I think Faletau will become a great player. The thing is, he strikes a great balance with Warburton and Lydiate - and Gatland has made no secret of his desire to have a very mobile back row.
I can imagine that picking the back row was the most difficult - the UK is blessed with some incredible players in these positions and you could pick almost any combination. That's where Robshaw's fallen foul I think - I don't see him as a specialist 7 or 6, more a utility back-rower. Still think he's unlucky to not be involved.
Hard to argue with your comments re Morgan - he was showing terrific form before he got injured in the 6N.
To some extent I think Gatland is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't with some of his selections, and a lot of the selection process takes account of players' personalities and how they'll gel together when they're away for 7 weeks.
Also, keep in mind there's almost certainly going to be players not in the 37 who will be called up and will play. Didn't Rob Andrew miss the cut a few years ago and get called up and have some dream performances?
I'm lucky enough to be going to HK & Aus - we have tickets for the Barbarians game but can't get them for any of Aus games. May be reliant on the scalpies outside the grounds - although, given the exchange rate may be watching them all in bars!
Can't wait now...... bring it on.data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I shall point the learned gentleman towards the 2nd try in the Wales v England game this year.
TF takes ball from kick off, evades 4 or 5 English tacklers on his 22 metre line and then puts his head down for an extra couple of metres.It's pure poetry.
Have to agree about Best but Hibbard has been like a man possessed.
It could be that its the only way the Welsh will ever beat the Australians, ie within a Lions context
Oh, so sorry for nicking your RBS Trophy.data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 What was the score again? Ah, I remember, we beat you by 27 points.data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Could be a good omen for the Lions, so many Welshmen playing. In the 1971 tour to New Zealand 10 Welshmen took to the field in the first test, 1 Chico Hopkins as a replacement for an injured Gareth Edwards, which the Lions won 3-9. 8 in the second test 22-12, 7 in the third 3-13 and 7 again the the fourth test 14-14.
1974 in South Africa Wales fielded 6 players in every test. The series was won 3-12, 9-28, 9-26 and 13-13. We also won all the fights on that tour.
I guess that's why Dylan Hartley's in the squad. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
and is the only remote chance Wales mighthave of beatingOZ, they lost the last 8 on the trot if I am not wrong.With a decent pair of centres-BOD and Manu, decent fly half -Sexton, decent -S/H B Youngs decent No6 Croft,decent pair of locksGreyand O'Connell,decent loosehead- Healey and a decent hooker Tom Youngs, they might just pull it off
feel for Robshaw as he has been outstandingand certainly worthy of a place instead of Lidiatewho is not even match fit. Wilko will probably joinas well at some point despite his statement to the contrary.The current squad has only two F/Hs
Your bitterness and arrogance is outstanding.
England's players bottled it against a brutal Welsh side in Cardiff. The Welsh back row destroyed England at the breakdown with Wales eager to attack from any turnover. Robshaw is a good flanker, but not a great one. Should he have gone on the tour or was Ryan Jones a better choice, he had played superbly until his injury.
Was it you LGS, or someone else, who blamed the English defeat on the referee and even the noise and singing at the Millenium Stadium. Poor old Clive Woodward insisted at half time that England would score a few tries in the last 20 minutes of the game to win it, I don't know what game he was watching.
Most of the English players blew their chances of the tour in Cardiff. That's a fact, like it or lump it.
Being as you are a one eyed Welshman it doesnt surprise me re your comment. Fact is Wales have been useless over the AI ,have lost repeatedly to OZ and had but one outstanding match against England.Making a judgement based on one match is stupid beyond belief, but thats Gatland and he is Wales coach
I would pick Robshaw over Jones any day, the man is simply awesome and has had a bad deal.Someone is bound toget injured and he will take his place, which he fully deserves