RugbyRebels

As a distraction from politics and post tour misery, how about some thoughts on what Welsh team you would like to see next season, bearing in mind that we are allegedly exploring a wider game plan. The Fail has put some options down, their team looks a bit like this:

15 Halfpenny
14 North
13 Foxy
12 Scott Williams
11 Liam Williams
10 Anscombe
9 Webb
1 Evans
2. Owens
3. Lee
4. AWJ
5. No clear opinion given
6. Moriarty/ Warburton
7. Warburton/ Tipuric
8. Faletau

Some of these positions pick themselves. Brining Halfpenny back is obvious, the guy is sheer class and can play a more attacking game than he was allowed to previously under Warrenball. North and Liam are obvious as well and thats a balanced back 3, plus a long range kicking option. Roberts is one dimensional. He can pass the ball, but he isn't a visionary player and his strength remains the power game. JD2 has some decent skills but can't really compensate for the lack of creativity inside him. Webb is simply our best scrum half.

Biggar has proven himself to be a better fly half than I thought he would be a few years ago. But his attacking skills are limited and he doesn't make best use of his backline. Anscombe could perhaps be the answer now, with Patchell and Sam Davies future options (Id like to see Patch have a season at Scarlets at 10 before stepping into the Welsh shirt in that position. Scott Williams is a today player who looked out of form on the tour. But, he offers a wider threat to Roberts. He also has a chance to forge a partnership at club level with Foxy which can only be a good thing for Scarlets and Wales.

In the forwards Gethin is still delivering, but he can't start every game. Evans is the heir apparent and Id have no problem in Gethin and him alternating between the starting berth and the subs bench for the next season depending on the opposition. Ken Owens deserves his starting spot and just needs to sort out some wonky lineup throws than can creep in, whilst Lee is our best tight head, even if Francis is a bit more mobile.

AWJ remains a great player and Id have him as captain i na new look side. Alongside him, Id go for Bradley Davies, unless we are playing a team which likes rolling mauls in which case Charteris please.

The back row is the area of genuine intrigue. Faletau has to stay at No8. Moriarty offers a lot in attack, far more so than Lydiate. Warburton at 6 isn't a guaranteed success to be fair, whereas Tipuric at 7 can occasionally look underpowered.

Based on that rambling assessment, my team (assuming availability etc) would be:

15 Halfpenny
14. North
13. JD2
12. Scott Williams
11. Liam Williams
10. Anscombe
9 Webb
1. Evans
2. Owens
3. Lee
4. AWJ (c)
5. Charteris/ Davies (depending on opposition, the other to the bench)
6. Moriarty
7. Warburton
8. Faletau

Replacements:
16. Baldwin, 17, Gethin, 18 Francis, 19, Davies/Charteris, 20 Tipuric, 21 Davies, 22 Patchell, 23, Watkin

With the availability of mobile backrowers, might there be a future role for Lydiate at lock? He's just about big enough and has shown his worth many time as a close quarters grappler. It's to do with the notion of getting your best players on the pitch, even if it means a bit of juggling.He would need some game time there of course to see how it might work.

Also, you could make a good case about switching Halfpenny/ Liam Williams. Williams has been running some great lines from FB and seems more likely to beat the first man. Halfpenny has already shown he's a deadly finisher from wing.

Spiffy wrote:With the availability of mobile backrowers, might there be a future role for Lydiate at lock? He's just about big enough and has shown his worth many time as a close quarters grappler. It's to do with the notion of getting your best players on the pitch, even if it means a bit of juggling.He would need some game time there of course to see how it might work.

Also, you could make a good case about switching Halfpenny/ Liam Williams. Williams has been running some great lines from FB and seems more likely to beat the first man. Halfpenny has already shown he's a deadly finisher from wing.

Halfpenny hasn't played wing in years though, whereas Williams has shown that he can be equally deadly in both positions. Both are better at full back, but I think williams is the better winger. Equally, I'm sure they could alternate during a match on occasions.

The key thing for me is that Liam Williams, Halfoenny and North are ur best back three. Getting them on the pitch together is crucial.

I'm not convinced by the idea of Kydiate at lock to be fair, even if he is a big lump. There will be games where he is a more natural option, and if he went away and developed his attacking game, then he would be one hell of a player.

Sandydragon wrote:I'm not convinced by the idea of Kydiate at lock to be fair, even if he is a big lump. There will be games where he is a more natural option, and if he went away and developed his attacking game, then he would be one hell of a player.

Yes. I think that Lydiate is a very good player, who has been constrained because of the specific, limited, defensive role assigned to him under Gatball.