The Big Prize

By Craig Muncey
August 28 2015

Prior to the final warm up match before the 31 man World Cup squad is selected, thought I would share with you an article I wrote the day after the first Ireland match this summer with my own World Cup squad, and the rationale behind my selections.    

BACK THREE

Halfpenny and North, barring injury, we know are certainties, however, Saturday threw up a few questions, in particular on the wings, for a final 31 man squad. Hallam Amos is a good footballer, did some decent things and has the versatility to play right across the back three, so in my view makes the squad. Rhys Patchell, a very talented rugby player who played full back for Cardiff Blues last season but, in my opinion, his best position is 10, has had no game time with Wales, and even if plays some role in Dublin at the end of the month I cannot see how breaks into squad. Liam Williams if fit makes the squad but only if definitely fit; if not I would select Matthew Morgan, who in broken play is a real danger and injects speed into the game.

Alex Cuthbert scored a try, but is a concern in defence and not in the form he was prior to the 2013 British Lions. Eli Walker looked sharp in attack, however, he was turned over for Keith Earls try, but did look comfortable on the international stage and made some tackles and would make my squad.

Back Three - Halfpenny, Williams, Amos, North and Walker

CENTRES

I am really worried by the lack of depth at international level in this position. Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams, again barring injuries, are certainties. Tyler Morgan is a player of real promise, today in a poor side mind, but he made some handling errors and putting a young kid into a World Cup worries me. Jack Dixon is a big strong abrasive centre, similar in style to Roberts. Morgan can only play 13 and Dixon can only play 12 in my view. The other option is Cory Allen, unseen today, but he can play 12 or 13, has good size along with good handling skills. He did not have a great season for Cardiff Blues last season, but for me, with the thin cover at centre, I would take him; I just hope he gets game time in the next two matches. As I said, centre is a worry, but I would have George North as cover, plus potentially another option.

Centres - Williams, Roberts and Allen

FLY HALVES

Biggar and Priestland in my view are certainties, which I believe leaves a shoot out between Anscombe and Hook. Hook struggled today in a poor side with no platform; Anscombe, when he came on, played flat, which Gatland likes, plus made some kicks and one long pass for Cuthbert's try. Anscombe was brought over by Gatland and the WRU and there is no doubt they want him in the World Cup, so he will likely go. However this article is about my squad, and I would take Hook. For me, with the weaknesses at centre, I see very little difference between the pair currently at 10 and would go with Hook to give me a better balance.

Fly Halves - Biggar, Priestland and Hook

SCRUM HALVES

Rhys Webb is a certainty. I thought Mike Phillips did ok bearing in mind was playing behind a pack of forwards who in the first half were getting smashed, he showed his experience, not throwing bad ball out and taking responsibility with some good defensive touch finders, I would take him. Lloyd Williams looked sharp in his cameo role and has picked up his game in recent months. Gareth Davies has had recent injuries but is a real try threat and a danger around the fringes and has a decent service.

Scrum Halves - Webb, Phillips and Davies

PROPS

Gethin Jenkins is a certainty and, if fit, Samson Lee, who has become vital to this team. Paul James is a strong, reliable scrummager who can play loose and tighthead. At loosehead, Nicky Smith is highly rated, but in matches for Wales he looks raw and undersized currently. I would select Rob Evans, who looks to be a stronger ball carrier and has more presence than Smith. At tighthead, we have yet to see Tomas Francis at international level but he has done well for Exeter and, based on his competition, Aaron Jarvis and Scott Andrews, neither of whom is up to playing top level international rugby, I would take him even without seeing him at international level. He has done a job in the Aviva Premiership, and that's good enough for me.

Props - Jenkins, Evans, James, Lee and Francis

HOOKERS

Scott Baldwin has leapt to the front of the queue after a strong Six Nations and will make squad. Ken Owens is viewed as a great option off the bench and will also make the squad. This leaves a shootout between Richard Hibbard and Kristian Dacey. Hibbard gets the nod for me; two years ago he was regarded as one of the best hookers in the world, is still a big ball carrier and strong in defence, even if not at the same form as of then. Dacey is still learning the hooker role and has time on his side.

Hookers - Baldwin, Owens and Hibbard

LOCKS

Alun Wyn Jones is a certainty and vital to this squad. Luke Charteris also is a certainty. Jake Ball was a regular until after the Six Nations match against England, however, he is a strong presence and good in the tight. Bradley Davies is a good ball carrier, arguably stronger in the lineout than Ball, and I am a big fan of the player; he has real physicality. My worry is the 5 shirt: bar Alun Wyn, there are not many middle lineout jumpers, they are all frontline. Dominic Day, started well on Saturday; a few lineout wins, made some decent tackles and is a lively outsider. However, my choice would be James King - he can play 5 and also 6, is a good athlete and gives it his all.

Locks - Wyn Jones, Charteris, Davies and King

BACK ROW

Dan Lydiate, Taulupe Faletau and Sam Warburton, the British and Irish Lions back row in 2013 are all certainties, as is Justin Tipuric, a superbly talented footballer who I would love to be seen tried in the centre at some point - if England can consider Sam Burgess, then why not? His best work is out in the loose, and his hands, footballing brain and pace could be a real asset.  So that is four places, leaving one slot. Dan Baker is a strong ball carrying 8, however, he did not have a great end to last season and looked sluggish against Ireland, making little impact. Ross Moriarty can play 6 or 8, is a strong ball carrier, as per Baker, but can play two positions. Against Ireland he picked up a yellow card and there was one sloppy ball carry which resulted in a turnover, so he needs to be careful, however, for me, he has the edge on Baker.

Back Row - Lydiate, Faletau, Warburton, Tipuric and Moriarty

So my 31 man Welsh squad is the following:

Backs (14)

L Halfpenny, L Williams, H Amos, G North, E Walker, S Williams, J Roberts, C Allen, D Biggar, R Priestland, J Hook, R Webb, M Phillips, G Davies

Forwards (17)

G Jenkins, P James, R Evans, S Lee, T Francis, S Baldwin, K Owens, R Hibbard, AW Jones, L Charteris, B Davies, J King, D Lydiate, R Moriarty, T Faletau, J Tipuric, S Warburton.

Thoughts? What would be your squad?