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Fans' verdict on whether Jamie Roberts, last capped in 2017, should be recalled by Wales
Jamie Roberts appears to have the backing of the Welsh public for a Test recall after working his way back into contention this season. The 34-year-old returned to Welsh rugby last year after a seven-year hiatus, teaming up with Dean Ryan’s Dragons and looks to be playing his best rugby in years.
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That is not to say that his standard had dropped prior to his switch to Newport – in fact, the centre’s stint with the Stormers in Super Rugby in early 2020 was brief but emphatic.
He carried the form he showed in South Africa into this season and the murmurs surrounding a Test recall have grown as the Dragons campaign has progressed. His try-scoring display against the Ospreys last weekend did his cause no harm, albeit in a losing effort.
Sean Holley posed the question on Twitter on whether Roberts is working his way into Wayne Pivac’s Six Nations squad and the response was resounding as many regard him as the best centre in Wales at the moment.
Pivac has not landed on his ideal midfield partnership so far in his tenure. That has largely been a result of injuries, but it is not often that an international coach who is still deciding on their best team has the opportunity to turn to a player with the experience and proven track record in Test rugby as Roberts.
The player claimed he had purchased cheap meat that must have been contaminated ?https://t.co/MLratHJo0O
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 12, 2021
The former Cardiff Blues man has not played for his country since November 2017, but he has not hidden his ambition to play again. A recall would carry even more weight for the Welshman as he sits on 97 Test caps, three of which are for the British and Irish Lions.
The next two weekends of European rugby have been suspended, which means Roberts does not have another club chance to stake his claim for selection. But many Welsh fans do not think that is necessary.
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https://twitter.com/LWainfur/status/1349001842731134978?s=20
Perfect guy to have in the squad on form but also in terms of experience-would help young centres like Johnny Williams, Owen Watkin.
No AWJ will leaves a gap in the on-field leadership group – Jamie fits the bill perfectly. Should have been in the squad for the Autumns.— Gari Jenkins (@garijenkins78) January 12, 2021
And he’ll shift up a gear with a welsh shirt on. I said he should be back in the welsh squad a while back to @benjames1796
— geraint williams (@geraintwillia11) January 12, 2021
How can the Welsh management not pick him on his current form? Easily the best centre in Wales atm!! ? ???????
— james davies (@welshrugby10) January 12, 2021
Yes, but only if he isn’t used as a one trick-crashball-pony! @Jamiehuwroberts was always much more than a great defender and battering ram.
— Jonathan Cowley (@MadrasHotJonny) January 12, 2021
Best 12 in Wales by far ? https://t.co/jXxTbafAX9
— Liam Harris ??????? (@LiamHarris10) January 12, 2021
His experience would be incredibly valuable for the younger centres to learn from in the squad and his style of front foot gain line rugby to then go wide would suit Pivac perfectly?? https://t.co/dNsxIENFrJ
— Joe Brett ??????? (@joebrett98) January 12, 2021
Jamie Roberts is surely the best choice at 12 for wales at the moment. Unless we want to play another ball player (which we don’t have) then there is no one better.
— Thomas Davy (@tomten2two) January 9, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to comments