Team for Italy

[Numbers]

Well this is what I would like to see:

Smith
Owens
Lee
Clart
AWJ
Moriarty
Young
Faletau
Webb
Davies
North
S Williams
Foxy
Liam
Halfpenny

Subs: Evans, Dacey, Francis, Ball, Warburton, G Davies, Biggar, JR

Wishful thinking perhaps.

[whatisthejava]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

[Numbers]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

No he's not injured, I haven't selected him as this is a game to try a few new players imo.

[Ross. S]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

this is a game to try a few new players imo.

No its not, this is a game to rack up the score, everyone else will be so if we want to be in contention at the end we have to put out our best

[MrK]

Id Pick

L Williams, Evans, Sc Williams, O Williams, North, Davies, Webb
Evans*, Owens*, Lee*, Ball, AWJ, Moriaty(Cracknell), Tipuric, Faletau (Moriaty)

Dacey, Smith, Francis, Charteris, Warburton, Davies, Davies, Halfpenny

I actually thin Dacey, Smith and Francis would be the form front row but would go with the Scarlets combination.

Think they will go with

Halfpenny, L Williams, JD2, Sc Williams, North, Biggar, Webb
Evans, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AWJ, Warburton, Tupuric, Moriaty

Balwdin, Smith, Francis, Ball, King, Davies, Davies, Evans.

[whatisthejava]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

No he's not injured, I haven't selected him as this is a game to try a few new players imo.

I think u guys have a hard season ahead of u, confidence will be shakey after the Autumn. Play your strongest team because I don't see you guys scoring 4 tries without it.

[Numbers]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

this is a game to try a few new players imo.

No its not, this is a game to rack up the score, everyone else will be so if we want to be in contention at the end we have to put out our best

If we are going to be relying on points difference then you may have a point, I very much doubt we will get a repeat of the points difference scenario of a couple of years ago again with the bonus points being in place now.

[MrK]

The problem is I don't think the managements perceived strongest team is the strongest team.

[Numbers]

The problem is I don't think the managements perceived strongest team is the strongest team.

I agree, certainly not on form.

[Son of Mathonwy]

this is a game to try a few new players imo.

No its not, this is a game to rack up the score, everyone else will be so if we want to be in contention at the end we have to put out our best

If we are going to be relying on points difference then you may have a point, I very much doubt we will get a repeat of the points difference scenario of a couple of years ago again with the bonus points being in place now.

Hopefully we won't just switch off once we get to 4 tries (ha ha, assuming we get that many ).

But seriously I think we can be fairly confident of giving them a sound beating. Just a shame we don't have try machine Giles to run in a hat trick in the last 20 minutes.

[ALunpg]

Id Pick

L Williams, Evans, Sc Williams, O Williams, North, Davies, Webb
Evans*, Owens*, Lee*, Ball, AWJ, Moriaty(Cracknell), Tipuric, Faletau (Moriaty)

Dacey, Smith, Francis, Charteris, Warburton, Davies, Davies, Halfpenny

I actually thin Dacey, Smith and Francis would be the form front row but would go with the Scarlets combination.

Think they will go with

Halfpenny, L Williams, JD2, Sc Williams, North, Biggar, Webb
Evans, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AWJ, Warburton, Tupuric, Moriaty

Balwdin, Smith, Francis, Ball, King, Davies, Davies, Evans.

Well done... we can give Howley a few weeks off now as you have done his job for him. The only Bolter is Thomas Young instead of King and...he will probably pick Roberts not Evans ..nice and easy does it.

[MrK]

Well done... we can give Howley a few weeks off now as you have done his job for him. The only Bolter is Thomas Young instead of King and...he will probably pick Roberts not Evans ..nice and easy does it.

Yeah you're probably right on the Roberts call.

[Sandydragon]

If Roberts doesn't start the he will surely be on the bench, which seems a bit daft to me given the current challenges from in form players and the potential to mix it up a bit from the bench. Assuming North will start, then having one of the young in form wingers in reserve makes more sense to me. But I suspect Howley will be a bit safety first.

[MrK]

So anyone actually think there will be any surprise in the 23?

