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Wales show their hand to face England in Cardiff
By Online Editors
Captain Alun Wyn Jones returns to lead Wales against England in Cardiff on Saturday. Jones will make his 122nd Welsh appearance, his 21st as captain, at Principality Stadium as the two remaining unbeaten teams in the 2019 Six Nations go head-to-head.
Jones will pack down with Cory Hill in the second row with Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty forming the back row. A front row of Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis complete the forwards.
Gareth Davies and Gareth Anscombe are named at half-back with Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies partnering again in the midfield. Josh Adams, George North and Liam Williams make up the back-three. “We are really happy with the experience we have got in the side,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“We have been on the road for the first two weeks. We are looking forward to being back at home and to build on those first two wins and to build on our performance. We’ve had a great two-week lead-up to this game. We’ve looked really sharp and the squad are incredibly motivated to kick on.
“We know how important this game is for the rest of the championship. It's a massive challenge playing against an England team that is playing really well and with a lot of confidence and we’ve got to make it difficult for them on Saturday.
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“We are looking forward to it and we know the Welsh fans are too. It’s going to be a huge weekend in the Six Nations.”
Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis provide Wales’ front row replacements with Adam Beard and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. Aled Davies, Dan Biggar and Owen Watkin provide the backline cover. Samson Lee, Leon Brown and Tomos Williams were not considered due to injury.
WALES TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND
(Saturday, February 23 KO 16:45)
15. Liam Williams (53 Caps)
14. George North (80 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (70 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (12 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (8 Caps)
10. Gareth Anscombe (23 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (38 Caps)
1. Rob Evans (32 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (61 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (37 Caps)
4. Cory Hill (23 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (122 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Josh Navidi (13 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (61 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (28 Caps)
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Elliot Dee (15 Caps)
17. Nicky Smith (25 Caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (9 Caps)
19. Adam Beard (10 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (5 Caps)
21. Aled Davies (13 Caps)
22. Dan Biggar (67 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (10 Caps)
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I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.
I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.
I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.
But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).
Go to commentsAnd a few Australians too ……
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