RWC 2019 Warmup Games

[neill_m]

A lot of chat/rumour that Wales may play a relatively weak side with players from outside the 31 involved. May be fake news.

If that's the case, someone forgot to tell Gerry Thornley as he's saying they'll be at full-strength.

Read it on twitter - must be fake news. GT is usually on the ball.

[Oldschool]

A lot of chat/rumour that Wales may play a relatively weak side with players from outside the 31 involved. May be fake news.

Mind games.

[jimbobjoe]

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Saracens).

[betty swallocks]

Interesting to see that Aki and Henshaw would seem to be first choice centre partnership on that reading - or is Gary carrying a knock?

[johng]

Or just getting a run out together in case needed later in comp. Henrose and Ringshaw play together a lot anyway.

[Fan with smartphone]

Interesting to see that Aki and Henshaw would seem to be first choice centre partnership on that reading - or is Gary carrying a knock?

Playing on the wing...being name checked as possible 10 cover, or even 15 cover...I get the feeling they may be thinking of Ringrose as the bench option and that might be part of the reason Farrell was taken in the squad too.

[betty swallocks]

Interesting to see that Aki and Henshaw would seem to be first choice centre partnership on that reading - or is Gary carrying a knock?

Playing on the wing...being name checked as possible 10 cover, or even 15 cover...I get the feeling they may be thinking of Ringrose as the bench option and that might be part of the reason Farrell was taken in the squad too.

You got that one right FWS.

[wixfjord]

15. Rob Kearney
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Jean Kleyn
6. CJ Stander
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan.

16. Sean Cronin
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Iain Henderson
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Luke McGrath
22. Jack Carty
23. Garry Ringrose.

Strong side. Close to full strength.

That backrow definitely looks a bit more balanced and a lot of impact off the bench too.

[backrower8]

Aki's 4th game out of 4. Why?

I am guessing that the plan is to play the former Connacht pairing against Scotland and to run over the top of the Scotland midfield.

[Ruckedtobits]

Because Henshaw hasn't played so far and he Ringrose and Sexton play together for Leinster, it is wholly logical that Joe wants to see Sexton, Bundee and Henshaw together against top-class opposition before selecting against Scotland.

The bigger experiment is Killer v Francis. From memory Exeter didn't use Francis off the bench against Munster in the European draw last October so I can't be sure they've scrummed competitively. Francis is a big strong bloke with decent technique so Killer will have to scrum straight or he'll get a flying lesson.

[wixfjord]

Because Henshaw hasn't played so far and he Ringrose and Sexton play together for Leinster, it is wholly logical that Joe wants to see Sexton, Bundee and Henshaw together against top-class opposition before selecting against Scotland.

The bigger experiment is Killer v Francis. From memory Exeter didn't use Francis off the bench against Munster in the European draw last October so I can't be sure they've scrummed competitively. Francis is a big strong bloke with decent technique so Killer will have to scrum straight or he'll get a flying lesson.

Healy is starting LH.

[Caliphi]

Not sure this is correct forum thread, but I am in Greece on Sat. Is the match just on channel 4, or any suggestions how to watch in Greece?

[Logorrhea]

Looks like a good team. Ringrose has been a long way from his best and Henshaw needs a game so that makes sense.

Healy will also need a game but his form has been solid. Kilcoyne has the potential to offer real impact form the bench throughout the tournament so that one makes sense too.

Don't quite get Stander at 6 but maybe we'll see some kind of form from him (and Kleyn). No harm in giving him a look.

Have to say though, I love the look of that bench. Impact across the board.

[Oldschool]

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Saracens).

Patchell will keep Sexton and Aki busy so whose going to keep Patchell busy?

[dropkick]

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Saracens).

Patchell will keep Sexton and Aki busy so whose going to keep Patchell busy?

VDF. He'll get far less time this week up against a fresh Irish defence.

[Ruckedtobits]

Mattheu Reynal with Barnes and Pearse as APs v Wales. M. Ice Cool who doesn't like being shouted at and never shows it.

[ronk]

Team according to Murray K:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Jean Kleyn
6. CJ Stander
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

I like the look of that backrow a lot more than what we have been playing so far.
Maybe a little light in lineout options albeit so will be interesting to see how that goes with Ryan calling.

Conan is likely the 3rd lineout option.

[Laighin Break]

Not sure this is correct forum thread, but I am in Greece on Sat. Is the match just on channel 4, or any suggestions how to watch in Greece?

The website vipleague always has good rugby streams (from Rugby Pass). Or you could look up the r/RugbyUnion subreddit, people will post links.

I think it'll be good to see Stander at 6. He was more impressive there at the start of his international career than he has been at 8 - whether that was due to age or being his best position, we'll hopefully find out.

[backrower8]

No. Can’t see why AKI is the only player to start all 4 games when Ringrose and Farrell have been for throughout the period. A poor decision maker, particularly in defence.

Ringer and Henshaw don’t play together nearly enough due to injuries, yet have the potential to be a world class combination.

As for Killer. He is only ok scrummaging against B-teams or tier 2 nations other than Georgia. He will hemorrhage penalties against any tier 1 country. Frightening thought. #Pray4Church

[wixfjord]

Kilcoyne more than deserves to be in there.
He has had a great season, Munster scrum is solid and he adds a carrying dimension off the bench that not many others do.

He gets a weird amount of flack on here, and isn't the player Jack McGrath was 2-3 years ago. But neither is Jack McGrath.