Georgia on my mind!

[Graigwen]

Are we agreed the starting front row against Georgia should be Smith, Lake (assuming fully fit) and Thomas?
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[normanski]

Are we agreed the starting front row against Georgia should be Smith, Lake (assuming fully fit) and Thomas?
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Most of us would think so but Gatland might want to put out his strongest team to nullify Georgia in the first half and keep the momentum going for the quarters.

If Lake starts, he really needs to get his throw-ins right. The Georgians are no mugs and will be up for this hoping to repeat last November’s result.

[Graigwen]

Most of us would think so but Gatland might want to put out his strongest team to nullify Georgia in the first half and keep the momentum going for the quarters.

If Lake starts, he really needs to get his throw-ins right. The Georgians are no mugs and will be up for this hoping to repeat last November’s result.

I agree that it is Lake's throwing that offsets all his other good points. I was thinking we could not be worse than the Fijians! If he starts, we need multiple lineout catchers as his throws could go anywhere, plus a quick man at the end for the inevitable overthrows.

Whatever the Georgians hope for, we are a very different team from last year's.

I suppose what I was thinking was, could Lewis be risked as tight head bench spot. Either of the other two loose heads would be satisfactory for that side.
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[Son of Mathonwy]

Great result from Fiji, so we only need the 1 point from this match. Get 4 tries and we can wrap everyone important in cotton wool if we so wish.

[Sandydragon]

Great result from Fiji, so we only need the 1 point from this match. Get 4 tries and we can wrap everyone important in cotton wool if we so wish.

Georgian coaches suggesting that their starting team will be significantly weakened by injury. Not sure how much I believe that and I’d still go for a strong team and put on replacements early if all going to plan.

[pompey-zebra]

Great result from Fiji, so we only need the 1 point from this match. Get 4 tries and we can wrap everyone important in cotton wool if we so wish.

Georgian coaches suggesting that their starting team will be significantly weakened by injury. Not sure how much I believe that and I’d still go for a strong team and put on replacements early if all going to plan.

The Georgia game is probably going to be last opportunity for some to get more game time ( if we assume the squad for the Australia game is the first choice 23), so it will be interesting to see whether that plays a part in Gatland's thinking. He said after the aussie game that it wasn't about the xv, or the 23 but the 33. Of course there's only a maximum of 4 games potentially left so he may think it's manageable by sticking to the core 23 with sufficient rest and recovery.

[Graigwen]

Steffan Thomas at the Fail suggests this team for the Georgia game!

"Possible Wales side to face Georgia: Liam Williams; Rio Dyer, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Dewi Lake, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady"

(Only 4 of these players would be in my XV.)
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[pompey-zebra]

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (captain) Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady.

Official line up according to the Fail.

[normanski]

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (captain) Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady.

Official line up according to the Fail.

While we shouldn’t underestimate Georgia, that looks a strong side chosen to get the BP by halftime. We need to dominate the Georgians right from the start so we can bring on the bench as soon as possible.

Players needing wrapping in cotton wool once the game is won are, Thomas and Francis, Rowlands, Faletau, Anscombe and North/Tompkins - they’ll all be needed one way or the other for the quarter final game.

Would love to see how Grady goes with Tompkins. He’s been paired with Johnny Williams so far but hasn’t looked great. A new pairing might start to reveal his undoubted talent. He’s a big lump and we’ll need him to keep the Georgians at bay in the last quarter.

So pleased we’ve proved the naysayers like Dylan Hartley wrong by getting to the knockout stage.

[pompey-zebra]

So by my reckoning that leaves Halfpenny, Lydiate and J Williams with just the one outing, and Domachowsky with two off the bench. I suspect we may need a raft of injuries if they're to feature again.

Edit: Dillon Lewis has just made the two appearances too.

[UKHamlet]

An interesting selection. The big changes at 7, 9 and 11 suggest the value placed on their continued fitness is high, although Gareth Davies is on the bench by necessity. Hoping Reffell goes well at 7 but I'd like to see Basham get an outing as his ball carrying is a major plus, although I suspect we'll see him on at 8.

[Graigwen]

That is a very different side to the one I had expected. It is far stronger, showing a lot of respect for Georgia.

I am a bit surprised we are putting our first choice props on to start, but all the four would have appeared at some stage. I also thought it might have been prudent to rest Sanjay and start Halfpenny at 15. No matter, it is a good side and it should be an entertaining game, with as Normanski said key players being subbed early, if all goes accoding to plan.

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[Son of Mathonwy]

It's a bit stronger than I would have picked. I don't know if that's respect for Georgia or keeping players match-sharp & giving our best team more time together. If (when?) we get to 4 tries there should be a few substitutions.

Anyway, I've no doubt the win is in the bag. Hope no one gets injured. And Lake gets that lineout practice he needs.

