THE BATTLE FOR NO.9 SHIRT
AS well as Gareth Davies, who are the No.9s in with a shout of claiming the scrum-half role if Rhys Webb misses out. ALED DAVIES Age: 25. Caps: 2 Another talented No. 9 on the Scarlets’ books, Davies was capped in the summer Tests against Tonga and Samoa. Is more of a traditional half-back than his namesake and Wayne Pivac tends to turn to his strong defensive game and astute kicking when the conditions worsen.
Is also out of contract in Llanelli at the end of the 2017-18 campaign and has already been linked with a move across the Loughor to fill the void left by Webb’s departure. TOMOS WILLIAMS Age: 22. Caps: 0 He may currently be second choice at the Arms Park, but Williams is a strong contender for a scrum-half berth in Gatland’s autumn squad, which is due to be unveiled later this month.
Possesses a lightning turn of pace, as he showed for the spectacular try that never was against Zebre last season. Toured with Wales this summer, but was unused by Robin McBryde. LLOYD WILLIAMS Age: 27. Caps: 28 Who can forget Williams’s cross-field kick that led to Gareth Davies’World Cup score at Twickenham?
It has also been a tale of his international career with 22 of Williams’s 28 Wales appearances coming off the bench.
Of the six starts he has made, only one has come against a tier one nation. That said, he has developed into a respected leader at the Blues. RHODRI WILLIAMS Age: 24. Caps: 3 A player with a big decision to make when his contract expires.
Williams is currently ripping up trees in the English Championship with all-conquering Bristol.
But if he opts to stay in the West Country and play a part in Pat Lam’s revolution, he will effectively end his chances of coming in from the international wilderness.
Will feel he can challenge for further international honours, but knows he will have to return across the Severn to achieve those ambitions. TOM HABBERFIELD Age: 25. Caps: 0 A member of the Wales Under-20s side that stunned the Baby Blacks at the Junior World Championships in South Africa in 2012, Habberfield has spent most of his senior career in the shadow of Webb at the Ospreys.
He still has more than a century of appearances for his his home region and has often been trusted with the captain’s armband by Steve Tandy. And the next generation . . . REUBEN MORGAN-WILLIAMS Age: 19 The Neath product was still in sixth form when he made a stunning impact for the Wales Under-20s side that claimed the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016.
Still only 19, it is no surprise that he has found regional opportunities hard to come by with Webb, Habberfield and seasoned All Black Brendon Leonard as significant obstacles at the Ospreys.
May have to bide his time, but is definitely one for the future. DANE BLACKER Age: 19 Has been on loan from Cardiff Blues to the Dragons and provided evidence of his talent with an eye-catching cameo in the Men of Gwent’s PRO14 defeat to Ulster in Belfast.
Battled it out with MorganWilliams at the Junior World Championships in Georgia this summer and plays his Premiership rugby for Pontypridd. OWAIN LEONARD Age: 19 One of the many emerging young talents coming through the Academy system at Rodney Parade, Leonard has already been given a taste of PRO14 action by Bernard Jackman this season with appearances against Edinburgh, Connacht and Ulster. HARRI MORGAN Age: 17 There are a lot people at the Ospreys who are getting excited about the potential of the Wales Under-18s international.
A real threat around the fringes, he scored a superb solo try against England at Eugene Cross Park last season and has been turning heads for Bridgend in the Principality Premiership.