Western Mail

It’s all change... almost...

- Rob Lloyd Rugby writer robert.lloyd@walesonlin­e.co.uk

WARREN Gatland has stayed true to his word and conducted a major overhaul in picking his side to face Georgia in the second game of the autumn series.

In all, there are 15 changes, one of them positional, and just one survivor, Liam Williams, from the team that started the 29-21 defeat to Australia last weekend.

Here, we analyse Gatland’s latest selection. LIAM WILLIAMS Wears his preferred No.15 jersey for the first time since the Lions series having being deployed on the wing by Saracens and by Gatland against Australia.

Was one of Wales’ chief attacking threats against the Wallabies and will be a key weapon in the home side’s blueprint to try and open up the Georgian defence.

There are many who believe Wales will benefit from the former Scarlet making a permanent switch to wearing the No15 shirt. ALEX CUTHBERT The Cardiff Blues winger endured a testing autumn 12 months ago, a player clearly shorn of confidence.

There have been shoots of recovery for his region and on his last Test appearance Cuthbert produced a lively 40 minutes against Tonga in the summer – scoring a fine individual try – before injury struck.

Certainly has ground to make up on rival wings Steff Evans and Hallam Amos. SCOTT WILLIAMS The absence of the injured Jonathan Davies leaves a major hole in the Welsh three-quarter line and it’s his Scarlets team-mate who is handed the initial job of filling the void.

Williams wasn’t originally selected in Gatland’s autumn squad, but injuries to Tyler Morgan and Davies have seen him quickly thrust into the midfield spotlight.

Hasn’t been at his best for the Scarlets at the start of the season, where he is normally seen in the No. 12 jersey, but is a proven performer on the internatio­nal stage and has deputised for Davies at outside centre in the past. OWEN WATKIN The Ospreys centre started the season playing in the Principali­ty Premiershi­p for Bridgend – on Saturday he’ll be making his first internatio­nal start.

Saw last season wiped out by a serious knee injury, but his try-scoring performanc­e against Saracens in the Champions Cup highlighte­d his potential. HALLAM AMOS Made a lively cameo off the bench against Australia last weekend, decorated by a superb finish for Wales’ late second try.

The Dragons youngster will be one of those with an opportunit­y to press for inclusion against the All Blacks. RHYS PRIESTLAND A welcome return from the internatio­nal wilderness.

Priestland’s Test career looked like being halted on 48 caps when he moved across the Severn to Bath, but the former Scarlets favourite has been a composed, assured presence at The Rec this season and benefits more than any from the Welsh Rugby Union’s new senior player selection policy. RHYS WEBB Missed the defeat to Australia because of a knee issue, but has been cleared to start against Georgia.

Gareth Davies was a mixed bag against the Wallabies and Webb will want to show he is a player Wales can ill-afford to discard before he heads to Toulon in the summer and becomes ineligible for internatio­nal selection.

At his best, one of the leading No. 9s in world rugby. NICKY SMITH Rob Evans set the bar high against Australia.

Smith, who had an impressive autumn last year, will want to follow suit, but his first job will be to ensure the Welsh set-piece is solid against opponents who will certainly scrummage all afternoon. KRISTIAN DACEY Dacey is another who flourishes in the loose and is a regular try-scorer for his region.

However, he and his front-row cohorts face a testing examinatio­n in the tight.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom