Wales Tour of Japan

First topic message reminder :

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).

Is Jonathan Evans not in the Wales U20 squad for the JWC?
I have a lot of gripes with this squad selected for Japan, which I don't really have time to go into this afternoon. That said, Japan have a good chance of beating us.

I don't think he is Saint. Though my understanding is Harry Robinson was and now isn't, so maybe it shouldn't make a difference.

Well Jonny Evans as well as some others can feel hard done by. I can understand the Lloyd Williams selection but not the other two. Tavis Knoyle for a start is just utter rubbish and has barely played at all this season anyway. Aled Davies is what, 18? I think he's been playing pretty well but I don't see the need to rush things with him. I also think his colleague Gareth Davies is a better player, as are No.9 exiles like Richie Rees.

Tavis is most likely Phillips long term replacement as he is of a similar mould and style, not sure why he gets as much stick as he does. I remember Nigel Davies saying Tav was the most naturally talented scrum half for his age (19 at the time) he had seen, including Dwayne or Mike.

SS, has Tavis been signed by Gloucester or has he been let go? Does that make sense? Just wondering if he was surplus to requirements or whether he was going to be the main man but got 'pinched' by Glaws? Either way, Nigel is showing that he still sees him as a quality player.

Him and Gareth Davies, as rumour goes, were allowed to look for new clubs. So I think it was decided we only needed Aled Davies, Rhodri Williams and a.n.other at scrum half. Believe Glaws got him for free.

Well, I guess it means that we get more scrum halves playing each week at the top level. Probably no space at other regions as SH seems to be a position of strength across the 4 sides.

Tavis gets very unreasonable criticism on these boards. I wouldn't mind him returning to the ospreys to be honest. He would be a good signing for us.

Mike Phillips without the flair...

Glas a du wrote:Mike Phillips without the flair...

He has showed time and again better skills and game reading than Phillips, loads of potential, but maybe suffering a bit at the Scarlets.

A move could really re-ignight his game.

Still haven't heard a reason for Lou Reed over Lloyd Peers or Richard Kelly, or even Pretorious over Ieuan Jones...

Makes no sense to take

Well Jones is with the U20 team... Reed is probably in because of his partnership with Bradley, and because he is more of a regular in the international squad. He isn't that bad an option, plus Peers and Kelly haven't had a lot of match time. Hobbs is another puzzling selection.

maestegmafia wrote:Still haven't heard a reason for Lou Reed over Lloyd Peers or Richard Kelly, or even Pretorious over Ieuan Jones...

Makes no sense to take

Lou is a regular regional starter, has played a fair bit of hec rugby and has a Grandslam winners medal. To be fair the other two don't.

Pretorious has Rabo and HEC experience, and captancy experience of a 'top flight' team, where as Jones has played LV= Cup games (and the odd Rabo game?).

Jones was a bit of regular for the Dragons before the final games of the U20 Six Nations. He's played in Amlin Cup games against Wasps and Bayonne as well, games in which he played exceptionally well. Pretourious is a waste of space, but perhaps someone like Olly Kohn could have made a difference. It wouldn't be very nice to just leave him on that single cap he received when he came off the bench against Ireland.

The Saint wrote:Jones was a bit of regular for the Dragons before the final games of the U20 Six Nations. He's played in Amlin Cup games against Wasps and Bayonne as well, games in which he played exceptionally well. Pretourious is a waste of space, but perhaps someone like Olly Kohn could have made a difference. It wouldn't be very nice to just leave him on that single cap he received when he came off the bench against Ireland.

I don't see players like Reed, Pretorious, or Kohn for that matter being any use to Wales unless we are suffering from another intolerable injury rate in a sole position.

Better to cap youngsters than to worry about re-capping an ageing bloke who only showed interest for representing Wales late in his career.

maestegmafia wrote:

The Saint wrote:Jones was a bit of regular for the Dragons before the final games of the U20 Six Nations. He's played in Amlin Cup games against Wasps and Bayonne as well, games in which he played exceptionally well. Pretourious is a waste of space, but perhaps someone like Olly Kohn could have made a difference. It wouldn't be very nice to just leave him on that single cap he received when he came off the bench against Ireland.

