6 Nations

[Numbers]

Well it's looking like we will be without a fair few players for the 6 nations, currently the following will be unavailable for at least some of the tournament:

Liam Williams (at least the start)
John Davies (whole tournament)
Gareth Anscombe (whole tournament)
Rhys Patchell (at least the start)

I suppose this will give a few fringe players an opportunity, I'd like to see McNicholl given a go at 15 and Jarrod Evans at 10, perhaps Owen Lane at 13 also.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Oh FFS.

As I said on the 6 nations thread it's a good opportunity to try out Lane, Evans and McNicholl, Liam also misses the start of the tournament, Anscombe is out for the whole tournament.

Indeed, others will get their chances. Possibly Sam Davies could make a return (I imagine he might be Pivac's type of 10)?

[Buggaluggs]

Here's a few players with current age. No particular reason for who I added / left out. I wouldn't bother with McNicholl as he's already over 29 years old. Other than as cover. I'd like to see Amos given a good crack at 15.


Luke Charteris......36
Richard Hibbard.....36
Alun Wyn Jones......34
Aaron Jarvis........33
Jamie Roberts.......33
Ken Owens...........33
Rhys Priestland.....33
Hadleigh Parkes.....32
Dan Lydiate.........32
Dan Lydiate.........32
Jonathan Davies.....32
Scott Baldwin.......31
Leigh Halfpenny.....31
Justin Tipuric......30
Dan Biggar..........30
Alex Cuthbert.......30
Willis Halaholo.....29
Johnny McNicholl....29
Scott Williams......29
Josh Navidi.........29
Lloyd Ashley........29
Liam Williams.......29
Gareth Anscombe.....29
Jake Ball...........28
Cory Hill...........28
Owen Williams.......28
George North........28
Matthew Morgan......28
Ellis Jenkins.......27
Rhys Patchell.......27
Jordan Williams.....26
Sam Davies..........26
Olly Cracknell......25
Hallam Amos.........25
Aled Summerhill.....25
Tomos Williams......25
Dafydd Howells......25
Josh Adams..........25
Tyler Morgan........24
Luke Price..........24
Adam Beard..........24
Jarrod Evans........23
Harri Millard.......23
Owen Watkin.........23
Josh Macleod........23
Steff Evans.........22
Will Talbot-Davies..22
Owen Lane...........22
Rhys Carre..........22
Taine Basham........20

[Son of Mathonwy]

This is a bit leftfield but Jordan Williams might be worth looking at for full back/wing. He's 26.

[Mikey Brown]

I feel like you did a very good job of phasing your centres in and out one at a time, but I didn't realise you now have two 32 year olds. Who is likely to take those spots in the next few years?

I always thought Patchell could make a very exciting 12, but with Anscombe/Biggar getting on that probably doesn't make much sense.

[Sandydragon]

Well it's looking like we will be without a fair few players for the 6 nations, currently the following will be unavailable for at least some of the tournament:

Liam Williams (at least the start)
John Davies (whole tournament)
Gareth Anscombe (whole tournament)
Rhys Patchell (at least the start)

I suppose this will give a few fringe players an opportunity, I'd like to see McNicholl given a go at 15 and Jarrod Evans at 10, perhaps Owen Lane at 13 also.

I’d like Amos to have a run at 15, but I’m not sure Lane is ready for life at OC at the international level. That said, there aren’t many long term alternative putting their hands up.

[Sandydragon]

I wonder if Owen Williams might set another opportunity?

[Hooky]

Here's a few players with current age. No particular reason for who I added / left out. I wouldn't bother with McNicholl as he's already over 29 years old. Other than as cover. I'd like to see Amos given a good crack [/font]

While the RWC cycle has to be the main focus, grand slams and championships are not to be sniffed at. Winning breeds winning. If haliholo (however it is spelled) or McNicholl are a class above then they should be picked. I only wouldn't bother if they're not much better than other younger options.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Here's a few players with current age. No particular reason for who I added / left out. I wouldn't bother with McNicholl as he's already over 29 years old. Other than as cover. I'd like to see Amos given a good crack [/font]

While the RWC cycle has to be the main focus, grand slams and championships are not to be sniffed at. Winning breeds winning. If haliholo (however it is spelled) or McNicholl are a class above then they should be picked. I only wouldn't bother if they're not much better than other younger options.

