Chosen ones picked Six Nations quest?
next front-row cab off the rank could be.
That would appear to be Cardiff Blues’ Dillon Lewis, who was capped last summer and missed out on the autumn after struggling with fitness – but that is not a problem this time around and you’d expect him to get the call.
HOOKERS
Ken Owens, Scott Baldwin, Elliot Dee Ken Owens is now a shoo-in, after a stunning 2017 that saw him pick up a PRO12 title with the Scarlets and tour New Zealand with the Lions.
Elliot Dee is one for the future and is likely to be picked as he continues his development, while a resurgent Scott Baldwin might just pip Kristian Dacey, who has not played too much rugby for the Blues since the autumn.
LOCKS
Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Seb Davies, Adam Beard, Cory Hill Despite Jake Ball being ruled out after suffering a dislocated shoulder against the All Blacks in November, it’s hard to see any significant changes in this department from the autumn.
Ospreys’ lock Bradley Davies should come in for the injured Scarlet, while the rest of the personnel is likely to remain the same - unless Bath’s Luke Charteris gets a recall.
BACK ROW
Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Ellis Jenkins, James Davies For so long, an area of strength for Wales, few positions have been decimated by injury as much as the back-row has in recent times.
Gatland will be without the triumvirate of Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau that had defined the most successful part of his reign, meaning there are opportunities for Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi to carry on where they left off in the autumn. But there’s hope on the horizon. The return of Dragons-bound Ross Moriarty is a big boost, while it finally feels like the stars are aligning for Scarlets openside James Davies to receive a long overdue call-up, with Ellis Jenkins and Justin Tipuric also battling it out at No.7.