This is a very important game for our struggles to climb the URC table throughout the 6 Nation period, we had 14 players selected for Team Wales Squad this was added to when Dewi Lake pulled out and according to reports Scott Baldwin taken into the camp, with numerous other players eg, Anscombe, Lydiate, Watkin, Griffiths and Parry there are probably others not available, we are down to the bare bones in certain positions, Hooker springs readily to mind with only Taione left from our original squad, perhaps we'll manage to pull someone decent in.
Is Cai Evans or Max Nagy available for full back do we have any other centres besides Collins and TTW available, is Myler fit enough to accompany Walsh for outside half, a squad something like the following could be selected.
Nagy/Evans, Morgan, TTW, Collins, Giles, Walsh, RMW, Smith, Taione, Botha, BBBD, Sutton, Roots? /Hickey, Deaves, Morris. Replacements 16 ?, Phillips, Henry, Regan, Hickey/ Cross, Aubrey, Myler and Florence.
Zebre have 7 or 8 players in the Italian squad, will they have any returned to them. This will be a very difficult game for us. If anybody can add some players that I've probably missed that might be a blessing.
Discuss
Great start - two tries inside 14 minutes but since then Zebre have been on top and with 4 tries of their own, they lead 24-14.
Starting XV:
15. Max Nagy
14. Luke Morgan
13. Michael Collins
12. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler
11. Keelan Giles
10. Jack Walsh
9. Reuben Morgan-Williams
1. Nicky Smith ©
2. Elvis Taione
3. Tom Botha
4. Bradley Davies
5. Huw Sutton
6. Jack Regan
7. Harri Deaves
8. Morgan Morris
Replacements:
16. Tom Cowan-Dickie
17. Garyn Phillips
18. Rhys Henry
19. James Fender
20. Tristan Davies
21. Matthew Aubrey
22. Stephen Myler
23. Iestyn Hopkins
Is Sam Moore training at all these days, I think i read a few days ago that his calf problem had cleared up?
With AWJ, Beard and Rhys with Wales and Will injured I am surprised that James Fender is still in Cornwall though Regan is playing for Swansea. Cowan-Dickie the elder has rocked up as injury cover so Dewi looks to be out for a while though Harri Morgan is back in training.
The Under 20 posse are doing really well with the two wingers, Llien Morgan and Hari Houston both getting a brace against Poland. Kian Hire and Morgan Morse are making great strides but are both too young yet. Wizards have ex-Ospreys centres doing OK but Tom Florence seems to be off the scene. Ossian Knott got half an hour off the bench ten days ago.
I don't think either Zebre or Ospreys will have anyone released on the Sunday before the opening match. Gatland named 37 and Italy have 34.
How is Osian Knott performing for the Whites?