Portugal

[Tuco Ramirez]

1 Smith/Domachowski
2 Lake C
3 Lewis/Thomas
4 Tsiunza
5 Jenkins
6 Lydiate
7 Reffel
8 Basham
9 Williams
10 Anscombe
11 Dyer
12 Williams
13 Grady
14 LRZ
15 Halfpenny

props to be decided after training....... lets see how good my mole is.....

[Which Tyler]

[Sandydragon]

1 Smith/Domachowski
2 Lake C
3 Lewis/Thomas
4 Tsiunza
5 Jenkins
6 Lydiate
7 Reffel
8 Basham
9 Williams
10 Anscombe
11 Dyer
12 Williams
13 Grady
14 LRZ
15 Halfpenny

props to be decided after training....... lets see how good my mole is.....

The fail are suggesting it will be a stronger team, since we need to score as many points as possible against Portugal. Personally, this is the game for squad players and resting tired bodies after that epic is the right thing to do.

I might be tempted to play Faletau though as I think he looks short on game time and giving him 40 before Australia might be useful.

[normanski]

Sandy, Faletau would be a good pick for a run out as a starter to give him as much game time as possible. He did seem to be puffing when he came off against Fiji. Portugal would be ideal for him to hone his talent.

Is Lake back to full fitness? If not then Dee to start and we’d have to put Elias on for the last twenty. Not ideal after the bruising Elias took on Sunday.

Although Portugal are a second tier side they could still pose us many problems. Essential for us to put out a strong team who can put early tries and points on the board so we don’t have to rely on the bench. We need a BP win and as wide a points difference as possible.

[Graigwen]

1 Smith/Domachowski
2 Lake C
3 Lewis/Thomas
4 Tsiunza
5 Jenkins
6 Lydiate
7 Reffel
8 Basham
9 Williams
10 Anscombe
11 Dyer
12 Williams
13 Grady
14 LRZ
15 Halfpenny

props to be decided after training....... lets see how good my mole is.....

That is virtually the same as the side I guessed, except for starting Faletau (for game time) instead of Basham. Smith and Thomas to be starting props, we need solidity up front before, hopefully, unleashing our big and fast three quarters. Portugal are not going to roll over, at least not early on.

I would not have Lewis in a starting XV, even against Portugal - let him come on later when their forwards are tired.

For what it is worth my bench would be;
Domachowski
Dee
Lewis
Beard
Wainwright
Basham

Costelow
North

It is an ideal chance to find out how good a scrum half Costello is! (Or maybe Grady fancies that as he plays every position except front row.)

(I have assumed Jenkins could sort out the line out with the inexperienced Tsiunza.)

.

[normanski]

(I have assumed Jenkins could sort out the line out with the inexperienced Tsiunza.)

[/quote]

I had high hopes for young Christ as an athletic lock or flanker but in recent games he looked overawed and a little wooden. This could be a make or break game for him as an international. He really needs to pitch up and throw himself about aggressively.

[Graigwen]

I had high hopes for young Christ as an athletic lock or flanker but in recent games he looked overawed and a little wooden. This could be a make or break game for him as an international. He really needs to pitch up and throw himself about aggressively.

I also rated him very highly and wanted to see him in the squad. I think he has been a bit overawed by the speed of the international game. He looks at times as if he is hanging back a bit, trying to decide where to intervene most effectively. It is part of the learning process but inconvenient at a World Cup. Personally I could accept a few misjudgements as long as he gets stuck in quicker.

.

[Graigwen]

He looks at times as if he is hanging back a bit, trying to decide where to intervene most effectively.

.

I should have added that Carre was far worse than him, and for a lot more games. (Carre was also a lot less athletic.)

.

[bruce]

To be fair that is still a strong line up, not much if any drop off from the Fiji 15.

[Sandydragon]

To be fair that is still a strong line up, not much if any drop off from the Fiji 15.

In some positions our best player can isn’t settled. The team Tuco puts out is hardly a bad one and should be enough to put away Portugal comfortably. Hopefully we get a good start and can show some ruthlessness, except there’s no guarantee that even our strongest XXIII would do that.

We should easily get the bonus point, and then it’s all about how the Aussie Fiji game goes. If the Aussies win then Fiji are in huge trouble. The other way and it could be a three way shoot out.

But we can’t play our best team every game and we can’t afford to take Georgia lightly so this is the game where we make a lot of changes.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The suggested team is pretty sensible for Portugal. We need 5 points. A big score would be great but that doesn't mean we can play our strongest team because we need to use this game to get some players up to speed.

