Wales v Georgia

[Ross. S]

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.

Our irst team has a few new faces and some new combinations etc, surely this would have been the ideal game to give them some time together, we've got the All Blacks next reek dont forget. I think we could end up with JR and Cuthbert against the AB next week thinking about it.......

[Tre]

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.

lol and WTF has Seb Davies done to offend Gatland? Turn down an NDC at the Dragons? Very harsh on Priestland to have him make his return playing behind that pack.

Backline looks ok but jesus.

Could be another victory in Cardiff coming for an emerging nation.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Too many changes. Not respecting Georgia enough... could be dangerous. Some of these changes are forced, can't be helped but why doesn't Owen continue at 12, surely he needs some time there? The bench should be stronger, in case the XV doesn't go as well as hoped.

[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.

lol and WTF has Seb Davies done to offend Gatland? Turn down an NDC at the Dragons? Very harsh on Priestland to have him make his return playing behind that pack.

Backline looks ok but jesus.

Could be another victory in Cardiff coming for an emerging nation.

I thought it was quite a leftfield selection at 8 but when I checked his profile on the Blues website it says he is a second row and back row forward so perhaps he's played there a bit before now.

The scrum is going to be the issue for us, especially if we make as many handling errors as last week.

[Ross. S]

I thought it was quite a leftfield selection at 8 but when I checked his profile on the Blues website it says he is a second row and back row forward so perhaps he's played there a bit before now.

Either BBC or fail article said that hes never played there for the blues so if he has played 8 before it wouldn't have been at a high level.

[Numbers]

I thought it was quite a leftfield selection at 8 but when I checked his profile on the Blues website it says he is a second row and back row forward so perhaps he's played there a bit before now.

Either BBC or fail article said that hes never played there for the blues so if he has played 8 before it wouldn't have been at a high level.

As long as he can control the ball at the back of a rapidly retreating scrum there should be no issue

[Ross. S]

I thought it was quite a leftfield selection at 8 but when I checked his profile on the Blues website it says he is a second row and back row forward so perhaps he's played there a bit before now.

Either BBC or fail article said that hes never played there for the blues so if he has played 8 before it wouldn't have been at a high level.

As long as he can control the ball at the back of a rapidly retreating scrum there should be no issue

Apparently its because we need a backup for Faletau. Not sure whats wrong with Moriaty, Baker or Keddy rather than converrting a lock mind. Not sure what the blues think of it either, do they want/need him as a lock?

[Lord Llandaff]

Fewer than 30 caps in the front 5.

It's a good job that's not where Georgia's strength is....

[ALunpg]

Either BBC or fail article said that hes never played there for the blues so if he has played 8 before it wouldn't have been at a high level.

As long as he can control the ball at the back of a rapidly retreating scrum there should be no issue

Apparently its because we need a backup for Faletau. Not sure whats wrong with Moriaty, Baker or Keddy rather than converrting a lock mind. Not sure what the blues think of it either, do they want/need him as a lock?

Moriarty back spasm repeating ....this may be a while Baker out for the season and really is not in great form...Griffiths would be my best shot.

[Sourdust]

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.

I mostly agree, but there's a major caveat - if these players do well, it was "only Georgia". There was certainly a strong case for continuity given that the "new style" seemed promising but horribly under-cooked against Aus. We know the same team (injuries aside) will start against NZ, so wouldn't it be better to give them another game - and hopefully a win - to prepare?

If we are serious about developing as much depth as possible, then Saturday's selection is positive but ONLY if those who play well are in with a serious chance of playing next week. I'm not sure that I - or they - believe that they are.

[PoolerSaint]

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.

I mostly agree, but there's a major caveat - if these players do well, it was "only Georgia". There was certainly a strong case for continuity given that the "new style" seemed promising but horribly under-cooked against Aus. We know the same team (injuries aside) will start against NZ, so wouldn't it be better to give them another game - and hopefully a win - to prepare?

If we are serious about developing as much depth as possible, then Saturday's selection is positive but ONLY if those who play well are in with a serious chance of playing next week. I'm not sure that I - or they - believe that they are.

100% !

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[MrK]

What we should have done is started the 8 bench players from last week, then bring the new faces on the bench.

