Team announced

[davefeeder]

No Hibbard or Evans is the biggest disappointment for me.

Evans has probably been the form lock at the end of the season, and we've really missed him (in my opinion).

[Fabric]

Originally Posted by Tuco Ramirez

with the series gone, i would have thought that we could have experimented a bit. howley is a prat.

Gatland selected the team.

[Owain Glyndwr]

Originally Posted by Tuco Ramirez

with the series gone, i would have thought that we could have experimented a bit. howley is a prat.

as others have said. this isn't the time to experiment. there is a lot of pride riding on this game, at the very least.

[Y Fferret]

As others have said, I fail to see why Evans is excluded...

My personal choice would have been Owens at hooker, and I would probably have gone for Scott at 12, but that's probably just regional bias coming into it...

[Billyfish]

+1 re Evans. Mysterious! Not just a slightly better option, I'd say we need him in the form he is in.

I like Owens, but no reason for him to be ahead of Hibbard atm.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I can't understand why Rees keeps getting the start - the lineout has been one clear area of weakness on this tour (in contrast to the 6N). I'd play Owens.

I also don't get the exclusion of Evans. He should start, probably instead of Bradley.

And I would either change our kicking tactics or swap Priestland for Hook.


All in all, we have no reason to expect either:

1) an improved lineout, or
2) not to (poorly) kick the ball away whenever we get our hands on it.

Depressing.

[fatterfullback]

Originally Posted by Son of Mathonwy

I can't understand why Rees keeps getting the start - the lineout has been one clear area of weakness on this tour (in contrast to the 6N). I'd play Owens.

I also don't get the exclusion of Evans. He should start, probably instead of Bradley.

And I would either change our kicking tactics or swap Priestland for Hook.


All in all, we have no reason to expect either:

1) an improved lineout, or
2) not to (poorly) kick the ball away whenever we get our hands on it.

Depressing.

the problem with the kicking is down the the territory and possession stats...

we rarely had the ball, and when we did this was in our half...

this was (in part) due to no faith in keeping the ball at ruck/tackle and not being able to contest and ruck/tackle as such we kind of had to kick the ball as trying to run it from our half was a recipe for disaster

[Fabric]

Originally Posted by Son of Mathonwy

I can't understand why Rees keeps getting the start - the lineout has been one clear area of weakness on this tour (in contrast to the 6N). I'd play Owens.

I also don't get the exclusion of Evans. He should start, probably instead of Bradley.

And I would either change our kicking tactics or swap Priestland for Hook.


All in all, we have no reason to expect either:

1) an improved lineout, or
2) not to (poorly) kick the ball away whenever we get our hands on it.

Depressing.

Easy to answer:

1. Rees played very poorly in the last test match. Strong coaches back their players and don't drop them after one poor performance. He's trusted Rees to put it right this week.

2. Dropping Davies would rid Wales of its tightest ball carrier and just allow the Aussie defence to drift even further outwards. There's a case for dropping AWJ, of course.

3. Picking Hook would be utterly pointless. He can't be trusted to be as disciplined as Priestland and the lack of Welsh runners means that whoever is selected at 10 is on a hiding to nothing.

[fatterfullback]

Originally Posted by Fabric

Easy to answer:

1. Rees played very poorly in the last test match. Strong coaches back their players and don't drop them after one poor performance. He's trusted Rees to put it right this week.

2. Dropping Davies would rid Wales of its tightest ball carrier and just allow the Aussie defence to drift even further outwards. There's a case for dropping AWJ, of course.

3. Picking Hook would be utterly pointless. He can't be trusted to be as disciplined as Priestland and the lack of Welsh runners means that whoever is selected at 10 is on a hiding to nothing.

we're only missing Jamie out wide?

(perhaps Faletau is used here)

[Cartman]

That'll do me, Ian Evans really should be somewhere though even if it's just replacing the Clart on the bench.