However there needs to be some first XV quality on the bench in case the 4 tries (or the victory ) aren't coming easily enough.

[Wallpaperman]

Looks a good team. Faletau for Lydiate perhaps, and Smith and Thomas to start.

Agree with the comments re Tshiunza. He has looked good for Exeter, his time will surely come. We’ll see for this tournament whether he comes in handy as the hybrid second row / 6 or whether a second row such as Rhys Davies would have been the better pick.

[Sandydragon]

Looks a good team. Faletau for Lydiate perhaps, and Smith and Thomas to start.

Agree with the comments re Tshiunza. He has looked good for Exeter, his time will surely come. We’ll see for this tournament whether he comes in handy as the hybrid second row / 6 or whether a second row such as Rhys Davies would have been the better pick.

He’s looked promising for Wales previously, but not under Gatland. Recently he’s looked confused. Bags of potential if we can use him right.

[Lizard]

Vão Lobos!

[Sourdust]

There's no point in taking 33 players if you're not going to rotate your "stars" out for the lowest-ranked opposition.

Portugal are there on merit and are definitely no mugs; which is not to say that any Welsh XXIII shouldn't get a BP win comfortably. If we don't trust the dirt-trackers to beat Portugal, we can't possibly ask any of them to step up against Australia or (fingers crossed) Argentina.

[Tuco Ramirez]

I know somebody involved in Wales camp. Thats what he told me side would be. Not necessarily what i would pick.

[Graigwen]

Another blinding insight from the Fail:

"Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Adam Beard are all set to be rested against Portugal, MailOnline reports.
The trio all trained separately to the main group of players during Wales' training session on Tuesday and are unlikely to feature in Nice on Saturday."

I hope Rowlands is also being rested!

Team announcement is due later today. It is strange to be so relaxed about it.
.

[normanski]

[quote=Graigwen post_id=303255 time=1694600779 user_id=114


Team announcement is due later today. It is strange to be so relaxed about it.
.
[/quote]

I hope we’re not being complacent. Portugal will play out of their skins in this, their first pool game. We should have the firepower to take them down but it could be a hairy first forty.

I hope the bench has enough experience to close out the game and take a winning BP. Like you, I’m relaxed and trusting Team Gatland to deliver.

[Tuco Ramirez]

[quote=Graigwen post_id=303255 time=1694600779 user_id=114


Team announcement is due later today. It is strange to be so relaxed about it.
.

I hope we’re not being complacent. Portugal will play out of their skins in this, their first pool game. We should have the firepower to take them down but it could be a hairy first forty.

I hope the bench has enough experience to close out the game and take a winning BP. Like you, I’m relaxed and trusting Team Gatland to deliver.
[/quote]

Cannon fodder boys. 70 plus win

[Numbers]

(I have assumed Jenkins could sort out the line out with the inexperienced Tsiunza.)

I had high hopes for young Christ as an athletic lock or flanker but in recent games he looked overawed and a little wooden. This could be a make or break game for him as an international. He really needs to pitch up and throw himself about aggressively.
[/quote]

He's 21

[Puja]

(I have assumed Jenkins could sort out the line out with the inexperienced Tsiunza.)

I had high hopes for young Christ as an athletic lock or flanker but in recent games he looked overawed and a little wooden. This could be a make or break game for him as an international. He really needs to pitch up and throw himself about aggressively.

He's 21

Agreed - you guys chucked him in ridiculously early (almost before he'd even debuted for Exeter, let alone become a regular starter) and he's still got so little experience of adult rugby. Give him time and he'll develop.

Puja

[Tuco Ramirez]

if you're good enough you're old enough.... or not

[normanski]

Yes he’s young. But he does great things for Exeter and needs to translate that at international level. Daffydd Jenkins is also young but has stepped up to the mark. He’s been in camp for several months, done all the training at height and in the heat so really should be going all out to win his selection every time.

[Sandydragon]

1 Smith/Domachowski
2 Lake C
3 Lewis/Thomas
4 Tsiunza
5 Jenkins
6 Lydiate
7 Reffel
8 Basham
9 Williams
10 Anscombe
11 Dyer
12 Williams
13 Grady
14 LRZ
15 Halfpenny

props to be decided after training....... lets see how good my mole is.....

Almost.

Faletau in and Basham to the bench. I suspect that’s a game time thing for Faletau.

[UKHamlet]

Close Tuco. They might have changed it up to give Faletau time on the park.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66797872