Who should Gatland choose if Wales are to beat Ireland.?

Question

He has a few dilemmas (nice ones to have, I know)...

At Scrum half....Peel or Phillips?

At fly half.....Jones or Hook?

At loose head....Duncan Jones or Gethin Jenkins?

At hooker Huw Bennett or Rhys Thomas?

Who would you pick?

Answer 1

Who ever Gatie picks , I'm sure they'll do well.

Answer 2

Gotta be philips over peel

Answer 3

Scrum Half Peel if recovered from injury - faster and "older" head

Jones

Gethin Jenkins with out a doubt and Neither Rhys Thomas nor Huw Bennett Mathew Rees much better than either of them

Answer 4

I would go for Mike Phillips, he is far more powerful and aggressive, he gains ground and his passing is superb!

Hook, because we need his kicking abilities against O'Gara, who is on form at the moment, plus Hook has the ability to gain line and attack far more and better than Jones.

The loose head could be either, both are capable and work hard and Bennet as hooker as he is the better of the two at the moment!

Answer 5

If I was Gatland I would pick Phillips. I think he is playing a better game than Peel at the moment.  Hook (to start) then bring on Stephen Jones ( experience ) . He played a good game against Italy!

Gethin Jenkins definitely! Huw Bennett is the better hooker out of the three. Matthew Rees 's lineouts were awful against Italy! Rhys Thomas is just as bad! I think nerves are getting to them because the competition is so high!! They are all fighting for places in the squad. Since Gatland took over , all the players have upped thier game. Gatland is lucky to have so many choices because I don't think the coaches of the other teams have the same options!!!!

Answer 6

I know sod all about Rugby but it seems that James Hook bloke is fairly well thought of these days, his name is always being mentioned during the matches anyway.

Answer 7

Phillips and Hook wiyh Jones and peel on bench.Hook is more creative and Phillips is more aggressive and in better form.

Gethin because he is more mobile,heavier,and has better ball skills.

Bennett at hooker.He is better at the line out(which will be very important)

Also i think Alun Wyn-Jones will play instead of Evans,now he is back from injury.I would like to see Popham on the bench along with Jamie Roberts(when will Tom James play?)

Answer 8

If Wales are to beat Ireland (NO CHANCE)

Answer 9

the all blacks

Answer 10

Gatland and his team have done so well until now so let us hope his strategy will continue to prosper.

Answer 11

We need a better forward line up,than we have at present.I still think it will be a close game,10 points either way.

Answer 12

It's irrelevant - Ireland will win!

Answer 13

I think Phillips must start at scrum half... As for fly half I think Hook would be an ideal second half sub as the game opens up a bit , Jones can keep things tight for the first 50 or so minutes ..... Jones at loose head and Rhys thomas has to start at hooker ....... Wales have a chance but I have just got a sneaking feeling that Ireland will just have too much for them especially with O'Connell being back in the pack to inspire the rest of his forwards ..

Answer 14

Rees is probably the best hooker we've got in most aspects of the game but as his throwing in at line outs are suspect and we're up against two of the best second rows in the game, I wouldn't pick him.

On form Philips is playing better than Peel so I'd pick him.

Stepehen Jones is a better player than Hook when we need a controlled game but I'd start with Hook as if he's playing well he can make things happen, if he's not making things happen then bring Jones on.

I don't think it matters whether we start with Dunc or Mellon as they're both very good props.

I'm still not convinced with Thomas as flanker and I'd pick Delve.

Mark Jones hasn't played as well for Wales as he does for the Scarlets but he's the most experienced wing that we've got and for that reason I'd start with him instead of risking one of the newer wings, who would have benefited from playing with the Wales A team, if we still had one.

Answer 15

Phillips , Jones , Jenkins and Bennett.

Phillips is a Man bang in form. even though he does try too hard sometime.

I'd bring Hook on when the Irish are getting tired as his straight runs will cause the forwards problems late in the game.

Gethins slightly better at crossing the gain line and Bennets got a better throw on him.

But all that said whoever Gatland picks will raise eyebrows but I've every confidence in him.