XV for Scotland

[ALunpg]

On the one hand, it's a competition game with points at stake, and we need to win it first and worry about everything else later.

But when I read the above I think to myself "Bags of potential... but I'd drop him" - so how is he supposed to realize that potential? Go back and put in a few more MOTM shifts for Scarlets? Because he was doing that already. This is not a dig at you Sandy, because I think you have a point - it's a serious question and I don't know how to square the circle. We surely have to accept that some players take a while to bed in to international rugby? If Evans had had a couple of nightmares and cost us games we would otherwise have won, fair enough. But all he's really done wrong is to not look as great as we'd hoped, yet. But yes, I tend to agree that as things stand, we stand a better chance of winning this match with North. Bugger.

It is a conundrum that most teams go through ...how can I develop a player but not over expose the team.

I think Evans is good enough to understand what he needs to work on...and given the coaching set up at the Scarlets he will get all the support he needs.

For the 6N when he doesn't start he needs to be on the bench and get some time on the field. He will offer something differant from the bench cover FB and wing with possibly North cover the centre.

I suppose the pecking order for the wings would be:

Williams
North
Amos
Evans
Cuthbert

So if all are fit come the 6 nations I can see Amos on the bench for the majority of games as he can cover 15 and 13 also, saying that Steff Evans came through the age grade as a 15 and North can always cover 13 if required.

I suppose that assumes that Halfpenny is at 15 ..which isn't the best option.

[Numbers]

It is a conundrum that most teams go through ...how can I develop a player but not over expose the team.

I think Evans is good enough to understand what he needs to work on...and given the coaching set up at the Scarlets he will get all the support he needs.

For the 6N when he doesn't start he needs to be on the bench and get some time on the field. He will offer something differant from the bench cover FB and wing with possibly North cover the centre.

I suppose the pecking order for the wings would be:

Williams
North
Amos
Evans
Cuthbert

So if all are fit come the 6 nations I can see Amos on the bench for the majority of games as he can cover 15 and 13 also, saying that Steff Evans came through the age grade as a 15 and North can always cover 13 if required.

I suppose that assumes that Halfpenny is at 15 ..which isn't the best option.

Yep, that's what is most likely imo, however I would not be averse to seeing Amos or Liam at 15, I just can't see Gatland dropping Halfpenny due to his normally excellent kicking.

[ALunpg]

I agree that is still a strong option ...but out of choice I would prefer to see Williams .
However it does still confuse me why they would pick Williams in the Lions tests and revert to Halfpenny for Wales.
Mind you since when has the Wales selection policy not been confusing it has on occasions baffled me ever since I can remember.

[Numbers]

I completely forgot about Tyler Morgan, I think I'd have him in over Scott at 13.

[Sandydragon]

I completely forgot about Tyler Morgan, I think I'd have him in over Scott at 13.

If fit and on form then absolutely. Scott Williams looks a bit out of place at time at OC, understandably.

[ALunpg]

I completely forgot about Tyler Morgan, I think I'd have him in over Scott at 13.

If fit and on form then absolutely. Scott Williams looks a bit out of place at time at OC, understandably.

Whilst I would not dismiss the idea I am just a little concerned that Morgan is proving to "Beck" like in his injuries...dont get me wrong ..it is at present still a worthwhile investment as the rewards could be special.

Also ...Williams is still a bloody awesome player when he is on form and it would be great to have a selection of in form centres to choose from.

[ALunpg]

So Warburton is out for the season...knee surgery

[Sandydragon]

So Warburton is out for the season...knee surgery

Shame, these injuries of his just keep on coming. Someone mentioned a while ago that perhaps he is too well tuned. What ever the issue is the amount of time he misses isn’t good.

So, assuming Moriarty is fit,

6. Moriarty
7. Tipuric
8. Faletau
19. Navidi

[kk67]

They were new to me but I thought Shingler, Amos and Evans all played well.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

So Warburton is out for the season...knee surgery

Shame, these injuries of his just keep on coming.

Doing away with a pointless 4th AI would help be a good start. Player welfare should take priority over any cash cow. It's not as if Wales are short of them.

[Sandydragon]

So Warburton is out for the season...knee surgery

Shame, these injuries of his just keep on coming.

Doing away with a pointless 4th AI would help be a good start. Player welfare should take priority over any cash cow. It's not as if Wales are short of them.

Not entirely relevant to Warburton as he hasn’t featured, but I take your point generally. Unfortunately, for Welsh rugby the cash cows are the internationals, not club rugby. We need the 4th AI to keep the game ticking over.

[MrK]

Bradley Davies needs more games like he had last night, especially with Ball now out

A good run from him over Dec/Jan and getting somewhere back to his ball carrying best could see him jump straight into the starting for 15 for Wales

Not to jump on the Will Greenwood bandwagon, but Dan Evans really deserves a shot in the Wales camp .

[ALunpg]

I agree about Davies at least being a potential for a sqaud place if he continues in this positive mode....he looked better than for a while although it was a pretty crazy match.
Although a little off thread. ..it is strange that some of the better performances of the Ospreys this season have been in the Champions Cup ...that said ...compared with some absolute dire performances in the league ..it is not much of a standard to beat.

[Sourdust]

The Dan Evans thing is something everyone, including Dan himself, seems to have given up on. He's comfortably the most consistent, all-round full-back in Wales, and they won't pick him even in a crisis, so there's obviously something else going on somewhere that we fans are not aware of. Perhaps he's disruptive in training, or unpopular in the dressing-room, or won't stop farting on the bus? Perhaps he made a pass at someone's missus? Whatever, it's a great shame, but going on about it now just feels like pissing into the wind.

[PoolerSaint]

Bradley & Alun Wyn were fabulous last night.
If Wales are seriously moving our game forward Halfpenny should be left out & if Liam Williams isn't fit & on form they need to seriously consider Dan Evans. His timing is superb.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Sourdust]

Bradley & Alun Wyn were fabulous last night.
If Wales are seriously moving our game forward Halfpenny should be left out & if Liam Williams isn't fit & on form they need to seriously consider Dan Evans. His timing is superb.

His situation reminds me of [~~flashback video effect~~] Gareth Wyatt back in the 90s. A brilliantly exciting attacking player, comfortable at wing or full-back, ran great lines, distributed like a 12 and could drop goals to boot. I think he also got a "token" cap or two on a tour, but never a sniff for Wales proper... even when we were picking back-three players like Wayne Proctor and Nick Walne. It's got to be personality issues, either with the player, the staff, or both.

[Sandydragon]

Bradley & Alun Wyn were fabulous last night.
If Wales are seriously moving our game forward Halfpenny should be left out & if Liam Williams isn't fit & on form they need to seriously consider Dan Evans. His timing is superb.

His situation reminds me of [~~flashback video effect~~] Gareth Wyatt back in the 90s. A brilliantly exciting attacking player, comfortable at wing or full-back, ran great lines, distributed like a 12 and could drop goals to boot. I think he also got a "token" cap or two on a tour, but never a sniff for Wales proper... even when we were picking back-three players like Wayne Proctor and Nick Walne. It's got to be personality issues, either with the player, the staff, or both.

Thats a memory I could do without recalling......