[Sandydragon]

I like that selection. We keep momentum up and can hopefully rack up points and give the bench an early run out. Grady also gets an opportunity in a more settled back line, probably alongside Tompkins.

Morgan certainly due a break and fingers crossed that Lake can find some accuracy.

[normanski]

So by my reckoning that leaves Halfpenny, Lydiate and J Williams with just the one outing, and Domachowsky with two off the bench. I suspect we may need a raft of injuries if they're to feature again.

Edit: Dillon Lewis has just made the two appearances too.

I guess the reason Gatland announced the squad three days early was to stop speculation within the group as to who was in and who was out. It would also allow the starters and bench to train at a higher level knowing that they were needed in the next game.

Looking at recent games where tier 2 teams played, there’s been a considerable drop in their energy levels as the games progressed.

Thank goodness Wales set out to be the fittest team in the tournament, it certainly seems to have paid off.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Thank goodness Wales set out to be the fittest team in the tournament, it certainly seems to have paid off.

It had to be done (and shouldn't only be done for the RWC either), although I'd be surprised if there was really much difference between our fitness levels and other top teams'.

[normanski]

Thank goodness Wales set out to be the fittest team in the tournament, it certainly seems to have paid off.

It had to be done (and shouldn't only be done for the RWC either), although I'd be surprised if there was really much difference between our fitness levels and other top teams'.

Hopefully we’ll find out just how fit the other top teams are in the quarters and then the semis!!!

[Graigwen]

Georgia looked very tired in the latter stages of the Fiji game.

Georgia had a couple of injuries during the game, I don't know if they will be fit to face us.
Tengiz Zamtaradze; hooker (wrist)
Lasha Jaiani ; lock (ankle)

Their manager said they would field a lot of second and third choice players.
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[pompey-zebra]

Georgia looked very tired in the latter stages of the Fiji game.

Georgia had a couple of injuries during the game, I don't know if they will be fit to face us.
Tengiz Zamtaradze; hooker (wrist)
Lasha Jaiani ; lock (ankle)

Their manager said they would field a lot of second and third choice players.
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To be fair, I dont think many teams would look fresh as daisies after 80 minutes of battering by 20 stone fijians. I'm glad we had them first up, and then had Portugal next when we could afford to make changes.

[normanski]

Yes, I think we had the luck of the draw having the Fijians first up. They were confident after their win at Twickenham but we did a great job on them until they finally woke up and started battering us.

If Georgia lose many of their first choices players when we play them, then we need to get the BP as soon as possible, hopefully before half time so we can bring on the bench.

The Georgians won’t make it easy - they’ll be playing for pride even though they’re out of the Cup.

It’ll be interesting to total up the tackles we’ve made in the first three games. I bet it’s higher by a margin than any other side in the competition.

It really does underline just how far our defence and attack has come on since the 6N.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Thank goodness Wales set out to be the fittest team in the tournament, it certainly seems to have paid off.

It had to be done (and shouldn't only be done for the RWC either), although I'd be surprised if there was really much difference between our fitness levels and other top teams'.

Hopefully we’ll find out just how fit the other top teams are in the quarters and then the semis!!!

And final!

[normanski]

It had to be done (and shouldn't only be done for the RWC either), although I'd be surprised if there was really much difference between our fitness levels and other top teams'.

Hopefully we’ll find out just how fit the other top teams are in the quarters and then the semis!!!

And final!

Now that would be good!

[Son of Mathonwy]

It's a bit stronger than I would have picked. I don't know if that's respect for Georgia or keeping players match-sharp & giving our best team more time together. If (when?) we get to 4 tries there should be a few substitutions.

Anyway, I've no doubt the win is in the bag. Hope no one gets injured. And Lake gets that lineout practice he needs.

Having said that we should just concentrate on winning, not try-scoring. Assuming we get to a sizable lead we can then focus on tries.

[Sandydragon]

It's a bit stronger than I would have picked. I don't know if that's respect for Georgia or keeping players match-sharp & giving our best team more time together. If (when?) we get to 4 tries there should be a few substitutions.

Anyway, I've no doubt the win is in the bag. Hope no one gets injured. And Lake gets that lineout practice he needs.

Having said that we should just concentrate on winning, not try-scoring. Assuming we get to a sizable lead we can then focus on tries.

Totally agree, we have run into trouble here before. But from the team selection I would suggest that Gatland is taking Georgia very seriously and Im sure the team are aware to play this game like any other, i.e. build a lead then look to score tries (unless we can do another strike move inside the first five minutes which I don’t think anyone would be unhappy to see).

[Graigwen]

We need discipline and possession retention at the start, making the Georgians run around a lot. The initial aim is just to win the game.

Later on we should be able to test Georgia out wide, as we have four wingers in the XXIII.

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