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Webb's sudden Six Nations eligibility has sparked lively Welsh scrum-half debate
Wales coach Wayne Pivac has been handed a major boost ahead of the Six Nations, as Ospreys-bound Rhys Webb will be eligible to play in the Six Nations.
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The scrum-half has been in international exile since December 2017 after joining Toulon, which meant he could not represent his country as he didn’t have the requisite 60 caps.
But the recent announcement that he is set to rejoin the Ospreys ahead of next season has thrown him back into the Test reckoning.
This has opened up a debate as to who will be the favoured nines come the Six Nations. Unlike some other positions, Wales do not have an injury crisis at scrum-half, meaning Pivac will have the luxury of being able to pick his two best options going into the opening match against Italy should he choose to.
Webb will give the Kiwi more options, as he was first choice scrum-half before his move to France, but Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies remain popular options amongst Welsh supporters.
Don’t really thing he’s needed with Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies?
— Joe Delve??????? (@Jdelve3) January 3, 2020
I’d pick him in initial squad to reintegrate him but select Davies and Williams for Matchday XXIII
— Goony#2 (@Neil36314107) January 3, 2020
Warren Gatland opted to take Gareth Davies, Williams and Aled Davies to the recent World Cup in the absence of Webb, with Gareth Davies and Williams being the favoured options in the matchday 23.
Both scrum-halves had decent RWCs, and while Gareth Davies largely started, Williams proved to be a handful from the bench.
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https://twitter.com/RossLlew10/status/1213052900114608128?s=20
But seriously, would he make the matchday? I'd put him 4th or so in the pecking order.
— sh1n0bi-1 (@GwYd10n) January 3, 2020
At the age of 25, Cardiff Blues half-back Williams seems to be a popular choice as all teams head into a new RWC cycle. However, the spot on the bench seems to be far more contentious, as there is a split as to whether it should be occupied by Gareth Davies or Webb.
https://twitter.com/GafroJake/status/1213050937918590978?s=20
https://twitter.com/hccdolphin/status/1213058441780121601?s=20
Webb, Williams, Davies, in that order.
— Alex (@alex_street3) January 3, 2020
Have to drop aled Davies. Tomos William's starts for me then it's a toss up between Webb and davies, maybe for the Italy match you give Webb minutes to get him back into the international fold
— Chris Holloway (@ChrisHolloway03) January 3, 2020
A point that has been raised is that Webb is now 31 and will be 34 come the next RWC, which is perhaps a reason why Pivac should turn to a more youthful option as he looks to the future.
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Then again, there is nothing to suggest that Webb will still not be competing for a Wales jersey then. Moreover, Gareth Davies will also be 33 come next RWC.
The 2020 Six Nations was always going to be compelling for Wales, as it is the beginning of a new era after Gatland’s twelve-year reign, but this scrum-half battle has added another nuance to the tournament.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to comments