I don't see players like Reed, Pretorious, or Kohn for that matter being any use to Wales unless we are suffering from another intolerable injury rate in a sole position.

Better to cap youngsters than to worry about re-capping an ageing bloke who only showed interest for representing Wales late in his career.

Some of them are big and powerful though,which would help. I actually have a few gripes with the squad selected maestegmafia. It was best to have a good mix of youth and experience. Some names must have been picked out of a hat given how random/wrong they are. The current squad is leaderless and now stands a greater chance of allowing Japan to cause an upset. They are coached by a Kiwi remember, who inspired them to a good showing at the 2011 RWC.
Wales has become obsessed with capping youngsters for the sake of it, and I don't believe it's necessary. Especially when there's a good group of players at the under-represented region.

The Scarlets have 4 very good scrumhalfs, but are loosing money (like all the other Welsh Regions). They are therefore releasing the most expensive players to reduce the salary bill. Knoyle also will spend much of next season with the Wales squad, so better to pay wages to a player who will be available for the Scarlets.

A few injury worries for Wales this weekend with Priestland, Owens, Sanjay and Scott Williams leaving the pitch against Ulster.

Also Japan have named their squad now

Beeb wrote:Japan coach Eddie Jones has named a 35-man squad for the two Test series against Wales in June.

Former Australia coach Jones has added Super 14 players Shoa Horie (Rebels), Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders) and Michael Leitch (Chiefs) to his Asian Five Nations-winning squad.

Japan recently won their sixth consecutive title, scoring 316 points and conceding just eight.

"We have now picked a squad that we believe can beat Wales," said Jones.

Japan play Wales in two Tests in Osaka on 8 June and Tokyo on 15 June following warm-up matches against Tonga on 25 May and Fiji on 1 June.

JAPAN SQUAD

Forwards: Yusuke Nagae (Ricoh BlackRams), Masataka Mikami (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Takuma Asahara (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Shota Horie (Panasonic Wild Knights),Takeshi Kizu (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Yusuke Aoki (Suntory Sungoliath), Hiroki Yuhara (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Hiroshi Yamashita (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath) Shoji Ito (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Shinya Makabe (Suntory Sungoliath), Justin Ives (Canon Eagles), Ryuta Yasui (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Michael Broadhurst (Ricoh BlackRams), Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Hendrik Tui (Suntory Sungoliath), Takashi Kikutani (Toyota Verblitz), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights).

Backs: Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath), Fumiaki Tanaka (Panasonic Wild Knights), Keisuke Uchida (Univ.of Tsukuba), Kosei Ono (Suntory Sungoliath), Yu Tamura (NEC Green Rockets), Harumichi Tatekawa (Kubota Spears), Craig Wing (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Ryoto Nakamura (Teikyo Univ.), Male Sau (Yamaha Jubilo), Seiichi Shimomura (Panasonic Wild Knights), Yoshikazu Fujita (Waseda Univ.), Toshiaki HIROSE (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Yuta Imamura (Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers), Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory Sungoliath), Kenki Fukuoka (Univ.of Tsukuba), Ayumu Goromaru (Yamaha Jubilo)

I went to watch Japan versus UAE the other night and they were awful. It was typical of when a team is stuffing a poor side and everybody gets white line fever, whereas you would hope an international team would have enough about them to maintain their discipline and structure. The only players that really stood out for me, was their 8 who ran some great lines and their left winger who looked pretty pacy and scored a hattrick within twenty mins or so.

I had a photo next to Craig Wing and the Asian 5 Nations trophy and did a bit of research on him as a result and he has a pretty impressive Rugby League cv. I didn't think he was overly big, but he would probably be a bit of a dangerman also.

Japan's answer to Rob Kearney then.

Priestland is out, Wales have called in Patchell as his replacement. Elliot Dee also gets a call up. There goes our JWC then.

The Saint wrote:Priestland is out, Wales have called in Patchell as his replacement. Elliot Dee also gets a call up. There goes our JWC then.

Sam Parry has, not Elliott Dee.

