Team for Wales

[Puja]

I would genuinely have been less confused if he'd picked Randall there. "Sure it's weird to play 3 scrum-halves in a XXIII, but I guess he's fast enough to cover wing?"

Puja

If Freeman goes down, Daly moves in one and ...er.....if Dingwall goes down.....er...um...

Its mad and unnecessary. Just sticking Beard or Slade on the bench job done (tho no idea if Beard has played 12). Ditto one lock on the bench.

Literally anyone else in the squad would make more sense to me. A front row? Sure, we're planning a 30:25:25 split - not my thing, but I can see it? A lock? How novel! We could try that. Another back row? Wild, but okay maybe we're keeping CCS as a specialist lock. A centre? Cool - covers the entire backline by moving Freeman back out. A back three specialist? Not ideal if a centre's injured, but we could move Daly inside and try and bodge something together.

Ford? 404 - Usefulness to this situation not found.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Bizarre. It feels impossible this game will finish without somebody ending up in a weird position - beyond the heresy of Earl at 8, Freeman at 13 and Smith at 15.

With 3 opensides I sort of get the logic, but two fetchers and a super destructive carrier seems far and away a better choice.

I wouldn’t even mind which flanker gets benched, but then we’ve got 2 more flankers on the bench anyway. I just don’t get it. I suppose they all managed to get injured to some degree last week.

I’m excited about large portions of that side, I just don’t know why you’d undermine it with a couple of selections that would be so easy to avoid.

What’s with George in and out of the starting team? Just wanted to give him a start on his 100th for the sake of it?

Anyone know if Murley is actually injured?

[Oakboy]

So, what is the plan for Ford?

Get him up to 100 caps before he heads to France in September?

Yes, that's what I implied earlier in the thread but I can't believe anybody with half a brain would perceive that being the proper thing to do in all the circumstances. Borthwick must have some other fiendish plan.

I could understand it slightly if the two younger FHs were starting the other way round - Marcus to burn himself out going for broke for 60 minutes at 10. Can that apply to Fin, though? If it does it seems unnatural.

Maybe it's as simple as having two game managers in the 23 just in case but that seems so expensive in terms of a lack of cover elsewhere. If Ford can only play 10 Fin must be lined up for 12 or 15 in an emergency. It's just odd.

[Stom]

You just know we're going to end up with a backline like...

JvP, Ford, Smith, Earl, Freeman, Daly, Smith...

You want 2 playmakers in the backline? What about 4?

[p/d]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

[jngf]

You just know we're going to end up with a backline like...

JvP, Ford, Smith, Earl, Freeman, Daly, Smith...

You want 2 playmakers in the backline? What about 4?

I have far less problem with Earl playing in the threequarters than I have with him starting at 8

[jngf]

….added to that Wales have picked two hard yard carriers in their backrow: Falatau and Wainwright

[Banquo]

….added to that Wales have picked two hard yard carriers in their backrow: Falatau and Wainwright

lol. Check...

where is that btw?

[Banquo]

You just know we're going to end up with a backline like...

JvP, Ford, Smith, Earl, Freeman, Daly, Smith...

You want 2 playmakers in the backline? What about 4?

I have far less problem with Earl playing in the threequarters than I have with him starting at 8

that's a tad extreme. He has a lot of international experience at 8, and in fact had some excellent games there. I know you want Dean Richards or Simon Shaw there, but more than one way to skin a cat. BUT we definitely are lacking carriers once more. His experience in the backline is minimal, and he'd get utterly shredded and be pretty hopeless in attack unless put into space.

[Mikey Brown]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

[Banquo]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

of all the selections, I'm happier he's on the wing....but as you say, its not a product of cohesive thinking or planning. Seems to me you can't just play a side to negate the opposition strengths all the time, without impacting your own.

[Captainhaircut]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

Happy with Freeman at 13, really like Roebuck too so good to see that. Pollock on the bench very exciting. Quite interested in CCS as a lock- he’s big enough and good enough in the lineout and we’re short at lock whilst having loads of back rows. Do we ask our locks to do that different a role to the one he was asked to do when he was in at 6?

We can’t say Borthers is a conservative selector at least.

[Spiffy]

Don't be too surprised to see Ford step on to the pitch late on and win the game for England. It's the kind of thing George does. Pity he has not been playing more rugby and won't be that match-sharp.

[Banquo]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

Happy with Freeman at 13, really like Roebuck too so good to see that. Pollock on the bench very exciting. Quite interested in CCS as a lock- he’s big enough and good enough in the lineout and we’re short at lock whilst having loads of back rows. Do we ask our locks to do that different a role to the one he was asked to do when he was in at 6?

We can’t say Borthers is a conservative selector at least.

CCS any good at scrummaging? Any experience at tight head lock? Asking for a friend . He’s very short for a lock too.
Startling Backselector clearly planning on Itoje and Chessum doing 80+. Really unnecessary gambles you the bench, alongside some good calls.

[Oakboy]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

I think Freeman was always destined for the 13 shirt.

It was just a question of who played at 12. Early plans had Lawrence there but he did not nail it. Then, a Slade/Lawrence hybrid thing was tried and the conclusion was that Slade was not a current 12 option. The next step was Dingwall at 12, initially with Lawrence at 13. Some think that pairing had long-term prospects but I'm not so sure. Maybe, it was Dingwall or Lawrence at 12 on a horses for courses set-up.

With some accidental steps of progress, Slade has now gone permanently, I suspect, and it is a question of whether Freeman justifies his 13 prospects. That gives Dingwall/Lawrence at 12 and Freeman/Beard at 13 with Ojomoh as reserve.