I'd go further, even. To me a world cup win would be worth 2 grand slams at best. Winning the 6N should be the first priority except in a RWC year. Other important goals like winning the RWC and beating SH teams have to be lower priority - definitely to be targeted, but not in such a way that our 6N performances are noticeably weakened.

[Buggaluggs]

Topped up

Luke Charteris........36
Richard Hibbard.......36
Alun Wyn Jones........34
Aaron Jarvis..........33
Jamie Roberts.........33
Ken Owens.............33
Rhys Priestland.......33
Hadleigh Parkes.......32
Dan Lydiate...........32
Dan Lydiate...........32
Jonathan Davies.......32
Scott Baldwin.........31
Leigh Halfpenny.......31
Justin Tipuric........30
Dan Biggar............30
Alex Cuthbert.........30
Willis Halaholo.......29
Johnny McNicholl......29
Scott Williams........29
Josh Navidi...........29
Lloyd Ashley..........29
Liam Williams.........29
Gareth Anscombe.......29
Jake Ball.............28
Cory Hill.............28
Owen Williams.........28
George North..........28
Matthew Morgan........28
Ellis Jenkins.........27
Rhys Patchell.........27
Jordan Williams.......26
Sam Davies............26
Olly Cracknell........25
Hallam Amos...........25
Aled Summerhill.......25
Tomos Williams........25
Dafydd Howells........25
Josh Adams............25
Tyler Morgan..........24
Luke Price............24
Adam Beard............24
Jarrod Evans..........23
Harri Millard.........23
Owen Watkin...........23
Josh Macleod..........23
Steff Evans...........22
Will Talbot-Davies....22
Owen Lane.............22
Rhys Carre............22
Cai Eans..............20
Taine Basham..........20
Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler..20

[Sourdust]

While the RWC cycle has to be the main focus, grand slams and championships are not to be sniffed at. Winning breeds winning. If haliholo (however it is spelled) or McNicholl are a class above then they should be picked. I only wouldn't bother if they're not much better than other younger options.

I'd go further, even. To me a world cup win would be worth 2 grand slams at best. Winning the 6N should be the first priority except in a RWC year. Other important goals like winning the RWC and beating SH teams have to be lower priority - definitely to be targeted, but not in such a way that our 6N performances are noticeably weakened.

I seem to say this every 4 years!

Of course RWCs are the biggest prize, but they're also widely spaced out and there are loads of random factors. Spending four years fixated on a kncokout tournament where everything might be wasted because someone rolls an ankle in training, or a ref gets trigger-happy, or there's a tropical storm... barmy.

From a Welsh persepctive: The Wales team exists to compete in the International Championship, in its current incarnation as The Six Nations. That is our bread-and-butter competition, it is regular, individual players can build a meaningful legacy in it, and ultimately we are judged both from within and withjout on our success in it. It should absolutely be our priority, except in RWC years when we should have one - but ONLY one - eye on that.

Four years out from a World Cup I don't want to even hear about it. The 2020 6N is a tournament in its own right and Wales should do whatever it takes to maximize our chances of winning it. I couldn't care less how old the players are, if they are the right players. My heart would prefer them to be Welsh players but I won't see us hamstrung by principle when no-one else is. As said above, give me two 6N wins (or more!) in the next four years and I'm happy to let RWC2023 take care of itself.

[Numbers]

It was good to see Kieran Wiliams given a run out for the Ospreys on the weekend, he could be the future for us at centre, he was very good at age grade, perhaps a bit small but I suppose we'll see.