Will Blues ace Tomos be drafted in for Wales’ Italian job?
IT’S the game that has traditionally allowed Wales to experiment in selection without too much risk of matters blowing up in their faces.
But this time it’s debatable whether Wayne Pivac needs to rest any of his front-line players for the clash with Italy in Rome on March 13.
His team, after all, have a fixture blank this coming weekend.
It means that sitting out the Test with the Azzurri would result in a three week break for those hoping to be involved against France.
Hardly great preparation for a likely Grand Slam clash.
So just how will Pivac play his hand?
We have a stab at suggesting the team he’s most likely to pick...
15. LIAM WILLIAMS
YES, he’s still working his way back towards his very best.
But he’s someone who can be relied on for a try and he offers variety and creativity from the back.
He also needs rugby after a stopstart spell.
14. LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT
WHY would the youngster not hold his place?
Everyone knew about his ability to attack. Against England, he showed he’s developing his defensive game. One hit, on Elliot Daly, owed much to pace and good technique. Potentially, it stopped a try.
The more he plays at Test level, the better he’ll become.
13. GEORGE NORTH
IT’S set to be Wales cap 101 for North.
Aside from one sketchy moment just before half-time, when he dashed out of the line, he had a strong game against England, halting a number of opposition raids with important tackles. Those who wrote him off in the autumn were premature to do so.
He’s poked his critics in the collective eye and will be there or thereabouts for the Lions squad.
12. JOHNNY WILLIAMS
NO? Well, OK, it is uncertain, but there’s a good chance Williams will play.
It’s beyond doubt Jonathan Davies needs rugby, so there’s a possibility that Pivac might stick with him.
If he doesn’t there’s a case for arguing Willis Halaholo deserves a start.
But keep Williams in mind. Pivac rates him and the Scarlets youngster will be straining at the leash after having a watching brief in recent weeks. His inclusion would offer defensive solidly allied to attacking go-forward.
It’s a tight call.
11. JOSH ADAMS
THERE can’t be much doubt over this one.
Adams had an excellent game on Saturday and needs rugby after time out because of his suspension for breaching Covid regulations.
He’ll feature on the left wing.
10. CALLUM SHEEDY
DAN Biggar’s awareness and wonderful execution set up Josh Adams’ try against England, but he also appeared to pick up a bump and was replaced early.
Sheedy went on to play a key part in Wales’ win, showing invention and thrust in attack.
If there’s any doubt about Biggar’s fitness, the Bristol man will start against Italy. It would be reward for his efforts off the bench in Wales’ last two games.
9. TOMOS WILLIAMS
SO much depends on the medical situation here.
Kieran Hardy seemed to tweak a hamstring or worse against England and such an injury can take more than a week or two to sort out.
The Scarlet actually performed encouragingly, with his well-taken try a highlight. He’s not going to find a Maro Itoje in every Test team, which will be a relief, but he’ll have learned from facing the kind of pressure the England lock put him under.
Nor did Gareth Davies do at all badly, sending out a stream of quick passes. But if Tomos Williams is ready after his own hamstring issues, the thinking is Pivac will give him an opportunity, especially if Hardy is ruled out.
1. WYN JONES
HE’S been a strong performer in this tournament, notwithstanding that Ben Youngs slipped past him for a try. His unhappiness over that was almost palpable.
His scrummaging is key.
A stable set-piece has been the foundation of Wales’ progress in this championship and two games out from a Grand Slam isn’t the time to take risks in that area.
2. KEN OWENS
ELLIOT Dee made a purposeful contribution after coming on, something that would have pleased Wayne Pivac.
The Dragon wasn’t in the original Wales squad for last autumn but has re-established himself in the pecking order through hard work and a refusal to drop his head – gold for a coach.
But Owens is in no danger of fatigue any time soon.
The Sheriff spent much of the autumn on the sidelines and will have another fortnight off before Wales resume; he needs to be in the thick of it.
As you were.
3. TOMAS FRANCIS
THERE’S a chance Wales could throw the shirt to Leon Brown with Francis manning the bench, just in case.
But the Six Nations isn’t a development tournament.
Wales are in the hunt for a Grand Slam and Francis has been key to giving them a firm platform. He looked battered and bruised at one point against England, but if he’s OK on the fitness front, he starts.
4. ADAM BEARD
IT’S taken time, but since Wales started playing with a settled front five their lineout has improved dramatically. Indeed, whisper it, but over the last two games they’ve posted a 93 percent success rate on their own ball – 27 takes out off 29 throws.
As the guy charged with calling the line-outs, Beard has been central to
that process.
Well though Cory Hill played after coming on as a sub, it would seem folly to shuffle in an area that’s suddenly functioning after so many problems previously.
5. ALUN WYN JONES
MIGHT there be a temptation to give the skipper a break and tell him to take it easy ahead of a potential Grand Slam tilt against France in Paris the Saturday after?
It would be nice, too, to see Jake Ball win his 50th cap before he heads to Australia.
Don’t rule that out, then. Don’t rule it in, either.
Would it be ideal for Jones to head into a Grand Slam game with France not having played for three weeks? No, it would not. The warrior needs to play in Rome, whether in the starting line up or as a replacement.
6. JOSH NAVIDI
ONE school of thought is that this guy should be wrapped in cotton wool after his recent injuries. Another way of thinking, which Navidi probably subscribes to, is that more time on the field is exactly what he needs.
Aaron Wainright and Jim Botham will be waiting to come in.
But, again, Navidi is desperate for rugby.
His effort against England was exceptional.
It’s his default setting.
7. JUSTIN TIPURIC
JAMES Botham could receive a thumbs-up for his efforts, but Tipuric is a player who thrives on rugby.
He’s having time off this coming weekend.
He can sit around, relax, watch TV, mediate, not think about rugby –whatever floats his boat.
But he doesn’t need to be sitting around the following Saturday.
8. TAULUPE FALETAU
IF he plays for Bath against Exeter on March 6, Faletau could be afforded a watching brief for Wales’ date in Rome. That would be understandable.
The counter-argument is he’s been one of Pivac’s top players in this championship – he’s back to his multiskilled best, in Welsh all-time-great territory once again – and the coach will want to play him to keep momentum going, perhaps by helping to blow Italy off the park.
It’s not a precise science and much will depend on how he comes through for his club next week.
Aaron Wainwright will feature if there are any concerns.