It may sound like something from the dullest pub quiz you'll ever attend, but the question of when Wales last started with a inside centre capable of playing 10 is the sort that might pique the interest of the sport's biggest anoraks.
The most ardent of rugby nauses would venture that Hadleigh Parkes' infrequent outings in the Scarlets 10 jersey would qualify him, but, pedantry aside, the genuine answer would be Owen Williams. Back in the autumn of 2017, when the idea of a 10-12 axis comprised of two fly-halves was still fresh in the mind of Warren Gatland after the success of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell on the Lions' tour of New Zealand, the then Wales coach sought to do something similar in his regular job.
Williams was handed the 12 jersey for matches against Australia and New Zealand, with some glimpses of promise.
But that was to be it as far as a playmaking 12 went - another tactical experiment briefly considered but not fully embraced in that funny mid-World Cup cycle period. The Yellow Submarine amongst Eleanor Rigby and Here, There and Everywhere on Revolver, if you like.
That was also the period when Gatland was arguably, and ironically, trying to chase the swashbuckling style Pivac was pioneering at the Scarlets at the time. A playmaking option at 12 wasn't necessarily conducive to that style in the manner of a out-and-out 10 wearing 12 on his back, but a distributor - in the mould of Parkes or Scott Williams - was vital to the all-court game that saw other members of the backline step up into first-receiver.
But for a while, as Gatland steered Wales back into more pragmatic waters and then Pivac looked to implement his own style, the notion of a playmaking 12 wasn't really up for discussion. Williams had a brief recall in the 2020 Six Nations that was ended through injury, while Ioan Lloyd might be one for the future if he can break into the Bristol midfield as planned.
However, the call-up of young Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins marks a return to that playmaking 12 in some sense. Speaking about why the 20-year-old had been given the nod for the autumn, Pivac referenced his ability to play fly-half and how those skills can be transferred to midfield.
"For Joe, it’s a chance to get into this environment and look at the work required to play at this level," said Pivac. "We think he’s an exciting young talent. He’s done very well with the U20s, he’s a leader.
"He can play 10 and can bring a skillset to that inside centre position that not all our players have. He’s one for the future. We’ll have a very good look at him."
It's notable that the Welsh coaching ticket believe that's a skillset that isn't necessarily there right now. Since that Lions tour in 2017, when Jonathan Davies in the 13 jersey offered a hard carrying line against the grain from Sexton to free up Farrell out the back on multiple occasions, different teams have gone through phases of experimenting with what they'd call a second five-eighth in New Zealand.
All except Wales, beyond the brief flirtation with Williams. Someone who knows both the role and Hawkins well is James Hook.
Hook started out as a fly-half, but played a lot of Test rugby at inside centre. However, he's noticed the trend away from having a second fly-half in your midfield.
"I don't think it's just Wales, I think it's rugby in general," he told WalesOnline. "It's all about winning that gainline.
"Whether your centre is first-receiver or second-receiver, it's about getting over the gainline. I like the balance of a ball-playing 12 who can distribute and a 13 who can get you moving forward like George North."
However, there's little fear that Hawkins, who has captained Wales U20s, doesn't possess that physicality to get over the gainline. The Ospreys have used him as a first-receiver at times this season on first-phase, carrying hard at the defence while also having the ability to pull a pass back if needed.
As the Ospreys look to evolve their attack, a ball-playing 12 seems like the best way for Toby Booth's side to get the likes of Gareth Anscombe or Jack Walsh targeting the wider channels with their passing game as a second-receiver. Against the Scarlets, Hawkins showed his footwork on an early phase as the Ospreys built from a limited kick return.
Stepping past Vaea Fifita and Jonathan Davies to work through the tackle, he then pops up a couple of phases later in a pretty standard 10 inset shape. Standing at first-receiver, he has forwards either side of him and Gareth Anscombe as an option for the pull-back pass.
Reading the defence with the help of a shout from Anscombe, he gives a flat pass to his forward before taking the offload back. That sets up Anscombe to take the ball on the front foot at first-receiver on the next phase.
"There's a lot of phase play and you can play off nine or 10, but you need that second back who can distribute and organise the forwards," explains Hook.
"I coached him and he's matured a lot in that time. He can cover 10, but I'd say 12 is his best position. He can carry hard, but can also distribute and be that extra voice for the 10. You want that as a fly-half. He can see the bigger picture and give information to the forwards throughout phase play. That's what you want from a 12."
Having first come across Hawkins while he was in the Ospreys academy, Hook worked with the new call-up while doing coaching with the U18s at the region. In particular, he offered wisdom when it came to the kicking game - another skill that marks him out as perhaps a little different from the other options at 12.
Whether he gets a chance this autumn or not remains to be seen. Having started the season at 12 for the Ospreys after a promising pre-season, the switch of Michael Collins to midfield to accommodate Max Nagy at full-back has limited his minutes recently.
He even turned out for Swansea RFC last week - coincidentally for whom Hook coaches. However, whatever chance he gets, it's hard to escape the fact that this is a big learning opportunity for him.
"He's an old head on young shoulders," added Hook. "He speaks a lot of sense when it comes to addressing the group, he's quite confident in the way he comes across. He works hard on his game and he really understands it, as well as the job he needs to do for the team.
"It'll be interesting. There's only four centres in the squad so he's only one injury away from getting into the 23.
"I think he'll have an opportunity. He was brought into the squad for a reason. The important thing is he goes in and is just himself. Be confident and every training session becomes a chance to impress. He's got that temperament and it's a great chance for him."
It also might just be a sign of what Pivac wants in his midfield moving forward.
READ MORE:
Wales players warned 'unacceptable' off-field behaviour will not be tolerated on international duty
Wayne Pivac Q&A: Why I picked Macleod over Thomas Young and Dyer over Keelan Giles
Wales' autumn rugby squad in full as five uncapped players named and captain Dan Biggar out
Revolutionary new rugby ball to be used in autumn internationals and change fan experience
