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Here's a place to discuss the Welsh squad in the run-up to the 6N and WC later next year. Here's my thoughts on how we're shaping up per position.
Loosehead
Rhys Carre, Gareth Thomas, Nicky Smith (Wyn Jones)
I think Gats may go into the 6N with Carre as his first choice looshead. Carre has found a rich vein of form for Cardiff, scrummaging strongly and adding considerable impact around the field. Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith are both performing well at the Ospreys. Wyn Jones will come back into the reckoning if he can stay fit.
Hooker
Dewi Lake, Ken Owens, Bradley Roberts (Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee)
Lake's recent injury is a real shame, as he was quickly rising to become Wales' first choice hooker in time for the WC. I think he's the sort of hooker Gats likes, in the Hibbard mould, someone who can really bring some physicality, even if his throwing can be a little flaky. Ken Owens, recovery from a lengthy lay off has been impressive, I can see him making it till the WC for his swansong. The third hooking berth could be interesting, I'm not a fan of Elias personally, but have been mightily impressed by Roberts for Dragons since arriving from Ulster.
Tighthead
Dillon Lewis, Thomas Francis, Leon Brown (WillGriff John, Harri O'Connor, Sam Wainwright)
Onto our problem position. Dillon Lewis has really pushed on this season to be fair, with his scrummaging a big improvement, so that's a silver lining at least. Thomas Francis looked really poor in the AI's though, really struggling in all aspects. Let's hope that was a blip because we need him at his best to have any hope at the WC, because after those two the cupboard is looking very bare! Brown has all the potential but can't string games together, whilst WillGriff has struggled to get going since moving to the Scarlets - he's started to show signs of form lately though, fingers crossed. Not sure if Wainwright has what it takes after the AI's!
Second Row
AWJ, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Christ Tshiunza (Dafydd Jenkins, Rhys Davies, Ben Carter, Seb Davies)
So, the big question, will AWJ make the WC? He put in a performance that rolled back the years v Australia, but he's otherwise been a bit meh for a while now for Wales and Ospreys. Ospreys arguably looked better without him on the weekend with Beard and Davies. Rowlands is a very similar player to AWJ, but in far better form and a better age, but with his move to Racing 92 will he be eligible for the WC - what a spanner in the works that would be! The hope is that both Tshiunza and Jenkins may be ready for the WC, but realistically it's a little soon for locks who tend to take a few years to fill-out physically. I know there's been talk about whether Tshiunza is a lock or 6, but with our pool of backrow players I think Wales have to develop him as an athletic lock in the Itoje mould. Rhys Davies could offer that physicality though, a little surprised Pivac never tested him, I rate him above Carter at this point. How about Seb Davies, he looks to have put on some kilo's recently and has been an the heart of Cardiff's recent run of form? Finally we come to Adam Beard - he's got the lot in terms of raw ingredients, he's tall, over 18st, intelligent, has good hands; but he's just far too placid for an international lock imo. He barely ever makes metres in the carry, or make a dominant tackle, but he can defend a maul! Gat's always liked him, so no doubt he'll be in the squad, but he doesn't offer enough for me.
Backrow
Taulupe Faletau, Jack Morgan, Justin Tipuric, James Botham, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell (Morgan Morris, Taine Basham, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi, Josh Macleod, James Ratti)
This is really tough to narrow down! Imo Faletau, Tipuric and Jack Morgan are nailed on, but after that there's a ton of options to choose from. I think Moriarty will come back into the mix with his physicality and versatility to cover 8. Wainwright could shoot up the pecking order again as Gats has publicly stated how highly he rates him. How do you choose between Young, Reffell and Basham? Maybe Reffell with his recent showings in SA, but I think Basham has the highest ceiling, although he makes a few more mistakes, whilst Young has been in fine recent form... For me, Macleod drops out of the picture until he shows a run of form for the Scarlets. One player who could be parachuted straight into the 6N squad is James Botham. He's been phenomenal of late for Cardiff, a real all rounder in the mould of Warburton or Navidi with a huge engine. I could see him being just the type of player Gats would value.
