Wales World Cup Squad - Back Rowers.

Remember, vote for who you want, not who you think will get selected. Or who you think everyone else will vote for.



This is an area where Wales have seen huge growth in the last few seasons, in fact in the last season even. Players like Warburton, Turnbull, Tuperic and Faletau have answered a few people's prayers. Rob McCusker and Dan Lydiate have developed nicely too.

Then there's the old guard, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas and Andy Powell been around for a long time. Have seen a bit of good and a bit of bad.

Then you have the veteran, Martyn Williams. Capped back in the mid nineties. Almost old enough to be Tuperics father.

As of the make up of the selection, it's going to be either five or six players. Five with a couple who are versatile is most likely. But having players like Ryan Jones and Jon Thomas who can cover backrow positions and Lock means we could well take six.


Sam Warburton (Blues) 2009 - 9 Caps (5 Points)

Martyn Williams (Blues) 1996 - 98 Caps (73 Points) Lions 4 Caps

Toby Faletau (Dragons) 2011 - 1 Cap

Dan Lydiate (Dragons) 2009 - 11 Caps

Ryan Jones (Ospreys) 2004 - 52 Caps (5 Points) Lions 3 Caps

Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys) 2003 - 66 Caps (35 Points)

Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) 0 Caps

Rob McCusker (Scarlets) 2010 - 4 Caps

Josh Turnbull (Scarlets) 2010 - 4 Caps

Andy Powell (Sales Sharks) 2008 - 16 Caps

What really surprises me about this selection is that I would take two opensides, a year ago, we had Martyn Williams and a dream that one day we may see another player of his calibre.

Now we have the option of a brutish bully in Warburton, an athletic supporting player with good hands and bags of pace in Turnbull, an immensely talented all round footballer in Tuperic or the old head of the master Martyn Williams.

I was very tempted to take Tuperic ahead of Williams but I would like the reassurance if an old head like Williams.

Interesting to see how Andy Powell is so out of favour with fans... Considering the slating that Jonathan Thomas gets compared to Powell I am surprised that at least one vote has gone to Thomas and none to Powell so far.

Is this because of his recent spate of misdemeanors???

no it's because he's rubbish

You should add Delve to the list. He should go.

Yes that is a good idea i wonder if the mods can help me edit that list ???

maestegmafia wrote:Yes that is a good idea i wonder if the mods can help me edit that list ???

Done

Kiwireddevil wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Yes that is a good idea i wonder if the mods can help me edit that list ???

Done

You are very good people...! Thank you

As an outsider, I think your best bet will be to blend youthful talent and grizzled experience - too much of either one and not enough of the other could land Wales in hot water. But there's no question that the ingredients are there for a very tasty backrow unit, and looking beyond the RWC, one that will be around for many years to come

the choice of wales' starting backrow and backrow bench cover will be very interesting. there are so many options.

will gats pick the experience of ryan and martyn or the youthfull ambition of faletau and warbs?

this will be a crucial part of selection and will make or break wales' rwc.

dogtooth wrote:the choice of wales' starting backrow and backrow bench cover will be very interesting. there are so many options.

will gats pick the experience of ryan and martyn or the youthfull ambition of faletau and warbs?

this will be a crucial part of selection and will make or break wales' rwc.

Add to that DT the blindside spot. I like Lydiate a lot but he is not a cert, a lot of people dont rate him that highly.

I love the guy, his defence and work rate are outstanding, he carries ball, for me he is an exceptional player, but we also need the back row to work as a unit.

I would be tempted to see Warbs, Faletau and Lydiate given a go. But i would carry Williams and R Jones on the bench.

All very harsh on Tuperic, Turnbull and McCusker who are also very very good players.

JT seems to be out of favour on here, but I didnt think he had abad year, i still admire the guy and i do see a reason for his inclusion, though personally i didnt vote for him.

Wales have a pretty settled and experienced front five, so personally I'd go with Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau in the back row. They are the form guys, and Lydiate and Warburton have already demonstrated that they can perform to the highest standards.

Ryan Jones can go as lock/back row cover, and assuming you take only 4 props (which I think Wales should), there should be room to take Williams and Delve as well.

