AT LONG LAST... IT’S HENSON v BIGGAR
THE squad announcement on Tuesday for Wales’ upcoming autumn series raised more than a few eyebrows – with Sam Cross and Hadleigh Parkes stealing the headlines.
But the exclusion of both Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams perhaps paints a far more telling tale of how Wales will play than any shock inclusion ever could.
Such has been the dominance of hard-running centres like Roberts and Williams, you’d have to go back seven years for the last time an outand-out playmaker started at 12 for Wales in a meaningful Test – James Hook lining up against New Zealand in 2010.
But Gatland has decided to move away from all that – opting for a number of ball-players in his midfield.
However, among all the commotion of the Wales coach dropping his two senior inside centres, the killer question remains: who will start at 12 against Australia in November? Owen Watkin The only true out-and-out inside centre in the squad, the 21-year-old Ospreys midfielder is seen as a star in the making.
The former Wales Under-20s star appears to be in pole position in the absence of Roberts and Williams, and his displays against Clermont and Saracens will have only helped his case to start.
The youngster is capable of running hard lines but also spreading the ball wide with some depth, while his offloads caused Clermont all sorts of trouble just over a week ago.
However, Watkin’s rugby has been limited in the past few seasons, making just 16 appearances in the last three seasons.
And, as good as he is, he perhaps does not fit into the ball-playing 10-12 axis that Gatland utilised with the Lions in New Zealand as well as others in the squad.
He’s definitely got the making of being a Wales regular for years to come, but is it too soon to throw the uncapped Watkin in? Owen Williams If you’re looking for a playmaker at inside centre, then the best bet is Gloucester’s Owen Williams.
The former Scarlets pivot is capable of playing both fly-half and inside centre, with his name having usually been the first one mentioned whenever a change of style was proposed for Warren Gatland’s side.
While at Leicester, he played plenty of his rugby at 12 to accommodate Freddie Burns – with his playmaking abilities at second-receiver earning him a move to Gloucester.
At Kingsholm, he is seen as a fly-half, and that is where he’d like to play for Wales himself, but his best hope of a spot in Gatland’s starting XV appears to be in midfield.
The one question mark is whether he can do it at the top level – having played only nine minutes of Test rugby against Tonga this summer.
His experience there in domestic rugby is one thing, but it’s a big step up. Rhys Patchell Another in-form fly-half, the Scarlets pivot has been influential in the rugby the west Walians played on their way to the PRO12 title last season.
The former Cardiff Blues’ 10 has been pivotal in orchestrating the backline at Parc y Scarlets.
But there have been doubts about his game-management, with coach Wayne Pivac tending to bring him off if the scoreline is still in the balance late on.
Which is why a switch to 12 does make sense in some regards, allowing him to focus on the attacking side of the game without worrying too much about closing games out.
He has Test minutes at 12 – 56 of them to be precise – when he made his debut off the bench against Japan in 2013. And Rob Howley has admitted he could be an option at inside centre. Rhys Priestland The man who guided Wales to a World Cup semi-final in 2011 has recaptured that form this season for Bath, holding off the challenge of Burns – who swapped Leicester for Bath this summer – to star at the Rec this season. His ability to bring those around him into the game with his flat play and perfectly-timed passes mark him out as a favourite of Warren Gatland when he is playing with confidence.
And right now, he is playing with confidence. Plenty of it.
But, with Dan Biggar having held onto the jersey since 2013, Gatland might be tempted to slot the 30-yearold in at inside centre.
It worked for Eddie Jones with George Ford and Owen Farrell, but does Priestland have enough experience in midfield to face the Wallabies?
He has played there before for Bath when he was teammates with Ford, but it’s hard to see this one happening. Dan Biggar If Priestland is unlikely, then Biggar is pretty much a non-starter.
It would be quite something if he were to line up at 12 against the Wallabies on November 11.
Having been the first-choice fly-half