RugbyRebels

Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard (vice-captain), Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Ellis Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Ross Moriarty, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs (16): Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar (captain), Rhys Priestland, Callum Sheedy, Jonathan Davies, Uilisi Halaholo, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Alex Cuthbert, Louis Rees-Zammit, Johnny McNicholl, Liam Williams.

Some new faces. I’m not convinced that there is an international blindside flanker in there anywhere but Jac Morgan deserves an opportunity. If all the back row are fit then Ratti might miss out but perhaps we will see him at some point.

Scott Williams again misses out but a chance for Owen Watkin to restate his credentials.

But there’s a lot of missing players there due to injury. Maybe time to rest the old guard anyway though, even if the likes of Ken Owens and AWJ leave big shoes to fill.

Sandydragon wrote:But there’s a lot of missing players there due to injury. Maybe time to rest the old guard anyway though, even if the likes of Ken Owens and AWJ leave big shoes to fill.

Wales online reckon nearly 700 worth of caps are missing through injuries.

Pivac is definitely starting down the road to the RWC with the choices of youngsters.

I look forward to Wales upsetting the pundits with an outstanding performance starting in Dublin next month.

Bring it on!

Sandydragon wrote:Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard (vice-captain), Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Ellis Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Ross Moriarty, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs (16): Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar (captain), Rhys Priestland, Callum Sheedy, Jonathan Davies, Uilisi Halaholo, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Alex Cuthbert, Louis Rees-Zammit, Johnny McNicholl, Liam Williams.

Some new faces. I’m not convinced that there is an international blindside flanker in there anywhere but Jac Morgan deserves an opportunity. If all the back row are fit then Ratti might miss out but perhaps we will see him at some point.

Scott Williams again misses out but a chance for Owen Watkin to restate his credentials.

Pivac seems to have his fingers crossed that Lake's lineout accuracy can improve on the big stage. Not ideal.

Hopefully Seb Davies will be used exclusively in the second row this time.

Moriarty is the only 6 there, hope he's really back.

Good to see Jac Morgan, although Bashan is certainly the starting 7 for me.

Ratti is interesting, He's come in under the radar for me, but lots of potential there.

No way is Hardy in better form than Webb.

Biggar as captain is risky. Also, I'd really like to see the fit-again Anscombe given a good run, less likely if Dan is captain.

The complete mystery of how Cuthbert gets ahead of Holmes continues. Except this time he's ahead of Lane as well. Cuthbert isn't a complete waste of space at that level but there are clearly at least 2 better options available.

One thing going in Holmes’ and Lane’s favour is that injuries occur more frequently nowadays and they could be called up sooner rather than later. I share your reservations about Cuthbert but perhaps the coaches know something the rest of us don’t.

It will be interesting to see if Biggar is gobby to refs or will AWJ school him in the art of gentle persuasion and quiet words.

normanski wrote:One thing going in Holmes’ and Lane’s favour is that injuries occur more frequently nowadays and they could be called up sooner rather than later. I share your reservations about Cuthbert but perhaps the coaches know something the rest of us don’t.

It will be interesting to see if Biggar is gobby to refs or will AWJ school him in the art of gentle persuasion and quiet words.

I seriously hope its the latter. The responsibility might do him a lot of good.

I reckon we could see the folowing for the Ireland game:

Wyn Jones
Ryan Elias
Tomas Francis
Beard
Rowlands
Moriarty/Jenkins fitness depending
Basham
Wainwright
Tomos Williams
BIggar
Josh Adams
Halaholo
Tompkins
LRZ
Liam Williams

Bench: Bradley Roberts, Gareth thomas, Leon Brown, Seb davies, Jenkins/Morgan, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Tompkins, McNicholl

Numbers wrote:I reckon we could see the folowing for the Ireland game:

Wyn Jones
Ryan Elias
Tomas Francis
Beard
Rowlands
Moriarty/Jenkins fitness depending
Basham
Wainwright
Tomos Williams
BIggar
Josh Adams
Halaholo
Tompkins
LRZ
Liam Williams

Bench: Bradley Roberts, Gareth thomas, Leon Brown, Seb davies, Jenkins/Morgan, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Tompkins, McNicholl

I'd agree with that (aside from Tompkins starting and being on the bench )

I hope Moriarty is fully fit otherwise I do think that our back row might be a tad lightweight. If Moriarty isn't fit then it wouldn't surprise me if Seb Davies started at blindside.

Numbers - it’s always tough going to Dublin, especially if it’s the opener. We have a front five who could be competitive and give us a solid platform at the set piece. The bench cover for the five is pretty tidy too. It’s not a bad side If Pivac chooses this team.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we give Irish a good run for their money. They are coming into the 6N off a stupendous win over the All Blacks but overconfidence could be their downfall against a ‘weakened’ Wales.

Let’s hope the pundits write us off in the next three weeks,

I fully expect the Irish media to write ye off. I will too if halahola doesn't start

Usually written off, always underestimated.

I've just noticed that Johnny Williams isn't in the squad. Is he injured? Otherwise he should be there ahead of JD2 and Watkins IMO.

paddy no 11 wrote:I fully expect the Irish media to write ye off. I will too if halahola doesn't start

Well the bookies have us in fourth place after France, then England followed by Ireland.

I’m surprised the bookies have not put Scotland ahead of us given their performance in recent years and their experienced Lions’ players.

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Usually written off, always underestimated.

I've just noticed that Johnny Williams isn't in the squad. Is he injured? Otherwise he should be there ahead of JD2 and Watkins IMO.

Yep injured mate.

normanski wrote:

paddy no 11 wrote:I fully expect the Irish media to write ye off. I will too if halahola doesn't start

Well the bookies have us in fourth place after France, then England followed by Ireland.

I’m surprised the bookies have not put Scotland ahead of us given their performance in recent years and their experienced Lions’ players.

Fourth sounds about right to be honest. I think France and Ireland will be very hard to beat this year for anyone, and England perhaps don't have the same momentum after he Autumn but for us at Twickenham its probably going to be a hard day out.

Its been such a weird year again with so little rugby and players looking very off the pace at times of late, anything is possible. I'm not holding out too much hope for this being a successful year for us.