Comments on: Lydiate, Roberts and Phillips to move back to Wales this week?

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:59:18 +0000

That is true! It actually wouldn’t surprise me to see him start in the Autumn – with Priestland!

It’ll be madness is Wales don’t pick (and stick with) Biggar and Webb from now until the WC.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:50:47 +0000

For me the key here is that Gats will be directing this so given his previous preferences I’d be expecting him to put the money into Mike. I expect that in Gats opinion Mike would still be in his 22 and therefore in his mind would be one of the best Welsh players.

I know what you mean about Mike’s form but that hasn’t stopped Gats picking him in the past.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:48:04 +0000

Are the central contracts for back up players though? I was under the impression that they’d be used only for keeping you best players in Wales – not for back up players surely?

Agreed his experience may be valuable but I can’t remember the last time I saw him put in a good all round performance for Wales or anyone else.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:27:03 +0000

I think they would, yes. I don’t like the idea of Mike being first choice scrumhalf but he’d definitely be in with a good shout of being the backup guy with his experience. I can see him being contracted by the WRU until the end of the the next world cup. Davies needs more time before we can be sure he’s the right option, especially with the also relatively inexperienced Webb hopefully being the first choice. Mike has often raised his game when playing for Wales, I would say there is a decent 12 months left him yet.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:24:34 +0000

Do you think Gatland/WRU would offer him a dual contract, Brighty, at the age of 32 and with Webb/Davies playing so well? From what I understood from the L’Equipe article, there wasn’t a deal on the table for him. Didn’t say that explicitly, mind.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:22:42 +0000

This would be brilliant if it comes through, just in time for world cup preps for Lydiate/Roberts.

Phillips … agree that it will be hard to see which Welsh team he could go to but the dual contract might help a club take a punt on him as a backup.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:43:03 +0000

Not sure how Philips could return. Would he be someone Wales put on a central contract? Davies and Webb are both better 9s than him now so it would be a strange move.

Lydiate and Roberts are probably more straight forward. Be good for Welsh rugby to see more return.

By: JamesT

JamesT — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:16:12 +0000

As someone who does not watch the Top14, have their performances been so poor that the club is willing to let all three of them go?