The Saint wrote:Priestland is out, Wales have called in Patchell as his replacement. Elliot Dee also gets a call up. There goes our JWC then.

Patchell

BRING IT ON JAPAN

Is it just Biggar and Patchell as 10s? He should get some gametime then

Patchell with decent centres....could be fun


Big blow for the U20s though, by far their best 10 and best goal kicker to boot.

Who is Parry?

Dragon's Hooker, promising young up and comer

Risca Rev wrote:

The Saint wrote:Priestland is out, Wales have called in Patchell as his replacement. Elliot Dee also gets a call up. There goes our JWC then.

Sam Parry has, not Elliott Dee.

Ah, got them mixed up.

wales606 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Priestland is out, Wales have called in Patchell as his replacement. Elliot Dee also gets a call up. There goes our JWC then.

Patchell

BRING IT ON JAPAN

Is it just Biggar and Patchell as 10s? He should get some gametime then

Patchell with decent centres....could be fun


Big blow for the U20s though, by far their best 10 and best goal kicker to boot.

Who is Parry?

Unless they leave Patchell out of the final squad, which I doubt now that he's in. Shingler also plays 10 so you could add him to the list. Not sure why Owen Williams wasn't called up, another blunder.

Really pleased for Sam Parry. He's our most accurate lineout thrower and good in the loose too.

*Training squad update posted in article*

Scott Williams is out of the tour too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22488528

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Scott Williams is out of the tour too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22488528

Big chance for another Blues player, Owen Williams - he hasn't had the chances at 13 that he should have, but has been excellent when chosen. Spratt is the other option, but I would rather Williams

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
12. Ashley Beck
13. Owen Williams

Still some quality their, with Patchell off the bench to hopefully show the Blues management what he can do with a quality 12 and Owen Williams at 13!


This tour could be quite interesting, a lot of future stars on show

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Scott Williams is out of the tour too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22488528

And still no Adam Hughes in the squad

wales606 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Scott Williams is out of the tour too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22488528

Big chance for another Blues player, Owen Williams - he hasn't had the chances at 13 that he should have, but has been excellent when chosen. Spratt is the other option, but I would rather Williams

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
12. Ashley Beck
13. Owen Williams

Still some quality their, with Patchell off the bench to hopefully show the Blues management what he can do with a quality 12 and Owen Williams at 13!


This tour could be quite interesting, a lot of future stars on show

Would be even better if they could try out a center pairing of:

13. Eli Walker (the next jerry guscott)
12. Corry Allen

Scrumdown wrote:

wales606 wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Scott Williams is out of the tour too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22488528

Big chance for another Blues player, Owen Williams - he hasn't had the chances at 13 that he should have, but has been excellent when chosen. Spratt is the other option, but I would rather Williams

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Dan Biggar
12. Ashley Beck
13. Owen Williams

Still some quality their, with Patchell off the bench to hopefully show the Blues management what he can do with a quality 12 and Owen Williams at 13!


This tour could be quite interesting, a lot of future stars on show

Would be even better if they could try out a center pairing of:

13. Eli Walker (the next jerry guscott)
12. Corry Allen

Walker at centre - his defence is bad enough for a winger

Allen has been playing a lot of his rugby at 13 recently, although I expect he will get regional games at 12

wales606 wrote:

scrumdown wrote:

Would be even better if they could try out a center pairing of:

13. Eli Walker (the next jerry guscott)
12. Corry Allen

Walker at centre - his defence is bad enough for a winger

Allen has been playing a lot of his rugby at 13 recently, although I expect he will get regional games at 12

But you can teach a player to tackle. E Walker can also do things that you can't teach and he played at center for the under 20's.

J Davies and J Roberts are too predictable. Good enough for the Six Nations but easily dealt with by the southern hemisphere teams. The forward pack looks strong enough to challenge at the world cup but our three quarters look too ordinary.

Scrumdown wrote:

wales606 wrote:

scrumdown wrote:

Would be even better if they could try out a center pairing of:

13. Eli Walker (the next jerry guscott)
12. Corry Allen

Walker at centre - his defence is bad enough for a winger

Allen has been playing a lot of his rugby at 13 recently, although I expect he will get regional games at 12

But you can teach a player to tackle. E Walker can also do things that you can't teach and he played at center for the under 20's.

