FRONT ROW LEGEND

WARREN Gatland will be searching for positives after Wales fell away against Ireland in Dublin – anything to put his players in good heart when they fly out to Japan for the World Cup.

He will not exactly be spoiled for choice, though.

His team were not on the money after the break against the Irish. They had to dine on scraps of possession and couldn’t hold onto the ball they won.

It wasn’t a performance Gatland would have wanted in Wales’ final game before setting off for the Far East.

But he would have taken some encouragement from the effort of young Aaron Wainwright.

This kid is still learning but he has taken to Test rugby superbly and led the Welsh defensive effort with countless tackles in the Irish capital. I thought in the Six Nations the World Cup would come too soon for him, but he has improved in every game since and I’d like to see him start in Wales’ opener against Georgia.

If he does well, I’d be tempted to

pitch him into the big one against Australia six days later.

The back row was supposed to be where Wales were super-strong but it could turn into a headache for Gatland.

Who makes up his top three? Justin Tipuric needs to start because of his experience and organisational skill in defence, while Josh Navidi wins breakdown turnovers and Wales were shy of those against Ireland.

For me, Ross Moriarty has had a quiet summer.

He is a player with a lot to offer, as he showed against England in Cardiff in 2017, but he picked up a bump at Twickenham last month and maybe is still working his way up the gears.

Might Gatland use Wainwright at six, Tipuric at openside and Navidi at No. 8 against Australia?

Or will he hope that Moriarty rediscovers his best form and that abrasive edge we all know he has?

Such are the decisions coaches are paid the big bucks to make.

Wales’ line-out went well in Dublin. Ireland didn’t threaten there and we nicked two of their throws through Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones.

The scrum also started positively, looking rock solid with props Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis giving good accounts of themselves.

But they had one less-than-perfect set-piece just before half-time and as the third quarter wore on Welsh superiority in that area became no more.

That said, I thought the starting props finished largely in credit.

Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis scrummed well enough in the first half and Francis also put himself around in defence.

But it’s the Irish prop Dave Kilcoyne who has impressed me most over the past two Saturdays, as a player who not only scrummages well but also puts his hand up for carrying and tackling. Ireland seem to breed front rowers like that.

Let’s see how Wales’ loose-head selection goes. Nicky Smith may be good at the breakdown but he hasn’t exactly played a lot and I still have the odd doubt about him at scrum time.

At lock, it’s Jake Ball for me alongside Alun Wyn Jones.

Adam Beard is young and with a lot of potential, but I like Ball’s aggression and he worked hard against Ireland.

Should Gatland be worried after three defeats in four warm-up games?

Well, he won’t be turning wheels.

Wales have lost the winning habit and it’s not a great time for that to have happened.

But things can change quickly... no one should write Wales off yet.

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