RugbyRebels

Wales' strongest XV:
15 Blair Murray;
14 Louis Rees-Zammit,
13 Max Llewellyn,
12 Ben Thomas,
11 Josh Adams;
10 Dan Edwards,
9 Tomos Williams;

1 Nicky Smith,
2 Dewi Lake,
3 Archie Griffin,
4 Dafydd Jenkins,
5 Adam Beard,
6 Aaron Wainwright,
7 Jac Morgan,
8 Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rhys Carre, Keiron Assiratti, Rhys Davies, Freddie Thomas, Morgan Morse, Kieran Hardy, Nick Tompkins.

I'm less certain about Faletau these days. He's looking a bit leggy.
I don't get the Archie Griffin thing, he seems underpowered for an international tightie.
Dewi, for all his merits needs to practice his darts
Ben Thomas has moments, but remains to convince

I hate to say it, but I think Faletau is done. Early exit yesterday for Cardiff and I hope he doesn’t try to hang on for too long , but rather be remembered as a world class player.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 2:10 pm I hate to say it, but I think Faletau is done. Early exit yesterday for Cardiff and I hope he doesn’t try to hang on for too long , but rather be remembered as a world class player.

Beeb sport reporting that Faletau is out of the AI's due to a knee injury sustained on the weekend. Replaced by Olly Cracknell, who's been playing well for Leicester to be fair

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 12:41 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 2:10 pm I hate to say it, but I think Faletau is done. Early exit yesterday for Cardiff and I hope he doesn’t try to hang on for too long , but rather be remembered as a world class player.

Beeb sport reporting that Faletau is out of the AI's due to a knee injury sustained on the weekend. Replaced by Olly Cracknell, who's been playing well for Leicester to be fair

I was wondering if Cracknell might get a call. Bit late in his career, but he's a man in form. He won't let us down.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 1:42 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 12:41 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 2:10 pm I hate to say it, but I think Faletau is done. Early exit yesterday for Cardiff and I hope he doesn’t try to hang on for too long , but rather be remembered as a world class player.

Beeb sport reporting that Faletau is out of the AI's due to a knee injury sustained on the weekend. Replaced by Olly Cracknell, who's been playing well for Leicester to be fair

I was wondering if Cracknell might get a call. Bit late in his career, but he's a man in form. He won't let us down.

Yes, Nicky Smith thought Cracknell ( and Reffell) was unlucky not to be selected when the squad was first announced, given his form for Leicester. Maybe selecting another non- Wales based player counted against him, with a number of the squad already not available for all the tests. But he's been playing well for a while now and 31 isn't exactly ancient. Looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 1:42 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 12:41 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 2:10 pm I hate to say it, but I think Faletau is done. Early exit yesterday for Cardiff and I hope he doesn’t try to hang on for too long , but rather be remembered as a world class player.

Beeb sport reporting that Faletau is out of the AI's due to a knee injury sustained on the weekend. Replaced by Olly Cracknell, who's been playing well for Leicester to be fair

I was wondering if Cracknell might get a call. Bit late in his career, but he's a man in form. He won't let us down.

Decent club player who was never quite good enough for international call up, although we have had a lot of strength in the back row over the past decade plus.

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:02 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 1:42 pm

pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 12:41 pm

Beeb sport reporting that Faletau is out of the AI's due to a knee injury sustained on the weekend. Replaced by Olly Cracknell, who's been playing well for Leicester to be fair

I was wondering if Cracknell might get a call. Bit late in his career, but he's a man in form. He won't let us down.

Yes, Nicky Smith thought Cracknell ( and Reffell) was unlucky not to be selected when the squad was first announced, given his form for Leicester. Maybe selecting another non- Wales based player counted against him, with a number of the squad already not available for all the tests. But he's been playing well for a while now and 31 isn't exactly ancient. Looking forward to seeing how he goes.

Heaven alone knows what our team will be versus the Bokke, with 12/13 players unavailable due to playing in England. Im praying that the South African clubs have a falling out with their union about the issue and perhaps cant field a strong team.