That way there is some consistency rather than 14 bloody changes. If we lose these new boys will forever be remembered as the team that lost to Georgia - not a great start for them.

If we are going down this road Id have much preferred to see something like

Smith, Dacey, Brown, Hill, Ball, Lydiate,Cross, Navidi, A Davies, Priestland, Amos, Watkins, Williams, L Williams, Halpenny

B: Dee, Jones, Lee, Davies, Shingler, Webb, Patchell, Cutnbert

On a positive note Im looking forward to seeing

Brown have a start.
Beards potential to be a LT replacement in the secind row
Seb obviously
Priestland back pulling the springs
Watkins at IC.

Dee off the bench if he gets some game time.

[Numbers]

What we should have done is started the 8 bench players from last week, then bring the new faces on the bench.

That way there is some consistency rather than 14 bloody changes. If we lose these new boys will forever be remembered as the team that lost to Georgia - not a great start for them.

If we are going down this road Id have much preferred to see something like

Smith, Dacey, Brown, Hill, Ball, Lydiate,Cross, Navidi, A Davies, Priestland, Amos, Watkins, Williams, L Williams, Halpenny

B: Dee, Jones, Lee, Davies, Shingler, Webb, Patchell, Cutnbert

On a positive note Im looking forward to seeing

Brown have a start.
Beards potential to be a LT replacement in the secind row
Seb obviously
Priestland back pulling the springs
Watkins at IC.

Dee off the bench if he gets some game time.

We are starting 7 of the 8 replacements from last week...

[Puja]

Is there any news on whether the roof is going to be open or shut this weekend? Rain is predicted and, while the Georgians are quite proud of how their back play has improved of late, I'm not sure they'd be upset to keep it open and get stuck into that pack of yours.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

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.

I mostly agree, but there's a major caveat - if these players do well, it was "only Georgia". There was certainly a strong case for continuity given that the "new style" seemed promising but horribly under-cooked against Aus. We know the same team (injuries aside) will start against NZ, so wouldn't it be better to give them another game - and hopefully a win - to prepare?

If we are serious about developing as much depth as possible, then Saturday's selection is positive but ONLY if those who play well are in with a serious chance of playing next week. I'm not sure that I - or they - believe that they are.

Agreed. Gatland has remained a bit too loyal to players at times at the cost of fringe players .

[Lord Llandaff]

Fair play to the Georgia scrum, they've played this ref like a violin

[Buggaluggs]

13-6 after almost 70 minutes? Wales with a 200M advantage in meters run. Are we butchering opportunities again?

[Lord Llandaff]

So we learn nothing and have zero preparation for next week. Shambolic is not the world. As usual we are desperately hanging on against a tier 2 side at home. 5 or 6 changes and it could have been a useful run out. Our coaches are 5 years past their sell by date.

[PoolerSaint]

So we learn nothing and have zero preparation for next week. Shambolic is not the world. As usual we are desperately hanging on against a tier 2 side at home. 5 or 6 changes and it could have been a useful run out. Our coaches are 5 years past their sell by date.

Totally agree, we never learn our lessons.
Georgia haven't offered much but Wales have been so disjointed.
Georgia are better than Italy these days & would we have made 15 changes against Italy in the 6 Nations ? Of course not.


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[Buggaluggs]

17 penalties!

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Really gritty performance by Georgia. Think they could really step up if they had a team in the pro14. Maybe in place of one of the Italian teams.

[Buggaluggs]

Really gritty performance by Georgia. Think they could really step up if they had a team in the pro14. Maybe in place of one of the Italian teams.

Wales could do with a good team in the pro 14 too

[wayneha50]

We really do look like one of the most badly coached teams in the top tier. It's absolutely appalling.

Georgia really deserved a draw there.

[Ross. S]

Remember when we all got butt hurt after getting called the village idiots of world rugby? Think Gatland is doing his best to confirm it

On a brighter note, our new look first team, with a few new faces and combinations gets to play the All Blacks next week.........With next to no time togetther.............

[Buggaluggs]

Making it more frustrating - Aus have had two borderline try decisions go against them and Eng have had one go for them (a bizarre try against the run of play). Eng look like winning again, having played very little rugby