Put your feet up, lads... the Wales players who may get summer off
WALES coach Warren Gatland has revealed that senior players will be rested for this summer’s tour of the USA and Argentina.
Men who went on the Lions trip and older players who didn’t have much of an off season last year will be the likely recipients of a break.
So who exactly will sit out a tour which takes in a game against South Africa in Washington and two Tests versus the Pumas in Argentina?
And which youngsters and fringe figures will get the chance to shine in their absence?
ALUN WYN JONES
THE Wales skipper is the first confirmed absentee from the summer tour. Speaking after the second row’s man-of-the-match display against France, Gatland quipped that the 32-year is “getting a bit old now, so we need to look after him”.
He revealed there’s a plan in place for the next year or so in terms of the number of games Jones plays for club and country, because of his importance to Wales and the need to keep him fresh.
Part of that plan involves sitting out the trip to the USA and Argentina, which could open the door for youngsters like Seb Davies and Adam Beard, while Jake Ball will be back in contention along with Cory Hill and Bradley Davies.
KEN OWENS
THE Scarlets hooker has had a fullon couple of years, starting 17 Tests for Wales since June 2016 and also having the little matter of a Lions tour of New Zealand, where he played in six matches, including two of the Tests against the All Blacks.
On top of that, he’s skipper of his region and has some big games ahead as they look to defend their PRO14 title and continue their quest for Champions Cup glory.
So, the 31-year-old is a classic case of someone who would benefit from a break this summer.
That, in turn, would enable Elliot Dee to get more Test-starting experience, with Ryan Elias and Kristian Dacey other squad contenders.
TAULUPE FALETAU
THE Bath No.8 actually sat out two months of this season after picking up a knee injury in mid-December, which meant him missing the first three rounds of the Six Nations.
But he had a pretty demanding schedule prior to that, starting all three Tests on last summer’s Lions tour of New Zealand and figuring in all four of Wales’ autumn internationals.
So, he acknowledged he could benefit from a break.
“For me, it’s not about putting my feet up, it is a chance to get a full preseason which is not always the case,” he said.
“From that point of view, it will be great to do a full pre-season and go into next season flying.”
It would also enable Ross Moriarty to step in at No.8 and recapture some momentum after an injury-ravaged nine months.
LEIGH HALFPENNY
HALFPENNY’S importance to Wales was reasserted during the Six Nations both in his presence and his absence, as he re-established himself as the first-choice full-back.
So it’s important to get him fit and
firing for World Cup year, with his batteries recharged, as it’s been a busy season for him for club and country on the back of a Lions tour.
LIAM WILLIAMS
THE Lions Test full-back hasn’t had that much rugby in the last four months, so you could argue he will be fresher than others come the summer.
But it may be that the abdominal problem which has limited him during that period requires surgery. He hasn’t looked himself for Wales in the latest Championship and may well need to get the issue sorted once and for all, either by prolonged rest or an operation.
If he joins Halfpenny in missing the summer tour, that could pave the way for Hallam Amos to get a chance to show what he can do at 15.
DAN BIGGAR
FIVE games on an impressive Lions tour have been followed by another 19 for region and country this season, with more to come as the Ospreys look to make a late surge for Champions Cup qualification.
So, a break is in order, while Wales already know all about Biggar and what he brings to the party.
This summer provides an opportunity to have a further look at his flyhalf rivals Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Patchell in the Test arena.
GEORGE NORTH
LIKE Liam Williams, North has had limited rugby this season due to twice sustaining knee ligament damage.
So, do you take him on the summer trip to build on the really positive performance against Italy? Or, given he went on the Lions tour, do you hand him a break to get into peak condition for World Cup year?
If so, there are certainly a fair few young wing contenders vying for consideration in the shape of Steff Evans, Josh Adams, the versatile Hallam Amos and new boy Owen Lane.
SAM WARBURTON
NECK and knee surgery has meant Warburton taking the entire season off after his demanding duties as Lions skipper and he won’t be back up and running in time for the summer tour. Not that Wales are short of openside options!
JONATHAN DAVIES
HAVING been named Lions Man of the Series, the Scarlets centre was at the peak of his powers going into this season, only for a serious foot injury sustained in the final seconds against Australia to bring the curtain down on his campaign.
The focus now will be on getting him back in A1 condition for next term.
RHYS WEBB
THERE was some thought that Webb might be eligible for the tour, depending on exactly when his Toulon contract begins.
But with the scrum-half’s move to France excluding him from the World Cup plans, there would not be a great deal of point in taking him.
And now any suggestion that he could be involved has been scuppered once and for all with him ruled out until next season following knee surgery.