6N

[MrK]

We have France first up then Italy

Im going to assume Faletau, Navidi, Shingler, and Lee will be fit by then and included with the squad, and probably Scott Williams so Id go

Williams, North Davies, Parkes, Adams, Anscombe, Williams
Smith, Owens, Francis, AWJ, Beard, Moriaty, Tipuric, Faletau

B: Dee, Evans, Lewis, Hill, Navidi, G Davies, Biggar, Watkins

Reasons: Id keep the backs the same with the exception of swapping the 9 - II think Faletau is our best 8 - but we havent really seen a Faletau 8, Moriaty 6 combination - which I think would work well. On the bench - Id add Navidi into the mix

Then for the Italy Game

Halpenny, Evans, Davies, Watkins, Adams, Patchell, Davies
Evans, Owens, Lee, AWJ, Ball, Shingler, Navidi, Faletau

B: Elias, W Jones, Lewis, Hill, Moriaty, . Williams, Anscombe, Sc Williams

Reasons : Quite a few changes - but I dont think we'll make too many changes from the France team for the England game so I think this is the only game we will see significant chances for others to stake a claim during the 6N

Shingler and Navidi in particular have the "credit in the bank" from their last Wales outings and deserve a shot, and have versatility for the WC squad.

Lee will be given a chance too

The Patchell one for me is the will they/ wont they - Ive plumped for the they will option.

O Griffiths may be included, hes in the same mold to me as Ellis, and whilst Cubby and Young are fantastic players - I just cant see them making the 6N or WC squad , given that Id have Navidi and Shingler ahead of them.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Would have:
Amos instead of Adams
Patchell instead of Anscombe, Anscombe to bench
G Davies instead of T Williams

Parkes had a quiet November, but holds his spot for now... unless Scott comes storming back.
Scott Williams probably takes the 23 spot.

Would like to see O Griffiths in the squad, possibly bench for this depending on fitness of other flankers.

[Sourdust]

I'm still not 100% convinced by Anscombe, but I'm definitely getting there. I agree that it's now his shirt to lose, but I can't yet countenance starting him without Biggar on the bench. I was excited about Tomos before the campaign but I can't honestly say I saw what others did during it. Somewhere in the triangle between him and the two Davieses is the perfect Wales 9, but it remains an area of concern IMO and a fit & elligible Rhys Webb still walks into the shirt.

Given that Jenkins is out for the 6N at the very least, and Griffiths was already in the "unlucky" box, Ollie surely has to come in now.

Have we ever had a Moriarty-Tipuric-Faletau back row? Because that looks tastier than a fifteen-storey block of flats...

[Numbers]

I'm still not 100% convinced by Anscombe, but I'm definitely getting there. I agree that it's now his shirt to lose, but I can't yet countenance starting him without Biggar on the bench. I was excited about Tomos before the campaign but I can't honestly say I saw what others did during it. Somewhere in the triangle between him and the two Davieses is the perfect Wales 9, but it remains an area of concern IMO and a fit & elligible Rhys Webb still walks into the shirt.

Given that Jenkins is out for the 6N at the very least, and Griffiths was already in the "unlucky" box, Ollie surely has to come in now.

Have we ever had a Moriarty-Tipuric-Faletau back row? Because that looks tastier than a fifteen-storey block of flats...

James Davies is back from injury in the next two weeks and Pivac said he was flying so we may see him feature.

[Sourdust]

James Davies is back from injury in the next two weeks and Pivac said he was flying so we may see him feature.

Also a great option but there's obviously more going on with Cubby than just form & fitness. Whether it's an issue with the coaches or a percieved clash with team-mates or who knows what - there seems to be a blockage somewhere. Not as intransigent as the one facing Dan Evans, but equally mysterious.

I hope it gets sorted because a firing Cubbyboi gives us something unique IMO. I can't believe he'll ever feature in a back-row with Moriarty, though; you'd imagine if insufficently provoked by opponents, they'd probably attack each other after 60 minutes...

