RugbyRebels

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 9k7rkd4zno

Looks weak.

Forwards (20): Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Backs (18): Josh Adams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).

Pleased to see Francis back. And it's interesting to see Hamer-Webb in the reckoning. Costelow though? Just doesn't have the international temperament.

Gotta Wonder what Rio Dyer has to do to get in. Been great over the last month.

Guess Hamer-Webb is to tie him to Wales. No regular playing time in the Prem

Please delete this thread. Didn't see Hammy's

I was hoping to see Francis included. It is time to ditch the silly rule called Gatland's Law (although I don't think he was a prime mover behind it). I guess it can be argued that there was no Welsh region willing to take Francis?

Ball has been playing very well, but possibly now injured.

Graigwen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 2:48 pm I was hoping to see Francis included. It is time to ditch the silly rule called Gatland's Law (although I don't think he was a prime mover behind it). I guess it can be argued that there was no Welsh region willing to take Francis?

Ball has been playing very well, but possibly now injured.

It’s good to see Francis back but I wonder just how effective he might be. He has the bulk and experience to lock out our scrum something we haven’t had for a while.

As Hammy pointed out, it’s not a strong squad but I guess Tandy had to pick those he thought could do a job. Pity it didn’t include Ball and Moriarty, a couple who could have added grunt to the pack.

normanski wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 5:24 pm

Graigwen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 2:48 pm I was hoping to see Francis included. It is time to ditch the silly rule called Gatland's Law (although I don't think he was a prime mover behind it). I guess it can be argued that there was no Welsh region willing to take Francis?

Ball has been playing very well, but possibly now injured.

It’s good to see Francis back but I wonder just how effective he might be. He has the bulk and experience to lock out our scrum something we haven’t had for a while.

As Hammy pointed out, it’s not a strong squad but I guess Tandy had to pick those he thought could do a job. Pity it didn’t include Ball and Moriarty, a couple who could have added grunt to the pack.

I think I’d have picked Ball for some attitude in the second row. Cracknell is a decent pick for back row dog. Bit surprised by how light we are at open side. Mann vs England? Reffell must be wondering what he needs to do.

I'd prefer Ratti to Plumtree (too many errors).
Deaves is good but Reffell is the safer choice.
Mann, yeah, as I may have mentioned , might make my squad for flexibility but would be behind a few others.
Probably Ospreys hat on here but I'd prefer Rhys Davies to Carter.
Sheedy seems to have fixed his kicking recently so I would have him ahead of Costelow and Evans.
Would prefer Bowen or even Giles to Adams.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 7:33 pm I'd prefer Ratti to Plumtree (too many errors).
Deaves is good but Reffell is the safer choice.
Mann, yeah, as I may have mentioned , might make my squad for flexibility but would be behind a few others.
Probably Ospreys hat on here but I'd prefer Rhys Davies to Carter.
Sheedy seems to have fixed his kicking recently so I would have him ahead of Costelow and Evans.
Would prefer Bowen or even Giles to Adams.

I’m expecting Watkin and Adams to feature vs England for stability.

I’m genuinely in two minds on Watkin. Our defence in the midfield has been dire and Watkin is our best defender there. But does that stifle our attack? Probably. And is the issue Llewelyn at 13 or the player at 12?

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 8:09 am

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 7:33 pm I'd prefer Ratti to Plumtree (too many errors).
Deaves is good but Reffell is the safer choice.
Mann, yeah, as I may have mentioned , might make my squad for flexibility but would be behind a few others.
Probably Ospreys hat on here but I'd prefer Rhys Davies to Carter.
Sheedy seems to have fixed his kicking recently so I would have him ahead of Costelow and Evans.
Would prefer Bowen or even Giles to Adams.

I’m expecting Watkin and Adams to feature vs England for stability.

I’m genuinely in two minds on Watkin. Our defence in the midfield has been dire and Watkin is our best defender there. But does that stifle our attack? Probably. And is the issue Llewelyn at 13 or the player at 12?

Adams really shouldn't be ahead of Rogers or Mee on form. And I'd put Grady ahead of him too, although that's a bit more high risk, high reward.

I hadn't noticed Watkins was in the squad. We need to move on. He's solid and that's it. After the autumn I thought Hawkins and Llewellyn were our centres going forward. But Llewellyn's injury is a real blow and there's still a question mark over Hawkins's defence. I would go with Hawkins and James. James and Hennessey is an option and Watkins/James would be the conservative choice.