[Sandydragon]

So anyone actually think there will be any surprise in the 23?

Maybe the bench. I think Faletau injury layoff gives him the excuse not to drop Warburton with Moriarty moving to 8. I think the back line will be fairly easy to predict but probakynwith Scott Williams instead of Roberts and a back three of halfpenny, Liam Williams and north.

We might see Sam davies on the bench. Maybe the third back shirt will go to an outsider, but it wouldn't surprise me if Roberts or cuthbert got it.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

is Tuperic injured

Would say he has been on brlliant form this season

No he's not injured, I haven't selected him as this is a game to try a few new players imo.

If it is, then why that backline?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Since this is one week before the championship-defining England match, Howley will presumably play what he perceives to be his strongest XV, so they'll have a match under their belts in that line-up. There may be room on the bench to test a newcomer or two (Owen Williams and Young would be interesting), but that's about it. I assume Biggar will start at 10, Roberts at 12 and our attacking play will be as terrifying as ever*.

* Actually I expect we will win easily enough and even get the 4+ tries, but..... this is only Italy and we'll have papered over the cracks for one more week before England shame us at home.

[Sandydragon]

Since this is one week before the championship-defining England match, Howley will presumably play what he perceives to be his strongest XV, so they'll have a match under their belts in that line-up. There may be room on the bench to test a newcomer or two (Owen Williams and Young would be interesting), but that's about it. I assume Biggar will start at 10, Roberts at 12 and our attacking play will be as terrifying as ever*.

* Actually I expect we will win easily enough and even get the 4+ tries, but..... this is only Italy and we'll have papered over the cracks for one more week before England shame us at home.

I think ROberts not playing at 12 is perhaps the one major chance we can reasonably expect. It would not surprise me if he is on the bench mind.

Otherewise I agree with you, Howley wont want to experiment too much and younger players probably wont get much of a chance unless there is nothing to play for in the final game.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Since this is one week before the championship-defining England match, Howley will presumably play what he perceives to be his strongest XV, so they'll have a match under their belts in that line-up. There may be room on the bench to test a newcomer or two (Owen Williams and Young would be interesting), but that's about it. I assume Biggar will start at 10, Roberts at 12 and our attacking play will be as terrifying as ever*.

* Actually I expect we will win easily enough and even get the 4+ tries, but..... this is only Italy and we'll have papered over the cracks for one more week before England shame us at home.

I think ROberts not playing at 12 is perhaps the one major chance we can reasonably expect. It would not surprise me if he is on the bench mind.

Otherewise I agree with you, Howley wont want to experiment too much and younger players probably wont get much of a chance unless there is nothing to play for in the final game.

Howley had Roberts at 12 for two of the AIs and at 23 for the other two. It's anyone's guess whether Howley prefers Scott or Jamie at 12 right now. I hope you're right though.
Wish we had Beck or John instead of the out of form JD at 13 though, whoever gets the nod for 12.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Since this is one week before the championship-defining England match, Howley will presumably play what he perceives to be his strongest XV, so they'll have a match under their belts in that line-up. There may be room on the bench to test a newcomer or two (Owen Williams and Young would be interesting), but that's about it. I assume Biggar will start at 10, Roberts at 12 and our attacking play will be as terrifying as ever*.

* Actually I expect we will win easily enough and even get the 4+ tries, but..... this is only Italy and we'll have papered over the cracks for one more week before England shame us at home.

I think ROberts not playing at 12 is perhaps the one major chance we can reasonably expect. It would not surprise me if he is on the bench mind.

Otherewise I agree with you, Howley wont want to experiment too much and younger players probably wont get much of a chance unless there is nothing to play for in the final game.

Howley had Roberts at 12 for two of the AIs and at 23 for the other two. It's anyone's guess whether Howley prefers Scott or Jamie at 12 right now. I hope you're right though.
Wish we had Beck or John instead of the out of form JD at 13 though, whoever gets the nod for 12.

Who are the 13s in the squad? You could of course play Roberts at 12 and Scott Williams at 13. For me Scott Williams starts in your centres with AN Other.