Maybe, that's the best prospective centre situation for some time. Glass half-full!

[Banquo]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

I think Freeman was always destined for the 13 shirt.

It was just a question of who played at 12. Early plans had Lawrence there but he did not nail it. Then, a Slade/Lawrence hybrid thing was tried and the conclusion was that Slade was not a current 12 option. The next step was Dingwall at 12, initially with Lawrence at 13. Some think that pairing had long-term prospects but I'm not so sure. Maybe, it was Dingwall or Lawrence at 12 on a horses for courses set-up.

With some accidental steps of progress, Slade has now gone permanently, I suspect, and it is a question of whether Freeman justifies his 13 prospects. That gives Dingwall/Lawrence at 12 and Freeman/Beard at 13 with Ojomoh as reserve.

Maybe, that's the best prospective centre situation for some time. Glass half-full!

Don’t think Lawrence is a permanent 12 option, the mix and match with Dingwall was shaping up interestingly so that’s a bugger. Nice to have straight running and good hands in midfield tho.

[Oakboy]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

Happy with Freeman at 13, really like Roebuck too so good to see that. Pollock on the bench very exciting. Quite interested in CCS as a lock- he’s big enough and good enough in the lineout and we’re short at lock whilst having loads of back rows. Do we ask our locks to do that different a role to the one he was asked to do when he was in at 6?

We can’t say Borthers is a conservative selector at least.

CCS any good at scrummaging? Any experience at tight head lock? Asking for a friend . He’s very short for a lock too.
Startling Backselector clearly planning on Itoje and Chessum doing 80+. Really unnecessary gambles you the bench, alongside some good calls.

Why is Coles is in the squad, I wonder?

[Mikey Brown]

So 9 minutes of Daly at 15 was all he needed then. Boy do we have some muddled selections

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

I think Freeman was always destined for the 13 shirt.

It was just a question of who played at 12. Early plans had Lawrence there but he did not nail it. Then, a Slade/Lawrence hybrid thing was tried and the conclusion was that Slade was not a current 12 option. The next step was Dingwall at 12, initially with Lawrence at 13. Some think that pairing had long-term prospects but I'm not so sure. Maybe, it was Dingwall or Lawrence at 12 on a horses for courses set-up.

With some accidental steps of progress, Slade has now gone permanently, I suspect, and it is a question of whether Freeman justifies his 13 prospects. That gives Dingwall/Lawrence at 12 and Freeman/Beard at 13 with Ojomoh as reserve.

Maybe, that's the best prospective centre situation for some time. Glass half-full!

I mean sure, if Slade is actually dropped and not injured. That’s why I was asking.

It’s hard to even judge Slade on his ability to play 12 when he was defending at 13, but I agree we need to move on.

[Mellsblue]

lol. IBWT.

[Banquo]

Yep. He earns the start at 15, injury strikes so let’s have him play 13 ahead of our backup 13, now how about a go on the wing? Muddled is definitely the word.

Is Slade injured or just dropped?

I think Freeman was always destined for the 13 shirt.

It was just a question of who played at 12. Early plans had Lawrence there but he did not nail it. Then, a Slade/Lawrence hybrid thing was tried and the conclusion was that Slade was not a current 12 option. The next step was Dingwall at 12, initially with Lawrence at 13. Some think that pairing had long-term prospects but I'm not so sure. Maybe, it was Dingwall or Lawrence at 12 on a horses for courses set-up.

With some accidental steps of progress, Slade has now gone permanently, I suspect, and it is a question of whether Freeman justifies his 13 prospects. That gives Dingwall/Lawrence at 12 and Freeman/Beard at 13 with Ojomoh as reserve.

Maybe, that's the best prospective centre situation for some time. Glass half-full!

I mean sure, if Slade is actually dropped and not injured. That’s why I was asking.

It’s hard to even judge Slade on his ability to play 12 when he was defending at 13, but I agree we need to move on.

Well sort of, though I liked the mix and match options, which is great if the positional skills are there; one of the reasons I like Dingwall is that he is equally as competent at 12 as at 13, either side of the ball. I think he'd lead the defensive line well at 13 tbh, whilst doing the 12 distribution and occasional gain line bust with angles and timing.

[p/d]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

So, if he kept to the starting line up v Italy, just Beard or Slade in for Lawrence, you would have been happier?

[Banquo]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

So, if he kept to the starting line up v Italy, just Beard or Slade in for Lawrence, you would have been happier?

and it would have shown a bit of consistency. Still...its never a dull moment with Stultingly Boring

[Oakboy]

So close to a great selection for me. Swap Willis with one of the back rows and then have Sleightholme in for MSMith (with Daly at full back, smith 23 and Ford out) and I’d be pretty happy.

So, if he kept to the starting line up v Italy, just Beard or Slade in for Lawrence, you would have been happier?

and it would have shown a bit of consistency. Still...its never a dull moment with Stultingly Boring

I they win in Cardiff will that justify all his fiddling or does the performance need to be convincing? I'm just wondering what we will conclude if it's another scraped (lucky?) victory like the ones against France and Scotland. How do we measure progress?

[fivepointer]

Whilst having genuine concerns about the balance of the squad there are some positives.

Slade hasnt been restored. That would have been the easy option and one I thought SB might take. I'm pleased he hasnt.
Freeman at 13 is a ballsy move. It carries risks but its one that may pay big dividends.
Pollock is on the bench. It was only a matter of time before he was included. This is earlier than most expected.

SB has definitely made some bold calls. Whether they turn out as reckless only time will tell.

[p/d]

Progress? Borthwick wearing a bloody suit would be progress. I know I know, his attire has no bearing on the performance. It just irks me.