By Zippy
January 31 2006

Preview of Wales first game in the 2006 RBS Six Nations Championship Grand Slam Defence. They face the old enemy England at “HQ” Twickenham, for team news and opinion read on.

Wales:

 

1. D Jones

2. R Thomas

3. A Jones

4. I Gough

5. R Sidoli

6. C Charvis

7. M Williams

8. M Owen

9. D Peel

10. S Jones

11. S Williams

12. MJ Watkins

13. H Luscombe

14. M Jones

15. G Thomas

 

Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Delve, A Popham , G Cooper, C Sweeney, L Byrne.

 

Zippy on Wales:

 

For readers of the messageboard I predicted this side on Thursday last week (Quick opportunity to blow my own trumpet!).

 

Ruddock has stuck with the tried and tested up front, the hair bear boys are on form and Rhys Thomas is expected to come on leaps and bounds in this championship.

 

At lock we show our lack of depth, Sidoli is not in great form but a shoe in to start and Gough is a 110%er but I’m not sure that he is of international class.

 

The back row is our trump card, Charvis, Nugget and Owen are amongst the best units in the world and complement each other.

 

Half backs world class.

 

Centres, Watkins and Luscombe both unknown at this level, bundles of attacking ability but defence is a worry.

 

Wings, Shane and Mark Jones are 2 of the best finishers in the world, given space and ball England will be in trouble.

 

And our hero at full back.

 

England:

 

15 Josh Lewsey

14 Mark Cueto

13 Jamie Noon

12 Mike Tindall

11 Ben Cohen

10 Charlie Hodgson

9 Harry Ellis

1 Andy Sheridan

2 Steve Thompson

3 Matt Stevens

4 Steve Borthwick

5 Danny Grewcock

6 Joe Worsley

7 Lewis Moody

8 Martin Corry (Capt)

 

Replacements: Lee Mears, Julian White, Simon Shaw, Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Andy Goode, Tom Voyce

 

Zippy on England:

 

Right I’m going to be really complementary as they did so well in the AIs………….. Yeah right!!!!

 

Back 3 is good and larger than Wales, which is a general theme throughout the side, Cueto, Cohen and Lucy are capable of finishing but will they get the ball?

 

Centres have had much said about them and I may as well repeat it, Tindall is a player who hasn’t moved on since 2003 and is the same crash bang merchant and Noon is kind of making the numbers up.

 

Half backs, to be fair Hogson is the best 10 going into the championship and will want to make up for last season. Ellis hasn’t as yet performed at this level.

 

Back row is a bunch of tractors, Worsley might play but you won’t see him, Moody will end up in the bin and Corry will carry straight and hard all day.

 

Can’t be bothered to comment on the front 5, big and direct is a general fit.

 

Prediction:

 

England will have a plan A, it revolves around a solid kicking game, forward and possession dominance.

 

So for Wales they know what is coming but the question is will they be able to do anything about it?

 

Ruddock has selected a very positive backline and resisted temptation to go with size, I’m positive that given enough ball we’ll outscore England.

 

Wales by 5-10.