Gatland Announces Squad
Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Gatland Announces Squad
By Andrew Collins January 14 2008
The new Welsh coach announces his first squad since taking charge after the World Cup. There’s just one new cap in the squad, but one much bigger surprise, both of which are in the form of Cardiff Blues players.
Gatland Announces Squad
The new Welsh coach announces his first squad since taking charge after the World Cup. There’s just one new cap in the squad, but one much bigger surprise, both of which are in the form of Cardiff Blues players.
Jamie Roberts gets a call up for the first time, unsurprising given his fantastic form while the huge shock comes in the shape of Martyn Williams, who had announced his International retirement following the World Cup. Warren Gatland told BBC Radio Wales,
‘We felt there was a hole there at 7. Robin (Sowden-Taylor) is going to be a great flanker and we'll be working with him in the future, but we were lacking a bit of experience there. Martyn rung me up last night and said he's available.'
Elsewhere, there's a new captain, Ospreys flanker Ryan Jones being named as the man for this 6 Nations tournament.
Cardiff Blues stars who missed out include hookers Gareth Williams, who fully deserves a starting birth let alone a place in the squad and Rhys Thomas, centres Jamie Robinson as well as Daf Hewitt and prop John Yapp.
Young winger Tom James did make the cut, despite missing the last 3 matches with flu.
As ever, there were some debateable inclusions as well, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson and Ian Evans all being off form lately but find themselves in Gatland's squad for the England match.
All together there are just 5 Blues players in the squad, surprising given that Cardiff are the highest place Welsh Magner's League side, and the only Welsh side top of their Heineken Cup group.
Backs;
Lee Bryne, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Mark Jones, Tom James, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Steven Jones, Dwaine Peel, Gareth Cooper and Mike Phillips.
Forwards;
Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Huw Bennett, Matthew Rees, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones. Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Gareth Delve, Alix Popham, Ryan Jones (capt).
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StumbleuponRe: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: maudy (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:14:14:38:46
Dont forget Shanklin - makes it 6 blues in total
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: Alex Breverton (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:14:15:15:25
Wages should be there......he has been the best lock in wales this year
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: JayBlueBear (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:14:17:05:36
o well, wales' loss, blues gain!!!
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: Owen_Blues Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:14:20:38:46
Some very strange decisions!!!!!!!
Gareth williams should definately have made the squad. He's the only welsh hooker who can hit his man in the lineout. Sonny Parker is past it and hewitt or even ashley smith from the dragons should have been given a chance. And as good a player as martyn williams is, Gatland said he was picking him so sowden taylor could learn from him. Has he not realised they play for the same region! Hes done enough learning from him. Just give him a chance to show what hes learnt!
Gareth williams should definately have made the squad. He's the only welsh hooker who can hit his man in the lineout. Sonny Parker is past it and hewitt or even ashley smith from the dragons should have been given a chance. And as good a player as martyn williams is, Gatland said he was picking him so sowden taylor could learn from him. Has he not realised they play for the same region! Hes done enough learning from him. Just give him a chance to show what hes learnt!
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: jenksta (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:14:23:25:39
Quote:Owen_Blues Fan
Some very strange decisions!!!!!!!
Gareth williams should definately have made the squad. He's the only welsh hooker who can hit his man in the lineout. Sonny Parker is past it and hewitt or even ashley smith from the dragons should have been given a chance. And as good a player as martyn williams is, Gatland said he was picking him so sowden taylor could learn from him. Has he not realised they play for the same region! Hes done enough learning from him. Just give him a chance to show what hes learnt!
I personnaly think Williams is too small but he is definatly the form hooker in Wales.
Hewitt isnt quite ready, nor is Ashley Smith. But Jamie Robinson is....
Can see what he is saying about Williams and Sowden Taylor.
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk Admin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:15:12:36:48
Yea, i was gutted for Jamie, he's been in fantastic form defensively, and is always a threat with his face and ability to read a game. Plus, he and shanks run well together.
Hewitt's time will come, but Parkers has come and gone long ago. He's too old and nowhere near good enough, Gatland may as well have called up Alfie and Gareth LLewellyn too.
Must be honest, i'm quite shocked with his first suad announcement, i had imagined a real shake up with lots of new players coming in and rightly so. This team is not the best form players in Wales.
Agree with above, Deiniol jJones has been immense for teh last 2 years, what has he got to do to be called up?
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Hewitt's time will come, but Parkers has come and gone long ago. He's too old and nowhere near good enough, Gatland may as well have called up Alfie and Gareth LLewellyn too.
Must be honest, i'm quite shocked with his first suad announcement, i had imagined a real shake up with lots of new players coming in and rightly so. This team is not the best form players in Wales.
Agree with above, Deiniol jJones has been immense for teh last 2 years, what has he got to do to be called up?
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: Owen_Blues Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:15:17:04:49
With Lee Byrne and parker it seems to me that its a bit of the same old same old. A bit dissapointing really
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: DRY (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:15:22:18:23
CAN U TELL ME WHAT JAMIE ROBINSON HAS DONE THIS SEASON TO DESERVE A PLACE? DONE FIG ALL IMO (SHANKLIN'S ALSO LUCKY WE DON'T HAVE MORE STRENGTH IN DEPTH) !!!!!!!!
REALLY DISAPPOINTED GARETH WILLIAMS DIDN'T GET A SNIFF THOUGH TOGETHER WITH MORGAN STODDART OF THE SCARLETS. OBVIOUSLY GATLAND'S GOT NO INTENTION OF PICKING FORM PLAYERS AT THE MOMENT. LEE BYRNE IS NO MORE THAN A DECENT REGIONAL PLAYER TOO.
FEEL ALSO FOR RST. LOOKS AS IF HE'S BEING BUGG***D ABOUT ALREADY BY THE WELSH COACHES. STRANGE TO SAY THE LEAST.
REALLY DISAPPOINTED GARETH WILLIAMS DIDN'T GET A SNIFF THOUGH TOGETHER WITH MORGAN STODDART OF THE SCARLETS. OBVIOUSLY GATLAND'S GOT NO INTENTION OF PICKING FORM PLAYERS AT THE MOMENT. LEE BYRNE IS NO MORE THAN A DECENT REGIONAL PLAYER TOO.
FEEL ALSO FOR RST. LOOKS AS IF HE'S BEING BUGG***D ABOUT ALREADY BY THE WELSH COACHES. STRANGE TO SAY THE LEAST.
Re: Gatland Announces Wales Squad
Posted by: jenksta (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:01:15:22:58:36
Quote:DRY
CAN U TELL ME WHAT JAMIE ROBINSON HAS DONE THIS SEASON TO DESERVE A PLACE? DONE FIG ALL IMO (SHANKLIN'S ALSO LUCKY WE DON'T HAVE MORE STRENGTH IN DEPTH) !!!!!!!!
REALLY DISAPPOINTED GARETH WILLIAMS DIDN'T GET A SNIFF THOUGH TOGETHER WITH MORGAN STODDART OF THE SCARLETS. OBVIOUSLY GATLAND'S GOT NO INTENTION OF PICKING FORM PLAYERS AT THE MOMENT. LEE BYRNE IS NO MORE THAN A DECENT REGIONAL PLAYER TOO.
FEEL ALSO FOR RST. LOOKS AS IF HE'S BEING BUGG***D ABOUT ALREADY BY THE WELSH COACHES. STRANGE TO SAY THE LEAST.
Jamie has been better than Shanks. So by that desereved a place. I think Williams is too small, but definatly is the form hooker in Wales. Stoddart shouldnt be anywhere near the Wales squad until he learns to defend.
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