SEVEN UP: ARE THESE THE MEN WHO PIVAC MAY OPT FOR NEXT?
NOONE could accuse Steve Hansen of failing to hand chances to young players during his stint as Wales rugby coach.
Indeed, the New Zealander dished out Test debuts to 22 up-and-comers in the year before the 2003 World Cup.
It reached the point where some at Aberflyflanker RFC might have felt a decent game or two could put them in contention for a place in Hansen’s plans for the event in Australia.
His stint as national coach wasn’t typical, of course.
Rather than applying plasters over gaping wounds, Hansen came in and shot the patient.
For him, radical change was needed to check the malaise of the previous years.
It worked to an extent, as well, with
Wales performing unexpectedly strongly Down Under 19 years ago.
Others have not been so liberal in awarding caps in the years before World Cups, but under Warren Gatland there were eight Test debutants on average in the seasons leading into the 2011, 2015 and 2019 global bashes.
So what’s it to be for Wayne Pivac? He has already cast his net far and wide during his reign with Wales, capping 26 new players, but it would be a surprise if he didn’t give opportunities to a few more.
Here are some of those we think are now near the front of the queue to be awarded their stripes.
Among them are two Scarlets who could yet force their way into Pivac’s thinking. Indeed, one of them should have had a cap already, only for misfortune to strike in the most untimely manner.
HARRI O’CONNOR SCARLETS
Wales have a number of tighthead prop options behind their firstchoice Tomas Francis, including Dillon Lewis, Leon Brown and Sam Wainwright.
But all are still developing as Test-class scrummagers.
It seems fair to say O’Connor is still developing, full stop, with the youngster recently listed in the Scarlets’ transition group of players who are moving into professional rugby.
But he is rated highly out west.
Dwayne Peel had enough confidence in him to blood him at regional level and the word is he is a player with a significant future.
He certainly believes in himself, commenting recently on how he had shaped up on tour with Wales in the summer: “I fared well in the scrummaging sessions. That was totally fine.
“I pride myself on my scrummaging, but I want to be an all-rounder.
“I don’t just want to be a good scrummager who offers nothing because the way the game is evolving you could see games where there’s six scrums or there could be 15.
“Scrummaging needs to come first but I can offer a lot around the field as well.”
His words augur well.
JOSH MACLEOD SCARLETS
He had been booked for his debut cap against Scotland last year, only to sustain a training ground injury 30 minutes after being told he was in the side.
We’ll call that unlucky. Majorly unlucky.
Has his chance gone for good?
He’ll hope not.
Pivac obviously rates him and Macleod can play across the back row while being adept at winning turnovers.
He’ll need to engage his best form in the new season.
But if he can, a cap might yet come his way.
MICHAEL COLLINS OSPREYS
Not many players finished last season in better form than Collins.
He had been a calming influence at centre but Collins (circled, left) showed his versatility by switching to fullback, allowing the Ospreys to team up George North and Owen Watkin in midfield.
Such adaptability would surely have been noted by Wayne Pivac as he heads into a season that leads into a World Cup, with players who can play in more than one position worth their weight in gold.
An injury last autumn didn’t help former Scarlets man Collins, but he is a leader and it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Pivac will want to utilise him at some point this term.
DAFYDD JENKINS EXETER
He’s only 19, so it may be that Wales decide the college student needs more time to develop, and particularly as he plays in the second row, an area where L-platers are rarely seen at Test level.
But that the 6ft 7in, 18st 5lb Porthcawl Comprehensive School product is a prospect is not in doubt.
Jenkins has the commanding height to compete strongly at lineouts and is more than a bit impressive around the field, achieving turnovers and putting in multiple tackles.
The youngster also has an unquenchable will to win.
Such a quality was in evidence for Wales in their U20 Summer Series match against Georgia when the Eastern Europeans, who happened to have a driving maul for the ages, were applying intense pressure late on.
Forcing a short-range line-out at the final play of the game, they appeared more than likely to post the score that would have won them the game.
But Jenkins had other ideas. With minimal assistance, he leapt high to tap down the ball, displaying a combination of perfect timing and notable athleticism as he did so.
Minutes earlier he had turned over another opposition line-out in the Welsh 22.
He had made the decision that he wasn’t going to leave the field a loser on the day, and nor did he.
Whether he’ll figure for Wales before the next World Cup is uncertain given his age.
But his time will come soon enough.
JAMES RATTI CARDIFF
Wales have had plenty of time to assess Ratti, with the Cardiff back-rower featuring in two successive national squads without actually winning a cap.
Patience, then, has had to be the name of the game for the No. 8.
The hot competition in the Wales back row has meant he’s had to bide his time, but he offers something different with his hard-driving game and is a player who tends to cross the gain line.
He can also play at lock as well as in the middle of the back row.
The Georgia game this autumn might offer an opportunity for him to be blooded.
MORGAN MORRIS OSPREYS
Wales seem to have a blind spot over him, but not many players performed better for the Welsh sides in the United Rugby Championship last season.
Morris (circled, right) displayed a rare level of consistency with his skill at the breakdown, excellence in defence, purposeful carrying and finishing which led Ospreys
head coach Toby Booth to compare him with England’s Sam Simmonds, such is his ability to take opportunities deep in opposition territory.
Some question whether the former Swansea player is big enough for Test rugby, but smaller back-rowers have played at international level and he can also feature at openside.
All he can do is keep knocking on the door. Just maybe someone will eventually answer.
REGAN GRACE RACING 92
An Achilles injury will delay the start of Grace’s playing stint with Racing 92 after his switch from rugby league.
Potentially, it could have implications for his chances of playing for Wales at the World Cup.
But a positive take on matters is that he could start his stint in France with enough time to catch the eye of the Wales coaches.
There are whispers he could be ready in mid-season, but such optimism hasn’t been officially aired.
It won’t be easy for him because he’ll need time to not only move up the gears after his injury, but also to adapt to 15-a-side after his time in league.
But he is a devastating runner who scores tries for fun and the likelihood is Pivac will track his progress.