Wales AI's squad

[anonymous-user]

Backs: Dan Biggar, James Hook, Shane Williams, Gareth Cooper, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Leigh Halfpenny, Martin Roberts, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies, Mark Jones, Dwayne Peel (Sale).

Forwards: Paul James, Duncan Jones, Craig Mitchell, Huw Bennett, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas, Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams, Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones (Scarlets); Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate.

Looks pretty good overall, Gatland is clearly trying to build something for the 2011 WC. It does raise a few questions though:

• Who takes the '3' shirt? With Craig Mitchell as the only specialist TH, do we play Mitchell at 3 and Jenkins at 1, or do we switch Jenkins to 3 and play Duncan Jones at 1? Paul James can also play both sides, but can't see him being anything more than a backup TBH.

• No Ian Gough? I would've thought he was much needed to bulk up the scrum and fill a general enforcer role. He hasn't had much game time, but nor has Bradley Davies. Perhaps he'll be brought in now that Jonathan Thomas might be cited after the Ospreys-Blues game.

• With no specialist fullback, who takes 15? Halfpenny, with a possible Hook-Roberts midfield, or Hook with 1/2p on the wing? Or some other combo I haven't thought of?

• Happy that Warbuton, Lydiate, and Charteris have made it in, they all deserve an opportunity to show what they can do, but I'm gutted that Huw Bennett got in over Gareth Williams, he's played out of his skin for the Blues lately and I really thought he'd get a chance this time.

So what can we (realistically) expect to achieve over the next few weeks?

[DJC]

1/2p plays fullback, Hook/Roberts in the midfield.


Dan Biggar. Nuff said.

[hornetrider]

I think Hooky may miss out.

Unavailability/injuries notwithstanding, in my opinion first choice backline from that squad would be:

9. Peel
10. S Jones
11. Shane
12. Roberts
13. Shanks
14. M Jones
15. 1/2p

Bench:
Cooper
Biggar
Hook

Don't ask me about the forwards! But the rumour is Gethin will be asked to move.

[anonymous-user]

hornetrider said:

Don't ask me about the forwards! But the rumour is Gethin will be asked to move.

That's the only real bit that's troubling me. Personally I'd rather risk Mitchell at TH and keep Gethin at 1. I'd go for:

1) Jenkins
2) Rees
3) Mitchell
4) A.W-Jones
5) Charteris
6) Daf Jones
7) M.Williams
8) R.Jones

9) Cooper (unless they can negotiate to get Peel in)
10) S.Jones

11) S.Williams
12) Hook
13) Roberts
14) M.Jones
15) 1/2p

Still leaves room on the bench for impact subs like Powell, Shanklin, A.W Jones (if he's still around, I'd prefer Gough either way), Biggar, etc if we need a change of pace.

[anonymous-user]

A few green shoots perhaps, Woodcock and Sivivatu have both been banned for a week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/833619...