Team v SAES

[normanski]

WoL saying Mason Grady going to make his debut on Saturday. Doesn’t make it clear if he’s a starter or on the bench.

[Sandydragon]

WoL saying Mason Grady going to make his debut on Saturday. Doesn’t make it clear if he’s a starter or on the bench.

Massive opportunity for him. My initial thoughts were that would be a brave call by Gatland to potentially have such an inexperienced centre partnership against England. But North has hardly been setting the world on fire, so why not? Even if off the bench, its an exciting prospect.

[Stom]

Not looking good...real shame, and puts the poor decisions of the RFU into perspective...

[pompey-zebra]

Game's back.on. Nigel Walker and Ken Owens giving a press conference now.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Excellent news. Looks like a big win for industrial action

I fear for what this has done to our match preparation though . . .

[Puja]

Excellent news. Looks like a big win for industrial action

I fear for what this has done to our match preparation though . . .

It's 50:50 whether it's ruined your match week or brought your lot closer together and given you the motivation to put in a massive performance.

It'll be good for the Netflix drama, either way.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

God I hate the idea of this Netflix show. Virtually everything they make is garbage, even stuff that was previously good before they got their hands on it, but I'm obviously going to end up watching it.

[Sandydragon]

Excellent news. Looks like a big win for industrial action

I fear for what this has done to our match preparation though . . .

It's 50:50 whether it's ruined your match week or brought your lot closer together and given you the motivation to put in a massive performance.

It'll be good for the Netflix drama, either way.

Puja

Apparently the players were split in their final vote. Hopefully that’s not a serious division, but there are better ways to prepare for a big game.

[Puja]

Excellent news. Looks like a big win for industrial action

I fear for what this has done to our match preparation though . . .

It's 50:50 whether it's ruined your match week or brought your lot closer together and given you the motivation to put in a massive performance.

It'll be good for the Netflix drama, either way.

Puja

Apparently the players were split in their final vote. Hopefully that’s not a serious division, but there are better ways to prepare for a big game.

Eesh. That's... not ideal, to say the least. I had assumed that they had got enough of what they needed for it to be relatively unanimous, rather than a split decision.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

It's 50:50 whether it's ruined your match week or brought your lot closer together and given you the motivation to put in a massive performance.

It'll be good for the Netflix drama, either way.

Puja

Apparently the players were split in their final vote. Hopefully that’s not a serious division, but there are better ways to prepare for a big game.

Eesh. That's... not ideal, to say the least. I had assumed that they had got enough of what they needed for it to be relatively unanimous, rather than a split decision.

Puja

Those well short of 25 caps might be disappointed with the deal.

On the motivation front, the problem is that we can't blame this shambles on the English. And winning makes the WRU look good.

[Graigwen]

Wales senior men’s team to face England in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 25 February KO 4.45pm GMT (Live on BBC and S4C):

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 97 caps)

14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)

13. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)

12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 3 caps)

11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 22 caps)

10. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 4 caps)

9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 42 caps)

1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 18 caps)

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 88 caps) captain

3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 68 caps)

4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 43 caps)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 156 caps)

6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 4 caps)

7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 90 caps)

8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 97 caps)

[Graigwen]

...and the bench...

Replacements

16. Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 3 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 19 caps)

18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 47 caps)

19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)

20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 6 caps)

21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 16 caps)

22. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 105 caps)

23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 25 caps)

[Graigwen]

Mason Grady starts !

[Sandydragon]

Interesting. I assume Halfpenny is there to add some defensive credibility to a very raw midfield.

If that backline can get some decent ball, England’s somewhat leaky defence might have a few problems of their own.

[Sandydragon]

...and the bench...

Replacements

16. Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 3 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 19 caps)

18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 47 caps)

19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)

20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 6 caps)

21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 16 caps)

22. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 105 caps)

23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 25 caps)

Harsh on Morgan and I’d personally have Tipuric and Reffell the other way round. But Gatland is certainly ringing the changes

[Tuco Ramirez]

Interesting. I assume Halfpenny is there to add some defensive credibility to a very raw midfield.

