South Wales stands as Britain’s best star maker
“If it takes 30 players of Test match ability to win a World Cup Wales head to Japan with real hope”
In their swift climb to the giddy heights of third in the world rankings, an integral aspect of Wales’ summer revival appears to have been overlooked and underplayed. Their success amounts to a triumph for those who provided the single most important component, the players.
While some who ought to know better still indulge in bashing the regions at every turn, the time is nigh to hear it for the Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.
They may be haemorrhaging millions like most clubs but their collective capacity to produce international players provides rewarding reaffirmation that South Wales is still the most fertile breeding ground in the British game. Within the last 12 months Wales have capped no fewer than 16 new internationals from their domestic teams.
Five Scarlets: Ryan Elias, James Davies, Aled Davies, Wyn Jones, Hadleigh Parkes.
Four Dragons: Elliott Dee, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright.
Four Ospreys: Owen Watkin, Adam Beard, Sam Cross, Rory Thornton.
Three Blues: Seb Davies, Dillon Lewis, Tomos Williams.
The majority are 23 or under. Wainwright is 20, Brown and Watkin 21, Lewis, Beard, Seb Davies 22, Elias, Griffiths, Thornton and Williams 23. The contributions from each and everyone, with the exception of the injured Brown, can be measured by the series win in Argentina, difficult at the best of times, never mind without a pride of Lions.
The real significance is to be found in what England achieved under Clive Woodward in 2003 – two teams compressed into one 30-man squad. They made it count at Wales’ expense before that victorious World Cup by sending their second string to Cardiff where they duly walloped a full-strength home team 43-9.
Wales are today closer to a squad of real depth. They are not there yet but if it takes 30 players of genuine Test match ability to win a World Cup then Wales will head for Japan next year with real hope of going as far as they did in New Zealand seven years ago.
If the national management give the impression of being slow to show their appreciation, then someone ought to stand up and give the regions credit for the fact that Wales have acquired an embarrassment of riches, even if many of them are to be found in an over-crowded back row.
Wales have seven Test opensides – Warburton, Tipuric, Navidi, Jenkins, Davies, Young and Griffiths. Almost any of them would walk into the England team. In that respect Warren Gatland cannot be accused of exaggeration when he describes Wales as ‘poles apart’ from England.
While Parkes’ timely conversion has eased the acute shortage of midfield alternatives, outside centre remains an area of few serious contenders, hence the experiment with George North. Johnny McNicholl’s proposed switch of allegiance will make them all the stronger at full back and on the wing.
An end-of-season American trip which began with the Washington wash-out devaluing Test rugby to an all-time low ends with the Red Dragon arsenal stocked like never before. A lot will happen between now and the World Cup but from this distance Wales ought not to suffer in Japan from a lack of ammunition.