Roberts: Gats has tough calls

JAMIE Roberts says Warren Gatland faces his “biggest decision” over the coming weeks on whether to put his faith in the old guard for the World Cup or replace them with the next generation now.

After the heavy defeat to Ireland, many are expecting Wales to ring the changes and look to more youthful options ahead of the clash with Scotland next week. Former Wales centre Roberts doesn’t expect his old boss Gatland to make any snap decisions just yet but says the moment is coming.

“A little part of me thinks Warren might back that same team again going to Murrayfield,” he said on Scrum V.

“A little part of me thinks he’ll do that and go ‘right guys, this is last-chance saloon’.

“If they lose up in Murrayfield, there have to be changes.

“If they lose next weekend, they can’t win the tournament and it has to be about the World Cup and growing that next pool of players. But they’re still in the tournament.”

The Wales coach had been vocal about the reliance on senior stars when taking over, before naming a team with over 900 caps to face Ireland.

“It’s a tough call,” added Roberts. “It’s arguably the biggest decision Warren has got to make over the course of this Championship and leading into the Rugby World Cup.

“Does he try and give six or seven caps now to younger players ahead of the World Cup or rely on the older guard to take them through to what might be their last tournament? It’s a really, really tough balance to strike and I guess we’ll see that in the selection.

“Maybe not for Murrayfield, but I think definitely for England.”