Back three is Rogers/Grady/LRZ for me although I would have no problem switching Rogers with Mee.

Watkins/James with Hawkins on the bench wouldn’t surprise me

One point that I now feel I understand is Mason Grady. At present he is only a winger. He lacks a strategic perception of the whole game and would be exposed defensively at centre. That is not to say he will not evolve into a good centre, but he is nowhere near that at present.
.

Graigwen wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:46 pm One point that I now feel I understand is Mason Grady. At present he is only a winger. He lacks a strategic perception of the whole game and would be exposed defensively at centre. That is not to say he will not evolve into a good centre, but he is nowhere near that at present.
.

I'm not totally sure on that. Cardiff pick him on the wing, so presumably they think he's best there, or at least that's the best way they can utilize him but that doesn't mean he doesn't have what it takes to play centre. When Gatland came back and picked him and Hawkins at centre, it was Hawkins that leaked the most tackles, not Grady (although most of the team leaked like a sieve).

The front row is going to be SO important against the Saes. If they start smashing us there, it's going to be scrum after scrum. They're so powerful in the pack anyway, so let's get the basics right.

I think Francis comes in ahead of Assiratti.
Carre is my starting loosehead - he's not a great scrummager, but Francis will help shore that up.
Dewi is an obvious starter at hooker, despite being rubbish at darts.

On the bench Assiratti, Ryan Elias, Smith.

The second row picks itself.

Adam Beard
Dafydd Jenkins

Neither is as good as their counterpart, but they'll hold their own. And Beard will provide much-needed grunt in the maul.

Freddie Thomas on the bench

The back row is where England is at its strongest.

I think we need to go big with

Olly Cracknell at no 8
Taine Plumtree at no 7
Aaron Wainwright at no 6

I think he'll go with Mann at 7 though, but I'd have him on the bench for utility.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 1:11 pm The back row is where England is at its strongest.

I think we need to go big with

Olly Cracknell at no 8
Taine Plumtree at no 7
Aaron Wainwright at no 6

I think he'll go with Mann at 7 though, but I'd have him on the bench for utility.

It would be strange to have a 7 who's bigger than the 6 & 8 but I can see where you're coming from. This is where I'd like to have Morse or Morris in the squad, to be a substantial 7. I think Plumtree makes too many mistakes but whoever gets picked at 7 is a bit of a gamble.

Given the squad we have I'd go for Cracknell 6, Deaves 7, Wainwright 8, Mann bench.

(Given my squad, I'd have Ratti 6, Morse 7, Wainwright 8, Cracknell bench )

I think it’s a mistake not to have Reffell in the squad. Deaves May turn into a great player, but right now I’d like to have the ball Jack long ability of Reffell on the pitch. A big back row to make loads of tackles is fine, but we could spend a lot of time defending if we can’t get the ball back.

Plumtree is one of those players who isn’t consistent, he’s obviously skilled and sizeable, but can be a penalty machine. I’d definitely start Cracknell, he’s got the size and the right mentality to knock English players backwards and we are going to need some of that to keep in the game.

Have you guys got a "Not considered for selection, due to injury" type list anywhere?
Just trying to sort the 6N squads by club, and I'd like to include that if possible

Cracknell went off with a head injury for Leicester at the weekend. Hopefully not too serious and should be free for the first game, but concussion's a tricky thing to predict.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jan 27, 2026 7:23 am Have you guys got a "Not considered for selection, due to injury" type list anywhere?
Just trying to sort the 6N squads by club, and I'd like to include that if possible

The ones I know
Keiron Assirati
Dillon Lewis
Chris Coleman
Jac Morgan
Faletau
Christ Tshiunza
Max Llewellyn
Elliott Dee

TY

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 26, 2026 9:57 am I think it’s a mistake not to have Reffell in the squad. Deaves May turn into a great player, but right now I’d like to have the ball Jack long ability of Reffell on the pitch. A big back row to make loads of tackles is fine, but we could spend a lot of time defending if we can’t get the ball back.

Plumtree is one of those players who isn’t consistent, he’s obviously skilled and sizeable, but can be a penalty machine. I’d definitely start Cracknell, he’s got the size and the right mentality to knock English players backwards and we are going to need some of that to keep in the game.

Agreed about Reffell (I'd forgotten him in my previous post). If he was in the squad he would be my starting 7.