Wales v Georgia

[Numbers]

This is the team I would like to see face Georgia:

Nicky Smith
Kristian Dacey
Leon Brown
Corey Hill
Seb Davies
Lydiate
Tipuric if fit
Navidi
Aled Davies
Priestland
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
Fluffbert (running out of wingers)
Halfpenny

Bench: Wyn Jones, Eliott Dee, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Sam Cross, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams

We are light on the wing particularly, I'd like to have seen Hewitt given a go.

I doubt it'll be quite as raw as that as the coaching team will be looking to avoid an embarassment, however Georgia are the rising force in World Rugby so I don't think it'll be a walk in the park by any means and we will almost certainly suffer scrum penalties.

[Tre]

Fluffbert (running out of wingers)
.

good grief

[Numbers]

Fluffbert (running out of wingers)
.

good grief

I know, desperate times and all that.

[Tre]

Fluffbert (running out of wingers)
.

good grief

I know, desperate times and all that.

Not what I meant. But okay.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Patchell injured or are has he missed the boat entirely? Or just not as good as he looked like he would be?

[Numbers]

Is Patchell injured or are has he missed the boat entirely? Or just not as good as he looked like he would be?

I would say that Priestland's form is better than Patchell's, I resisted putting him at fullback as I don't think that is his position either, he could easily be given a chance at 12 in place of Owen Williams tho despite not really playing there before, he certainly has the size and the extra time could suit his play as he isn't a 10 who looks like he has time on the ball.

[Mikey Brown]

Aye. Looks to the uninformed that he could be everything you've needed* at 12 since Roberts' decline. Can't say I've thought much at all of Williams or Priestland's form this season, and I haven't seen Patchell's but in terms of talent he is surely miles ahead.

But yea, I suppose if you're being pragmatic, actually knowing how to play the position would be useful first.

(*Not that I hold anything but contempt and ill wishes for Welsh rugby.)

[PoolerSaint]

Patchell will be starting at 12, Gatland stated he wanted to try 2 different 10/12 combo's in the 1st 2 matches.
Think he'll go with Priestland/Patchell there unless the Jon Fox injury has led to a change of heart.
Agree on the Cuthbert starting, we need him given the injury problems we have. He looked decent on tour against Tonga before his injury.
I'd imagine Scott Williams will start at 13 but I'm concerned what would happen if he picks up a knock too? With Tyler Morgan also out we're buggered.
Sad state of affairs to think our depth of talent at centre is so shallow.

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[Sandydragon]

Aye. Looks to the uninformed that he could be everything you've needed* at 12 since Roberts' decline. Can't say I've thought much at all of Williams or Priestland's form this season, and I haven't seen Patchell's but in terms of talent he is surely miles ahead.

But yea, I suppose if you're being pragmatic, actually knowing how to play the position would be useful first.

(*Not that I hold anything but contempt and ill wishes for Welsh rugby.)

The question mark is his defensive ability. I think he has all the other attributes physically and skill wise.

[ALunpg]

I don't think Tipuric will be fit unless they want to risk him.
But I really want to see if they can some way get Patchell at 12 ..otherwise what's the point of testing it out .

Nicky Smith
Kristian Dacey
Leon Brown
Corey Hill
Seb Davies
Lydiate
Shingler
Navidi
Aled Davies
Rhys Priestland
Alex Cuthbert
Rhys Patchell
Scott Williams
Amos
Liam Williams

Bench: Wyn Jones, Eliott Dee,Scott Andrews, Adam Beard, Sam Cross, Rhys Webb, Owen Williams, Halfpenny .

But you just know they will slip in the Doc.
Here is another thought. .could they use Patchell at 13 ..he has some wheels for sure ...just a thought.

[Sandydragon]

Patch player OC on the Japan tour a few years ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if the centres were Roberts and Patch. Actually, if Roberts were IC that could be a good mix of guile and brute force, especially if Priestland is at fly half.

[Numbers]

Patch player OC on the Japan tour a few years ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if the centres were Roberts and Patch. Actually, if Roberts were IC that could be a good mix of guile and brute force, especially if Priestland is at fly half.

That was stop gap I think, he replaced Owen Williams, I think Amos would slot right in at 13, so perhaps Priestland, Patchell, Amos.

Just to clarify that would be Owen Williams the former Blues player.

