Posted by Wales’ journey to the Rugby World Cup ramps up another level this weekend as the warm up matches get underway with England arriving at the Principality Stadium.
After training camps at The Vale Resort, at altitude in Switzerland and in the heat in Turkey, it may well be a welcome relief for many in Warren Gatland’s training squad to finally get out on the field rather than being beasted around a training paddock as they have been for the last two months.
For many the focus can be too much on results and overall team performances in these warm-up games, with Wales playing a return fixture against England at Twickenham before hosting South Africa in Cardiff, and they get swept away in joy or despair depending on the final result and showing on the pitch.
From a Wales perspective over the next three weeks though the individual performances and combinations in certain areas of the field will be the most important, as opposed to the wider cohesion of the full XV and whether they win or lose. There’s plenty of time for that to come together and hit the ground running in France.
Looking down the list of the current 48-man Wales squad, which Gatland will need to trim to 33 names after these warm-up games, there are a few positions that stand out where spots are up for grabs.
Loosehead – You’d expect Gareth Thomas to be safely on the plane having been close to constant in the matchday 23 over the last 18 months, while Nicky Smith will likely be involved too, but there’s a good battle to be had between Corey Domachowski and Kemsley Mathias for the expected third loosehead spot.
Both are uncapped and have had very impressive seasons for Cardiff and Scarlets, respectively. Domachowski is probably just ahead as things stand, but a big performance from either could tip the selection scale in their direction.
Blindside – There’s a plethora of different options that Gatland can go with at predominantly blindside but keeping versatility in mind in a 33-man squad. For positional cover there is a need for players who can play across the back row or switch on to the blindside from the second row.
Aaron Wainwright and Jac Morgan fit the 6, 7 or 8 brief, Christ Tshiunza, Rhys Davies, Teddy Williams and Ben Carter could all put their hands up to be viable 4 or 6 options, while new man on the block Taine Plumtree would likely list himself as a 4, 6 or 8 if needed.
With the not-so-versatile but ultra experienced Dan Lydiate also in the mix, standout showings over the next few weeks will likely shape what the coaching staff plan to do with their starting back row and the squad options around that.
Fly-Half and Full Back – Another spot where versatility and squad balance comes into the equation. Gatland needs to decide whether to go with three fly-halves and use one as full-back cover, or just take two fly-halves and bolster the outside backs with an extra man.
The performances of the young players in the squad over the next three weeks might sway that, if the likes of Sam Costelow, Tom Rogers or Cai Evans can put their hands up for selection then that will cause a headache for the coaches.
However, if the opportunity to utilise Josh Adams or Louis Rees-Zammit more in the 15 jersey is taken then that could solve a few problems for Gatland & co as they improve their versatility across the back three. Finding the form and balance is particularly important in this area.
Centre – It doesn’t seem all that long ago that a national emergency was declared due to an extreme shortage of centres, but since the the Six Nations of 2021 this part of the squad has added strength in depth at an exponential rate.
Nick Tompkins and his Welsh Granny were discovered at Saracens, George North became a viable option at outside centre, Johnny Williams and his middle name of Bleddyn arrived at Scarlets, while Max Llewellyn, Keiran Williams, Joe Roberts and Mason Grady have all broken through for their clubs. It’s even reached the point where Wales will survive without Joe Hawkins and Owen Watkin.
It’s likely that as many as three of those in the squad and named above will not make it to the Rugby World Cup, while Gatland also needs to start to nail down a partnership in a midfield that has been chopped and changed more times than the Welsh Premiership format over the last few years. Selection across the three warm-ups will be intriguing to say the least.
Cardiff Rugby Life 