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Welsh fans react to Rob Evans' World Cup snub
Warren Gatland’s decision to overlook Grand Slam-winning prop Rob Evans in favour of one-cap Rhys Carré has shocked Wales fans on social media.
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Evans, alongside his Scarlets teammate Samson Lee, was omitted from the World Cup squad yesterday, despite both players being mainstays in the Wales team over the last few years.
Many seem to understand why Lee may have missed out, as Gatland is only taking two tightheads, Tomas Francis and Dillon Lewis, with Francis establishing himself as a consistent starter in red. On the other hand, very few can understand the reasoning behind Evans’ absence.
Gatland has said that there were durability issues surrounding the Scarlets duo, especially as Evans came into the training camp injured, but it has still been deemed a risk nonetheless.
The 35-cap Evans is a strong scrummager and powerful in the loose, with some fans regarding him as being one of the best looseheads in the world. The consensus on Twitter seems to be that he is superior to Nicky Smith, and it was only a matter of months ago that he was ahead of him as the first choice loosehead in the Grand Slam winning campaign.
Meanwhile, the decision to select the Saracens-bound Carré is seen as a gamble, particularly as he has only ever started three games for the Cardiff Blues, and only made his debut on Saturday in a game where Wales’ scrum was comprehensively second best. The 21-year-old clearly has great potential, but it is a decision that very few saw Gatland taking.
This is what has been said:
So he doesnt play Rob and Samson until yesterday then drops them? Massive calls especially Rob. Good for Scarlets though to have the best loose head in Wales available to play.
— mark thomas (@supertaf99) September 1, 2019
Crazy decision not to go with Rob Evans. Crazy.
As an @IrishRugby Supporter I can tell you that he looks to me as one of the finest loose heads in the world.— Jason Shiels (@jasonshiels) September 1, 2019
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No Rob Evans? I can kind of understand Samson Lee considering Francis is the undoubted starter and Lewis has proven to be decent at international level. It is a bit of risk taking Rhys Carre ahead of Evans considering he struggled a bit against Ireland.
— Christian Evans (@MrEvansSports) September 1, 2019
Surprised at Carre in the squad. First cap on weekend. Appreciate first cap but didn’t do anything IMHO that you would think it put him on the plane, especially at the expense of Rob Evans. Big big call https://t.co/UKs53oqVKg
— Howell Jones (@Jones_No6) September 1, 2019
Still can’t believe Rob Evans got overlooked for for the World Cup. One of our best during the six nations. The only plus is he’ll be available for the Scarlets but I’m still amazed he’s not on the squad. You should be there man @Revsprop1
— ??????? LIVE??WIRE ??????? (@aero_zeppelin) September 1, 2019
Is there a single Welsh rugby supporter who would put Wyn Jones ahead of Rob Evans?
Has he upset Gatland somehow?
— Philip Davies #FBPE ??????? (@pdss9) September 1, 2019
Have to really feel for Rob Evans, our best prop by a country mile & been excellent for both club & country over the last couple years. Massively poor decision by Gatland. Rhys Carre is a good player but he's done nothing to warrant being selected over Rob. #RWC2019 #Wales
— Gavin Barrett (@Gavin_Introbiz) September 1, 2019
Fitness is always an issue when it comes to the World Cup, and with a schedule that includes a six-day turnaround between playing Georgia and Australia, carrying two players in Evans and Lee that may not be 100% could put a huge strain on the squad.
But both players featured last Saturday against Ireland at the Principality Stadium, which suggests they were match fit, but have obviously not done enough over the past few months to show they are ready for the rigours of the World Cup.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 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)
4 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?
5 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.
6 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.
22 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
22 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.
8 Go to comments