WHILE LIONS WILL GET TOP BILLING, SUMMER MONTHS COULD BE CRUCIAL FOR PIVAC’S WALES
THOUGH the eyes of the rugby universe will be on South Africa this summer, it’s a pretty important period for
Wales.
With some star names wearing a red jersey of a different kind, it will be the ideal opportunity for head coach Wayne Pivac to try some new faces and combinations.
Some of them may become integral parts of the next two years as Pivac builds towards the 2023 World Cup.
With little pressure on results, a game against Canada and two against Argentina gives him the freedom to experiment.
So what might he want to take a look at?
WAINWRIGHT AT NO.8
WHEN Pivac took over the buzz word was ‘evolution’.
The part of his squad that most urgently needs development is No.8. Yes, there is the world class Taulupe Faletau, but then what?
It was a question that lingered over Warren Gatland’s reign – though Ross Moriarty filled in admirably – and it continues to hang over Pivac, particularly given Moriarty’s recent trouble with injuries.
Welsh rugby has struggled to produce out-and-out No.8s for years and it’s resulted in an over-reliance on Faletau’s brilliance.
Dragons back-rower Dan Baker was once seen as the natural successor but was robbed of what could have been huge years in his career by a terrible injury.
Harrison Keddie is slowly beginning to deliver on the promise he showed at age-grade level and Morgan Morris will be grabbing Pivac’s attention.
But this summer could well be about Wainwright’s transition to No.8. He has all the athletic attributes and finer skills required to be a success in the position. To boot, he’s an intelligent rugby player.
Pivac may well want to see what Wainwright can do in the position before looking, perhaps, at someone like Morris, who has done as much as anyone to earn a call-up this season.
One way or another, whether it be Wainwright, Moriarty, Morris or Keddie, Pivac will want a clearer picture of who the next cab off the rank will be when Faletau decides he’s had enough.
If it’s creativity you want...If it’s a bit of creativity you’re looking for, then this should pique your interest.
Jarrod Evans and Willis Halaholo are two of the most lively attackers in the Guinness PRO14. They are not without their faults as a partnership but with ball-in-hand, they cause chaos and absolutely terrorise defences.
Doing it at domestic level is one thing but, clearly, doing it at Test level is another question entirely.
They know each other’s games inside out, having featured together many times at the Arms Park. It’s tough to find many arguments against giving this a crack in the Test arena.
Halaholo has proven himself capable in the red jersey and both players were in sensational form in the early part of this year, causing significant problems for the Scarlets in particular.
Evans has to be given a chance to prove himself under Pivac so why not put Halaholo beside him?
It’s been years since we’ve seen that level of creativity in the Welsh midfield. Of course there are question marks over whether their tendencies to throw caution to the wind will work at international level.
But if you’re not going to try it now, when are you?
DON’T SLEEP ON COREY...
CALLS for Domachowski to earn a Wales call-up earlier this year were credible.
Wales don’t necessarily have an issue on the loose-head with Wyn Jones and Nicky Smith two top props and Rhys Carre bursting with potential.
But Domachowski - who has kept Carre out of the Cardiff Blues team at times this year - should be part of the conversation.
At 24, there is plenty of growth left in him and his best years are likely in the future, not the past.
He possesses a sizeable frame and has few holes in his game. You never find out if a player can make the jump from regional to international rugby unless he’s given the chance. See Josh Navidi.
Domachowski deserves his shot. THE LONG TERM OPTION AT 12? Serious questions will be asked if Keiran Williams is not part of Pivac’s squad this summer.
He offers something totally different to Halaholo in that No.12 jersey but he has been an absolute revelation at the Ospreys this season.
Comparisons to the great Scott Gibbs have always been a little premature but there are uncanny similarities in both their stature and their game.
With his low centre of gravity, Williams is devilishly difficult to bring down and regularly sends the Ospreys flying over the gainline.
He’s also deceptively quick and has footwork to match. He can run over and he can go around you, making him extremely hard to stop.
There are kinks in his game - the timing of his run can be off on occasions - but, on the whole, he’s a mightily exciting prospect.
Could well be the long term option at 12 for Wales. It would be a considerable shock if he were to still be uncapped by the time next season kicks off.
NEW FACES ON THE FLANK? SIMILARLY, jaws will hit the floor if outbound Scarlets flanker Jac Morgan isn’t involved.
The Ospreys’ summer signing has had an equally impressive breakthrough year in professional rugby, equalling the PRO14 turnover record this term.
A former Wales under-20s skipper, he also harbours an old head on young shoulders. Speak to anyone who’s ever worked with him and they’ll only have positive things to say.
The latest product of the great Welsh openside factory, he looks to have a long future at the top of the game.
On the blindside could well be a player who has been quietly brilliant season for the Ospreys. Will Griffiths is regularly praised by head coach Toby Booth and rightly so.
He’s a bit different to the blindside’s we’ve become accustomed to in Wales. Not so much a chop-tackling destroyer, he has a bit more subtlety to his game.
Morgan and Griffiths, on paper, has a nice balance and the pair would appear to compliment each other well.
It would come as no surprise at all were they given a run out together, although the likes of James Botham and Taine Basham might have something to say about it.