With Wales’ Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji a mere three months away Warren Gatland will undoubtedly start thinking about what side he could potentially field at the Stade de Bordeaux.
The Wales squad has been rocked in recent weeks by the shock withdrawals of a host of players including Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Cory Hill.
Some of those players would have been strong contenders to start Wales’ World Cup campaign in France but their absence has opened the door for others.
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While there are three warm-up Tests against South Africa, and England (twice) still to come, WalesOnline takes a look at the starting XV Gatland could select to take on a dangerous Fiji side.
15. Liam Williams
The Cardiff full-back didn’t have the happiest of Six Nations campaigns, getting dropped for Wales’ clash with England following a poor showing in Scotland.
Williams has been unlucky with injuries over the past 18 months which has affected his form but at his best he is the strongest option available to Gatland.
The 32-year-old is fearless under the high ball and remains one of the most dangerous counter-attackers in the game. Gatland could opt for the solidity and goal kicking prowess of Leigh Halfpenny at full-back with Williams on the wing, but at 34 has father time finally caught up with the former Scarlets man?
The other option would be to utilise Louis Rees-Zammit or Josh Adams at full-back, while Gareth Anscombe could also play there, but the smart money is on Williams starting the World Cup as first choice.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit
The Gloucester wing was another who had a bumpy Six Nations but at his best he is among the deadliest finishers in the world game.
Fans call him “Rees-lightning” for a reason; he has top-level pace which can hurt the meanest defences on the planet but more than that he has rugby intelligence while he is solid defensively.
It’s not out of the question Gatland could plump for the size of Alex Cuthbert on the wing or even in-form Dragons speedster Rio Dyer but that would come as a big shock.
Rees-Zammit is one of the only Wales players who can match Fiji for speed and skill, which makes him a very likely pick.
13. George North
The 117-times capped international certainly has experience on his side, while size is another thing he has going for him.
Perhaps his powers have waned in recent seasons, not helped by a series of injuries, while he was in and out of the side during the recent Six Nations.
Currently his form does not scream automatic selection but what saves the north Walian is the lack of experienced options in midfield. Gatland could opt for youth in Mason Grady, who showed promise during the Six Nations, or in-form uncapped Scarlets midfielder Joe Roberts but it would be a big risk.
North’s experience could just get him the nod for this one but he will need to up his game if Wales’ attack is to fire.
12. Johnny Williams
The easy option would be to go for Nick Tompkins who has been a constant in the Wales side for the entirety of this World Cup cycle, but I’ve a hunch Gatland will turn to Scarlets star Johnny Williams.
Williams’ biggest issue is he has not been able to stay fit for long enough since he was first brought into the Wales set-up by Wayne Pivac three years ago.
But the 26-year-old is exactly the type of centre Gatland has historically been drawn to. Williams has size on his side, and certainly has the ability to get Wales over the gain-line while he has tremendous footwork and a good offloading game.
Size will be important against the flying Fijians who could well select a powerhouse midfield partnership of Semi Radradra and Seta Tamanivalu.
Williams and North are Wales’ best options for now.
11. Josh Adams
The Cardiff wing was below par during the Six Nations but it would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t go to the World Cup as a first-choice player.
At his best Adams is a tremendous finisher with an admirable work rate, while his defensive and aerial games are top notch. Cuthbert and Dyer are a threat to his starting spot, while Gatland could also select Halfpenny at full-back and Williams on the wing.
Fiji’s back-three have the ability to cause havoc, with Toulon try-scoring sensation Jiuta Wainiqolo, Josua Tuisova and former Bristol star Radradra options for head coach Simon Raiwalui.
A back-three of Williams, Rees-Zammit and Adams is the way to go for this one.
10. Dan Biggar
There are those who will want Wales to take the shackles off in France by playing loose and fast but this would be very ill-advised against the Pacific Islanders.
Wales may well be hoping for wind and rain to slow down a Fijian side who will want to play at pace. In 2007 Wales threw their original game-plan out of the window and subsequently played into Fiji’s hands.
Gatland’s side need to play this one smart, kicking for territory and biding their time in attack. While Anscombe is a strong contender, Biggar is the right man for this job.
9. Gareth Davies
This selection will raise more than a few eyebrows given Davies was excluded from both last autumn’s squad and the Six Nations.
By his own admission the 32-year-old’s form wasn’t good enough to merit selection, but the man from Newcastle Emlyn experienced a resurgence during the second half of the season.
His Scarlets team-mate Kieran Hardy is also a serious contender to start given his superior kicking game and slick service, but Davies’ experience might win him the nod here.
