No Halfpenny... so Gatland shuffle his
WALES face a dilemma over who to pick at full-back against South Africa following Leigh Halfpenny’s failure to recover from concussion.
The knock-on effect could also have an impact on who plays at outside-half with Gareth Anscombe a candidate to drop back to No.15.
That would open the door for Dan Biggar, who was official man of the match in the 74-24 walloping of Tonga last weekend and is a topquality goal-kicker, to remain at pivot or it could create an opportunity for Rhys Patchell to start.
However, if Anscombe reclaims the No.10 jersey he donned in the wins over Scotland and Australia – Wales’ first against them for 10 years after 13 straight defeats – Liam Williams or Hallam Amos is likely to be at full-back.
Williams starred for the Lions in that position during their drawn Test series with World Cup holders New Zealand last year, but Wales head coach Warren Gatland prefers him as a winger.
However, switching him to fullback could open the way for George North, who has recovered from a ‘dead leg’, and Josh Adams, who was Gatland’s man of the match against Australia, to be Wales’ wide boys at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Amos shone for Wales at 15 during summer triumphs over South Africa and Argentina, but was ruled out of the start of the autumn campaign by a dislocated elbow.
But he has been formally added to Gatland’s squad and has a game under his belt with the Dragons in the Guinness PRO14.
Wales attack coach Rob Howley said Halfpenny’s injury gave somebody else an opportunity to stake a claim for the Six Nations and next year’s World Cup in Japan.
“We feel as if we have a lot strength in depth in the back-three from the Six Nations and summer tour,” he said.
“Selections a couple of years ago maybe did not take too long, but now it is a really healthy debate.
“It gives us an opportunity, maybe Liam can step up there, Gareth has played full-back and so has Hallam.
“There is a lot of opportunity for those players, so it’s just trying to get the right mix for selection against what is probably going to be our toughest opposition to date this autumn.”
Asked if it would be difficult to leave out Biggar, who moved past 500 points and into fourth on Wales’ all-time scoring list with a 14-point contribution against Tonga, with Wales keen to develop other playmakers at No.10, Howley replied: “Not really.
“Everyone has debated 10 for how many years in Welsh rugby and that will never change.
“With our 10s it is about the skillset. We have beaten Australia. We have done something right in that game and we have quality in the 10 position.
“They are all different and have individual qualities, but it is the collective cohesion we want to have as well.
“Gareth played particularly well against Australia, but equally Dan and Rhys did against Tonga.
“Dan led from the front against Tonga and we were very clinical and in game management, which facilitated the team, Dan was exceptional, while Rhys Patchell scored a fantastic individual try.”
Halfpenny is still suffering the effects of the concussion he suffered following an unpunished late tackle from Australia’s Samu Kerevi on November 10.
The incident left the Wales coaching team furious, with Gatland seeking clarification from top referee Nigel Owens as to why he thought match official Ben O’Keeffe decided against any punishment.
Wales are chasing their ninth victory in a row – the last time they achieved the feat was in 1999 when Howley was captain – as they seek to edge closer to the country’s record 11.
They have already made history by beating two southern hemisphere giants – South Africa in Washington and Australia – for the first time in the same year.
If they beat the Springboks it will be the first time they have had a clean sweep since the annual autumn Test series was extended to four fixtures.
Howley is expecting a massive battle against a South African team which is a different beast under new coach Rassie Erasmus, the former Munster boss, and has won in New Zealand, and beaten Australia, Argentina, France and Scotland since losing to Wales five months ago.
“It will be a highly-motivated South Africa and it has been a onescore game (in recent Wales wins),” said Howley.
“Rassie has taken over and, as a former back-rower, the contact area will be a crucial starting point for both teams.
“When we have played South Africa there seems to be a lot of aerial kicking