World Cup Knockout 23?
15 months out, curious what people’s 23 would be for World Cup Knockouts.
I’ll give a current shot, but it’ll certainly change and I’m surely wrong at plenty.
1- Carré
2- Lake (c)
3- Francis
4- Jenkins
5- Carter
6- Botham
7- Morgan
8- Wainwright
9- Williams
10- Costelow
11- Adams
12- James
13- Hennessy
14- Mee
15- Murray
16- Elias
17- Smith
18- Warren
19- Williams
20- Faletau
21- Hardy
22- Evans
23- Bradley
Notes:
Order of Smith/Carre at LH depends on team, the former a destructive scrummager and the latter an explosive carrier.
I like Lake at Captain; exceptional rapport with the sir plus Jac still gets the final 30 as captain
Mann hard done to not get in, Botham has a bit more size and is stronger at protecting the breakdown. Faletau for the final 20.
Costelow and Edwards are both superb, and even better they’re different styles so we’re honestly blessed in the 10 department. Costy chosen because his structure may get more out of the centers, but Dan an excellent pick. Jarrod meanwhile has shown pedigree as a specialist finisher.
Hennessy not a lot of test time, but him and James in the centers is too tempting not to throw out. Same logic for Bradley at 23.
Quietly think what could benefit Wales the best is a real playmaking 15. Murray is terrific X factor, though can leave us lacking under the high ball, but also not quite the dual playmaker despite his youth as a 10. A true Jack Walsh type 15 could take loads of pressure off the 12 in Sherratt’s dual playmaker system.
Lastly, I quietly think this team has a great makeup, especially our pack which is about settled. Physicality issues are perhaps overblown from constant backfoot ball due to lack of attack cohesion (understandable, focus has been on set piece and scramble defense, still time to iron out attack). I’m cautiously quite optimistic.