RugbyRebels

Based on the 2 games thus far, what is our strongest team?

1. Domachoeski.
2. Dee. Hope Lake is ok but lineout needs to work.
3. Thomas.
4. Jenkins (hope he is fit)
5. Rowlands
6. Lydiate. Our best out and out six.
7. Morgan (c)
8. Wainwright. Faletau remains a brilliant player but needs to be fit.
9. Tough one this, both Williams and Davies have gone well.
10. Biggar.
11. LRZ.
12. Llewelyn.
13. North.
14. Adam’s, just.
15. Liam Williams
16. Lake, if fit
17. Nicky Smith
18. Lewis
19. Tshiunza, but not convinced.
20. Faletau .
21. Davies/ Williams
22. Costelow
23. Grady.

Trying not to put too much weight over a clear win over an experimental England team versus a narrow loss to a near full strength one, but that lack of composure in the last 15 wasn’t pretty.

Agreed except:
1. Undecided, Francis wasn't bad today and has lots of credit in the bank
6. If Faletau returns maybe Wainwright takes 6
12. Undecided. Need more info. Would reluctantly pick Tompkins if forced.
19. Davies.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 12, 2023 10:14 pm Agreed except:
1. Undecided, Francis wasn't bad today and has lots of credit in the bank
6. If Faletau returns maybe Wainwright takes 6
12. Undecided. Need more info. Would reluctantly pick Tompkins if forced.
19. Davies.

I’d rather have Wainwright on the bench if Faletau fit.

Maybe Davies, maybe Carter.

Haven’t been convinced by Francis for a while, he’s been lucky there’s been no real competition.

I’m wondering if Gatland might pick Liam Williams at wing and Halfpenny at FB for Fiji? Adam’s looks out of sorts and Dyer still makes a lot of mistakes.

Could we beg Owens to come back?

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:16 am I’m wondering if Gatland might pick Liam Williams at wing and Halfpenny at FB for Fiji? Adam’s looks out of sorts and Dyer still makes a lot of mistakes.

I don't think Liam gets enough action on the wing. It's tough to judge either of yesterday's wingers given how little ball they had.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:22 am

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:16 am I’m wondering if Gatland might pick Liam Williams at wing and Halfpenny at FB for Fiji? Adam’s looks out of sorts and Dyer still makes a lot of mistakes.

I don't think Liam gets enough action on the wing. It's tough to judge either of yesterday's wingers given how little ball they had.

It must be so frustrating for three-quarters in that situation.

If you're a forward or half-back, at least you know that however badly your team do at possession, you are at least guaranteed to be in the vicinity of play several times, with a chance to do SOMETHING. Whereas if you're a Tom Rogers or Henry Arundell in one of these games, you might not even appear on the TV screens for most of the match, let alone get a chance to influence anything. Some will say that wingers should "look for work" but honestly if they're reduced to that it's an indictment of the team.

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 12:42 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:22 am

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:16 am I’m wondering if Gatland might pick Liam Williams at wing and Halfpenny at FB for Fiji? Adam’s looks out of sorts and Dyer still makes a lot of mistakes.

I don't think Liam gets enough action on the wing. It's tough to judge either of yesterday's wingers given how little ball they had.

It must be so frustrating for three-quarters in that situation.

If you're a forward or half-back, at least you know that however badly your team do at possession, you are at least guaranteed to be in the vicinity of play several times, with a chance to do SOMETHING. Whereas if you're a Tom Rogers or Henry Arundell in one of these games, you might not even appear on the TV screens for most of the match, let alone get a chance to influence anything. Some will say that wingers should "look for work" but honestly if they're reduced to that it's an indictment of the team.

Remember Luke Morgan's debut for Wales? One of the form wingers at the time, got his first touch of the ball after about 60 minutes, gets hauled off and never played for Wales again!

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:03 pm
Remember Luke Morgan's debut for Wales? One of the form wingers at the time, got his first touch of the ball after about 60 minutes, gets hauled off and never played for Wales again!

I do.

Not an isolated case, but a particularly egregious one. Perhaps trumped by Keelan Giles never even getting on the pitch?

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:11 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:03 pm
Remember Luke Morgan's debut for Wales? One of the form wingers at the time, got his first touch of the ball after about 60 minutes, gets hauled off and never played for Wales again!

I do.

Not an isolated case, but a particularly egregious one. Perhaps trumped by Keelan Giles never even getting on the pitch?

I'll never forgive Howley for that.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:35 pm

Sourdust wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:11 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:03 pm
Remember Luke Morgan's debut for Wales? One of the form wingers at the time, got his first touch of the ball after about 60 minutes, gets hauled off and never played for Wales again!

I do.

Not an isolated case, but a particularly egregious one. Perhaps trumped by Keelan Giles never even getting on the pitch?

I'll never forgive Howley for that.

Was that the squad that had a hatful of uncapped players in it, possibly only one of which actually played?

