Time for three of Wales’ big Lions to roar again if they are to stay in frame
THEY are three celebrated Welsh rugby names, with Test appearances for the Lions on their CVs, but all face huge battles in the season ahead.
Injuries wrecked last term for Dan Lydiate and did nothing to help Liam Williams, while Justin Tipuric seemed to feel the effects of a gruelling two years that saw him feature for the Lions in 2017 and still appear on the starting grid on the opening night of the Guinness PRO14 season.
Others have emerged to challenge the trio, who boast 174 caps between them.
MARK ORDERS assesses where each of them stands heading towards the World Cup in Japan...
At the 2011 World Cup Shaun Edwards described Lydiate as his favourite player, so immense had been his defence in that tournament. He had returned from injury to face Ireland and produced one of the displays of his life, putting in 24 tackles without a single miss, many of them hits that were off the chart when it came to courage.
He was player of the Six Nations the following season, after picking up two man-of-the-match awards, and in 2014 made 66 tackles without missing one. Despite that remarkable stat, there were murmurings of dissatisfaction from some quarters about Lydiate, with some complaining that he needed to add a few extra strings to his bow. At the time, he commented ruefully: “I’m doing the same as I was doing a season or two ago yet people are criticising me.”
He did look to kick on, only to see his efforts ambushed by countless misfortunes.
And yet, sport being sport, he may just sense a glimmer of an opportunity. Sam Warburton has retired as a player and Shingler is out until Christmas with a knee problem.
It isn’t inconceivable that a blast of vintage Lydiate could yet convince Gatland and Edwards to again draft Welsh rugby’s long-time tackling champion into their plans. Defence matters, and few are more adept at that particular art than Lydiate.
But, to have any hope at a time when others like Moriarty, Jenkins, Shingler, Ollie Griffiths, Josh Navidi and Seb Davies are in the mix, he needs to stay fit and he needs to engage his best form. Wales against Georgia last November.
Thereafter, a few glimpses of brilliance aside for Saracens, he didn’t look himself.
His season hit a low with a completely-out-of-sorts performance against Italy in the Six Nations, when he missed a key tackle and later found himself sin-binned. The harder he tried, the more his touch seemed to desert him.
And all the while, young guns such as Steff Evans, Josh Adams and Hallam Amos have been doing what they can to impress. Adams, especially, was outstanding on tour this summer, while Evans is a catalyst and Amos has class to spare.
Throw Leigh Halfpenny, George North and possibly Gareth Anscome into the back-three mix and the competition for places becomes white hot. If Warren Gatland takes just five back-three players to the World Cup, then some quality performers are going to miss out.
The onus, then, is on Williams to rediscover his form.
At his best his worth is not in dispute. The former scaffolder is recklessly brave and skilful with it: he has an eye for a gap and can ruin even the best defensive structure with his pace and willingness to attack from anywhere.
But some have questioned his decision-making and feel his distribution isn’t the greatest.
It would be a big call to downgrade him in Wales’ plans.
But he does need to respond. He is someone you would want on your side in the trenches — and indeed at a World Cup. The All Blacks respect him after his efforts with Wales in 2016 and with the Lions in 2017, which speaks volumes.
He should be good enough to do what is required.
But nothing is certain.