Summer tour report . . . next prop stars and yet
WHETHER you consider Wales’ summer tour a success or not is up for debate.
Coach Wayne Pivac certainly felt it was in the context of where Wales were after the Six Nations, the injuries they sustained and ultimately getting an historic first win over the Springboks in their own backyard.
But they did also lose the series, so you have to be measured in how much confetti is thrown.
One thing that isn’t up for debate is that Wales are in a much better position than they were three months ago and can take a certain level of confidence into the Rugby World Cup season.
There is also so much for Pivac to ponder as he prepares to really start nailing down his squad for next year’s global gathering.
Here are a few talking points to consider after the three-Test series with the world champions...
THE RACE FOR NO.10
WE might as well start here because it’s always going to draw the most debate.
Much has been made of Wales’ lack of attacking threat over the last few weeks but most of the discourse overlooks one thing: the opposition.
South Africa deserve heaps of credit for the way they stifled Wales and limited their opportunities to launch attacks in the hosts’ 22.
In the second Test, Wales had one chance to attack from near the Springboks’ line and they scored. South Africa did a fantastic job of denying Wales entry to the ‘red zone’ by keeping their discipline.
When Wales did get a lineout or scrum in the Boks’ 22, the hosts disrupted it.
Dan Biggar typically gets the blame when Wales’ attack isn’t causing as many problems as some might like but it rests on more than one man’s shoulders.
If you are not winning collisions, it is very easy for your attack to look pretty ordinary.
Biggar is better than Gareth Anscombe when it comes to playing off the back foot with a scrappy set piece.
But Wales looked more dangerous when Anscombe was pulling the strings in the final quarter of the second Test against a tiring and unfamiliar South Africa side.
It’s a real horses for courses situation.
Anscombe’s return to full fitness is mouthwatering for the Welsh management because it gives them another option when it comes to their tactical approach to matches. It will also, undoubtedly, bring the best out of Biggar if his position is about to come under threat again.
The pair dovetailed beautifully during the 2019 Six Nations, when
Wales played some of their best rugby in years.
The fly-half position is shaping up nicely with the World Cup on the horizon.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN
ONE thing you can never have too many of in professional rugby is tight-heads. Wales’ depth has been tested there this summer and that’s no bad thing.
Tomas Francis remains Wales’ premier tight-head if for nothing other than his scrummaging prowess, and that cannot be understated, though it has to be said that his impact in the loose is limited, though improving all the time.
Dillon Lewis, on the other hand, is not renowned for his scrummaging but offers more in open play.
That said, he deserves credit for the way he stood up to the most daunting challenge a tight-head prop can face in the Springbok scrum. He did far better than many anticipated this summer.
Sam Wainwright got more action than he would have anticipated when he was called up earlier this summer, including the biggest scrum of his career during the second Test finale, but, in truth, this World Cup cycle is probably going to come too soon for him due to an anticipated lack of game time at Saracens next season.
And then there is Leon Brown. For me, he is still the most tantalising option if a number of things fall into place.
The Wales management are excited about him because he is the blend between Francis and Lewis now that his scrummaging is improving.
He is no longer a liability in the set piece and is the most destructive ball-carrier.
He might have turned into a bit of a forgotten man this summer but Pivac will be desperate for him to stay fit and get regular rugby this season.
If he can stay on the field, he has the potential to blow the race for the No.3 jersey wide open 12 months out from the World Cup.
CAN CARRE COME THROUGH?
IF Brown is still yet to truly deliver on the promise of his potential, then Rhys Carre is in the same boat.
First, a word for Gareth Thomas, who was quietly very good throughout the Test series. And, clearly, Wyn Jones is very capable at this level.
But, again, Carre excites Wales’ management because of his potential.
In the loose he possesses skills that belie his position on the field. He busts holes and has the finer handling skills of a back.
But there are problems that he still has to overcome.
Conditioning is an issue and he can go missing at certain points during matches, which is not going to cut it if you’re a starting loosehead at Test level.
His scrummaging has come on in recent times but it is still a work in progress and has room to grow.
Carre is only 24, which means he’s still approaching his prime as a prop.
But he has had almost an entire Rugby World Cup cycle to rectify the issues.
If he can bring it together in the next 12 months he will have a real chance of grabbing that No.1 jersey because he is very highly-rated.
THE BACK-ROW RICHES
JAC Morgan’s omission from the Wales squad initially felt like a mistake had been made on the press release that revealed it many weeks ago.
