Team v SAES

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Gatland's sophisticated 'give it to Zammit' strategy bears no relation whatsoever to Gatland's earlier 'give it to Shane' strategy.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Bonjour to my friends in red! I hope your players manage to resolve their claims in the next day or so because they must be looking forward to taking on a disjointed England team (even though your team is not exactly on top form!) before trips to Rome and the Stade de France!

Gotta say, although my guess is that the game will go ahead, I'm not too confident about the result. If England is disjointed I don't know what to call Wales. France/Scotand is certainly going to be interesting too.

[Mikey Brown]

I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Not trying to be a dick but beggars can’t be choosers. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to have him run at Malins.

[Numbers]

I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Not trying to be a dick but beggars can’t be choosers. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to have him run at Malins.

Or Caden Murley judging by the Glos game.

[Mikey Brown]

I'd rather we didn't play him, but figured out how to attack defenses other than 'give it to Zammit'

Not trying to be a dick but beggars can’t be choosers. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to have him run at Malins.

Or Caden Murley judging by the Glos game.

Well yeah, he’s a far, far better defender than Malins and got absolutely embarrassed there. The combination of that speed and that hand-off just seems unfair.

[normanski]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Perhaps, with all the uncertainty over the strike, Gatland wanted to remove selection uncertainty ASAP.

[Banquo]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Perhaps, with all the uncertainty over the strike, Gatland wanted to remove selection uncertainty ASAP.

hopefully- what are the chances of a strike? I'd think it would test the goodwill of the fans at this moment.

[Numbers]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

[Banquo]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

hell of a fall out if not fulfilled. Travelling fans etc etc.

[Numbers]

Gatland’s announcing the team today at 12 noon. Going two days early could mean he will be blooding one or two more youngsters to give them time to adjust to their selection before such an important game.

I just hope there has been some intensive work done to improve the tackle count over the past ten days. We have to stop the England back three from getting any early momentum or we could be in for a long afternoon.

It will be interesting to see the state of mind of the players after all the turmoil over contracts. Hopefully Gatland will get the mindset right to start the game.

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

hell of a fall out if not fulfilled. Travelling fans etc etc.

Well they've cancelled the team announcement with a press conference now arranged for 12:30, I can only see this going one way tbh.

[Banquo]

Not sure why he didn't retain Gethin Jenkins as he was doing a good job and knows the Edwards system inside out, maybe there is some bad feeling there, who knows.

I'd like to see a more direct midfield to try and get us some gainline which we are sorely in need of, Kieran Williams and Grady in the centres?

Tbh I have a feeling this fixture will not take place, the players have to take a stand if they want to make the union sit up and take notice and the union are not willing to budge on the bonus based contract models which aren't wanted by the players. The union seems to think that squad sizes of around 36 players is enough, this is obviously pie in the sky thinking and the reason why they have put this loan system in place, the only answer to this is to reduce the regions and increase squad size.

For clarity the Ospreys senior squad currently consists of 56 players according to their website.

hell of a fall out if not fulfilled. Travelling fans etc etc.

Well they've cancelled the team announcement with a press conference now arranged for 12:30, I can only see this going one way tbh.

crying shame all round

[Banquo]

have to say the player asks don't look that tricky to resolve on the surface, anyway.

[Numbers]

have to say the player asks don't look that tricky to resolve on the surface, anyway.

The problem is the people brokering these contracts seem to have little to no common sense or business knowledge, they've offered something the players won't buy into, why they didn't consult the players prior to guessing what they would be happy with is beyond me.

They need rid of the jobs for the boys brigade, what Nigel Walker and Ieuan Evans bring to the table is difficult to discern from a business perspective.

[pompey-zebra]

have to say the player asks don't look that tricky to resolve on the surface, anyway.

I dont think the players have much faith in the WRU to look out for their interests. Richard Hibbard said in the times on the weekend that all the WRU seem to care about is the national team and the bottom line. I think this is why they've targeted the Wales v England match to strike, to finally get the union's attention.

[Puja]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

[Numbers]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

I don't think we have 23 players in those leagues, certainly not in the top tiers of rugby anyway.

[pompey-zebra]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

From what I've seen and heard in the media over the past week, the players seem pretty solid. Putting out a scratch team in a prestige international, even if they could get players would probably be another example of the WRU shooting itself in the foot.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

And this board's obsession with reinstating Jonah Holmes could be fulfilled.

[pompey-zebra]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

And this board's obsession with reinstating Jonah Holmes could be fulfilled.

From jonah to messiah!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Can't help thinking if the 60 cap rule was completely removed there'd be a mass exodus from Wales, something like half the players out of contract would go, dooming the regions.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Is it possible that the WRU could organise a team of exiles? Be ironic, given one of the demands being the players wanting the freedom to play abroad, but could they assemble a team from players in England and France (or maybe Japan in extremis?). Or would those players be unwilling to cross the picket?

Puja

And this board's obsession with reinstating Jonah Holmes could be fulfilled.

From jonah to messiah!

Truly biblical!

[Numbers]

Can't help thinking if the 60 cap rule was completely removed there'd be a mass exodus from Wales, something like half the players out of contract would go, dooming the regions.

That could actually work better, with the amount of spending money the regions have been given they would be able to keep bigger squads, let the more senior players fill their pockets elsewhere, this would harden the youngsters up more quickly with greater exposure to a high level of rugby, development that the likes of Leinster have been doing for some time.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Can't help thinking if the 60 cap rule was completely removed there'd be a mass exodus from Wales, something like half the players out of contract would go, dooming the regions.

That could actually work better, with the amount of spending money the regions have been given they would be able to keep bigger squads, let the more senior players fill their pockets elsewhere, this would harden the youngsters up more quickly with greater exposure to a high level of rugby, development that the likes of Leinster have been doing for some time.

If as reported, the 60 cap rule is to be reduced to 25, the following current squad players will be freed to play abroad:
Baldwin, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Beard, Wainwright, Webb, Tomos Williams, Tompkins, Adams, Cuthbert. That would pretty much double the number of 'free' players in the squad to 19 out of 37. (And Brown, Patchell and LRZ are just 2-3 short of 25).

It feels a bit low to me. I'd prefer 40, which would free Jones, Lewis, Beard, Williams, Adams and Cuthbert. At 25, a player first selected while abroad could well reach the limit so soon they'd never need to play in Wales.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... w-26296192

[Sandydragon]

It would make Rowlands, Ball and a few other players available for the RWC.