RugbyRebels

WALES TEAM TO PLAY FIJI ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (17 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (69 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (45 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (130 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (21 Caps)
7. James Davies (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (36 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (46 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (75 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (16 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (20 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (78 Caps)
14. George North (Ospreys) (88 Caps)
15. Liam Williams (Saracens) (60 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (24 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Saracens) (1 Cap)
18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (17 Caps)
19. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (22 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (14 Caps)
21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (17 Caps)

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Probably OK after a nice long break.

Nothing contentious in the back row changes.

Shingler on the bench gives a lot more flexibility for line out and back row options; presumably it is felt that he is OK as the second row cover given Gatland's perception of the Fijian scrum.

Glad to see Rhys Carre getting an outing, I had wondered if he might start.

I think it is probably the right order for biggar and Patchell (with Patchell as full back cover if Sanjay has to move to the wing).

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As ever, not much to argue with. I'd have chosen slightly differently but I'm perfectly happy with that.

I almost miss the days of "WTF is the coach thinking?"

It’s difficult at this stage to know just what a challenge Fiji will be. By all accounts it should be a very hard game and if the Fijians are in the right frame of mind then securing a BP could be elusive.

Still it’s a strong side with minimal changes and if we can put them away early in the game it’s a chance to bring on early the finishers to give them more game time and protect key players.

Good the see the Davies boys playing together. If James is on top form and can win turnovers then will be a huge bonus for the cause.

Good strong team - cannot be complacent with Fiji.

normanski wrote:It’s difficult at this stage to know just what a challenge Fiji will be. By all accounts it should be a very hard game and if the Fijians are in the right frame of mind then securing a BP could be elusive.

Agreed, but - thankfully - we don't need to worry about BPs. If we somehow lose against Uruguay, a BP against Fiji won't help us. Two 4pt wins and Aus can't catch us.

Sourdust wrote:

normanski wrote:It’s difficult at this stage to know just what a challenge Fiji will be. By all accounts it should be a very hard game and if the Fijians are in the right frame of mind then securing a BP could be elusive.

Agreed, but - thankfully - we don't need to worry about BPs. If we somehow lose against Uruguay, a BP against Fiji won't help us. Two 4pt wins and Aus can't catch us.[/quote

Yep I was thinking about if our game against Uruguay was abandoned because of the typhoon and we only secured two points we could end up on the same level of points as Oz. In that case we would still head the table because we beat them.

Interesting times. Let’s hope the weather does throw up some result anomalies.

Sourdust wrote:

normanski wrote:It’s difficult at this stage to know just what a challenge Fiji will be. By all accounts it should be a very hard game and if the Fijians are in the right frame of mind then securing a BP could be elusive.

Agreed, but - thankfully - we don't need to worry about BPs. If we somehow lose against Uruguay, a BP against Fiji won't help us. Two 4pt wins and Aus can't catch us.

Might be useful if our match vs Uruguay is cancelled on the day due to a typhoon. According to the Fail anyway who seem determined to look on the miserable side of life.

Sandydragon wrote:

Sourdust wrote:

normanski wrote:It’s difficult at this stage to know just what a challenge Fiji will be. By all accounts it should be a very hard game and if the Fijians are in the right frame of mind then securing a BP could be elusive.

Agreed, but - thankfully - we don't need to worry about BPs. If we somehow lose against Uruguay, a BP against Fiji won't help us. Two 4pt wins and Aus can't catch us.

Might be useful if our match vs Uruguay is cancelled on the day due to a typhoon. According to the Fail anyway who seem determined to look on the miserable side of life.

Bonus points could also come into play if we lose to Fiji (heaven forbid) if we were to get two losing bonus points and then the 5 expected points against Uruguay than we would still top the group on the strength of the head to head against Australia.

A four and five point win in the next two games would certainly lay down a marker for the rest of the competition.

So long as we come through both games with wins and no injuries we will be ‘happy bunnies’!

Of course anything less than 5 points against Uruguay will raise unwelcome questions and doubts. But the Fiji match is just a job that needs doing, against a dangerous side, and we have to be prepared to take any win that's on offer. Obviously I want to see us shred them but if 9-3 is what it takes, I'll embrace and celebrate that.

And yes, I'll take 9-3 and no injuries over 66-0 and a couple of crocks, with a smile and a thankyouverymuch.

Numbers wrote: Bonus points could also come into play if we lose to Fiji (heaven forbid) if we were to get two losing bonus points and then the 5 expected points against Uruguay than we would still top the group on the strength of the head to head against Australia.

Quite right, I should have said BPs don't matter AS LONG AS WE WIN.

Of course, should we lose, BPs might be crucial.

So long as we get 4 points, we're fine. If we get less than 4, we have to get more than 0.

Sourdust wrote:Of course anything less than 5 points against Uruguay will raise unwelcome questions and doubts. But the Fiji match is just a job that needs doing, against a dangerous side, and we have to be prepared to take any win that's on offer. Obviously I want to see us shred them but if 9-3 is what it takes, I'll embrace and celebrate that.

And yes, I'll take 9-3 and no injuries over 66-0 and a couple of crocks, with a smile and a thankyouverymuch.

Yes indeed, although the last few minutes will be tense if Fiji could win it with a try.

Anyone here or are you all hiding behind the sofa?

Oh shit,

Haha.

Oh shit!

That’s better.

Fiji might rue their missed conversions

Biggar kicking well.

Wales lucky to be so close.

Fiji should have won this and you should all be very ashamed of yourselves.

We won fair and square. All part of Gatland’s plan

Hopefully not any serious injuries, Biggar looks like he'll certainly miss the next game tho Patchell was better than him when he came on imo, Foxy limped off as well.

All in all a decent display, we could have panicked after that start but we just played our way into the game.

They biffed so many chances before you switched on. The noble thing to do would be to hand over your 6 nations trophy.