But nobody was talking about Morgan following Tommy Reffell’s debut in Pretoria, or his man-of-thematch showing in Bloemfontein.
This is not to detract from Morgan, whose talents are obvious.
But Pivac’s decision to plump for Reffell was vindicated as he took his Leicester form from the Gallagher
Premiership to the Test arena.
Wales have yet another option in the back row, that is for sure.
Dan Lydiate, although being suited to some opponents more than others, also proved that he can still contribute a lot with some monstrous defensive performances in the first two Tests before some friendly fire with Ryan Elias ended his third Test prematurely.
Then there is Justin Tipuric returning from injury, and Ross Moriarty was also unavailable for the tour.
We haven’t mentioned the likes of Josh Navidi or Ellis Jenkins, let alone the No.8 options in Taulupe Faletau, James Ratti and the, thus far unrecognised, Morgan Morris.
Wales’ back-row contingent is, once again, the envy of many.
Quite how Pivac whittles it down into a World Cup squad is going to be a remarkably difficult challenge and, frankly, it will cause upset whatever he does given the quality that will ultimately miss out.
It’s a virtually impossible decision
but there are not really any wrong answers. Wales are strong in that department as they head into the World Cup season.
TSHIUNZA ON THE RADAR
THERE was a lot of excitement around Christ Tshiunza last season when he made his Wales debut during the autumn campaign, with good reason.
Unfortunately, he picked up an injury and had to withdraw from the Six Nations and it ruined the end of his season.
The decision was made, in conjunction with Exeter, for the lock to spend the summer with the Wales under-20s side and play in the competition out in Italy.
He looked impressive at that level but his qualities in age-grade rugby are not breaking news. He is still very much in Pivac’s thoughts, though.
Wales held a 15-on-15 training session before they jumped on a plane to South Africa and Tshiunza was part of it, providing opposition.
Pivac and Co were believed to be extremely impressed with what he brought to that session.
He also has the potential to be extremely valuable at a World Cup in that role of lock/blindside flanker.
Physically, he has attributes to perform both roles and players with the ability to fill more than one position are always going to be looked upon favourably.
His development over the next 12 months will take up a lot of Pivac’s attention.
THE TIME FOR EXPERIMENTING IS OVER
ONE thing was made clear during
Wales’ tour of South Africa: the time for experimenting is largely over.
There is still a chance for players to break into Pivac’s plans but developing consistency of selection will now be the key for the Wales boss.
During the previous World Cup cycle, Warren Gatland received criticism for taking his time to blood new players.
Between the end of the 2015 World Cup and the 2017 tour matches against Tonga and Samoa, Wales gave new caps to just three players. They went on to cap a glut of newcomers in the second half of 2017.
Pivac has been experimenting heavily with his side from day one of his reign and, to this point, has capped 26 newbies at Test level.
But by now he has a very good idea of what the make-up of his 2023 World Cup squad will look like. The key for him is to start getting results and confidence with this group of players before they get to France.
In that sense, the forthcoming autumn campaign and Six Nations is crucial.
If Wales do well, it will instil a belief in what the coaches are trying to implement. Poor showings will have the opposite effect.
So, then, with everything above in mind, let’s consider what Wales’ strongest side looks like.
If everyone were fit and the first game of the autumn against the All Blacks was this Saturday, then Pivac would have some genuinely difficult decisions to make.
There are some that require a bit of explanation.
Accepting everything I’ve written about the prop situation, you would need to see an extremely good start to the season from Brown and Carre for them to force their way into the starting side of the autumn, and until we see the kind of form that is required from them, it’s tough to back them.
Dewi Lake has the potential to force his way into the side but simply must clean up his act at the lineout.
Lydiate’s omission is very difficult in light of everything we’ve seen from him in recent weeks.
He is the perfect man to take on the challenge that the Springboks present but the All Blacks are a different animal and ask you different questions. You need more mobility in your back row.
Navidi strikes the balance between Lydiate and Ross Moriarty. He has the physicality to absolutely destroy breakdowns and is able to get around the field.
Half-back is a tough one. If Anscombe starts next season well, the decision at No.10 will keep Pivac up at night.
He showed flashes of his former self towards the end of last season and the race for that jersey is going to be one to really watch early next term.
The selection at scrum-half is intertwined.
You don’t pair anyone with Anscombe other than Tomos Williams, for me. So to have the scrum-half leaving the field around the time Anscombe enters it makes no sense. They either both come off the bench, or they both start.
Early-season form will dictate which one it is.