Why Navidi’s name should be one of the first on squad list for Gatland
AS the days count down towards May 6, more and more potential Lions squads are doing the rounds.
Virtually every pundit and journalist has had a crack at picking the British and Irish Lions squad they expect to be named on Thursday.
They’re naturally not all the same, with little changes here and there. The odd bolter, the rare big omission.
But perhaps the most worrying trend is what happens when you pull up many of the squads on your laptop, hit ‘ctrl+f’ and tap in six little letters.
By the time you’ve typed in ‘Nav’, odds are you’re hit with the reality there are zero results on this page.
Seemingly, many of the Lions squads doing the rounds by ex-players, pundits and journalists are low on one crucial ingredient - Josh Navidi.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion and it’s just as likely the Wales flanker isn’t named in Gatland’s squad on Thursday than he is, but it’s hard to escape the feeling that Navidi isn’t getting the recognition he’s due.
Sure, the back-row selection is incredibly competitive - with all the talk about how you can’t leave Hamish Watson behind, how Billy Vunipola is worth taking despite Taulupe Faletau and CJ Stander already being on the plane and why Sam Simmonds is worth a punt despite not playing for England in three years.
But the lack of noise around Navidi feels a little odd.
The Cardiff Blues man has been crucial to the success of Wales since he forced his way onto the Test scene in 2017 - four years after his first cap.
That autumn campaign and Navidi’s performances saw former All Black coach Steve Hansen ask Warren Gatland “Where did you get that kid with the dreadlocks?”
Since then, he’s provided the backbone to two Six Nations titles and a World Cup semi-final.
Crucially, he wasn’t available for that semi against South Africa, when Wales and Gatland fell just short against the Springboks in his absence.
How Wales could have done with him that night in Yokahama.
His work at the breakdown on both sides of the ball has helped Wales consistently secure ball in midfield, allowing Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric to thrive in the wider channels as they have expanded their game.
He also, crucially for South Africa, carries well above his weight without relying solely on physicality.
Twelve years ago, the Lions - with Gatland as forwards coach - tried to go toe-to-toe with South African brute force with David Wallace at openside and neglected breakdown nous as a result, allowing the Boks to get on top in that facet.
Speaking about it recently, South Africa’s Heinrich Brussow told the XV about how the Boks were glad to see Ireland’s Wallace, rather than the smaller-built breakdown specialist, Martyn Williams.
“It’s funny, because Gatland [the Wales head coach at the time] didn’t really pick Williams at openside when Wales played against South Africa either,” says Gold. “I remember the one game where Williams did in fact start for Wales in Cardiff.
They murdered us at the breakdown and we were lucky to pull off a close win.
“We caught the Lions off guard at the breakdown in the early parts of the series. To be honest, that wasn’t really part of the plan, we were more focused on the set-piece battle. But that success at the breakdown gave us a chance to win penalties and build scoreboard pressure through our goal-kicking sharpshooters.”
Selecting Navidi would ensure that’s unlikely to happen again.
Then there’s his work defensively, with his tackle choice almost always impeccable. As well as his breakdown work, he can often slow down ruck speed with his wide selection of tackles.
If you draw up a list of the backrow talents Wales have faced in recent years, odds are Navidi has nullified them somehow.
Billy Vunipola, David Pocock, CJ Stander. Their threats have all been blunted by Navidi.
Looking at the options available to
Gatland, his back-row selection could be a little openside-heavy with Tipuric, Tom Curry and Hamish Watson all expected to tour.
Versatile second-row Tadhg Beirne is expected to offer something at 6, but if you’re looking at a blindside selection who can nullify the Springboks’ physical threats and bring out the best of his fellow back-rowers, it’s hard to look beyond Navidi.
That’s why it’s so strange to see his name cropping up so little in conversation.
Gatland has already faced the Springboks in a crucial match without Navidi.
He’ll think long and hard before he does so again.
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