J Davies and J Roberts are too predictable. Good enough for the Six Nations but easily dealt with by the southern hemisphere teams. The forward pack looks strong enough to challenge at the world cup but our three quarters look too ordinary.

You can teach the techniques of tackling with effort, it is a bit easier to fix problems with defensive positioning - however, some player seem to have a problem with the desire to tackle, that is why a lot of promising young U20s players don't kick on. It is why I think Cory Allen has a big future, he is the best defensive midfield play I have seen come through the U20s that I can remember.

I am quite excited by this squad. I was just chatting with a mate about the prospects of young Baker as a number 8. He has showed some promise so far. This will be good for him, even if just being part of the environment of the welsh squad

Likewise the prospect of "Jock" Shingler having a run at inside centre with maybe beck outside him. Should Scott Williams not make it.

Baldwin has shown he has the ability as a hooker for Ospreys, shame his injury caused him to miss games this season.

We might find some future prospects to kick on for the future on this tour. Very glad Shaun Edwards will be there to guide them in the right direction.

I still think it's such a shame Jon Evans isn't going.

Does anybody know what time of day the games are on and if they will be televised ? Thanks

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I still think it's such a shame Jon Evans isn't going.

I think it's an absolute stinker of a decision.

Risca Rev wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I still think it's such a shame Jon Evans isn't going.

I think it's an absolute stinker of a decision.

Don't get me started on that, especially when seeing the dross called up for the No.9 jersey.

Ken Owens is out for definite. Doesn't anyone think they should have called up Rees?

The Saint wrote:Ken Owens is out for definite. Doesn't anyone think they should have called up Rees?

It's looking like a very green team now

Bradley Davies and Lloyd Williams are the only player with more than 10 caps.

Dan Biggar and Aaron Shinger and elder statesmen in the team.

Have they announced a tour captain yet? Bradley Davies must be a good shout at the moment.

Is anyone disappointed that Patchell has been called up? I would rather see him at U20s. I would live to see further Welsh success at this level.
Seems a crazy waste of resources to send a touring squad to Japan for only 2 matches against iffy opposition Why no mid week match?
Why not send a Wales A team on tour to NZ or SA?

rees playing for the barbarians. Im glad a lot of green blood in the team . looking forward seeing the next Welsh stars emerging

wales606 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Ken Owens is out for definite. Doesn't anyone think they should have called up Rees?

It's looking like a very green team now

Bradley Davies and Lloyd Williams are the only player with more than 10 caps.

Dan Biggar and Aaron Shinger and elder statesmen in the team.

Have they announced a tour captain yet? Bradley Davies must be a good shout at the moment.

Probably be Brad aye. The actual squad is being finalised on Monday or Tuesday (I think).

I think Rees getting the nod and the captaincy would have been the sensible option, though I guess it doesn't always have to be a senior player who is captain.

If Lewis Evans had gone then I would have given him the captaincy but how about having a punt on someone like Shingler see if he is captain material so to speak.

I'm not convinced Lewis Evans deserves a spot more than James King or Aarron Shingler though.

Not sure who I would make captain.

Brad Davies is the most Qualified.

My disappointment is still in the selection of Reed and Pretorious. North have played well and neither look talented enough to have a career in the welsh team

Maybe so, Maes, but I suppose the coaches have to get the balance right between developing players and making sure we actually win the Tests.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Maybe so, Maes, but I suppose the coaches have to get the balance right between developing players and making sure we actually win the Tests.

Sure agree with thy but I don't see Lou Reed and Pretorious as the type of blokes who would make that difference to winning or losing. Neither are spectacular in any way.

Where as Lloyd Peers or Richard Kelly could really benefit, they are good players too.

Not sure about replacing Pretorious but you know young Lewis Evans could have filled a spot or Hamilton?

I'm not too animated about it either way. I don't rate Reed or Pretorius particularly, but the coaching staff must rate them so I'll go along with that for now.