[Sandydragon]

Since this is one week before the championship-defining England match, Howley will presumably play what he perceives to be his strongest XV, so they'll have a match under their belts in that line-up. There may be room on the bench to test a newcomer or two (Owen Williams and Young would be interesting), but that's about it. I assume Biggar will start at 10, Roberts at 12 and our attacking play will be as terrifying as ever*.

* Actually I expect we will win easily enough and even get the 4+ tries, but..... this is only Italy and we'll have papered over the cracks for one more week before England shame us at home.

I think ROberts not playing at 12 is perhaps the one major chance we can reasonably expect. It would not surprise me if he is on the bench mind.

Otherewise I agree with you, Howley wont want to experiment too much and younger players probably wont get much of a chance unless there is nothing to play for in the final game.

Howley had Roberts at 12 for two of the AIs and at 23 for the other two. It's anyone's guess whether Howley prefers Scott or Jamie at 12 right now. I hope you're right though.
Wish we had Beck or John instead of the out of form JD at 13 though, whoever gets the nod for 12.

I think JD2 is lucky to be in the squad. On form a great player, but he hasn't been on form recently.

[Sandydragon]

I think ROberts not playing at 12 is perhaps the one major chance we can reasonably expect. It would not surprise me if he is on the bench mind.

Otherewise I agree with you, Howley wont want to experiment too much and younger players probably wont get much of a chance unless there is nothing to play for in the final game.

Howley had Roberts at 12 for two of the AIs and at 23 for the other two. It's anyone's guess whether Howley prefers Scott or Jamie at 12 right now. I hope you're right though.
Wish we had Beck or John instead of the out of form JD at 13 though, whoever gets the nod for 12.

Who are the 13s in the squad? You could of course play Roberts at 12 and Scott Williams at 13. For me Scott Williams starts in your centres with AN Other.

We could. Scott is probably better at IC and is definitely the form centre. Beyond those three, it's Owen Williams or North in the centre and I can't see either starting there. Beck has been in form recently, but perhaps didn't have enough games prior to the squad selection to oust one of the established players.

[ALunpg]

So few days to go here is the fails input for the starting 15
Rob Howley’s possible Wales team: Halfpenny; North, J Davies, S Williams, L Williams; Biggar, Webb; Evans, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AW Jones (capt), Warburton, Moriarty, Tipuric.
This assumes Falateu is not playing..and honestly I would start this way if he is not over 80%

My bench
Balwdin, Smith, Francis, Ball,Young, Davies, Davies, Evans
Warburton to cover at 8 if required but if Falateu is fit to be on to be bench then Young drops out

[Sandydragon]

So few days to go here is the fails input for the starting 15
Rob Howley’s possible Wales team: Halfpenny; North, J Davies, S Williams, L Williams; Biggar, Webb; Evans, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AW Jones (capt), Warburton, Moriarty, Tipuric.
This assumes Falateu is not playing..and honestly I would start this way if he is not over 80%

My bench
Balwdin, Smith, Francis, Ball,Young, Davies, Davies, Evans
Warburton to cover at 8 if required but if Falateu is fit to be on to be bench then Young drops out

Faletau is such a class player that I would play him if fit but lacking game time. But if he isn't fit then Id rather he wasn't involved in this game with England the week afterwards, even from the bench.

[ALunpg]

So few days to go here is the fails input for the starting 15
Rob Howley’s possible Wales team: Halfpenny; North, J Davies, S Williams, L Williams; Biggar, Webb; Evans, Owens, Lee, Charteris, AW Jones (capt), Warburton, Moriarty, Tipuric.
This assumes Falateu is not playing..and honestly I would start this way if he is not over 80%

My bench
Balwdin, Smith, Francis, Ball,Young, Davies, Davies, Evans
Warburton to cover at 8 if required but if Falateu is fit to be on to be bench then Young drops out

Faletau is such a class player that I would play him if fit but lacking game time. But if he isn't fit then Id rather he wasn't involved in this game with England the week afterwards, even from the bench.

I think we mostly agree..Falateu will not be fully match fit..or injury free... so do they risk him ..?