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JAMIE Roberts believes Rhys Priestland has put a question mark over Wales’s fly-half selection for the game with South Africa after an eye-catching performance against New Zealand.
The Cardiff player stood out after coming on as a 47th-minute replacement for Gareth Anscombe in the 54-16 defeat for Wayne Pivac’s side on Saturday.
Winning his 51st cap, Priestland set up a try for Johnny Williams, passed nicely and kicked smartly out of hand.
It leaves Pivac with a big call at No. 10 to face the Springboks, with Dan Biggar becoming available after missing the out-of-window autumn series opener and Anscombe also in the frame.
Speaking on Amazon Prime Video, Roberts said of Priestland: “He’s just a comfortable player, a very clever and experienced player.
“Let’s not forget he’s a 50-cap international. “He’s a top guy and he’s going well domestically with Cardiff and deserves his call-up.
“He’s really put a question mark over the No. 10 jersey selection for next week.”
Fellow Amazon Prime pundit Sam Warburton agreed that the seasoned campaigner from Carmarthen had given Pivac a decision to make for Saturday’s Tests with the Springboks.
“Rhys Priestland coming off the bench did really well,” Warburton said.
“It was good to see him coming on. “(He’s) really put pressure on the No. 10 selection for next week.”
Former Wales and Lions front-row legend Graham Price also believes exscarlets star Priestland could be set for a return to the starting line-up.
“On Saturday I thought Pivac missed a trick by not starting Rhys Priestland at fly-half when he is clearly the form player in Wales in that position,” he said.
“When he came on, the confidence he brought with him was there for all to see.
“Instead Gareth Anscombe started, but it was always going to be a daunting ask of a player who hadn’t played international rugby for two years.
“To compound matters, Beauden Barrett intercepted him for the opening try, which would have planted a negative seed in Anscombe’s mind from the off.
“I feel it would have been better to let Anscombe size up the game from the bench and come on later.
“He’s done that to good effect in the past when he has replaced Dan Biggar.
“So that was a poor call from Pivac.”