From what Ive seen so far

Id like to have another look at Domachowski and Dee with maybe Thomas at #3
The first game second rows looked more dynamic than what we saw yesterday , and I include Carter in that. Whilst I though Beard would be a shoe in, hes been average for too long IMO
Back Row -again, Wainwright and Morgan have stood out so far, Basham looked his all action self yesterday, shame he wont get a chance against SA now..of the rest Christ and Plumtree have not really put their hand up, Reffel and Lydiate did what you would expect - its a shame neither of Christ or Plumtree have hit their stride, Tshiunza in particular has great ruck stats for Exeter but seems overwhelmed in a Welsh shirt. Tshiunza and Plumtree at least add a lineout option. -6 is wide open

Both 9s have looked good to be fair and theres not really a lot to choose between them
Biggar has stood out as the class 10, although Costelow was a decent performance and we are yet to see Anscombe
12 is wide open, will J Williams be fit for SA?
Cuthbert hasnt played yet and hes another like Wainwright that seems to raise his game for Gatland
We have 2 15s for different types of games, but Liam would be my starting 15

For SA, Id like to see

Domachowski, Dee, Thomas
Rowlands, Carter (Jenkins is injured and I think Carter deserves a start)
Christ, Morgan, Wainwright - same back row as first game, but a last chance for Christ

Tomos, Biggar ( I believe Anscombe is not available)
J Williams (K if J not fit, but will probably be LLewelyn which Im fine with), North
Cuthbert, Adams, LRZ - Cuthbert needs a game, Adams needs to improve, lets see LRZ again at 15

B: Parry, Smith, Lewis, R Davies (want to see him again), Plumtree if fit, but if not ...anyone, Hardy, Costelow, Grady

As for our strongest, if everyone is fit for Fiji I imagine
Williams, LRZ, North, Tompkins, Adams, Biggar, Tomos
Smith, Dee, Thomas, Rowlands, Jenkins, Wainwright, Morgan, Faletau
B: Lake, Thomas, Francis, Carter, Basham (I think he offers great bench coverage), Davies, Anscombe, Grady

The only snag with no Christ or Plumtree in the backrow is a lack of lineout jumpers. I suspect the desire to have a third good jumper will count in favour of one of those two at blindside.

Alternatively we go for Lydiate and the ability to chop down big runners which isn’t a bad thing

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 3:45 pm The only snag with no Christ or Plumtree in the backrow is a lack of lineout jumpers. I suspect the desire to have a third good jumper will count in favour of one of those two at blindside.

Alternatively we go for Lydiate and the ability to chop down big runners which isn’t a bad thing

They should look at Rhys Davies at 6 if they want another lineout option.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 5:14 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 3:45 pm The only snag with no Christ or Plumtree in the backrow is a lack of lineout jumpers. I suspect the desire to have a third good jumper will count in favour of one of those two at blindside.

Alternatively we go for Lydiate and the ability to chop down big runners which isn’t a bad thing

They should look at Rhys Davies at 6 if they want another lineout option.

Was he used at all as a lineout option yesterday? genuine question, I know our line out was a shambles but did we go to him?

MrK wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 5:17 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 5:14 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 3:45 pm The only snag with no Christ or Plumtree in the backrow is a lack of lineout jumpers. I suspect the desire to have a third good jumper will count in favour of one of those two at blindside.

Alternatively we go for Lydiate and the ability to chop down big runners which isn’t a bad thing

They should look at Rhys Davies at 6 if they want another lineout option.

Was he used at all as a lineout option yesterday? genuine question, I know our line out was a shambles but did we go to him?

Good question, like many about the lineout, I have no answer!

For SA, I'd go for

Domachowski, Dee, H Thomas
Rowlands, Beard
R Davies, Morgan, Wainwright

Hardy, O Williams (I know this is not going to happen)
J Williams (K if J not fit), North
Adams, Grady, LRZ (FB)

Subs: Parry, Smith, Lewis, Carter, Reffell, G Davies, Costelow, K Williams (or Llewellyn if K starts)

I'm assuming Anscombe, Basham, Jenkins not available.

MrK wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 5:17 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 5:14 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 3:45 pm The only snag with no Christ or Plumtree in the backrow is a lack of lineout jumpers. I suspect the desire to have a third good jumper will count in favour of one of those two at blindside.

Alternatively we go for Lydiate and the ability to chop down big runners which isn’t a bad thing

They should look at Rhys Davies at 6 if they want another lineout option.

Was he used at all as a lineout option yesterday? genuine question, I know our line out was a shambles but did we go to him?

Impossible to say; they might have intended to but chucked it to the English fly half instead

In the Fail, Mark Orders' team for SA is:
Smith
Dee
H Thomas
Beard
Rowlands
Lydiate
Morgan
Wainwright
Hardy
Biggar
Dyer
J Williams
Grady
Cuthbert
Rogers

Don’t mind that back row.

But not Beard. Nor that very inexperienced centre partnership. And that’s am ‘interesting’ back 3.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:13 pm Don’t mind that back row.

But not Beard. Nor that very inexperienced centre partnership. And that’s am ‘interesting’ back 3.

Orders says Rogers should play at 15 if gatland is serious considering taking him to France, so its arguable whether he actuslly is. Dyer and cuthbert there to make a case for going, given the former's unconvincing display in Cardiff and the latter's lack of game time.

If beard plays then, again I think it'll be a last chance to convince. As said on other posts, for a player you'd expect to be a first choice, he's not looked like living up to that so far.

Centres: I'm sure I read somewhere on the weekend that Wales have used 21 different centre combinations in the last 41 matches ( apologies if I've got that wrong). Whatever the numbers, it's not a settled position, and as William's has not played yet, it might be another one trying to convince.

Jonny Williams deserves a chance if fit. He has shown he can deliver at international level before and we need an IC who can own that shirt.

I read articles on how integral Beard is to our team but I just don’t see it.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 8:07 am Jonny Williams deserves a chance if fit. He has shown he can deliver at international level before and we need an IC who can own that shirt.

I read articles on how integral Beard is to our team but I just don’t see it.

I know what you mean, it seems he is only being selected for his maul defence as he offers little else, I'd go for Rowlands and Jenkins I reckon to start.