done as much as to outplay the current holder of the Welsh 9 shirt at least once this season.

Jonny has been excellent for the Dragons, and hasn't put a foot wrong in a season and a half, he deserves a shot!!

I like Davies, and Knoyle, but I would certainly sacrifice one for Evans, and I would certainly drop Lloyd Williams for him!!!

TOKYO - Japan wrapped up the Asian 5 Nations rugby title after beating South Korea 64-5 on Saturday.

Takashi Kikutani ran in two tries in the first half as the hosts took a 40-0 lead en route to securing their sixth straight Asian 5 Nations title with one game still to play.

Japan extended its lead in the second half with tries by Hendrik Tui, Male Sa'u and Ayamu Goromaru, who finished with seven conversions. The South Koreans' sole try came through Oh Youn-hyung two minutes from time.

Japan extended its winning run against South Korea to nine games.

Do you think that Japan are increasing the level of Asian rugby. They're the power in the region sure, but are the helping the other nations develop?