Random idea but since it's been so quiet on here I thought I'd see what others thought. Having a conversation with the father-in-law last week about the growing depth in the squad, we were trying to come up with the two best balanced teams that could be picked from the current registered players (even if injured atm). So I'll offer the same challenge to anyone that fancies it; remember that you want the two best teams you could field so don't overload one team with your first xv and then leave all your alternates for the second. These are my two: Team Tips:
15 Protheroe
14 Cuthbert
13 Watkin
12 K.Williams
11 L.Morgan
10 Myler
9 H. Morgan
8 Morris
7 Tipuric (c)
6 Hickey
5 Beard
4 R.Davies
3 Botha
2 Phillips
1N.Smith Team Alun:
15 Collins
14 Nagy
13 North
12 Hawkins
11 Giles
10 Anscombe
9 Webb
8 Roots
7 J.Morgan
6 Lydiate
5 AWJ (c)
4 W. Griffiths
3 Francis
2 Parry
1 G.Thomas
Couple of gambles in there but I reckon that would be a tight match between those two teams if everyone is on form. If I've missed anyone obvious then let me know.
If we exclude the players who are long term injured namely North Tips Lydiate Lake and bracket AWJ because of enforced rest this would be what I suspect we may see
15. Protheroe Evans
14. Cuthbert Nagy
13. Collins Watkin
12. Hawkins Williams
11Giles Knott
10Anscombe Myler
9 Webb Morgan
1Smith Thomas
2 Phillips Parry
3 Francis Botha
4.B Davies Beard (AWJ)
5 R Davies Regan
6. Griffiths Roots
7. Morgan Cross
8. Morris Hickey
My comments are that I think we will see more of Collins at 13 than 15. North will be lucky to be back by spring and will miss most of the season. Griffiths may play more at 6 and Regan will play a fair bit at lock. Squad strength is certainly improving when you don't count Rhodri Jones and Bradley Davies in your best 30. The back three still looks too light in number and quality although Knott has the potential to be used there.
The season though will probably stand or fall on the half backs and how close Anscombe can be to what he was and if Harri Morgan can stay fit and rotate with Webb.
I posted this a few weeks ago in the News thread about our strength in depth...
We could just about name 4 full teams:-
1 R Jones or N Smith or G Thomas or G Phillips
2 S Parry or D Lake or I Phillips or E Tiaone
3 T Francis or T Botha or M Fia or R Henry
4 AWJ or R Davies or J Fender or L Ashley
5 A Beard or BBBD or J Regan or L Jones (A)
6 W Griffiths or D Lydiate or O Cracknell or R Thomas (A)
7 Tips or J Morgan or H Deaves (A) or S Cross
8 E Roots or M Morris or Hickey (A) or T Huntley (A)
9 R Webb or H Morgan or R Morgan-Williams or M Aubrey
10 G Anscombe or S Myler or J Thomas or L Caplin (U18s)
11 K Giles or L Morgan or D Cross or C Dodd (A)
12 O Watkin or K Williams or J Hawkins or T Florence (A)
13 G North or M Collins or O Knott or T Thomas-Wheeler
14 A Cuthbert or G North or C Evans or J Carrington (A)
15 M Protheroe or Nagy or D Evans or C Lewis-Jenkins (A)