Autumn Squad

[Numbers]

Forwards: Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), WillGriff John (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Will Rowlands (Dragons), Ben Carter (Dragons), Seb Davies (Cardiff), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Thomas Young (Wasps), Taine Basham (Dragons), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Bath).

Backs: Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Keiran Hardy (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Cardiff), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Callum Sheedy (Bristol), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Willis Halaholo (Cardiff), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Owen Lane (Cardiff), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets)

Good to see Ben Thomas in and Christ Tshiunza, I'm a bit surprised Jac Morgan isn't included and Scott Williams but I suppose you could say that Ben Thomas is a direct replacement for Williams, I'd have preferred Rhys Davies to Seb Davies who seems to be a penalty machine.

[normanski]

Considering all the injuries and with only two or three exceptions, this squad must have picked itself.

A big task ahead for Wales just to stay competitive with four of the top ten rugby sides on the planet. I just hope the returning Lions regain their form which got them picked in the first place. They will have had precious little game time to get match fit.

This could be an AI series where we don’t win a game.

[Numbers]

Just realised there's no Jonah Holmes, he can count himself very unlucky.

[Puja]

Tshiunza's a bit of an odd selection - he's clearly a massive, massive prospect and a future superstar, but he's barely played any senior rugby and hasn't particularly looked outstanding in the few minutes that he has had. You've got to wonder whether it's as much about getting him tied down to Wales as anything else.

Puja

[Wallpaperman]

Not getting the Jonah Holmes omission at all. Perhaps if Halfpenny and Liam Williams were both fit and firing, and Rees-Zamitt was available against New Zealand, but being left out behind Owen Lane and Johnny McNicholl is a bit odd.

Thought Scott Williams might get in, but I like Johnny Williams, who is also still pretty young. We have a few decent 12s in the squad, not sure if he will play Jon Davies at 13. He has struggled for a while now, by his standards.

I take Puja’s point re Tzhiunza. Could be 10 minutes on the blindside v Fiji to get him qualified.

Glad for Willgriff John, one of the few Scarlets who has looked strong in contact. He has been part of a retreating front row, but I think that the problems are from the lack of weight behind them. Am presuming that Leon Brown is injured, haven’t seen much of him this season.

Carre has had his moment’s recently and am pleased that he has another chance. Seb Davies has lots of potential but he has been yellow carded twice in 3 games, and could have been sent off v the Ospreys. He was also outmuscled at the weekend. Rhys Davies was with the squad in the summer and has started well this year. He is unlucky I feel.

Apart from that it looks OK !!

[Wallpaperman]

Sorry numbers - should have read your comments re Seb & Rhys Davies.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Ellis Jenkins back to where he was? He looked class in the little I’ve seen but seems to have been injured for like 3 seasons.

I’m a big fan of Thomas Young though and would be great to see him get some international recognition too.

Has Davies shifted back to 12 because he’s slowing down or what? I seem to see him there more on team sheets recently. Doesn’t seem useful when Tompkins, Williams and Halohalo all primarily play at IC too?

[Numbers]

Is Ellis Jenkins back to where he was? He looked class in the little I’ve seen but seems to have been injured for like 3 seasons.

I’m a big fan of Thomas Young though and would be great to see him get some international recognition too.

Has Davies shifted back to 12 because he’s slowing down or what? I seem to see him there more on team sheets recently. Doesn’t seem useful when Tompkins, Williams and Halohalo all primarily play at IC too?

Ellis Jenkins is a class player, he has played well this season in the games he's featured in but like you I rate Young and he also is versatile across the back row.

JD was moved to 12 last 6 Nations but he's the only real 13 in the squad, tho Tompkins has been playing there for us in Internationals, Ben Thomas has also been playing 12 tho he is a 10 really, it'll be interesting to see if Pivac uses him in the 2nd 5/8th role at some point.

[Sandydragon]

Tshiunza's a bit of an odd selection - he's clearly a massive, massive prospect and a future superstar, but he's barely played any senior rugby and hasn't particularly looked outstanding in the few minutes that he has had. You've got to wonder whether it's as much about getting him tied down to Wales as anything else.

