Team for Italy

[MrK]

I dont buy this we have to Halfpenny if Biggar isnt playing line, so Id go for it against Italy and see what we can do

Evans, Owens, Lee, Davies, AWJ, Shingler, Tipuric, Faletau, Davies, Patchell, North, Parkes, Williams, Evans, L Williams

B: Dee, W Jones, D lewis, S Davies, J Navidi, T WIlliams, O Williams, L Halfpenny

[Sandydragon]

I’m not sure that Halfpenny makes much of an impact from the bench. Either he starts for his defensive and kicking contribution or we don’t bother. I’d replace Halfpenny with Amos and if Patch is the starter then Anscombe on the bench.

[MrK]

I like the make up of that bench with Amos and Anscombe actually...Id take that

[Sandydragon]

Feel a bit sorry for Owen Williams who looked like an interesting option during the AIs. Parkes has been decent n the whole and given he’s a fair bit bugger, it’s not a surprise that Gats likes him.

[bruce]

It would be nice to see cubby given a chance for this game.

[Sandydragon]

It would be nice to see cubby given a chance for this game.

Agreed. But I can't see it happening.

We do need to work out how to get our hands on the ball when the opposition play route one rugby. Cubby would probably get a few turnovers in a match that would assist, but I don't think Gatland rates him that highly.

[Numbers]

I'd like to see a fair few changes, I think now that we have no chance of winning Gatland will hopefully be a bit more experimental, this is who I'd pick:

Wyn Jones
Eliott Dee
Tomas Francis
AWJ
Seb Davies/Adam Beard
Navidi
Jenkins/Davies
Faletau
Aled Davies
Patchell
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
North
Liam Williams

Reps: Nicky Smith, Elias, Brown, Seb Davies/Adam Beard, Ellis Jenkins/James Davies, Gareth Davies, Owen Watkin

I can't make my mind up between the 2 2nd rows and 2 7's but would be happy either way round.

[Numbers]

I'd like to see a fair few changes, I think now that we have no chance of winning Gatland will hopefully be a bit more experimental, this is who I'd pick:

Wyn Jones
Eliott Dee
Tomas Francis
AWJ
Seb Davies/Adam Beard
Navidi
Jenkins/Davies
Faletau
Aled Davies
Patchell
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
North
Liam Williams

Reps: Nicky Smith, Elias, Brown, Seb Davies/Adam Beard, Ellis Jenkins/James Davies, Gareth Davies, Owen Watkin

I can't make my mind up between the 2 2nd rows and 2 7's but would be happy either way round.

Well Wyn Jones is injured, so Nicky Smith to start with Rob Evans on the bench.

[Sandydragon]

I'd like to see a fair few changes, I think now that we have no chance of winning Gatland will hopefully be a bit more experimental, this is who I'd pick:

Wyn Jones
Eliott Dee
Tomas Francis
AWJ
Seb Davies/Adam Beard
Navidi
Jenkins/Davies
Faletau
Aled Davies
Patchell
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
North
Liam Williams

Reps: Nicky Smith, Elias, Brown, Seb Davies/Adam Beard, Ellis Jenkins/James Davies, Gareth Davies, Owen Watkin

I can't make my mind up between the 2 2nd rows and 2 7's but would be happy either way round.

Andy Howells in the Fail is calling for Amos at 13. He hasn't played there much for the Dragons, but he has the attributes required to be a good OC. My only complaint with your line up is that I don't think there is a lot of balance with Amos and Williams as Centres.

[Numbers]

I'd like to see a fair few changes, I think now that we have no chance of winning Gatland will hopefully be a bit more experimental, this is who I'd pick:

Wyn Jones
Eliott Dee
Tomas Francis
AWJ
Seb Davies/Adam Beard
Navidi
Jenkins/Davies
Faletau
Aled Davies
Patchell
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
North
Liam Williams

Reps: Nicky Smith, Elias, Brown, Seb Davies/Adam Beard, Ellis Jenkins/James Davies, Gareth Davies, Owen Watkin

I can't make my mind up between the 2 2nd rows and 2 7's but would be happy either way round.

Andy Howells in the Fail is calling for Amos at 13. He hasn't played there much for the Dragons, but he has the attributes required to be a good OC. My only complaint with your line up is that I don't think there is a lot of balance with Amos and Williams as Centres.

He has, in my mitigation I have been suggesting it for longer

[Sandydragon]

I'd like to see a fair few changes, I think now that we have no chance of winning Gatland will hopefully be a bit more experimental, this is who I'd pick:

Wyn Jones
Eliott Dee
Tomas Francis
AWJ
Seb Davies/Adam Beard
Navidi
Jenkins/Davies
Faletau
Aled Davies
Patchell
Steff Evans
Owen Williams
Amos
North
Liam Williams

Reps: Nicky Smith, Elias, Brown, Seb Davies/Adam Beard, Ellis Jenkins/James Davies, Gareth Davies, Owen Watkin

I can't make my mind up between the 2 2nd rows and 2 7's but would be happy either way round.

