6N's! Wales v Italy! Six changes made.......doesn't mind tinkering does he? What are you thoughts?

Question

Wales: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (Captain)

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Deiniol Jones, Gareth Delve, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Sonny Parker

Answer 1

No! No! No! why is peel starting? he has been out of form since 2005! Philips is far superior in every aspect!.

Answer 2

I think that each of these players are as good as each other in their respective positions, although I say with reservation that I am not keen on Phillips but I'm hoping to be impressed. Without doubt the best player in the side for reading the game, in both defence and attack is Martyn Williams. I'm glad he came out of retirement for the tournament.

Answer 3

i think its a good tactic for a few reasons.

1. he will be able to give his whole squad a run out before the crunch matches of a triple crown (v ireland) and then a possible grad slam v france

2. he has seen from v england match what is the most succesful welsh heino-cup team and brought in other changes

3. it stops the first 15 (ospreys, i mean wales :)) getting complacent about there position in gatlands plans

4. brings the squad together as they all know that they are in competition for place and will make them more solid over time

5. and the most basic - he gives everyone a run out to check there form

Answer 4

Gartland is tinkering because we have 3 big games coming up and thank God Gethin Jenkins and Mathew Rees are in the starting line up. Dwaynne and Stephen have a great partnership in both club and country. Dont get me wrong Hook is a good player but he needs to learn how to communicate with the others on the field and he has got a great kick.

Come on Wales lets get behind the lads again

Yma O Hyd (Still Here)

gan Dafydd Iwan

Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen,

Does neb yn ei nabod o;

Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoedd

Yn amser rhy hir i'r co';

Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o Gymru

Yn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri,

A'n gadael yn genedl gyfan

A heddiw: wele ni!

Ry'n ni yma o hyd,

Ry'n ni yma o hyd,

Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth,

Er gwaetha pawb a phopeth

Ry'n ni yma o hyd.

Chwythed y gwynt o'r Dwyrain,

Rhued y storm o'r môr,

Hollted y mellt yr wybren

A gwaedded y daran encôr,

Llifed dagrau'r gwangalon

A llyfed y taeog y llawr

Er dued yw'r fagddu o'n cwmpas

Ry'n ni'n barod am doriad y wawr!

Cofiwn i Facsen Wledig

Adael ein gwlad yn un darn

A bloeddiwn gerbron y gwledydd

"Mi fyddwn yma tan Ddydd y Farn!"

Er gwaetha pob Dic Sion Dafydd,

Er gwaetha 'rhen Fagi a'i chriw

Byddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amser

A bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw!

Answer 5

By rights we should really be screaming "Burn The Witch!!!!!!" at this point. but he kept ickle in so fair do's.

Answer 6

he should stay with the winning team he has played in the first two games AWESOME!! i must say we all know that if you start tinkering it could have a neutral effect on the side don't mess with anything

Answer 7

After his master stroke against the Sais I'll let him tinker all he likes !!!!!

Personally I'd have left Hook in and used S.Jones as the Impact player second half !!

My only raised eye brow is dropping Bennett but we'll see.....

Answer 8

I'm glad he's kept Shane 'bach' in! I think the way that Stephen Jones and Peel played during the last quarter of the Scotland game merits them being selected. I'm also glad to see Mark Jones back because Rees didn't really impress last Sat. Gethin Jenkins also deserves to be in the starting line-up as he also played well. You could never tell I'm a Scarlets supporter could you!! C'mon Cymru!!

Answer 9

all these players have played before and work in the team enviroment.  when the changes came half way through the scots game we didn't missfire like the french.  This is a standard welsh team i think we will beat italy but as far as ireland etc is concerned, its not the players its more the teams metal attitude and on that i reserve judgement.  basically if we beat ireland in ireland then yes I think we will go all the way.  for me that is the biggest test.

Answer 10

Jones played really well when he came on last weekend. He plays better with Peel, So why not start with them.

Jones controles things better than Hook - nothing against Hook, he just doesn't do it every week. Marshal does it for the Ospreys, so Jones is just better at it.

At prop I'd have gone for Mellon and one of the hair bears.

Back row should be

6. R. Jones

7. M. Williams

8. G. Delve

At least you can tinker and actually have a squad unlike Scotland :-(

Answer 11

Im suprised really after the great start wales have had. I think wales are now the only other possible winners after France because England and Ireland just dont have the determination.

Answer 12

Just hope he has made the right decison. If we can win the scrums, line-outs and mauls Wales will beat the Italians for our backs will then putplay the opposition. It is up front this game will be won or lost and the Italians have shown how strong they can be. Preparation is going to be so important.

Answer 13

I'd have kept the half-back pairing of Phillips and Hook for the start of the game....(Hook's speed would probably out-do Italy,) then change them in the second half. It should be an interesting game...Wales to win by 20+ points.

A completely new front row is worth trying...he can always change if it doesn't work. Italy's the game to experiment...not Ireland or France.

Gatland has shown that anyone not performing to their potential could be for the drop...that should keep them all on their toes and give the others hope for inclusion.

No-one...Be' uffar' sydd gan gân Dafydd Iwan i wneud â'r cwestiwn?

Answer 14

i think italys gonna win

Answer 15

wales need to be careful and not get cocky

italy have put in 2 respectable performances and on their day can beat wales

Answer 16

I think it makes tactical sense. He already knows his strongest starting XV which he will play against Ireland and France.

This way he keeps the usual replacements match fit and injury free for the bigger games.

No disrespect to the Italians (who have come on leaps and bounds in the last 4 years) but this Welsh team should have ample talent to win. There will be a number of players who will be wanting to impress and push for the main XV, therefore it should be a hungry team ready to perform.

I think it will be a good hard game with lots of very hard Italian pack play but I would be very, very surprised if Wales don't win with a 5-10 point margin especially with home advantage.

Answer 17

Well, actually I agree with Gatland's changes. Matthew Rees is a much better hooker than Bennett. Gethin Jenkins should never have been on the bench in the first place, Stephen Jones has the experience(James Hook is fab but still learning). Ive met Stephen and he is a lovely guy! James can actually learn a lot from him !  I'm glad Mark Jones is back in on the wing! Martyn Williams is fantastic, him and Tom Shanklin together are unbeatable!!!! Lee Byrne has been playing brilliant, and yes , Ryan Jones captain!!!!!!

Answer 18

I don't think think the changes at half back will make much difference. Hook and Phillips is a good partnership as is Jones and Peel and I think he wants to give both pairings a run out before the two big games. I do worry that we may lose some of the confidence of the players who were in the winning line-ups in the first two games but the players who have come into the team have enough experience to know what is needed from them.

I thought Roberts lacked for pace against Scotland and he's brought Mark Jones in as he should have the pace to beat the Italian wing playing opposite him. The Ireland and France games will be totaly different contests so he should have a better idea who should play wing in those games after this match.

The Italians have a strong front row so I would have stuck with the Ospreys front row unit. Mellon is a very good prop and I was surprised that he hasn't started a game yet. Matthew Rees can struggle at line outs but the rest of his game is sound. Rhys Thomas may be a weak point in the scrums but we have cover on the bench.

I don't think Gatland has looked to win the six nations this year but to develop a strong team for the future.

Answer 19

Time will tell..

Answer 20

I think Bradley's answer is spot on.

Got to let go of these childish "this player is better than that player" attitudes, teams win games. Teams win triple crowns. Teams win Championships.

This is the first and last chance for Gats to tinker, why wouldn't he do it?