Warren Gatland and his fellow coaching team over the next three days, will decide who will be selected to start in the Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
I look at all the ifs, buts and maybe’s and who I believe should be on that pitch come 16:45 on Saturday.
15. Josh Adams- Cardiff Rugby, 53 Caps
Before the announcement of Louis Rees-Zammit departing Rugby Union to venture into the world of the NFL, I would have said the 22-year-old would be almost inevitable be in the starting XV against Scotland.
However, his move to America has created an opportunity for Josh Adams, who I believe will move from the wing to start at fullback. This is because the other two options are uncapped Cameron Winnett, who we will not see until at least round three due to a jaw injury, or Dragon’s Cai Evans, who debuted in a World Cup warm-up match last summer. Both have yet to get enough exposure on the international stage, which will be needed against Gregor Townsend’s side.
This leaves the 28-year-old who reads the game very well. He is an excellent ball carrier who has formidable scoring record who has had 53 appearances for his country and has scored 105 points. One other aspect of his game that he is very strong defensively.
14. Rio Dyer- Dragons, 14 Caps
With Zammit way out of the equation for the foreseeable future, the Dragons superstar will be a considerable amount of pressure to deliver most of the highlights at this year’s Six Nations, as Dyer has some serious pace and is excellent in the air.
If picked, Dyer will make his 15th appearance, and after scoring four times in a short period with his footwork and awareness, the 24-year-old will be up for the task against Scotland.
13. George North- Ospreys, 118 Caps
Out of all the players in my predicted lineup, North is one of the more experienced players in this new-look Gatland’s squad. The 31-year-old has made 118 appearances and has scored 235 points.
North will be more equipped to play outside centre as his career continues. The Osprey man has a move to Pro D2 on the horizon and will need to use his experience, as his skills will play a massive part. Defensively, he will need to step up more.
12. Nick Tompkins- Saracens, 32 Caps
One of Wales’s stand-out player at the last Rugby World Cup, Tompkins will undoubtedly be up for the fight. The Saracens man played a massive part in the wins over Fiji and Australia at the World Cup.
I believe that Tompkins should be picked with the lack of experience in Gatland’s squad, he and his counterpart North should be stalwarts in the starting XV throughout the Championship.
11. Mason Grady- Cardiff Rugby, 6 Caps
Interestingly, if Gatland picks the Cardiff Rugby man to start, it would mean that Grady will play on the wing for the first time for his country.
Like Rio Dyer, Grady is a massive attacking threat, and for someone who has been so impressive for Cardiff Rugby in the URC, I have no doubt that the 21-year-old will be a stalwart in the Welsh squad for years to come.
10. Sam Costelow- Scarlets, 8 Caps
With Dan Biggar and Gareth Anscombe not in the picture for this year’s Six Nations and with the only other experienced flyhalf, Owen Williams is still establishing himself on the international stage and this creates a massive opportunity for the youngman.
The Scarlets man must step up if he wants to play consistently for Wales. Even though the 23-year-old has spent a lot of time on the sidelines since the Barbarians game in November, he is an excellent playmaker who reads the game so well and, therefore should lead to some good decision-making.
With him being the only one on the field that kicks at goal, this will be an area that he and Neil Jenkins will work massively to improve consistency at goal.
9. Tomos Williams- Cardiff Rugby, 53 Caps
This position is the more difficult to call, this because the experienced Gareth Davies would have been a no-brainer, but due to Gatland looking more to the future. I believe he will go with the younger man by four years, who is playing some of his best rugby of his career to date.
Williams is up there with some of the best nines in the world, and I am confident that the 29-year-old will be heading to Australia with the British and Irish Lions next summer. He has been immense for Cardiff Rugby this season, scoring three tries in just six regional appearances.
Like his half-back counterpart, Williams has a great rugby IQ and isn’t afraid to make a quick dash if he sees an opportunity to exploit the opposition’s defence.
