Pivac’s posers... the choices for coach as he weighs up how best to use summer
“WHO was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas?” So ran a query on the TV show Pointless.
The response?
“JR Ewing.” No cigar.
It isn’t known if Wayne Pivac is a fan of the daily quiz show, but he was out and about with questions he wanted answering himself over the weekend, ahead of picking his squad for Wales’ summer Tests against Argentina and Canada.
How much depth does he have in the absence of Wales’ 10 British and Irish Lions? How many youngsters should he include?
Should he give certain experienced players time off? Has Jarrod Evans kicked on after his frustrating experiences during the Six Nations, when he didn’t take the field for Wales despite being part of the squad? Is Jac Morgan ready for a call, and what about young Aneurin Owen – too soon, or not?
Whatever, the New Zealander saw two Welsh derbies had much to commend them in terms of entertainment value.
If the defensive play wasn’t always great, some of the attacking rugby dished up was easy on the eye and of good quality.
Which players stood out as Cardiff Blues beat the Scarlets in Llanelli and the Ospreys accounted for the Dragons in Newport? Who might interest Pivac for the coming games?
We took a close look...
Tomos Williams
THE Wales international may have been put in the shade by his half-back partner, but he still had a fine game in opposition to Kieran Hardy.
Some of his passing was top drawer, just in front of Jarrod Evans, inviting the fly-half to run onto the ball, and Williams put in a number of contestable box-kicks.
A points win over Hardy, then, for the Cardiff Blue.
Jarrod Evans
DENIED even a single minute of game-time by Wales in the Six Nations, but, evidently, none the worse for the experience.
Not for the first time this season, he appeared to frighten the Scarlets every time he had the ball. There was a try, committed defence, beautiful passing, accurate goalkicking and an all-round attacking threat.
His was a performance that should have cheered the Wales coach no end.
James Ratti
THERE have been plenty of indications that the lad from Swansea is on the up. Whenever he’s played for Cardiff Blues, he seems to have consistently racked up many tackles and also shown a willingness to carry.
And he’s looking more effective than ever since switching from lock to No.8.
The Scarlets found it hard to stop the 6ft 5in, 18st 4lb forward on the charge, with Ratti continually powering over the gain-line.
Just maybe, Wales might be
interested, with his versatility hardly hindering his chances.
Ben Thomas
HE’S settling nicely on the senior scene and starting to deliver on his big potential.
Not only can he beat a man, he is a nice footballer who can distribute intelligently, too.
Aneurin Owen is cut from the same cloth.
To mix metaphors, you wait a long time for a footballing centre to turn up, then two come along at once.
Ryan Elias
THE hooker’s stock fell amid the disarray of Wales’ line-out last autumn, even though the failure was collective with multiple changes up front not helping.
But he had a strong game against Cardiff Blues, fairly tearing forward with ball in hand at times.
On a difficult afternoon for the Scarlets, he fronted up.
Pivac would have been impressed.
Dane Blacker
HIS support play and willingness to track the ball came so close to securing the Scarlets an against-theodds comeback win in Llanelli. Blacker added a spark. Indeed, after he took the field the whole Scarlets team seemed to light up.
This effort came after his starring role against the Dragons last month.
If form counts for anything, he’ll feature in the Wales selectors’ deliberations for the summer. They certainly appear to have found another option.
Tom Rogers
THE youngster had few opportunities in attack but still emerged quietly in credit. In the first half he saved a try with last-ditch defence that saw Josh Turnbull hit into touch as he stretched for the line.
Rogers also claimed an important penalty turnover in the second period which he followed up by making the incursion that led to Blacker’s second try.
He still has lessons to learn, yes, but his raw ability isn’t in doubt.
Jac Morgan
IT’S one thing to shine when the going is good and your team are on top; quite another when the opposition are steaming over the gain-line, achieving fast ball and flicking sweet passes along their backline.
In the first half, in particular, last weekend Cardiff Blues were well on top against the Scarlets.
But Morgan didn’t go missing. He achieved a turnover and put in his quota of tackles.
Responding well to adversity counts for a lot.
Morgan Morris
WITH Justin Tipuric, the back-rower was right up there as one of the Ospreys’ best players at Rodney Parade.
Earlier this season, Toby Booth likened him to former Toulon back rower Steffon Armitage with his wide skill set. For those in doubt, that’s some compliment.
Morris has a multi-skilled game. Against the Dragons, he carried strongly, put in his share of hits and forced turnovers, helping to combat the threat of Ollie Griffiths at the breakdown.
Gareth Thomas
NO-ONE seems to have mentioned this guy in a Wales context of late, possibly because he had an injury that sidelined him for a number of weeks.
But he’s an outsider who’s worth keeping an eye on.
He’s returned to the Ospreys’ starting line-up and against the Dragons he won a number of scrum penalties, putting the squeeze on Leon Brown. When the Ospreys faced Ulster in Belfast earlier in the campaign, he again showed up well, while off the bench against Connacht he was outstanding. Under Booth and Duncan Jones, he’s been one of the big improvers at the Liberty this season.
It would be a surprise if Jonathan
Humphreys hadn’t asked the Ospreys coaches about him at the very least.
Nicky Smith
IF anyone wanted a reminder about Smith’s worth then they need only watch the final quarter of the match tape of the Dragons-Ospreys game.
Smith achieved a couple of turnovers with the breakdown skill of an accomplished openside, refusing to be hit off the ball, and he also pressured the Dragons scrum.
His ability to achieve those possession steals adds significant value.
Jonah Holmes
IF he’s not regional rugby’s man of the moment right now, then it’s hard to know who is.
Maybe he’s the in-form player in the entire Rainbow Cup.
The stats suggest he is, with Holmes having scored the most tries (4), made the most clean breaks (9), beaten the most defenders (21) and made the most metres (307).
The Ospreys struggled to handle him. (An early entry for understatement for year, that one)
Rio Dyer
THERE was more than one impressive Dragons wing on the field in Newport.
Dyer also had a fine game.
He’s young and at one point he seemed to overrun the ball instead of holding his depth, costing him a potential try.
But he has speed to burn and knows where the try line is.
Factor Ashton Hewitt into the mix, and the Dragons have a real cutting edge out wide.
Aneurin Owen
WALES have not had a footballing inside centre since Gavin Henson.
But this guy could really change things.
He lined up with a 13 on his back against the Ospreys, but he’s played much of his rugby at 12 and he appears to have the skills for that position, blessed as he is with a nice passing game, quick feet, the ability to spot a gap and a sharp rugby brain.
The youngster even did well in his post-match interview on Sunday, playing down his man-of-the-watch award and saying the most important thing was the team, and the team had lost, so, no, he wasn’t feeling especially happy at that point.
But Stephen Jones should feel pleased this youngster is coming through.
He looks the genuine article.