I think we could all guess what Dai's team will be and perhaps that's not a bad thing as it's perhaps not the game for gambles, given it's significance. However, clearly something has to change to spark new life into us. I wouldn't completely drop the 'out of form stars' as I agree with others stating they bring so much expeirience to the side. The one i would drop though is Daly. I'm a massive fan of his and am still gutted he's off. However, he's simply not offered us anything of note in recent games. So for me, JdJ should start ahead of him.
Its brilliant to have the backrow selection headache that we've not had in months. For this, fitness must play a factor and anyone not at 100% shouldn't be in the 23, not when we have options. I'm a Brad shields fan... I know he's not hit his strides with us yet and people remain unconvinced. However, I think he brings a physicality to the backrow and destructive tackling that we got from Hask in his prime. Plus, he's a leader and has a calm head on him.
I know the A Team game has got everyone excited (myself included!) with not only bringing another W, but showing what our youngsters can do. I was the most excited I'd been all season reading the match report form the Leicest game last weekend! However, i'm not sure this crunch game is the one to blood them in. Win this and then I think we shoukd start introducing them.
With the above reasoning, I would go with....
15 - Willie
14 - Watson
13 - Neal
12 - JdeJ
11 - Bassett
10 - Lima
9 - Simmo
8 - Hughes
7 - YY (not convinced Willis is fit, but would take one of him or YY)
6 - Shields
5 - Gaskell
4 - Launchbury
3 - Jake
2 - Cruse
1 - ZZ
16 - Taylor
17 - Chesty (If fit)
18 - Brookes (If fit, Stuart if not)
19 - Rowlands
20 - Carr (tough call leaving one of Willis or YY out, but i think it will come down to fitness with them)
21 - Porter
22 - Umaga (Not been at the A Team games, but sounds like a Cips style flyhalf so potentially a game charger for us)
23 - Miller