Team for France

[Sandydragon]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

[stud muffin]

If they play poorly the players "deserve a chance to redeem themselves" and if they play well "They deserve the opportunity to build on that in our final Six Nations encounter."

So the chance of blooding new youngsters depends upon injury alone!!

[Renniks]

And don't forget, when injuries happen, you're at high risk of having bad games because the replacements aren't used to the step up as they've not come off the bench etc in many games.

It's weird feeling sorry for the Welsh. Can you improve again, but not quite as good as England, thanks?

[Lord Lucan]

We have been lucky this 6 nations with injuries, normally we do a lot better with a fully fit squad, and I agree with the posters above, at the moment injuries seem to be the only way new players will get a look in, very wrong but it seems the way with conservative Howler.

[Banquo]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

[Ross. S]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

Only if England beat Ireland, or does England just need to turn up and the win is in the bag

[Son of Mathonwy]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

True, but if we're really going to continue with this flatter attack, we need Sam Davies on the pitch for longer, preferably starting. Biggar threw 2 interception passes IMO because he is not used to playing this way. We were lucky the Irish weren't able to score off them.

So I would argue that our best chance of beating France and getting that better ranking is to start Davies.

[Son of Mathonwy]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Howley is thinking only about the next match (hopefully his last match ever in charge). There is absolutely no long or even medium term thinking, and even the short term thinking is very conservative.

re the Lions, it's quite sad for some of the players outside the chosen few who've had little or no chance to show what they're capable of eg Sam Davies, Keelan Giles might have shone if given a chance. But never mind, Howley gave Cuthbert a shot, hope Gatland is looking at that potential Lion.

[Banquo]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

Only if England beat Ireland, or does England just need to turn up and the win is in the bag

Good point hadn't read that far

[ALunpg]

No changes..I am shocked and stunned...not really..glad to see he is not caving in to public opinion.

[Sandydragon]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

Avoiding the third tier I can understand. I'm less bothered by this if I'm honest. I'd rather blood a couple of the fringe players. I'm not convinced that doing so would dramatically weaken our team in any case.

[Hooky]

It is important we win this. Could go to fourth in the world ahead of the draw.

[hawkaye]

Many were complaining about Wales predictable attack and inability to break down defences. Well they have scored some very nice tries in the 6 nations. More to do but certainly going in right direction. Main issues are at 10 and 15. Neither incumbents are secure in the air any longer and that was one of their main strengths; maybe it will pass. But it would be a joy to see a 10 with sharp acceleration and good distribution. The u20 10 looks very promising and the u20 12 has great all round skills and ability to read the game. Will they be given opportunity to play with senior team in summer?

[Sandydragon]

Many were complaining about Wales predictable attack and inability to break down defences. Well they have scored some very nice tries in the 6 nations. More to do but certainly going in right direction. Main issues are at 10 and 15. Neither incumbents are secure in the air any longer and that was one of their main strengths; maybe it will pass. But it would be a joy to see a 10 with sharp acceleration and good distribution. The u20 10 looks very promising and the u20 12 has great all round skills and ability to read the game. Will they be given opportunity to play with senior team in summer?

Im pretty sure it will depend on how many of the senior players are involved with the Lions. I have a feeling that if the likes of Scott Williams and JD2 aren't touring, they will be in the Welsh squad instead.

[normanski]

So it's the same team again. Not surprised and Howley is obviously hoping for another big performance to mask the inadequacies in the current set up. Giving prospective Lions anothe chance whilst pushing for second or third place is more important than looking forward.

What a complete waste it's been over the last two seasons. You have to feel for the fringe players who can't do much more week in week out but still don't get a chance.

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

True, but if we're really going to continue with this flatter attack, we need Sam Davies on the pitch for longer, preferably starting. Biggar threw 2 interception passes IMO because he is not used to playing this way. We were lucky the Irish weren't able to score off them.

So I would argue that our best chance of beating France and getting that better ranking is to start Davies.

I think the French wouldn't be quite forgiving as Ireland, they have the backs to exploit Biggar's flat passes. Just hope Edwards and King are working on this with him.

I agree with you that Davies needs more game time but under the current setup that isn't going to happen in the short term. The best we can hope for is that we are ahead in the second half and then he gets half an hour to showcase his talents.

An interesting weekend in prospect.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Rankings are pretty important though, no? win on Saturday, and you are 4th.

True, but if we're really going to continue with this flatter attack, we need Sam Davies on the pitch for longer, preferably starting. Biggar threw 2 interception passes IMO because he is not used to playing this way. We were lucky the Irish weren't able to score off them.

So I would argue that our best chance of beating France and getting that better ranking is to start Davies.

I think the French wouldn't be quite forgiving as Ireland, they have the backs to exploit Biggar's flat passes. Just hope Edwards and King are working on this with him.

I agree with you that Davies needs more game time but under the current setup that isn't going to happen in the short term. The best we can hope for is that we are ahead in the second half and then he gets half an hour to showcase his talents.

An interesting weekend in prospect.

Agreed, the French will have seen the last match and done their homework, so they'll be queuing up to intercept. If they succeed, I fear we're more likely to revert to a deeper game than to bring Davies on. As before, I can only see Davies getting meaningful time on the pitch if we go 20 points ahead or 20 points behind, or Biggar gets a knock.

[Sourdust]

I think the French wouldn't be quite forgiving as Ireland, they have the backs to exploit Biggar's flat passes.

They still seem vulnerable to a disciplined, patient defence though. I don't like pointing it out, but a negative approach with a kicking 10 has won in Paris on the last two occasions. Whereas the last try we scored in Paris that wasn't scored or created by Dan Biggar , was in 2011.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I think the French wouldn't be quite forgiving as Ireland, they have the backs to exploit Biggar's flat passes.

They still seem vulnerable to a disciplined, patient defence though. I don't like pointing it out, but a negative approach with a kicking 10 has won in Paris on the last two occasions. Whereas the last try we scored in Paris that wasn't scored or created by Dan Biggar , was in 2011.

They are much improved. Using the tried and tested approach failed against Scotland.

Not that I'm arguing that a disciplined defence isn't needed... it just doesn't mean our offence needs to be pedestrian.

[kk67]

Wouldn't write off Leigh Halfpenny just yet. By comparison, he may look a little more measured now that Liam has taken his mantle as 'the tough little fecker'.

[Hooky]

Wouldn't write off Leigh Halfpenny just yet. By comparison, he may look a little more measured now that Liam has taken his mantle as 'the tough little fecker'.

Don't think anybody is writing him off, it's more that he's no longer a shoe in. He's played pretty well last couple in my view. I'd rather him on the wing and williams at fb but the coaches don't seem to fancy that.

[kk67]

I think he is still a shoo-in. The point I was clumsily making was that 6/7 years ago Leigh was just as much of a nutter as Liam is now. I'm always impressed but also somewhat shocked when players like that manage to stay uninjured for such a long time. Mike Brown is a case in point.