8. Aaron Wainwright- Dragons, 43 Caps
After signing a new two-year contract with the Dragons, the 26-year-old will be heavily reliant on this year’s Six Nations due to the absence of Taulupe Faletau. The move from blindside to No 8 will suit the Dragon’s back-rower as he has had many opportunities, such as against England last summer, where he was a class act at No 8.
He carried this form into the World Cup in France, where he did much of the unsung work as Wales reached a surprising quarter-final. Wainwright has always been impressive when he wears that red jersey, as he carries a lot of pride when enters that field.
He has a tremendous defensive game and, unlike many number eights, he has shown some brilliant footwork that he learnt when he played football when he was younger.
7. Tommy Reffell- Leicester Tigers, 13 Caps
With many injuries around this area of the team, it is almost certain that Wainwright will be starting at No. 8. With this move, it creates opportunities at openside for players like Tommy Reffell, who has only made 13 appearances
The 24-year-old has been one of the stand-out players not just for Leicester Tigers but also in the Gallagher Premiership for a number of years. How he approaches each game favours him being at the top of the selectors mind.
Like Wainwright and many others in my starting XV, he has an outstanding work rate, and his breakdown skills are up there with the best in the Northern Hemisphere.
6. Taine Basham- Dragons, 16 Caps
With no Jac Morgan, which is a significant blow to the Welsh squad, 24-year-old Basham is an exceptional talent to replace him. The Dragons man has made 16 appearances and is really solid defensively and is up there with the best at turning over the ball at the breakdown area.
There is no doubt that Morgan will be missed, but somebody like Basham, leaves everything on the pitch in my opinion is a no-brainer for Gatland’s XV. My only concern with Basham would be his discipline as he has recently received one red card this year in the URC against Leinster.
5. Dafydd Jenkins (C)- Exeter Chiefs, 12 Caps
Gatland said he was looking to the future, and he has done this by naming the 21-year-old the captain which almost certainly cements him in the starting lineup.
Jenkins plies his trade with English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, and when looking at his attributes defensively, he always seems to put in a good shift. He is an excellent ball carrier, which is much needed when you play teams like Scotland. I don’t expect him to shy away from the contact area.
4. Will Rowlands- Racing 92, 29 Caps
This was a much harder call as I was almost sure that Adam Beard would be named as captain, but with Jenkins getting the nod instead, I can only see Will Rowlands joining him in the second row.
Rowlands like Jenkins plies his trade outside of Wales with Racing 92, where he has been playing a lot of high-quality rugby week in and week out. He is a quality lineout operator; whenever he carries, he always gets over the gain line.
He adds so much to the breakdown area, like so many of my selected forwards. He brings so much quality to the table, which needs to be there for Wales from the first whistle, and that’s why I would drop Beard to the bench.
3. Keiron Assiratti- Cardiff Rugby, 2 Caps
After making his debut last summer, the Cardiff tighthead has some excellent skills to bring international stage. As shown in some of his URC matches this season, the 26-year-old has surprisingly got excellent handling skills for a forward.
The front row will be crucial to Wales’s success at this year’s Six Nations as if they want to get off to winning ways, being strong at the scrum is a must and can sometimes be the difference between winning or losing.
2. Ryan Elias- Scarlets, 38 Caps
Elias will be a stalwart in selection for Gatland as the Carmarthen-born showed a lot of class at last year’s World Cup, with good lineout success and defensive work rate.
He will be pushed throughout the campaign as both Evan Lloyd and Elliot Dee will make sure the competition is hot at hooker. Prior to World Cup There were concerns over his throwing-in ability at the lineouts.
During the last few appearances for his country, the 29-year-old has shined, and he will play a vital part in ensuring the defence stands firmly against Scotland’s attack.
1. Gareth Thomas- Ospreys, 26 Caps
Going up against Scotland’s Zander Fagerson is no easy task, but the 30-year-old is a world-class operator at the scrum and will most definitely be one of Wales’s unsung heroes at this year’s Championship.
With his counterpart Assiratti potentially starting his first Six Nations game, Thomas will play a massive role in leading and supporting the inexperienced Assiratti from the first whistle.
Words By Harry Tovey
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