Test Team based on rested players

twinytwo

1 Jenkins
2 Mears
3 Vickery
4 AW Jnes
5 POC
6 Croft
7 Wallace
8 Heaslip
9 Roberts
10 Jones
11 Monye
12 Roberts
13 Drico
14 Bowe
15 Byrne

Thats about it id say ....

http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_preview/0,20244,11069_3148263,00.html

question is ... IS the Team good enough?

duckysauce

roberts aint that good playing center and scrum half?

zAbbo

If you're basing the test team off the midweek team - then Williams is at 7

yoursaviour1989

zAbbo wrote: »

If you're basing the test team off the midweek team - then Williams is at 7

wouldn't really agree with that, Williams played on saturday and probably wouldn't be able for such a quick turnaround

davyjose

zAbbo wrote: »

If you're basing the test team off the midweek team - then Williams is at 7

Wallace is better at the breakdown, so if Williams starts, expect NO ball. Williams might have started had Ferris been fit, but we need Wallace.

The more I think about it, the more heartbreaking Ferris' injury becomes. We needed that guy.

shmaido

Monye to start against SK's...

Williams recovering from stomach bug but starts on bench?!?!? Kinda sounds like Geech may have changed his mind, who is pulling these strings for Williams???? Then again it could be true and he did have a stomach bug but something seems a little off...

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/bilions/news/1736361.htm

dub_skav

shmaido wrote: »

Monye to start against SK's...

Williams recovering from stomach bug but starts on bench?!?!? Kinda sounds like Geech may have changed his mind, who is pulling these strings for Williams???? Then again it could be true and he did have a stomach bug but something seems a little off...

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/bilions/news/1736361.htm

Sounds to me like he doesn't want to risk bowe and is giving Fitzgerald and Monye a straight up fight for the 11 jersey. Nothing wrong with that.

Stealdo

twinytwo wrote: »

1 Jenkins
2 Mears
3 Vickery
4 AW Jnes
5 POC
6 Croft
7 Wallace
8 Heaslip
9 Roberts
10 Jones
11 Monye
12 Roberts
13 Drico
14 Bowe
15 Byrne

Thats about it id say ....

http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_preview/0,20244,11069_3148263,00.html

question is ... IS the Team good enough?

Other than the typo I think you have it right - the only remotely likely changes are I've a sneaking suspicion the 'surprise' selection might be a back row of Wallace, Williams and Heaslip; and Fitz has been handed another chance by Shane Williams withdrawal as it put himself and Ugo head to head. The fact that they've kept Fitz on the left and switched Monye from his likely test starting position to me means it's not cast in stone. If you were forced into playing one of your test starters and it was all sewn up why would you not play him in position so he at least gets the preparation out of it.

madds

Stealdo wrote: »

I've a sneaking suspicion the 'surprise' selection might be a back row of Wallace, Williams and Heaslip;

That has been my preferred back row since Ferris got injured. The opening half hour of Saturday's match will be a colossal battle and I think Wallace offers us more at #6 than Croft will. Croft can be sprung from the bench in the last 20 minutes when spaces start appearing.

jdivision

Or Croft could be in second row with O'Connell but that might be a bit lightweight? Wynn Jones didn't really impress.

spear thrower

Stealdo wrote: »

Other than the typo I think you have it right - the only remotely likely changes are I've a sneaking suspicion the 'surprise' selection might be a back row of Wallace, Williams and Heaslip; and Fitz has been handed another chance by Shane Williams withdrawal as it put himself and Ugo head to head. The fact that they've kept Fitz on the left and switched Monye from his likely test starting position to me means it's not cast in stone. If you were forced into playing one of your test starters and it was all sewn up why would you not play him in position so he at least gets the preparation out of it.

Agree with Stealdo here.. I would love to see that back row.. Croft would have a huge impact from the bench with 20 to go while SA players started tiring..

Webbs

davyjose wrote: »

Wallace is better at the breakdown, so if Williams starts, expect NO ball. Williams might have started had Ferris been fit, but we need Wallace.

The more I think about it, the more heartbreaking Ferris' injury becomes. We needed that guy.

???? defensively at the breakdown Williams is the better player, he is a master at snaffling ball (his speed to the breakdown gets turnovers) and slowing it down (as good as any 7 in the world at the moment) while offensively it would be Wallace as he is able to clear out far better with his size.

Why would you expect no ball from Williams playing?

davyjose

Webbs wrote: »

???? defensively at the breakdown Williams is the better player, he is a master at snaffling ball (his speed to the breakdown gets turnovers) and slowing it down (as good as any 7 in the world at the moment) while offensively it would be Wallace as he is able to clear out far better with his size.

Why would you expect no ball from Williams playing?

Well, e've suffered Turnovers on this tour - poor ones. And I feel that's where Wallace is needed. I think we're going to struggle at the breakdown anyway, but I think Wallace can maintain parity here better - IMO