As injuries mount, how Wales could start in Six Nations
WALES begin their assault on the Six Nations in four weeks’ time with Warren Gatland having to deal with an exhaustive injury list and worries over a number of his other stars.
Lions stars Jonathan Davies (foot), Sam Warburton (knee) and Taulupe Faletau (knee), along with lock enforcer Jake Ball (shoulder) and Dan Lydiate (biceps muscle), are definitely out of the big kick-off against an on-the-up Scotland in Cardiff.
Back-rower Ross Moriarty has had back trouble, while Ollie Griffiths (ankle), James King (shoulder) and Dan Baker (knee) are also crocked.
Lions full-back Liam Williams has yet to return from the abdominal injury he suffered during Wales’ narrow win over Georgia last November, while wing George North had to be substituted after coming on as a replacement for Northampton against Harlequins.
And winger Hallam Amos, who was a major plus during Tests with Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa, is another doubt after spraining his right ankle.
So, just who will coach Gatland pick to face a Scotland team that came so close to beating the All Blacks before running riot against Australia?
HOW WALES COULD LINE-UP 15 Leigh Halfpenny His counter-attacking hasn’t been pulling up any trees but his positional play in defence, bravery while tackling and under the high ball, and his tactical kicking remain strong. Add in Halfpenny’s prowess as a goal-kicker and it would be difficult to leave him out. It’s whether he starts at full-back or wing. I reckon it will be the former.
14 Liam Williams The hugely-popular ‘Sanjay’ is due back in the next couple of weeks but, if he proves his fitness, he will start in the back-three versus Scotland. Llanelli product Josh Adams (Worcester) is top try-scorer in the Aviva Premiership and could come into the equation for a place in the squad.
13 Scott Williams This isn’t a certainty because Wales could go a number of different ways, depending on what tactics they want to employ. with Welsh-qualified New Zealander Hadleigh Parkes another option.
12 Owen Williams If anything, it’s more difficult to determine who Gatland and his backs guru Rob Howley will pick at inside-centre. Owen Williams was assured against Australia and New Zealand, seeming to be a player who has time on the ball, so if the experiment of having an extra play-maker in midfield is to continue would seem to be likely to make his Six Nations bow against Scotland.
11 George North He fell awkwardly after being tackled during Northampton’s 50-point drubbing against Harlequins and later went off, which will be a concern as it was his return following two months out with a knee injury. However, assuming it’s not serious, he has a few weeks to get match fit and up to speed to be picked ahead of rookie international Steff Evans.
10 Dan Biggar Almost certain to continue at outside-half despite Wales struggling to cross the whitewash last year with him as primary on-field orchestrator.
9 Rhys Webb Remains Wales’ most polished scrum-half and the only reason, barring injury, not to pick him would be that he becomes ineligible at the end of the season when he links up with French club Toulon.
1 Rob Evans Until he suffered a blip against South Africa when hardly anything went right for him, Evans had been one of the form players of the autumn campaign with his ball skills coming to the fore against Australia and South Africa.
2 Ken Owens ‘Cannonball’ Ken was a substitute for the Lions in the Tests with the All Blacks last year and had a decent autumn series for Wales. Up-andcomers Elliot Dee and Kristian Dacey are works in progress.
3 Tomas Francis Samson Lee hasn’t played since before the autumn Tests because of injury and, even
though he’s purported to be on the way back, his long lay-off will count against him when it comes to a specialist position like tight-head prop, giving Francis his chance.
4 Cory Hill Gatland and forwards supremo Robin McBryde like the leadership qualities, work-rate, line-out skill and tackling numbers of the Dragons captain and he was a fixture in the autumn following Jake Ball’s shoulder dislocation.
5 Alun Wyn Jones There won’t be any discussion about this one because the lock will be Wales’ captain for the Six Nations.
6 Aaron Shingler Without Warburton, Lydiate and probably Moriarty, the athletic Shngler is likely to retain the blindside flanker’s jersey. He had a solid autumn, being Wales’ primary target at the line-out with his mobility and ball-handling skill also coming in handy.
7 Justin Tipuric There’s been a clamour for ‘Cubby Boi’ James Davies to be included in the squad and the Scarlets’ man may finally make the initial cut. But it’s hard to see Tipuric not being at openside flanker.
8 Josh Navidi Proved during the autumn Tests he can cut it at the top level, when he was a revelation at openside flanker. But, with Faletau, Moriarty, King and Baker all injured, Navidi may have to be pressed into emergency duty at No.8, a role in which he has had plenty of experience at Cardiff Blues.