Who are the young contenders to step up when Alun Wyn does wave goodbye?
THE first thing to stress is the sheer magnitude of the task. The second thing to doubleunderline is that it probably won’t need to be tackled for a while yet, for, like the good son of Swansea that he is, Alun Wyn Jones can be expected to rage and rage against the dying of the light on his Test career.
He is that remarkable phenomenon, a rugby player who has actually improved in what are supposed to be his twilight years as a player.
A stat the other day suggested that since the start of 2019, he has made more combined tackles and carries (362) than any other tier 1 Test player. Just looking at hits alone, he’s still a player apart, with 244, ahead of Justin Tipuric (217).
But the assumption is that time catches up with everyone at some point, so one day Wales will have to face up to one of their greatest-ever players no longer being around.
It may not happen for a couple of years yet.
Maybe Jones will be able to push through to the next World Cup – don’t rule it out, with Victor Matfield showing that great Test locks can endure by playing until he was 38.
But, at some point, Welsh rugby will need to look around to see what’s coming through in the lock position for the post-AWJ age.
Adam Beard will be there – of course he will. But what other second rows are on the conveyor belt?
We took a look at the next generation of locks who are emerging...
BEN CARTER
There are some locks who use snarling aggression and raw intimidation as their selling point.
Ben Carter isn’t one of them. The 6ft 6in, 18st 4lb Dragon stays cool in the heat of battle and goes about his business in an efficient, intelligent way.
“I try to keep a calm head more than most and maybe I’m not as aggressive as others, but I feel that helps me in terms of line-out calling and other areas,” he said in a recent interview on the Welsh Rugby Union’s website.
So indispensable was he to Wales U20s in the Six Nations that he played in every minute of every game, and while he wasn’t the team’s official captain, his leadership qualities were to the fore each time he took the field.
How promising is he?
“We enjoyed watching Ben’s progress with the U18s in 2018-19,” said Wales U20s coach Gareth Williams.
“Between seeing him up close in training, watching him in matches, getting the opinion of our experience U18 coaches Chris Horsman and Geraint Lewis, we were aware we had a strong second-row candidate coming through.
“Within our environment he demonstrated a high level of performance and his work in the tight was overlooked publicly, despite it playing a huge part in our progression through the competition.
“He would carry dynamically, do a lot of unseen work in the defence, and his robustness in playing every minute of every match was impressive.
“We are excited in Ben’s potential, as we are with numerous players, and we look forward to working with the Dragons in moving his development forward again next season.”
At 19, Carter is one to look out for.
RHYS DAVIES
Davies is coming back to Welsh rugby with the Ospreys, having spent time at Bath, and he’s another who the grapevine suggests we should keep an eye on.
One close observer of the scene over the border reckoned he could be a Wales international within a few years.
Davies is a bit older than Carter, at 21, and the former Wales U20s player picked up some useful experience in England. At 6ft 6in and 17st 13lb, he’s not short of stature.
The Ospreys feel they may have picked up a gem.
“He has progressed tremendously this season, putting in some excellent physical performances at both English Premiership and European levels,” said rugby general manager Dan Griffiths.
“At 21 he has fantastic potential.”
JAMES RATTI
When he left the Ospreys last year, James Ratti could have been forgiven for wondering what the future held for him.
But he went on to have a fine season with Cardiff Blues, showing himself to be a player with a big appetite for defence and hard work in all areas.
He had actually stepped down a level to join the Cardiff club side.
But he caught the eye and earned elevation to the Blues regional setup.
His contribution over the campaign added up to an excellent effort that augurs well for the future.
MORGAN JONES AND JAC PRICE
Let’s bracket the Scarlets pair together as they were earlier this season the subject of a glowing combined compliment.
“They are outstanding prospects,” said a west Wales source.
“Morgan is 6ft 7in and good in the line-outs, while Jac is a grafter who doesn’t stop.
“They remind me a bit of Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones in their younger days.”
The Scarlets duo featured for Wales at the U20s World Rugby Championship last year, both playing in the 8-7 win over New Zealand.
There are high hopes out west that as they mature they will become significant players in the set-up.
WILL GRIFFITHS
The Ospreys had hoped the youngster would do a job for them during an injury-hit 2019-20 campaign.
But Griffiths himself joined the list of casualties with a knock that effectively took him out of proceedings for the season.
Good things come to those who wait, however, and the Liberty Stadium region’s faith in the Swansea RFC product is unshaken.
He is seen as a leader who, according to his ex-director of rugby at Swansea, Richard Lancaster, is out of the same mould as Alun Wyn Jones.
“Not only is he a leader who’s an athlete, he’s also very skilful and plays the game with a bit of a swagger – a nice confidence, rather than arrogance,” said Lancaster. “He’s an exciting prospect. “Even at his age he looks good enough to be an Ospreys regular.