Team for the Summer

[Sandydragon]

It’s a much better performance. Bench might make a big impact each way

[normanski]

I following the game on WoL. Is our pack now starting to get on top?

[Sandydragon]

I following the game on WoL. Is our pack now starting to get on top?

Better parity compared to last week. Just had a weak scrum.


Australia scored again. Try from
Nowhere following a Welsh mistake. We have gifted two tries

[Sandydragon]

This could be a long last 15 mins we need to regroup.

[Sandydragon]

Well taken try by Dyer

[Sandydragon]

33-28

Need to focus now.

[Sandydragon]

Attacking lineout which we screw up. Huge shame

[Sandydragon]

Lineouts gone to shit

[Sandydragon]

Penalty Australia. 36-28 so I thin this game might be gone but can’t take your eyes off this

[Sandydragon]

Costelow drops a poor pass and our last attack seems to be over. 90 seconds left

[Sandydragon]

Aussie scrum and lineout have been much improved over n last quarter.

Better by wales but work to do up front and we need a bench that doesn’t lose us the game

[normanski]

I hate the gallant losers tag.

[Sandydragon]

I hate the gallant losers tag.

Me too. Feel better than last week though and we even had some attacking shape

[normanski]

And our maul is very effective.

[Graigwen]

And our maul is very effective.

At least against a rather weak Oz one. It is probably pretty good against better teams but we don't know that.

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[Graigwen]

Once again we lost with redeeming features.

The props were better, Lake of course was very good, while the second row looks like a reasonable partnership is forming. Plumtree was OK in an unexpected position while Botham put himself about well.

Ellis Bevan was solid while the Ben Thomas experiment continues to look promising. However our centres are not working well.

Once again overall we looked disjointed and made clumsy errors, not playing like a well drilled team.

I don't think there is a case for not changing this team. Grady continues to look as if he might have great potential, but without delivering much. He was caught out of position a few times. Perhaps we could try starting with Ben Thomas at centre, he could always swap later in the game? We need to get Grace on the pitch, and probably Beetham as well. Griffin is learning a lot and there is a good case for continuing to start him, with a few minutes for Lewis I suppose later.

Overall these two games were disappointing without being disasters, so long as we learn from our errors.
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[Sandydragon]

Props. At loose head we have some options who are OK. I do t think any will be world class but competent will do. Tight head is a bit more of an issue as our scrum is no where near stable.

Hooker we have Lake Dee and Elias. Fairly happy there although Lake needs to keep working on his darts.

I like the second row pairing of the last two games. We have finally found Christs best position I think. Add in Rowlands and Carter and that will continue to strengthen.

Open side. No huge concerns there.
No8 Wainwright is coming on nicely. Not much depth behind that
Blind side. Still up for grabs


Scrum half. Still Tomos with a chasing pack.
Fly half. Not so good.
Centres. Current combo isn’t working. Grady needs to be wider I think.
Back 3. We have a proven international out injured and Dyer is doing ok. I’d like to see what Grace can do. Winnert is developing. Grady on the wing could be a better option. Not terrible here.

Over all we have a couple of players who are good internationals now. A handful who are on track to become good international and a bunch who the jury is out on.

But if we are going to develop then the game plan needs to be better stamped on this team. Still not clear exactly what we are trying to do sometimes.

[pompey-zebra]

Fly half. Not so good.

Ben Thomas did pretty well at 10 considering its not his regular position, I thought, but I do wonder what the long term plan is. Does Gatland see him as the first choice 10 now in his quest for a bigger fly half? If so, I doubt he'll play much there for Cardiff given that they have de Beer and from next season, Sheedy (who might come back into the reckoning himself if he stays fit and finds the same form he had for Bristol last season before he got injured).

[Graigwen]

I think the second row problems are solved, as we also have those not on the tour.

As others have said, fly half is not solved, despite Ben Thomas looking promising.

Back Row. hooker and wingers, we have enough to chose from. Prop situation looks a bit better than before the tour.

As for centres......... There is no alternative to continuing to experiment.

.

[Graigwen]

Wales team to face Queensland Reds

15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
14. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 22 caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 38 caps)
12. Eddie James (Scarlets – 1 cap)
11. Regan Grace (Bath Rugby – uncapped)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 77 caps) vice-captain
1. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 4 caps)
2. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 3 caps)
4. Matthew Screech (Dragons – 2 caps)
5. Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts – 34 caps) captain
6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
7. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
8. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)

Replacements

16. Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped
17. Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)
18. Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – 4 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 19 caps)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 23 caps)
22. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)

[Graigwen]

I have no idea what the point is in making Cory Hill captain.

Tshiunza into the back row in order to give a Screech a game I suppose. I am glad Martin makes the team. Grace and James in the three quarters looks sensible. Both hookers are inexperienced.

Grady takes his rightful place on the bench!
.

[Graigwen]

Here is the Queensland Reds team:

Jock Campbell (c); Floyd Aubrey, Tim Ryan, Dre Pakeho, Mac Grealy; James O'Connor, Louis Werchon; Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Connor Vest, Ryan Smith, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial.

Replacements: George Blake, Matt Gibbon, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Connor Anderson, Will Cartwright, Mason Gordon, Lachie Anderson.
.

[Sandydragon]

I have no idea what the point is in making Cory Hill captain.

Tshiunza into the back row in order to give a Screech a game I suppose. I am glad Martin makes the team. Grace and James in the three quarters looks sensible. Both hookers are inexperienced.

Grady takes his rightful place on the bench!
.

Utterly pointless. Lineout should be better with four possible jumpers- provided the hooker can throw in straight.

Looking forward to seeing what Grace can do but these games are always
A bit odd. Think I will be very glad to see the back of this season.

[pompey-zebra]

Is Beetham injured? He's one I'd have expected to see for a match aimed at giving everyone a run out.

[Graigwen]

Is Beetham injured? He's one I'd have expected to see for a match aimed at giving everyone a run out.

Yes. Foot injury has been reported.

Carter and Lewis are also injured.

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