Pivac hoping numbers add up as he looks to fill No.8 spot against Fijians
WE’VE got flankers coming out of our ears in Wales right now. If you just look at recent times, you’ve had the likes of Justin Tipuric, Ellis Jenkins, Taine Basham, Josh Navidi, Ross Moriarty, Dan Lydiate, James Botham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Josh Turnbull, James Davies and Aaron Shingler all lining up there at international level.
Then you’ve got the quality uncapped contingent in Josh Macleod, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Will Boyde, Christ Tshiunza, Will Griffiths, Sam Lewis and Dan Thomas, plus the one-cap Ollie Griffiths.
It’s some list.
Yet when it comes to No.8, it’s a different story.
There, the cupboard is somewhat more bare, and particularly so right now going into this Sunday’s showdown with Fiji at the Principality Stadium, Wales’ penultimate autumn international before a finale against Australia.
It has become a bit of a problem position.
For some six or seven years, there was not so much of an issue because Taulupe Faletau was just always there.
Between 2011 and 2018, he was a virtual ever-present in the side, barely missing a game and establishing himself as a genuine world-class performer, delivering a remarkable level of consistency.
But for the last three-and-a-half years, he has been plagued by injuries, limiting his appearances, and he is sidelined again now with an ankle problem which has ruled him out of the autumn campaign.
In his absence, various players have stepped into the No. 8 breach, including Moriarty, Navidi, Seb Davies and, most recently, Wainwright.
Experimenting with Cardiff second row Davies in the role was something of an acknowledgement by Warren
Gatland that there was a need to build depth in the position.
The bottom line is Welsh rugby just doesn’t tend to produce huge ball-carrying No. 8s like Duane Vermeulen or Billy Vunipola.
We have been so fortunate to have the all-round game of Faletau there over the years, with the three-times Lions tourist regularly topping the tackling and carrying charts.
Amid his recurring injury issues, other options have had to be explored, with versatile forwards being asked to slot in at the base of the scrum.
The lack of specialist depth in the position is something Wayne Pivac would have been very aware of when he took over at the helm and he pretty quickly identified a solution in the shape of Wainwright.
Gatland had always utilised the Dragons breakaway as a blindside flanker, but fellow Kiwi Pivac saw something different in him.
He was convinced Wainwright was best suited to playing at No.8, with his footwork and speed coming off the base of the scrum potentially a real asset.
Well, the 24-year-old’s performances in the opening two autumn internationals against New Zealand and South Africa have certainly vindicated Pivac’s thinking.
He has been one of the real pluses with the way he has run the ball back at the opposition, taking responsibility on the drop-outs, getting away from the scrum rapidly and looking for space to utilise his pace and athleticism when countering from deep.
So it definitely looks as though Wales have found a No.8 who will be
there for many years to come, plus Faletau should also be on the scene for a fair while yet as he is only just on the point of turning 31 and his move from Bath to Cardiff next season will enable his game-time to be managed.
But, in the short-term, there is a void to fill.
Wainwright was forced off against the Springboks after taking a heavy blow to his right shoulder in tackling Frans Steyn on 50 minutes.
He immediately crooked his arm as he got to his feet, which is never a good sign, and he was in obvious discomfort.
After soldiering on for a couple of minutes, he had to admit defeat and left the field to be replaced by Seb Davies.
Now one hopes it’s nothing too serious and may be just a stinger.
But after starting the first two matches and taking that big bang, you would imagine he would be wrapped in cotton wool now until the final game of the campaign against the Wallabies, especially given he is the only recognised No.8 in the squad.
So, if that is the case, who fills in for him versus Fiji?
Faletau’s rolled ankle rules him out, Moriarty and Navidi are both sidelined with shoulder damage, while Seb Davies hasn’t played there for three years and is viewed primarily as a lock/blindside by Pivac.
Could Wales maybe look outside the squad? Well, the options are pretty limited there, particularly in terms of international experience, reflecting that depth issue.
Morgan Morris would be one contender as he has figured a good amount at No. 8 for the Ospreys. He is relatively short for the position at 6ft, but he is an explosive carrier and also excellent over the ball.
James Ratti is another uncapped candidate, having been successfully converted from the second row by Cardiff coach Dai Young.
There had been high hopes for fellow Arms Park back rower Sam Moore, who was once the subject of an international tug-of-war between England and Wales, but he hasn’t really kicked on, having been hampered by injuries, a story which has continued since his switch from Sale.
Staying fit has also been the problem for Ollie Griffiths, a man who can play right across the back row, while fellow Dragon Harrison Keddie is a solid presence at the base.
Then you’ve got two seasoned campaigners in the adaptable Josh Turnbull and Aaron Shingler, men who would not let you down, with Turnbull perhaps the best option of the lot as he has packed down at No.8 plenty of times over the years and was recently in camp with Pivac.
Pivac might well decide to go with what he has on board and shuffle his pack for the Fiji game.
Taine Basham has the versatility to move around the back row and we know what he can do with ball in hand, but he is probably due a wellearned break after his exertions at No. 7 over the past two weeks.
Thomas Young would jump at a start in any position having not played Test rugby since February 2019 and he would certainly offer dynamic carrying off the base, but his experience at No.8 is limited, with his career having been spent on the openside flank.
At a push, Wales could utilise Seb
Davies in the role, given he has played there at Test level before, while giant teenager Christ Tshiunza would be a wild-card selection.
But both are lock/blindside options, really.
It was telling that when Davies came on for Wainwright against South Africa, he packed down in the No.6 berth, as he did when he replaced the stricken Moriarty versus the All Blacks.
So maybe the solution lies in the man who went to the back of the scrum on Saturday: Ellis Jenkins.
There are few more versatile back rowers around, with the 28-year-old having the skillset to adapt to any breakaway role.
It is worth remembering that when he produced his man-of-the-match display against the Springboks in that fateful encounter three years ago, he spent most of the game at No.8, having moved there from the blindside following an injury to Moriarty.
He replicated that switch to good effect once more at the weekend.
So he is certainly up to the job and you could then have Shane LewisHughes and Thomas Young either side of him on the flanks.
Then again, ideally, you would want to start Jenkins in his preferred position of openside, while there is also an argument for keeping him back for the game against the Wallabies such was his outstanding display against the ‘Boks.
After having so little rugby in the past three years, is it best to give him more time on the pitch now or take it cautiously?
It’s a tricky one, compounded by the issues at No.8.
Over to you Mr Pivac!