OK, more time for a better response!
Loosehead Prop:
Gethin Jenkins has had the jersey on whenever fit. His move to Toulon did him no favours last year, and poor performances in November and early Six Nations led to questions over his continued selection. By the end of the Six Nations, however, he was certainly our first choice loosehead, and an unfortunate injury prevented him from appearing in what would have been his third Lions tour. He is the wrong side of thirty, and has a very good chance of becoming the most capped Welsh international by the end of 2014. By RWC2015, he will be 34, still an acceptable age for a prop, but undoubtedly in need of a backup.
Paul James has been the go to reserve prop since 2009. Since earning his second cap, in 2009, he appeared in possibly every Welsh test until the World Cup in 2011. He is a potent loosehead scrummager, and always a viable option along with Jenkins. He is 18 months younger than Jenkins, and has gone from strength to strength, from being a cornerstone in the Ospreys Magners/Pro12 winning side to a valuable member of a promising Bath side. Undoubtedly in the 23 when fit.
Who to come into the side?
Ryan Bevington must hold a record for appearances in the usual 'who do you want to see improve' preseason thread. His 'slim' figure allows explosive pace on the field, but questions over his scrummaging persist. He has yet to truly stake a claim for the Osprey loosehead jersey left by Paul James, only wearing it due to lack of other options.
Rhys Gill offers more reliability in the scrum, but is marred by a higher penalty count when playing. He will continue to compete with English loosehead Mako Vunipola at the Saracens, where he is less exposed to the Welsh coaching staff than his region-based rivals.
Rhodri Jones has appeared as a tighthead for Wales with little success. He must only been seen as a loosehead, and not in an international sense for a good while. He will, however, have recent U20 prop
Rob Evans hot on his heels in Llanelli, meaning the Aberystwyth-born prop must stake his claim or risk being forgotten for club and country.
Tighthead Prop:
Adam Jones really needs no discussion. The only issue this prop really faces his his age. Unlikely to feature much beyond 2015, he will leave probably the largest hole in the Welsh team (and team photo).
Craig Mitchell has been the go-to replacement for Adam. He was his understudy for many years while at the Ospreys, before moving to Exeter in 2011. Usually reliable, he was part of a Welsh pack shifted with ease by Japan in June. He was recently given a suspended sentence for assault while in Australia, making 2013 a summer to forget for the prop. Ignoring the Japanese fixture as an anomaly, he is still likely the bench replacement for Adam Jones, and the most likely to stand in should something happen to the darker hair bair brother.
Scott Andrews has been involved in most Welsh squads since initial selection in Autumn 2010, but his caps have been few and forgettable. A member of a poor Blues pack, he has has his work cut out from day one. Recently he has shown some improvement while on Wales duty. He will be joined up front in the capital by Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees, who could give Scott some much-needed support.
Much has been made of
Samson Lee since the 2012 U20 championship, but it would be unfair to truly consider him for Wales while he is an infrequent starter for his club. He will continue to compete with South African Jacobie Adriaanse at Parc y Scarlets.
Aaron Jarvis earned a few caps for Wales in November 2012 before suffering an injury ruling him out until the 2013/14 season. He has been an reliable replacement for Adam Jones for the Ospreys, and likely to further feature for Wales. A solid performance against Argentina was followed by a shambles of a display by the entire pack against Samoa. Unfair to drop based on that display.
Hooker: Lion
Richard Hibbard is likely to wear the 2 shirt in the Autumn, unless things change. A 'rebirth' for the Ospreys has led to a resurrection of a stalled Welsh career. While not young, Wales can except him to remain playing up to and probably after 2015. I'll go out and say that lineouts are not his strong point, but he is the best available. Besides, if we were to judge Welsh hookers on throwing-in, we would play with 7 in the pack...
Ken Owens was probably a hair away from Lions selection. The best candidate to replace Dylan Hartley was injured before the party left for Australia. A leading role in the Scarlets pack, with predecessor Rees moving east, has given Owens a chance to have a clear run. He will push Richard all the way for Wales, a welcome bit of competition for what was once a problem position.
Matthew Rees is in the twilight of a distinguished career; a powerful role in two Grand Slams, with a Lions tour between the two. He could very likely fill in when needed, but it will be between his former understudy Owens, and Richard Hibbard to fight for the starting role.
Emyr Phillips, the third Scarlet hooker, had what was frankly a terrible tour to Japan. I really can't see him getting any further caps unless he has a Hibbard-esque revival.
Scott Baldwin, much like Ken Owens to Matthew Rees, has served under Richard Hibbard for the Ospreys for three seasons. A unusually tall hooker, standing 6'3", his appearances for the Ospreys have varied greatly. Mistake-strewn performances are mixed with promising cameos off the bench, showing that he has a ways to go before becoming a truly reliable replacement for his club, let alone squadmember for his country.
Sam Parry was in the mix for the Japan tour, but ultimately failed to travel. The retirement of Lloyd Burns and Steve Jones mean that Rodney Parade is in need for a first choice hooker. The young forward, who joined the Dragons from the Scarlets academy must compete with former prop Hugh Gustafson and former Wales international and recent signing T Rhys Thomas. I see Parry as the long-term solution for the Dragons, and ultimately a Welsh international. I really can't comment on the Blues hookers, as they rotate far too much to really gain anything. Rhys Williams was notable U20 player a few years back, but seen little time for the Blues, being behind aforementioned Thomas and retired Gareth Williams in the past, as well as new Blues staffmember Andy Kyriacou, Melbourne Rebel Ryan Tyrrell, and fellow rotated forward Kristian Dacey.
