posted May 23, 2007

Rees is there because he is the best player and is probably the hooker for the WC, but also because there isn't anyone else. Out of the three hookers origionally picked, Mefin, Hibberd and other ospreys one, both mefin and the forementioned osprey are injured. out of the replacements Williams of cardif is also injued. that leaves the inexperienced Hibberd and Rees. Obviously Jenks wants his strongest possible team thus the inclusion of rees. Mefin is expected to be fit for the next test.

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posted May 23, 2007

sonny parker at IC, im not convinced, surely gareth thomas should have played there?

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posted May 23, 2007

I dont no many players in the welsh side but i would think again about colin jarvis.

Personaly i have nothing against him but i would class him in the same mould as lawrence dalliglo. The skill and the passion for the game might still be there, but can he still play for eighty minutes? that is a big question.

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posted May 23, 2007

Yeah - great to see the old thick heads back. They are going to take a real hammering. Enjoy!

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posted May 23, 2007

Oh well, not as big a hammering as England will take in SA.

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posted May 23, 2007

Knowsit16...just how big a hammering do you think England will get in SA?

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posted May 24, 2007

UtdLegend....Why criticise on the basis of 2 events. Czekaj is there because the people that matter see his potential. Over the last few sessons he has bulked up in terms of his upper body and can stand in most tackle situations until support arrives. In addition, whereas he used to get far too close to the touchline & be forced out, he's now corrected that and is a regular try scorer. Give him a break, he's not the first player to miss a high ball, or get tackled into touch....and he won't be the last!

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posted May 24, 2007

misterarmchairpundit- quite a big one, not because they are no good but because of their severly depleted squad etc. You know the story I daresay.

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posted May 24, 2007

Knowsit16..yes i believe i know the story.

But i do not think it will be has big has people think. OR Maybe that should be hope it wont be as big as people think?

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posted May 25, 2007

Charvis is a real bulldog. I have faith that he can pull off a stonking performance.

Czekaj is an unfortunate weak-link in the chain for me. He has never really looked threatening in attack, and is flimsy in defence. My first choice would be Aled Brew but of course he's injured. It's a shame Darren Daniel wasn't in the squad, I'd rather see him play than Czekaj.

Gavin Thomas over RST? Not sure I'd have gone with that (is he injured as well?). Richie Pugh and Steve Tandy are pretty impressive opensides as well (more so than GT for me).

I'm not sure if I'd have Jon Thomas at 8. I really rate the guy, but maybe Michael Owen could have had a crack at the 8 shirt. Jon Thomas on the bench (coming on somewhere at sometime) or at lock instead of Sidoli (let's see his performance tomorrow morning). I don't know why but I like the lock/back row pairing in the second row (ie. have a specialist lock and a versatile back row/lock fill in the other position - the ABs seem to use the second row as an opportunity to put 2 more loose forwards on the pitch and they don't do too badly).

We seem to have a lot of bad luck in the front row in terms of injuries for this tour.

What worries me about the 22 selection is the fact that we have Adam Jones playing tighthead without any cover on the bench. I have nothing against the guy but there are questions about his fitness for 80 minutes (can't think of a game off the top of my head when he's played a full 80). Maybe Jamie Corsi could have a place on the bench for the next game. I've never seen Ceri Jones, but what I've heard worries me... I'd have to pick the front row for their abilities at the set piece first and foremost.

Will be interested in seeing how this turns out tomorrow.

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