Wales V S. Africa

After much banter in the Kuwait golf club last weekend mainly by S. Africans giving me a hard time on how much of a drumming they are going to give us this weekend i proceeded to kick **** in the golf and take their money off them in a skins competition much to thier anoyance. In the bar afterwards they were trying to make me bet the 50 quid i had just taken off them against the rugby result this weekend. Now as most would know me as a gambling man I turned down their offer of odds of 2/1 for a welsh victory and kept my stash.

Mistake or not. Im not sure, havnt seen much of the club rugby, but it looks like the welsh clubs are not playing to well at the moment from the results ive seen. Have we got a full team for Sat? Ive heard they have some injuries to key players but am not sure.

Can any one enlighten me.

Any way what ever happens kick off is 6pm out here just hoping to take another 50 off em in the golf skins before the match, if i do then may be i will take their 2/1 skinny odds though.

Well Sox's although their will be many new faces and returning faces too with much to prove prior to 6 nations, I would agree 2/1 is a bit skinny either push for 5s or 2s with a 10 point lead?

If they are truly world champions then they should go for that, but the way things are at club level its just as well your golf is in top form M8:yes:

Good Luck

Barry

Sox the team as not been annouced yet but i think Gav Henson is back in the fold and i dont think there is a place for Gareth Thomas, the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues have been playing some good rugby, but not quiet to their full potential, lets hope that Warren Gatland can give Wales his 1st win

......Also members of the Forum out here in Cyprus the Red Draon will be open Timings TBC keep ur eye out for details Part ones.

The Team

Stoddart set for Wales debut
20 November 2007, 1:00 pm
By WRU

Morgan Stoddart will make his Wales debut in the Prince William Cup match against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (Kick-Off 2.45pm).
WRU Audio: Nigel Davies on Wales v South Africa team selection
WRU Audio: New cap Morgan Stoddart talks about winning his first cap

The 23-year-old Llanelli Scarlets full back joins an exciting ‘new look’ national team which includes three other players yet to reach double figures in appearances; Dragons prop Rhys Thomas (2), Ospreys lock Ian Evans (7) and Blues back-row forward Robin Sowden-Taylor (4).

Stoddart figures in an otherwise experienced back line which features recalled Osprey Gavin Henson, who forms a familiar centre partnership with regional colleague Sonny Parker. Mark Jones (Scarlets) and Tom Shanklin (Blues) take up position on the wings with Ospreys fly-half James Hook partnering Scarlets scrum-half Dwayne Peel. Fellow Scarlet Stephen Jones takes up a place on the bench making Peel now the most senior back in the starting XV boasting 58 caps.

In the back row Colin Charvis will make his 94th Welsh appearance alongside Blues specialist openside flanker Sowden-Taylor and the Osprey’s Jonathan Thomas at No.8. Another Ospreys partnership is re-united in the second row with Alun Wyn-Jones partnering Ian Evans. New Wales Captain and Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins joins the South African-born Thomas to pack down either side of Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett.

“We’ve had our hand forced a little in the backs with injuries to both Lee Byrne and Jamie Robinson ruling them out of contention, but the result is a pretty exciting new look backline which I’m sure can make South Africa stand up and take notice,” said Davies.

“Morgan has been in a rich vein of form of late and if he can retain his composure in what will surely be a cauldron atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium and allow his talent to show through then he could make quite a debut. All the fans will notice that Gavin is back and his partnership with both James Hook and Sonny Parker at the Ospreys has been going well of late which is the main reason for going with that combination.

“We will rely on the experience which Dwayne Peel brings to the side, Tom Shanklin remains a threat wherever you play him and Mark Jones is another who has been playing well.

“Up front we have a similar mix of youth, talent and experience with Gethin (Jenkins) already making an impact off the pitch as team captain and Colin Charvis looking like he can go on forever at the moment. Robin (Sowden-Taylor) features as a specialist in his position which we feel is necessary to combat the physicality of the Springbok pack and he offers a streetwise nature which is beyond his years and international experience which players in Wales will know all about.

“We have a big second row with Alun (Wyn Jones) and Ian (Evans) giving a nice balance to the team and we are pleased with the way Huw (Bennett) has performed at regional level.

“That just leaves Rhys (Thomas) at prop who will very much relish the opportunity to turn out against the country of his birth and show his talents. We also have a strong bench with both Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones able to come on and make an impact and maybe change the way we are playing if necessary.

"Tom James offers us a great deal of pace if we need to call upon it and Alix Popham personifies the word ‘impact’ for those who know him. We are facing the current world champions and it’s obviously a tough prospect, but we are playing at home in front of a baying crowd of Welsh fans and we have a magnificent opportunity to make a statement that will reverberate around world rugby, this Wales team is good enough to do something special on Saturday.”

Ticket sales are going well for the inaugural Prince William Cup match between Wales and South Africa. If you want to be part of a very special occasion then tickets are available from the WRU Ticket Shop (98, St Mary Street), on-line at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ (shortcut www.wru.co.uk/pwctickets) or by calling Ticketmaster on 08705 582 582. Tickets are priced at £20, £40, £45, £50 and £60 for this unique match against the reigning World Champions.

Wales: Morgan Stoddart; Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin; James Hook, Dwayne Peel: Gethin Jenkins (Capt), Huw Bennett, Rhys Thomas, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Colin Charvis, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Jonathan Thomas

Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, Duncan Jones, Luke Charteris, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Tom James

cheers beef, would much prefer to be in the dragon as its dry out yer, hope you have a good day

Hope you all had a good day in the dragon or what ever drinking establishment you watched the game in.
Ok another uninspiring performance, but nice to see the amount of possesion we had, although they have to learn to do some thing with it and take the chances especialy set peice in the 22. On the posotive side some good performances from the new lads and no better way to break them in than against the world champions. Can handle grief off the S. African guys but not the english they started yesterday in the club but we will see on the 2nd Feb. And to any golfers out there i did win the skins again but refrained from gambling it on the match.