Who’ll be out as Gatland for tough autumn series?

spots are pretty much settled – and the prop department is no different.

Nicky Smith, Rob Evans, Samson Lee and Tomas Francis are basically assured of a spot in the squad – which then leaves a back-up spot on both the loosehead and the tighthead.

Scarlets loosehead Wyn Jones has impressed for the champions, while young Cardiff Blues tighthead Keiron Assiratti, who has shown real promise, might just beat Dragons prop Leon Brown to the call. WITH Lions hooker Ken Owens likely to hold on to his jersey when he returns to Wales duty this autumn, there’s a three-way shoot-out for the remaining two spots.

Kristian Dacey, Elliot Dee and Ryan Elias are the three in contention, with nothing really separating them. Ultimately, the experience of Dacey within the Wales camp and the playing return of Owens at the Scarlets could count against Elias – but it will be close. THE established names will still be there, with skipper Alun Wyn Jones an inevitability, while Luke Charteris and Jake Ball are likely to be named in the squad on October24.

Cardiff Blues lock Seb Davies has catapulted himself from potential squad member to possible starter with a number of all-action, top-class performances.

Dragons’ captain Cory Hill should take the final spot in the squad, with the second-row likely to see off the competition of Adam Beard. FOR so long an area of strength and stability, a number of injuries have seen this department looking as depleted as Theresa May’s slogan as it fell apart during the recent Conservative Party conference.

Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric are shoo-ins, while Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty now seems likely to be fit just in time.

Aaron Shingler looks set to be rewarded for some stunning form, while Dan Lydiate may have enough credit in the bank to sneak back in after a year out with a serious knee injury.

It then comes down to Ollie Griffiths, Thomas Young and Josh Navidi – with the latter probably missing out despite featuring in the summer, with Gatland yet to personally pick the Cardiff Blues flanker in a Wales squad.