-Credit:Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency
Warren Gatland named his 34-man Wales squad for the Six Nations yesterday and there were more than a few surprises.
Ospreys outside-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets win Ellis Mee are the two uncapped players in the squad, while Jac Morgan replaces the injured Dewi Lake as captain. There were also recalls for the likes of Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams, Liam Williams, Elliot Dee, Joe Roberts and WillGriff John.
Wales kick-off the Championship with a very tough trip to Paris, with pundits giving Gatland’s side little chance of causing an upset. But the New Zealander can still put out a relatively solid 23 on paper. With that in mind, here is the strongest matchday squad Gatland could select for the trip to Paris.
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15. Liam Williams
The 92-times-capped Williams might be nearing the tail end of his career but he remains Wales’ best option at full-back. Williams has always been exceptional under the high ball while he is also a dangerous broken field runner.
If Wales are to stand any chance of upsetting France they will need Williams to be at his best both defensively and in terms of creating attacking opportunities.
14. Josh Adams
The 29-year-old wing missed the summer tour and the Autumn Nations Series with a knee injury but he has looked back to his best for Cardiff of late. Wales lacked a cutting edge out wide for most of last season when Adams was sidelined and after Louis Rees-Zammit turned his back on rugby.
At his best Adams remains one of the deadliest finishers in the northern hemisphere, while he also doesn’t give anything up either aerially or defensively.
13. Joe Roberts
The Wales coaches rate the 24-year-old Scarlets centre very highly. Roberts would have won more than two caps if it hadn’t been for injury but he is likely to play a big part for Wales moving forward.
Gatland values his left-footed kicking game while he is an out-and-out 13 with a dangerous outside break who reads the game well in defence. Roberts has looked a bit rusty over the past few weeks having only recently returned from a long-term injury but has the potential to cause some damage.
12. Owen Watkin
The 28-year-old isn’t the flashiest of players but has an extremely low error rate and is solid in defence. Both Watkin and Roberts went well together as a partnership in last year’s Six Nations defeat to France in Cardiff.
There is an argument for Eddie James at 12, and perhaps his ceiling his higher, but at the moment Watkin is the right option.
11. Tom Rogers
The 26-year-old has credit in the bank after a strong individual performance in Wales’ autumn defeat to the Wallabies. Rogers is very good under the high ball, is brave in defence and is a strong broken field runner.
There is the odd error in his game which he will have to stamp out but he deserves an opportunity to start against France.
10. Ben Thomas
With Sam Costelow out of the Championship after breaking his collarbone and Gareth Anscombe not selected Wales are short of experience at 10. Dan Edwards has been playing well for the Ospreys but at just 21 taking on France in Paris would be a big ask for the uncapped youngster.
Gatland will likely go with Thomas. Even though he does not wear the number 10 jersey at club level Thomas did a decent job at outside-half on last summer’s tour of Australia.
9. Tomos Williams
The 30-year-old is one of the front runners for the British & Irish Lions number nine jersey and has been on fire for Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership this season. Williams is a huge attacking threat and is a player who can create opportunities out of nothing.
The former Cardiff star also does the basics well and Wales will need him to be at his influential best if they are to stand any chance in Paris.
8. Taulupe Faletau
Yes, Faletau is approaching the end of his career but the 34-year-old is as important to Wales as he’s ever been. Faletau only recently returned from a long-term shoulder injury and has been slowly getting back to somewhere near his best
The Cardiff No 8 is a Test match animal capable of making significant post-contact metres, while his all-round game is as good as it gets for a backrower. Faletau has dug Wales out of countless holes in the past and Gatland will be hoping he can do the same in Paris on January 31.
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
Wales might be struggling for results but Morgan is widely considered to be one of the leading candidates to wear the Lions number seven shirt in Australia this summer. The 24-year-old is outstanding at the breakdown and is an explosive carrier while his work rate in defence is also very good.
Morgan is also a natural leader who leads by example and has a habit of inspiring those around him.