Gatland may be better served by using livewire Cardiff number nine Tomos Williams off the bench when the game is broken up in the last quarter of the match.
1. Nicky Smith
It has been one of Welsh rugby’s biggest mysteries over the past couple of seasons why the Ospreys man hasn’t had more of a look-in at Test level.
Smith’s form for the Ospreys has been exemplary, with the 29-year-old among the most destructive scrummagers in the United Rugby Championship.
The likes of former All Blacks tighthead Karl Tu’inukuafe, France international Mohamed Haouas, veteran England and Lions man Dan Cole and Michael Ala’alatoa have all tried to get the better of the Ospreys man at scrum time this season but each one got sent packing.
Smith is also very good at the breakdown and is a dynamic carrier around the park. He deserves the nod.
2. Dewi Lake
Wales veteran Ken Owens is of course still around with the Scarlets hooker performing well from an individual point of view during a disappointing Six Nations campaign.
Lake was missing at the time due to injury but he’s back now, and it’s not an exaggeration to say the Ospreys giant has the potential to develop into one of the best hookers in the world.
He is not too dissimilar to South African World Cup winner Malcolm Marx in that he is an explosive ball carrier who is freakishly good at the breakdown for a hooker.
Lake’s work-on is his throwing in at the lineout but his all-round physicality and dynamism is something Wales could do with against a dangerous Fiji outfit.
3. Tomas Francis
Francis has arguably not performed as well as he has in recent years but given Fiji’s Achilles heel is their scrum, this will go in the Ospreys man’s favour.
The 31-year-old is a solid scrummager who has been the cornerstone of this Wales pack for the past eight years. Gatland could opt for Dillon Lewis who may not be as strong a scrummager but offers significantly more around the park, especially at the breakdown.
It would also be unwise to discount former England international Henry Thomas who is a strong scrummager in his own right having proven himself in the English Premiership and the French Top 14, but we’ve opted for the experience of Francis.
4. Adam Beard
There was a report in The Rugby Paper suggesting Gatland may send an SOS to former Scarlets lock Jake Ball who is currently plying his trade for Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan.
But given Ball is not currently in Gatland’s extended training squad, Adam Beard is the strong favourite for a place in the starting XV. Ospreys man Beard has his critics, mainly that he doesn’t carry enough, and while this is an area he needs to improve on there aren’t many alternatives to the 27-year-old.
Beard does a lot of the donkey work, adds serious weight in the scrum and is among the best in the business at thwarting attacking driving mauls.
5. Will Rowlands
Assuming he doesn’t pick up an injury in the warm-up Tests, which would make the 23-cap international ineligible, he starts this Test and every other Test at the World Cup thereafter.
The Racing 92-bound lock has been a revelation for Wales since winning his first cap three years ago and is a player they simply cannot do without.
Rowlands is a powerful ball carrier, an astute lineout forward and who is as comfortable in the tight as he is in the wide channels. Beard and Rowlands are Wales’ best bet here.
6. Jac Morgan
Provided he is fit I think Gatland will seriously consider going back to Dan Lydiate for this Test in a bid to chop down the wave after wave of Fijian attack which will come their way.
But the youthful exuberance of Morgan might be the best way to go, while the 23-year-old has more strings to his bow. There are many who see Morgan as a future Wales captain and a British & Irish Lions star of the future.
There aren’t many areas where the Ospreys man is found lacking. Morgan is dynamic in his carrying game, is relentless in defence, is a great leader and is exceptional at the breakdown.
Gatland could also opt for the athletic Aaron Wainwright but he may be better served coming off the bench.
Provided Wales don’t implode as a collective, Morgan could be one of the stars of the World Cup.
7. Tommy Reffell
The shock retirement of Tipuric a couple of weeks ago has left a serious void at openside flanker but Reffell is more than up to the task.
There are occasions where Reffell will be competing with Morgan for the number seven shirt but Gatland could select two opensides against Fiji to combat the threat of La Rochelle phenomenon Levani Botia.
It is no exaggeration to label the Pencoed man one of the best exponents of breakdown play in the Northern Hemisphere with the Leicester Tigers star standing out on a weekly basis in the Gallagher Premiership.
The 24-year-old was immense on last summer’s tour of South Africa and is relentless in defence.
8. Taulupe Faletau
The easiest selection of the lot.
Faletau’s name is surely already inked into the Gatland’s starting XV for the Test match in Bordeaux. The 32-year-old is still regarded as one of the very best No 8s in the world game, up there with the likes of Ardie Savea, Caelan Doris, Gregory Alldritt and Duane Vermeulen.
If Wales are to do well in this World Cup they will need Faletau fit and firing.
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