[Numbers]

James Davies is back from injury in the next two weeks and Pivac said he was flying so we may see him feature.

Also a great option but there's obviously more going on with Cubby than just form & fitness. Whether it's an issue with the coaches or a percieved clash with team-mates or who knows what - there seems to be a blockage somewhere. Not as intransigent as the one facing Dan Evans, but equally mysterious.

I hope it gets sorted because a firing Cubbyboi gives us something unique IMO. I can't believe he'll ever feature in a back-row with Moriarty, though; you'd imagine if insufficently provoked by opponents, they'd probably attack each other after 60 minutes...

Um, they did on the summer tour

He seems just as likely if not more likely to get a 6N call up as Ollie Griffiths imo, we just have backrowers coming out of our ears at the mo, especially with the emergence of Wainwright this season.

[Sourdust]

He seems just as likely if not more likely to get a 6N call up as Ollie Griffiths imo, we just have backrowers coming out of our ears at the mo, especially with the emergence of Wainwright this season.

Great though our depth at back-row is, I still have concerns at 8 beyond Faletau. Moriarty does a job but is a better 6, and of the rest, no-one seems to be specializing there. To my mind, Davies & Griffiths are 7s, Jenkins a 6/7, Wainwright & Lydiate 6, Shingler a 6(/4?), Navidi a possible 7/8, Seb Davies = no idea.

[Numbers]

He seems just as likely if not more likely to get a 6N call up as Ollie Griffiths imo, we just have backrowers coming out of our ears at the mo, especially with the emergence of Wainwright this season.

Great though our depth at back-row is, I still have concerns at 8 beyond Faletau. Moriarty does a job but is a better 6, and of the rest, no-one seems to be specializing there. To my mind, Davies & Griffiths are 7s, Jenkins a 6/7, Wainwright & Lydiate 6, Shingler a 6(/4?), Navidi a possible 7/8, Seb Davies = no idea.

I'd say out best two backups are Navidi and Ellis Jenkins, maybe Wainwright could have a go there, he carries well but he plays either 6 or 7 for the Dragons.

[Ross. S]

Whats happening with Keddie at the drags? He looked an absolute monster at u20

[Sandydragon]

Whats happening with Keddie at the drags? He looked an absolute monster at u20

Bit of a work in progress. Good ball carrier, not convinced yet by his all court game but he is definitely getting there. Prospect for post RWC.

[Numbers]

Whats happening with Keddie at the drags? He looked an absolute monster at u20

He doesn't seem to have got any bigger from what I can make out, not International standard atm for certain.

[MrK]

Agree with these posts #8 is a problem and I dont think Moriaty is the answer

Id like to see a Moriaty, Tipuric , Faletau Back Row first and foremost - to see if that clicks

Outsde of that I also think Navidi is our most suited to playing 8 - not Moriaty (thats why Navidi would be a definite in my WC squad)

With Jenkins out of the 6N - I hope we get a chance to look at that combination (Navidi on the bench)

Griffiths and Jenkins can fill in there, but I dont see that as their position. Does Young play 8?

[Ross. S]

Whats happening with Keddie at the drags? He looked an absolute monster at u20

He doesn't seem to have got any bigger from what I can make out, not International standard atm for certain.

Wiki has him as 6'2" and 109kg, Faletau is 6'2" and 110kg, Faletau isn't a huge 8 but not really small, is he? Tallent level obviously has to be different though........

[Numbers]

Whats happening with Keddie at the drags? He looked an absolute monster at u20

He doesn't seem to have got any bigger from what I can make out, not International standard atm for certain.

Wiki has him as 6'2" and 109kg, Faletau is 6'2" and 110kg, Faletau isn't a huge 8 but not really small, is he? Tallent level obviously has to be different though........

Faletau has genetics on his side, I tend to have doubts over the stats of some players both on their club websites and on wiki tbh. He did look a great prospect at U20s as you say, he just doesn't seem to have kicked on from that, not really helped by not being a first choice player for the Dragons.

