Selecting a Wales-23 to harry, frustrate and eventually beat England
Wales stand on the verge of history as they welcome England to Cardiff next weekend, yet despite stretching their winning run to 11 games with victories over France and Italy their Six Nations campaign has been anything but pretty.
Neither win yielded a bonus-point and the debate over who should line up at half-back for Warren Gatland’s side is yet to be settled.
Eddie Jones’ suggestion that this is the best Welsh team in history can be filed safely under ‘bants’, but it is a group that has grown used to winning.
It is a squad that refused to believe it was beaten when 16-0 down in Paris and won in Rome despite Gatland making 10 changes as he attempted to replicate Rugby World Cup conditions.
England represent a considerable step up from France and Italy, Jones’ side finding some ominous form ahead of Japan 2019. Wales must make a fast start in Cardiff, while matching their visitors’ physicality, line speed and hunger at the breakdown – and ensuring there isn’t space in the back-field for Owen Farrell, Henry Slade and Elliot Daly to exploit.
One selection decision does appear to have been taken out of Gatland’s hands. Leigh Halfpenny was not considered for the Scarlets this weekend as he continues his recovery from a concussion suffered against Australia in November.
Halfpenny
A statement released on Friday suggested he could return in the “imminent future” but it would be a huge gamble to throw him in against England following three months out. Halfpenny’s health is paramount.
Liam Williams, barring injury, will wear the number 15 jersey at the Principality Stadium with George North to his right and Josh Adams on his left.
An intelligent kicking game was at the heart of England’s opening two Six Nations victories, but bar the first-half horror show against France that trio has looked defensively sound.
Williams’ decision-making can sometimes let him down, and his positioning in the back-field is not as good as Halfpenny’s, but he is a British and Irish Lion who offers the team so much in attack.
North – who has scored four tries in his last six Tests – and Adams will both keep England honest in defence, while the latter has emerged as an integral cog in Gatland’s back-three plans.
A prolific finisher for Worcester Warriors, Adams is also solid defensively and under the high ball, while he possesses a canny knack of stealing an extra few yards when fielding kicks.
In midfield, Jonathan Davies is a certain starter but Hadleigh Parkes has not been at his best during the Championship so far.
He insisted in his BBC column this week that it was “good to see” Owen Watkin playing so well in his place in Rome, but the young Ospreys centre’s performance will have given Gatland something to think about.
If Wales are to beat England on Saturday then they will need to harry Jones’ side from the first whistle, and make sure they do not have a moment to relax.
Watkin would bring a more energetic presence to the Welsh midfield, is solid in defence, adept at stripping possession in the tackle and is also comfortable covering the back-field as he did on occasion against Italy.
REPORTER: Neil, how did it feel to win that famous game in Wembley in '99?
KATRINA AND THE WAVES: We'll answer that one… pic.twitter.com/yn18jiF1NE
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 14, 2019
It would be a gamble to split up the Davies-Parkes partnership but 10-cap Watkin is no rookie anymore and this could be the opportunity he needs.
At half-back, and in keeping with the need to put England on the back foot, Gareth Anscombe should return alongside Gareth Davies.
The going gets tough. #HWFN pic.twitter.com/EYtHcs3wbF
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 14, 2019
Talk about Rhys Webb’s availability is irrelevant while he is playing for Toulon and Davies is the best of the rest. He will give Wales the fast start that they need and when he begins to tire, Tomos Williams can come off the bench to exploit any gaps that may open up.
Anscombe did not have his finest game against France, by any means, but showcased what he adds to Wales’ attack with the delicate chip that led to Watkin’s try against Italy.
Rhys Patchell would have come into the conversation had he played more than 40 minutes of rugby following injury and would be named on the bench if Dan Biggar’s knee problem persists.
Biggar was replaced after just 20 minutes as Northampton hammered Sale on Saturday but Saints boss Chris Boyd stressed afterwards that the move was precautionary.
?? Look away Wales fans ?
Dan Biggar limps off a week before Wales host England in the Six Nations.
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— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) February 16, 2019
The fly-half proved an adept finisher against Australia and South Africa in the autumn and Gatland will want to have his experience, control and goalkicking available from the bench next Saturday.
If Wales are to prevail at the Principality Stadium then whoever is selected to start in the number 10 shirt will need to be a platform on which to perform.
The breakdown is of course, therefore, going to be all important. For much of Gatland’s reign this has been an area that Wales dominated their neighbours almost at will.
But without Sam Warburton, and with Tom Curry an emerging force for England, the hosts will not have it all their own way next weekend.
A back-row of Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty is the strongest available to Gatland at present, but who offers cover on the bench? Aaron Wainwright has taken to Test rugby like the proverbial duck to transparent liquid but for this game I would go with Thomas Young.
Young was sensational on his Six Nations debut against Italy and knows what it takes to get the better of the England back-row having done it for years at Wasps.
In the front-row, there is an argument to be made for the inclusion of Tomas Francis at tighthead to scrummage against his Exeter team-mate Ben Moon, should he be selected for England.
But Samson Lee looked back to somewhere near his best against Italy and it is an all-Scarlets front-row with Rob Evans and Ken Owens alongside him that offers Wales the biggest threat in all areas – scrummaging, physicality and carrying.
For his height, ability to make a nuisance of himself and the credit he earned in the autumn, it would also makes sense to pick six-foot-eight lock Adam Beard to once again partner Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
It is then a question of who Gatland picks on the bench and Cory Hill’s ability to cover the back-row means he edges Jake Ball.
My Wales team to play England:
L Williams
G North
J Davies
O Watkin
J Adams
G Anscombe
G Davies
Evans
Ken Owens
Samson Lee
Adam Beard
AW Jones (captain)
J Navidi
J Tipuric
RMoriarty.
Replacements: Dee, Smith, Francis, Hill, Young, T. Williams, Biggar, Amos.
Comments on RugbyPass
Irish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to comments