Wales Squad Fan Reaction: Robert Rees

The overwhelming reaction on social media at least has been that of an expected starting XV, with no major surprises perhaps on the bench either. Most are happy with the squad considering the injuries and personal reasons for not being able to play.

It is also good to see some fresh names on the bench in Cory Hill and Sam Davies. Despite two new names on the bench, the matchday 23 has a combined 802 caps before this weekend’s tie.

This experience will hopefully be invaluable in keeping calm heads in the times it matters, with Wales infamously losing out to Australia in the last ten or twenty minutes quite a few times in recent history. Wales are on an 11 match losing streak against the Aussies and will be very hard pushed to beat them this time around.

Fans are also pretty happy with Gethin Jenkins as captain in the absence of Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones, but also with the plans to have Leigh Halfpenny kick upon his return over Dan Biggar.

Alex Cuthbert has caused a stir on Twitter on whether he should be in or out of the side, with Hallum Amos also knocking on the door for the starting jersey.

Amos had a decent summer and a great start to this season with the Dragons in attacking form, but has been a defensive liability, especially against the All Blacks in the summer. Cuthbert possesses the threat of a strong ball carrier in midfield and for a winger is surprisingly strong over the ball. To quote a Welsh fan on Twitter, ”he’s a good ball carrier in midfield and strong over the ball.” Overall the view on Cuthbert leans in favour of Amos, although he will be under heavy scrutiny from many after a few lacklustre performances in the Welsh jersey in recent times.

Injuries have forced the Welsh pack to change around a bit in the back row with Taulupe Faletau and Warburton both unavailable through injury. This means that Moriarty goes to number eight with Dan Lydiate returns in the six shirt. The Ospreys flanker has been the one under pressure from fans today on-line with many wanting Moriarty at six and Dan Baker in at eight.

With the opposition being as tough as Australia perhaps starting Evans would have been not such a good thing as putting Moriarty in there, and then bringing in Lydiate on the flank. His form hasn’t been sky high this year and perhaps he is in there only due to injury, but he will have to put in a trademark defensive display with the Aussies expecting to have quite a lot of ball to run at Wales.

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