Puja

Absolutely this.

[Sandydragon]

Just realised there's no Jonah Holmes, he can count himself very unlucky.

I’m very surprised. I assume this means McNicholl against the All Blacks at full back.

That’s not at all a worrying prospect.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Lane and McNicholl ahead of Holmes are very strange choices. I also wouldn't have Ellis Jenkins ahead of Jac Morgan on current form.

[Sourdust]

Like everyone else, MacNicol over Holmes has me scratching my head. Obviously there's a personal connection with Pivac, but... as good as MacNicol looked in his Scarlets side, that was a long time ago now.

Lane I feel has probably done enough, and although he is capped he's never been given a proper go. I feel like it's probably time to try Costelow, but I get that the release situation means we need two experienced options from the start. Maybe he'll join later?

There's not much else to talk about. This is what we've got. Make no mistake, the NZ game is going to be ugly, but at least this time we're sensibly treating it as a warm-up, rather than building to the inevitable anti-climax. Might be looking at Fiji for the W though...

[Son of Mathonwy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58917874

Surprising that Amos is completely calling time on his career, although as a doctor he is more aware than most how much damage his body is taking for every extra year he stays in the game. Perhaps he also sees that he's not going to be the long term replacement for Halfpenny, so he's already hit most if his career goals.

This makes it all the more surprising that Holmes isn't in the squad.

[Sandydragon]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58917874

Surprising that Amos is completely calling time on his career, although as a doctor he is more aware than most how much damage his body is taking for every extra year he stays in the game. Perhaps he also sees that he's not going to be the long term replacement for Halfpenny, so he's already hit most if his career goals.

This makes it all the more surprising that Holmes isn't in the squad.

Totally agree. I had high hopes for Amos a few years ago but he never really kicked on. I think he would have been a very good centre but I think you’re right. There’s not many players who get to end their careers on their own terms.

And I still don’t understand why Holmes isn’t in the squad.

I would say that after tonight’s performance Taine Basham is giving Privac food for thought.

[Cameo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58917874

Surprising that Amos is completely calling time on his career, although as a doctor he is more aware than most how much damage his body is taking for every extra year he stays in the game. Perhaps he also sees that he's not going to be the long term replacement for Halfpenny, so he's already hit most if his career goals.

This makes it all the more surprising that Holmes isn't in the squad.

Just read this article. That's very cool. Good on him.

[Numbers]

Cuthbert has been added to the squad, Jonah Holmes overlooked again it seems in favour of an ageing player who is too slow to play international rugby on the wing.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Cuthbert has been added to the squad, Jonah Holmes overlooked again it seems in favour of an ageing player who is too slow to play international rugby on the wing.

This is mental. There is a case for Lane over Holmes, but Cuthbert??? I'd rather see Steff Evans, Luke Morgan, and probably several other Welsh wingers in the squad before Cuthbert. Is Pivac going by Cuthbert's 2013 form?

[Son of Mathonwy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58917874

Surprising that Amos is completely calling time on his career, although as a doctor he is more aware than most how much damage his body is taking for every extra year he stays in the game. Perhaps he also sees that he's not going to be the long term replacement for Halfpenny, so he's already hit most if his career goals.

This makes it all the more surprising that Holmes isn't in the squad.

Just read this article. That's very cool. Good on him.

I imagine the fear of brain injury has to be the big one. Amos would rather be a neurologist than require the services of one.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Scott Williams called up. This one makes sense, tough break for Halaholo though.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59057059

[normanski]

Scott Williams called up. This one makes sense, tough break for Halaholo though.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59057059

Good news for an experienced centre back on top form. What are the chances for Jonah Holmes to finally get a call next week? It’s almost inexplicable he isn’t in the squad already.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Scott Williams called up. This one makes sense, tough break for Halaholo though.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59057059

Good news for an experienced centre back on top form. What are the chances for Jonah Holmes to finally get a call next week? It’s almost inexplicable he isn’t in the squad already.

Holmes's chances of a call next week seem very low to me. LRZ will be back. Presumably (if we can presume anything on these calls) Cuthbert was only really 'needed' because we're outside the window for the first match.