I agree with exile scot Lydiate and Warburton work well as a unit and do there own job as individuals outstandingly.It is who goes 8 .Is it Toby who has not played yet at test rugby level or Ryan Jones or even Delve .A tough call

funnyExiledScot wrote:Wales have a pretty settled and experienced front five, so personally I'd go with Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau in the back row. They are the form guys, and Lydiate and Warburton have already demonstrated that they can perform to the highest standards.

Ryan Jones can go as lock/back row cover, and assuming you take only 4 props (which I think Wales should), there should be room to take Williams and Delve as well.

fES, the only problem I see with that unit is its lack of experience - think you've probably got to go with Delve at 8, or Williams at 7

I think if you are talking form then Warburton had a few poor shows lately, personally I think Ryan Jones is an excellent player who did well to get back to form through all the stick he had, he can play lock as well. The two stand out guys for me last year who ironically didnt feature enough were Turnbull and Delve (outstanding in a very tough league).

You got to be looking at it in finer detail i.e combinations with the hooker probably Rees and who would be the 1st choice scrum half Phillps!!.

I probably think all the above players are not far off each other, Martyn Williams is superb and experienced, and Tuperic has all the potential ditto to Faletau, but basing the opponents Wales have in the rounds then I would opt for

8 Delve (Jones)
7 Warburton (McCusker)
6 Turnbull (Lydiate)

FHF - have you got McCusker and Turnbull back to front there?

Hello Webslinger

Sorry mate I thought Turnbull turned a few times for The Scarlets at blindside and did well

My mistake

Flyhalf - Turnbull is one of those back five forwards that can slot in where he is needed, much like JT. McCusker is more of a blinside/No.8 though. That said for ballence I do like your choices of back row units

SS

You have fantastic forwards, I honestly think you are on par with us there

I also think that Martyn Williams was one of your world class players of the last decade, but you have got to be playing at his age.

The great thing (or perhaps a poor thing!!) is you have versatile players

e.g with the exception of Williams and Turnbull everyone else has played 8
this can work against you of course as you have no specialist players

flyhalffactory wrote:SS

You have fantastic forwards, I honestly think you are on par with us there

I also think that Martyn Williams was one of your world class players of the last decade, but you have got to be playing at his age.

The great thing (or perhaps a poor thing!!) is you have versatile players

e.g with the exception of Williams and Turnbull everyone else has played 8
this can work against you of course as you have no specialist players

Thats not to dissimilar to the Kiwis or French backrows, they all move about a bit.

Even Turnbull played 8 at age grade, so would be an option if the bround stuff hit the fan.

I like the idea of the way the french/NZ teams seem to have Loosehead, Hooker, Tighthead, Back Five Forward, Scrum Half, Fly Half (or in french case Half Backs that do both), and Back Five. Then you play in one shirt more often so you get more specialised as you get more experience.

maestegmafia wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:SS

You have fantastic forwards, I honestly think you are on par with us there

I also think that Martyn Williams was one of your world class players of the last decade, but you have got to be playing at his age.

The great thing (or perhaps a poor thing!!) is you have versatile players

e.g with the exception of Williams and Turnbull everyone else has played 8
this can work against you of course as you have no specialist players

Thats not to dissimilar to the Kiwis or French backrows, they all move about a bit.

Agree there with you, I think the Welsh back 5 options are very good, your 1st choice front row is very good but you havent the stregth in depth otherwise in that area

flyhalffactory wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:SS

You have fantastic forwards, I honestly think you are on par with us there

I also think that Martyn Williams was one of your world class players of the last decade, but you have got to be playing at his age.

The great thing (or perhaps a poor thing!!) is you have versatile players

e.g with the exception of Williams and Turnbull everyone else has played 8
this can work against you of course as you have no specialist players

Thats not to dissimilar to the Kiwis or French backrows, they all move about a bit.

Agree there with you, I think the Welsh back 5 options are very good, your 1st choice front row is very good but you havent the stregth in depth otherwise in that area

Craig Mitchell proved his worth this year, Paul James has been very good over the last two years and hibbard has been a great find as a hooker, lloyd Burns is untried at test level but has played some great rugby and looks good to step up. I dont think that is any less depth than any one else in the NH or most SH teams either.