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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Joe Hawkins, Wales' newest call-up who offers something different to anything Wayne Pivac has had before

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.

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