6. Aaron Wainwright
The 27-year-old has been consistently good for Wales in recent times even if they have struggled collectively. Wainwright has a nice blend between athleticism and physicality while the Dragons man is also an excellent lineout forward.
The 52 cap international has worn No 8 at Test level over the past year but with Faletau back in the fold he is likely to revert to the number six jersey. A backrow of Wainwright, Morgan and Faletau is the same loose forward trio which fired Wales to a stunning 40-6 victory over Australia at the Rugby World Cup.
5. Will Rowlands
The 33-year-old wasn’t at his best during the autumn and Wales will need the powerful lock to hit form over the next couple of months. At his best Rowlands is a top class operator and is someone who does not shy away from the physical confrontations.
Rowlands plies his trade for Racing 92 in Paris so knows what is required to win on French soil. With Adam Beard currently sidelined there is a big onus on Rowlands to add some much-needed grunt and physicality during the Six Nations.
4. Dafydd Jenkins
The 22-year-old missed Wales’ autumn campaign due to injury and Gatland’s side missed the abrasive Exeter Chiefs lock. Wales have struggled in recent times but Jenkins has been one of the few positives to come out of the past year.
Jenkins brings a huge amount of physicality and is a work horse who very rarely loses the collisions. Both Jenkins and his second-row partner Rowlands will be at the forefront of Wales’ forward effort in Paris.
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3. Keiron Assiratti
Tighthead prop was already a problem position for Wales which has been made worse with Archie Griffin ruled out of the Championship with a shoulder injury. Assiratti has shown glimpses of his potential at his level and scrummaged well against England at Twickenham last season.
The Cardiff prop is a decent scrummager but his fitness has been questioned in the past. Gatland will want at least a good 50 minutes out of Assiratti before going to the bench.
If the 27-year-old can gain parity in the scrum it will go a long way to ensuring Wales are at least competitive in Paris.
2. Elliot Dee
Wales are in the midst of an injury crisis at hooker with both Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias sidelined through injury. But it will have come a big boost for Gatland to see Dragons hooker Dee back fit after a period out injured.
Dee isn’t the biggest hooker in the world but he has a huge engine and gets through a lot of work around the park. The 30-year-old’s darts are the most accurate of any hooker in Wales and it goes without saying the lineout has to function well or Wales will be in for a hiding.
1. Gareth Thomas
Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts recently identified Ospreys prop Thomas as a potential bolter for this summer’s Lions tour of Australia. Thomas does not get the recognition he deserves but is a top class prop who is strong in the scrum and gets through a lot of the unseen dirty work around the park.
Replacements
16. Sam Parry
Thankfully the experienced Ospreys hooker has buried the hatchet with Gatland after the 33-year-old walked out of training in the build-up to last summer’s Test against South Africa at Twickenham. With Lake and Elias sidelined, Parry should play a key role throughout the SIx Nations.
17. Nicky Smith
The 30-year-old is one of the most destructive scrummaging looseheads around and should make an impact in the final quarter of the game.
18. Henry Thomas
The Scarlets prop is a decent scrummager who has more than held his own in the set-piece during a few years in France playing for Montpellier and Castres.
19. Freddie Thomas
The 23-year-old has been in good form for Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership and deserves a place in the Wales 23. Thomas isn’t the biggest lock in the world but is very athletic and doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game.
20. James Botham
The 26-year-old was one of the only Wales players to finish the autumn campaign with any credit in the bank. Botham edges out Tommy Reffell because of his ability to cover the entire backrow.
21. Rhodri Williams
The 31-year-old has been playing well for the Dragons and is probably just ahead of Ellis Bevan in the pecking order on form.
22. Dan Edwards
The 21-year-old has been excellent for the Ospreys over the past 18 months and there is no better place to make your Test debut than at the Stade de France.
23. Ellis Mee
Less than a year ago the 21-year-old was plying his trade for Nottingham in the English Championship but has been a revelation since signing for the Scarlets.