The forgotten men, but they may yet get a Wales chance
THE good news for Wayne Pivac is that a number of players had decent grounds for feeling aggrieved after being left out of his Wales squad for this autumn.
Had no one felt that way Pivac would have been in Old Mother Hubbard territory beyond the group he’s chosen and that wouldn’t have been great for anyone.
But there were plenty who narrowly missed out on selection.
There remains uncertainty if any of them will yet be summoned into the set-up amid the injuries of the weekend.
Josh Macleod left the Scotstoun arena on crutches after suffering a leg problem playing for the Scarlets against Glasgow, while Ken Owens picked up a shoulder knock. Both issues looked cause for serious concern.
So let’s tread carefully when picking 15 players who won’t be seen in Wales shirts in the coming weeks.
Whatever, this lot would have let no-one down...
15. HALLAM AMOS
He’s as bright as a button on and off the field, with skills to match, but the competition is hot, hot, hot in the area where he plays. It would have been an exceptionally close call between him and teenager Ioan Lloyd, mind.
Maybe Wales are betting on Lloyd for the next World Cup. But they shouldn’t forget about Amos. He can also play.
14. ASHTON HEWITT
The temptation is to call this guy unlucky and be done with it. The Dragon finished last season in form and has started this one on top of his game, too.
Hewitt knows how to finish, is good in the air and is improving as a defender. As with Amos, though, he’s been edged out of the picture by the quality of his rivals.
13. WILLIS HALAHOLO
Injury struck Halaholo at the wrong time last year, just when he appeared set to win a cap, and he hasn’t long returned to mount a major case for inclusion in Pivac’s squad for this autumn.
His attacking quality is undoubted. But right now he’s still on the outside looking in.
12. KIERAN WILLIAMS
The call never came for the Osprey, but it was always odds against at this point, with the youngster still a relative babe in arms.
But he’s put down a marker with his powerful running. His challenge is to hold his form, because there are not many players out there who can do what he does.
11. STEFF EVANS
Evans responded to not making the latest squad with a fine display for the Scarlets against Glasgow Warriors, almost claiming a try and putting in some fine defensive work.
Yes, he was turned over once or twice, but he’s being playing well for a while now and is another who can count himself unfortunate not to have received the nod.
10. JARROD EVANS
Arguably Welsh rugby’s most inventive fly-half, the Cardiff Blue hasn’t been given a run in the Test side and Callum Sheedy’s call-up makes it harder still for Evans.
Don’t rule him out for the long haul, mind. He’s a clever player with a lot to offer.
9. RHODRI WILLIAMS
Should Lloyd Williams be here? He’s been playing well, after all, and may even be next cab off the rank.
Either way, neither he nor Rhodri Williams is likely to feature for Wales this autumn. Both are good players.
1. ROB EVANS
He’s been injured, so it’s no surprise that he failed to make Pivac’s squad. The Scarlets will want him back on the field sooner rather than later.
All that experience can be particularly useful at this time in the rugby cycle.
2. DEWI LAKE
On the basis that Elliot Dee is next in the hooking queue, we’ll leave him out of this selection until we hear more about Ken Owens’s injury. Let’s slot Lake into the team instead.
He’s a young lad who has the potential to be a top player but he has to work on his throwing. For him the mantra has to be: “Don’t practise until you get it right. Practise until you can’t get it wrong.”
Do that and he’ll play for Wales.
3. WILLGRIFF JOHN
He would have made his Test debut had the Six Nations game with Scotland been played as scheduled in March. But the coronavirus pandemic meant the match was postponed.
Now he’s not even in the Wales squad, with four other tight-heads in front of him. So near and yet so far, then. But John needs to stick at it.
The lesson of his story is that circumstances can change, quickly and dramatically.
4. ADAM BEARD
It’s easy to forget that this guy is still only 24. Yet he has already banked 21 caps at the heart of the Wales pack.
How many more he adds to that tally will depend on how he responds to being cut from Wayne Pivac’s squad.
He’s another player with the potential to recover in a big way. But only he can make it happen.
5. BRADLEY DAVIES
He has all the experience in the world but there’s a sense that he’ll need to do a heck of a lot to force
his way back into the picture. Never say never, of course. But it’s unlikely to happen.
In the meantime, Davies will continue to fight the good fight for the Ospreys.
6. SHANE LEWIS-HUGHES
Is it safe to include this guy in the side amid the fears over Josh Macleod?
Well, if he were to be called up it wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement as he’s a blindside and Macleod is an openside.
But SLH has been operating at the peak of his game. He’s made 63 tackles in three starts for Cardiff Blues since rugby returned and is a big unit who hits hard.
If he isn’t called up by Pivac, it’ll be because he’s a six rather than a seven.
7. THOMAS YOUNG Who’ll replace Josh Macleod if, as
seems certain, he is ruled out?
Well, Taine Basham and James Davies, who made an impact after coming off the bench for the Scarlets against Glasgow, will both be in the mix, as might the tackling machine that is Shane LewisHughes. But Thomas Young won’t be.
He won’t be because he’s off limits to Wayne Pivac under the provisions of the 60-cap rule on exiled Welsh players. It’s a crying shame because he’s a wonderful player.
8. JAMES BOTHAM
It’s way too soon for Ian Botham’s grandson, isn’t it? Probably.
But keep an eye on him. He’s started the season amid a blaze of tackles (37) and carries (19) and has an energy about him that’s catching.
There’s a lot for him to learn, but at this point he looks a significant prospect.