Let’s hope we have a bolter like George!
OVER the course of ten years at international level and 91 caps in total, the biggest selection bolter I saw in my Wales career was George North. And I’d never even seen him play!
I was a regular in the Wales team in 2010 when George was first called up. I’d heard his name mentioned a couple of times, but hadn’t watched a minute of him in action.
When he was chosen for that year’s November series, my first thought was ‘Who’s this new kid on the block?’ I wasn’t concerned, but I remember thinking it could be an interesting few weeks ahead.
We all know what happened next. George made his Wales debut at just 18 and scored two tries against South Africa. He proved fairytales do happen. Now he’s a world star.
The reason I bring that memory up is because it was the first thing I thought of when I looked at Wales’ Autumn squad which was named this week. When I saw Jonah Holmes’ name, my first thought was of George and how his selection caught everyone by surprise. Jonah’s certainly did the same! I don’t mind admitting that like George all those years ago, I haven’t seen Jonah play live. Time will tell of course whether he can be successful and he’ll certainly do well to emulate George’s achievements.
I think both Jonah and the other new call-up Luke Morgan have to be given an early chance to make an impression next month. Their aim has to be to try to prove that another fairytale can happen.
I’ve made it clear previously that Wales needed to be consistent in their selection this Autumn. I’d have liked to have seen Owen Lane and Hallam Amos included – as I wrote last week – but both players are sadly out injured. As always, that opens up opportunities for others.
For me, Luke starts against Scotland on November 3. Jonah can’t play that game as it’s outside the Test window which counts against him as he’s at Leicester. It’s the same for Liam Williams at Saracens.
I’d start with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back and George and Luke on the wings. Both players are sky-high right now in terms of their confidence. With Leigh a solid, reliable presence at full-back, I’d go and tell the two wide boys to go for broke. There is nothing to lose.
Luke is an exciting young player. He’s come through the Premiership, excelled on the Sevens circuit, and is now doing very well for the Ospreys. He’s quick, elusive and a great stepper.
He wants to get on the ball and when he’s got space in front of him, he has pace to burn. We saw that with his try in the first round of the Challenge Cup against Pau.
Luke has taken the opportunity which has been given to him this season. Credit to him for that. I know he’s hungry to succeed and now he needs to take the next step. His selection is especially exciting for me because he’s a bit of a throwback to the olden days.
These days almost everyone is six foot plus and 16 stone. Luke is different and I suppose in some ways, he reminds me a bit of myself.
I’m sure both he and Jonah will feel the pressure when they get the chance to play, but in reality they have everything to gain. When new players come into a squad it always provides intrigue and hopefully it will inspire the other guys around them too.
It was interesting for me to find out Jonah can play a number of posiwho
“Versatility is vital in a World Cup squad of 31 and Jonah can play a number of positions”
tions. I’ve been doing some research on him. He’s mainly a wing, but was at full-back for Leicester against the Scarlets on Friday night.
When he was with Wasps, he played scrum-half as well. That pricked my attention even further and told me Warren thinks of him as a genuine World Cup contender, not just someone to fill a squad place.
Warren isn’t stupid. He knows in the Autumn and Six Nations you can essentially select from any number of players. At a World Cup – especially one held as far away as Japan – you have only 31 men to choose from.
Versatility is vital. If Jonah can provide genuine cover for two or even three positions, it will work hugely in his favour. I know that because I’m speaking from experience.
I was lucky enough to go to the 2003 World Cup and I’m very grateful I got to do that because we made it to the quarter-finals. But the only reason I did was because Steve Hansen saw me as a utility player could do a job on the wing but also at scrum-half.
Steve didn’t see me as an out-andout wing which was fair enough. I didn’t think I was much of a scrumhalf either! Anyway, it worked in my favour and it could work in Jonah’s too. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see him in a couple of positions this Autumn.
For the Scotland game though I can see Warren picking his regular looking side on the whole.
Luke on the wing would be my bolt from the blue, but other than that the back line looks fairly settled; Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies in the centre and Gareth Davies at scrum-half. At fly-half, it’s Gareth Anscombe.
That selection comes out of necessity really with Rhys Patchell struggling with concussion (that’s a bit of a worry, by the way) and Dan Biggar unavailable, but it’s also one I’d make on form too.
Gareth has been on fire for Cardiff Blues this season, playing in a team which is scoring a lot of points. He’s played more at full-back than flyhalf, but that doesn’t matter to me.
The skills he brings to both positions are first class. He certainly has the ability to make the speedsters outside him excel.
As a 10, Gareth is a winger’s dream. He takes the ball right to the line, opens up space, and is very clever with his distribution. His tactical kicking game is also excellent.
Both Hadleigh and Jon need to get on his wavelength quickly. I’m sure George, who played with Gareth in the South Africa Test in the summer (at 13 to begin with) will also be looking forward to working off him.
Gareth will admit he’s taken a little bit of time to settle at the Blues, but he’s really delivering now. If he has a great game against Scotland, then he’s made the first statement of the season as far as 10 selection goes.
I know the men I’d pick, but whoever gets the nod, the message has to be the same. I want Wales to go out and entertain, win the game, and get a big year off to the right start.