Backs to follow...
Loosehead
Rhys Carre, Gareth Thomas, Nicky Smith (Wyn Jones)
I think Gats may go into the 6N with Carre as his first choice looshead. Carre has found a rich vein of form for Cardiff, scrummaging strongly and adding considerable impact around the field. Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith are both performing well at the Ospreys. Wyn Jones will come back into the reckoning if he can stay fit.
Hooker
Dewi Lake, Ken Owens, Bradley Roberts (Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee)
Lake's recent injury is a real shame, as he was quickly rising to become Wales' first choice hooker in time for the WC. I think he's the sort of hooker Gats likes, in the Hibbard mould, someone who can really bring some physicality, even if his throwing can be a little flaky. Ken Owens, recovery from a lengthy lay off has been impressive, I can see him making it till the WC for his swansong. The third hooking berth could be interesting, I'm not a fan of Elias personally, but have been mightily impressed by Roberts for Dragons since arriving from Ulster.
Tighthead
Dillon Lewis, Thomas Francis, Leon Brown (WillGriff John, Harri O'Connor, Sam Wainwright)
Onto our problem position. Dillon Lewis has really pushed on this season to be fair, with his scrummaging a big improvement, so that's a silver lining at least. Thomas Francis looked really poor in the AI's though, really struggling in all aspects. Let's hope that was a blip because we need him at his best to have any hope at the WC, because after those two the cupboard is looking very bare! Brown has all the potential but can't string games together, whilst WillGriff has struggled to get going since moving to the Scarlets - he's started to show signs of form lately though, fingers crossed. Not sure if Wainwright has what it takes after the AI's!
Second Row
AWJ, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Christ Tshiunza (Dafydd Jenkins, Rhys Davies, Ben Carter, Seb Davies)
So, the big question, will AWJ make the WC? He put in a performance that rolled back the years v Australia, but he's otherwise been a bit meh for a while now for Wales and Ospreys. Ospreys arguably looked better without him on the weekend with Beard and Davies. Rowlands is a very similar player to AWJ, but in far better form and a better age, but with his move to Racing 92 will he be eligible for the WC - what a spanner in the works that would be! The hope is that both Tshiunza and Jenkins may be ready for the WC, but realistically it's a little soon for locks who tend to take a few years to fill-out physically. I know there's been talk about whether Tshiunza is a lock or 6, but with our pool of backrow players I think Wales have to develop him as an athletic lock in the Itoje mould. Rhys Davies could offer that physicality though, a little surprised Pivac never tested him, I rate him above Carter at this point. How about Seb Davies, he looks to have put on some kilo's recently and has been an the heart of Cardiff's recent run of form? Finally we come to Adam Beard - he's got the lot in terms of raw ingredients, he's tall, over 18st, intelligent, has good hands; but he's just far too placid for an international lock imo. He barely ever makes metres in the carry, or make a dominant tackle, but he can defend a maul! Gat's always liked him, so no doubt he'll be in the squad, but he doesn't offer enough for me.
Backrow
Taulupe Faletau, Jack Morgan, Justin Tipuric, James Botham, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell (Morgan Morris, Taine Basham, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi, Josh Macleod, James Ratti)
This is really tough to narrow down! Imo Faletau, Tipuric and Jack Morgan are nailed on, but after that there's a ton of options to choose from. I think Moriarty will come back into the mix with his physicality and versatility to cover 8. Wainwright could shoot up the pecking order again as Gats has publicly stated how highly he rates him. How do you choose between Young, Reffell and Basham? Maybe Reffell with his recent showings in SA, but I think Basham has the highest ceiling, although he makes a few more mistakes, whilst Young has been in fine recent form... For me, Macleod drops out of the picture until he shows a run of form for the Scarlets. One player who could be parachuted straight into the 6N squad is James Botham. He's been phenomenal of late for Cardiff, a real all rounder in the mould of Warburton or Navidi with a huge engine. I could see him being just the type of player Gats would value.
Backs to follow...