Will Gatland roll the dice looking for a 12 for Wales?
SOME saw it as a major gamble, some as an inspired decision that changed the course of the Lions series, but in picking Owen Farrell alongside Johnny Sexton to form a creative 10-12 playmaking axis, Warren Gatland did something we have not seen with Wales for a long time.
The burning question now, of course, is whether the New Zealander will adopt a similar blueprint when the southern hemisphere big guns arrive in Cardiff this autumn.
Gatland has long utilised Jamie Roberts as the midfield focal point of his game, a strategy that has brought plenty of success for him and his coaching team.
But the experienced Harlequin was usurped by Scott Williams in the No.12 jersey for last season’s Six Nations and it would be a major surprise if Wales reverted to Roberts with an eye on developing a more ambitious gameplan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
This week, Gavin Henson, a key orchestrator in Wales’s Grand Slam campaigns of 2005 and 2008, urged Gatland to stick with what troubled the world champions this summer – after all, it is a policy that has reaped its rewards for Eddie Jones and England with Farrell operating outside of George Ford.
“It was nice to see the Lions make the change at 10 and 12 after losing the first Test. It made the difference,” he said. So, will it be Williams in the No.12 jersey, Roberts, or will Gatland roll the dice again?
Rugby correspondent ROB LLOYD looks at the contenders.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
He and Scarlets team-mate Jonathan Davies started in all five of Wales’s Six Nations matches this year, but it was in the final month of the season with the PRO12 champions that the partnership really flourished.
Williams is a player who can adapt to both gameplans. He is a strong carrier, a centre comfortable in taking short balls and hitting the gainline hard; but he also possesses the handling skills when the ball is given more oxygen.
The Scarlets’ vice-captain didn’t have the most memorable of summer tours in difficult conditions and lost his place to Tyler Morgan for the Samoa Test, but he remains the favourite to continue his partnership with Lions player of the series Davies come November.
JAMIE ROBERTS
Roberts has been a virtual everpresent at inside centre under Gatland, so the decision of Rob Howley to go for Williams for the 2017 Six Nations pointed to a significant shift in style.
It didn’t quite work out that way with Wales struggling to throw off the shackles during an underwhelming Championship showing, but it would still be a major U-turn for Wales to revert to the gainline-busting Harlequin.
Roberts captained the side impressively against the islanders during the summer, proving a galvanising figure for a rookie tour party and even though he turns 31 in November he will feel he still has something to offer at international level.
You suspect the big dilemma for Gatland will come if Williams were to become unavailable through injury.
Does he then turn to the tried and tested, or does he gamble like he did against the All Blacks?
OWEN WILLIAMS
The Swansea Valley product is heading to Gloucester after four seasons with Leicester Tigers and looks ideally equipped to offer Gatland the ‘second five-eighth’ role that Farrell provided in New Zealand having played at inside centre and fly-half for the Tigers.
However, Wales have appeared reluctant to give the former Scarlet his big chance and the 25-year-old had to make do with a brief lone appearance off the bench this summer after being
unused during the last Six Nations.
Williams is a clever distributor with a booming boot — think Henson in his prime. He appears the most naturally suited to slot into the playmaker role at 12.
DAN BIGGAR
The possibility of the in-form Sam Davies and Biggar playing together in last season’s Six Nations was one of the questions posed to Howley prior to the tournament kick-off.
However, Wales’s interim coach was lukewarm to the idea, suggesting that Biggar would have to play there for the Ospreys before he would be considered for his country.
“The Ospreys would have to go down that road week-in, week-out,” said Howley.
“Owen (Farrell) has played for Saracens in that position over a period of time. Before you play it in the international game I think you have to experience it first playing for your club.”
That said, it is a switch that shouldn’t be ruled out.
Biggar, who had a fine Lions tour, has a slick passing and kicking game, while there are few other international fly-halves with his defensive appetite.
You sense this option will only become a talking point if Sam Davies shines in early season.
ASHLEY BECK
It is one of the great injustices of Welsh rugby that the Ospreys centre has just seven caps to his name – the last, four years ago in a November date against Tonga.
On his day, Beck is one of the classiest centres in the PRO12, a player with silky running skills and a passing range and vision that often creates space for others.
Was left out of Wales’s squad for the summer to focus on a return to full fitness after a couple of seasons plagued by serious injuries.
Doesn’t offer the kicking option of his rivals, but in terms of slotting into a more inventive Welsh game-plan, Beck fits the bill.
GARETH ANSCOMBE
Anscombe has already displayed his versatility in being able to slot in at fly-half or full-back. He also played on the wing for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, so shifting into the role of first receiver at 12 shouldn’t be alien to the Blues pivot.
His running and passing game is his strength, but is also an astute kicker out of hand.
Defensively, he has been found out at times and he could be vulnerable to heavyweight runners heading down that channel, but if Wales have a desire to transform their three-quarter play, then Anscombe’s skill-set has to be considered.