Andy Howells in the Fail is calling for Amos at 13. He hasn't played there much for the Dragons, but he has the attributes required to be a good OC. My only complaint with your line up is that I don't think there is a lot of balance with Amos and Williams as Centres.

He has, in my mitigation I have been suggesting it for longer

He must read this forum! Actually, I'm not sure we want to accept that responsibility!

[Numbers]

Andy Howells in the Fail is calling for Amos at 13. He hasn't played there much for the Dragons, but he has the attributes required to be a good OC. My only complaint with your line up is that I don't think there is a lot of balance with Amos and Williams as Centres.

He has, in my mitigation I have been suggesting it for longer

He must read this forum! Actually, I'm not sure we want to accept that responsibility!

Judging by his usual articles I think he is signed up to fuckwit weekly.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I dont buy this we have to Halfpenny if Biggar isnt playing line, so Id go for it against Italy and see what we can do

Evans, Owens, Lee, Davies, AWJ, Shingler, Tipuric, Faletau, Davies, Patchell, North, Parkes, Williams, Evans, L Williams

B: Dee, W Jones, D lewis, S Davies, J Navidi, T WIlliams, O Williams, L Halfpenny

I'd be happy with that, particularly with Patchell at 10 and Liam at 15. Halfpenny at 23 makes some sense, in case we fall to pieces (albeit this is extremely unlikely against Italy, in Cardiff), but a less cautious pick would be Amos, which I think I'd go for. Halfpenny doesn't deserve to be "dropped", but against Italy we can give others an opportunity.

[Sandydragon]

James Davies has apparently not been released to the Scarlets. Is he about to get a cap?

[Numbers]

James Davies has apparently not been released to the Scarlets. Is he about to get a cap?

I hope so, bad news for the Scarlets mind you with Leinster at home this weekend weather permitting.

[Numbers]

Wales starting XV: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Steff Evans, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Hadleigh Parkes, 11. George North, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Nicky Smith, 2. Elliot Dee, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Bradley Davies, 5. Cory Hill, 6. Justin Tipuric, 7. James Davies, 8. Taulupe Faletau (capt)

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Samson Lee, Seb Davies, Ellis Jenkins, Aled Davies, Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny

[Numbers]

I'm very happy with this team, it looks attacking.

[Sandydragon]

Bit of a shame for Shingler who has been our player of the tournament thus far to be dropped for a Cubby experiment. But Cubby deserves a chance.

I hope we are not disrespecting Italy too much here. They will try to bully our pack and I wonder if we might miss AWJ's leadership there.

Still do not see the point of Halfpenny on the bench, would prefer Amos to be there who I think brings more impact.

But this team is certainly built for attacking intent; lets hope we have a game plan to match that???!!!

[bruce]

It looks like a team which could run riot with the ball in hand. Perhaps would have preferred Patchell over Anscombe, and it would be nice to see Seb Davies given a run out.
Agree with Sandy that Shingler has looked our player of the tournament if not overall so far.

[Graigwen]

We will score a few tries......and concede a few.

Shingler and AWJ being deliberately rested, Gatland is attempting to build for the future by establishing a large pool of internationally experienced players for next year in the hope of reducing our vulnerability to multiple injuries.

We would be complaining if the team for Italy was very conservative.

.

[Sandydragon]

The short turnaround is a fair point. AWJ needs to be managed and we will need him at his best against a huge French pack. Shingler and Navidi too I suspect and I wonder if the front row resting is with half an eye on France the week afterwards?

Still a bit gutted for Amos who has shown agains the best teams i the world an ability to create chances (I think the Dragons need to determine his best position though).

[bruce]

The one concern I have is the lineout which has been functioning very well, but I assume we'll be trying to keep the ball in play with this team.

[Sandydragon]

The one concern I have is the lineout which has been functioning very well, but I assume we'll be trying to keep the ball in play with this team.

Hell yes. The idea of an arm wrestle fills me with no joy whatsoever.

[Numbers]

The one concern I have is the lineout which has been functioning very well, but I assume we'll be trying to keep the ball in play with this team.

I'm not too bothered, Hill is a very effective lineout operator and will be working in tandem with his regional hooker, Bradley offers the much needed grunt that we will lose from AWJ not playing, I think the loss of Shingler to the lineout may be more telling tho Tipuric is a good lineout operator as well.

[Mikey Brown]

Is 'attacking' really an adjective? It never sounds right.