[ALunpg]

I would be concerned with Patchell at 12 and Amos at 13 with neither regularly playing there.
Whilst it is interesting option to see once the cavalry return from injury it will be bench warming for Amos at best . I would happily see him play at full back on Saturday but wouldon't streach the shortage of wingers issue however the Wales selection team have made noises they think he is a full back ...but hey what do they or even I know

[Sandydragon]

Amos is a talented footballer who I could definitely see in the centres.

The Fail was calling for Scott Williams at OC. Provided we don’t revert to the Doc at IC I can live with that. I do t want to stop giving new centres an opportunity because Foxy got injured.

[Mikey Brown]

Christ. What is the point of Biggar and Williams on the bench v fucking Georgia?

[Numbers]

Team:

Wales: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin, Hallam Amos; Rhys Priestland; Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Kristian Dacey, Leon Brown, Adam Beard, Cory Hill, Dan Lydiate, Sam Cross, Seb Davies.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau, Aled Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Williams.

[Numbers]

Seb Davies at number 8 is interesting.

[Numbers]

Good to see Liam at 15 tho.

[PoolerSaint]

We're going to get an almighty stuffing up front on Saturday.

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[ALunpg]

Bit confused why Patchell isn't on the bench ...does not make sense in having the lad in the sqaud and then not using him.
Biggar on the bench as a goal kicker replacement for Preistland is not firward looking , that should and could have been Patchell as his goal kicking has been good when required.
Seb Davies at 8 is some thing very interesting ....I will enjoy looking at the match. .it will be a tough test and may be very very tight . I just hope that if it does go negative there won't be retrenchment media backlash on we should have picked a stronger team.

[Numbers]

Bit confused why Patchell isn't on the bench ...does not make sense in having the lad in the sqaud and then not using him.
Biggar on the bench as a goal kicker replacement for Preistland is not firward looking , that should and could have been Patchell as his goal kicking has been good when required.
Seb Davies at 8 is some thing very interesting ....I will enjoy looking at the match. .it will be a tough test and may be very very tight . I just hope that if it does go negative there won't be retrenchment media backlash on we should have picked a stronger team.

Absolutely, Priestland has been kicking well for Bath so hopefully he has a good day with the boot. I'm looking forward to Priestland's restarts, he gets tremendous height on the ball which makes things much better for our chasers.

[Ross. S]

Anyone else think this has disaster writen all over it? I can't see a loss but even a close win would be a poor show

[Sandydragon]

Anyone else think this has disaster writen all over it? I can't see a loss but even a close win would be a poor show

I genuinely don’t mind that much. Losing wouldn’t be great but if some of the younger players step up then I’ll be happy. If we get stuffed and look like we don’t care then I’ll be annoyed.

Putting out a stronger side just to make sure we win won’t teach us anything new. If it means that come the six nations we have some real options and a new state of play which works for us then losing a few games will be worth it.

[whatisthejava]

Reckon that team may well struggle against the might of Georgian forwards, Scotland played them a couple of years ago and the had nothing of note in the backs but their forwards still offered alot up front,

Georgia beating a 6N that isnt Italy will just mean we have to listen to more crap getting pumped out in the media how georgia deserve thier shot at the 6N ,

mind you if Gatland loses this then i cant see you beating the All Blacks or South Africa without your english based players so would Gatland survive ?

[Numbers]

Reckon that team may well struggle against the might of Georgian forwards, Scotland played them a couple of years ago and the had nothing of note in the backs but their forwards still offered alot up front,

Georgia beating a 6N that isnt Italy will just mean we have to listen to more crap getting pumped out in the media how georgia deserve thier shot at the 6N ,

mind you if Gatland loses this then i cant see you beating the All Blacks or South Africa without your english based players so would Gatland survive ?

Firstly I would say that Georgia deserve to be in the 6 Nations more than Italy, secondly, regarding the results, we are treating these games as development for fringe players so it will have absolutely zero effect on Gatlands position.

Thirdly, I think we can give SA a good game without the English based players.

We would field something along these lines:

Evans
Owens
Lee
AWJ
Ball
Shingler
Navidi
Faletau
Webb
Biggar
Evans
Williams
Williams
Amos
Halfpenny

Reps: Smith, Dacey, Brown, Hill/Davies, Cross, Davies, Watkin, Cuthbert

Tho they may be tempted to go with Lydiate for his physicality against SA.