Who will step up to the plate in the search for ball-carrying forwards?
TOP of Warren Gatland’s to-do list after the autumn, according to pundits and former coaches, is the chronic shortage of ball-carrying forwards in Wales.
Revered Lions, Wasps and Scotland coach Sir Ian McGeechan fears Wales will continue to lag behind the other home nations unless Gatland can uncover or develop players of the Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola and Iain Henderson ilk .... and soon!
You only have to look at the heartbeat of the All Blacks when Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock are in tandem in the All Blacks boilerhouse.
Without strong carriers you have the likes of Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx ruling the breakdown roost as he did in Cardiff on Saturday.
So, who are the men who could provide the answers for Wales looking ahead to the World Cup?
We give you the candidates... LEON BROWN The Dragons tighthead remains very much a work in progress on the Test stage having made his Wales bow in the opening autumn international against Australia.
Brown has the physical attributes of a raw-boned 21-year-old to be challenging the likes of Tomas Francis and Samson Lee for the Wales No.3 jersey in the future.
Very much in the mould of England’s up and coming front-rowers Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler, Brown looks a natural with ball in hand and packs plenty of horsepower in a 6ft 2in and 19st 8lbs chassis. JAKE BALL Has the credentials and age on his side to be viewed as Wales’ answer to Launchbury or Henderson.
The only thing holding back the 28-times capped 26-year-old at present is the serious shoulder injury picked up against New Zealand last month that is likely to lead to a lengthy spell on the sidelines. ROSS MORIARTY His back-row grunt was missing all autumn as the Lions back-rower battles more injury problems.
The Dragons-bound 23-year-old has played just one game for Gloucester this season following back problems picked up in the opening game of the Lions tour in the summer and now has more trouble in the same area.
The 17-times capped battering ram is a formidable ball carrier and can give Wales that go forward momentum in the wide channels, McGeechan is looking for. SEB DAVIES Already a dab hand in the wide channels and a potent force with the ball in his mitts.
Gatland had the young Blues lock playing at No.8 against Georgia which resulted in a hung jury over the experiment, but definitely a Test second row in waiting with the chance to join some of the totems of the Test game. TOMAS FRANCIS May seem a left field choice, but the Exeter Chiefs front-rower has nailed down a place in Warren Gatland’s squad over the autumn.
When you see the impact Tadhg Furlong has on Ireland and had on the Lions in the summer with ball in hand questions must be raised why can’t Wales utilise the giant 21st 2lb and 6ft 1in frame of Francis in the same way?
Improving all the time in the set-piece, but can Wales get a tune out of him with ball in hand? ROB EVANS Getting better with every cap and has the hands of a conjurer in open field play.
With Brown snapping at the heels of Lee and Francis on the tighthead, Wales could well have some potent ball-carriers in the tight five in the future. KEN OWENS Not called ‘Cannonball’ for nothing and despite being adept with his lineout throwing, also a force taking the ball up into the soft underbelly of opposing defences.
Has the innate ability to bounce off would-be tacklers.