Wales Announce 6 Nations Squad

The Phantom

Here's Gatlands first squad:

Backs: Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Tom James (Cardiff Blues), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), James Hook (Ospreys), Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester).

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Delve (Gloucester), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt)

I’m very happy with the make up of the squad, a nice blend of youth and experience. Jamie Roberts is the only uncapped player in the squad, and I’m thrilled for him. He totally deserves his place, he’s been playing well all season playing at both full back and wing. It’ll be nice to see someone I’ve played with get an international chance.

As for the rest of the backs, we finally have some genuine pace with our wingers, and it looks as though Gatland isn’t going to follow the fad set by other coaches and play centres on the wing. Henson looks like he’s being lined up as a centre, and hopefully we’ll see him and Shanklin form a formidable partnership in the middle of midfiled. For me Sonny Parker goes missing far too often in games, so he’s likely to miss out on a starting spot. Jones and Hook will battle for the outside half berth. I expect Jones to get the nod ahead of Hook, purely because of experience. Hook hasn’t been playing too well as of late, and it’ll do him good to enhance his knowledge in the international arena. Peel and Phillips will have an almighty battle for the scrum half position. Peel hasn’t been playing up to his usual high standards this season, but then again Phillips has been playing second fiddle to Justin Marshall at the Ospreys. I think Gatland will go with Phillips though – he gives Wales something different.

Hugely surprised to see Martyn Williams back in the squad, but nevertheless please he is. Wales are short of openside flankers, and with Williams’ replacement Sowden-Taylor playing understudy to him at regional level, Gatland had to persuade Martyn Williams to rethink his ‘retirement’. It’s nice to see that a coach is the one who asks the player to reconsider his decision, and not the player changing his mind.

Happy to see Ryan Jones installed as the new captain. I’m sure he’ll have the job for years to come. Peel and Jones are not guaranteed their starting places, so they were ruled out. Front Row is not the ideal place to captain a side from, so Gethin Jenkins got ruled out there, and Alun Wyn Jones is still young, so the pressure of captaincy for him might have affected the way he’d develop. Jonathan Thomas was probably unlucky to not get it, but I’m sure he’ll be an able deputy if the time comes.

I’m a little surprised Colin Charvis wasn’t included, but with a new coach sees new ways, and it’s time for him to step aside for the younger generation.

Tyler Durden

I'm surprised Williams reneged on his retirment. I'm sure you're pleased he did!

On paper it's a reasonable set of players, and with Gatland in charge he could do something with them.

The Welsh players have a lot of talent, regretably though, a stinking attitude for the last couple of years or so.

The Phantom

With Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley in charge now, hopefully those attitudes will be long gone. I'm not expecting anything big this season. 2 home wins against Scotland and Italy is a must, then 3 big performances against England, Ireland and France - one of which a win, that would be acceptable as the new coaching set up get familiar with the players. It'll also take a few games for Gatland to stamp his authority on the team. Scrum and Lineouts must be on the top of his to do list.

Tyler Durden

I agree. Attitude and mindset are the Welsh problems (even more so than those amongst the basics in the forwards). If Gatland can't improve them in those areas, then no one can.