As you said, the wing position is hotly contested by Watson, Nowell, May, Seymour, North and L.Williams its hard to see why you would take him. I know the first two haven’t played in a few weeks but Nowell looked almost back to his best against Bordeaux, hes so threatening with ball in hand.

I also think North is one who is in purely on reputation. Yes on his day he is a beast but when was the last time we really saw that? His defence is very suspect for someone that big and he doesn’t offer much in the air either.

But it is all down to who WG/RH chooses. A larger contingent of out of form players will surely be chosen so as not to dampen moral of the national side.

Agreed. Halfpenny is much over-hyped! He might be indispensable to Wales and Toulon but the Lions have other options (Hogg, Kierney).
Winger berths wrapped up by other faster players too (North – concussions permitting – Watson and even Nowell) I don’t think 1/2 penny is a serious option at wing to put fear into the ABs.
Kicking duties are covered IMO by Ford and Farrell.
However with it being a Gatland/Howley coaching axis who knows!

AWJ is a good player but is suffering due to the amount of quality competition in the second row. He should tour but will probably be a mid week player
Webb is in a similar boat but if he has a good 6N could easily move up the pecking order to the bench (Murray will start)
Faletau and Moriarty have a chance to stake a claim with Billy injured for the 6N but again backrow is a hotly contested position
L.Williams I would have in the starting line up as he is a class player
As you say 1/2p was skilled attacker but he is horribly out of form and 2011 is a long time ago
North is also out of form and has been since that head knock in 6N having more concussion issues is only going to cause him more issues so currently I wouldn’t take him.

AWJ, Faletau, Webb, Moriarty, L.Williams should all go but if Wales perform well in the 6N it might all change

The Welsh i’d take with me who are in contention for a starting berth – AWJ (and that isnt a shoe in).

The Welsh i’d take on tour – Webb, L Williams, Faletau, Moriarty, 1/2P.

1/2P to cover wing primarily – but can cover FB. I know he isn’t popular on this site but he is a skillful attacker at wing (see highlights 2008 – 2011) (Gatland has ruined him to be fair).

As a side note the welsh back 3 should’ve been North, L Williams, 1/2P for some time now – and Cuthbert dropped. This is what is so irritating about Wales. Gatland/Howley a shocking choice but at least you only have to put up with it for a month – we’ve got this shower until 2019 at the minimum.

Note on Moriarty – i think he would make cracking mid week fodder.
Again when it comes to Wales, it should be Moriarty, Faletau, Warbs/Tips depending on opposition and Lydiate dropped. Moriarty does everything he does (better), plus carry.

Who i think will go:

Roberts, JD2, Warburton, Faletau, Webb, AWJ, 1/2P, North

Yes George has been the form hooker in club rugby in Europe now for a couple years, and should go too, but Hartley is right in the mix.

Cole as well has a great work rate, which will be vital for the way we will need to play in NZ. That has him edge ahead of Nel for the bench spot for me.

Watch some of the highlights of Wales’ summer tour in NZ to see how he absolutely carved the ABs open at times. Not something I can see either Maitland or Seymour doing

Was Kearney injured for a while? I think Zebo was playing 15 occasionally. If RK keeps up his performances I would have no problem with him going.

I think HP along with a few others are only still in contention based on reputation (some of which is unfounded).

I like Williams as a player (as a person not so much) but don’t think he gets in ahead of the above.