My hands are tired, we will talk second and back row later.
Here is Adam Jones with another funny face, give me rep, as if you needed another incentive to.
God I hope I am still logged in.
Second Row:
Alun Wyn Jones, for many years, has been tipped as the next so-and-so, but ultimately failed to live up to his (over)hype. Until now, I say. He has always been a reliable second row, but we all wanted him to reach that top level. His performances for the Lions were the best I have ever seen a Welsh second row play. Absolutely dominant, and took the leadership role with both hands. Starts when fit, and I'd consider him as one of our leaders.
Ian Evans was another who we all had high hopes for, but frankly awful injuries set him back as he looked to establish himself post 2008 Grand Slam. He spent three years in a state between injured and appearing for the Ospreys performing at a dubious level. When called up to fill in for injured Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris in 2012, he came in all guns blazing. He has been a shoo-in for the second row, and can feel hard done by to not get a Lions cap. When fit, he should start alongside regional partner Jones.
Bradley Davies was our next young second row, once Ian Evans entered his injury stage. He really made a name for himself in 2010, ousting Ian Gough and Deiniol Jones. Ever since his ban in the 2012 Six Nations, however, he has failed to recapture that form. Named captain for the Japan tour, Davies (although no where near the worst in the pack) did not look convincing enough to push Jones and Evans yet. He must step it up for the Blues in the week before the Autumn series is he hopes to reclaim a starring role for Wales.
Luke Charteris, dismissed by many as a tall lad and having no other attributes, proved many wrong in RWC2011. His workrate set him apart, looking in many respects, a new player. Injuries and a move to France have sent the former Dragons captain into the wilderness. Perhaps a move back to Wales could do him some good. When fit, however, he still delivers for Wales, quickly returning to the 23 during the 2012 Six Nations.
Lou Reed has been the fifth second row for quite a while, and that frightens me. I feel bad continually dismissing him, but his repeated selection is simply unmerited. He displayed no significant attributes, neither in the tight nor loose.
Andrew Coombs filled in admirably for Wales during the 2013 injury crisis alongside once-capped Olly Kohn. It is evident that he is a better option in the backrow, but he is likely to continue his stint in the second row for club, and unlikely to feature on the flanks for his country. The Blues U20 trio of
Macauley Cook, Cory Hill, and
Matthew Screech were expected to have some success, but have all moved on in some respect. Cook has featured on the blindside for the Blues, while Screech has made a move east to the Dragons/Bedwas, and Hill leaving Wales.
James Down is unlikely to reach national selection, facing regional competition from Davies, Reed, and Filo Paulo.
James King and
Lloyd Peers both went through the youth system as second rows, but King has recently found success on the flanks. Peers, while a bit shorter than most second rows, has shown up well for the Ospreys when needed, and taken over from Ian Gough as the backup to Jones and Evans. He will, however, struggle to make a name for himself behind the two starting second rows. Perhaps a move to Gwent could help...
Blindside Flanker: We are lucky to have some quality players available here, namely
Dan Lydiate and
Ryan Jones. Lydiate has been preferred lately, offering simply unbeatable tackling. His biggest criticism is lack of carrying, but it is difficult to tell as to whether or not he is simply playing under orders. Ryan Jones offers a great amount of leadership in the pack, as well as the ability to play second row and number 8. Certainly worth keeping in the 23.
Josh Turnbull has played at blindside flank for Wales before, but honestly has done little to stand out. His regional competitor
Aaron Shingler is also an option, possessing incredible pace but his leaner physique is not of much use to the current Welsh game plan. I don't even want to consider
Rob McCusker.
I consider
Andries Pretorius more of a blindside than 8. His form is varied, normally a reliable figure for the Cardiff Blues, but badly lacking for Wales in Japan.
Lewis Evans could feel hard done by. He is at a disadvantage playing for Newport Gwent, but his regional form is almost always of a higher quality than the likes of Turnbull and McCusker.
Openside Flanker: A massive source of debate. Captain
Sam Warburton boasts a grand slam and Lions win in less than two years since being named RWC2011 skipper. He offers excellent defence and physicality around the field.
Justin Tipuric is a more open field player, showing his pace for the Ospreys on numerous occasions. I consider him a 'scrappier' player, not afraid of the dirty/illegal work that top opensides excel at. He is my preference for the future.
Daniel Thomas could very likely join these two soon. The Scarlet openside is more Tipuric than Warburton, but must bulk up and establish himself in Llanelli first.
Ellis Jenkins, while playing 8 for U20, does seem to be more in the mold of an openside. He must compete with
Josh Navidi to be understudy to Sam Warburton. I am not fully convinced by Navidi's long term international outlook. I feel that he lacks the physical side needed to fully compete.
Number 8:
Toby Faletau. Great and always improving. Ryan Jones has played 8, but should only be considered on the blindside. Same goes for Pretorius and McCusker.
Dan Baker looked decent against Japan, but I feel that
Ieuan Jones is the best prospect right now. The Newport Gwent backrower excelled while Toby was away. Offers a good carrying game, he will improve being around Toby. Baker must compete with former Gwent-bred 8 (they all are...)
Morgan Allen. Allen's fitness seems to be his biggest detractor, sometimes looking too large for his height.
Luke Hamilton should see more time at 8 for the Blues, a position many wanted for Japan-bound
Gareth Delve.
