The star-studded Wales line-up who’ll be missing in Japan
WALES are about to put out a stronglooking team as they seek to conquer the world out in Japan.
But there is also a rather formidable array of Welsh talent who won’t be heading to the Rugby World Cup, the men who could have been representing Wales but won’t be, heartbreakingly so in some cases.
“I can’t say it has fully hit me yet,” Gareth Anscombe said this week, more than a month after the injury that ruled him out of the fun and games in Japan.
“I had been working towards this tournament for a long while and felt I could have played a key role in helping the team achieve something pretty special.”
Orthopaedic issues did for him, but others have been deemed off limits on grounds of form or falling foul of the rule that prevents exiles with fewer than 60 caps from playing for Wales.
And quite a line-up can be assembled out of those who won’t actually figure for Wales in the Far East.
It’s a side that would challenge a lot of teams, actually, at the global bash. Indeed, worse teams have made it out of the group stage of tournaments.
But none of the players listed here will be involved in the real thing.
It’s something to ponder.
15. Gareth Anscombe
All that work at training camps in Switzerland and Turkey, all that attacking zap, all that hard-edged winning mentality -- all out of reach to Wales in the Far East. Anscombe can play at fly-half, of course, but can also do a job as a playmaking No. 15 with vision and a spirit of adventure.
14. Owen Lane
He didn’t quite make the cut for Warren Gatland’s squad – at 21 he is still putting the finishing touches to Rugby correspondent his game, especially in defence. But he’s a ton-of-bricks player who packs a lot of power, scores tries and looks for work.
13. Scott Williams
How unlucky was this guy to miss out on World Cup selection? Twelve weeks before the calls were made he could barely bend over after his long-term back injury, with his hopes of heading to Japan seemingly non-existent. But Williams gamely got his aching body together to mount a challenge for a place that came within an ace of succeeding.
His wife Tanya wrote a moving message online stating how proud she was of him.
He deserved it.
12. Jamie Roberts
“The frustrating thing for me is that I still feel I am good enough for Test rugby” – so went the pronouncement this week from the powerhouse of the Wales backline for the best part of a decade. Roberts is 32 now, but can still cross gain-lines.
Selection did for him, with the 6ft 4in, 17st 6lb player not featuring for Wales since 2017.
Many of their opponents will be pleased he’s not in Japan.
11. Steff Evans
He might miss the odd tackle, but what wing doesn’t?
The selection cards fell against Evans amid fierce competition in Wales’ back three.
But the Scarlet is hugely creative, a game-changing player fans love to watch and defenders have difficulty working out.
A nod, too, to Alex Cuthbert, who found form with Exeter last term.
10. Rhys Priestland
There is a debate about whether Priestland is eligible for Wales given that he is short of 60 caps and plays in England. The uncertainty stems from his not officially being offered a deal to return to regional rugby when he was mulling over his future earlier this year.
Whatever, the man who ran the Welsh backline with such craft and skill at the World Cup in 2011 has proven experience, technical ability and all-round quality, edging him ahead of Jarrod Evans.
9. Rhys Webb
He is stopped from playing for Wales because he operates out of France and doesn’t have 60 caps. But no such rule prevents him making our side. At his best, Webb is explosive, plays the game as he sees it and can boss matches. The Wales set-up is weaker without him. End of.
1. Rob Evans
His omission for Japan took many by surprise, with questions raised about his durability. But Evans has been around the block, can hold his own in the scrum and has fly-paper hands. It was a huge call to leave him behind.
2. Scott Baldwin
The 6ft 3in, 17st 13lb Baldwin played as well as pretty much any hooker in Wales at regional level last season. He was also first-choice at the last World Cup and is a big unit who adds ballast at scrum-time, and he puts his hand up for carrying. What’s not to like?
3. Samson Lee
Another Scarlets prop, another selection (or non-selection) shock. Injuries have hammered Lee, but with a run of games the squat, hard-nosed West Walian is still