If that backline can get some decent ball, England’s somewhat leaky defence might have a few problems of their own.

kicking at goal i would think. he is well past it though

[Mikey Brown]

15. Freddie Steward

14. Max Malins

13. Henry Slade

12. Ollie Lawrence

11. Anthony Watson

10. Owen Farrell (C)

9. Jack van Poortvliet

1. Ellis Genge

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Maro Itoje

5. Ollie Chessum

6. Lewis Ludlam

7. Jack Willis

8. Alex Dombrandt

Replacements
16. Jack Walker

17. Mako Vunipola

18. Dan Cole

19. Courtney Lawes

20. Ben Curry

21. Alex Mitchell

22. Marcus Smith

23. Henry Arundell

[normanski]

It’s a ‘backs against the wall’ selection that will either work or be a horrendous clusterf*ck. it wouldn’t surprise me that Gatland has already written off this 6N and is formulating the group he’ll take to the RWC. Something drastically had to be done and Gatland has responded.

I just hope the youngsters give a performance that the shirt (and fans) demand and deserve.

[Graigwen]

I see this as another very experimental side. We can't accuse Gatland of not trying alternatives, but there are so many to be tried and so few games. I think it is a recognition that we are well out of any chance of winning or even coming second in the 6N. Personally, I can't get worked up over the difference between 4th and 5th place or whatever - yes I know the position brings money but this is our one period of a couple of months to rebuild a team.

Of course I want us to beat England, but there is not any settled, tried and tested, team we can put out with a good chance of doing that. Far better to chance our arm a bit. It might work.

Halfpenny is, there, as sandydragon and Tuco suggested, to cover goal kicking and stiffen an inexperienced central defence.

[Mikey Brown]

So what's this Grady guy like?

[Numbers]

...and the bench...

Replacements

16. Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 3 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 19 caps)

18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 47 caps)

19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)

20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 6 caps)

21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 16 caps)

22. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 105 caps)

23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 25 caps)

Harsh on Morgan and I’d personally have Tipuric and Reffell the other way round. But Gatland is certainly ringing the changes

Yes, I would have started with Reffell as well, do we want a 7 to slow down ball and win the odd turnover? Or do we want someone with the skills of a back? For all his talents Tipuric doesn't do enough of what a 7 should imo, I wouldn't have had him in the 23, I'd have had a decent carrier on the bench (Moriarty if he had been in the squad but probably Wainwright in his absence or even Rhys Davies) and move Christ up to the second row when AWJ starts to blow.

[Numbers]

I am happy to see Bradley Roberts on the bench tho as he has a point of difference and is a livewire ball in hand.

[Graigwen]

Williams at 10 and Biggar on the bench had to be tried at some time.

[UKHamlet]

Normally, I would be quite excited with the 9-14 selections, but with everything that's been going on I can't see that the players will be mentally right. That goes doubly for the youngsters. HP is a better choice than Sanjay, who looks a shadow of his bandy legged best, but we need a replacement for the position pronto. Jac Morgan is unlucky. I would have dumped Tips altogether and had Morgan in at 7 with Reffell on the bench. AWJ is cause for concern. Has he passed his MOT?

[Son of Mathonwy]

As I said earlier the selection is far less important than the coaching that's been given over the last two weeks. That's where we stand or fall. We're up against another team with a brand new coach so if we look less sure of what we're doing that's on the coaches.

I would make slightly different choices for 2nd and back rows but I don't think it makes much difference (even if it seems pretty unfair to leave Morgan out completely).

Good to see Owen Williams starting. Better if Patchell was on the bench but Gatland needs his comfort blanket.

The only thing I really disagree with is starting Grady. He's just too green for this and to pair him with another inexperienced centre compounds the problem. I appreciate that no one will be running through this guy but I fear plenty will be running around him or through spaces he should be covering. He hasn't establishing himself at Cardiff yet - it's too soon for a start. At least Tompkins is on the bench, I suppose.