Jordan Williams to join Bristol for next season

[Son of Mathonwy]

Hope he gets a chance to play some rugby after a difficult couple of years at the Scarlets (and 7s), and starts to fulfil his potential at the senior level:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35967882

[Stooo]

Like Nipper he will absolutely terrify the defences of the championship...

[Son of Mathonwy]

Like Nipper he will absolutely terrify the defences of the championship...

Agreed. Not quite a like for like, but certainly both are small & very fast moving.

Having said that you'd have thought he'd have ripped defences apart in sevens, but it didn't really work out for him.

[Billyfish]

Would be a crying shame if nothing came of his career. If it's because he is not suited to the modern game then modern game must be wrong.

[cadofyddol]

George Ford is not that much bigger than him I don't think and he is playing at the highest level.
The problem with U20s level is that its a lot easier to look like a World beater, and then never make it in the seniors. Kristian Phillips looked like a world beating winger for the U20s.

Hopefully Bristol will be the chance Jordan needs to get some game time in his chosen position. In terms of a top tier starter or international - I'm not sure he has the defence or game management to be a 10, the ariel ability or the defence to be a fullback, or the top end speed to be a wing (although I could be wrong with that). If you could turn back time, maybe both he and Matthew Morgan would be better suited as 9's??

Hopefully playing regularly for Bristol will give him the chance to adapt his game to the rigours of senior rugby. He certainly is a joy to watch!

[Which Tyler]

Jordan Williams 1.73m; 81kg
.George Ford - - 1.78m; 84kg - question marks on size at international level - fine at Prem
Kyle Eastmond - 1.70m; 83kg - dismissed as too small for international level - fine at Prem

Figures from Wiki - so make of that what you will.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Jordan Williams 1.73m; 81kg
.George Ford - - 1.78m; 84kg - question marks on size at international level - fine at Prem
Kyle Eastmond - 1.70m; 83kg - dismissed as too small for international level - fine at Prem

Figures from Wiki - so make of that what you will.

Shane Williams: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in); 80 kg (12 st 8 lb) - dismissed as too small for international level.... initially!

[Sandydragon]

None f those players are suitable for attritional crash ball rugby. Yet if coaches would perhaps take a risk on allowing something different, then there is no reason why a Shane Williams type player can't emerge again. Admittedly, their attacking prowess has to be top level, but without players like them, our game gets very tedious at times.

As much as die hard supporters like to see 80 minutes of scrums, rucks and mauls, your less committed fan wants entertainment. Mock them all you like, but their money is good and we need more of them. I'm not suggesting that we sell our souls to make rugby more entertaining - frankly we don't need to. We just need to take a bit more risk in the existing structure (and perhaps avoid the worst of the winter).

[Lord Llandaff]

Wales under Gatland have been predictable and one dimensional ever since Shane retired. Coincidence?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wales under Gatland have been predictable and one dimensional ever since Shane retired. Coincidence?

Definitely not a coincidence!

I've often said that Gatball is so slow and predictable it needs one or two creative players... otherwise nothing gets created!

[cadofyddol]

Jordan Williams 1.73m; 81kg
.George Ford - - 1.78m; 84kg - question marks on size at international level - fine at Prem
Kyle Eastmond - 1.70m; 83kg - dismissed as too small for international level - fine at Prem

Figures from Wiki - so make of that what you will.

I always taking the heights and weights with a pinch of salt, but it would be interesting to have accurate data for all players.
Is Eastmond really that much smaller than Ford?!

The problem with Jordan Williams is ultimately his defence, at times it looks like he actually bottles it rather than just being poor.
I sincerely hope he sorts it out as he is a great addition to the game.

[Which Tyler]

Absolutely - huge piles of salt on these figures; they're just the best we have; but yes, Ford really is taller than Kyle - I'm more surprised at how little Kyle weighs - he's absolutely rock solid.

Bottling defence is a huge downside if true; there's just only so much a coach can do about that, and it's hamstrung better (and bigger) players than Jordan (Cipriani being the best example for inside backs).

As for the comments above to Shane Williams - I'd thought Jordan was an inside back, so tried to put up examples of the other obvious short-arses in those positions (preferably current - the game has moved on a tad since Shane was trying to establish himself). Physical requirements for a 10-12 are very different to those on the wing, or SH for example.

[cadofyddol]

Absolutely - huge piles of salt on these figures; they're just the best we have; but yes, Ford really is taller than Kyle - I'm more surprised at how little Kyle weighs - he's absolutely rock solid.

Bottling defence is a huge downside if true; there's just only so much a coach can do about that, and it's hamstrung better (and bigger) players than Jordan (Cipriani being the best example for inside backs).

As for the comments above to Shane Williams - I'd thought Jordan was an inside back, so tried to put up examples of the other obvious short-arses in those positions (preferably current - the game has moved on a tad since Shane was trying to establish himself). Physical requirements for a 10-12 are very different to those on the wing, or SH for example.

From what I understand Jordan was a 10 mainly but played more at 15 for the U20s because of Sam Davies.