THE WELSH LINE UP 13 OSPREYS - good or bad decision?

Question

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys), 14 Mark Jones (Scarlets), 13 Sonny Parker (Ospreys), 12 Gavin Henson (Ospreys), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10 James Hook (Ospreys), 9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys), 8 Ryan Jones (c) (Ospreys), 7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), 6 Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), 5 Ian Gough (Ospreys), 4 Alun Wyn-Jones (Ospreys), 3 Duncan Jones (Ospreys), 2 Huw Bennett (Ospreys), 1 Adam Jones (Ospreys).

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees (Scarlets), 17 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), 18 Ian Evans (Ospreys), 19 Alix Popham (Scarlets), 20 Gareth Cooper (Gloucester), 21 Stephen Jones (Scarlets), 22 Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

how can an international team expect to beat INTERNATIONAL opponents with 13 players from a single club team ...opinions wanted

Answer 1

Syniad da yn fy marn i

A good Idea in my Opinion

Answer 2

its a strange yet an interesting decision...

the ospreys are not the strongest welsh side....scarlets are... although their dreadful performances during the heineken cup

has resulted in most of their players not being selected yet their captain easterby has been selected for ireland ahead of quinlan

would the ospreys have done any better in a group with munster, wasps and clermont.... i dont think so

prediction

Eng 39-14 Wal

Answer 3

Gatland says it is just a coincidence as he has picked the in form players. Not sure about that with Shanklin on the bench.

It's a risk that might pay off, they should know how to play with each other, you can't argue that the consistency must be there for them. If they are truly that good I guess the Heinenken cup will also be in the Ospreys cabinet by the end of the year.

Personally I think he is crackers and a number of the players on the bench should be first XV.

If it works he will be applauded but if not he will be under a lot of pressure.

Answer 4

Probably won't get 10 points for saying this..but warren gatland doesn't know welsh rugby..so picking mainly from a region that is performing will give him a solid basis to which he can add or take away from in future..It is all about simplicity of selection and augmentation. If he has a strict gameplan in mind (which he probably does) why not pick the team that he feels can implement it the quickest and most effectively and who are largely familiar with each others play? Parker for example runs the blitz defence at the ospreys, and has terrific experience at this sort of thing..and a strong blitz in a familiar midfield that knows each other..is something that the coaches would want to implement straight away and is something which should be very advantagous..

Answer 5

Maybe it is because they have been playing very well for the ospreys in the Heineken cup, and these are the games that Gartland has been watching.......as they play as a team, they are familiar with each other and should do well..........we will just have to wait and see if it works!

Hope it does!

Answer 6

It sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Some commentators are suggesting Gatland is basing this on the Ospreys performance in the HEC, but really, it was an awful group and they qualified as a best runner up. It is interesting that Hook has got the nod, at least Gatland has the balls to drop some of the more experienced players, unlike EOS who has made 2 FORCED changes from the team that got humiliated at the WC.

Answer 7

Well, I'm not too sure. I support Ospreys myself so I might be a bit bias.

But who else would you play in any positions? Okay, maybe Shanklin, I agree there. Hook is a definate for 10 in my book.

Popham is a good sub, but doesn't have the fitness for the full 80. And maybe Gethin Jenkins to start. Him and Shanklin are the only ones that deserve to be in there I think.

Gatland has gone by what he has seen....and to be honest, Peel isn't having the season of his life.

Answer 8

good as they all will now each other better, and hence feel confident around each other, and generally know how each of them play, so they can adapt and predict where to be

Answer 9

Bad.

Very bad.

What is Shanklin doing on the bench?

When I heard he wasn't starting I presumed he must be injured.

Unless Edwards has performed miracles at training then it'll be the wooden spoon for Wales

**Additional details**

Looking at the back 3 England have picked Wales might be ok.

It'll be a boring kick and chase afternoon if Wales are going to win. But with Balshaw, Sackey and Volkano you'd be daft not t do it. Balshaw has been nowhere near his best for years. Sackey has no defense and can't kick. Vainikolo is class, but I've never seen him kick out of trouble and obviously 6 nations is going to be a big step up from the Union games he has played so far.

Answer 10

They should be more familiar with each other since they play for the same club and the Ospreys have been doing well in the Heineken Cup. It worked well for Ireland in last years Six Nations to have the entire back division from the same club and all but two of the forwards from another club, then again it didn't work so well in the world cup. I don't agree with leaving Popham and Shanklin on the bench. I do think its time however that Hook got his chance and Wales can finally judge  if his better than Jones or not.