The Number Game

The Problem With Film Ratings

"A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers". The wit and wisdom of Mr Plato there. While, in the context I'm about to plonk the quote into, it's most certainly true, I think it's worth defending numbers. I always have been, always am and always shall be a hater of maths. I just can't get my head around it. However, statistics, I like. Percentages, scores out of 10, population sizes, that kind of thing. Essentially, it's a fact, boiled down into three characters. It's just the essentials. While you need to assess the necessary knowledge first, you should be thankful for the number that gives you a clearer, purer understanding of the facts.

The context I was referring to was review scores. If you hadn't figured that out, please re-read the first paragraph with this in mind, then move on to the next one where I actually start talking sense.

The Wales Autumn Squad will be...

This is a prediction. Let's see how I've done in a few hours time.

Gethin Jenkins
Ryan Bevinton
Paul James
Adam Jones
Samson Lee
Rhys Gill
Alun Wyn Jones
Ian Evans
Bradley Davies
Luke Charteris
Ryan Jones
Sam Warburton
Justin Tipuric
Toby Faletau
Josh Navidi
Rob McCusker

Mike Phillips
Lloyd Williams
Tavis Knoyle
Dan Biggar
Rhys Priestland
James Hook
George North
Alex Cuthbert
Tom Prydie
Jamie Roberts
Jonathan Davies
Scott Williams
Ashley Beck
Leigh Halfpenny
Liam Williams

Talking points- No captain named, Prydie recalled, new call-ups for uncapped player Navidi & Lee, no place for Byrne, Henson. 31 man squad. That's what it'll be.

The Lions Squad - 13th October

Over a month has passed since I last tried to pick a Lions squad. As such, here's my team. Seeing as it's Heineken Cup weekend (Quins are playing Biarritz as I write this) it means that we've had the first lot of test-intensity games, so there should be some sort of idea of how players'll cope and all that. Oh, and I'm not going to look at my previous squad whilst I pick the 38 this time around, but it may be worth comparing afterwards.

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ross Ford
3. Adam Jones
4. Richie Gray
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sam Warburton
8. Sean O'Brien

9. Tavis Knoyle
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. George North
12. Jonathan Davies
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tim Visser
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Rory Best
17. Cian Healey
18. Ryan Jones
19. Justin Tipuric
20. Ben Youngs
21. Dan Biggar
22. Tommy Bowe

23. Dan Cole
24. Mike Ross
25. Richard Hibbard
26. Alastair Kellock
27. Ian Evans
28. Toby Faletau
29. Ben Morgan
30. David Denton
31. Tom Croft
32. Mike Phillips
33. Jonny Wilkinson
34. Alex Cuthbert
35. Jamie Roberts
36. Stuart Hogg
37. Rob Kearney
38. Ben Foden

My favourite player XV

I was thinking about this earlier. So now I'll do it and publish it. All this blog seems to be is listed XVs and film-based rambles, but it's my blog, and I'll do as I like.

15. Lucas Gonzales Ammorisino
14. Hanno Dirksen
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Ashley Beck
11. George North
10. Tommy Bowe, because he's my favourite player and there are no 10s I particuarly like, (Sorry Biggar, sorry Priestland) so instead want an extra winger. So there.
9. Will Genia

1. Duncan Jones
2. Ken Owens
3. Adam Jones
4. Richie Gray
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Ryan Jones
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Sergio Parrisse

-Bench-
16. Richard Hibbard
17. Ronnie Roncero
18. Ian Evans
19. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
20. Morgan Parra
21. Aaron Cruden
22. Juan Jose Imhoff

+ Tomaso Benvenutti

Well there you go. Some players what I like. That's not all of them, but some of them. One day I'll probably just do a Top 50 players or something. That'd be fun. But not fun right now.