Their backrow for the games they target is generally Wainwright, Griffiths and Moriarty.

[normanski]

This 6N looks interesting despite us being on the road three times.

A first up visit to Paris used to be a bit of a worry but the Frogs seem to have lost their way. While I’m sure they’ll want to bounce back after their defeat by Fiji they still seem to be be in disarray as a team and if we can get a fast start we’ll post an away win.

Italy next up away and a chance for Gatland to rest a few and give some youngsters and our finishers experience as starters. We should still be far too strong for the Azzurri.

The next big game against England at home will be the opportunity to avenge that last minute defeat two years before. No loose kicks failing to find touch when the ball needs to go off the park.

We seem to have the hex on the Scots at the moment so Murrayfield will hold no terrors.

That just leaves the Irish in Cardiff for the Grand Slam!!

That would be a fitting way for Gatland to bow out of the 6N and an excellent platform for RWC.

Wishful thinking of course but not an impossible outcome.

[Numbers]

This 6N looks interesting despite us being on the road three times.

A first up visit to Paris used to be a bit of a worry but the Frogs seem to have lost their way. While I’m sure they’ll want to bounce back after their defeat by Fiji they still seem to be be in disarray as a team and if we can get a fast start we’ll post an away win.

Italy next up away and a chance for Gatland to rest a few and give some youngsters and our finishers experience as starters. We should still be far too strong for the Azzurri.

The next big game against England at home will be the opportunity to avenge that last minute defeat two years before. No loose kicks failing to find touch when the ball needs to go off the park.

We seem to have the hex on the Scots at the moment so Murrayfield will hold no terrors.

That just leaves the Irish in Cardiff for the Grand Slam!!

That would be a fitting way for Gatland to bow out of the 6N and an excellent platform for RWC.

Wishful thinking of course but not an impossible outcome.

They beat us last time they were at home by 16 points and they are a different team in Edinburgh, I think this will be a tough game.

I think we'll lose against either England or Ireland, we should beat France and obviously Italy, Scotland is not a foregone conclusion imo.

[Son of Mathonwy]

With France at such a low ebb and Ireland so strong the 3 away/2 home years are probably easier for us - 2nd and 4th ranked teams at home/7th, 9th, 15th away.

We need to take all matches seriously other than Italy where we can afford to rest a few if need be. The others are losable, even France despite recent results. I see us ending up second to Ireland, but who knows what will happen vs Ireland or England - win or lose seems equally likely. We could finish anywhere in the top three.

[Sandydragon]

Many games will be within a score so they can go either way. Home advantage is huge vs the English and we should have won in2017 but managed not to. Ireland can beat us at Cardiff and have done so. But we can turn them over and in the last game if we are both chasing the slam then it will be a cracker.

Scotland away will be hard work. At Edinburgh the Scots are a different team. I think we are the better side but it’s not a foregone conclusion.

France we should beat, but if they have one of their unplayable days then we might not. But we should and I think we will. Italy should not be a problem.

Have we really got 3 away games followed by 2 at home? That’s interesting scheduling! But given the current state of the nations, that works for us very well.

Provided we don’t have an injury decimation by then, although we should still have enough strength to post a decent return.

[Numbers]

Many games will be within a score so they can go either way. Home advantage is huge vs the English and we should have won in2017 but managed not to. Ireland can beat us at Cardiff and have done so. But we can turn them over and in the last game if we are both chasing the slam then it will be a cracker.

Scotland away will be hard work. At Edinburgh the Scots are a different team. I think we are the better side but it’s not a foregone conclusion.

France we should beat, but if they have one of their unplayable days then we might not. But we should and I think we will. Italy should not be a problem.

Have we really got 3 away games followed by 2 at home? That’s interesting scheduling! But given the current state of the nations, that works for us very well.

Provided we don’t have an injury decimation by then, although we should still have enough strength to post a decent return.

Nah, we have England at home in the 3rd game.

[Sandydragon]

Ah, thanks that makes far more sense.