PIVAC NAMES FIRST WALES SQUAD
NEW Wales coach Wayne Pivac has picked an exciting squad for his first match in charge, against the Barbarians, after succeeding Warren Gatland.
The November 30 uncapped fixture at the Principality Stadium gives us a pointer to the future, with plenty in the 35-strong party named by the Kiwi to whet the appetite of Welsh supporters. Here are the key headlines.
JOHNNY MCNICHOLL AND WILLIS HALAHOLO
THE New Zealanders have both recently qualified for Wales on residency and it’s not a surprise to see both in Pivac’s squad because facing the Barbarians is an ideal test of their worth.
McNicholl can play full-back, wing or centre and has the vision, skill and pace to bring something different to what had often been a predictable attack under Gatland.
Centre Halaholo is another exciting player with brilliant foot-work and the ability to dodge defenders rather than try to bulldoze through them.
There have been question marks about his defence but the more important the match the tighter it’s tended to be. We’ll see how he shows up in a couple of weeks.
THE UNCAPPED YOUNG GUNS TAINE Basham can play anywhere in the back-row and couldn’t have failed to impress a watching Pivac with a hat-trick of tries for the Dragons in their win over Castres in the European Challenge Cup at the weekend.
He’s just 20, but starred at the 2018 Under-20 World Cup and has often been the Dragons’ best player in adversity.
Basham is one for the future and Pivac clearly wants to give him an early feel of his Wales environment.
The same can be said of Shane Lewis-Hughes. He starred for Wales during a memorable Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam three years ago at lock.
His appearances for Cardiff Blues, mainly in the back-row, have been sporadic but the 22-year-old is a fine athlete made for the modern game.
Winger Ashton Hewitt, the fastest man in Welsh rugby, was close to a cap a couple of years ago, but concussion and a major shoulder injury sidelined him.
He’s returned to the fray for the Dragons this campaign and certainly hasn’t lost any of his verve.
RETURN OF WALES’ MAJOR WORLD CUP ABSENTEES
PROPS Rob Evans and Samson Lee were shock omissions from Gatland’s squad for the World Cup.
But the Scarlets pair have immediately returned to the international fold under their old boss.
Loose-head prop Evans possesses the skills that make him a perfect fit in the fast-handling and high-tempo game favoured by Pivac and new backs chief Stephen Jones.
With Tomas Francis sidelined long-term by injury, Wales will need a solid scrum from the off in matches, and the experienced Lee has the potential to be the rock demanded by national scrummaging coach Jonathan Humphreys.
STEFF EVANS, SEB DAVIES AND OLLIE GRIFFITHS
DANCING winger Evans fell out of favour at the Scarlets and with Wales last season, and missed out on World Cup selection.
But Pivac has rewarded his form this season, while lock or back-rower Davies has an opportunity to prove a point because he’s been an enigma at Cardiff Blues who needs to consistently produce more compelling performances.
Many people see Griffiths, who like his regional teammate Basham can play anywhere in the back-row, as Wales’ best openside flanker prospect.
His nickname is ‘Warby’, after Sam Warburton, who will be a technical advisor with Wales, but, like the former Wales and Lions captain, he has suffered from more than his fair share of injuries.
THE WORLD CUP NUCLEUS
ALTHOUGH Gatland’s captain Alun Wyn Jones hasn’t been included, apparently because of injury, and Wales’ England-based contingent are unavailable, there’s still 22 of the squad which reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Pivac could field a spine of Ken Owens at hooker, Jake Ball at lock, Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric in the back-row, Gareth Davies at scrum-half, Hadleigh Parkes at centre and Leigh Halfpenny at full-back.
THE NO.10 JERSEY
IT will be contested by Blues’ Jarrod Evans and Dragons signing Sam Davies.
Both are talented footballers with the tools to employ the attacking plan of Pivac.
Former world under-20 player of the year Davies is the more experienced and choosing which one is to start against the Barbarians will be an intriguing task.
It will be a huge opportunity for them to put down a real marker to wear No.10 in the Six Nations opener against Italy in Cardiff at the start of February.